Jason Dirden News

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network has announced September 2017 highlights! Check out the listings below!

Goodman Theatre is proud to support Chicago's off-Loop theater companies Teatro Vista, Definition Theatre Company and Collaboraction as a producing partner on several high-profile productions this summer - two of which open this week.

Definition Theatre Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tyrone Phillips and Managing Director Neel McNeill, announces casting for the first play of its 2017-2018 season, the Chicago premiere of An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Gloria, Appropriate), produced in association with Goodman Theatre.

Tickets officially went on sale yesterday for Two River Theater's production of Lorraine Hansberry's classic American Drama, A Raisin In The Sun, playing the venue's Joan and Robert Rechnitz Theater from Saturday, Sept. 9th, 2017 to Sunday, October 8th at the Joan and Robert Rechnitz Theater.

Definition Theatre Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tyrone Phillips and Managing Director Neel McNeill, announces casting for the first play of its 2017-2018 season, the Chicago premiere of An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Gloria, Appropriate), produced in association with Goodman Theatre.

Definition Theatre Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tyrone Phillips and Managing Director Neel McNeill, announces the first play of its 2017-2018 season, the Chicago premiere of An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Gloria, Appropriate), produced in association with Goodman Theatre. An Octoroon is directed by Goodman Theatre Resident Director Chuck Smith and runs July 21 - August 20, 2017 in the Richard Christiansen Theater at Victory Gardens Theater as part of Definition's tenure in the Victory Gardens Resident Theater Program.

August Wilson's hard-hitting 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' opened September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Center Theatre Group/ Mark Taper Forum. 'Ma Rainey...' is part of Wilson's American Century Cycle of 10 plays chronicling African American experience in 20th Century USA. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights of the show below, along with behind the scenes with the cast and celebrities!

Like all of August Wilson's plays, this one contains more dialogue than perhaps is needed, with the first act seemingly bogged down at times as you listen to four musicians (Damon Gupton as Cutler, Glynn Turman as Toledo, Keith David as Slow Dawg, Jason Dirden as Levee) stuck in a rehearsal room as they banter about life, women, music, and a much-loved pair of new shoes. It's a shame these brilliant musicians were not allowed to share their skills in more than just one song during the show as they rocked the house. Make no mistake; this play is NOT a musical but a hard-hitting drama about the inequities of life.

August Wilson's hard-hitting 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' opened September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Center Theatre Group/ Mark Taper Forum. 'Ma Rainey...' is part of Wilson's American Century Cycle of 10 plays chronicling African American experience in 20th Century USA. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Now in previews, August Wilson's hard-hitting 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' opens September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Center Theatre Group/ Mark Taper Forum. 'Ma Rainey...' is part of Wilson's American Century Cycle of 10 plays chronicling African American experience in 20th Century USA. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Center Theatre Group presents August Wilson's 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' which begins previews tonight, August 31, opens September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Mark Taper Forum.

Rehearsals have begun for August Wilson's blazing masterpiece 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' which begins previews September 1, opens September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. BroadwayWorld has a peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Center Theatre Group has announced the casting for August Wilson's 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' which begins previews August 31, opens September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Mark Taper Forum.

OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK has announced August 2016 programming highlights, including new series and seasons and returning series and seasons.

Signature Theatre presents Signature Plays: Edward Albee's The Sandbox, Maria Irene Fornes' Drowning, Adrienne Kennedy's Funnyhouse of a Negro, featuring Frank Wood, Alison Fraser and more.  Check out photos from opening night below!

Atlantic Theater Company's critically acclaimed, world premiere production of Dominique Morisseau's Skeleton Crew, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, that sold out at Stage 2 earlier this season, transfered Off Broadway to Atlantic's main stage Linda Gross Theater earlier this month. The production celebrated its opening night yesterday, May 19, and will play a strictly limited engagement through Sunday, June 19. Go inside the after party at Smithfield Hall in Chelsea below!

Atlantic Theater Company's critically acclaimed, world premiere production of Dominique Morisseau's Skeleton Crew, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, that sold out at Stage 2 earlier this season, transfers Off Broadway to Atlantic's main stage Linda Gross Theater as performances begin tonight, Friday, May 13.

Signature Theatre held its Annual Gala celebration on Monday, April 18, 2016, celebrating Signature's 25th Anniversary and honoring Founding Artistic Director James Houghton's leadership of the company, on the occasion of his final season as Artistic Director. Check out photos below!