Northwestern University News

The Johnny Mercer Foundation and the American Music Theatre Project at Northwestern University will once again produce a weeklong songwriting intensive for emerging songwriters and writing teams, 18-30 led by award-winning master teachers Andrew Lippa, Craig Carnelia and Lari White.

This June Steppenwolf Theatre Company will present the second annual Next Up: three productions presented in rotating repertory, June 5 - 24, 2012 in The Steppenwolf Garage (1624 N Halsted St). Next Up is presented in collaboration with Northwestern University's MFA programs in Direction and Design, and features the work of graduates of those programs with casts of professional Chicago actors: Life and Limbby Keith Reddin, directed by Emily Campbell; South of Settling by Emily Schwend, directed by Adam Goldstein; and The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, directed by Laley Lippard. The directors and designers make their Steppenwolf debut under the mentorship of Steppenwolf staff and artists, including ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro and scenic designer Todd Rosenthal-both members of the Northwestern faculty-as well as Steppenwolf Associate Artistic Director Erica Daniels.

TimeLine Theatre Company, named one of the nation's top 10 emerging professional theatres by the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards®, presents the world premiere of My Kind of Town by John Conroy, directed by Nick Bowling, May 11 - July 29, 2012 (previews May 1 - 10) at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago.

The 39th annual edition of the Chicago area's Bach Week Festival, where Baroque music lovers luxuriate in diverse works of Johann Sebastian Bach, will present a signature blend of solo, concerto, orchestral, and choral performances in concerts tonight April 27, May 4, and May 6 in Evanston.

Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (GJDC) and Point Park University will present Jazz Dance World Congress 2012, an international consortium of dancers and teachers to further the legacy of jazz dance and education. This five day educational event unites teachers, dancers, and choreographers from all over the world and will take place on the campus of Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pa. from August 1-5, 2012, with additional classes and performances at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture and the Byham Theater.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, presents [title of show] with music and lyric by Jeff Bowen and the book by Hunter Bell, directed by Peter Amster. The production runs May 4 - June 10, 2012 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd. The press opening is on Friday, May 11, 2012. Tickets for [title of show],$25-60, are available by phone at 847.673.6300, or online at northlight.org. Young Adult tickets (25 and under) are $10 (one per person with valid ID).

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 non-Equity Jeff Award nominations, a 'Jersey Boys' benefit, 'Cats' now and forever, the market for 'Motherhood,' Roosevelt lands 'Lysistrata Jones,' and much, much more....

The Hangar Theatre's Pilot Reading Series in NYC continues with a reading of Seeing Jerusalem, a new play by Seth Greenland. The reading is tonight, April 23rd at 7 pm at One on One Studios, 34 West 27th Street, 11th floor (between Broadway and Sixth Avenue). The reading will be directed by Roger Danforth.

Damn Yankees is headed to The 5th Avenue Theatre! This musical comedy is the story of an aging baseball fan who makes a deal with the Devil so his beloved hometown team can beat the Yankees in the race for the pennant. From the songwriting team of The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees is filled with hit songs including "Two Lost Souls" and the sultry favorite, "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets." The Paper Mill Playhouse production will slide into Seattle this April. The creative team includes direction by Mark S. Hoebee (Paper Mill's Producing Artistic Director), music direction by Ben Whiteley, and choreography by Denis Michael Jones.

Gina Stoj, co-founder of Theater 48 (a non-profit corporation dedicated to presenting theater that matters - www.Theater48.org), makes her producing debut the stage play, Finding the Burnett Heart by Paul Elliot, to premiere in Hollywood at The Lillian Theatre, April 19-May 27.

Now in its eighth season, Millennium Park will host free concerts, events, exhibitions and open rehearsals that showcase the very best of Chicago throughout the summer.

Gina Stoj, co-founder of Theater 48 (a non-profit corporation dedicated to presenting theater that matters - www.Theater48.org), makes her producing debut the stage play, Finding the Burnett Heart by Paul Elliot, to premiere in Hollywood at The Lillian Theatre, April 19-May 27.

Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation (LSCRF) announces Academy Award-Winning Actress and Director Diane Keaton as Guest Speaker at its Annual Fall Benefit Luncheon on Wednesday, October 17th beginning at 11 a.m. at the Hilton Chicago, 720 South Michigan Ave. Proceeds will support innovative contributions to breast cancer research and educational programs, as well as fellowships, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

The Hangar Theatre's Pilot Reading Series in NYC continues with a reading of Seeing Jerusalem, a new play by Seth Greenland. The reading is Monday, April 23rd at 7 pm at One on One Studios, 34 West 27th Street, 11th floor (between Broadway and Sixth Avenue). The reading will be directed by Roger Danforth.

The 39th annual edition of the Chicago area's Bach Week Festival, where Baroque music lovers luxuriate in diverse works of Johann Sebastian Bach, will present a signature blend of solo, concerto, orchestral, and choral performances in concerts April 27, May 4, and May 6 in Evanston.

The "Which Way TYA? New Directions for Theater for Young Audiences" conference will be held at New York University on April 27-29, 2012. For a schedule of events and to register, visit http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/conference/tya.

Steep Theatre's 11th season continues on April 12th with the Midwest Premiere of The Receptionist, by Obie Award-winning playwright Adam Bock. Director and Steep Artistic Associate Joanie Schultz returns home to Steep to direct the production. Schultz's past collaborations with the company have earned numerous Jeff awards and nominations, including Steep Ensemble Member Caroline Neff's 2011 Jeff Award for Best Actress for A Brief History of Helen of Troy. Neff and Schultz are back at it again with The Receptionist.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company hosts an evening of conversation on Monday, May 7 between two exceptional students of American theater: renowned journalist and former New York Times drama critic Frank Rich and Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey. Inspired by Steppenwolf's season theme, "Dispatches from the Homefront," their onstage discussion offers a unique perspective on culture and world events. Following the conversation, the audience has the opportunity to ask questions of Rich and Lavey.

Next Theatre Company announces their 32nd main stage season. The season begins with Iphigenia 2.0 by Charles Mee, directed by David Kersnar; followed by the Midwest premiere of Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter written by Julie Marie Myatt and directed by Jessica Thebus. The United States premiere of Everything is Illuminated, by Simon Block adapted from Jonathan Safron Foers' novel and directed by Devon DeMayo begins 2013, and the season will conclude with a co-production with the Theatre and Interpretation Center at Northwestern University, and in partnership with The Center on Wrongful Convictions, The Exonerated, by Jessica Blank and Eric Jensen, directed by Cat Miller and presented at the Josephine Louis Theater, 20 Arts Circle Drive, Northwestern University. The first three main stage productions are presented at Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes Street in Evanston. To find out information about subscribing to the season, visit the website at www.nexttheatre.org or call the box office at 847-475-1875 x2.

Chicago Arts Orchestra (CAO) proudly presents an evening of music by Ludwig van Beethoven titled 'The Emperor' featuring guest artist George Lepauw on Saturday, 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'.