Paul Deziel News

Atari! Pong! Space Invaders! The New Colony concludes its 2016 Season with the world premiere comedy MERGE, a fast-paced, heartfelt and uproarious journey inside the burgeoning 1970s video game industry. Written by Spenser Davis and directed by Co-Artistic Director Andrew Hobgood, MERGE plays now through November 13, 2016 at The New Colony's resident home, The Den Theatre's Upstairs Main Stage, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. The press opening is tonight, October 11 at 7:30 pm, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

American Blues Theater continues its 2016-2017 Season with the 15th Anniversary Production of the holiday favorite It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! The production, based on the beloved Frank Capra's film, is directed by Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside with music direction by Michael Mahler. It's a Wonderful Life runs November 18 - December 31, 2016 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.  

Atari! Pong! Space Invaders! The New Colony will conclude its 2016 Season with the world premiere comedy MERGE, a fast-paced, heartfelt and uproarious journey inside the burgeoning 1970s video game industry. Written by Spenser Davis and directed by Co-Artistic Director Andrew Hobgood, MERGE will play October 8 - November 13, 2016 at The New Colony's resident home, The Den Theatre's Upstairs Main Stage, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets go on sale Monday, August 22 at www.thenewcolony.org.  

The New Colony is pleased to continue its 2016 Season with the world premiere of the fantastical family drama KIN FOLK, by William Glick, directed by Co-Artistic Director Evan Linder, playing now through August 14, 2016 at its resident home, The Den Theatre's Upstairs Main Stage, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. BroadwayWorld has new photos from the show below!

About Face Theatre presents the world premiere of AD HOC [HOME], a devised play exploring 'family' written by and featuring members of the the About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble and directed by AFT Education and Outreach Director Ali Hoefnagel and Education Associate Kieran Kredell. AD HOC [HOME] will play now through July 31, 2016 at the Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. in Chicago. The press opening is tonight, July 22, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

 The New Colony is pleased to continue its 2016 Season with the world premiere of the fantastical family drama KIN FOLK, by William Glick, directed by Co-Artistic Director Evan Linder, playing July 8 - August 14, 2016 at its resident home, The Den Theatre's Upstairs Main Stage, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets for KIN FOLK are currently available at www.thenewcolony.org. The press opening is Tuesday, July 12 at 7:30 pm.

About Face Theatre will present the world premiere of AD HOC [HOME], a devised play exploring "family" written by and featuring members of the the About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble and directed by AFT Education and Outreach Director Ali Hoefnagel and Education Associate Kieran Kredell. AD HOC [HOME] will play July 21 - 31, 2016 at the Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. in Chicago. Tickets are pay-what-you-can at the door.  Advance reservations can be made at www.aboutfacetheatre.org or by calling (773) 784-8565. The press opening is Friday, July 22 at 7:30 pm.

Following its highly acclaimed inaugural production of Churchill, which played in Chicago, New York City and continues to play in several places around the country, SoloChicago Theatre presents THE UNFORTUNATES by Australian playwright Aoise Stratford. SoloChicago Artistic Director Kurt Johns directs the piece about survival, celebrity, violence and friendship, which begins performances today, June 17 at Theater Wit.

The New Colony will continue its 2016 Season with the world premiere of the fantastical family drama KIN FOLK, by William Glick, directed by Co-Artistic Director Evan Linder, playing July 8 - August 14, 2016 at its resident home, The Den Theatre's Upstairs Main Stage, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets for KIN FOLK are currently available at www.thenewcolony.org. The press opening is Tuesday, July 12 at 7:30 pm.

Following its highly acclaimed inaugural production of Churchill, which played in Chicago, New York City and continues to play in several places around the country, SoloChicago Theatre is pleased to announce its second production - THE UNFORTUNATES by Australian playwright Aoise Stratford. SoloChicago Artistic Director Kurt Johns will direct the piece about survival, celebrity, violence and friendship, which begins performances June 17 at Theater Wit.

