Goodman Theatre News

The cast of the Tony Award-winning hit Beautiful just celebrated the show's one year anniversary. Since opening on Broadway on January 12, 2014, Beautiful has broken all box office records at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, where it recently became the highest grossing production in the theatre's history. Leading the company is Tony winner Jessie Mueller, who has been with the show all along the way. Mueller just chatted with BroadwayWorld about her year as Carole King, working with Sara Bareiless on her new WAITRESS musical, performing at the Kennedy Center Honors, and so much more. Check out the full interview below!

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, is kicking off the New Year with WEST SIDE STORY, the revolutionary Tony Award-winning production that forever changed American musical theater. Experience the passion, drama and heart-pounding excitement of WEST SIDE STORY like never before. The production is currently in previews and opens January 22, running through March 22. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) will present Neil Simon's witty modern classic LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR, previewing January 28, opening Saturday, January 31 at 8 p.m. and running through March 1, 2015. The production stars First Folio Artistic Associate Rene Ruelas (Rough Crossing, The Rainmaker, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Design for Living at First Folio Theatre) as "Max Prince," First Folio Artistic Associate Kevin McKillip (Jeeves Takes A Bow, The Merchant of Venice, The Turn of the Screw and Unnecessary Farce at First Folio Theatre, Making God Laugh at Theatre at the Center) as "Ira," Callie Johnson (National Tour of Evil Dead The Musical and Next to Normal at Drury Lane Theatre) as "Helen," First Folio Artistic Associate Hayley L. Rice (The Rainmaker, The Merchant of Venice, Blithe Spirit, The Castle of Otranto at First Folio Theatre) as "Carol," and First Folio Artistic Associate Joe Foust (The Merry Wives of Windsor, Unnecessary Farce and the Woman in Black at First Folio Theatre, A Christmas Carol and Measure for Measure at Goodman Theatre) as "Val." LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR is directed by Jeff Award nominee and First Folio Theatre Co-Founder, Alison C. Vesely (First Folio's A Moon for the Misbegotten). The production is dedicated to the memory of Molly Glynn.

Hallie Foote, actress and daughter of the late playwright Horton Foote, visited the Raven Theatre on Tuesday, January 13 to observe a rehearsal of Horton Foote's Dividing the Estate and again on the 14th for a public interview to discuss her father's work. The January 14th interview was conducted by Goodman Theatre Resident Artistic Associate Henry Wishcamper. Scroll down for photos from Foote's visit!

The Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center has just announced that stage and screen star Nathan Lane will be the next recipient of the Monte Cristo Award. Lane will receive the honor on Monday, April 13 (6:30PM) at the Edison Ballroom.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, is kicking off the New Year with WEST SIDE STORY, the revolutionary Tony Award-winning production that forever changed American musical theater. Experience the passion, drama and heart-pounding excitement of WEST SIDE STORY like never before. The production previews tonight, January 15, opens January 22 and runs through March 22.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards Celebration was great! Now onward to '50 Shades,' 'Mr. Burns' and 'Book Of Merman,' plus two from Christopher Pazdernik,' 'Ordinary Days,' 'First Wives Club,' tributes to John Hughes and Stephen Sondheim and a showtune film cameo!

Walnut Street Theatre's Independence Studio on 3 continues its season with David Mamet's comedy A Life in the Theatre. Philadelphia audiences will be the first to see this production before it becomes the fifth national tour of a Walnut Street Theatre production. A Life in the Theatre opens in Philadelphia tonight, January 15th and runs through February 1st in the intimate Independence Studio on 3.

Court Theatre Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Stephen J. Albert present Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. Waiting for Godot will run tonight, January 15 - February 15, 2015 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Press Opening is Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 8:00PM.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, is kicking off the New Year with WEST SIDE STORY, the revolutionary Tony Award-winning production that forever changed American musical theater. Experience the passion, drama and heart-pounding excitement of WEST SIDE STORY like never before. The production previews tonight, January 15, opens January 22 and runs through March 22.

Cold Basement Dramatics announces the cast and creative team for its upcoming production of Heat Wave, part of Garage Rep 2015 at the Steppenwolf Garage. Written by Steven Simoncic and directed by Rinska Carrasco-Prestinary, the production will run February 20 - April 25, 2015 and marks the 20th anniversary of the Chicago heat wave of 1995.

Walnut Street Theatre's Independence Studio on 3 continues its season with David Mamet's comedy A Life in the Theatre. Philadelphia audiences will be the first to see this production before it becomes the fifth national tour of a Walnut Street Theatre production. A Life in the Theatre begins in Philadelphia with previews on January 13th, opens January 15th and runs through February 1st in the intimate Independence Studio on 3.

Hallie Foote, an actress best known for playing some of her father's most memorable characters both on and off Broadway and in feature films, will visit Raven Theatre tonight, January 14, to discuss the legacy of her father, the playwright Horton Foote, author of Raven's upcoming Chicago premiere of Dividing the Estate, as well as The Trip to Bountiful, The Young Man from Atlanta and the Academy Award-winning screenplays for Tender Mercies and To Kill a Mockingbird.

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein are pleased to announce the lineup of The Tens, an evening of world premiere ten-minute plays. The Tens runs tonight, January 13 - 17, 2015 in the Victor Jory Theatre.

Offering a fresh look at the groundbreaking play that established David Mamet as a seismic force in theater, the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance at California State University, Los Angeles joins forces with multiple award-winning Deaf West Theatre to present American Buffalo. Professor of Theater and longtime Deaf West collaborator Stephen Rothman directs Deaf West regulars Troy Kotsur (Spring Awakening, Cyrano) and Paul Raci (Cyrano, What Are You...Deaf?) along with Cal State L.A. MFA candidate Matthew Ryan Pest for a Feb. 14 opening at the 250-seat State Playhouse on the university campus (just east of downtown).

Court Theatre Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Stephen J. Albert present Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. Waiting for Godot will run January 15 - February 15, 2015 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Press Opening is Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 8:00PM.

On the coldest night of the year, spirits were high at The Call Bar in the Andersonville neighborhood, as the 2014 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards Celebration was held on Wednesday, January 7, 2015. Hosted by BroadwayWorld Chicago Regional Editor Paul W. Thompson and The Call's hostess, Ashley Morgan, the Celebration lasted from 8:00 pm to the stroke of midnight, as the winners in 36 categories were revealed.

England's most storied rivalry takes center stage at Folger Theatre in Friedrich Schiller's classic drama Mary Stuart from January 27- March 8, 2015.

Rehearsals begin today, January 6, for Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of The World of Extreme Happiness, the new play by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, directed by Eric Ting. This co-production with Chicago's Goodman Theatre will begin previews Tuesday, February 3, 2015 for a Tuesday, February 24, 2015 opening night at MTC's New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).