Kevin McKillip News

Following the success of 2008's Jeeves Intervenes, playwright Margaret Raether has created another uproarious adaptation of the works of the British humorous P.G. Wodehouse. The latest entry in the Jeeves and Wooster saga makes its Chicago area debut at First Folio Theatre, at their indoor home in Mayslake Hall, on the grounds of the Peabody Estate in Oak Brook.

In response to the high demand for tickets, First Folio is adding 5 more performance dates for Jeeves In Bloom. In addition to the original schedule, tickets are now available for 8:00 shows on Thursdays Feb. 18 and 25, as well as for 7:30 shows on Sundays February 21 and 28. First Folio is also offering tickets for a special matinee performance on Tuesday, February 9th at 1:00 PM.

Tickets are on sale for Will Rogers: An American Original, a world premier written by First Folio Artistic Associate Kevin McKillip.

First Folio Theatre's Season of Invention will continue this coming January and February with P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves in Bloom, adapted for the stage by Margaret Raether. This sequel to First Folio's hit production of Jeeves Intervenes features the return of the lovably loopy Bertie Wooster and his unflappable butler Jeeves.

First Folio Theatre's Season of Invention will continue this coming January and February with P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves in Bloom, adapted for the stage by Margaret Raether. This sequel to First Folio's hit production of Jeeves Intervenes features the return of the lovably loopy Bertie Wooster and his unflappable butler Jeeves.

First Folio Theatre's Season of Invention will continue this coming January and February with P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves in Bloom, adapted for the stage by Margaret Raether. This sequel to First Folio's hit production of Jeeves Intervenes features the return of the lovably loopy Bertie Wooster and his unflappable butler Jeeves.

As Chicago theaters prepare for the fall season, the city has proven itself a leader on the national theater scene.

As Chicago theaters prepare for the fall season, the city has proven itself a leader on the national theater scene. Highlighted by two consecutive Pulitzer Prizes awarded to plays generated in Chicago-Tracy Letts' August: Osage County (Steppenwolf) and Lynne Nottage's Ruined (Goodman)-the Chicago theater season is poised to launch at home, while its influence is seen on Broadway.

First Folio has just announced its 2009-2010 season - A Season of Invention: two world premieres and a Chicago premiere, plus Shakespeare's most romantic comedy.

First Folio Theatre's Season of Passion will continue this February with Design for Living, No?l Coward's comedic masterpiece of two men with a passion for the same woman, whose machinations lead to fireworks, love, and laughter. The NY Times hails Noel Coward as 'the master of impudence and tart whimsy, of plain words that leap out of the dialogue like shafts of laughter. 'Directed by Alison C. Vesely, the production marks the return to First Folio's stage of two of its most popular Artistic Associates, Kevin McKillip (as Leo) and Melanie Keller (as Gilda). Kevin McKillip has appeared in more than a dozen First Folio productions, including the Jeff nominated roles of Richard III, Puck (A Midsummer Night's Dream), and Eustace Bassington-Bassington (in last season's Jeeves Intervenes). He has appeared with numerous Chicago area theaters including the Goodman (The Story), Court (Arcadia), and Famous Door (Early and Often and Ghetto), and spent a year with the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada. Melanie Keller was last seen on the First Folio stage as Bella in Angel Street. Previously she appeared in Private Lives and The Importance of Being Earnest. Melanie is also a company member of Signal Ensemble where she performed as part of their Jeff nominated cast in The Weir. Design marks her return to the Chicago area theater after she, too, spent a year with the Stratford Festival, where she appeared in Romeo and Juliet and Love's Labors Lost.Other major roles are played by David Kovac (Otto), Ren? Ruelas (Ernest), and Jeannie Affelder (Miss Hodge/Grace Torrence).

First Folio Theatre's Season of Passion will continue this February with Design for Living, No?l Coward's comedic masterpiece of two men with a passion for the same woman, whose machinations lead to fireworks, love, and laughter. The NY Times hails Noel Coward as 'the master of impudence and tart whimsy, of plain words that leap out of the dialogue like shafts of laughter. 'Directed by Alison C. Vesely, the production marks the return to First Folio's stage of two of its most popular Artistic Associates, Kevin McKillip (as Leo) and Melanie Keller (as Gilda). Kevin McKillip has appeared in more than a dozen First Folio productions, including the Jeff nominated roles of Richard III, Puck (A Midsummer Night's Dream), and Eustace Bassington-Bassington (in last season's Jeeves Intervenes). He has appeared with numerous Chicago area theaters including the Goodman (The Story), Court (Arcadia), and Famous Door (Early and Often and Ghetto), and spent a year with the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada.

First Folio Theatre's Season of Passion will continue this February with Design for Living, No?l Coward's comedic masterpiece of two men with a passion for the same woman, whose machinations lead to fireworks, love, and laughter. The NY Times hails Noel Coward as 'the master of impudence and tart whimsy, of plain words that leap out of the dialogue like shafts of laughter. 'Directed by Alison C. Vesely, the production marks the return to First Folio's stage of two of its most popular Artistic Associates, Kevin McKillip (as Leo) and Melanie Keller (as Gilda). Kevin McKillip has appeared in more than a dozen First Folio productions, including the Jeff nominated roles of Richard III, Puck (A Midsummer Night's Dream), and Eustace Bassington-Bassington (in last season's Jeeves Intervenes). He has appeared with numerous Chicago area theaters including the Goodman (The Story), Court (Arcadia), and Famous Door (Early and Often and Ghetto), and spent a year with the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada. Melanie Keller was last seen on the First Folio stage as Bella in Angel Street. Previously she appeared in Private Lives and The Importance of Being Earnest. Melanie is also a company member of Signal Ensemble where she performed as part of their Jeff nominated cast in The Weir. Design marks her return to the Chicago area theater after she, too, spent a year with the Stratford Festival, where she appeared in Romeo and Juliet and Love's Labors Lost.Other major roles are played by David Kovac (Otto), Ren? Ruelas (Ernest), and Jeannie Affelder (Miss Hodge/Grace Torrence).

Today, the Jefferson Awards announced the 150 nominations in 35 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions which opened between August 1, 2007 and July 31, 2008. Beginning with this season, the Jeff Awards is acknowledging the work of Large and Midsize theatres in separate categories for productions and technical elements.