James Ijames News

Patrons and friends from the Playhouse on Park community tuned in for Playhouse's Season 12 Big Reveal via Zoom; the season was announced by Executive Director Tracy Flater and Co-Artistic Directors Sean Harris and Darlene Zoller.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced its 2020/21 Reset Season today featuring a truncated four play lineup (originally six plays) with flexible dates to allow for greater agility in the time of COVID-19, accompanied with a robust slate of original virtual programming.

Studio Theatre, in collaboration with Studio Artist-in-Residence Psalmayene 24, is launching a three-part series of digital dance parties with conversation—Psalm's Salons at Studio—beginning June 25 at 5 p.m. The virtual salons are an online gathering space to highlight the work of Black creatives, signal boost local and Black-owned businesses, kick back to live music, and promote a sense of community. Salons will be hosted by Psalmayene 24 with original music from DJ Nick tha 1da, sampling from the Library of Congress's Citizen DJ tool, and a rotating panel of guests. Events in the series are free to view and will be streamed live on Studio Theatre's Facebook and YouTube pages.

To support the ongoing Justice for George Floyd and Black Lives Matter movements, The Wilma Theater in Philadelphia will stream their 2018 production of James Ijames' KILL MOVE PARADISE from today, June 8, 2020, to June 21, 2020, featuring members of the Wilma's HotHouse Company.

Building on over 40 years of producing powerful contemporary theatre, Studio Theatre is pleased to announce its largest class ever of commissioned artists to Studio R&D, its incubator to support the creation of new work.

Building on over 40 years of producing powerful contemporary theatre, Studio Theatre is pleased to announce its largest class ever of commissioned artists to Studio R&D, its incubator to support the creation of new work. Studio will award grants to 10 artists-playwrights, directors, and multidisciplinary creators-investing in its future while supporting theatre-makers and expanding the idea of what it means to be a generative artist. For the first time, Studio R&D commissions are being awarded to support the creation of audio plays, as Studio explores alternate modes of theatrical storytelling in response to the present moment.

Shakespeare in Clark Park has announced the postponement of its planned 2020 summer season until the summer of 2021. After consideration and thoughtful conversations with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, SCP has concluded that it would not be safe for their audiences, which number in the thousands each season, to gather in the parks this summer.

The Wilma Theatre in Philadelphia has announced an innovative new program that provides audience members flexibility and peace of mind about when and how they return to their theatre after the COVID-19 health crisis.

The Belmont Theater District (BTD), Chicago's largest theater district located in the Lakeview West and Lakeview East neighborhoods, is offering a wide variety of entertainment options all ONLINE throughout spring. Belmont Theater District is sponsored and maintained by the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce and the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company will move the world premiere production of King James by ensemble member Rajiv Joseph to the 2021/22 Season. Originally scheduled to open May 7, 2020, King James is a co-production with the Center Theatre Group (CTG) and will be directed by Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro.

As the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus shutters productions big and small across the nation, theatrical licensers have responded with a series of measures to accommodate arts institutions affected by the crisis. 

Theatre Horizon, a professional, award-winning theatre company located in Norristown, Pennsylvania, is proud to announce their 2020-2021 season, aptly titled ROAD TRIPS, RECKONINGS, AND RED VELVET. The six-show season, the first for new Artistic Director Nell Bang-Jensen, features a variety of performances and programs, including three Philadelphia premieres, all directed by women.

Definition Theatre announces casting for the Chicago premiere of WHITE by newly-added ensemble member James Ijames, directed by Tasia A. Jones. WHITE will run from April 17 a?" May 24, 2020, with a press opening on Saturday, April 25 at 6:00pm. Definition Theatre presents WHITE in collaboration with Steppenwolf Theatre's LookOut Series in the Steppenwolf 1700 Theatre. Tickets for WHITE are on sale and can be purchased online at steppenwolf.org or by calling 312-335-1650. The 1700 Theatre is located behind Front Bar at 1700 N Halsted.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2019-2020 season with Intimate Apparel, written by Lynn Nottage and directed by Tasia A. Jones. Intimate Apparel runs March 12 a?" April 19, 2020 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. The press opening is Friday, March 20, 2020 at 8pm.

Four young black men, torn from the world without warning, discover themselves stuck in a nebulous waiting room in the afterlife. While balancing the reality of their past and the uncertainty of their future, their souls try to find peace in Kill Move Paradise by James Ijames, receiving its Chicago premiere February 12 a?" April 5, 2020 at TimeLine Theatre Company.

While there are four characters in Kill Move Paradise, and they are endowed with names and hints at backstories, their individual identities don't matter much. They are unified more than distinguished, engaged as they are in a common enterprise, chorally addressing the same issues. Specifically, they are all African American men, all (apparently) killed by police gunfire, who are still coming to terms with the ongoing trauma attendant upon being born black and therefore vulnerable to what happened to them in today's America. And, having landed in an afterlife of some kind, they are required now to come to awareness of their present circumstances, and apparently to heal from the inner wounds their earthly lives have inflicted.

Four young black men, torn from the world without warning, discover themselves stuck in a cosmic waiting room in the afterlife. While balancing the reality of their past and the uncertainty of their future, their souls try to find peace in TimeLine Theatre's Chicago premiere of Kill Move Paradise.

This afternoon, the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia announced a groundbreaking artistic leadership plan. Building on the regional theater's esteemed 40-year history, the Wilma will embark on a new artistic vision called The Next Chapter. Under this plan, three new Co-Artistic Directors have been hired by the Wilma's Board of Directors to collaborate alongside Founding Artistic Director Blanka Zizka.

The Belmont Theater District (BTD), Chicago's largest theater district located in the Lakeview West and Lakeview East neighborhoods, will partner with the League of Chicago Theatres and ChooseChicago for the eighth annual Chicago Theatre Week, February 13 - 23. Tickets to a variety of shows are only $15 and $30 for this week only.

Audiences can celebrate Valentine's Day, honor Black History Month, and more during Chicago Theatre Week (#CTW20).  With over 120 participating productions, there is something for everyone during Chicago Theatre Week, running February 13-23, 2020. Value-priced tickets, priced at $30, $15, or less, are now available at ChicagoTheatreWeek.com.