Paul D'Addario News

The Gift Theatre artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton announces the world premiere of intriguing and touching drama The Royal Society of Antarctica by Naperville native Mat Smart (whose play Naperville, which opened Off-Broadway in November, is a New York Times Critics' Pick). The Royal Society of Antarctica is directed by Gift ensemble member John Gawlik and features Gift ensemble members Paul D'Addario (Bethany), Lynda Newton (Thinner Than Water), John Connolly (Broadsword), Jay Worthington (Thinner Than Water) and Brittany Burch (Othello) with guest artists Aila Peck (Promethean Theatre's The Lark), Brian Keys (Profiles Theatre's Hellcab) and Kyle Zornes (Artistic Director of The Gift's Natural Gas).

The Gift Theatre artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton announces the Chicago premiere of Bethany written by Laura Marks and directed by Marti Lyons, who previously collaborated on Mine last season at The Gift. Bethany features Gift ensemble members Hillary Clemens (Mine), Paul D'Addario (Thinner Than Water) and James D. Farruggio (Northwest Highway) with guest artists Mary Anne Bowman (last seen in Backstage Theatre's production of A Scent of Flowers), Susaan Jamshidi (Theater Wit's Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England) and Kirby O'Connell (founding member of The Gift's Natural Gas).

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's ninth annual First Look Repertory of New Work, will feature three developmental productions of new plays, presented in rotating repertory July 26 - August 24, 2014 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St). First Look 2014 includes: Ironbound by Martyna Majok, Hushabye by Tanya Saracho and Okay, Bye by Joshua Conkel. The 2014 festival also features readings of two new plays, American Beauty Shop by Dana Lynn Formby and Opium Den by Julie Marie Myatt. Tickets to First Look Repertory of New Work ($20) are on sale now. To purchase tickets or RSVP for the free readings, call Audience Services at 312-335-1650. Below, check out a first look at the three productions in rehearsal!

During last night's Season Release Bash at Fischman Liquors and Tavern, artistic director and co-founder Michael Patrick Thornton proudly announced The Gift Theatre's 2015 season of three world premieres. The all-new season will include the debuts of David Rabe's expanded Good For Otto, Gift Ensemble member William Nedved's Body and Blood and Naperville native Mat Smart's The Royal Society of Antarctica.

This summer, The Gift Theatre debuts an annual artist-friendly fundraiser it's calling The Season Release Bash, targeting friends and colleagues in the theater community.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has announced the line-up for the ninth annual First Look Repertory of New Work, featuring three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotating repertory July 26 - August 24, 2014 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St). First Look 2014 includes: Ironbound by Martyna Majok, Hushabye by Tanya Saracho and Okay, Bye by Joshua Conkel. The 2014 festival also features readings of two new plays, American Beauty Shop by Dana Lynn Formby and Opium Den by Julie Marie Myatt. Tickets to First Look Repertory of New Work ($20) are on sale now. To purchase tickets or RSVP for the free readings, call Audience Services at 312-335-1650.

The Gift Theatre Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton announces the Chicago premiere of Thinner Than Water written by Melissa Ross and directed by The Gift ensemble member John Gawlik (2013 Jeff Award winner for When the Rain Stops Falling at Circle Theatre). The production marks Thornton's return to The Gift main stage since ensemble member Andrew Hinderaker's Jeff Nominated Dirty in 2012. Thornton recently appeared in Les Waters' production of Our Town at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Thornton joins guest artists Donna McGough (last seen in Coriolanus with The Hypocrites) and Darci Nalepa (Dirty) and fellow Gift ensemble members Brittany Burch (The Lonesome West), Paul D'Addario (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), Gabriel Franken (Broadsword), Lynda Newton (Absolute Hell) and Jay Worthington (Vigils).

Last fall NATURAL GAS, the five-year-old house improv team of The Gift Theatre, took up an open run on Friday nights at Wicker Park's The Den Theatre, performing entirely improvised group sets in addition to their standing Wednesday night set at The Gift in Jefferson Park. Now, NATURAL GAS presents YOU & ME-a two-person, entirely improvised show featuring NATURAL GAS ensemble member/The Gift artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton with a special guest from the Chicago improv/theatre community. Upcoming performances of YOU & ME are Fridays Feb. 28 (with NATURAL GAS' Jim Kozyra), March 14 (with Susan Messing) and April 4 (with Keith Neagle) at 10:30 p.m. An ongoing schedule can be found at thegifttheatre.org/shows-events/gas-the-den.

The Gift Theatre Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton announces the Chicago premiere of Thinner Than Water written by Melissa Ross and directed by The Gift ensemble member John Gawlik (2013 Jeff Award winner for When the Rain Stops Falling at Circle Theatre). The production marks Thornton's return to The Gift main stage since ensemble member Andrew Hinderaker's Jeff Nominated Dirty in 2012. Thornton recently appeared in Les Waters' production of Our Town at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Thornton joins guest artists Donna McGough (last seen in Coriolanus with The Hypocrites) and Darci Nalepa (Dirty) and fellow Gift ensemble members Brittany Burch (The Lonesome West), Paul D'Addario (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), Gabriel Franken (Broadsword), Lynda Newton (Absolute Hell) and Jay Worthington (Vigils).

