John Mahoney News

The Barrow Group, under the leadership of Co-Artistic Directors Seth Barrish and Lee Brock and Executive Director Robert Serrell, closes its 2018-2019 season with the world premiere of Perp by Lyle Kessler. Under the direction of Ms. Brock, Perp is scheduled to run at The Barrow Group (312 West 36th St.) from March 16 through April 11, with an opening night of March 25.

Helicopter parents facing the question of what they want to be when their kids grow up is the focus in the new comedy-drama The Empty Nesters at the Zephyr Theatre by award-winning playwright Garret Jon Groenveld.   

By popular demand, Steppenwolf Theatre Company will host a second conversation with co-founder Gary Sinise on Monday, February 18 at 9pm, following the sold out 7pm discussion. During the event Sinise and fellow co-founder Jeff Perry will discuss Sinise's new book Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service in a candid conversation. A copy of the book is included in the ticket cost. The late-night event will take place in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N Halsted, on Monday, February 18, 2019 at 9pm. Single tickets ($45) are available through Audience Services at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org. Steppenwolf Black Card Members may use credits towards this event.

Helicopter parents facing the question of what they want to be when their kids grow up is the focus in the new comedy-drama The Empty Nesters by award-winning playwright Garret Jon Groenveld.  This warm and witty look at a couple who drop their youngest child off at college and then take what may be a life-changing trip to the Skywalk at the Grand Canyon, is helmed by Los Angeles based director Richard Seyd, and stars real-life empty nesters John (JW) Walker and Pamela Gaye Walker, who reunite on stage after a 20 year hiatus. 

Previews begin tonight for the world premiere production of The Convent, a new play by critically acclaimed playwright Jessica Dickey (The Amish Project, Charles Ives Take Me Home), directed by Daniel Talbott.

As 2018 comes to a close, we are reflecting on those we have lost in the Broadway and theatre communities throughout the year.

Just in time for the holiday season, THE WOMAN IN BLACK is inviting guests to try something new this year with a holiday ticket package. For those looking to bond over a spine-tingling live theater performance, THE WOMAN IN BLACK will include a drink from the bar with the purchase of a ticket using the code HOLIDAY through January 6, 2019. An experience surely not to miss, the production has been called "Spectacular" by the Chicago Sun-Times, and "Brilliant" by Chicago Theater Review, receiving rave reviews from critics across the board. 

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is pleased to announce a special event as part of co-founder Gary Sinise's book tour promoting his new book Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service. Sinise will reflect on his book in a candid conversation with fellow Steppenwolf co-founder Jeff Perry.

Helicopter parents facing the question of what they want to be when their kids grow up is the focus in the new comedy-drama The Empty Nesters by award-winning playwright Garret Jon Groenveld.  This warm and witty look at a couple who drop their youngest child off at college and then take what may be a life-changing trip to the Skywalk at the Grand Canyon, is helmed by Los Angeles based director Richard Seyd, and stars real-life empty nesters John (JW) Walker and Pamela Gaye Walker, who reunite on stage after a 20 year hiatus. 

Audiences will have a chance to experience both lesser known classic plays and new works when Bucks County Playhouse launches its Play Discovery Series with a reading of 'The Outgoing Tide' by Philadelphia playwright Bruce Graham on November 14 at 7:30 p.m. Directed by four-time Oscar nominee, Marsha Mason, 'The Outgoing Tide' is the first of several plays that will be part of the series for which Mason also serves as curator.  Additional titles will be announced shortly.

Audiences will have a chance to experience both lesser known classic plays and new works when Bucks County Playhouse launches its Play Discovery Series with a reading of 'The Outgoing Tide' by Philadelphia playwright Bruce Graham on November 14 at 7:30 p.m. Directed by four-time Oscar nominee, Marsha Mason, 'The Outgoing Tide' is the first of several plays that will be part of the series for which Mason also serves as curator.  Additional titles will be announced shortly.

Porchlight Music Theatre begins its sixth season of Chicago's "lost" musicals in staged concert series with Porchlight Revisits 1776, music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and book by Peter Stone with direction by Artistic Director Michael Weber, musical direction by Jeremy Ramey and musical staging by Michelle Lauto.

John J. Mahoney has done it again! The author of Wine for Intellectuals has written a book that both educates and captivates. His latest release Wine: The Source of Civilization traces the beginnings of wine culture from the earliest days of mankind.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro announced today the addition of Rajiv Joseph and Karen Rodriguez to the world-renowned Steppenwolf ensemble. An Obie Award-wining and Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright, Rajiv Joseph's Guards at the Taj was produced at Steppenwolf this past May to great acclaim. Karen Rodriguez, a celebrated Chicago-based actor, recently performed at Steppenwolf in The Doppelganger (an international farce) and The Rembrandt, and will be featured in this season's world premiere of Isaac Gomez's La Ruta, in a role written specifically for her.

Cleveland Play House (CPH) kicks off its 2018-2019 Season with the spine tingling tale of Susan Hill's The Woman in Black.  Hill's gothic ghost story, adapted for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt, will star Bradley Armacost as Arthur Kipps and Adam Wesley Brown as the Actor in the show that Daily Mail called, "A nerve-shredding experience."  Director Robin Herford will recreate his original staging from the London West End.  The American premiere of the West End Production is produced by PW Productions and Pemberley Productions.  Previews begin on September 15th, with press opening on September 21st at the Allen Theatre in Playhouse Square. 

After 144 performances of seven different productions presented over 55 days, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival concluded the 27th season with its rotating repertory of Shakespeare in Love and King Richard II; and its "Extreme Shakespeare," production of All's Well That Ends Well.

Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS close out their popular outdoor summer concert series at the Los Angeles County Arboretum on Saturday, September 8 with Broadway Goes to the Movies. The POPS season finale will provide a quintessential Feinstein experience with some of Broadway's greatest performers recreating songs from hit shows that traveled from 42nd St. to Hollywood. "This program is going to celebrate all the different musical aspects of Broadway and Hollywood," says Feinstein, who has put together a program spanning the Broadway canon from My Fair Lady to The Sound of Music to Jersey Boys. Highlights include "The Impossible Dream," "Can't Take My Eyes off of You," and "There's No Business Like Show Business," among many other beloved showtunes.

Over eight million people have lived to tell the tale of one of the most successful - and terrifying - theatre events ever staged, and it's coming to shock audiences in Chicago this fall. The Woman in Black - London's long-running West End play -  will open at Chicago's Royal George Theatre in November with all the stage thrills that have led audiences in London to shriek in fear for 30 years.

Porchlight Music Theatre's Mainstage 2018 - 2019 season launches with Gypsy, A Musical Fable, October 12 - November 25, at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street, with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.  Porchlight Music Theatre's Gypsy stars E. Faye Butler as "Rose," is directed by Michael Weber, music directed by David Fiorello and choreographed/associate directed by Chris Carter.

Porchlight Music Theatre's Mainstage 2018 - 2019 season launches with Gypsy, A Musical Fable, October 12 - November 25, at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street, with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.