Jim Ortlieb News

American Blues Theater has announced it will purchase a 17,965 square foot property in Chicago's Lincoln Avenue North Arts District and launch “Our First Home” campaign. This will establish the first permanent home for American Blues, a nationally recognized, award-winning non-profit AEA theater.

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the Chicago premiere of Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight, written and directed by John Kolvenbach, featuring American Blues Theater Artistic Affiliate Jim Ortlieb.

Vs. Theatre Company & Circle X Theatre Co. have announced that the critically acclaimed, west coast premiere of STAND UP IF YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT, written and directed by John Kolvenbach, starring Jim Ortlieb, and featuring Alexandra Grossi is extending through Saturday, October 30 at the Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave. in Los Angeles, 90039.

Sixty minutes spent in the company of an individual this thirsty for a human connection can be a bit exhausting, but it's well worth the investment.

Vs. Theatre Company & Circle X Theatre Co. presents the west coast premiere of John Kolvenbach’s STAND UP IF YOU’RE HERE TONIGHT, previewing on August 5, 2021. Ingeniously making lemonade out of lemons, John fashioned STAND UP around his pandemic restrictions. Had the chance to chat with John on STAND UP and highlights of his productive career.

Vs. Theatre Company & Circle X Theatre Co. will present the West Coast premiere of a new play, STAND UP IF YOU’RE HERE TONIGHT.

The couple behind (and front and center of) THE EMPTY NESTERS, JW Walker and Pamela Gaye Walker certainly validate the adage 'A couple that works together, stays together.' With a working and personal relationship spanning decades, JW and Pam take time from their respective day jobs, (he producing at Disney/Pixar Studios, she running their production company Ghost Ranch Productions) to bring THE EMPTY NESTERS to the Zephyr Theatre (beginning January 17, 2019) a play they both have a heartfelt connection to. These two multi-taskers were gracious enough to carve out some time to answer my queries.

Goodman Theatre presents Blind Date, Rogelio Martinez's slyly comic, behind-the-scenes glimpse of two of the most powerful world leaders Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev directed by Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls. Martinez, a fresh and funny talent (Backstage) who finds new twists on old topics (Variety), continues his multi-play exploration of the Cold War Era with this Goodman world premiere, which features as characters some of the figures who shaped the political landscapes of the 1980s and beyond.

Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev go head-to-head in Blind Date, a new play by Rogelio Martinez directed by Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls. Today, Falls announced his cast for the world-premiere production, which features as characters some of the figures who shaped the political landscapes of the 1980s and beyond.

Performances begin tomorrow for Blind Date, Rogelio Martinez's slyly comic, behind-the-scenes glimpse of two of the most powerful world leaders Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev directed by Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls. Martinez, a fresh and funny talent (Backstage) who finds new twists on old topics (Variety), continues his multi-play exploration of the Cold War Era with this Goodman world premiere, which features as characters some of the figures who shaped the political landscapes of the 1980s and beyond. In an era before Twitter, Tinder and 24/7 news, Ronald Reagan (Rob Riley) and Mikhail Gorbachev (William Dick) seek to thaw the seemingly intractable tension between the United States and Soviet Russia. Despite their advisors' best efforts to keep them on track, a crafty game of one-upmanship ensues, as the world's two most powerful leaders eschew conventional protocols to discuss pop culture and old movies while Nancy Reagan (Deanna Dunagan) and Raisa Gorbachev (Mary Beth Fisher ) mirror their husbands' negotiations in a passive-aggressive tango over tea and fashion choices.

Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev go head-to-head in Blind Date, a new play by Rogelio Martinez directed by Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls. Today, Falls announced his cast for the world-premiere production, which features as characters some of the figures who shaped the political landscapes of the 1980s and beyond.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, presents the Midwest Premiere of The Book of Will, written by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Jessica Thebus. The Book of Will runs November 9 December 17, 2017 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, presents the Midwest Premiere of The Book of Will, written by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Jessica Thebus. The Book of Will runs November 9 December 17, 2017 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

Frank Grillo, Minnie Driver, Dianna Agron, John Leguizamo, AnnaSophia Rob, Maggie Q, Mary McCormack, Christopher McDonald, Jim Ortlieb & Ed Westwick will star in crime thriller THE CRASH.

Frank Grillo, Minnie Driver, Dianna Agron, John Leguizamo, AnnaSophia Rob, Maggie Q, Mary McCormack, Christopher McDonald, Jim Ortlieb & Ed Westwick will star in crime thriller THE CRASH.

Lookingglass Theatre's season opener, the ironically life-affirming LIFE SUCKS, might as well have been titled 'Love Sucks,' because every character's issues stem from that all-encompassing drive to connect with the person with whom they think completes them.

Opening its 29th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the Midwest Premiere of Life Sucks written by Aaron Posner and directed by Lookingglass Ensemble Member Andrew White. Life Sucks runs now through November 6, 2016 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Today, September 17, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Opening its 29th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the Midwest Premiere of Life Sucks written by Aaron Posner and directed by Lookingglass Ensemble Member Andrew White. Life Sucks runs now through November 6, 2016 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Opening its 29th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the Midwest Premiere of Life Sucks written by Aaron Posner and directed by Lookingglass Ensemble Member Andrew White. Life Sucks runs September 9-November 6, 2016 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity Ensemble celebrating 30 years of presenting visceral theatrical works while engaging its audience in missions of local service agencies, are proud to announce the Chicago premiere of LOOKING OVER THE PRESIDENT'S SHOULDER, by Artistic Affiliate James Still and directed by Timothy Douglas, February 5 - March 6, 2016 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.