TEN, The Gift Theatre's annual season kickoff celebration of ten 10-minute plays, returns January 9-19, 2014. This year's ten-minute play premieres by The Gift and guests were curated by artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton and associate artistic director Paul D'Addario. Tickets to TEN are free for all at http://thegifttheatre.org/, however subscribers have the first opportunity to reserve.

The Gift Theatre's annual Christmas production, titled Merry Christmas! (Stranger Things Have Happened) opens Thursday. The sketch comedy revue is written and performed by Natural Gas, the house improv team of The Gift Theatre, and directed by Ensemble member Jim Kozyra. Fellow Natural Gas Ensemble members Eric Muller, Carly Olson, John Pantlind and Kyle Zornes star with Gift Ensemble member Paul D'Addario. Merry Christmas! (Stranger Things Have Happened) runs December 5 - 14 at the Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Avenue, with performances Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m. Single tickets, $5, are available at http://thegifttheatre.org/ or by calling the box office at 773-283-7071.

NATURAL GAS, the five-year-old house improv team of The Gift Theatre, has taken up residence Friday nights at Wicker Park's The Den Theatre. NATURAL GAS @ The Den shows will alternate between entirely improvised group sets (NATURAL GAS) and a two-person, entirely improvised show featuring Michael Patrick Thornton with a guest (NATURAL GAS presents: YOU & ME (Michael Patrick Thornton)). On Friday, November 29, special guest Ed Flynn joins Thornton's two-person show. An updated schedule can be found at thegifttheatre.org/shows-events/gas-the-den

The Gift Theatre announces its annual Christmas production, titled Merry Christmas! (Stranger Things Have Happened). The sketch comedy revue is written and performed by Natural Gas, the house improv team of The Gift Theatre, and directed by Ensemble member Jim Kozyra. Fellow Natural Gas Ensemble members Eric Muller, Carly Olson, John Pantlind and Kyle Zornes star with Gift Ensemble member Paul D'Addario. Merry Christmas! (Stranger Things Have Happened) runs December 5 - 14 at the Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Avenue, with performances Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m. Single tickets, $5, are available at http://thegifttheatre.org/ or by calling the box office at 773-283-7071.

The Gift Theatre artistic director and co-founder Michael Patrick Thornton proudly announces its 2014 season featuring two Chicago premieres and the theater's first staging of Shakespeare. The season includes Bethany, reuniting the writer and director of the 2013 Gift Theatre hit Mine. Bethany premiered Off-Broadway in January to raves with America Ferrara in the title role. The Gift Season Subscriptions, starting at $75, offer theatergoers the opportunity to be part of the exciting revolution of The Gift and Chicago's Northwest Side; Jefferson Park was recently recognized by the Chicago Sun-Times and Nadig Press as 'Chicago's newest theater district.'

The Gift Theatre artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton has announced casting for the Chicago premiere of Broadsword: A Heavy Metal Play written by Marco Ramirez (Orange is the New Black; Sons of Anarchy) and directed by Keira Fromm. Guest artists Chuck Spencer (Jeff Award-winner for Redtwist's Man From Nebraska) and Pavement Group's Cyd Blakewell (currently co-starring in Mine) join The Gift Ensemble members John Kelly Connolly (The Lonesome West), James D. Farruggio (Suicide, Inc.), Gabriel Franken (Mine) and John Gawlik (The Lonesome West).

The Gift Theatre closes tonight, April 29, its U.S. Premiere of Absolute Hell by Rodney Ackland, directed by ensemble member Sheldon Patinkin and featuring Gift Ensemble Members Brittany Burch, John Connolly, Paul D'Addario, Gabriel Franken, Alexandra Main, Kenny Mihlfried, Lynda Newton, Michael Patrick Thornton and Jay Worthington with guest artists Alexis Atwill, Harter Clingman, Kurt Conroyd, Patrick DeNicola, Joanne Dubach, Marssie Mencotti, Donna McGough, Justine Serino, Amy Speckien, Maria Stephens, Dylan Stuckey, and Adam Welsh.

London. One month after World War II has ended. An important election on the horizon...Welcome to the members-only club 'La Vie En Rose' and its colorful cast of bohemian lovers, losers, soldiers, and dreamers who prepare to repair both country & self. Big, bold, and haunting, Absolute Hell was nearly lost forever until a rediscovery led to a revival & inclusion in The Royal National Theatre's 'Top 100 Plays of The Twentieth Century.' The U.S. premiere comes to The Gift in an ensemble-packed production.

London. One month after World War II has ended. An important election on the horizon...Welcome to the members-only club 'La Vie En Rose' and its colorful cast of bohemian lovers, losers, soldiers, and dreamers who prepare to repair both country & self. Big, bold, and haunting, Absolute Hell was nearly lost forever until a rediscovery led to a revival & inclusion in The Royal National Theatre's 'Top 100 Plays of The Twentieth Century.' The U.S. premiere comes to The Gift in an ensemble-packed production.

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, The Gift Theatre announces a season of thrilling new work including two world premieres, one American premiere, and one Chicago premiere.