James Joseph News

There's an old adage that goes something like this, if you really want to know a person…walk a mile in their shoes.

Rehearsals begin Tuesday for Amadeus, the first show in Center Stage's 2014/15 Season. Helmed by Center Stage Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah, the production begins previews Sept. 10 and runs until Oct. 12.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, present RIPPED: The Living Newspaper Festival, Monday, May 5 at 7 p.m. at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets are $10 at the door and include food and drinks. For more information or to order tickets go to americanbluestheater.com or call 312.725.4228.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside announces the American Blues Theater's Season 29 'Lost & Sound' at the 'Blue Bash,' their annual fundraiser, Thursday, Feb. 27 from 5:30 - 9 p.m., at the office of Seyfarth Shaw, Suite 2400, 131 S. Dearborn. Complete performance schedules, venues, casting and ticket information will be announced at a later date. Flex passes for Season 29 'Lost & Sound' are available now. Details on each production are included in this release. For more information on the current and next season's productions visit americanbluestheater.com. Season 29 includes:

As a rather humble musician myself, I can appreciate the patience and perseverance it takes to keep a group of musicians together for any outstanding period of time. I can also understand how changing one member can effect the dynamics of both the music and the people playing it. That's what makes playwright Michael Hollinger's OPUS so fascinating to me. Over the course of about 90 minutes you're taken backstage and onstage in various places,with a full access to the emotions and passions that come forth from, in this instance, a string quartet. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis has put together a brilliantly spellbinding production that hits just the right note on every occasion.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) presents the fascinating play Opus by Michael Hollinger and directed by Brendon Fox. This unique play will be performed on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, tonight, January 8-February 2, 2014.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) presents the fascinating play Opus by Michael Hollinger and directed by Brendon Fox. This unique play will be performed on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, January 8-February 2, 2014.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, present the return of the critically-acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, now at its new venue: the mainstage of the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. now through December 29, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, recently announce the return of the critically-acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, now at its new venue: the mainstage of the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., tonight, November 22 - December 29.

American Blues Theater, one of Chicago's oldest Equity ensemble, and Producing Director Gwendolyn Whiteside are proud to announce the return of the critically acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, now at its new venue: the mainstage of the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., November 22 - December 29. Pink Previews, where tickets sales benefit the Lynn Sage Foundation for breast cancer research, are Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. The press/opening night performance is Sunday, Nov. 24 at 2:30 p.m. The running time is approximately 90 minutes. Tickets are $19-$49 and are on sale now through the box office 773.404.7336 or online at americanbluestheater.com. The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Additional holiday performances are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 30 at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8 and 15 at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 21 at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 22 at 5:30 p.m. Limited complimentary parking is available at the former Children's Memorial Hospital lot, 2316 N. Lincoln Ave. For more information visit www.americanbluestheater.com.

Starz has added Lela Loren (Snitch, “Gang Related”), Naturi Naughton (Fame, “The Client List,” “Mad Men”) and Joseph Sikora (Jack Reacher, Safe, “Boardwalk Empire”) to the cast of the upcoming hour-long STARZ Original drama series “Power” executive produced by Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson and created by Courtney Kemp Agboh ('The Good Wife'), who will serve as executive producer and showrunner. Mark Canton (300, 300: Rise of an Empire, Escape Plan), Randall Emmett (End of Watch, 2 Guns,Lone Survivor) and David Knoller (“Big Love,' 'Carnivàle”) serve as executive producers in association with CBS Television Studios.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside of American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, announces the Ensemble's 28th season. The season begins with the Chicago professional premiere of Hank Williams: Lost Highway by award-winning playwrights Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, today, September 5 - October 6; the 12th smash year of It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! , now at the 199-seat Greenhouse Theater Center, directed by Ensemble member Marty Higginbotham, November 22 - December 29; world premiere of 2012 Blue Ink Playwriting Award-winning script American Myth by Christina Gorman, directed by Steve Scott, February - March 2014; Chicago premiere of 2012 Smith Prize winner Grounded by George Brant, June 2014. American Blues also announces year-long development and public reading of Ensemble member's Nambi E. Kelley's adaptation of Richard Wright's Native Son which will receive a production in fall of 2014.

The Film & Television Institute (FTI) announced the winners of the 25th annual WA Screen Awards (WASAs) last night to a crowd of over 600 at a red carpet Gala Awards Ceremony at The Astor Theatre in Perth.

American Blues Theater, one of Chicago's oldest Equity ensemble, and Producing Director Gwendolyn Whiteside have announced the return of the critically acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, now at its new venue: the mainstage of the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., November 22 - December 29. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights of the show below!

American Blues Theater, one of Chicago's oldest Equity ensemble, and Producing Director Gwendolyn Whiteside have announced the return of the critically acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, now at its new venue: the mainstage of the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., November 22 - December 29. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below!

The Film & Television Institute (FTI) will announce the winners of the 25th annual WA Screen Awards (WASAs) at the Gala Awards Ceremony at The Astor Theatre in Perth tonight 2 August.

American Blues Theater, one of Chicago's oldest Equity ensemble, and Producing Director Gwendolyn Whiteside have announced the return of the critically acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, now at its new venue: the mainstage of the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., November 22 - December 29.

The Film & Television Institute (FTI) will announce the winners of the 25th annual WA Screen Awards (WASAs) at the Gala Awards Ceremony at The Astor Theatre in Perth this Friday 2 August.

The Film & Television Institute (FTI) announced the successful 2013 nominees for the 25th annual WA Screen Awards (WASAs) at an exclusive event held tonight as part of the Revelation Perth International Film Festival at the Astor Theatre in Perth.

The Award-Winning Epic Theatre Ensemble, now in their 12th year presents William Shakespeare's RICHARD III: Born With Teeth, part of Shakespeare for a New Generation, a national program of the National Endowment for the Arts in cooperation with Arts Midwest. The production, directed by Ron Russell, begins previews Off-Broadway tonight, Tuesday, April 16th and opens Saturday, April 20th at 8:00 PM at the Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). The play will run through May 4th.