Michael Patrick News

Chita Rivera's GREAT PERFORMANCES special, subtitled 'A LOT OF LIVIN' TO DO', will air as part of PBS's Fall Arts Festival 2015.

During last night's Season Release Bash at Fischman Liquors and Tavern, artistic director and co-founder Michael Patrick Thornton proudly announced The Gift Theatre's 2016 season will include: Shakespeare's Richard III to be presented in Steppenwolf's Garage Theatre starring Thornton as the villainous Richard; John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, adapted by Frank Galati; and Melissa Ross' world premiere of A Life Extra Ordinary.

Broadway Records releases THE VISIT Original Broadway Cast Recording digitally and in stores, including most major retailers, such as iTunes and Amazon, today, July 10.

THE VISIT cast album, out tomorrow, is a joint release of two labels: Broadway Records and Yellow Sound Label, and is co-executive produced by Hunter Arnold, Carl Daikelerand Sandi Moran. Tonight, July 9 (7PM), the company will reunite at Barnes and Noble (150 East 86th Street) for a CD signing and performance.

As part of the National New Play Network's Rolling World Premiere, Capital Stage brings its 10th anniversary season to a close with UNCANNY VALLEY by Thomas Gibbons. UNCANNY VALLEY runs now through July 19, 2015. BroadwayWorld has brand-new production shots below!

Pittsburgh CLO is proud to announce the cast of the CLO Cabaret premiere of Altar Boyz, September 24-December 20. This heavenly cast includes Pittsburgh CLO alumni Mike Greer as Luke and Mason Alexander Park as Mark, as well as exciting newcomers Michael Brown, Carter Ellis and Javier Manente. Tickets start at $34.75 and are available at as part of the 2015-2016 CLO Cabaret Series package. Please visit CLOCabaret.com or call 412-281-2822 for information on purchasing a Series subscription.

Broadway Records announced today the official digital download release of The Visit available tomorrow, June 30th.

The Gift Theatre's artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton, co-founder William Nedved and associate artistic director Paul D'Addario are proud to announce nine artists have joined the company ensemble: playwrights Will Eno and Laura Marks; directors Marti Lyons and Erica Weiss; and actors Cyd Blakewell, Darci Nalepa, Keith Neagle, Mary Ann Thebus, and Kyle Zornes. Conceived in 1997 by Michael Patrick Thornton and William Nedved, The Gift's mission was to grow and nurture an ensemble while laying roots in an artistically underserved Chicago neighborhood. Today, The Gift Theatre thrives in Jefferson Park as Chicago's most intimate Equity theater and is home to a nationally respected acting ensemble.

The Gift Theatre hosts its second annual artist-friendly fundraiser, The Season Release Bash, for friends and colleagues in the theater community. Attendees of this spirited party in the old-school style of early Gift fundraisers will be the first to hear Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton reveal The Gift's 2016 season. Entertainment is provided by DJ White Russian, Sidewalk Chalk and Sad Brad Smith, and food trucks will be on hand to purchase vittles. The Gift's Season Release Bash takes place Sunday, July 12, 4 - 10 p.m. at the Fischman Liquors and Tavern Back Lot, 4780 N Milwaukee Ave. $25 tickets - available at thegifttheatre.org, 773-283-7071, or at the door - include unlimited beer courtesy of Lake Effect, Slapshot, and Mikerphone Breweries.

The Gift Theatre artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton announces the world premiere of smart, exhilarating new play Body & Blood by Gift Co-Founder and playwright, William Nedved and directed by Marti Lyons, who previously directed Bethany last season and recently directed Thornton in Lookingglass' Title and Deed. Body & Blood features Gift ensemble members Lynda Newton (The Royal Society of Antarctica) and Gabe Franken (Thinner Than Water) with guest artists Cyd Blakewell (Griffin Theatre Company's Balm in Gilead), Stephen Spencer (Remy Bumppo's Our Class) and Nicholas Harazin (Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Macbeth).

