Joe Chvala News

History Theatre will present the world premiere of The Defeat of Jesse James book by Jeffrey Hatcher and music and lyrics by Chan Poling.

History Theatre has announced that Glensheen will return for performances beginning July 8, 2023.

Festival of Cinema NYC will return for its 6th year, as a live in-person 10-day event, August 5 - August 14. Taking place at the Regal UA Midway theater in Forest Hills, Queens, FOC NYC will showcase 124 independent films from more than 25 countries, with over 90 anticipated filmmakers to be in attendance.

The Duluth Playhouse rings in the holiday season with the beloved family adventure musical that is also celebrating the 80th anniversary of its feature film, The Wizard of Oz. It plays in the NorShor Theatre from December 5-22, 2019, and is directed by guest artist, Joe Chvala (who also directed last year's Beauty and the Beast).

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces today the extension of A Midsummer Night's Dream, now playing in the Courtyard Theater through February 3, 2019. Staged by internationally acclaimed director Joe Dowling, Shakespeare's beloved comedy is infused with raucous humor, dazzling dance numbers, and eclectic musical score blending rock, jazz, blues, rock, and '50s doo-wop.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces today the extension of A Midsummer Night's Dream, now playing in the Courtyard Theater through February 3, 2019. Staged by internationally acclaimed director Joe Dowling, Shakespeare's beloved comedy is infused with raucous humor, dazzling dance numbers, and eclectic musical score blending rock, jazz, blues, rock, and '50s doo-wop.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces today the cast and creative team for a vibrantly reimagined A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by internationally acclaimed director Joe Dowling. Shakespeare's beloved comedy is infused with raucous humor, a striking visual landscape, and eclectic musical score blending rock, jazz, blues, rock, and '50s doo-wop.

Flying Foot Forum is one of the Twin Cities' most original performing companies. What they do-full evenings of original percussive dance, often with a historical or cultural jumping off point, and always with a big dose of humor-is unique. FRENCH TWIST (or parts of it) has been in their repertoire since 2008. A revival with new bits plays just through July 15 at Park Square Theatre's basement space in Saint Paul, as the company celebrates its 25th experimental season.

Park Square Theatre's Andy Boss Thrust Stage is once again the home to Flying Foot Forum's signature storytelling with FRENCH TWIST, a cabaret of gorgeous music, theatrical storytelling and percussive dance set in a Paris Nightclub that runs from June 22 to July 15, 2018. This 25th anniversary production starts with the premise of the company's original production which premiered at The Guthrie in 2008, but now includes new characters, melodic new songs and inventive dances. Director/choreographer Joe Chvala fuses vaudeville, tap, cabaret, follies, opera, and percussive art forms to evoke American's wildest imaginings of life in the City of Light.

A musical about youth hockey with an abominable snowman, er... yeti? It's gotta be Minnesota, and it's gotta be the Children's Theatre Company. It's no surprise that this new original musical is a surefire hit, the only surprise is that it took them so long to come up with the idea. THE ABOMINABLES was developed by The Civilians, a NYC-based theater company, and researched and workshopped right here in Minnesota. This feels like authentic portrayal, if a bit extreme and fantastical. I attended a backstage tour at the Children's Theatre a few weeks ago, which was hugely exciting as things were starting to come together. It's such a thrill to see the final product this opening weekend and to report to you that this is not only a super fun and entertaining new original musical for kids and adults alike, but also one that celebrates the good (and gently mocks the less than good) of our beloved state of Minnesota while telling a heart-warming story about teamwork, friendship, community, and family that, yes, brought tears to my eyes.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) brings to the stage the very first Minnesota hockey musical, The Abominables. Produced in association with New York City's extraordinary theatre company The Civilians, the musical is written and directed by Steve Cosson with music and lyrics by the late Michael Friedman and choreography by Joe Chvala. BroadwayWorld has a fresh batch of shots, featuring a first look at Ryan Colbert as 'the Yeti' and more, below!

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) brings to the stage the very first Minnesota hockey musical, The Abominables.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) announces the casting for the premiere of The Abominables, the first Minnesota hockey musical produced in association with The Civilians, written and directed by Steve Cosson with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman and choreography by Joe Chvala. Ryan Bourque (son of Ray Bourque) will serve as Fight and Hockey Choreographer (Ryan is a former Rangers player and current Hershey Bears player).

Children's Theatre Company has announced its 2017-2018 season, which includes four musicals, two world premieres, one preschool production and partnerships with other leading theatres such as The Old Vic (London, UK), The Civilians (New York, NY) and Penumbra Theatre (Saint Paul, MN). The season also celebrates Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius' 20th Anniversary with CTC.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) brings to the stage the very first Minnesota hockey musical, The Abominables. Produced in association with New York City's extraordinary theatre company The Civilians, the musical is written and directed by Steve Cosson with music and lyrics by the late Michael Friedman and choreography by Joe Chvala. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Fortune's Fool Theatre will produce the world premiere of a new musical, The Lady with a Lap Dog, book and lyrics by Daniel Pinkerton and music by Robert Elhai, adapted from the story by Anton Chekhov. It will be performed at the Open Eye Figure Theatre in Minneapolis for 8 performances only from September 15-24. The production will star the outstanding singing actors Andrea Leap as Anna, Joel Liestman as Dmitri, and Laurel Armstrong as the four other characters. It will be directed by Nicole Wilder and music directed by Jill Dawe. 

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) brings to the stage the very first Minnesota hockey musical, The Abominables.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) announces the casting for the premiere of The Abominables, the first Minnesota hockey musical produced in association with The Civilians, written and directed by Steve Cosson with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman and choreography by Joe Chvala. Ryan Bourque (son of Ray Bourque) will serve as Fight and Hockey Choreographer (Ryan is a former Rangers player and current Hershey Bears player).

A (mostly) local team has been in the process of adapting the 2005 Minnesota-made movie SWEET LAND into a musical for years, and their hard work is finally coming to fruition when SWEET LAND, THE MUSICAL opens at the History Theatre this weekend. I've seen several readings of the work in progress, and I've been so pleased how the creators have held true to the beautiful heart of the movie while adding music that feels organic to the story and only serves to enhance the storytelling. One of the creators, Twin Cities theater artist Laurie Flanigan-Hegge, answered a few of my questions about SWEET LAND, THE MUSICAL, the development process of a new work, and the importance of supporting women playwrights and composers.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) will bring its production of Seedfolks to the prestigious ASSITEJ International World Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. Prior to this international touring stop, CTC will bring Seedfolks to Seattle Children's Theatre in the Unites States.