McKenzie Chinn News

Victory Gardens Theater Artistic Director Chay Yew, Executive Director Erica Daniels and Director of New Play Development Skyler Gray announce the lineup for the 11th Anniversary IGNITION Festival of New Plays, including The Tasters by Meghan Brown; The Gradient by Steph Del Rosso; [hieroglyph] by Erika Dickerson-Despenza; #NEWSLAVES by Keelay Gipson; Reckoning: Furies from a New Queer Nation by Geraldine Inoa; and They Could Give No Name by Exal Iraheta. The 2019 Festival runs August 2 -4, 2019 at Victory Gardens Theater, located at 2433 N Lincoln Avenue.

It seems only fitting that Ike Holter would conclude his seven-play "Rightlynd Saga," set in the fictional 51st Ward of Chicago, by literally sending it off with a party. And this is no ordinary celebration. A cast of characters from previous installments in the "Rightlynd Saga" gathers in Mallory's backyard; she's the neighborhood's maternal figure, and she's poised to give away a sizable sum of money to one lucky winner.

"Not everyone will go home a winner" in Goodman Theatre's world-premiere production of Lottery Day by Ike Holter, which appears through April 28 in the Owen Theatre. Holter concludes his seven-play "Rightlynd Saga"-the first play of which premiered five years ago, and has been hailed as "one of the most significant literary achievements in modern-day Chicago" (Chicago Tribune)-with a raucous theatrical bash, directed by Chicago native Lili-Anne Brown. Commissioned by the Goodman and developed through its New Stages Festival of new plays, Lottery Day takes place in a Rightlynd backyard where new characters and returning characters from the saga come together to create a work about the cost of belonging and the gift of community. Lottery Day appears through April 28 in the Owen Theatre.

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).

More than 60 Chicagoland students make their Goodman Theatre debut on the mainstage to conclude summer programming-PlayBuild Youth Intensive and Musical Theater Intensive-on August 10 and 11 at 7pm. The free programs were taught over a course of seven-to-eight weeks in the Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement.

The Colorado New Play Festival (CNPF) (Artistic Director Andrew Leynse) (formerly the Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival) is proud to announce full casting for all five play readings for the 2018 season. The 21st Annual Festival, to be held on June 10-16, 2018 in Steamboat Springs, CO, will develop five new works in partnership with the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Alley Theatre, Curious Theatre Company, Primary Stages, and Victory Gardens Theater.

Today, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) continues its 22-year legacy of providing a platform for diverse storytelling and emerging filmmakers, by announcing the 2018 official selections in all screening categories. The festival returns to Miami Beach, FL from June 13-17. 

The Den Theatre is pleased to present three-time world champion spoken word artist BUDDY WAKEFIELD for one night only on Tuesday, March 20 at 8 pm (doors open at 7 pm) on The Heath Mainstage, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.

So one expects nothing more than laughs when an original show called 'The Second City Presents: Nothing to Lose (But Our Chains)' takes up residence at Woolly Mammoth.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company announces the second production of its 2017-2018 season, The Second City Presents Nothing to Lose (But Our Chains). Written by Felonious Munk and directed by Anthony LeBlanc, Nothing to Lose (But Our Chains) will run from November 11 to December 31, 2017.

Steppenwolf's LookOut Series has announced their exciting Winter 2017-18 Lineup, which will feature two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera in Concert with Seth Rudetsky as pianist and host.

Photos for the developmental productions in the 14th annual New Stages Festival have just been released! BroadwayWorld brings you a look inside Lottery Day, Continuity, and Twilight Bowl below!

Casting is complete for the three developmental productions featured in Goodman Theatre's 14th annual New Stages festival - a free celebration of new works by some of the country's finest established and emerging playwrights.

Casting is complete for the three developmental productions featured in Goodman Theatre's 14th annual New Stages festival - a free celebration of new works by some of the country's finest established and emerging playwrights.

This year's celebration and tribute concert honors Chicago's arts heroes: Common, Jeanne Gang, Kerry James Marshall, Steppenwolf Theatre Company and 25 “Rising Star” youth honorees in Millennium Park on Monday, August 28   The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) will honor four of Chicago's arts heroes for their contributions to the city's cultural landscape at the 4th annual Fifth Star Honors presented by Allstate Insurance Company. The free event celebrates the 2017 honorees with electrifying performances and moving tributes on August 28, at 6:30 p.m., in Millennium Park.

More than 60 Chicagoland teenagers will perform in two final showcases at Goodman Theatre to conclude the theater's summer programming-Playbuild Youth Intensive and Musical Theater Intensive-on August 11 and 12 at 7pm. Both programs were offered free of charge and taught over a course of seven-to-eight weeks in the Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement ("the Alice"). This year's theme, "What it Means to be an American," uses Langston Hughes' poem "I too, Sing America" as inspiration. The final performances are scheduled for Friday, August 11 and Saturday, August 12 at 7pm at Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn). Tickets are free but reservations are required; call 312.443.3800.  For more information, visit GoodmanTheatre.org/PlaybuildYouthFinal and GoodmanTheatre.org/MusicalTheaterFinal.

Steppenwolf's LookOut Series has announced their summer lineup, which will feature a three week run of the acclaimed solo play, How To Be A Rock Critic (Based on the Writings of Lester Bangs) by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, the award-winning writers of The Exonerated and Aftermath. The show will run July 6 - July 22 in Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre (1700 N Halsted St); the press performance is Friday, July 7 at 8pm.

Sideshow Theatre Company continues its 2016/17 Season with the wry and subversive world premiere GIVE IT ALL BACK by artistic associate Calamity West, directed by artistic associate Marti Lyons, playing now through December 18, 2016 at Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a fresh look at the cast onstage below!

The 'Driver's Seat' Monthly Reading Series  continues with... THE LAST MATCH by Anna Ziegler.

Played out under the bright lights of the U.S. Open Semifinals, The Last Match is a battle for the ages. Rising Russian star Sergei Sergeyev is pitted against American great Tim Porter in an epic showdown that follows two tennis titans through pivotal moments in their lives both on-and-off the court.