James Vincent Meredith News

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro announced today the addition of Namir Smallwood to the world-renowned ensemble.

Court Theatre, under the leadership of Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Stephen J. Albert, announces the extension of Blues for an Alabama Sky by Pearl Cleage, directed by Ron OJ Parson. Blues for an Alabama Sky now runs through February 19, 2017 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue in Chicago.

Court Theatre, under the leadership of Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Stephen J. Albert, presents Blues for an Alabama Sky by Pearl Cleage, directed by Ron OJ Parson. Blues for an Alabama Sky runs January 12 - February 12, 2017 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue in Chicago. The Press Opening is Saturday, January 21 at 8:00 p.m.

Victory Gardens Theater, Art AIDS America Chicago and Center on Halsted announce the two-day World AIDS Day Celebration We're Still Here: HIV/AIDS Then & Now, an HIV/AIDS Arts and Cultural Impact Panel and Performance is scheduled to take place today, November 30 at 7:30pmat Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted Street.

Victory Gardens Theater, Art AIDS America Chicago and Center on Halsted announce the two-day World AIDS Day Celebration We're Still Here: HIV/AIDS Then & Now, an HIV/AIDS Arts and Cultural Impact Panel and Performance is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, November 30 at 7:30pmat Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted Street.

A third audience engagement event has been added to the list of special events surrounding Raven Theatre's production of Red Velvet, which details the story of Ira Aldridge, who in 1833 became the first black actor to play Othello on a London stage.

A third audience engagement event has been added to the list of special events surrounding Raven Theatre's production of Red Velvet, which details the story of Ira Aldridge, who in 1833 became the first black actor to play Othello on a London stage.

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 42st season with the world premiere of Roz and Ray, written by Karen Hartman and directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. Roz and Ray features Mary Beth Fisher (Roz) and James Vincent Meredith (Ray). This World Premiere runs November 11 - December 11, 2016, with the press performance on Friday, November 18, 2016, at 7:30 pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Three of Chicago's leading theater artists - actor James Vincent Meredith, and director/educators Henry Godinez of Northwestern University and Susan Padveen of Columbia College will appear following performances of the play detailing the story of Ira Aldridge, who in 1833 became the first black actor to play Othello on a London stage. The three each have a unique and personal connection to the play's themes. 

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere of Stephen Adly Guirgis's 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov, who also directed last season's critically acclaimed Grand Concourse. The rowdy dark comedy stars acclaimed London-born actor Eamonn Walker as ex-cop Pops and ensemble member James Vincent Meredith as his ex-con son Junior. Previews are currently underway for an opening night on July 10; the production runs through August 21, 2016 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Chicago Inclusion Project Founder and Producer Emjoy Gavino is pleased to announce a slate of upcoming projects with three Chicagoland theatres.

Rehearsals are underway for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Chicago premiere of Stephen Adly Guirgis's 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov, who also directed last season's critically acclaimed Grand Concourse. The rowdy dark comedy stars acclaimed London-born actorEamonn Walker as ex-cop Pops and ensemble member James Vincent Meredith as his ex-con son Junior. Previews begin June 23 (opening night is July 10; press performances are Saturday, July 9 at 3pm and Tuesday, July 12 at 7:30pm) and runs throughAugust 21, 2016 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - $89) are available through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org.

Rehearsals are underway for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Chicago premiere of Stephen Adly Guirgis's 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, Between Riverside and Crazy, directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov, who also directed last season's critically acclaimed Grand Concourse. The rowdy dark comedy stars acclaimed London-born actor Eamonn Walker as ex-cop Pops and ensemble member James Vincent Meredith as his ex-con son Junior. Previews begin June 23 (opening night is July 10; press performances are Saturday, July 9 at 3pm and Tuesday, July 12 at 7:30pm) and runs through August 21, 2016 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - $89) are available through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted), 312-335-1650 andsteppenwolf.org.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and members of the Chicago City Council today  honored Steppenwolf Theatre Company's 40th Anniversary, recognizing the organization for its invaluable artistic contributions to Chicago. Additionally, in a separate resolution, Mayor Emanuel and the City Council paid special tribute to former Steppenwolf artistic director Martha Lavey on her two decades of transformational leadership from 1995 to 2015.

? Steppenwolf Theatre Company will to welcome Sandra Marquez and Caroline Neff to its world-renowned ensemble. Both have performed in multiple shows with the company and can currently be seen on Steppenwolf's stages in Mary Page Marlowe and The Flick respectively. Marquez and Neff are the first two members added under Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced today the complete cast for the Chicago premiere of BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, a rowdy dark comedy written by 2015 Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov. The cast features London-born actor Eamonn Walker as ex-cop Pops.

Fresh from Shakespeare's Globe and the Royal Shakespeare Company, renowned British director Jonathan Munby returns to Chicago to stage Shakespeare's most intimate tragedy. OTHELLO, featuring James Vincent Meredith in the title role, continues the Theater's Shakespeare 400 Chicago celebration, now through April 10, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Jermaine Fowler will star in a new CBS comedy pilot SUPERIOR DONUTS, based on Tracy Letts 2008 play. Fowler will also serve as a co-exec producer.

The Book of Mormon comes back to Baltimore by popular demand, and its not hard to understand why. The brainchild of South Park's Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q's Robert Lopez is the hottest ticket on Broadway. While definitely not for the easily offended, this show is uproariously funny and fun, surprisingly touching and poignant, and the touring company gracing the Hippodrome Theatre does not dissapoint. In truth, I haven't enjoyed myself so much at a musical in a very, very long time.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced today the complete cast for the Chicago premiere of Domesticated, a provocative dark comedy written and directed by ensemble member and Pulitzer Prize-winner Bruce Norris. The cast features ensemble member Tom Irwin and venerable Chicago actress Mary Beth Fisher as a political couple in the midst of a sex scandal. Irwin has been an ensemble member since 1979, having performed in more than 50 Steppenwolf productions including The Grapes of Wrath and The Seafarer. Fisher, a frequent performer at Goodman Theatre, most recently in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, last performed at Steppenwolf in Dead Man's Cell Phone in 2008. Completing the Domesticated cast are Emily Chang, Esteban Andres Cruz, Meighan Gerachis, Rae Gray, Beth Lacke, Millie Langford, Melanie Neilan, Meg Thalken and Karen Woditsch. Domesticated runs December 3, 2015 - February 7, 2016 in the Downstairs Theatre. Tickets to Domesticated ($20 - $89) go on sale Friday, October 2, 2015 through Audience Services (1650 N. Halsted) at 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org.