Martel Manning News

The Gift Theatre has announced its 2024-25 season featuring Suzan-Lori Parks’ masterpiece Topdog/Underdog directed by Shanésia Davisand the world premiere of Cygnus by Susan Soon He Stanton, directed by Co-Artistic Director Brittany Burch. 

Get ready for an unforgettable experience as The Gift Theatre opens its season with 'The Rise and Fall of Little Voice'.

The Gift Theatre will continue its 2023/24 season with a revival of Jim Cartwright's powerful, award-winning drama The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, directed by Devon de Mayo and Peter Andersen, playing September 14 – October 15, 2023 at Filament Theatre.

Lifeline Theatre has revealed its 2023-24 season of Big Stories, Up Close. It’s an exciting year of unforgettable stories brought to life, from beloved classics to modern titles.

Lifeline Theatre will welcome Addoris Davis as Production Manager and John Craig as Operations Manager, beginning in May 2023.  Reporting to Artistic Director Ilesa Duncan and working in partnership with the Operations Manager, Davis will be responsible for managing the overall production of all of Lifeline’s programming.  

The Gift Theatre will welcome back TEN 2023, the company’s annual festival of ten world premiere ten-minute pieces by The Gift and guest artists, curated by Co-Artistic Directors Brittany Burch, Emjoy Gavino and Jennifer Glasse.

Lifeline Theatre welcomes Paige Keedy as Production Manager, Nathan Crawford as Operations Manager/Accessibility Coordinator, and Merissa Stewart as Education Director, beginning in Summer 2022.  Reporting to Artistic Director Ilesa Duncan and working in partnership with the Operations Manager, Keedy will be responsible for managing the overall production of all of Lifeline's programming. 

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, presents August Wilson’s Fences, directed by Monty Cole. Check out photos here!

American Blues Theater is presenting August Wilson's Fences, directed by Monty Cole through August 6, 2022. This is the sensational drama about Troy Maxson, a former star of the Negro Baseball League, who now works as a garbage man in 1957 Pittsburgh. Get a first look at the production here!

Lifeline Theatre announced their 2022-23 season of Big Stories, Up Close. It’s a monumental year of unforgettable stories brought to life, from beloved classics to modern titles. The 2022-23 MainStage season features the Midwest premiere sequel Miss Holmes Returns, followed by a retelling of Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland’s From the Mississippi Delta.

American Blues Theater has announced the cast of August Wilson’s Fences, directed by Monty Cole. The intimate and up-close production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama will play to a capacity of 60 people per performance from July 1-August 6, 2022, at Theater Wit,1229 W. Belmont Ave. 

​​​​​​​Lifeline Theatre welcomes Amelia Ablan to her new staff position as Production Manager, beginning June 2021. Reporting directly to Artistic Director Ilesa Duncan and Managing Director Allison Cain, Ablan will be responsible for overseeing the production processes for the company, collaborating closely with directors and the Artistic Director to fulfill the production needs for Lifeline's future live and digital programming.  Ablan succeeds Jennifer McClendon, who served as Production Manager since 2016, now heading to Providence, Rhode Island to Trinity Repertory Company as their new Producing Director.

The Gift Theatre will launch its 2020 Season with a revival of Martin McDonagh's masterpiece The Pillowman, directed by Laura Alcalá Baker, playing February 27 - March 29, 2020 at The Gift's home at 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood. Tickets are currently available at www.thegifttheatre.org or by calling (773) 283-7071. Season subscriptions packages are currently available. The press opening is Monday, March 2 at 7:30 pm.

The Gift Theatre is pleased to present TEN 2020, the company's annual season kick-off festival of ten world premiere ten-minute pieces by The Gift and guest artists, curated by Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton and Associate Artistic Directors Paul D'Addario and Emjoy Gavino.

The Gift Theatre will present TEN 2020, the company's annual season kick-off festival of ten world premiere ten-minute pieces by The Gift and guest artists, curated by Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton and Associate Artistic Directors Paul D'Addario and Emjoy Gavino. TEN will play January 9 - 18, 2020 at 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood. Tickets for TEN are free for Gift subscribers and $10 for the general public. Tickets are currently available at thegifttheatre.org or by calling the Gift's box office at 773-283-7071.

The Gift Theatre is pleased to announce casting for its revival of Martin McDonagh's masterpiece THE PILLOWMAN, directed by Laura Alcalá Baker.

Due to popular demand, The Gift Theatre announced they are adding four additional performances of its hit dark comedy KENTUCKY, extending through Saturday, November 23, 2019 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets for all performances are available at theaterwit.org, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office.

The Gift Theatre will conclude its 2019 Season with the Chicago premiere of Leah Nanako Winkler's dark comedy KENTUCKY, directed by ensemble member Chika Ike*, playing October 17 – November 16, 2019 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Single tickets are currently available attheaterwit.org, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office. The press opening is Sunday, October 20 at 2:30 pm.

The Gift Theatre will conclude its 2019 Season with the Chicago premiere of Leah Nanako Winkler's dark comedy KENTUCKY, directed by ensemble member Chika Ike*, playing October 17 a?" November 16, 2019 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.

The Gift Theatre announces casting for its Chicago premiere of Leah Nanako Winkler's dark comedy KENTUCKY, directed by ensemble member Chika Ike*.