Kelli Simpkins News

Original Tectonic Theater Project company members will travel back to Laramie, Wyoming to present a staged reading of their groundbreaking play, The Laramie Project to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the untimely death of Matthew Shepard (December 1, 1976 – October 12, 1998). Learn more about the reading here.

Hurricane Diane is surging toward its Chicago debut, June 17-July 31, 2022 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago.

Court Theatre, under the continuing leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, and Angel Ysaguirre, Executive Director, continues its 2021/22 season with The Lady from the Sea by Henrik Ibsen, translated by Richard Nelson, and directed by Shana Cooper. The Lady from the Sea now runs February 25 – March 27, 2022 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. 

Court Theatre, under the continuing leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, and Angel Ysaguirre, Executive Director, will continue its 2021/22 season with The Lady from the Sea by Henrik Ibsen, translated by Richard Nelson, and directed by Shana Cooper.

A new play by John Greenwood (Board Member, The New Group) will receive a work-in-progress reading via streaming on Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:00 pm EST. The work is based on the novel of the same name by Sarah Caudwell. The event will benefit the Indie Theater Fund, and presented to an invited audience for exlusive presentation on FiveOhm.TV.

On a muggy summer evening somewhere down in the Alabama Delta, Kendra and Betty troll the flats looking for redfish. Six years into their relationship, tensions and passions flare as the couple clash over past infidelities, life-choices, and job struggles. When their motor breaks, stranding them in open water under darkening skies, the couple are forced to grapple with the growing space between them and where their life together will go next. 

About Face Theatre continues its 2019-2020 season with the Chicago premiere of Audrey Cefaly's award-winning drama THE GULF, running January 9 through February 15, 2020, at Theater Wit. THE GULF is a riveting look at how partners in a long-term relationship change over time, and what it takes to keep love alive. Directed by About Face Artistic Director Megan Carney, the production will feature AFT Artistic Associate Kelli Simpkins and Deanna Myers. Press opening is Friday, January 17 at 7:30 pm.

'Everybody' may not be for, well, everybody - it's a quirky play that tackles humanity, life, death, and our own fragile existence head-on. But those who are brave enough to face these uncomfortable truths are rewarded with a fast-talking, quick-witted, deep-thinking performance.

About Face Theatre's 2019-20 season will feature three hyper-intimate main stage productions that reveal the history and diversity of the LGBTQ community in new ways. The season will feature three Chicago-premiere productions, a new initiative from About Face's groundbreaking Youth Task Force, and a regional touring production designed to spark dialogue about gender and sexuality.

Shakespeare Theatre Company will begin its 2019/20 Season with the 2018 Pulitzer Prize Finalist EVERYBODY by Obie Award-winner, MacArthur 'Genius' Grant recipient and Washington, D.C.-native Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (An Octoroon, Gloria). This 'fun and breezy' (Broadway World) comedy about life (and death) will play at the Lansburgh Theatre (450 7th Street NW) from October 15 through November 17, 2019.

TimeLine Theatre Company announces its inaugural "FIRST DRAFT: A TimeLine Playwrights Collective Festival,' the culmination of the company's latest two-year new-play incubator program offering residency to Chicago-based emerging and established writers. FIRST DRAFT will take place December 1 - 3, 2018, at TimeLine's home at 615 W. Wellington Avenue in Chicago, with free public readings of new plays by current Playwrights Collective members Tyla Abercrumbie, Will Allan, Maureen Gallagher, and Calamity West. 

Random Acts, About Face Youth Theatre and Pride Films & Plays have announced a special 20th Anniversary Reading of THE LARAMIE PROJECT by Moises Kaufman, directed by Jason Gerace. The event, set to feature some of Chicago's best talent, will take place on Sunday, November 4 at 7:30pm at Pride Films and Plays' Broadway space. Tickets are tiered from $5-20 and can be purchased at www.RandomActsChicago.com. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

Tectonic Theater Project presented LARAMIE: A LEGACY, a reading of The Laramie Project honoring the life and legacy of Matthew Shepard for the 20th anniversary of his death, on Monday, September 24th at 7pm at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College.

Out on Film in association with The Robert Mello Studio will present Moises Kaufman and Members of the Tectonic Theatre Company's THE LARAMIE PROJECT as a one-night benefit for The Matthew Shepard Foundation on Sunday, September 30, 2018 at 7:00 PM.

Tectonic Theater Project announced today that Michael Emerson, Danny Burstein, Purva Bedi and Andrew Keenan-Bolger have joined the cast of LARAMIE: A LEGACY, a reading of The Laramie Project honoring the life and legacy of Matthew Shepard

Tectonic Theater Project announced today a benefit host and additional casting for LARAMIE: A LEGACY, a reading of The Laramie Project

About Face Theatre is pleased to present the Midwest premiere of Bryna Turner's comedy BULL IN A CHINA SHOP, based on the true story of revolutionary academics and lovers Mary Woolley and Jeannette Marks. Directed by AFT Artistic Associate Keira Fromm*, BULL IN A CHINA SHOP will play May 24 - June 30, 2018 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.

Tectonic Theater Project will present LARAMIE: A LEGACY, a reading of The Laramie Project honoring the life and legacy of Matthew Shepard for the 20th anniversary of his death, on Monday, September 24th at 7pm at the Gerald Lynch Theater at John Jay College.

About Face Theatre is pleased to present the Midwest premiere of Bryna Turner's comedy BULL IN A CHINA SHOP, based on the true story of revolutionary academics and lovers Mary Woolley and Jeannette Marks.

About Face Theatre is pleased to announce casting for its Midwest premiere of Bryna Turner's comedy BULL IN A CHINA SHOP, based on the true story of revolutionary academics and lovers Mary Woolley and Jeanette Marks.