Karen Kessler News

A Red Orchid Theatre presents the U.S. premiere of Solstice, written by Zinnie Harris and directed by Ensemble Member Karen Kessler. The production will run January 9 - February 23, 2014 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Press Opening is Monday, January 13, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.

A Red Orchid Theatre (AROT) welcomes award-winning actor Kamal Angelo Bolden, director and long-time AROT artistic associate Shade Murray, and lighting designer Mike Durst into its storied Ensemble. Bolden, Murray and Durst are the most recent additions to the A Red Orchid Theatre Ensemble, which includes Lance Baker, Dado, Jennifer Engstrom, Kirsten Fitzgerald, Joseph Fosco, Steve Haggard, Mierka Girten, Larry Grimm, Karen Kawa, Karen Kessler, Danny McCarthy, Brett Neveu, Michael Shannon, Guy Van Swearingen, Doug Vickers, Natalie West and Craig Wright.

A Red Orchid Theatre announces its 2013-2014 season, featuring the Midwest Premiere of Trevor by Nick Jones, directed by Artistic Associate Shade Murray; the U.S. Premiere of Zinnie Harris' Solstice directed by Ensemble Member Karen Kessler, and the Chicago Premiere of Mud Blue Sky by Marisa Wegrzyn, also directed by Artistic Associate Shade Murray.

A Red Orchid Theatre announces its 2013-2014 season, featuring the Midwest Premiere of Trevor by Nick Jones, directed by Artistic Associate Shade Murray; the U.S. Premiere of Zinnie Harris' Solstice directed by Ensemble Member Karen Kessler, and the Chicago Premiere of Mud Blue Sky by Marisa Wegrzyn, also directed by Artistic Associate Shade Murray.

A Red Orchid Theatre (AROT) announces A Day at the Races!, a benefit for the Company's upcoming production of Simpatico by Sam Shepard in celebration of the 20th Anniversary Season. The intimate event will be held in the Secretariat Suite at Arlington Park, 2200 W. Euclid Avenue in Arlington Heights, today, May 11 from noon to 4:00PM.

A Red Orchid Theatre closes out its 20th Anniversary Season with Simpatico, written by Sam Shepard and directed by Ensemble Member Dado featuring Ensemble Members Michael Shannon and Guy Van Swearingen. The production will run July 4 - August 25, 2013 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Press Opening is Monday, July 8, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.

A Red Orchid Theatre (AROT) announces A Day at the Races!, a benefit for the Company's upcoming production of Simpatico by Sam Shepard in celebration of the 20th Anniversary Season. The intimate event will be held in the Secretariat Suite at Arlington Park, 2200 W. Euclid Avenue in Arlington Heights, on Saturday, May 11 from noon to 4:00PM.

A Red Orchid Theatre presents the world premiere of Ensemble Member Brett Neveu's The Opponent, directed by Karen Kessler. The production will run now through December 2, 2012 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Press Opening is Monday, October 22, 2012 at 7:00PM. Get a first look at the show in the photos below!

A Red Orchid Theatre presents the world premiere of Ensemble Member Brett Neveu's The Opponent, directed by Karen Kessler. The production will run October 18 - December 2, 2012 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Press Opening is Monday, October 22, 2012 at 7:00PM.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble has announced the first production in its 2012-2013 Season dedicated to the theme "reinvention," WRENS, by Anne McGravie and directed by Rivendell Theatre Ensemble's co-founder Karen Kessler, has been extended through October 20 at Rivendell's new performance venue, 5779 N. Ridge. Performance tickets are $30 with the schedule Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. is a benefit performance of WRENS with the original 1996 award-winning cast reprising their roles. Tickets may be purchased by calling 773.334.7728 or visiting www.RivendellTheatre.org.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble's Artistic Director Tara Mallen announces the first production in its 2012-2013 Season dedicated to the theme "reinvention" is WRENS, by Anne McGravie and directed by Rivendell Theatre Ensemble's co-founder Karen Kessler, tonight, September 6 - October 13, at Rivendell's new performance venue, 5779 N. Ridge. Previews are $15 and run Thursday, Sept. 6 - Saturday, Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. There is a Gala Performance Sunday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. and opening/press night is Monday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. The regular performance tickets are $30 with the schedule Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. is a benefit performance of WRENS with the original 1996 award-winning cast reprising their roles. Tickets are on sale now; call 773.334.7728 or visit www.RivendellTheatre.org.

Fall 2012 will see Chicago continue to produce some of the most exciting theater in the country. Offerings from the city's more than 200 producing theaters includes a range of special fall programming, featuring everything from the latest musicals to highly anticipated world premieres.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble's Artistic Director Tara Mallen announces the first production in its 2012-2013 Season dedicated to the theme "reinvention" is WRENS, by Anne McGravie and directed by Rivendell Theatre Ensemble's co-founder Karen Kessler, September 6 - October 13, at Rivendell's new performance venue, 5779 N. Ridge. Previews are $15 and run Thursday, Sept. 6 - Saturday, Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. There is a Gala Performance Sunday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. and opening/press night is Monday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. The regular performance tickets are $30 with the schedule Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. is a benefit performance of WRENS with the original 1996 award-winning cast reprising their roles. Tickets are on sale now; call 773.334.7728 or visit www.RivendellTheatre.org.

A Red Orchid Theatre presents the world premiere of Ensemble Member Brett Neveu's The Opponent, directed by Karen Kessler. The production will run October 18 - December 2, 2012 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Press Opening is Monday, October 22, 2012 at 7:00PM.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble's Artistic Director Tara Mallen announces the first production in its 2012-2013 Season dedicated to the theme "reinvention" is WRENS, by Anne McGravie and directed by Rivendell Theatre Ensemble's co-founder Karen Kessler, September 6 - October 13, at Rivendell's new performance venue, 5779 N. Ridge.

A Red Orchid Theatre presents the world premiere of The Butcher of Baraboo, written by Marisa Wegrzyn and directed by Artistic Associate Shade Murray. The production will run April 5 - May 20, 2012 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Press Opening is Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 7:00PM.