Goodman Theatre News

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).

Due to overwhelming success, Chicago Theatre Week is expanding in 2015. The upcoming celebration of the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago is returning for its third year and will take place February 12 - 22, 2015, spanning a week and two full weekends for the first time. More than 100 productions are expected to participate as part of the 2015 lineup. Chicago Theatre Week is presented by the League of Chicago Theatres in partnership with Choose Chicago.

The Tony-winning musical BOOK OF MORMON said farewell to its most recent Elder Price and Elder Cuningham, Ben Platt and Nic Rouleau respectively, on January 4. Broadway favorite Gavin Creel, who has portrayed the role of Kevin Price on both the BOM national tour and in the London production, steps in as the egocentric missionary, beginning tonight, January 6th. Joining him as everyone's favorite sidekick will be Christopher John O'Neill.

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 January 15, opens January 22 and runs through March 22.

BOOK OF MORMON's Ben Platt turned to Twitter on Saturday, January 3rd to share a photo of the foursome just before the big transition.

Philadelphia Theatre Company's continues its 40th Anniversary season with the Tony Award-nominated play Mothers and Sons by Terrence McNally February 6-March 8. Directed by Wendy Goldberg, the cast features Hugh Kennedy, Emmy Award-winning actress Michael Learned, James Lloyd Reynolds, and Patrick Gibbons and Jacob D. Wilner in alternating performances.

It was a big year for Broadway newbies! From young newcomers to seasoned Hollywood stars, Broadway welcomed many new faces to the family in 2014. Many earned critical acclaim, a brand-new fanbase, and some even walked away with Tony nominations (and awards)! Below, BroadwayWorld celebrates just a few of our favorite new stage stars!