Kiki Layne News

Definition Theatre Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tyrone Phillips and Managing Director Neel McNeill, announces casting for the first play of its 2017-2018 season, the Chicago premiere of An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Gloria, Appropriate), produced in association with Goodman Theatre.

Definition Theatre Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tyrone Phillips and Managing Director Neel McNeill, announces the first play of its 2017-2018 season, the Chicago premiere of An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Gloria, Appropriate), produced in association with Goodman Theatre. An Octoroon is directed by Goodman Theatre Resident Director Chuck Smith and runs July 21 - August 20, 2017 in the Richard Christiansen Theater at Victory Gardens Theater as part of Definition's tenure in the Victory Gardens Resident Theater Program.

Jackalope Theatre Company and The Yard are pleased to announce the cast and production team for Blood at the Root, a continuation of their artistic partnership. The play, written by Dominique Morisseau, is co-directed by The Yard's co-Artistic Director Joel Ewing^ and Jackalope Theatre Company Member and The Yard Resident Artist and Mentor Will Kiley^*.   

CBS today announced the participants in the Drama Diversity Casting Initiative. The nationwide search garnered over 10,000 submissions and 450 callbacks, culminating in 12 actors traveling to Los Angeles for a Network screen test for CBS's current series, upcoming pilots and beyond.

Jackalope's 9th season kicks off with the U.S. premiere of Octagon, written by Kristiana Rae Colon, directed by Tara Branham, with the full cast and production team announced below.

Jackalope's 9th season kicks off with the U.S. premiere of Octagon, written by Kristiana Rae Colon, directed by Tara Branham, with the full cast and production team announced below.

The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company's runaway hit BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI, winner of three 2016 Jeff Awards including Best New Work, returns this summer featuring the full original cast now through August 21, 2016 as part of Steppenwolf's Visiting Company Initiative at their new 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. BroadwayWorld has new shots from the production below!

Evan Linder's new play BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI begins with a scene familiar to those in the audience: a mother and her adult daughter squabbling. The daughter, Laurel, is several months pregnant. And while her mother just wants to be present for the birth of her grandchild, Laurel has had enough. But as the play progresses, we soon learn that Laurel and her husband Jim may not be quite ready for the demands of parenthood. And in a surprising twist following the birth of the child, Laurel and Jim-who are self-declared "white trash"-must also come face-to-face with some harsh realities and confront long-standing, deeply embedded racist beliefs. In this way, Linder's play provides striking food for thought on contemporary social issues, while also becoming a specific portrait of the life of this one couple. And while Chicago audiences may largely be unfamiliar with the small-town Southern lifestyle of BYHALIA'S characters, he makes us feel for these flawed personalities.

The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company's runaway hit BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI, winner of three 2016 Jeff Awards including Best New Work, returns this summer featuring the full original cast now through August 21, 2016 as part of Steppenwolf's Visiting Company Initiative at their new 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. The press performance is tonight, July 25, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company's runaway hit BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI, winner of three 2016 Jeff Awards including Best New Work, returns this summer featuring the full original cast from July 22 - August 21, 2016 as part of Steppenwolf's Visiting Company Initiative at their new 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. The searing new American drama by The New Colony Co-Artistic Director Evan Linder, directed by Definition Theatre's Founding Artistic Director Tyrone Phillips, enjoyed two sold-out extensions during its world premiere last winter at The Den Theatre. Tickets for BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI are available at www.steppenwolf.org or by calling (312) 335-1650. The press performance is Monday, July 25 at 8 pm.  

Check out photos from the show below!

The New Colony launches its 2016 Season with the world premiere of the racially charged family drama BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI by Co-Artistic Director Evan Linder, directed by Tyrone Phillips and co-produced with Definition Theatre Company. BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI plays now through February 14, 2016, at The New Colony's resident home, The Den Theatre's Upstairs Main Stage, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. The press opening is tonight, January 11 at 7:30 pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!