Goodman Theatre News

Co-founders John Stoops, Tim Evans, and Marc Grapey proudly announce the second season of Three Oaks Theater Festival, a summer theater festival that brings limited-engagement runs of highly-acclaimed, professional productions to audiences in Harbor Country, Michigan. This expanded season is being performed in creative venues throughout Harbor Country, including the Acorn Theater, Vickers Theatre, and the historic Lakeside Inn. Three Oaks Theater Festival is presented with major support by The Pokagon Fund.

Michael Cerveris, Isaiah Johnson, Randy Newman, Laura Osnes, Vonda Shepard, Brooklyn Shuck, Tony Vincent and Broadway Inspirational Voices have been cast in Randy Newman's Faust: The Concert, which will be performed tonight, July 1 as the second Encores! Off-Center presentation of the 2014 season. Faust will be directed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Marcos Santana. Jeanine Tesori is the Encores! Off-Center artistic director; Chris Fenwick is its music director.

Emmy Award-winning actor Meshach Taylor, best known for his role as 'Anthony Bouvier' on TV's Designing Women, died on June 28th at the age of 67

Bay Street Theater is pleased to announce that the Tony award-winning comedy TRAVESTIES, by Tom Stoppard, is now on stage through July 20. The production is directed by Gregory Boyd. Tickets can be purchased online now at www.baystreet.org or by calling the Box Office at 631-725-9500, 11 am to Showtime. For more information about Bay Street Theater log on to www.baystreet.org.

Emmy Award-winning actor Meshach Taylor passed away late last night, June 28. His agent, Dede Binder, said the cause was colorectal cancer. His son told the LA Times that Taylor was in hospice care at his family's home and surrounded by loved ones when he died at 10:47 p.m.

Pack a picnic and see the 1956 film version of Brigadoon in celebration of the Goodman's spectacular new production! This Sunday, June 29, Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events will partner with Goodman Theatre to present a FREE screening of the classic movie musical in Millennium Park, featuring Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. The film begins at 6:30pm with a special pre-show performance byBrigadoon stars Kevin Earley and Jennie Sophia.

Casting is complete for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Chicago-premiere production of The Night Alive by Conor McPherson. Henry Wishcamper directs a cast featuring ensemble members Francis Guinan and Tim Hopper with Helen Sadler, Dan Waller and M. Emmet Walsh. The world premiere of The Night Alive was produced at the Donmar Warehouse in 2013. The Night Alive begins previews September 18, 2014 (opening night is September 28; press performances are September 27 at 3pm and September 30 at 7:30pm) and runs through November 16, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St).

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, continues its 30th anniversary season with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, now running through August 17, 2014. Scott Calcagno(Legally Blonde at The Civic Theatre, Grease at The Long Lake Theatre as well as the annual production of A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Theatre) directs. The show recently celebrated its opening, and BroadwayWorld has photos from the festivites below!

True Colors Theatre will present SAME TIME NEXT YEAR, running July 8 - August 3, 2014 at the Southwest Arts Center. Written by Bernard Slade and directed by Chris Coleman, the production will star Tony winners Kenny Leon and Phylicia Rashad.

This summer, it's 'almost like being in love!' Goodman Theatre produces the first large-scale, professional revival of Brigadoon -- Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick's Loewe's legendary musical of Broadway's Golden Age -- in more than three decades. Under director/choreographer Rachel Rockwell, a company of 28 actors, dancers and singers breathe new life into the enchanting tale of an 18th century Scottish village that appears every century for one day only -- and the complications that arise when it's discovered by two 20th century Americans. With adapter Brian Hill, Rockwell revisits the libretto for this production, while music director Roberta Duchak and an orchestra of 13 use new orchestrations to enhance Loewe's lilting score.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, continues its 30th anniversary season with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, now running through August 17, 2014. Scott Calcagno (Legally Blonde at The Civic Theatre, Grease at The Long Lake Theatre as well as the annual production of A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Theatre) will direct. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: THE AMBASSADOR REVUE gathers a group of celebs at The Town Hall, FIDDLER begins in Connecticut, an augmented BRIGADOON opens in Chicago, and AFTER MIDNIGHT closes on Broadway this Sunday!

Casting is complete for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Chicago-premiere production of The Night Alive by Conor McPherson. Henry Wishcamper directs a cast featuring ensemble members Francis Guinan and Tim Hopper with Helen Sadler, Dan Waller and M. Emmet Walsh. The world premiere of The Night Alive was produced at the Donmar Warehouse in 2013. The Night Alive begins previews September 18, 2014 (opening night is September 28; press performances are September 27 at 3pm and September 30 at 7:30pm) and runs through November 16, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St).

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces casting for the first three productions of the 40th Anniversary Season.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Brigadoon' and 'The Last Ship' bust their moves, 'Kinky Boots' and 'Jersey Boys' announce returns, midsummer closings loom, 'Marvelettes,' 'Spelling Bee' and 'Seussical' open, the new shows 'Jim And Dave' and 'Apes Of Wrath,' plus a noteworthy trio at Davenport's and more!

Goodman Theatre introduces its "all-new fall," celebrating nine decades with new inspiration: three months of new American plays, each developed in the Goodman's new play programs.

The Brooklyn College Department of Theater will present its inaugural New Works Brooklyn festival today, June 25-29. The series will feature staged readings of one-act plays written by Kia Corthron, Erin Courtney, Jose Rivera, Anne Washburn, and Mac Wellman, all of whom will take part in audience talkbacks during the week. In addition, Rivera will direct his own piece, and Corthron, Courtney, Washburn, and Wellman will take part in a panel discussion on the development of new plays on the closing day of the festival.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) have announced a new world premiere play and casting news for two of Manhattan Theatre Club's upcoming 2014-2015 theatrical season productions.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the summer engagement of American Blues Theater's Hank Williams: Lost Highway, by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, music director Malcolm Ruhl and starring Matthew Brumlow as "Hank Williams," July 25 - August 31 at the Greenhouse Theater Center's Downstage Mainstage Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Pink Previews, where tickets sales benefit the Lynn Sage Foundation for breast cancer research, are Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m. Opening night is Friday August 1 at 7 p.m.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE) Chicago's only Equity theatre devoted to the work of women theatre artists, and Artistic Director Tara Mallen are proud to announce the extension of the Chicago premiere of Courtney Baron's Eat Your Heart Out, directed by Hallie Gordon, through July 12 at Rivendell's performance venue, 5779 N. Ridge Ave. The performance schedule is Wednesday - Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m. Please note: there are no performances Friday, July 4 or Saturday, July 5. The running time is approximately 80 minutes with no intermission. Tickets for the extension go on sale Tuesday, June 24 at 10 a.m. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased online at www.RivendellTheatre.org or by phone, 773.334.7728.