About Face Theatre will present the world premiere of AD HOC [HOME], a devised play exploring "family" written by and featuring members of the the About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble and directed by AFT Education and Outreach Director Ali Hoefnagel. AD HOC [HOME] will play July 21 - 31, 2016 at the Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. in Chicago. Tickets are pay-what-you-can at the door.  Advance reservations can be made beginning Saturday, May 21, 2016 at www.aboutfacetheatre.org or by calling (773) 784-8565. The press opening is Friday, July 22 at 7:30 pm.

Experience the entirely unique voice and lyricism of Neo-Futurist Jessica Anne in her upcoming show, Mike Mother. The show opens Monday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland.

This winter, Hans Fleischmann re-imagines his groundbreaking conception of Tennessee Williams' classic drama in a new The Hypocrites production of THE GLASS MENAGERIE, playing now through March 6, 2016 at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. BroadwayWorld has new shots from the production below!

Upon entering the Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage to take in The Hypocrites' production of THE GLASS MENAGERIE, I was immediately struck by the bottles upon bottles of breathtaking glass that cover Grant Sabin's decrepit-yet-beautiful set. Like director Hans Fleischmann's production itself (a remount of a production he originally envisioned for Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company), the set for this GLASS MENAGERIE both exhilarates yet also supplies a sense of foreboding. When Fleischmann (who also stars) takes to the stage as Tom Wingfield, he embodies the role of the vagabond dreamer in every way. In this staging of Tennessee Williams' classic 1944 memory play, Fleischmann beckons audiences anew into the story--but his mangy hair, wild beard, and tattered attire (Mieka Van Der Ploeg's costume designs are a treasure throughout) keep us slightly distrustful. Nevertheless, this GLASS MENAGERIE captivates throughout-and though this play has been around for 72 years, the material felt entirely fresh to this first-time viewer.

This winter, Hans Fleischmann re-imagines his groundbreaking conception of Tennessee Williams' classic drama in a new The Hypocrites production of THE GLASS MENAGERIE, playing now through March 6, 2016 at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. The press opening is Sunday, February 7 at 3 pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the lineup for its 2016 - 2017 Season, "Define Yourself."

This winter, Hans Fleischmann re-imagines his groundbreaking conception of Tennessee Williams' classic drama in a new The Hypocrites production of THE GLASS MENAGERIE, playing tonight, January 22, through March 6, 2016 at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. The press opening is Sunday, January 31 at 7 pm. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast onstage below!

This winter, Hans Fleischmann re-imagines his groundbreaking conception of Tennessee Williams' classic drama in a new The Hypocrites production of THE GLASS MENAGERIE, playing January 22 - March 6, 2016 at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Fleischmann's original production and subsequent remount with Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. enjoyed critical praise and sold-out houses. Now for The Hypocrites audiences, Fleischmann will push his own vision further and redefine his inventive and magical touch on this American classic. Tickets for THE GLASS MENAGERIE are available at www.the-hypocrites.com. The press opening is Sunday, January 31 at 7 pm.

Chicago's Halcyon Theatre announces casting for the Chicago Premiere of Estrella Cruz [the junkyard queen] by Charise Castro Smith. Directed by Tony Adams, Halcyon's Artistic Director, the company continues its 10th Anniversary season with this contemporary satirical twist on the classic Greek myth of Persephone and her journey to the underworld. The cast of Estrella Cruz features Johnny Garcia, Robert N. Isaac, Noe Jara, Tamika Lechee Morales, Kelly Opalko, and Allyce Torres. Estrella Cruz [the junkyard queen] runs January 21 - February 27 at Halcyon Theatre, in residence at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3253 W. Wilson Avenue. The official opening night performance is Thursday, January 28, at 8pm; the running time is approx. 70 minutes.

American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, is proud to announce the return of the critically acclaimed IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO!, on the main stage of the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., now through December 27. The opening night performance is tonight, Nov. 25 at 7:30p.m. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action below!