Goodman Theatre News

Goodman Theatre's world premiere of The Jungle Book begins previews on June 21 (opening night is July 1) and, with a second extension week just added, now runs through August 11. Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman reimagines Walt Disney's 1967 animated hit into a wholly original new work for the stage, drawing from both the film as well as Rudyard Kipling's 1894 collection of stories set in the Indian jungle and featuring original Indian-inspired music and dance. As previously announced, 10-year-old Akash Chopra makes his Chicago debut as young "man cub" Mowgli, who comes of age with the help of the anthropomorphic singing and dancing jungle animals; joining him in the role at select performances is Roni Akurati, who most recently appeared at the Goodman as Tiny Tim in the 2011 production of A Christmas Carol.

Following the best-selling musical James Joyce's The Dead and the critically-acclaimed drama A Walk in the Woods, Quotidian Theatre Companycloses their 15th anniversary season with the D.C. area premiere of The Birds - celebrated playwright Conor McPherson's unique, morally-challenging adaptation of the Daphne du Maurier short story that inspired Alfred Hitchcock's film. Quotidian's co-founder and artistic director Jack Sbarbori directs actors Jenny Donovan, Stephanie Mumford, Ted Schneider, and Matthew Vaky in the production, which runs July 12 - August 11, 2013 at The Writer's Center (4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, MD).

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83), will present the rollicking World Premiere of SHAKESPEARE'S CYMBELINE: A FOLK TALE WITH MUSIC, previewing tonight, June 19, opening Saturday, June 22 at 8:15 p.m., and running through July 21, 2013.

Closing out its 25th Anniversary Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of Big Lake Big City, written by Keith Huff and directed by Ensemble Member David Schwimmer. Tickets are now on sale for the production, running tonight, June 19 - August 11, 2013 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.

Shakespeare & Company Artistic Director Tony Simotes announces a special one-night-only Benefit Performance of BROADWAY IN THE BERKSHIRES Monday, July 8th at The Tina Packer Playhouse, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA. Proceeds from the event will benefit Shakespeare & Company's internationally-acclaimed Education and Training Programs.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the first production in American Blues Theater's "Legends and Legacies" season, Hank Williams: Lost Highway, by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, music director Malcolm Ruhl and starring Matt Brumlow as "Hank Williams," August 30 - October 6, at the Greenhouse Theater Center's Downstage Mainstage Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets are $19 for previews, $29 Thursdays and Fridays and $39 Saturdays and Sundays and $49 for opening night. Previews are Friday, Aug. 30 and Saturday, Aug. 31 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 1 at 2:30 p.m. Press/opening night is Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursday - Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. There are post-show discussions following Sunday performances beginning September 8. Single tickets go on sale July 24 at 773.404.7336 or americanbluestheater.com.

Caroline Aaron, Michelle Beck, Peter Grosz and Carla Gugino will be featured in the cast of the upcoming LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater world premiere production of A KID LIKE JAKE, a new play by Daniel Pearle, directed by Evan Cabnet. A KID LIKE JAKE opens tonight, June 17 and runs through Sunday, July 14 at the Claire Tow Theater, 150 West 65 Street.

Erica Herd and L.E. Swenson's breakout comedic masterpiece, THE YEAR OF DEAD CATS, will have its World Premiere today, June 16th at Stage Left Studio (214 West 30th Street - between Seventh & Eighth Avenues - Sixth Floor) where it will play through Sunday, June 30th with the option to continue through September.

Profiles Theatre announces an extended run for the World Premiere of Resident Artist Neil LaBute's revised stage version of In the Company of Men, now playing at The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway. Directed by Profiles Resident Artist and Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder, In the Company of Men opened May 16 to critical acclaim and has been extended for another four weeks through July 28, 2013.

Gorilla Tango Burlesque's (GTB) extremely popular Star Wars parody, A NUDE HOPE: A STAR WARS BURLESQUE celebrates its second anniversary this July 9.

