John Gawlik News

The Gift Theatre's artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton, co-founder William Nedved and associate artistic director Paul D'Addario are proud to announce nine artists have joined the company ensemble: playwrights Will Eno and Laura Marks; directors Marti Lyons and Erica Weiss; and actors Cyd Blakewell, Darci Nalepa, Keith Neagle, Mary Ann Thebus, and Kyle Zornes. Conceived in 1997 by Michael Patrick Thornton and William Nedved, The Gift's mission was to grow and nurture an ensemble while laying roots in an artistically underserved Chicago neighborhood. Today, The Gift Theatre thrives in Jefferson Park as Chicago's most intimate Equity theater and is home to a nationally respected acting ensemble.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, just announced that two additional matinees, Saturday, May 15 and 23 at 3 p.m., have been added to the Tony Award-winning Side Man, written by Warren Leight, directed by Jonathan Berry, and running now through May 24, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Opening night is tonight, April 30 at 7:30 pm. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action below!

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, just announced that two additional matinees, Saturday, May 15 and 23 at 3 p.m., have been added to the Tony Award-winning Side Man, written by Warren Leight, directed by Jonathan Berry, and running now through May 24, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Opening night is Thursday, April 30 at 7:30 pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the Tony Award-winning Side Man, written by Warren Leight, directed by Jonathan Berry, tonight, April 24 - May 24, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, announce that two additional matinees, Saturday, May 16 and 23 at 3 p.m., have been added to the Tony Award-winning Side Man, written by Warren Leight, directed by Jonathan Berry, April 24 - May 24, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. 'Pink Previews,' where tickets sales benefit the Lynn Sage Foundation for breast cancer research, are Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 26 at 2:30 p.m. Opening night is Thursday, April 30 at 7:30 pm. The performance schedule is Thursday - Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. with Saturday matinee performances May 16 and 23 at 3 p.m. Tickets for 'Pink Preview' performances are $19. Regular run performances tickets are $29 Thursdays and Fridays and $39 Saturdays and Sundays. Opening night tickets are $49 and include access to the post-show reception. All tickets are currently on sale at 773.404.7336 or AmericanBluesTheater.com.

CIRCLE THEATRE has announced a new artistic team as it prepares to launch into its first full season in over a year. Circle Theatre began in Oak Park, IL back in 1985 by Karen Skinner, Wayne Buidens and Joseph Bass, where it produced multiple world premieres and earned over 40 Joseph Jefferson Awards in its 28-year residency. After officially transitioning to the city proper in 2013 with the remount of its Jeff Award-winning When the Rain Stops Falling (director: John Gawlik), Circle Theatre produced two more musicals (Death Takes a Holiday and Edges) before taking a break from producing to re-group as an artistic ensemble. 

To accommodate demand for tickets, The Gift Theatre has added performances and extended the run of its critically acclaimed new play, The Royal Society of Antarctica, written by Mat Smart and directed by Gift ensemble member John Gawlik. Originally scheduled to close April 26, The Royal Society of Antarctica, will now continue through Sunday, May 24, 2015. Performances are Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Please consult the Gift's website at thegifttheatre.org or call the box office at 773-283-7071 for the most current schedule and ticket availability.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the Tony Award-winning Side Man, written by Warren Leight, directed by Jonathan Berry, April 24 - May 24, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

The Gift Theatre artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton has announced that Emjoy Gavino has joined the company as casting director. Gavino has been a casting consultant on several theater projects in the Chicago area since 2012; her most recent credits include work with Remy Bumppo, Pavement Group and Theatre on the Lake.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, present their 2015 productions of Steven Dietz's Yankee Tavern, today, February 20 - March 22, 2015, directed by Joanie Schultz and Warren Leight's Sideman, April 24 - May 24, 2015,directed by Jonathan Berry. All productions take place at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

Fox Valley Repertory opens their 2015 theater series with Douglas J. Cohen's musical game of cat and mouse, No Way To Treat a Lady. Based on the novel and movie by William Goldman (The Princess Bride, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), the award-winning musical is directed by John Gawlik with music direction by Jeffrey Poindexter and choreography by Christie Kerr. Performances will take place at the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage January 15 - March 8, 2015.

?Fox Valley Rep, in residence at Pheasant Run Resort, announces their calendar-year 2015 season of nostalgic toe-tapping Off-Broadway musicals and modern award-winning comedies, including the Off-Broadway musical thriller, No Way To Treat a Lady, the award-winning farce, Unnecessary Farce, followed by the fun 1960's music revue, The Bikinis, then to the romantic comedy, Maybe Baby It's You, to a holiday music revue, A Christmas Survival Guide.

The Gift Theatre artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton announces the world premiere of intriguing and touching drama The Royal Society of Antarctica by Naperville native Mat Smart (whose play Naperville, which opened Off-Broadway in November, is a New York Times Critics' Pick). The Royal Society of Antarctica is directed by Gift ensemble member John Gawlik and features Gift ensemble members Paul D'Addario (Bethany), Lynda Newton (Thinner Than Water), John Connolly (Broadsword), Jay Worthington (Thinner Than Water) and Brittany Burch (Othello) with guest artists Aila Peck (Promethean Theatre's The Lark), Brian Keys (Profiles Theatre's Hellcab) and Kyle Zornes (Artistic Director of The Gift's Natural Gas).

?Fox Valley Rep, in residence at Pheasant Run Resort, announces their calendar-year 2015 season of nostalgic toe-tapping Off-Broadway musicals and modern award-winning comedies, including the Off-Broadway musical thriller, No Way To Treat a Lady, the award-winning farce, Unnecessary Farce, followed by the fun 1960's music revue, The Bikinis, then to the romantic comedy, Maybe Baby It's You, to a holiday music revue, A Christmas Survival Guide.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the casts for the 2015 productions of Steven Dietz's Yankee Tavern, February 20 - March 22, 2015, directed by Joanie Schultz and Warren Leight's Sideman, April 24 - May 24, 2015,directed by Jonathan Berry. All productions take place at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

'Grounded,' a one-woman play about a fearless American fighter pilot suddenly reassigned to operate military drones in the pursuit of terrorists half a world away, will run from tonight, Sept. 19 to Oct. 12 at Northwestern University.

'Grounded,' a one-woman play about a fearless American fighter pilot suddenly reassigned to operate military drones in the pursuit of terrorists half a world away, will run from Sept. 19 to Oct. 12 at Northwestern University.

Fox Valley Repertory continues their 2014 theater series with Neil Simon's heart-warming family comedy, Brighton Beach Memoirs. This coming-of-age memoir, directed by Ronan Marra, will take place at the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage tonight, August 28 - October 19, 2014.

Fox Valley Repertory continues their 2014 theater series with Neil Simon's heart-warming family comedy, Brighton Beach Memoirs. This coming-of-age memoir, directed by Ronan Marra, will take place at the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage August 28 - October 19, 2014 (4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL; box office 630-584-6342).

During last night's Season Release Bash at Fischman Liquors and Tavern, artistic director and co-founder Michael Patrick Thornton proudly announced The Gift Theatre's 2015 season of three world premieres. The all-new season will include the debuts of David Rabe's expanded Good For Otto, Gift Ensemble member William Nedved's Body and Blood and Naperville native Mat Smart's The Royal Society of Antarctica.