Laura Eason News

Following the sold out performances and overflow crowds for its Cino Nights presentations (including new plays by Gary Sunshine, Mando Alvarado, Courtney Baron, Florencia Lozano, Kristen Palmer, Emily DeVoti, Lucy Thurber, Jessica Dickey, Adam Szymkowicz, Laura Eason, Daniel Reitz, Megan Mostyn-Brown, Dael Orlandersmith, Keith Reddin, Crystal Skillman, Charlotte Miller, Brooke Berman, Cusi Cram, Daniel Talbott, Diana Stahl, Micheline Auger, Halley Feiffer, Steve DiUbaldo, Catya McMullen, Alec Silberblatt, and Emily Zemba), Rising Phoenix Rep continues the series on Tuesday, November 26th at 8 p.m. with a new play by Sarah Shaefer titled I Can't Explain It Better Than That.

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin today announced the cast and creative team for the Company's newest education initiative, The Tom Sawyer Project. This program involves local high school students in their own production of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer which WaterTower Theatre is producing January 24 - February 16, 2014. The cast will be comprised of students from W.T. White High School, Booker T. Washington Performing Arts High School and homeschooled students.

About Face Theatre Company will kick off its new OUT FRONT SERIES, a year-round collection of free public readings and developmental workshops. This month, AFT presents BILLIE AND BILLY by AFT Artistic Associate Paul Oakley Stovall, with original music by Brad Simmons and directed by Krissy Vanderwarker, playing today, November 16 and tomorrow the 17th, 2013 at American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron St. in Chicago.

About Face Theatre Company will kick off its new OUT FRONT SERIES, a year-round collection of free public readings and developmental workshops. This month, AFT presents BILLIE AND BILLY by AFT Artistic Associate Paul Oakley Stovall, with original music by Brad Simmons and directed by Krissy Vanderwarker, playing November 16 and 17, 2013 at American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron St. in Chicago.

Women's Project Theater, the 36-year-old non-profit company dedicated to producing plays written and directed by women, is seeking a few good women for its 2014-2016 Lab of playwrights, directors and producers, underwritten with a generous grant from the Time Warner Foundation. The application deadline is November 4.

The WaterTower Theatre has announced its calendar from December 2013 through February 2014. All performances held at The Addison Theatre Centre unless otherwise noted. Details below!

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin previously announced the directors for the Company's 2013-2014 Main Stage season at the Addison Theatre Centre. Directing the season opener, Hank Williams: Lost Highway (tonight, October 11-November 3, 2013) will be Michael Serrecchia.

Women's Project Theater, the 36-year-old non-profit company dedicated to producing plays written and directed by women, is seeking a few good women for its 2014-2016 Lab of playwrights, directors and producers, underwritten with a generous grant from the Time Warner Foundation. The application deadline is November 4.

On Sunday, September 22 New Georges held their BIG Benefit at Seamen's House, a private townhouse in Chelsea. The fundraiser featured a special performance by Eisa Davis and short plays and songs written specifically for the event by Laura Eason, Boo Killebrew, Julie Kramer, Rachel Peters and Charise Castro Smith, featuring Heidi Schreck, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Amy Wilson, Stephanie Wright Thompson, Eric Clem and others. Scroll down for photos from the festivities!

At a benefit event held for New Georges on Sunday, September 22, Producing Artistic Director Susan Bernfield and board member Michael Osso announced a new program at New Georges, The Audrey Residencies, and the artists and projects chosen for 2013-14, the program's inaugural year. Sunday's event also featured the premiere showing of a video about New Georges produced by tdf for tdfSTAGES' Meet the Theatre series and directed by Mark Blankenship, tdf's online content editor, to be released in early November.

Kicking off its 26th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the World Premiere stage adaptation of Marguerite Duras' The North China Lover, translated byLeigh Hafrey and adapted and directed by Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman. The North China Lover runs September 25 - November 10, 2013 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. You never forget your first lover. The affair plays like a moving picture over and over in your mind: passionate, consuming, secret, taboo.

Rising Phoenix Repertory continues its acclaimed CINO NIGHTS series with MIDDLE VOICE CINO, with Four new short plays by Steve DiUbaldo, Catya McMullen, Alec Silberblatt, and Emily Zemba, directed by John Michael DiResta and Jenna Worsham. Fully produced on half a shoestring and performed, warts and all, one night only, tonight, September 29th at 8:00 p.m.

Rising Phoenix Repertory continues its acclaimed CINO NIGHTS series with MIDDLE VOICE CINO, with Four new short plays by Steve DiUbaldo, Catya McMullen, Alec Silberblatt, and Emily Zemba, directed by John Michael DiResta and Jenna Worsham. Fully produced on half a shoestring and performed, warts and all, one night only, Sunday, September 29th at 8:00 p.m.

Kicking off its 26th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of Marguerite Duras' The North China Lover, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman. The North China Lover runs tonight, September 25 - October 4, 2013 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the World Premiere stage adaptation of Marguerite Duras' The North China Lover, translated by Leigh Hafrey and adapted and directed by Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman. The North China Lover runs September 25 - November 10, 2013.

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin today announced the directors for the Company's 2013-2014 Main Stage season at the Addison Theatre Centre. Directing the season opener, Hank Williams: Lost Highway (October 11-November 3, 2013) will be Michael Serrecchia. The Game's Afoot (or Holmes for the Holidays) (December 13- January 5, 2014) will be directed by Robin Armstrong. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (January 24-February 16, 2014) will be directed by Emily Scott Banks. Spunk (April 11-May 4, 2014) will be directed by Akin Babatunde.Good People (June 6-29, 2014) will be directed by Rene Moreno and Dogfight (July 25-August 17, 2014) will be directed by Terry Martin.

Kicking off its 26th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of Marguerite Duras' The North China Lover, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman. The North China Lover runs September 25 - October 4, 2013 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

Performances begin today for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's eighth annual First Look Repertory of New Work, featuring three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotating repertory today, July 29 - August 25, 2013 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St).

Performances begin in three weeks for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's upcoming eighth annual First Look Repertory of New Work, featuring three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotating repertory July 29 - August 25, 2013 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St). First Look 2013 includes: Annie Bosh is Missing by Janine Nabers, directed by Shade Murray; Buena Vista by Edith Freni, directed byensemble member Tim Hopper; and The Gospel of Franklin by Aaron Carter, directed by Robert O'Hara. Scroll down for a sneak peek at Annie Bosh, Buena Vista and The Gospel of Franklin in rehearsal!

Performances begin in three weeks for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's upcoming eighth annual First Look Repertory of New Work, featuring three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotating repertory July 29 - August 25, 2013 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St).