The fourth annual Arts Alliance Illinois Voices of a Creative State benefit luncheon will take place Friday, June 10, 2016 at Fairmont Chicago (200 N. Columbus Dr.). The luncheon will feature a discussion highlighting the life-altering impact of the arts as a catalyst for social change, addressing urgent issues. The conversation will feature the award-winning director of the acclaimed documentary 'The Homestretch,' Kirsten Kelly, and Roque Sanchez, who was featured in the film. The event will also pay tribute to James W. and Kay Mabie, long-time supporters of a multitude of arts organizations and education institutions in Illinois, who will be presented the Citizen Advocate Award.
Windy City Playhouse, Chicago's most sophisticated new theater, presents the off-Broadway hit This, a tart 'melanchomedy' centering on four educated, artistically inclined thirtysomething New Yorkers whose longtime friendship is tested by an act of infidelity. Writer, director and playwright Carl Menninger (a former Deerfield native) returns home from Washington, D.C. to direct this piercing, beautifully crafted new play for lovers of language by Melissa James Gibson. Previews for This begin Wednesday, June 15 at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley closes its 2015/2016 season with the explosive new dramatic comedy, The Velocity of Autumn. This tender-hearted play by Eric Coble centers on an elderly artist locked in a volatile showdown with her family over where she'll spend her remaining years. In a wry, spirited quest to 'not go gently' into a retirement home, Alexandra barricades herself in her brownstone with enough homemade Molotov cocktails to blow the entire block sky-high as she negotiates the terms of her future with a long-estranged son who has battles of his own. The Velocity of Autumn was declared 'Wickedly funny and wonderfully touching' by Broadway World and 'A tale that could resonate with a broad range of audiences as it touches on a sobering dilemma faced by families every day' by Variety. This production will be directed by Giovanna Sardelli with performances June 1-June 26 (press opening: June 4) at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. For tickets ($19-$80) and information the public may visit www.TheatreWorks.org or call (650) 463-1960.
Arguably one of the most complex and intriguing female characters ever written, HEDDA GABLER weaves a mesmerizing tale of a woman trapped in a loveless marriage who is driven by a need for power and freedom.
Chicago Public School student Ireon Roach was awarded first place in the National August WilsonMonologue Competition, which was held May 2, 2016, at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway in New York City. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the special night below!
Catherine Butterfield, author of the plays JOINED AT THE HEAD, THE SLEEPER, LIFE IN THE TREES and BROWNSTONE, among others, will premiere her latest comedy, LIFE EXPECTANCY, at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Second City alum Ron West will helm the play.
Chicago Public School student Ireon Roach was awarded first place in the National August Wilson Monologue Competition, which was held May 2, 2016, at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway in New York City.
'MotherStruck!,' written and performed by Staceyann Chin, co-produced in New York by Rosie O'Donnell, Robert Dragotta and Culture Project, and originally directed by Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award-winner Cynthia Nixon begins Greenhouse Theater Center's 'Solo Celebration' at the Greenhouse (2257 N Lincoln Ave).
Hero Theatre announced today that the company will end its 2016-2017 season with a full production of The Conduct of Life by famed Cuban American playwright, Maria Irene Fornes. The production will star Nick Tarabay (Castle, Spartacus and Syfy's The Expanse), and will be directed by the Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Theatre Center, Jose Luis Valenzuela.
? Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the final 2015 - 16 installment of Chicago's hit new musical revue series, New Faces Sing Broadway. This edition, conceived and directed by Michael Weber and Chris Carter with music direction by Nick Sula, hosted by James Earl Jones II and featuring a cast of Chicago's hottest emerging artists, takes a journey through the best of Broadway's 1949 musical season via rare multi-media visuals, songs, trivia games and sing alongs in New Faces Sing Broadway 1949, Tuesday, June 7 at 8 p.m. at Uptown Underground, 4707 N Broadway. Tickets are $22, with no drink minimum and are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling 773.777.9884.
What's not to love about the four leads of Roundabout Theatre Company's glorious revival of SHE LOVES ME? Laura Benanti, Zachary Levi, Jane Krakowski and Gavin Creel just took part in SAG-AFTRA Foundation and BroadwayWorld.com's Conversations Q&A series, celebrating the vibrant theatre community in New York City and the actors who aspire to have a career on the stage and screen. Below, watch as the costars dish on what happens on and offstage at Studio 54!
In conjunction with a production of playwright Lorraine Hansberry's final work, The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window, Goodman Theatre presents a Lorraine Hansberry Celebration (today, April 30, through June 5), curated by Goodman Resident Director Chuck Smith.
The Chicago theater community will present a wide variety of plays and musicals, as well as dance and concert offerings this summer. In support, the League of Chicago Theatres will once again create a comprehensive Summer Theater Guide that will be available at hotels, theaters, events, and destinations across the Chicago area.
Milwaukee Repertory Theatre's 2015/16 season comes to a close with August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play FENCES. The production, which is a co-production with Arizona Theatre Company and Indiana Repertory Theatre, is helmed by legendary American theater director Lou Bellamy and features an all-star cast. FENCES plays in the Quadracci Powerhouse from tonight, April 26, through May 22, with Opening Night today, April 29. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
The University of Washington School of Drama continues their 75th Anniversary Season with playwright and novelist Kia Corthron's explosive socio-political drama, Force Continuum. Second-year MFA directing candidate Malika Oyetimein will helm the project, which she chose for very personal reasons.
Mosaic Theater Company of DC's Inaugural Season arrives at a climactic finale with the lively and comedic Off-Broadway hit, When January Feels Like Summer, written by Cori Thomas and directed by Mosaic Theater Managing Director & Producer Serge Seiden (Bad Jews, Apple Family Plays).
BRIC is pleased to present the world premiere of The Messiah Complex, a new play written by Nia Witherspoon and visionary director Charlotte Brathwaite with choreography by Ni'Ja Whitson and dramaturgy by Cherrie Moraga.
A re-imagined version of the 1921 musical SHUFFLE ALONG, one of the earliest stage hits starring, written and directed by African-Americans, opens tonight, April 28, on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre. SHUFFLE ALONG has a new book and is directed by George C. Wolfe, choreographed by Savion Glover. Scroll down to learn more about the company, plus watch SUNDAY MORNING's recent behind-the-scenes look at the show!
The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 121 nominations in 24 categories for the 43rd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016. The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff judges attended opening nights of 148 productions offered by 67 Non-Equity producing organizations. The Jeff Committee recommended 65 of those shows (or 44%), making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Of the 65 Jeff Recommended productions, a record 53 (or 82%) received nominations, representing 32 theatre companies.
Milwaukee Repertory Theatre's 2015/16 season comes to a close with August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play FENCES. The production, which is a co-production with Arizona Theatre Company and Indiana Repertory Theatre, is helmed by legendary American theater director Lou Bellamy and features an all-star cast. FENCES plays in the Quadracci Powerhouse from tonight, April 26, through May 22, with Opening Night on Friday, April 29. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!