Michael Black News

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the delightful and touching tale ofDon Quichotte by French Romantic composer Jules Massenet in a new-to-Chicago production, opening Saturday, November 19. Lyric will offer six performances throughDecember 7. Performance dates are November 19 and 28, and December 1 and 7 at 7:30pm; and November 23 and December 4 at 2:00pm. Performances are in French with English subtitles at Lyric's Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Tickets start at $34 and are available now at lyricopera.org/Quichotte or at 312-827-5600.

In a new production, Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the much-anticipated Midwest premiere of Les Troyens by French Romantic composer Hector Berlioz (1803-1869). Les Troyens opens Sunday, November 13, with only five performances throughDecember 3 at Lyric's Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Tickets are available at lyricopera.org/Troyens or at 312-827-5600.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the haunting story of a woman in love, her betrayal, and her descent into madness in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor in a new-to-Chicago production with an all-star cast. Often described as a Scottish Romeo-and-Juliet-style tragedy, Lucia di Lammermoor opens on Saturday, October 15, with seven performances through November 6 at Lyric's Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

For Fantastic.Z Theatre's Fall main stage show, in keeping with their 2016 theme of comedy Comedy COMEDY, Z presents Devil Boys From Beyond.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents an all-new production of Mozart's The Magic Flute just in time for the holidays, December 10, 2016 - January 27, 2017.

For Fantastic.Z Theatre's Fall main stage show, in keeping with their 2016 theme of comedy Comedy COMEDY, Z presents Devil Boys From Beyond.

As BroadwayWorld sadly reported yesterday, award-winning Broadway actor John McMartin has passed away at the age of 86. McMartin most recently appeared on Broadway in 2014's ALL THE WAY and the 2011 revival of ANYTHING GOES. 

Back by popular demand New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents an evening with Comedian & WBLS Radio Host EARTHQUAKE for his annual Father's Day Celebration! Earthquake hosts a hilarious night, with performances by Lavell Crawford, Michael Blackson, Deon Cole and Pat Brown! A great Father's Day gift! Have a laugh-out-loud good time with Dad at this side-splitting night of comedy. Tonight, June 21, 2016 6PM at Prudential Hall.

Back by popular demand New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents an evening with Comedian & WBLS Radio Host EARTHQUAKE for his annual Father's Day Celebration! Earthquake hosts a hilarious night, with performances by Lavell Crawford, Michael Blackson, Deon Cole and Pat Brown! A great Father's Day gift! Have a laugh-out-loud good time with Dad at this side-splitting night of comedy. Sunday, June 19, 2016 6PM at Prudential Hall. Get your tickets now at NJPAC.org or 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

Carolines on Broadway announces its line-up for the month of June 2016, highlighted by headliners Tracy Morgan, from NBC's 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live, June 2 - 4; legendary activist and comedian Dick Gregory, June 4 and 5; Maz Jobrani, from the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour and author of "I'm Not a Terrorist But I Play One on TV," June 10 - 12; Darrell Hammond, from NBC's Saturday Night Live, June 16 - 18; Gilbert Gottfried, from the film The Aristocrats, June 23; Jon Rudnitsky, from NBC's Saturday Night Live, June 24 - 26; and Michael Blackson, The African King of Comedy, July 4th Weekend, June 30 ( - July 3).

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents a stunning production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, featuring Broadway starsKate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam. Lyric Opera's The King and I runs April 29 through May 22 (press opening April 30), with 25 performances at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Tickets start at $29 and are available at lyricopera.org/king or at 312-827-5600. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

Wagner College Theatre closes its 2015-16 Stage One season with The Dance Project 2016: Do You Think You Can Dance? -Wagner's own version of the popular TV dance competition.

Back by popular demand New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents an evening with Comedian & WBLS Radio Host EARTHQUAKE  for his annual Father's Day Celebration! Earthquake hosts a hilarious night, with performances by Lavell Crawford, Michael Blackson, Deon Cole and Pat Brown! A great Father's Day gift! Have a laugh-out-loud good time with Dad at this side-splitting night of comedy. Sunday, June 21, 2016 6PM at Prudential Hall. Get your tickets now at NJPAC.org or 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722)

Jennifer Schwartz is the new Managing Director for PCPA as of January 2016. Schwartz comes to PCPA having worked for over 15 years as a non-profit arts manager. She was the Finance and Administration Director at the San Jose Repertory Theatre, held finance positions at SFJAZZ, The San Francisco Film Society and The Paul Dresher Ensemble, and was the Associate Managing Director at the Yale Repertory Theatre where she produced The Special Events Series that included artists Don Byron, Meredith Monk and Guillermo Gomez-Pena. She also has worked in Los Angeles for New Line Cinema and Paramount Pictures and as a consultant for Bay Area non-profits including The Magnes Museum, Southern Exposure, Prison Law Office, Glide Community Housing, Root Division, We Care, World Savvy and Youth Speaks.

Lyric Opera of Chicago continues its 61st season with ROMEO AND JULIET in a new-to-Chicago production created by Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher, tonight, February 22, through Saturday, March 19 (nine performances). This is the eighth and final mainstage opera production of the widely acclaimed 2015/16 season. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the company in action below!

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the perfect midwinter getaway: a beautiful production of Richard Strauss's delectably bittersweet romantic comedyDer Rosenkavalier, which opens on Monday, February 8 for eight performances through Sunday, March 13.  BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

'A Number' opens from Kansas City Actors Theatre at Rockhurst University's Mabee Theatre.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Nabucco, Giuseppe Verdi's twisted tale of politics, power, forbidden love, and religion, best known for its stirring chorus 'Va, pensiero.' Nabucco opens tomorrow night, Saturday, January 23 for seven performances through February 12.  Check out a first look below!

Kansas City Actors Theatre kicks off the last half of Season 11 with Caryl Churchill's drama, A NUMBER, directed by Mark Robbins.

Lyric Opera of Chicago continues its 61st season with Romeo and Juliet in a new-to-Chicago production created by Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher, Monday, February 22 through Saturday, March 19(nine performances). This is the eighth and final mainstage opera production of the widely acclaimed 2015/16 season.