Goodman Theatre News

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

To sum up the Goodman Theatre's pairing of holiday productions this season: it was the best of humanity; it was the worst of humanity. While Tiny Tim's blessings and Scrooge's transformation warm hearts nightly in the Goodman's Albert Theatre, across the lobby in the Owen Theatre is a much different scene: a sardonic sendup of Christmas commercialism as told by Crumpet, an elf in Macy's Santaland. Based on the essay by humorist David Sedaris, which propelled him to fame when he performed it on NPR in 1992, Joe Mantello's one-man stage adaptation of THE SANTALAND DIARIES stars Matt Crowle and is directed by Steve Scott.

The UC San Diego Department of Theatre and Dance presents A Great Day in November on the Banks of the Greatest of the Great Lakes by Kate Benson, directed by Vanessa Stalling.

16th Street Theater announces the Midwest premiere of SMALL JOKES ABOUT MONSTERS by Steven Strafford directed by Kristina Valada-Viars January 10 - February 16, 2018 at North Berwyn Park District's 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn with a press opening of Thursday, January 17 at 7:30 PM.

North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theatre partners with Actors Comedy Lab to present 'an alternative holiday production': Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol by Tom Mula.

This holiday season, Goodman Theatre presents The Santaland Diaries-David Sedaris' 'vivid, hilarious portrait of family Christmas with his deft combination of wicked humor and scalpel-sharp observation' (Chicago Magazine). Adapted by Joe Mantello and directed by longtime Goodman Artistic Associate Steve Scott, this 'theatrical stocking stuffer' (Chicago Reader) is perfect for those who prefer their eggnog spiked. Chicago favorite Matt Crowle makes his Goodman debut in a solo performance as the strapped-for-cash struggling actor who takes a job as 'Crumpet,' an elf at Macy's Santaland-and his hilarious observations are more naughty than nice. The Santaland Diaries appears November 30 - December 30 in the Owen Theatre (opening night is December 6 at 7pm) in the Goodman's Owen Theatre (170 N. Dearborn); tickets ($15-45; subject to change) go on sale today by telephone 312.443.3800 or online GoodmanTheatre.org/Santaland. For 'mature elves' only.

Winner of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Martyna Majok's Cost of Living receives its highly anticipated UK Premiere at Hampstead Theatre - making it the 100th premiere since Edward Hall and Greg Ripley-Duggan took charge in 2010.

Goodman Theatre proudly announces its cast for the world premiere of How to Catch Creation by Christina Anderson-"a gifted playwright you want to pay attention to" (Variety). A vivid portrait of three artist/intellectual couples exploring life, children and marriage-coming together and coming apart-How to Catch Creation is directed by Niegel Smith, who most recently directed the smash sensation Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3) last season at the Goodman.

The Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Program presents its December thesis show, tick, tick…BOOM!, directed and choreographed by Ken-Matt Martin, a third year student in the Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Directing program. Written by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning composer of Rent, this rock musical set in 1990 New York City tells the story of an aspiring theater composer, as he is forced to reevaluate his passions and decide whether he should keep pursuing his dream or give it all up for a stable career. Performances run November 29 through December 9 at the Pell Chafee Performance Center, 87 Empire St., Downtown Providence. General admission is $15 with a discounted price of $10 for seniors and $7 for students. Tickets are on sale now at Trinity Rep's box office, by phone (401) 351-4242, or online at www.TrinityRep.com.

Haven Theatre, in association with About Face Theatre, is pleased to announce casting for its Midwest premiere of THE TOTAL BENT, featuring text by Stew and music and lyrics by Stew and Heidi Rodewald (Passing Strange) and directed by Jeff Award-winning director Lili-Anne Brown.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the extension of the critically-acclaimed hit Rightlynd, written by Ike Holter and directed by Lisa Portes with original music by Charlie Coffeen. With six additional performances, the production now runs through December 30, 2018, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company is pleased to announce that Mike Durst, Yeaji Kim, Christopher Kriz, Joe Schermoly, and Ellen Willett have been the first to be named Associate Artists of the company. The newly created Associate Artist program honors the work of these talented collaborators and will give them more opportunities to work with the company on future projects.

In conjunction with the world premiere of La Ruta by acclaimed Chicago-based playwright Isaac Gomez and directed by ensemble member Sandra Marquez, Steppenwolf Theatre Company has curated an event series of conversations and performances designed to enrich the experience around the world of the play. Inspired by the lives of Mexican women who live, work-and disappear-along a Ciudad Juarez bus route, La Ruta weaves live music through a story of resilience in the wake of loss.

By the time December hits (and oftentimes well before), it's impossible to browse theatre listings without running across half a dozen productions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. But what makes it so long lasting? We reached out to companies across the US and more to find out just what makes A Christmas Carol the anthem for the holiday season.

There's just one month left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

The Goodman Theatre's annual production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, now in its 41st year, embraces Charles Dickens' world with all of its Victorian charm. And rightly so: after all, Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, are largely credited with popularizing Christmas traditions in Britain. Between these royals and the legacy of Dickens' beloved tale, nothing says 'Christmas' quite like carolers in top hats and gas lamps glowing in the London fog.

Babes With Blades Theatre Company's (BWBTC) 21st season continues with its biennial William Shakespeare production. In 2019, the Shakespeare production is Othello, April 11 - May 25, 2019, directed by Mignon McPherson Stewart and fight directed by Samantha Kaufman, at The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St. Preview performances are Thursday, April 11 at 8 p.m.; Friday April 12 at 8 p.m.; Saturday April 13 at 8 p.m., Sunday April 14 at 3 p.m.; Thursday April 18 at 8 p.m. and Friday, April 19 at 8 p.m. Opening Night is Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m.

Town Hall Theatre "Lost & Found" Season 2018/19 continues with our holiday offering: the West Coast Premiere of GREAT EXPECTATIONS, an adventure-packed adaptation of the classic Dickens' coming-of-age story by Gale Childs Daly. GREAT EXPECTATIONS will have 12 performances, including two previews, November 29 through December 16, 2018, at Town Hall Theatre Company, 3535 School Street, in Lafayette, CA. Tickets are $18 - $30, and are available through the Box Office at (925) 283-1557 or online at www.TownHallTheatre.com.

MCC Theater announced today the complete cast and creative team for the first show at their new 52nd Street home: the New York Premiere production of The Light, written by Loy A. Webb, and directed by Logan Vaughn.

James Bundy, Dean of Yale School of Drama and Artistic Director of Yale Repertory Theatre, announced today the appointment of Narda E. Alcorn as Chair of the School's Stage Management Department and Stage Management Advisor at Yale Rep, for a five-year term beginning July 1, 2019.