Northwestern University News

Rehearsals have started for 'A Parallelogram,' the riveting new play by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Bruce Norris. Directed by Tony Award-winner Anna D. Shapiro, 'A Parallelogram' will be presented at the Taper, July 10 through August 18, 2013. The opening is scheduled for July 21. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast and creative team in rehearsal below!

The Music Box Theatre continues its partnership with the UK's National Theatre Live - produced by Northwestern alum David Sabel - to exhibit live stage performances beamed to Chicago from the prestigious National Theatre in London. This month: a backbiting drama between Britain's political partiesin a captured performance of This House, recorded during the first of its two sold-out runs at The National Theatre of Great Britain. In this witty and comical recreation of turbulent British politics in the 1970s, the realities of the British Parliamentary System unfold in the engine rooms of Westminster as rules are bent and votes are won or lost by one. This House , written by James Graham and directed by Jeremy Herrin, bows today, June 15, Noon, and Tuesday June 25, 7:30 pm at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Avenue. Tickets to National Theatre Live events are $15 in advance at the Music Box Theatre box office and online at www.musicboxtheatre.com/events/NT-Live-This-House ; $18 at the door.

The NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK (NNPN), the country's alliance of non-profit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays, will award grants of over $100,000 for Commissions and Residencies in 2013-14. The Awards were announced at the organization's Annual Conference on June 4 in Dallas, TX, hosted by Core Member Theater Kitchen Dog Theater.

Playwright Andrea J. Fulton announces performances of two excerpts from her play 'One Drop,' in which an exceptional multi-cultural cast portrays the truth-based story of a mulatto in Louisiana in the 1800s. Power, control, love, faith and fear collide as he chooses whether or not to 'pass,' calling into question not only his values and loyalties, but also those of everyone he encounters. Original songs lend authenticity to a story told with honesty, humor and humanity. Two scenes from this moving work will be shown: Scene 4 on the hour, and Scene 7 on the half-hour throughout the day.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents the Tony Award-winning 2008 Broadway revival version of the hit comedy BOEING-BOEING, previewing tonight, June 13, opening Today, June 20 at 8 p.m., and running through August 4, 2013. BOEING-BOEING stars Saturday Night Live alum Nora Dunn as'Berthe' (Dunn was Meryl Streep's co-star in the Nancy Meyers film It's Complicated; her TV credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Private Practice, Psych and Franklin & Bash; and she recently starred in Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron's play Love, Loss and What I Wore at the Broadway Playhouse in Chicago).

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director TriStan Wilson, presents the world premiere production of Muckrakers, a new play by Zayd Dohrn, directed by Giovanna Sardelli (BSC's The North Pool and Lord of the Flies). Muckrakers begins previews tonight, June 13, opens Wednesday, June 19 and will run through Saturday, July 6 at the St. Germain Stage, at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield.

Mary-Arrchie Theater Co. has announced that on its 27th Anniversary, tonight, June 13, 2013 at 8 p.m. it will open a production of Austin Pendleton's Uncle Bob. It will run Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m.and Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets will be $25. It will be mounted at Angel Island which is at 735 W. Sheridan in Chicago, Illinois. There is parking available at the Mobil Gas station across from the theater for a price to be determined by Mobil.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The Tony Awards (aka New York thanks Chicago), 'Motown,' Cole and 'Kiss,' next season from BoHo, Marriott's latest, a new 'Rent,' The Second City and more!

From July 11 to 13 at New York Live Arts, Modern American Dance Company (MADCO) from St. Louis, MO will perform 'MADCO performs MILLS/works,' an evening of dances choreographed by former company member Joseph Mills. Mills performed with MADCO from 1981-1987. Subsequently, he was a member of MOMIX and The Erick Hawkins Dance Company and has performed and choreographed independently since 1990. Since 2000, he has frequently returned to St. Louis to create works for MADCO. In this program, MADCO will offer three of his works, one being a world premiere, and an audience favorite danced by Mr. Mills that was choreographed by Alan Boeding.

