Goodman Theatre News

Lookingglass Theatre, Frontera Grill and Silverguy Entertainment present the return of Rick Bayless in Cascabel: Dinner - Daring - Desire, the unforgettable theatrical adventure featuring a sumptuous feast, world-class circus acts, and a tantalizing love story starring celebrity chef Rick Bayless that had Chicago audiences spellbound when it premiered in spring 2012. The extremely limited engagement is co-created by Rick Bayless, Artistic Associate and founder of Silverguy Entertainment Tony Hernandez (Hephaestus, Lookingglass Alice), and Lookingglass Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman (Hephaestus, The Brothers Karamazov, Hard Times). The culinary and theatrical experience of the year runs at the Goodman Theatre's Owen Bruner Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, for four weeks only, July 30 -August 24, 2014.

The NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK (NNPN), the country's alliance of non-profit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays, announces its 44th, 45th, and 46th Rolling World Premieres: Nathan Alan Davis' Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea, Andrew Hinderaker's Colossal, and William Missouri Downs' Women Playing Hamlet will receive a total of 12 productions through the Network's Continued Life of New Plays Fund in the 2014/15 season.

16th Street Theater announces MARIPOSA NOCTURNA: A Puppet Triptych conceived and created by Stephanie Diaz coming to North Berwyn Park District's 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn, for 3 special shows, August 15, 16, 17.

Windy City Playhouse has announced the first of its 2016 season directors: JOANIE SCHULTZ is a Chicago-based freelance director who was recently called by the Chicago Sun-Times, "one of the city's strongest and most stylistically adaptable directors."

The incomparable CHITA RIVERA returns to Birdland (315 West 44 Street) for seven shows only, Tuesday, October 7 through Saturday, October 11. Tickets are on sale now.

The National New Play Network (NNPN), the country's alliance of non-profit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays, in collaboration with the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival and Stanford University's National Center for New Plays, will host nearly fifty playwrights, directors and dramaturgs today, July 26 - August 3, 2014 as part of a week-long workshop for new works by MFA students from New York University-Tisch School of the Arts, Hunter College, University of California-San Diego, and the Juilliard School.

The frighteningly funny farce "The Mystery of Irma Vep- A Penny Dreadful" by Charles Ludlam opens July 30 at Peninsula Players Theatre, America's oldest professional resident summer theater and Door County's theatrical icon. The Drama Desk-and Obie Award-winning comedy is a true mix of Victorian gothic romance and Universal monster movies.

Workhaus Playwrights Collective announces its 8th season featuring world premiere productions of LAKE UNTERSEE, by Joe Waechter (September, 2014), SKIN DEEP SEA, by Stanton Wood (February, 2015), and THE REAGAN YEARS, by Dominic Orlando (April, 2015).

The Old Globe presents its third production of the 2014 Summer Season, Ronald Harwood's comedy Quartet, directed by Richard Seer (Other Desert Cities, God of Carnage, The Last Romance). Harwood received an Academy Award for his screenplay of The Pianist and was nominated for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and The Dresser (also a hit on Broadway and the West End). Quartet will play in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, today, July 25 - August 24, 2014.

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 byDamon Kiely, music director Malcolm Ruhl and starring Matthew Brumlow as 'Hank Williams,' today, July 25 - August 31 at the Greenhouse Theater Center's Downstage Mainstage Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

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,' today, July 25 - August 31 at the Greenhouse Theater Center's Downstage Mainstage Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

Collaboraction returns this summer to incite change on a hyperlocal level by embedding its smash hit, docu-drama live theater experience Crime Scene Chicago in four different Chicago neighborhoods on four consecutive weekends in August:

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's the Chicago Summer Musical Theater Guide! With half the summer gone, our stages still burn bright with great showtune entertainment. Here's a rundown, from downtown to Indiana, to west and north. We've got 24 productions to keep your spirits up from now till Labor Day!

Sundance Institute and the LUMA Foundation today announced that the two organizations will again collaborate to host the second Sundance Institute | LUMA Foundation Theatre Directors Retreat in Arles, France, July 29 through August 11. The Retreat is one of 10 residential programs hosted by Sundance Institute this summer, collectively representing 15 weeks of support and mentorship for promising independent artists in theatre and film from the United States and around the world.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Moldy Fig Productions, LCC present THE SONGS OF CENTRAL AVENUE BREAKDOWN, a one night only concert event. With Book by Kevin Ray, Andrea Lepcio & Dominic Taylor; Music and Lyrics by Kevin Ray; and Additional Story by Suellen Vance, the concert will be directed by Lee Summers and is set for tonight, July 22nd at 8 p.m. at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street.

Fight or Flight's co-artistic directors John Behlmann, Steve Coles Hughes and Eileen Little announce three presentations of their latest trapeze, storytelling extravaganza, which tosses the most famous great white shark in cinema history into the air and into the realm of high-flying parody. All three performances will be at The Muse Brooklyn aerial theater located in Williamsburg at 32 S 1st St. Performances are tonight, July 22nd at 8pm, July 23rd at 8pm and July 24th at 10pm.

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.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, continues its landmark 30th anniversary season with the winner of 'Best Play' at the 2012 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Awards, THE GAME'S AFOOT, previewing August 28, opening Thursday, September 4 at 8 p.m., and running through October 19, 2014. The cast is led by Derek Hasenstab (Broadway National Tour of The Lion King; The Foreigner and I Hate Hamlet at Drury Lane Theatre; Oedipus Complex at the Goodman Theatre; and Sunday in the Park with George at Chicago Shakespeare Theater) as 'William Gillette' and nine-time Jeff Award-winner Alene Robertson (National Tour of Annie, Mame at Drury Lane Theatre, and The Full Monty and Hello, Dolly! at Marriott Theatre) as 'Martha Gillette.' THE GAME'S AFOOT is written by Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor, The Fox on the Fairway, Crazy for You, and Moon Over Buffalo) and directed by Drury Lane Theatre Artistic Director William Osetek (Young Frankenstein and next to normal at Drury Lane Theatre).

Jellicle cats come one, come all! Join the Jellicle Ball, today, July 18 through July 27 with Pittsburgh CLO's production of CATS! A talented company of felines will bring Andrew Lloyd Webber's mysterious masterpiece to life on the Benedum Center stage.