Howard Brown News

The new production of Shakespeare's Hamlet, directed by Sean Mathias with Ian McKellen in an age-blind interpretation, is set to begin performances 21 June at Theatre Royal Windsor.

Jeff Award-winning director and HIV+ activist Christopher Pazdernik presents the 6th annual Belting for Life (formerly known as Chris’ Birthday Belt Fest), an annual benefit concert for Howard Brown Health, one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ organizations. 

Broadway might be dark, but that doesn't mean that theatre isn't happening everywhere! Below, check out where you can get your daily fix of Broadway this weekend, May 15-16, 2021.

Today (April 30) in live streaming: Broadway Rocks the Who!, Stars in the House reunites The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and more!

Porchlight Music Theatre will announce that the Chicago streaming premiere with KB Productions of Call Me Elizabeth, a one-woman show about the early life of Elizabeth Taylor, written by and starring Kayla Boye and directed by Erin Kraft, has been extended through Sunday, May 9.

Today (April 23) in live streaming: Lesli Margherita chats on Clubhouse, Romeo & Juliet premieres on PBS Great Performances, and more!

The new hires will succeed Operations Manager James McClellan, who stepped down during the COVID-19 pandemic. They will join current staff members John Pecano, Technical Director, Sarah Jane Demetruk, Education Director, and Merle Ford, Maintenance Manager.

Jeff Award-winning director and HIV+ activist Christopher Pazdernik presents the 6th annual Belting for Life (formerly known as Chris' Birthday Belt Fest), an annual benefit concert for Howard Brown Health, one of the nation's largest LGBTQ organizations.

Porchlight Music Theatre of Call Me Elizabeth, a one-woman show about the early life of Elizabeth Taylor, written by and starring Kayla Boye and directed by Erin Kraft.

Ian McKellen is set to play Hamlet at Theatre Royal Windsor later this year. The age-blind production is notable because the role is usually played by an actor under 40.

Sir Ian McKellen will join a company of talented actors for runs in Hamlet and Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard in 2021 at Theatre Royal Windsor.

Written by Kayla Boye and directed by Erin Kraft, the production may be viewed on-demand March 19-28, 2021.

This weekend (June 19) in live streaming: Jessie Mueller sings with Seth Rudetsky, and so much more!

While the world will celebrate a bit differently this year, June is still a month for Pride. Social distancing might keep the LGBTQ+ community physically apart, but many organizations are providing ways to come together... virtually.

Jeff Award-winning director and HIV+ activist Christopher Pazdernik presents the 5th installment of Chris' Birthday Belt Fest, an annual benefit concert for Howard Brown Health, Monday, May 13 at 8 p.m. at Greenhouse Theatre Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.Tickets are $30, in advance; $40, at the door on the night of the performance, and are available at GreenHouseTheater.org or by calling 773.404.7336. The performance is suitable for all ages and runs two hours with one intermission.

Porchlight Music Theatre's final production in its 2018 - 2019 'lost' musicals in staged concert series is Porchlight Revisits Minnie's Boys,  with book by Groucho Marx's son Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher, music by Larry Grossman and lyrics by Hal Hackady with direction and choreography by Christopher Pazdernik and musical direction by Christie Chiles Twille.  Porchlight Revisits Minnie's Boys is presented for three performances Wednesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, March 23 at 2 p.m. and  7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street.

Refuge Theater Project is proud to announce the cast and production team for its first production in its 2018 - 2019 season, The Last Session, October 26 - December 2, book by Jim Brochu, with music and lyrics by Steve Schalchlin, additional lyrics by John Bettis and Marie Cain directed by Refuge Theatre Project's Artistic Director Christopher Pazdernik and music directed by Erik Pearson. The Last Session runs  Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. at Atlas Art Studio, 4809 N Ravenswood Ave. Previews are Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. with opening/press night Sunday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. There are two additional performances Monday, Nov. 12 and 26 at 8 p.m. Preview tickets are $15, regular run tickets are $30 each and available at RefugeTheatre.com.

Refuge Theater Project is proud to announce the cast and production team for its first production in its 2018 - 2019 season, The Last Session

Learn and laugh with the ladies of The Second City and Chicago's premiere women's health organizations at the first-ever Second City Women's Health Fair, hosted by She the People & Women's Health Services at Howard Brown Health. Representatives from groups including Planned Parenthood of IL, Chicago Women's Health Center, Early to Bed, Empowered Therapy and Howard Brown Health will be on hand Thursday, September 6 to empower guests before they take in a performance of Second City's juicy comedy hit The Second City's She the People: Girlfriends' Guide to Sisters Doing It for Themselves, a sketch show created, designed and performed entirely by the women of Second City.