Jacob Juntunen News

Some bright local voices were heard at Prism Theatre Company’s SPOTLIGHT ON ... BEING YOU over this past weekend in St. Louis. The best of the festival was the performance billed as a ‘Popera’ written and composed by Holly Barber and Lee Ehmke. THAT PERFECT KISS, a retelling of Cinderella and her Prince, is a short musical ditty about finding one’s genuine self. Accompanied by composer Holly Barber on guitar, Sarah Lueken, Rachel Bailey, Zach Thompson, and Matt Kauzlarich performed the light pop score with charm and pizzaz. In just a few minutes, Barber and Ehmke used familiar characters, re-told their stories, provided them arc, and created an indelible musical memory for the audience. The prince wasn't the only thing that was charming in this coming-of-age tale.  

This past year was a spectacular season for theatre in St. Louis. Forbes magazine recognized St. Louis as having “America’s most exciting emerging arts district.” The article credits the The Kranzberg Foundation for buying and operating spaces where artists can create. Many of the smaller theatre companies in St. Louis rely on The Kranzberg Foundation venues for performance and rehearsal space. In addition to the smaller professional companies, the mid-size and larger companies including The Muny, STAGES St. Louis, and The Black Rep all presented stellar musicals and plays that were produced locally. Blue Strawberry and The St Louis Cabaret project advanced cabaret performing in St. Louis booking amazing shows with Tony nominated Broadway performers Adam Pascal, Beth Leavel, and Robin de Jesús. 

The world premiere production of SEE YOU IN A MINUTE is compelling because of its relevance, its intelligent and well-written script, the sharp direction, and the terrific performances from all the actors.

Contraband Theatre is producing the new play, See You in a Minute by local playwright, Jacob Juntunen, at The Chapel (6238 Alexander Dr., St. Louis). Performances run Oct 11-28, Wednesdays at 7pm and Thursdays - Saturdays at 8pm.

Playwrights Foundation, the West Coast's premier launchpad for exceptional new plays and playwrights, has revealed the semifinalists and finalists for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival, which will be presented in a hybrid festival.

Not-for-profit History Matters: Celebrating Women's Plays Of The Past has announced its winner for the 2022 Judith Barlow Prize. The annual Judith Barlow Prize is awarded to a student playwright for an exceptional one-act play inspired by the work of an historic female playwright. The winner of the prize receives a $2,500 award and a reading of their work, with a $500 award to the participating professor.

Theatre of NOTE continues its 2016 season with the west coast premiere of D DEB DEBBIE DEBORAH by Jerry Lieblich and directed by Doug Oliphant. D DEB DEBBIE DEBORAH will open on Thursday, August 11 and run through Saturday, September 17 at Theatre of NOTE, 1517 N Cahuenga Blvd (just north of Sunset) in Hollywood.

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Columbus Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Columbus Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Columbus Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Columbus Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Columbus Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 25th.

Sideshow Theatre Company concludes its 2013-14 season with the world premiere of TYRANT by Artistic Associate Kathleen Akerley, co-directed by Kathleen Akerley and Ensemble Member Megan A. Smith, playing today, May 24 - June 29, 2014 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.

Sideshow Theatre Company concludes its 2013-14 season with the world premiere of TYRANT by Artistic Associate Kathleen Akerley, co-directed by Kathleen Akerley and Ensemble Member Megan A. Smith, playing May 24 - June 29, 2014 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets for TYRANT go on sale Monday, March 24 at www.theaterwit.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box Office or by calling 773-975-8150.

Now celebrating its 10th anniversary season, the Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition continues to spotlight the best emerging playwrights with a full production for the competition winner and staged readings for four competition finalists. IN LOVE AND WARCRAFT, the 10th competition winner, will premiere on the Hertz Stage January 31 - February 23, 2014. Opening night is February 5, 2014. IN LOVE AND WARCRAFT is written by Madhuri Shekar, a recent graduate of the MFA program at the University of South California, and will be directed by Laura Kepley, Artistic Director of the Cleveland Play House.

Ensemble Free Theater Norway (EFTN) announces the playwrights who will participate in Belarusian Dream Theater, an international performing arts event supporting freedom of expression in Belarus conceived and initiated by Brendan McCall, Artistic Director of EFTN.

Rogers Park-based theatre company, the side project, will present the World Premiere of Joan's Laughter, written by Jacob Juntunen and helmed by Cecile Keenan, as part of its three-show Spring Repertory starting tonight, May 13.

After a successful fall repertory series focusing on the modern effects of war, the side project theatre company in Rogers Park will present a look at the historical impact of war, specifically on youth, with one U.S., one world, and one Chicago premiere. Enola, by Al Smith; Joan's Laughter, by Jacob Juntunen; and a new adaptation of Aleksei Arbuzov's The Promise, by Nick Dear open today, May 13th and May 16th and 22nd, respectively. The rep will run through June 17 at The Side Project, 1439 W. Jarvis Ave in Rogers Park.