Northwestern University News

Chicago Dramatists present the final production of their 2011 - 2012 Season, I Am Going to Change the World by Resident Playwright Andrew Hinderaker and directed by Jonathan Berry from tonight, May 24 - July 1 at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 West Chicago Ave. Opening nights are Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2 at 8 p.m. Previews are tonight, May 24 through May 26 and May 31 at 8 p.m. Regular performance times (June 3 - July 1) are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Barrington Stage Company will present the New England premiere of British playwright's Duncan Macmillan's acclaimed new drama Lungs. Lungs opens the newly named St. Germain Stage (formerly Stage 2) from May 23 through June 10, and the press opening is Sunday, May 27 at 3pm. St. Germain Stage is located on the upper level of the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Three shows make a PR appearance at Sidetrack, ATC plans a 'Hair' re-do, 'Camelot,' 'Floyd Collins,' three new mainstage musicals, a reading, a benefit and more!

Barrington Stage Company presents the New England premiere of British playwright's Duncan Macmillan's acclaimed new drama Lungs. Lungs opens the newly named St. Germain Stage (formerly Stage 2) from tonight, May 23 through June 10, and the press opening is Sunday, May 27 at 3pm. St. Germain Stage is located on the upper level of the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield.

Raymond J. Lee, rising Broadway actor, co-star of Broadway's Anything Goes and director of YouTube video "You Don't Know You're Beautiful" featuring the cast of Anything Goes, will host Making Books Sing's May 25th Education Celebration.

According to the weather forecasters, it's going to be a long, hot summer in Tennessee and if you're looking to cool off at the theatre, you could probably use some help in making the right selections, right? Here are our top five picks for the theater offerings that are sure to satisfy your hankering for good entertainment...ranging from the revival of a comedy hit from Street Theatre Company's 2009 season, new takes on two classic Broadway musicals, the 25th annual Shakespeare in the Park presentation of the internationally known Nashville Shakespeare Festival and the Broadway-bound debut of a new musical comedy based on a classic film comedy, directed by the legendary Jerry Lewis and featuring the music of Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics of Rupert Holmes...

TimeLine Theatre Company offers three special events connected to its world premiere production of My Kind of Town by John Conroy, directed by Nick Bowling. My Kind of Town is now playing through July 29, 2012 at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago.

Mirror Stage presents the West Coast premiere reading of Mia McCullough's The Anatomy of Pain tonight, May 19 at 8pm and tomorrow, May 20 at 2pm at the Ethnic Cultural Theatre in Seattle. Feed Your Mind: The Anatomy of Pain will be directed by Suzanne M. Cohen and feature McKenzie Clifford (Maty), Ryan Dominguez (Detective Gutierrez), Macall Gordon (Grace), TRoy Johnson (Lt. Burch/Bruce), Eleanor Moseley (Nancy) and John Wray(Fredrik).

Chicago Arts Orchestra (CAO) presents an evening of music by Ludwig van Beethoven titled 'The Emperor' featuring guest artist George Lepauw tonight, May 19 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport. This concert features Beethoven's works 'Creatures of Prometheus Overture', 'Piano Concerto No. 4', 'Consecration of the House Overture' and 'Piano Concerto No. 5', also known as the 'Emperor Concerto'.

TimeLine Theatre Company will offer three special events connected to its world premiere production of My Kind of Town by John Conroy, directed by Nick Bowling. My Kind of Town is now playing through July 29, 2012 at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago.

Chicago Dramatists will present the final production of their 2011 - 2012 Season, I Am Going to Change the World by Resident Playwright Andrew Hinderaker and directed by Jonathan Berry from May 24 - July 1 at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 West Chicago Ave. Opening nights are Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2 at 8 p.m. Previews are May 24 - 26 and May 31 at 8 p.m. Regular performance times (June 3 - July 1) are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announces 15 awards granted from their National Fund for New Musicals, a major funding program to support NAMT member not-for-profit theatres in their collaborations with writers to create, develop and produce new musicals. Now in its fourth year, the Fund will provide grants totaling $48,000 to 14 organizations across the country.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) in association with the York Theatre (James Morgan, Artistic Director) presents an invitation-only showcase presentation entitled Trunk and Disorderly: Songs from the Deep Dark Trunk of Jeff Blumenkrantz, who received the 2011 Fred Ebb Award. The presentation will feature Drew Gehling, Dee Hoty, Dee Roscioli, and Sarah Stiles.

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's ongoing interview series with the stars and creative team of NBC's hit musical drama series SMASH with a Broadway/Hollywood leading man who first made his mark on the stage creating a role in the Tony Award-winning TITANIC after having appeared in BLOOD BROTHERS and CAROUSEL and who has since starred in productions as diverse as SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, NEXT TO NORMAL, SHREK and many more - the jovial and multi-talented Brian d'Arcy James. Discussing all aspects of his role on SMASH as well as cluing us in on what we can expect from Monday's highly awaited season finale, d'Arcy James and I also take a look back at his career onstage thus far and he shares fond recollections of working on TITANIC, SWEET SMELL, SHREK, NEXT TO NORMAL, TIME STANDS STILL and THE WILD PARTY Off-Broadway as well as offers his observations of his collaborators and co-stars in each endeavor. Plus, Brian also reveals his other current TV project: his character arc on Showtime's dramedy THE BIG C, starring his TIME STANDS STILL co-star Laura Linney and previous John Benjamin Hickey, that begins this Sunday and continues through the rest of this month. Additionally, we also discuss his upcoming 54 Below concerts June 26-30 - as well as his thoughtful and candid opinions on some of his favorite songwriters and his own songs. Plus, comments on his film roles in HBO's GAME CHANGE, FRIENDS WITH KIDS, an upcoming short film - and much, much more!

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) in association with the York Theatre (James Morgan, Artistic Director) is pleased to present an invitation-only showcase presentation entitled Trunk and Disorderly: Songs from the Deep Dark Trunk of Jeff Blumenkrantz, who received the 2011 Fred Ebb Award. The presentation will feature Drew Gehling, Dee Hoty, Dee Roscioli, and Sarah Stiles.

The Theatre @ Boston Court presents 'The Children," a world premiere play written by Michael Elyanow and directed by Boston Court's Co-Artistic Director Jessica Kubzansky. Opening night is tonight, May 12, 2012 on the Main Stage at Boston Court Performing Arts Center, 70 North Mentor Avenue.

Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the world premiere of EASTLAND: A NEW MUSICAL, written by Artistic Director Andrew White with music by Ben Sussman and Artistic Associate Andre Pluess and directed by Amanda Dehnert. The production runs June 6 - July 29, 2012 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

The Chicago Commercial Collective today announced the return of the Chicago and Broadway hit drama, A Steady Rain, with its original cast and crew to the Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave.

The Marriott Theatre (10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire) presents HERO, a new musical written by Aaron Thielen with music and lyrics by Michael Mahler, previewing June 20, opening June 27 at 8 p.m. and running through August 19, 2012. Eleven-time Jeff award-winner David H. Bell directs and choreographs. Erich Bergen (JERSEY BOYS, Nat'l Tour) stars as Hero Batowski.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company will announce the hire of Jocelyn Prince as the theatre's new Connectivity Director.