Mark Harelik News

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the first production in American Blues Theater's "Legends and Legacies" season, Hank Williams: Lost Highway, by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, music director Malcolm Ruhl and starring Matt Brumlow as "Hank Williams," August 30 - October 6, at the Greenhouse Theater Center's Downstage Mainstage Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets are $19 for previews, $29 Thursdays and Fridays and $39 Saturdays and Sundays and $49 for opening night. Previews are Friday, Aug. 30 and Saturday, Aug. 31 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 1 at 2:30 p.m. Press/opening night is Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursday - Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. There are post-show discussions following Sunday performances beginning September 8. Single tickets go on sale July 24 at 773.404.7336 or americanbluestheater.com.

Terry Martin, WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director, announced this evening the Company's 2013-2014 Main Stage season at a special VIP Sneak Preview held at the Addison Theatre Centre.

An ensemble to remember is key to Shakespeare's tragicomedy.

Subtitled 'An American Musical,' it is in the truest sense the story of striving for the American Dream. Haskell (Max Bisantz) arrives in the small town of Hamilton, in Central Texas shortly after the turn of the century, pushing a banana cart and unable to speak English. Wary at first of the stranger, who also turns out to be a Jew, Milton and Ima (Paul Blankenship and Sarah Knapp) take him in. Milton, the town's banker, partners with Haskell to help build his business, which eventually turns into a dry goods store. When Haskell finally saves enough to bring his wife, Leah (Rita Markova), over from Russia, the friendship is tested, however. Haskell no longer is the observant Jew she married. The new country has changed him. He doesn't wear his hat, keep a Kosher home or observe the Sabbath any more.

McCarter Theatre Center, in association with The Shakespeare Theatre Company, will celebrate the opening night of William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale on Friday April 5. The production runs through April 21.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Fiddler' and the Paramount triumph and make plans, two Sondheim shows next year from Gary Griffin, the return of 'Hank Williams' and 'Last Five Years,' 'Parade' and 'Pirates' in short runs, and two Victorian musical dramas, spanning the pond...and more!

McCarter Theatre Center, in association with The Shakespeare Theatre Company, will present Williams Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Rebecca Taichman, April 2 through April 21. Opening night is Friday, April 5.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside of American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, announces the Ensemble's 28th season. The season begins with the Chicago professional premiere of Hank Williams: Lost Highway by award-winning playwrights Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, September 5 - October 6; the 12th smash year of It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! , now at the 199-seat Greenhouse Theater Center, directed by Ensemble member Marty Higginbotham, November 22 - December 29; world premiere of 2012 Blue Ink Playwriting Award-winning script American Myth by Christina Gorman, directed by Steve Scott, February - March 2014; Chicago premiere of 2012 Smith Prize winner Grounded by George Brant, June 2014. American Blues also announces year-long development and public reading of Ensemble member's Nambi E. Kelley's adaptation of Richard Wright's Native Son which will receive a production in fall of 2014.

The American National Theatre (Sean Cullen, Founder/Artistic Director) to present readings of THE IMMIGRANT (4PM), written by Mark Harelik, directed by Randal Myler; and THE LEGACY, or WHAT THE JEWS BELIEVE (7:30PM), written & directed by Mark Harelik, on Monday, February 25, 2013. The ANT readings will take place at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42 Street). Tickets are FREE to the public.

The Old Globe today named director Nicholas Martin an Associate Artist of The Old Globe. He is the 56th artist to receive the prestigious honor recognizing over half a century of his unique contributions to the institution both on and offstage. After making his acting debut in 1957 as the Fool in King Lear, Martin went on to appear on the Globe stage in 18 additional productions, including The Merry Wives of Windsor (1965), The School for Scandal (1989) and Hamlet (1960 and 1990). As a director, he helmed the Globe productions of Later Life, Full Gallop, Overtime, Macbeth and The Mask of Moriarty. The Old Globe is currently celebrating the 100th anniversary of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion with Martin's production of Shaw's masterwork, which runs through Feb. 17. Tickets to Pygmalion can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Our Tony Award wrap-up, all that 'Rock Of Ages,' three musical tribute shows, two operettas, a stellar TYA 'Beauty' and Kristin Chenoweth, plus more!

On tonight's season finale of the new ABC drama series SCANDAL entitled 'Grant: For the People', when Quinn finds herself in a tragic and compromising position, Olivia and the team rush to her side; all the while, a reluctant Cyrus must turn to Olivia when Billy Chambers makes an announcement that shakes Fitz's presidency to its' core.

As the 15th Annual Pacific Playwrights Festival draws near, South Coast Repertory announces the directors for this years' staged readings. They include Evan Cabnet (Warrior Class), Matt Shakman (You Are Here), Meredith McDonough (I And You), Casey Stangl (The Few) and Anne Kauffman (Smokefall).

Electric City Playhouse is set to present Hank Williams, Lost Highway.

Electric City Playhouse is set to present Hank Williams, Lost Highway.

Electric City Playhouse is set to present Hank Williams, Lost Highway.

While GLEE's Ryan Murphy's is working on a big screen adaptation of 'The Normal Heart', Larry Kramer is still looking to spread the message of the play on stage. Kramer told Metro Weekly: 'Daryl Roth has been the most amazing producer anyone could ever work with. She's just in love with this play, and she pledged to me that she would take it on tour and that she would get it done in England. And she's working toward both of those.

In the upcoming of ABC's 'Castle' entitled 'Demons', Castle & Beckett confront the possibility of paranormal foul play when a world renown ghost hunter is mysteriously murdered while investigating a haunting at a legendary New York mansion, on 'Castle,' MONDAY, OCTOBER 24 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

In the upcoming of ABC's 'Castle' entitled 'Demons', Castle & Beckett confront the possibility of paranormal foul play when a world renown ghost hunter is mysteriously murdered while investigating a haunting at a legendary New York mansion, on 'Castle,' MONDAY, OCTOBER 24 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.