Kirsten Fitzgerald News

A Red Orchid Theatre announces its 27th Season, kicking off the with world premiere of Grey House by Ensemble Member Levi Holloway, directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray (October 10 December 1, 2019). The season continues with the Chicago premiere of Do You Feel Anger? By Mara Nelson-Greenberg, directed by Ensemble Member Jess McLeod (January 16 March 8, 2020), and concludes with the Chicago Premiere of The Moors by Jen Silverman, directed by Marti Lyons (April 23 June 14, 2020). Subscriptions to the 27th Season are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the box office at 312-943-8722 or visiting www.aredorchidtheatre.org.

A Red Orchid Theatre announces the addition of eight new members to the Artistic Ensemble: Karen Aldridge, Myron Elliott-Cisneros, Levi Holloway, Travis A. Knight, Jess McLeod, Sadieh Rifai, Grant Sabin, and Steve Schine. A Red Orchid also welcomes two Resident Stage Managers Stephanie Heller and Christa van Baale.

By popular demand, Goodman Theatre adds five performances of Sweat by Lynn Nottage, directed by Ron OJ Parson-on stage through April 21.

Lynn Nottage's 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning SWEAT, now in its Chicago premiere at Goodman Theatre under the direction of Ron OJ Parson, focuses on a group of blue-collar factory workers in Reading, Pennsylvania. Bound together by the toils of working-class life in the town's steel-tubing factory, these friends and family members gather at a local bar to let off steam and celebrate special occasions. And though the work at the factory may not be fulfilling, Nottage makes clear this work is vital for the characters' livelihoods. For many of them, a life of working at the factory dates back generations. As the play toggles between 2000 and 2008, Nottage also reflects how her characters' lives intersect with current events and questions of race, class, and success in America.

Powerful drama: still made in America. Lynn Nottage's 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Sweat opens tonight in its Chicago premiere at Goodman Theatre. Ron OJ Parson directs the collision of race, class and friendship at a pivotal moment in America-hailed as 'extraordinarily moving' (The New York Times) and 'passionate and necessary...a masterful depiction of the forces that divide and conquer us' (Time Out New York). Sweat marks the fourth Nottage play to be produced at the Goodman, following Crumbs from the Table of Joy (2006), Ruined (a 2008 world-premiere Goodman commission that earned the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama) and By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (2013). Sweat appears through April 14 in the Albert Theatre. Tickets ($20 - $80; subject to change) are available at Goodmantheatre.org/Sweat, by telephone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 N. Dearborn).

Goodman Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of Lynn Nottage's Sweat, directed by Ron OJ Parson. An acclaimed Broadway hit and 2017 Pulitzer Prize winner, the production follows a group of friends in a Rust Belt town who have spent their lives sharing secrets and laughs on the factory floor. But when layoffs begin to chip away at their trust, they're pitted against each other in a heart-wrenching fight in this collision of race, class and friendship at a pivotal moment in America.  

Goodman Theatre proudly announces the casts for its Chicago premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Sweat by Lynn Nottage, directed by Ron OJ Parson, as well as its world premiere of Lottery Day-Ike Holter's final work in his seven-play "The Rightlynd Saga," directed by Lili-Anne Brown. Tickets are now available for both productions at GoodmanTheatre.org, by telephone 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 N. Dearborn).

A Red Orchid Theatre presents Small Mouth Sounds by Bess Wohl, directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray. Small Mouth Sounds runs October 18 - December 9, 2018 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N Wells in Chicago.  Press performances are scheduled for Saturday, October 27 at 3:00pm and 7:30pm.

A Red Orchid Theatre presents Small Mouth Sounds by Bess Wohl, directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray. Small Mouth Sounds runs October 18 - December 9, 2018 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N Wells in Chicago. Press performances are scheduled for Saturday, October 28 at 3:00pm and 7:30pm.

