Keith Ryan News

As part of the annual recognition of theater excellence, the 47th Non-Equity Jeff Awards today announced honorees in 21 artistic and technical categories. Recipients included 27 theater artists whose work was featured at 14 theater companies during the 2019-2020 season.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Handbag will kick-off summer with its very first digital online production: THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes, Vol. 4 a?" LOCKDOWN!, written by Artistic Director David Cerda and directed by Spenser Davis.

With the conclusion of the 2019-2020 Chicago non-Equity theater season, the Jeff Awards announced the nominees for the 47th annual awards for theater excellence that include 120 theater artists across 21 categories.

Full cast and crew have been announced for Pride Films and Plays' Chicago premiere of I PROMISED MYSELF TO LIVE FASTER, an intergalactic gay extravaganza featuring closeted extraterrestrials, high-stakes pursuits, and nuns from outer space.

Due to popular demand, Firebrand Theatre is pleased to announce a third and final extension of its hit revival of ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE, now playing through Saturday, February 23 at The Den Theatre's Janet Bookspan Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.

Cast and crew were announced today for Theo Ubique's production of the hilarious and heartbreaking musical GREY GARDENS, to be performed at the Howard Street Theatre at 721 Howard St., Evanston, from March 6 to April 26, 2020.

The 31st Annual Rhinoceros Theater Festival presents The Lost Last Episode of Lady Marcia Macbeth's 'I'm Not a Suppressed Homemaker! with Lady Marcia Macbeth': Out, Darn Spot! Written and Performed by Tyler Anthony Smith. Directed by Stephanie Shaw.

The 31st Annual Rhinoceros Theater Festival presents The Last Lost Episode of Lady Marcia Macbeth's 'I'm Not a Suppressed Homemaker! with Lady Marcia Macbeth': Out, Darn Spot! Written and Performed by Tyler Anthony Smith. Directed by Stephanie Shaw.

Due to popular demand, Firebrand Theatre has announced a second extension of its hit revival of ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE, now playing through Saturday, January 25, 2020 at The Den Theatre's Janet Bookspan Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to bring back its steamy cabaret sensation – with a holiday twist! Handbag diva Caitlin Jackson* recreates Bette Midler's historic concert at New York's Continental Baths in BETTE: XMAS AT THE CONTINENTAL BATHS, playing December 6 – 31, 2019 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Tickets are currently available through Brown Paper Tickets at bettelive.bpt.me or by calling (800) 838-3006. 

Due to popular demand, Firebrand Theatre's hit revival of ALWAYSa?? PATSY CLINE will add three additional weeks of performances, extending through Saturday, January 4, 2020 at The Den Theatre's Janet Bookspan Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.

Celebrate the season in sunny Miami as Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia return for brand new holiday episodes in THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes – The Holiday Edition, Vol. 2. Written by Artistic Director David Cerda* and directed by ensemble member Stevie Love*, the latest installment of Hell in a Handbag Productions' long-running parody of the beloved TV sitcom will play November 27 – December 28, 2019 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Tickets are currently available through Brown Paper Tickets at goldengirlsxmas.bpt.me or by calling or by calling (800) 838-3006. 

Firebrand Theatre has launched its 2019-20 season with a limited engage ment of ALWAYS… PATSY CLINE, featuring Artistic Director Harmony France and Christina Hall, who have both previously played the titular music legend. France and Hall will alternate in the roles of Patsy Cline and Louise Seger – so if you love the show, come see it again with the cast flipped!

New American Folk Theatre will present the world premiere musical MY LIFE IS A COUNTRY SONG by Co-Artistic Director Anthony Whitaker*, the story of a woman starting her life over after a failed and abusive marriage in early 1980s South Carolina. Directed by Company Member Sarah Gise* with music direction by Joey Harbert, this new musical features a score inspired by country music of the late '70s and early '80s and explores how family and chosen family can save us from ourselves.

Celebrate the season in sunny Miami as Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia return for brand new holiday episodes in THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes a?" The Holiday Edition, Vol. 2.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to continue its 2019 season with the world premiere of THE FACTS OF LIFE – Satan's School for Girls, a musical parody of the beloved '80s TV sitcom.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to continue its 2019 season with the world premiere ofTHE FACTS OF LIFE – Satan's School for Girls, a musical parody of the beloved '80s TV sitcom, with book and lyrics by Artistic Director David Cerda*, music by David Cerda and Andrew Milliken, direction by Madison Smith and music direction by Andrew Milliken. THE FACTS OF LIFE will play September 29 – November 2, 2019 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Tickets are on sale now through Brown Paper Tickets at factsoflife.bpt.me or by calling (800) 838-3006.

Cast and crew for Michael John LaChiusa's HELLO AGAIN, the first show of Theo Ubique's second season on Howard Street in Evanston, have been announced by the show's multi-Jeff award-winning director-choreographer Brenda Didier.

Hell in a Handbag Productions announces castings for its world premiere of THE FACTS OF LIFE a?" Satan's School for Girls, a musical parody of the beloved '80s TV sitcom, with book and lyrics by Artistic Director David Cerda*, music by David Cerda and Andrew Milliken, direction by Madison Smith and music direction byAndrew Milliken.

Hell in a Handbag Productions continues its 2019 season with the world premiere of THE DRAG SEED, an unauthorized parody of the 1956 psychological horror-thriller film The Bad Seed, inspired by our changing times, written by Artistic Director David Cerda*, with direction by Cheryl Snodgrass. THE DRAG SEED will play July 5 - August 25, 2019 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Tickets are currently available at dragseed.brownpapertickets.com or by calling (800) 838-3006.