Naomi Iizuka News

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company (Jonathan Silverstein - Artistic Director, Mark Armstrong - Keen Teens Producer) will present the Tenth Season of Keen Teens.  This season's offerings will be Thirty Million, a new musical with music and lyrics by Max Vernon; book by Jason Kim, directed by Mark Armstrong, with choreography by Brad Landers and musical direction by Lena Gabrielle; Landlines by Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen, directed by Liz Carlson; and How The Moon Would Talk by Nick Gandiello, directed by Sash Bischoff. Auditions will be February 3rd through 5th. To more information about auditions, please visit http://www.keencompany.org/ktaudition/.

Teatro Vista, in association with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and Victory Gardens Theater, presents the world premiere of Where Did We Sit on the Bus?, created and performed by Brian Quijada and directed by Victory Gardens' Artistic Director, Chay Yew. The production will take place at the Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph St. Chicago. Opening/Press night is Thursday, March 17 at 7:30 pm.  Regular performances are from Friday, March 18 through Sunday, April 10. Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Preview performances run from Thursday, March 10 through Wednesday, March 16. All tickets are $15. Students and seniors (65+) with valid I.D. are $12. Discounts are also available for groups of 20 or more. Tickets may be purchased at all HotTix locations or by visiting www.teatrovista.org.

Strawdog Theatre Company and Artistic Director Hank Boland are proud to announce the third main stage production in its 2015 - 2016 season, Lauren Yee's In A Word, February 5 - March 19, directed by Jess McLeod, at Strawdog Theatre Company, 3829 N. Broadway St. Previews are Friday, Feb. 5 and 12, Saturday, Feb. 6 and 13 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 7 and 14 at 4 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. Opening night is Monday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. The regular performance schedule is Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. An industry performance is Monday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. and a fully accessible performance in conjunction with the Access Project at Victory Gardens is Thursday, March 3 at 8 p.m.* Preview tickets are $15, regular run tickets are $28 and on sale now. Subscriptions, group, rush, senior and student discounts are also available. Tickets may be ordered online at strawdog.org or by calling OvationTix toll-free: 866-811-4111.

Arena Stage and the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE) will host the Devise and Conquer Symposium this weekend, January 8-10, 2016, a hands-on symposium to explore a variety of approaches to devising original theater.

Arena Stage and the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE) will host the Devise and Conquer Symposium January 8-10, 2016, a hands-on symposium to explore a variety of approaches to devising original theater. The three-day event brings together arts educators and professional artists from across the country for three days of interactive workshops, discussions and performances in Washington, D.C. at the Mead Center for American Theater.

Jackalope Theatre Company is proud to present Thirst: A Climate Change Theatre Action, as part of the Climate Change Theatre Action (CCTA), a series of worldwide readings and performances intended to bring awareness to, and foster discussion around, climate change in November and December 2015. This action is in support of the United Nations 2015 Paris Climate Conference.

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of PEERLESS by Jiehae Park, directed by Margot Bordelon, November 27-December 19 at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street). Opening Night is Thursday, December 3. The cast of PEERLESS includes Teresa Avia Lim, Christopher Livingston, Caroline Neff, JD Taylor, and Tiffany Villarin.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the next show of its 41st season, the World Premiere of Cocked by Sarah Gubbins, directed by Associate Artistic Producer Joanie Schultz. Cocked runs February 12 - March 13, 2016 with the press performance on Friday, February 19, 2016, at 7:30 pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Asolo Repertory Theatre presents the sixth annual New Stages Tour, an FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training production of William Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT, which performed throughout October and November 2015. There will be a homecoming performance, open to the public, tonight, November 24 at 6:30pm in the Cook Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

Members and constituents of United Scenic Artists Local USA 829 have been busy speaking out against The New York Times' recent decision to leave out the names of shows' designers when listing credits for theatre productions at the end of reviews. As of today, their hard work has paid off.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the next show of its 41st season, Never the Sinner by John Logan, directed by Gary Griffin. Never the Sinner runs now through December 6, 2015 with the press performance tonight, November 13, 2015, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

The play submission gates were thrown open on November 1 when the Table|Room|Stage (T|R|S) new play development program at Artists Repertory Theatre began accepting submissions for the new Oregon Play Prize.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces the 25th anniversary of the biennial workshop NEW VISIONS/NEW VOICES from May 6 to May 8, 2016. Dedicated to the development of new plays and musicals for young people and their families, this innovative series pioneers a unique forum for the field of theater for young audiences (TYA).

Victory Gardens Theater announces the next show of its 41st season, Never the Sinner by John Logan, directed by Gary Griffin.  Never the Sinner runs November 6 - December 6, 2015 with the press performance today, November 13, 2015, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of PEERLESS by Jiehae Park, directed by Margot Bordelon, November 27-December 19 at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street). Opening Night is Thursday, December 3. The cast of PEERLESS includes Teresa Avia Lim, Christopher Livingston, Caroline Neff, JD Taylor, and Tiffany Villarin.

As previously reported, United Scenic Artists Local USA 829 recently started a campaign to nudge its members and constituents to speak out against The New York Times' recent decision to leave out the names of shows' designers when listing credits for theatre productions at the end of reviews.

"Good Kids" provides the spark necessary to begin conversations regarding the choices one makes in his or her life and how those decisions impact the future, and leaves audience members with much to think about long after they leave the theater.

SBCC Theatre Arts Department will present GOOD KIDS, a new play by Naomi Iizuka as its Student Showcase production, November 12-21, 2015 in the Jurkowitz Theatre.

Commissioned by the theatre departments of the Big Ten universities, Good Kids, by Naomi Iizuka, is loosely based on the events of the 2012 Steubenville, Ohio, rape case. The play asks, "How can this happen? What fosters a culture where sexual assault is prevalent? And how has social media effected culpability?" A candid look at sexual assault on college campuses, Good Kids will keep the conversation going long after the play has ended. Check out a first look at the production below!