Internationally acclaimed actress Helen Mirren's performance as The Queen in the world premiere of Peter Morgan's THE AUDIENCE, directed by Stephen Daldry, will be seen by cinema audiences worldwide when National Theatre Live broadcasts the play live from London's Gielgud Theatre on June 13, 2013, with varying dates internationally and encore screenings throughout the summer. THE AUDIENCE reunites Mirren and Morgan after collaborating on the 2006 film The Queen, in which Mirren also portrayed Elizabeth II, winning the Academy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and BAFTA Awards for Best Actress for her performance. For their performances in THE AUDIENCE, both Mirren and Richard McCabe (as former Prime Minister Harold Wilson) won 2013 Olivier Awards for Best Actress and Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

Novels, such as James Joyce's 'Ulysses,' 'Hamlet' and Homer's 'Odyssey,' are classic works of literature that are loved by many. These famous stories have captivated many with their compelling plots, infamous lessons and powerful morals. Unfortunately, the power of these inspirational books is lost on high school students and younger generations. However, a new feature film on Kickstarter from 'You (Plural)' is taking these beloved novels, and adapting them to become more relatable in today's modern world.

The Spolin Players Improvisational troupe is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Viola Spolin (known as 'The High Priestess of Improv') by performing her theatre games at The Hollywood Fringe Festival. Each hour-long completely improvised show will be completely different and original. Bring your imagination and suggestions, and get ready to laugh a lot!

Lookingglass Theatre Company has been selected to receive a 37­-month grant of $155,000 from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation's Artist Residencies to Build Demand for the Arts Program. The purpose of the grant is to support an artist residency at Lookingglass Theatre Company to conduct a project to increase demand for the performing arts.

The cast is set for 'A Parallelogram,' the riveting new play by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Bruce Norris. Directed by Tony Award-winner Anna D. Shapiro, 'A Parallelogram' will be presented at the Taper, July 10 through August 18, 2013. The opening is scheduled for July 21. The cast includes Carlo Alban, Marylouise Burke, Marin Ireland and Tom Irwin.

Jackalope Theatre Company, in association with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, presents the world premiere of THE CASUALS, co-written by Chance Bone and Andrew Swanson and directed by Jonathan Berry, playing tonight, July 7 - 28, 2013 at The Storefront Theater.

The Music Box Theatre continues its partnership with the UK's National Theatre Live - produced by Northwestern alum David Sabel - to exhibit live stage performances beamed to Chicago from the prestigious National Theatre in London. This month: a backbiting drama between Britain's political partiesin a captured performance of This House, recorded during the first of its two sold-out runs at the National Theatre of Great Britain. In this witty and comical recreation of turbulent British politics in the 1970s, the realities of the British Parliamentary System unfold in the engine rooms of Westminster as rules are bent and votes are won or lost by one. This House , written by James Graham and directed by Jeremy Herrin, bows Saturday June 15, Noon, and Tuesday June 25, 7:30 pm at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Avenue. Tickets to National Theatre Live events are $15 in advance at the Music Box Theatre box office and online at www.musicboxtheatre.com/events/NT-Live-This-House ; $18 at the door.

The forthcoming Broadway production REAR WINDOW has found its creative team in playwright Keith Reddin(Too Much Memory, Life and Limb) and director Terry Kinney (reasons to be pretty, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest). The play will be adapted from Cornell Woolrich's original short story, the iconic and haunting tale of the wheelchair-bound witness to a possible murder in his neighboring New York City apartment.

As part of its 2012-2013 producing Season, HERE proudly presents You Are Dead. You Are Here. Together, playwright Christine Evans, director Joseph Megel and media designer Jared Mezzocchi have formed Transit Lounge, and You Are Dead. You Are Here. marks the company's debut production. This world premiere plays a limited engagement June 5-22, with Official Opening Night on Sunday, June 9 at 8:30PM at HERE (145 Sixth Avenue, just below Spring Street).

The poignant and provocative new musical, A Minister's Wife, makes its West Coast premiere at San Jose Rep June 20 - July 14, 2013.

As part of its 2012-2013 producing Season, HERE will present You Are Dead. You Are Here. Together, playwright Christine Evans, director Joseph Megel and media designer Jared Mezzocchi have formed Transit Lounge, and You Are Dead. You Are Here. marks the company's debut production. This world premiere plays a limited engagement tonight, June 5-22, with Official Opening Night on Sunday, June 9 at 8:30PM at HERE (145 Sixth Avenue, just below Spring Street).