Jeffrey Sweet News

Victory Gardens Theater announces the June lineup for The VG Reading Series. This regularly scheduled program of play readings provides playwrights a platform to develop their plays-in-progress, and will give audiences opportunities to experience exciting new work throughout the year. The Reading Series adds to VG's current programming of world premieres and new plays and the IGNITION Festival of New Plays.

Victory Gardens Theater concludes its 41st season with Midwest Premiere of The House That Will Not Stand by Ensemble Playwright Marcus Gardley, directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. The House That Will Not Stand runs June 10 - July 10, 2016, with the press performance on Friday, June 17, 2016, at 7:30 pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

The Dramatists Guild of America presented their annual awards on Monday, February 22, 2016, at The American Airlines Theatre Penthouse Lobby in New York. Preceding the awards event was the ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony of the new Mary Rodgers Room at the Guild's 1501 Broadway office. Scroll down for photos from both events!

Berkeley Playhouse presents the world premiere of BRIDGES: A NEW MUSICAL, with lyrics and book by Cheryl L. Davis (2009 Writers' Guild Award winner and Daytime Emmy Award nominee for As the World Turns), composed by Douglas J. Cohen (2005 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics for Off-Broadway's Children's Letters to God, Richard Rodgers Grants and the Gilman & Conzalez-Falla Theatre Foundation Award for Off-Broadway's No Way to Treat a Lady), and conceived by Founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy (developer of new musical theatre works for Berkeley Playhouse including: Born And Raised, Bravado, and Just So Stories).

Berkeley Playhouse presents the world premiere of BRIDGES: A NEW MUSICAL, with lyrics and book by Cheryl L. Davis (2009 Writers' Guild Award winner and Daytime Emmy Award nominee for As the World Turns), composed by Douglas J. Cohen (2005 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics for Off-Broadway's Children's Letters to God, Richard Rodgers Grants and the Gilman & Conzalez-Falla Theatre Foundation Award for Off-Broadway's No Way to Treat a Lady), and conceived by Founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy (developer of new musical theatre works for Berkeley Playhouse including: Born And Raised, Bravado, and Just So Stories).

Victory Gardens Theater announces Backstage at the Biograph: Breathing Life into a New Play. This behind-the-scenes event focuses on Cocked by Sarah Gubbins, directed by Joanie Schultz, running February 12 - March 13, 2016. Backstage at the Biograph: Breathing Life into a New Play examines the process of developing and staging a world-premiere production. Backstage at the Biograph: Breathing Life into a New Play is Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

BroadwayWorld is excited to report that Berkeley Playhouse will present the world premiere of BRIDGES: A NEW MUSICAL, with lyrics and book by Cheryl L. Davis (2009 Writers' Guild Award winner and Daytime Emmy Award nominee for As the World Turns), composed by Douglas J. Cohen (2005 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics for Off-Broadway's Children's Letters to God, Richard Rodgers Grants and the Gilman & Conzalez-Falla Theatre Foundation Award for Off-Broadway's No Way to Treat a Lady), and conceived by Founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy (developer of new musical theatre works for Berkeley Playhouse including: Born And Raised, Bravado, and Just So Stories).

Victory Gardens Theater announces the next show of its 41st season, the World Premiere of Cocked by Sarah Gubbins, directed by Associate Artistic Producer Joanie Schultz. Cocked runs February 12 - March 13, 2016 with the press performance on Friday, February 19, 2016, at 7:30 pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the next show of its 41st season, Never the Sinner by John Logan, directed by Gary Griffin. Never the Sinner runs now through December 6, 2015 with the press performance tonight, November 13, 2015, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the next show of its 41st season, Never the Sinner by John Logan, directed by Gary Griffin.  Never the Sinner runs November 6 - December 6, 2015 with the press performance today, November 13, 2015, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the next show of its 41st season, Never the Sinner by John Logan, directed by Gary Griffin.  Never the Sinner runs November 6 - December 6, 2015 with the press performance on Friday, November 13, 2015, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the launch of The Directors Inclusion Initiative to encourage and develop talented and emerging Chicago stage directors identifying as people of color, disable, women, transgender and gender non-conforming. The aim of the initiative is to cultivate a new generation of diverse stage directors who create dynamic theatre work for their unique points of view.

Articulate Theatre Company celebrates Circle Rep Company for its many accomplishments and the impact it has on today's theatre companies.  The event, called CIRCLING BACK, will include performances, speakers, awards, visits from Circle Rep members, and an after-party.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the next show of its 41st season, Never the Sinner by John Logan, directed by Gary Griffin.  Never the Sinner runs November 6 - December 6, 2015 with the press performance on Friday, November 13, 2015, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Today, THE ACTUAL DANCE is a powerful, award-winning play currently enjoying a National Tour after an acclaimed run on Theater Row. This past weekend, Sam and Susan gathered together many of the individuals that helped make the production possible for a special performance at the Treehouse Theater in honor of the start of their 50th year together. Scroll down for photos from last weekend's event!

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater's Artistic Director David Van Asselt and Managing Director Brian Long have announced that Hamlet In Bed, written by Michael Laurence and directed by Lisa Peterson, will begin previews Friday, August 28, at 8pm at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, 224 Waverly Place.  Joining Mr. Laurence in the cast is Annette O'Toole.  The official opening night is set for Thursday, September 10; the production will run through Sunday, October 25.

Today, in an excerpt from The O'Neill: Transformation of Modern American Theater, we hear from Manhattan Theatre Club Executive Producer Barry Grove who cites his semester away at NTI for 'literally changing the arc of my life - it led to Broadway, the National Playwrights Conference, my Equity card as a Stage Manager, the RSC with the infant Shakespeare & Co, a national tour launch, and a summer stock tour - all before I graduated from Dartmouth!'

Victory Gardens Theater announces the first show of its 41st season, the Midwest Premiere of Sucker Punch by Roy Williams, directed by Dexter Bullard.  Sucker Punch runs September 18 - October 18, 2015 with the press performance on Friday, September 25, 2015, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Victory Gardens Theater recently announced the cast of its 2015 IGNITION Festival of New Plays, including GREY'S ANATOMY star Sandra Oh and Broadway legend Andre De Shields.

The Group Rep presents the world premiere musical Love Again, book by Doug Haverty, music by Adryan Russ, lyrics by Russ and Haverty, directed by Kay Cole, produced by Richard Alan Woody and Jon Cortez for The Group Rep, with musical direction by Richard Berent.