Mike Steele News

THE TRAP DOOR THEATRE presents The Duchess of Malfi, Written by: John Webster, Directed by: Christopher Marino.

THE TRAP DOOR THEATRE presents The Duchess of Malfi, Written by: John Webster, Directed by: Christopher Marino.

On the heels of hit comedy Barbecue Apocalypse, The Ruckus continues its 2014-15 season, dubbed the 'season of catastrophe,' with the world premiere of MATAWAN, Dan Caffrey's thrilling physical story of terror, coming of age, and the transformative power of total disaster. The Allison Shoemaker-directed production will run tonight, June 26th-July 26th at the Athenaeum Theatre (2936 N Southport Ave) in Chicago.

On the heels of hit comedy Barbecue Apocalypse, The Ruckus continues its 2014-15 season, dubbed the "season of catastrophe," with the world premiere of MATAWAN, Dan Caffrey's thrilling physical story of terror, coming of age, and the transformative power of total disaster. The Allison Shoemaker-directed production will run June 26th-July 26th at the Athenaeum Theatre (2936 N Southport Ave) in Chicago.

Strawdog Theatre Company presents its third production in their 2014 - 2015 Hugen Hall season, Jules Verne's classic novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, adapted by Clint Sheffer and Ann Sonneville, running now through April 7, directed by ensemble member Mike Mroch at Hugen Hall in Strawdog Theatre Company, 3829 N. Broadway Street. Opening night performance was last night, March 9 at 8 p.m. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action!

Strawdog Theatre Company, Artistic Director Hank Boland and Hugen Hall Artistic Director Anderson Lawfer are proud to announce the third production in their 2014 - 2015 Hugen Hall season, Jules Verne's classic novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, adapted by Clint Sheffer and Ann Sonneville, March 8 - April 7, directed by ensemble member Mike Mroch at Hugen Hall in Strawdog Theatre Company, 3829 N. Broadway Street.

TRAP DOOR THEATRE presents the world premiere of COOKIE PLAY, tonight, Jan. 8-Feb. 14, 2015. Written by Ken Prestininzi, Directed by Kate Hendrickson, Featuring Trap Door ensemble members: Lyndsay Rose Kane, Chris Popio, Mike Steele, Gage Wallace, & Carl Wisniewski.

TRAP DOOR THEATRE presents the world premiere of COOKIE PLAY, Jan. 8-Feb. 14, 2015. Written by Ken Prestininzi, Directed by Kate Hendrickson, Featuring Trap Door ensemble members: Lyndsay Rose Kane, Chris Popio, Mike Steele, Gage Wallace, & Carl Wisniewski.

The Trap Door Theatre presents JOHN DOE, based on The Madman and the Nun by Stanislaw I. Witkiewicz and translated by Daniel Gerould. Adapted and directed by Andrzej St. Dziuk, with guest artists from the Teatr Witkacy in Zakopane, Poland.

The Trap Door Theatre presents JOHN DOE, based on The Madman and the Nun by Stanislaw I. Witkiewicz and translated by Daniel Gerould. Adapted and directed by Andrzej St. Dziuk, with guest artists from the Teatr Witkacy in Zakopane, Poland.

The cast will depart on July 25 to rehearse with Artistic Director Andrzej Dziuk, for a production that will premiere at the Teatr Witkacy, before we bring it home for a Chicago production that will open our season on September 25th!

The Ruckus kicks off their sixth season with a remount of The Strange by Jenny Magnus, presented in partnership with Athenaeum Theatre Productions, beginning June 13 at the Athenaeum Theatre. The Ruckus' production of The Strange first appeared as a part of Curious Theatre Branch's Magnus In Play festival in February 2014, receiving three performances. Ruckus Artistic Director Allison Shoemaker returns as director, and Julie Cowden (The Mammals, Stage Left) who was most recently seen in The Ruckus' production of The Deer, reprises her role as the Woman. Ruckus Ensemble Member Stevie Chaddock-Lambert (Ka-Tet Theatre, Strangeloop Theatre) joins the cast as the Girl.

The Ruckus kicks off their sixth season with a remount of The Strange by Jenny Magnus, presented in partnership with Athenaeum Theatre Productions, beginning June 13 at the Athenaeum Theatre. The Ruckus' production of The Strange first appeared as a part of Curious Theatre Branch's Magnus In Play festival in February 2014, receiving three performances. Ruckus Artistic Director Allison Shoemaker returns as director, and Julie Cowden (The Mammals, Stage Left) who was most recently seen in The Ruckus' production of The Deer, reprises her role as the Woman. Ruckus Ensemble Member Stevie Chaddock-Lambert (Ka-Tet Theatre, Strangeloop Theatre) joins the cast as the Girl.

Cast: Trap Door ensemble members John Gray, Ann Sonneville, Holly Thomas Cerney; with Associate ensemble members Johnny Graff, Eddy Karch, Mike Mazzocca, Leslie Ruettiger, J. Keegan Siebken, Mike Steele

Cast: Trap Door ensemble members John Gray, Ann Sonneville, Holly Thomas Cerney; with Associate ensemble members Johnny Graff, Eddy Karch, Mike Mazzocca, Leslie Ruettiger, J. Keegan Siebken, Mike Steele

The Ruckus's follow-up to their Jeff-Recommended production of Facing Angela will be a revamped version of their first Chicago production, Heist Play. Through a workshop and development process in 2013, this production has undergone significant rewrites by playwright Mitch Vermeersch since its 2009 world premiere. It will again be staged by that production's director, Allison Shoemaker, and performed at The Side Project Theater today, October 12- November 10, 2013, the intimate storefront venue where both the play and company began.

The Ruckus's follow-up to their Jeff-Recommended production of Facing Angela will be a revamped version of their first Chicago production, Heist Play. Through a workshop and development process in 2013, this production has undergone significant rewrites by playwright Mitch Vermeersch since its 2009 world premiere. It will again be staged by that production's director, Allison Shoemaker, and performed at The Side Project Theater October 12- November 10, 2013, the intimate storefront venue where both the play and company began.

The parables of Jesus Christ come to life when M&M Stage Productions presents the modern day musical "Godspell" at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre. Performances are Fridays, July 12 and 19 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, July 13 and 20 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, July 14 and 21 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is located on the college's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on July 12.