Goodman Theatre News

Today's photos come from the casts of KINKY BOOTS and SOUL DOCTOR celebrating 'Shark Week,' a Vine from Gavin Creel of West End's BOOK OF MORMON, shots from THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, THE NANCE, the national tour of ANYTHING GOES, and more!

Fear No Art Chicago presents The Fall Series at Chicago City Winery of THE DINNER PARTY. TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

RareMedia Productions has announced the world premiere of Judgment Day, a new comedy by Maria S. Schlatter, starring Donald Corren (Souvenir, Old Jews Telling Jokes) whom The New York Times calls 'a chameleonic wonder' as part of this summer's New York International Fringe Festival. Performances begin tonight, August 9th (playing through August 25th) at The Players Theatre (115 MacDougal Street). Michael Schwartz directs.

Red Tape Theatre (RTT) announces their 2013/14 Season, which marks their 10th Anniversary Season and first season under the direction of new Artistic Director, Brandon Ray. The season opens October 14th, 2013 with the world premiere of The Life and Death of Madam Barker by Brooke Allen, with music and lyrics by John Fournier and directed by Eric Hoff. Then, in January of 2014 RTT will present the US premiere of hamlet is dead. no gravity by Ewald Palmetshofer, translated by Neil Blackadder and directed by Seth Bockley. Concluding the season in May of 2014, RTT will present another US Premiere, Earthquakes in London, by Mike Bartlett and directed by Brandon Ray. Red Tape Theatre's 10th Season will be presented at its home in St. Peter's Episcopal Church, located at 621 W Belmont Ave.

The Old Globe today announced that it will present The Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program's production of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, directed by James Newcomb, Nov. 9 - Nov. 17, 2013 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

Producers Jeffrey Richards and John N. Hart Jr., in association with the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.), have announced that the box office will open on Thursday, August 8th for the 17-week limited engagement of the critically-acclaimed revival of The Glass Menagerie at the Booth Theatre (222 W 45th Street) with performances beginning Thursday, September 5, 2013, and an opening night set for Thursday, September 26th. The production will star multiple Tony and Emmy Award-winner Cherry Jones as Amanda Wingfield, film and stage star Zachary Quinto as Tom, two-time Tony-nominee Celia Keenan-Bolger as Laura, and Brian J. Smith as Jim, the Gentleman Caller.

Carol Burnett, America's beloved comedienne, is teaming up with legendary mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne at the Music Academy of the West this month for coaching sessions with the young vocalists who will headline this year's Cabaret gala on August 8, which benefits the Music Academy's full-scholarship program. Ms. Burnett, as the Academy's Cabaret Creative Contributor, and Ms. Horne, Voice Program Director, will instruct Music Academy Voice Fellows in the art of musical comedy, both in private classes and individually. The renowned Summer School and Festival, now in its 66th season, runs through August 10 in scenic Santa Barbara.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, previewing August 14, opening Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and running through October 27, 2013. THE COLOR PURPLE stars Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway's Rent, All Shook Up, and Little Shop of Horrors and the first National Tour of Sister Act) as 'Celie,' Jasondra Johnson (Crowns at Goodman Theatre) as 'Sophia,' and Adrienne Walker (Marriott Theatre's Dreamgirls) as 'Shug.' This highly anticipated production is led by multiple Jeff Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Director), and Brenda Didier (Choreographer).

Everyman Theatre has announced the directors attached to each of its six productions for the upcoming 2013/14 season. Renowned and award-winning director Walter Dallas will be making his Everyman debut with BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK next spring. Susanna Gellert, hot off of her work with the MY AMERICA project at Centerstage, will both be making their Everyman Theatre debuts this season. Founding Artistic Director Vincent Lancisi will direct the first and last shows of the season - THE GLASS MENAGERIE and TRIBES, respectively. And returning to Everyman will be two audience favorites - celebrated directors Donald Hicken and Derek Goldman.

Walnut Street Theatre opens its landmark 205th season with the groundbreaking 21st century musical IN THE HEIGHTS. Directed by Bruce Lumpkin, with choreography by Michelle Gaudette, this exhilarating musical about chasing your dreams and finding your true home begins previews on September 3rd, opens on September 11th and runsthrough October 20th on the WST Mainstage.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) has selected Academy Award nominee Elizabeth McGovern as the 2013 recipient of The William Shakespeare Award for Classical Theatre (Will Award). KPMG, LLP will be awarded the Sidney Harman Award for Philanthropy in the Arts. McGovern & KPMG, LLP will be honored at the Harman Center for the Arts Annual Gala, hosted by STC at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW), on Sunday, October 6, 2013.

Kicking off its 26th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of Marguerite Duras' The North China Lover, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman. The North China Lover runs September 25 - October 4, 2013 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

The Ojai Playwrights Conference (OPC), one of the most acclaimed new play developmental programs in the country, announces its 16th season with an extraordinary program of playwrights, new play workshops and special performance events from today, August 7 through 11, in Ojai, California.

Bay Street Theatre presents the final production of the 2013 Mainstage Season with A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, beginning August 6 and running through September 1. The show stars Peter Scolari with Conrad John Schuck and Jackie Hoffman. The book is by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart with lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim; music direction by Ethyl Will; and directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge.

Actress Anjali Bhimani is quite possibly Mary Zimmerman's biggest fan. After working with Zimmerman many times, Ms. Bhimani raves about the successful director's notoriously organic, inspiration-led process. She is clearly in love with the Zimmerman method.

Rehearsals began Tuesday for Animal Crackers, the first production of Center Stage's 2013-14 Season. This classic American musical comedy is set to feature City Paper Best Actor Bruce Nelson as Groucho Marx playing the ineffable Captain Spaulding. Under the direction of Northlight Theatre Artistic Director BJ Jones-who previously directed Center Stage's smash production of A Skull in Connemara-Animal Crackers begins previews on September 4 and runs through October 13.

Aurora's Paramount Theatre will launch its third Broadway subscription series this September with the first local professional staging of In the Heights, one of Broadway's most acclaimed contemporary musicals, a potent reminder of the importance of chasing one's dreams, and the show all of Chicago will be talking about this fall. Performances are September 11 through October 6, 2013. Press opening is Saturday, September 14 at 8 p.m.

Bay Street Theatre presents the final production of the 2013 Mainstage Season with A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, beginning tonight, August 6 and running through September 1. The show stars Peter Scolari with Conrad John Schuck and Jackie Hoffman. The book is by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart with lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim; music direction by Ethyl Will; and directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge.