Idris Goodwin News

59E59 Theaters is thrilled to welcome Throughline Artists with SUMMER SHORTS 2016, the annual festival of six short plays tailor-made for summer viewing, now celebrating its 10th season.

Jackalope Theatre Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Gus Menary and Managing Director Nate Silver, announces its 2016/17 season. The company's 9th season features three productions: a world premiere, a U.S premiere, and a Midwest premiere. The season begins with the U.S premiere of Octagon by Kristiana Rae Colon, directed by Tara Branham, continues with the world premiere of The Snare by Samantha Beach, directed by Jackalope Associated Producer Elana Boulos, and concludes with the Midwest premiere of Ideation by Aaron Loeb, directed by Jackalope Artistic Director Gus Menary.

Adventure Stage Chicago (ASC), a Northwestern Settlement (the Settlement) program, announces its 2016 - 2017 season. Kicking off its thirteenth season, ASC continues its commitment to new work and original storytelling in the spirit of service and community-building.

59E59 Theaters has announced the lineup of shows for the 2016 Summer Season. Ticket prices range from $12 - $70 ($10 - $49 for 59E59 Members). Tickets for the summer season go on sale to 59E59 Members on June 2 at Noon, and to the general public on June 6 at Noon. Shows in the previously announced 5A Season are on sale now. Tickets are available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or by visiting www.59e59.org.

The Chicago Humanities Festival announces several changes to its inaugural Spring festival, STYLE.

In 'We Want the Funk: A Rustbelt Lullaby on the One,' charismatic Chuck resolves to trust in the notion that economic depression and cultural oppression can be overcome by creating music. Chuck can't play an instrument, but he devotes his energy to forming a funk band to connect his community to their grander calling. That calling might be a literal ticket out of the slums if their band hits it big across the nation; but Chuck, who Goodwin describes as a 'ghetto spiritual leader,' is more interested in the transcendent aspect of music.

As part of the kick-off event for the 2016 Kennedy Center (KC) American College Theater Festival, a special preview of the EVERY 28 HOURS PLAYS will be performed and livestreamed as part of KC's Millennium Stage Series. The preview consists of an excerpt of the collection with more than 30 one-minute plays inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, with participation by theater makers and institutions across the nation and showcases the creative outcome of a community outreach residency in Ferguson and St. Louis County, Missouri in the fall of 2015.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hosts more than 150 outstanding theater students from colleges and universities across the nation as part of the 48th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), which runs April 12-16, 2016 in multiple locations throughout the Center. Thousands of student artists from eight regions across the country presented their work at regional festivals from January 5 through February 27, 2016 and more than 150 were selected to travel to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., for an all-expenses-paid trip to participate in the national festival.

Idris Goodwin's second break beat play is a love story set in the world of hip-hop, exploring one young man's search for authenticity and identity when he moves from the suburbs to the urban environment. Hoping to immerse himself in the culture of the hip-hop music world, T.O. learns important life lessons from a no-nonsense Journalism professor and from being tossed around on the rocky shoals of love.

On Monday, April 4 and Tuesday, April 5 at 7 p.m. the Playwrights' Center will present readings of Core Writer Ken Urban's new play A GUIDE FOR THE HOMESICK, the final play of the 2015-16 Ruth Easton New Play Series.

From tonight, March 12, to April 9, 2016, SpeakEasy Stage Company will present the New England Premiere of BOOTYCANDY, a shockingly funny and saucy spin on race, sex, and sexuality, written by award-winning playwright and director Robert O'Hara.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced programming for the 2016-2017 season for the Center, the National Symphony Orchestra, and Washington National Opera, including its Broadway lineup.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced programming for the 2016–2017 season for the Center, the National Symphony Orchestra, and Washington National Opera. Under President Deborah F. Rutter's continued leadership, the Kennedy Center is re-imagining ways of presenting the arts in the 21st century through interdisciplinary programming, immersive audience engagement, and a focus on artist-centric programming. The 2016–2017 season includes significant and institution-wide initiatives from the yearlong celebration marking the Centennial of John F. Kennedy's birth, to three newly appointed Artistic Partners who will lead these artistic and community initiatives (Yo-Yo Ma, Rene?e Fleming, and Q-Tip), and the support of American programming. With more than 2,000 performances across many artistic genres, the Center continues its tradition as the nation's center for the performing arts, commissioning, producing, and presenting the finest of local, national, and international arts. The 2016–2017 season includes 25 commissioned or co-commissioned works and projects across the Center's full range of artistic disciplines.

The Playwrights' Center presents another reading of Core Writer Alice Tuan's new play 'California Love' as part of the 2015-16 Ruth Easton New Play Series. It's set for tonight, March 8 at 7 p.m. at the Playwrights' Center, 2301 E. Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre continues its 2015-16 Season with the world premiere of "The Realness: a break beat play," the latest work from renowned playwright and hip-hop artist Idris Goodwin. The love story at the center of "The Realness" lets us view the seismic events of the mid-90's hip-hop scene insightfully, through a compassionate human lens. Audiences will see this world through the eyes of T.O., who immerses himself in the hip-hop culture he's only observed from the safety of the suburbs, and falls hard for a captivating MC. Wendy Goldberg, head of the National Playwrights Conference at The Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center, will direct. The production is supported, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts' Art Works program.

From March 12 to April 9, 2016, SpeakEasy Stage Company will present the New England Premiere of BOOTYCANDY, a shockingly funny and saucy spin on race, sex, and sexuality, written by award-winning playwright and director Robert O'Hara.

Named one of the Top Ten Plays of 2014 by The New York Times, BOOTYCANDY is based on the author's own experiences growing up black and gay. The play unfolds in a series of loosely linked vignettes that take no prisoners when confronting racial, sexual, and cultural stereotypes. With outrageous humor and real heart, O'Hara tests how we talk about our bodies at home, in church, and in the theatre.   (Please note that BOOTYCANDY contains strong language, adult content, and nudity). 

The Playwrights' Center presents two readings of Core Writer Alice Tuan's new play 'California Love' as part of the 2015-16 Ruth Easton New Play Series. The readings are Monday, March 7 and Tuesday, March 8 at 7 p.m. at the Playwrights' Center, 2301 E. Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. The readings are free, but reservations are encouraged. Reserve tickets at pwcenter.org, info@pwcenter.org or (612) 332-7481.

Teatro Vista, in association with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and Victory Gardens Theater, presents the world premiere of Where Did We Sit on the Bus?, created and performed by Brian Quijada and directed by Victory Gardens' Artistic Director, Chay Yew. The production will take place at the Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph St. Chicago. Opening/Press night is Thursday, March 17 at 7:30 pm.  Regular performances are from Friday, March 18 through Sunday, April 10. Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Preview performances run from Thursday, March 10 through Wednesday, March 16. All tickets are $15. Students and seniors (65+) with valid I.D. are $12. Discounts are also available for groups of 20 or more. Tickets may be purchased at all HotTix locations or by visiting www.teatrovista.org.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced awards totaling more than $27.6 million in its first funding round of fiscal year 2016, including an Art Works award of $20,000 to Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) in support of the upcoming world premiere production of "The Realness: a break beat play" by Idris Goodwin.