Liz Sharpe News

Interrobang Theatre Project (ITP) and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE) present the world premiere of Emily Schwend’s riveting new drama A Mile in The Dark, directed by ITP Artistic Director and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble member Georgette Verdin, playing November 11 – December 11, 2022 at Rivendell Theatre. Check out photos here!

Interrobang Theatre Project (ITP) and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE) will present the world premiere of Emily Schwend's riveting new drama A Mile in The Dark, directed by ITP Artistic Director and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble member Georgette Verdin*^, playing November 10 – December 11, 2022 at Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave. in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood.

Stars of Radial Park's Purple Rain, Aaron Marcellus ('The Kid'), Nick Rashad Burroughs ('Morris') Lenesha 'Sister' Randolph ('Mother'), and Chevonne Ricci (Apollonia), celebrated the opening of the latest theatrical drive-in experience on the screen and stage of Radial Park at Halletts Point Play.

Jackalope Theatre Company, under the artistic direction of Kaiser Ahmed, announces the production details for the New Frontier Series of commissioned and developing plays - the flagship series of the entirely digital 2020/21 season.

The New Colony presents UNCHARTED, a two-week showcase of plays at different points in their journeys to production, playing July 11 - 20, 2019 at TNC's resident home, The Den Theatre (2B) 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

Jackalope's 11th season begins with the World Premiere of IN THE CANYON, written by Calamity West, directed by Elly Green, with the full cast and production team announced below.

A Red Orchid Theatre hosts a benefit reading of Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches by Tony Kushner. Conceived as a response from Chicago theatre artists to the current political climate, the event's proceeds will benefit A Red Orchid Theatre and the Chicago chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

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.  

The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 121 nominations in 24 categories for the 43rd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016. The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff judges attended opening nights of 148 productions offered by 67 Non-Equity producing organizations. The Jeff Committee recommended 65 of those shows (or 44%), making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Of the 65 Jeff Recommended productions, a record 53 (or 82%) received nominations, representing 32 theatre companies.

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!

The New Colony will launch 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.

The New Colony will launch 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.

The New Colony is pleased to launch 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.

The New Colony is pleased to announce its exciting spring line-up of Side Stage programming, a collection of free readings presented throughout April and May at its new home, The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

The New Colony has announced its spring line-up of Side Stage programming, a collection of free events and readings presented throughout March, April and May at its new home, The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. For reservations and additional information on Side Stage, visit www.thenewcolony.org.

The New Colony is pleased to announce its exciting winter line-up of Side Stage programming, a collection of free readings presented on select nights in January and February at its new home, The Den Theatre Upstairs Mainstage, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Side Stage kicks off with a five-year reunion reading of The New Colony's second season smash hit 11:11, followed by readings of three new works: STANLEY IN THE NAME OF LOVE, KIN FOLK and THUMBZ UP. Side Stage programming takes place during off-nights of The New Colony's world premiere musical PLASTIC REVOLUTION, playing January 16 - February 22, 2015. For reservations and additional information, visit www.thenewcolony.org.