The Gift Theatre artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton presents the World Premiere of Body & Blood, the smart, exhilarating new play by Gift Co-Founder and playwright William Nedved, directed by Marti Lyons, who recently directed Thornton in Lookingglass' Title and Deed. Body & Blood features The Gift ensemble members Lynda Newton (The Royal Society of Antarctica) and Gabriel Franken (Thinner Than Water) with guest artists Cyd Blakewell (Griffin Theatre Company's Balm in Gilead), Stephen Spencer (Remy Bumppo's Our Class) and Nicholas Harazin (Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Macbeth). Body & Blood runs tonight, June 11 - August 9 at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Press opening is Monday, June 15 at 7:30pm.

As part of the National New Play Network's Rolling World Premiere, Capital Stage will bring its 10th anniversary season to a close with UNCANNY VALLEY by Thomas Gibbons. Called 'Deeply absorbing,' and 'Cerebrally challenging' by The Washington Post, the production features Capital Stage veteran Michael Wiles (THE REAL THING, HEDDA GABLER, SOMEONE WHO'LL WATCH OVER ME, MASTER CLASS, FAT PIG) and CapStage newcomer Jessica Powell. UNCANNY VALLEY will be directed by Producing ArtisticDirector Jonathan Williams (TRIBES, THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY, DYING CITY). UNCANNY VALLEY will run from June 17 through July 19, with a Press Opening on Saturday June 20, 2015.

A University of Pennsylvania magna cum laude grad with a degree in communications and film, Whitney Cummings covers topics such as gender differences, sexism, human sexuality and relationships. In the words of someone who recently saw Whitney's stand-up show, 'Whitney is beautiful, quick-witted, and laugh-out-loud funny. Her star is rising. Catch her whenever you can. I will always go to see her whenever she's in town.'

Berkeley Playhouse at the Julia Morgan Theater proudly announces their eighth season. The ambitious season will see an increase of productions from four to six, their first "R-rated" show, a world premiere commission, the first non-musical in the company's history, and a Bay Area premiere.

The Gift Theatre artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton announces the cast for the World Premiere of Body & Blood, the smart, exhilarating new play by Gift Co-Founder and playwright William Nedved, directed by Marti Lyons, who recently directed Thornton in Lookingglass' Title and Deed. Body & Blood features The Gift ensemble members Lynda Newton (The Royal Society of Antarctica) and Gabriel Franken (Thinner Than Water) with guest artists Cyd Blakewell (Griffin Theatre Company's Balm in Gilead), Stephen Spencer (Remy Bumppo's Our Class) and Nicholas Harazin (Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Macbeth). Body & Blood runs June 11 - August 9 at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Press opening is Monday, June 15 at 7:30pm.

Pittsburgh CLO has announced the 2015-2016 CLO Cabaret Series featuring the hilarious hit Off-Broadway comedy, ALTAR BOYZ, the Pittsburgh Premiere of Broadway's FIRST DATE and the Tony Award-winning comic mystery THE 39 STEPS.  CLO Cabaret Series packages are now on sale and can be purchased by calling our Season Ticket hotline at 412-281-2822.  Groups of 10 or more may purchase tickets by calling 412-325-1582 or emailing Groups@pittsburghCLO.org. 

Lookingglass Theatre Company presents In the Room, a special event developed by Lookingglass Ensemble member Joey Slotnick and artistic collaborators Lauren Katz and Jim Dennen. In the Room will be presented for three nights only, tonight, April 30 - May 2, 2015 at 9:00pm at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.

In 2015, our producers and curators programmed over 175 Chicago artists in 15 homes across Chicago from May 5th to 24th to reroute our city's segregated maps. From Uptown to Englewood, Little Village to Austin, the festival explores private homes as public forums for cross-cultural conversation, radical generosity and interdisciplinary collaboration.

It was announced today that The Visit, which will open tonight, Thursday, April 23rd as the final musical of the 2014-2015 Broadway season, will record its cast album. The Visit is the final musical ever written by legendary Oscar Award®, Grammy Award® and Tony Award®-winning composer John Kander and his writing partner lyricist Fred Ebb, before Mr. Ebb passed away.

Lookingglass Theatre Company presents In the Room, a special event developed by Lookingglass Ensemble member Joey Slotnick and artistic collaborators Lauren Katz and Jim Dennen.  In the Room will be presented for three nights only, April 30 - May 2, 2015 at 9:00pm at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.