Goodman Theatre presents four free staged readings of new plays developed in the Playwrights Unit, a season-long residency program for local writers who meet twice monthly with members of the theater's artistic staff to discuss their plays in progress. Out of this process emerges four brand new plays, which appear in FREE staged readings: Prowess by Ike Holter (July 20 at 2pm); Sleeping with the Prince of Darkness: The Imagined Pillow Talk of FBI Agent John O'Neill by Greg Allen (July 20 at 7:30pm); F(law)less by christopher oscar peña (July 21 at 2:30pm); and Ninth Man Outby Alice Austen (August 16 at 7:30pm).

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents the Tony Award-winning 2008 Broadway revival version of the hit comedy BOEING-BOEING, previewing tonight, June 13, opening Today, June 20 at 8 p.m., and running through August 4, 2013. BOEING-BOEING stars Saturday Night Live alum Nora Dunn as'Berthe' (Dunn was Meryl Streep's co-star in the Nancy Meyers film It's Complicated; her TV credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Private Practice, Psych and Franklin & Bash; and she recently starred in Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron's play Love, Loss and What I Wore at the Broadway Playhouse in Chicago).

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83), will present the rollicking World Premiere of SHAKESPEARE'S CYMBELINE: A FOLK TALE WITH MUSIC, previewing June 19, opening Saturday, June 22 at 8:15 p.m., and running through July 21, 2013. This wondrous new version of the timeless Shakespearean folk tale has been moved to Civil War Appalachia and includes 10 original songs featuring beautiful bluegrass melodies. SHAKESPEARE'S CYMBELINE: A FOLK TALE WITH MUSIC is adapted by First Folio Theatre's Executive Director and Jeff Award-nominee, David Rice, with Music and Lyrics by Rice and Michael Keefe (First Folio's Resident Composer). Michael Goldberg (The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night's Dream at First Folio Theatre) directs the "Shakespeare Under the Stars" production, which concludes First Folio Theatre's smash hit 2013 season. It will appear on the outdoor main stage situated on the scenic slopes of the historic Mayslake Peabody Estate.

Saint Michael's Playhouse has been producing professional theater since 1947 and is located in Colchester, Vermont minutes from downtown Burlington and Lake Champlain. For more information and tickets, visitsaintmichaelsplayhouse.org or call 802-654-2281 and www.saintmichaelsplayhouse.org

In conjunction with Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman's world-premiere stage musical adaptation of The Jungle Book (June 21 - August 4) this summer, Goodman Theatre teams up with community partners to present show-related events and activities at venues throughout Chicago-many free of charge.

Jackalope Theatre Company, in association with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, presents the world premiere of THE CASUALS, co-written by Chance Bone and Andrew Swanson and directed by Jonathan Berry, playing tonight, July 7 - 28, 2013 at The Storefront Theater.

Chicago's acclaimed Jefferson Award nominated actress and winner of the After Dark Award for "Outstanding Cabaret Artist" and the Chicago Cabaret Professionals Gold Coast Award,Suzanne Petri brings " A Little Touch of Coward in the Night" to Davenport's, 1383 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago on Wednesday and Thursday June 26th and 27th at 8pm. There is a $20 cover charge with a two-drink minimum. Due to the high demand for this limited remount, reservations are recommended by calling 773-278-1830 or online www.DavenportsPianoBar.com.

Today, Coon confirmed the celebratory news to The Capital Times that she and costar Letts are engaged.

Here's a listing of the top ten places that are really burning it up in theater this summer, in Chicago and the region nearby. Seek them out, and enjoy!

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was thrilled to sit down and speak with nearly all of this year's Tony Award nominees at the official Tonys Meet & Greet on May 1, 2013, and we will be bringing you special coverage on all of them throughout the awards season. Today we bring you Richard Kind, a nominee for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play for The Big Knife. Check out what he had to say below!