A Red Orchid Theatre presents a special summer engagement of Victims of Duty by Eugene Ionesco and directed by Shira Piven. Victims of Duty runs July 11 - August 5, 2018 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N Wells in Chicago. Press performances are scheduled for Saturday, July 14 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

A Red Orchid Theatre announces its 26th Season, including the Chicago premieres of Small Mouth Sounds by Bess Wohl, directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray, and featuring Ensemble Members Jennifer Engstrom and Larry Grimm, and Fulfillment Center by Abe Koogler, directed by Jess McLeod, and featuring Ensemble Members Steve Haggard and Natalie West. The 2018-2019 Season will conclude with The Killing Game by Eugene Ionesco, directed by Ensemble Member Dado, featuring Ensemble Members Lance Baker, Mierka Girten and Doug Vickers, with design by Ensemble Member Mike Durst.

A Red Orchid Theatre's (AROT) Board of Directors, Ensemble and staff, in collaboration with the American Writers Museum, announces its 2018 Spring Fundraiser, featuring a special performance by A Red Orchid Ensemble Member Jennifer Engstrom. Guests will also receive a special presale code for Victims of Duty, starring Ensemble Members Michael Shannon and Guy Van Swearingen and directed by Shira Piven. The event will be held on Monday, May 21, 2018 at 7:00 pm at the American Writers Museum, 180 N Michigan Ave, Chicago. Tickets, priced at $100, are available by calling A Red Orchid Theatre at (312) 943-8722 or online at www.aredorchidtheatre.org.

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 43rd season with the World Premiere of Lettie, written by Boo Killebrew and directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. Lettie runs April 6 - May 6, 2018, with the press performance on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 7:30pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

A Red Orchid Theatre continues its 2017-2018 Season with 33 to Nothing by Grant James Varjas, directed by Tyrone Phillips with music direction by John Cicora. The production features Ensemble Member Steve Haggard (Bri) with Aaron Holland (Gray), Jeff Kurysz (Barry), Amanda Raquel Martinez (Taylor) and Annie Prichard (Alex). 33 to Nothing runs April 6 - May 27, 2018 at A Red Orchid Theatre.

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 43rd season with the World Premiere of Lettie, written by Boo Killebrew and directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. Lettie runs April 6 - May 6, 2018, with the press performance on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 7:30pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

A Red Orchid Theatre continues its 2017-2018 Season with 33 to Nothing by Grant James Varjas, directed by Tyrone Phillips with music direction by John Cicora.

A Red Orchid Theatre announces the extension of Traitor, an adaptation of Heinrich Ibsen's An Enemy of the People, written by Ensemble Member Brett Neveu and directed by Ensemble Member Michael Shannon, due to overwhelming demand. The production features Ensemble Members Dado, Kirsten Fitzgerald, Larry Grimm, Guy Van Swearingen and Natalie West, with Jacob Alexander, Mary Jo Bolduc, Missi Davis, Kristin Ellis, Nation Henrickson, Frank Nall and Steve Walker, featuring lighting design by Ensemble Member Mike Durst. Traitor will add Wednesday evening performances in February and now runs through March 4, 2018. 2018 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Tickets for the extension are on sale now.

A Red Orchid Theatre continues its 2017-2018 Season with the World Premiere of Traitor, an adaptation of Heinrich Ibsen's An Enemy of the People, written by Ensemble Member Brett Neveuand directed by Ensemble Member Michael Shannon.

A Red Orchid Theatre continues its 2017-2018 Season with the World Premiere of Traitor, an adaptation of Heinrich Ibsen's An Enemy of the People, written by Ensemble Member Brett Neveu and directed by Ensemble Member Michael Shannon.

A Red Orchid Theatre announces its spring production of Grant James Varjas' 33 to Nothing will be directed by Tyrone Phillips, with music direction by John Cicora. The production features Ensemble Member Steve Haggard. 33 to Nothing runs April 12 May 27, 2018 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells.