Rachel Edwards Harvith News

When Joy, a driftless young woman, gets on the Brooklyn Scallywags and meets the star, Lizzie Lightning, she and her long-term partner Michelle find their lives turned upside down.

Pride Films and Plays is delighted to announce the results of our 2016 LezPlay Contest. From nearly three dozen entries, five finalists have been selected to receive staged readings of their scripts during LezPlay Weekend, which runs October 7-9 at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre of Center on Halsted in Chicago.

Pride Films and Plays is delighted to announce the results of our 2016 LezPlay Contest. From nearly three dozen entries, five finalists have been selected to receive staged readings of their scripts during LezPlay Weekend, which runs October 7-9 at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre of Center on Halsted in Chicago.

Events and deals have been announced for Babes With Blades Theatre Company's 18th world premiere production, 180 Degree Rule, written by Chicago playwrights Barbara Lhota (playwright, The Double and BWBTC ensemble member) and the late M.E.H. Lewis, to be performed at City Lit Theatre, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., in Chicago. Previews will be Saturday, April 16, Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23 at 8PM and Sundays, April 17 and 24 at 3PM. The press opening is Monday, April 25 at 8PM, and the show will run Thursdays-Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 3 from April 28 - May 21, plus Wednesdays May 11 and May 18 8pm.

Babes With Blades Theatre Company announces their 18th world premiere production, 180 Degree Rule, written by Chicago playwrights Barbara Lhota (playwright, The Double and BWBTC ensemble member) and the late M.E.H. Lewis, to be performed at City Lit Theatre, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., in Chicago. Previews will be Saturday, April 16, Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23 at 8PM and Sundays, April 17 and 24 at 3PM. The press opening is Monday, April 25 at 8PM, and the show will run Thursdays-Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 3 from April 28 - May 21, plus Wednesdays May 11 and May 18 8pm.

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 BWW Chicago Award nominations are out and voting is open! Broadway In Chicago is bringing us five musicals for the holidays, and the Goodman, House, Barrel Of Monkeys and Mercury theaters are bringing us their perennials. Plus some future shows, and two Sherlock Holmes musicals!

From an Autistic young man attempting to make friends in Wrigleyville bars to a single mother's desperate venture to realize the American Dream, Chicago Dramatists' 2015-2016 season features the world premieres of plays that aren't afraid to tackle complex, intense issues with bold story lines, sharp wit and emotional depth. Stocked with characters that challenge perceptions of people with developmental disabilities and uncover simple, poignant truths about family, BEAUTIFUL AUTISTIC by Scott Woldman will kick off the new season in February followed by AMERICAN BEAUTY SHOP by Dana Lynn Formby in May.

Michael Menendian, co-Artistic Director of Raven Theatre and co-author (with John Weagly) of the script, has announced Rachel Edwards Harvith will direct Raven's dramatization with music of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's only Sherlock Holmes mystery set around the holidays. The play, based on Conan Doyle's 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle', follows Holmes' investigation into the disappearance of a precious gem owned by a countess and its reappearance in the cooked holiday goose of an ordinary Londoner.

Polarity Ensemble Theatre presents its annual DIONYSOS CUP FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS tonight, July 9, through July 19 featuring workshop readings of four new full-length plays by Chicago-area playwrights as a part of a six-month long development process.

Polarity Ensemble Theatre presents its annual DIONYSOS CUP FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS July 9 - 19 featuring workshop readings of four new full-length plays by Chicago-area playwrights as a part of a six-month long development process.

Babes With Blades Theatre Company is proud to announce its 18th anniversary season, featuring two world premieres, written and directed by women. First up will be Patchwork Drifter by BWBTC Ensemble member Jennifer L. Mickelson, directed by BWBTC Artistic Director Leigh Barrett, followed by 180 Degree Rule by MEH Lewis and BWBTC Ensemble Member Barbara Lhota, directed by Chicago Dramatists Associate Artistic Director Rachel Edwards Harvith.

Sean Graney, who recently returned to Chicago to resume his post as Artistic Director of The Hypocrites, informed the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee that he just learned the theater company had been operating under an Equity CAT-N contract for the duration of the 2014-2015 Non-Equity season.  Over the past year, requests for judging its productions were made to the Non-Equity Wing without the committee having knowledge of the company's Equity status. The Jeff Committee was aware that two of the productions had Equity performers (as indicated in the program); however, the committee has now confirmed that these were not guest contracts.  As such, the company's productions are not eligible for consideration in the Non-Equity Wing, and all related Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations have been rescinded.  The productions in question will be shifted to the Equity Wing for awards consideration during its current season, which commenced on August 1, 2014 and will end on July 30, 2015.

The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 118 nominations in 24 categories for the 42nd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2015. The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff judges attended opening nights of 133 productions offered by 56 Non-Equity producing organizations. The Jeff Committee recommended 62 of those shows, making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Of the 62 Jeff Recommended productions, 46 received nominations, representing 23 theatre companies.

After taking a one-year hiatus from production, Chicago Dramatists is officially launching its new season with the highly-anticipated world premiere of The Mecca Tales written by Resident Playwright Rohina Malik and directed by Associate Artistic Director Rachel Edwards Harvith. The production, which was developed in conjunction with the Goodman Theatre, is running tonight, March 13 to April 12 at Chicago Dramatists (1105 W. Chicago Avenue). Press nights are March 13 and 14 at 8:00 p.m.

After taking a one-year hiatus from production, Chicago Dramatists is officially launching its new season with the highly-anticipated world premiere of The Mecca Tales written by Resident Playwright Rohina Malik and directed by Associate Artistic Director Rachel Edwards Harvith. The production, which was developed in conjunction with the Goodman Theatre, is running March 13 to April 12 at Chicago Dramatists (1105 W. Chicago Avenue) with previews March 5, 6, 7 and 12. Press nights are March 13 and 14 at 8:00 p.m.

Kokandy Productions present their Season 2014 closer - ASSASSINS, directed by Rachel Edwards Harvith with music direction by Kory Danielson and choreography by Mike Ford. ASSASSINS opened on Saturday, June 14 at 8:00pm, and runs at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont in Chicago, and continues through Sunday, July 20, 2014. Scroll down for photos from the show's opening night celebrations!

Kokandy Productions has announced casting for ASSASSINS, directed by Rachel Edwards Harvith with music direction by Kory Danielson and choreography by Mike Ford. ASSASSINS begins performances today, June 13, 2014 with Press Opening on Saturday, June 14th, and runs at Theater Wit in Chicago through Sunday, July 20, 2014.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Cats,' 'Les Miserables' and 'Songs From An Unmade Bed,' rake in the reviews, 'Road Show' and 'Passion' will be followed by 'Assassins,' Theo readies 'The Andrews Sisters,' Kokandy brings back 'The Full Monty' and 'Loving Repeating,' plus two kids shows and more!

Kokandy Productions has announced casting for ASSASSINS, directed by Rachel Edwards Harvith with music direction by Kory Danielson and choreography by Mike Ford. ASSASSINS begins performances on Friday, June 13, 2014 with Press Opening on Saturday, June 14th, and runs at Theater Wit in Chicago through Sunday, July 20, 2014.

Pegasus Players rings in the New Year with its 27th Annual Young Playwrights Festival, an annual professional production of next-generation, one-act plays written by Chicago teens. The 2014 production features three new works by emerging playwrights. Performances are at National Pastime/Preston Bradley Center, 941 W. Lawrence, 4th Floor. Previews are Thursday January 2 through Saturday January 4 at 7:30 p.m. Press and Opening Ceremony is Sunday January 5 at 3 p.m. Performance continue January 10 through 25 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. For tickets contact the box office at 773-878-8864, or online at www.PegasusPlayers.org.