Goodman Theatre News

Haven Theatre is pleased to announce casting for its fourth DIRECTORS HAVEN, the company's ever-growing initiative annually showcasing the talents of three rising directors. The 2018 productions are helmed by Charlotte Drover, Airos Sung-En Medill and Dani Wieder.

American Blues Theater announces encore performance run of BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story, written by Alan Janes, directed by Lili-Anne Brown, with musical direction by Ensemble Member Michael Mahler. BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story will close as planned on May 26, 2018 and reopen June 29 - September 15, 2018 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets will be on sale for the encore run on May 15, 2018.

Sideshow Theatre Company is pleased to launch its 2018-19 Season with the world premiere of J. Nicole Brooks' dazzling new play HeLa, directed by artistic director Jonathan L. Green* and presented in partnership with the Greenhouse Theater Center.

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).

Due to popular demand, actor and magician Brett Schneider's hit one-man show COMMUNION: An Evening of Magic, returns to Chicago for six performances only! Directed by Elana Boulos, COMMUNION will play September 13 - 22, 2018 at The Den Theatre's Upstairs Main Stage, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at thedentheatre.com. Recommended for ages 13+. The press opening is Thursday, September 13 at 8 pm.

Latino Theatre Projects (LTP) and Producing Artistic Director Fernando Luna, in association with Theatre Off Jackson, will present the Pacific Northwest premiere of Brainpeople by prize-winning Puerto Rican playwright Jose Rivera. Brainpeople will be directed by LTP's Producing Artistic Director Fernando Luna. The production will be presented Thursday-Saturday evenings, October 11 through November 3, 2018 at 8:00 pm. Performances will be bilingual in English with some Spanish phrases. General admission is $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Seniors and students are $20. Links: www.latinotheatreprojects.org www.theatreoffjackson.orghttps://www.facebook.com/Latino-Theatre-Projects-346266545430336/ 

Tickets are now on sale for the WORLD PREMIERE production of SECOND SKIN by Kristin Idaszak and directed by Jess Hutchinson STARRING: Stephanie Shum, Hilary Williams and Paula Ramirez. WildClaw Theatre Company, bringing the world of horror to the stage for 10 years in Chicago, is proud to present this three-women-told tale of a secret surfacing from a place thought buried in the deep. Previews begin September 11th and the show opens September 14th at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Sideshow Theatre Company is pleased to announce its 2018-19 Season, launching this fall with the world premiere of J. Nicole Brooks' dazzling new play HeLa, directed by artistic director Jonathan L. Green and presented in partnership with the Greenhouse Theater Center.

The Weston Playhouse's 2018 season expands into the fall with Two Trains Running by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson at the company's new second stage, Weston Playhouse at Walker Farm, beginning September 27. 

Obie Award-winning "spellbinding storyteller" (Los Angeles Times) David Cale returns to Goodman Theatre three decades after his debut (1988's The Redthroats) with his newest work, We're Only Alive For A Short Amount of Time-launching the Goodman's 2018/2019 Season.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago's only Equity theatre dedicated to producing new work with women at the core, presents the World Premiere of Scientific Method by Jenny Connell Davis, directed by Devon de Mayo, and featuring RTE Member Ashley Neal, with Glenn Obrero, Josh Odor, Courtney Williams and Carmen Roman. Scientific Method runs October 19 - December 2, 2018, at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago.  The press opening is Tuesday October 30, 2018 at 7:00pm.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (celebrating its 25thSilver Anniversary at the theatre) are thrilled to present the West Coast premiere of AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (replacing the previously announced Stormy Weather), adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig and directed by Sheldon Epps. AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS will preview on Friday, October 19, 2018 (with a press opening on Saturday, October 20 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, November 11, 2018 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

Pivot Arts presents Charged Spaces/Changing Bodies, a series of site-specific performances in two historic Uptown spaces in conjunction with Chicago Architecture Foundation's Open House Chicago weekend. Performances are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 11, Friday, Oct. 12 and Saturday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m.

Nomad Motel - a fresh, coming of age comedy-drama about an American and a Chinese family whose lives are unexpectedly linked - makes its Southern debut as the finale of Horizon Theatre Company's "New American Dreams Series" this fall.  

Tickets are now on sale for the WORLD PREMIERE production of SECOND SKIN by Kristin Idaszak and directed by Jess Hutchinson STARRING: Stephanie Shum, Hilary Williams and Paula Ramirez. WildClaw Theatre Company, bringing the world of horror to the stage for 10 years in Chicago, is proud to present this three-women-told tale of a secret surfacing from a place thought buried in the deep. Previews begin September 11th and the show opens September 14th at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Art service organization Chicago Arts Access (freetix.org) celebrates its milestone achievement of providing 1,000 tickets on freetix.org to live art performance in Chicago and announces a full season of partnerships for 2018-19. These partnerships include providing free tickets to performances by Goodman Theatre, Firebrand Theatre, Jackalope, Prop Theater, Haven Theatre, Escape Artistry, TimeLine Theatre, Nothing Without A Company, and First Floor Theatre.

The Second City announces the cast for The Second City's 107th Mainstage Revue. Under the direction of ten-time resident stage director and Jeff Award winner Matt Hovde and with returning music direction by Vinnie Pillarella, The Second City's 107th Mainstage Revue will feature current Mainstage ensemble members Ryan Asher, Tyler Davis, Jeffrey Murdoch, and Nate Varrone, who will be joined by Gaslight District cast member Emily Fightmaster and She the People cast member Kimberly Michelle Vaughn. The stage manager is Craig Taylor. The official press opening is Thursday, December 6 at 8pm.

The League of Chicago Theatres announces the Theatre Thursday event line-up for the 2018-2019 Chicago theatre season, featuring one World Premiere per month. The Theatre Thursday events include works created and performed by a diverse range of playwrights and artists at theatres located across the Chicagoland area. Additional information for each event is below and ticketing details will be available online at http://bit.ly/theatrethursdays.

Playwright Lynn Nottage's 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning SWEAT, her raw take on the intertwining issues affecting a close-knit group of Reading, Pennsylvania townsfolk, has just opened at the Mark Taper Forum. Portraying Cynthia, the inescapable lightning rod in SWEAT's volatile scenario, Nottage stalwart Portia brings a human face to a multiple of 'faceless' generalized preconceptions. Portia gave us her thoughts on working with Lynn Nottage, Phylicia Rashad and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Chicago Children's Theatre and The Book Stall invite families to a free presentation and book signing with author Matt de la Peña and illustrator Christian Robinson, the team behind the Newbery Medal and Caldecott Honor-winning best-seller 'Last Stop on Market Street,' on Sunday, October 14 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.