John Barrymore News

? Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the 2016 ICONS Gala celebrating the legendary woman whose name is synonymous with Broadway, Ethel Merman, Sunday, May 1, 2016 11:00 a.m. - 2 p.m., at the Grand Ballroom, InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, 505 N. Michigan Ave. The Gala includes performances from Chicago's leading talents celebrating the rich career of Merman, the presentation of the 2016 Guy Adkins Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Music Theatre in Chicago to E. Faye Butler and silent and live auctions. Proceeds from the event and its accompanying auction benefit Porchlight's educational programs and productions. Tickets are on sale now and require advance purchase, $125 before April 15, $150 after April 15, $50 for children ages 18 years old and younger are available at 773.777.9884 or at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org.

Northlight Theatre Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Tim Evans announce E. Faye Butler in Concert. This one-night-only concert event will be held at 7:30pm on February 8, 2016 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

As a new year begins, Connecticut's professional theater scene offers many exciting viewing opportunities including premieres of new shows as well as some old some old favorites. What shows am I most looking forward to? Here are some tops picks for 2016:

The former speakeasy and old school Broadway hangout will move to W. 46th Street.

After presenting IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: The Radio Play for nearly 20 years in Cranford and Maplewood, The Theater Project will present its annual holiday production in Union for the first time - thanks to the hospitality of Unity Bank. The show will be performed in the bank's Stuyvesant Avenue branch, with the support of Union's Downtown Improvement District, and a Union County HEART grant.

This month, one of New York's most iconic hotels celebrates one of New York's most iconic artists in a unique art installation. The Algonquin Hotel Celebrates The Hirschfeld Century, will be presented in the legendary lobby of the Algonquin Hotel today, November 19, 2015 through March 31, 2016.

Paul Rudnick's I HATE HAMLET comes to Lake Worth Playhouse this fall.

This month, one of New York's most iconic hotels celebrates one of New York's most iconic artists in a unique art installation. The Algonquin Hotel Celebrates The Hirschfeld Century, will be presented in the legendary lobby of the Algonquin Hotel November 19, 2015 through March 31, 2016.

Broadway loves a good ghost story, but not all ghost stories are the scary kind.

The Grand 1894 Opera House welcomes keyboard marvel and Galveston favorite Rob Landes at the organ, performing his specially created, improvised musical score for the showing of John Barrymore's 1920 silent film classic, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, tonight, October 30 at 8 pm.

Barter Theatre unveils the 2016 production schedule with a behind-the-scenes preview of what the next season has in store. Producing Artistic Director Richard Rose announces an exciting season filled with comedy, drama and many world-famous shows patrons will recognize from their silver-screen adaptations.

Legends about Hollywood stars are often difficult to prove or disprove. Such is the case about what happened to famous Shakespearean actor John Barrymore after his death. What can be substantiated is that on May 19, 1942, while recording a line from Romeo and Juliet for the show, Barrymore collapsed. He was taken to the Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital and died there on May 29 from cirrhosis of the liver and kidney failure, complicated by pneumonia. It is at this point the legend begins and turns into something truly monstrous.

Broadway In Chicago presents the Chicago premiere of UNSPEAKABLE, a dramatic fantasia inspired by the life of comedic legend Richard Pryor. UNSPEAKABLE features a cast of many prominent Chicago performers and will play the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut St.) for a limited five-week engagement tonight, Oct. 6 through Nov. 8, 2015.

The cast and designers have been set for The Blank Theatre's world premiere production of Something Truly Monstrous by Jeff Tabnick, directed by Daniel Henning. Preview performances begin September 26 with opening night set for Today, October 3, and the engagement will run through November 8.

Playhouse Theatre Group, Inc. announces the seven plays and musicals that will comprise the 2015-16 Main Stage Season at Playhouse on Park. The award winning theatre continues its mission to ensure every performance in the Main Stage Season educates, entertains, and most importantly, challenges our audiences. Paramount to this mission is our diverse programming, which challenges our patrons to consider theatre in all forms.

Broadway In Chicago has announced full casting for the Chicago premiere of UNSPEAKABLE, a dramatic fantasia inspired by the life of comedic legend Richard Pryor. 

Rubicon Theatre Company welcomes stage and screen veterans Linda Purl, Brett Rickaby and Peter Van Norden in the company's mainstage production of the Tony-Award winning play COPENHAGEN, directed by international artist Judy Hegarty Lovett.

Dorset Theatre Festival will stage I Hate Hamlet, a hilarious play by Obie Award winning playwright and pre-eminent humorist Paul Rudnick. The production will be directed by Carl Andress and will run from August 20th to September 5th.

Rubicon Theatre Company welcomes stage and screen veterans Linda Purl, Brett Rickaby and Peter Van Norden to star in the company's mainstage production of the Tony-Award winning play COPENHAGEN, directed by international artist Judy Hegarty Lovett.

The Grand 1894 Opera House welcomes keyboard marvel and Galveston favorite Rob Landes at the organ, performing his specially created, improvised musical score for the showing of John Barrymore's 1920 silent film classic, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Friday, October 30 at 8 pm. Tickets may be purchased at The Grand's Box Office, 2020 Postoffice Street, by calling 409.765.1894, 800.821.1894, or online at www.thegrand.com.