Northwestern University News

Six-time Tony and three-time Drama Desk Award-winning play Red by John Logan is an account of one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century, Mark Rothko, who struggles to accept that his growing ambition for praise and riches will ultimately become his undoing. After their triumphs together in film (Blind Company, Tom White), Colin Friels and director Alkinos Tsilimidos reunite for Red, which opens Monday 26 March 2012 at 8pm at The MTC Theatre, Sumner.

The Music Theatre Company, Highland Park's Equity theatre, announced its spring production of Pippin by Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson, directed and choreographed by Founding Artistic Director Jessica Redish. The production will run March 22 - May 6, 2012 at The Music Theatre Company located in the Karger Center, 1850 Green Bay Road in Highland Park.

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.

Fox Valley Repertory today announced that it has selected four playwrights for Fox Valley Repertory's 2nd Annual Collider Project, taking place during the St. Charles' Summer Theater Festival in July. Each of these playwrights from around the country are eager to start their project that ties to Fox Valley Rep's goal of 'developing new works that help us better understand the universe and who we are while illuminating and celebrating the worlds of art, science and technology.'

TOUCHING DOWN: NORTHWESTERN SONGWRITERS IN CONCERT will come to the End Stage Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street) for one night only on Monday, March 19, 2012 at 7:30PM. The concert will feature original songs by eight undergraduate Northwestern University seniors.

Writers' Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, continues its 20th Anniversary Season with Hesperia by Randall Colburn, directed by Associate Artistic Director Stuart Carden.

TOUCHING DOWN: NORTHWESTERN SONGWRITERS IN CONCERT will come to the End Stage Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street) for one night only on Monday, March 19, 2012 at 7:30PM. The concert will feature original songs by eight undergraduate Northwestern University seniors.

Tony Award-winning ensemble member Frank Galati returns to the helm at Steppenwolf Theatre Company with his stage adaptation of The March, Pulitzer Prize-finalist E.L. Doctorow's novel about General William Tecumseh Sherman's Civil War march through Georgia.

THE PROFIT OF CREATION, a new musical with book and lyrics by Charlie Sohne and music by Tim Rosser, will be presented to an industry audience on March 13 at 3 p.m. in the North Studio at Playwrights Horizons. The cast of the reading includes Lindsay Mendez (Godspell), Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (A Little Night Music), Colin Hanlon (Rent), Sean Dugan (Next Fall), Sally Wilfert (Make Me A Song) and Michael Winther (33 Variations). The reading will be directed by Obie Award-winning director Evan Yionoulis, music directed by Paul Staroba (Lucky Guy) and stage managed by Donald Butchko.

Producer John Johnson announced today the complete cast for the New York premiere of 35mm A Musical Exhibition, written by Ryan Scott Oliver based on the photography of Matthew Murphy.

Magic Futurebox Presents ALAN SCHMUCKLER: I MISS THE CITY on March 12th, 2012 at 10:00 pm at Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette St. New York, NY 10003.

The Mary Kay Letourneau Players, a Chicago-based comedy duo, have announced the extension of their new sketch comedy revue through March 11, 2012 at iO Chicago.

HUNGER: IN BED WITH ROY COHN is a world premiere fantasy play by Joan Beber about Roy Cohn, the attorney whose hunger for power and prominence ultimately destroyed him.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents its 25th Anniversary Season production of The Feast: an intimate Tempest, an original CST commission and artistic collaboration with Redmoon.

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.

A Red Orchid Theatre presents the world premiere of The Butcher of Baraboo, written by Marisa Wegrzyn and directed by Artistic Associate Shade Murray. The production will run April 5 - May 20, 2012 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Press Opening is Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 7:00PM.

THE PROFIT OF CREATION, a new musical with book and lyrics by Charlie Sohne and music by Tim Rosser, will be presented to an industry audience on March 13 at 3 p.m. in the North Studio at Playwrights Horizons. The cast of the reading includes Lindsay Mendez (Godspell), Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (A Little Night Music), Colin Hanlon (Rent), Sean Dugan (Next Fall), Sally Wilfert (Make Me A Song) and Michael Winther (33 Variations). The reading will be directed by Obie Award-winning director Evan Yionoulis, music directed by Paul Staroba (Lucky Guy) and stage managed by Donald Butchko.

The Colorado String Quartet will play an all-Beethoven program Thursday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m., at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on the UConn campus in Storrs.

Producer John Johnson announced today the complete cast for the New York premiere of 35mm A Musical Exhibition, written by Ryan Scott Oliver based on the photography of Matthew Murphy.

Strawdog Theatre announces "Play Rites!," a free series of interactive conversations, visual displays and events designed around the award-winning theatre company's productions. The first in this season's "Play Rites" is Monday, March 5 at 6 p.m. in Hugen Hall at Strawdog Theatre, 3829 North Broadway Street featuring Bill Savage.