Goodman Theatre News

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.

Long Wharf Theatre, led by Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein and Managing Director Joshua Borenstein, presents Forever, written and performed by Dael Orlandersmith, from January 2 through February 1, 2015 on Stage II. The press opening is Wednesday, January 7 at 7:30 pm.

Dallas Theater Center heads back to the Kalita Humphreys Theater with The Book Club Play by Karen Zacarias. Meredith McDonough, who previously worked on the new hit musical Fly By Night, returns to make her DTC directorial debut in this comedy about books and the people who love them. The Book Club Play begins previews tonight, January 1, 2015 with a Pay-What-You-Can performance and runs through Sunday, February 1.

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.

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!

Steep Theatre's upcoming production of Ross Dungan's The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle will feature an impressive collection of fourteen of Chicago's hottest actors.

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Chicago Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

In a continued outpouring of solidarity among a giant consortium of the American theater's artistic directors, more than 30 additional artistic directors have signed the open letter that was issued yesterday in support of Ari Roth, following his recent dismissal from the Jewish Community Center in Washington, D.C., where he has served as Artistic Director of Theater J for the past 18 years.

Dallas Theater Center heads back to the Kalita Humphreys Theater with The Book Club Play by Karen Zacarias. Meredith McDonough, who previously worked on the new hit musical Fly By Night, returns to make her DTC directorial debut in this comedy about books and the people who love them. The Book Club Play begins previews on Thursday, January 1, 2015 with a Pay-What-You-Can performance and runs through Sunday, February 1.

In an unprecedented display of solidarity among a giant consortium of the American theater's artistic directors, an open letter has been issued in support of Ari Roth, following his recent dismissal from the Jewish Community Center in Washington, D.C., where he has served as Artistic Director of Theater J for the past 18 years. The letter, released earlier today represents the views of top theater brass from coast-to-coast, who believe that his dismissal was an act of politically motivated censorship in retaliation for Roth's choice to produce and publicly defend challenging and provocative work.

Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Chicago Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!

Discover the thrilling songs and stories from many infrequently heard works of musical theater at the cabaret revue I Don't Remember You: Broadway's Cult Classics, vol. II, performed at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret from January 12-26, 2015.

Goodman Theatre, in collaboration with Chicago's various off-Loop theaters and Northwestern University, unveils partial programming in its spring 2015 citywide "August Wilson Celebration" -- an extensive retrospective of the late playwright's life, artistry and influence on American culture. The seven-week Celebration takes place in March and April 2015 on dual landmark occasions: the 70th anniversary of the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright's birth and the 10th anniversary of his death.

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Artistic Director Blake Robison announced today that Obie Award-winning director Eric Ting will be added next season to the theatre's Associate Artists program, which was launched by Robison in 2013 for his second season at the Playhouse. Ting will join current associate artists Timothy Douglas, Michael Evan Haney and KJ Sanchez, who have served the Playhouse in that capacity for the past two years.

The Muny announced today the directors, choreographers and music directors for the Muny's 2015 Season, which opens on June 15 with My Fair Lady. 'This is a thrilling roster of artists,' said Muny Artistic Director and Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. 'We look forward to bringing their vision and talent to our grand stage.'

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Two weeks of voting left for the BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards! The 'Annie' film and 'The Merry Widow' open, 'Patsy Cline' extends, 'Sherlock Holmes' sings, 'Cupid' has a heart, and MCL Chicago, Drury Lane Oakbrook and Black Ensemble Theater plan new works for 2015, including 'Beaches' and a tribute to Roger Ebert!

On the heals of its hit musical production Titanic, Griffin Theatre Company continues its 2014-15 season with Lanford Wilson's acclaimed drama BALM IN GILEAD directed by ensemble member Jonathan Berry and featuring an ensemble cast of 27 actors and musicians. BALM IN GILEAD will play March 14 - April 19, 2015 at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.

The Geffen Playhouse announces the cast for its West Coast premiere production of Conor McPherson's The Night Alive, helmed by Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Randall Arney. This production will feature Paul Vincent O'Connor (August: Osage County at the National Theatre, London), Fiona O'Shaughnessy (Utopia), Dan Donohue (The Lion King on Broadway), Denis Arndt (Basic Instinct), and Peter O'Meara (Band of Brothers).

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 January 13 - 17, 2015 in the Victor Jory Theatre.