Rachel Lambert News

To kick off its 19th season, First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) is proud to present the World Premiere of the gothic drama THE GRAVEDIGGER, opening October 4 and running through November 2, 2014. The production is written by First Folio Artistic Associate Joseph Zettelmaier, who recently opened the World Premiere of his play Salvage at First Folio Theatre to sold-out audiences. Jeff Award nominee Alison C. Vesely (First Folio's A Moon for the Misbegotten) will direct. The cast is led by Craig Spidle (Brigadoon at The Goodman Theatre, Twelfth Night at First Folio Theatre, Fiddler on the Roof at Drury Lane Theatre) as "Kurt" (The Gravedigger), Joshua Caroll as "Anton" (The Monster), Simina Contras as "Nadya" (A Gypsy), and Doug MacKechnie as "Victor" (The Creator).

To kick off its 19th season, First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) is proud to present the World Premiere of the gothic drama THE GRAVEDIGGER, which previews today, October 1, opens October 4 and runs through November 2, 2014.

To kick off its 19th season, First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) is proud to present the World Premiere of the gothic drama THE GRAVEDIGGER, which previews October 1, opens October 4 and runs through November 2, 2014. Scroll down for some creepy promo pics!

Chicago actress, TV and film star Jane Lynch did the honor today of announcing the nominees for the 2013-2014 Equity Jeff Awards.

To kick off its 19th season, First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) is proud to present the World Premiere of the gothic drama THE GRAVEDIGGER, which previews October 1, opens October 4 and runs through November 2, 2014. The production is written by First Folio Artistic Associate Joseph Zettelmaier, who recently opened the World Premiere of his play Salvage at First Folio Theatre to sold-out audiences. Jeff Award nominee Alison C. Vesely (First Folio's A Moon for the Misbegotten) will direct. The cast is led by Craig Spidle (Brigadoon at The Goodman Theatre, Twelfth Night at First Folio Theatre, Fiddler on the Roof at Drury Lane Theatre) as 'Kurt' (The Gravedigger), Joshua Caroll as 'Anton' (The Monster), Simina Contras as 'Nadya' (A Gypsy), and Doug MacKechnie as 'Victor' (The Creator).

The frighteningly funny farce "The Mystery of Irma Vep- A Penny Dreadful" by Charles Ludlam opens July 30 at Peninsula Players Theatre, America's oldest professional resident summer theater and Door County's theatrical icon. The Drama Desk-and Obie Award-winning comedy is a true mix of Victorian gothic romance and Universal monster movies.

First Folio Theatre, known for presenting acclaimed musicals, plays and classic and reimagined works of Shakespeare to the Chicagoland stage, announces its 2014-2015 season. The season begins with the World Premiere of the riveting drama THE GRAVEDIGGER, which previews October 1, opens October 4 and runs through November 2, 2014. Neil Simon's whimsical comedy LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR previews January 28, opens January 31 and runs through March 1, 2015; Nora Ephron's poignant play LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE previews March 25, opens March 28 and runs through April 26, 2014; and Shakespeare's masterpiece THE WINTER'S TALE, First Folio Theatre's annual Shakespeare Under the Stars production, previews July 8, opens July 11, and runs through August 9.

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are pleased to present Intimate Impressionism from the National Gallery of Art, featuring the work of 19th century avant-garde painters such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Vincent van Gogh. The exhibition includes nearly 70 paintings from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and features a selection of intimately scaled impressionist and post-impressionist still lifes, portraits and landscapes, whose charm and fluency invite close scrutiny.

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are pleased to present Intimate Impressionism from the National Gallery of Art, featuring the work of 19th century avant-garde painters such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Vincent van Gogh. The exhibition includes nearly 70 paintings from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and features a selection of intimately scaled impressionist and post-impressionist still lifes, portraits and landscapes, whose charm and fluency invite close scrutiny.

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents Tom Stoppard's hysterical farce ROUGH CROSSING opening Saturday, February 1 at 8 p.m. and running through March 2, 2014. Directed by Jeff Award nominee and First Folio Theatre favorite Alison C. Vesely, ROUGH CROSSING is a musical romp on the high seas. Jeff Award winner Christopher Kriz ("The Turn of the Screw") will be composing three new jazz songs to Stoppard's original lyrics.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, have announced the third production in American Blues Theater's "Legends and Legacies," the world premiere of Christina Gorman's American Myth, directed by Steve Scott, March 7 - April 6, at the Greenhouse Theater Center's Downstage Studio Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets are $19 for previews, $29 Thursdays and Fridays, $39 Saturdays and Sundays, and $49 for opening night. Previews are Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 9 at 2:30 p.m. Press/opening night is Thursday, March 13 at 7 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. There are post-show Town Hall discussions following Sunday performances from March 9 - 30. Tickets are on sale now at 773.404.7336 or americanbluestheater.com.

First Folio Theatre presents Tom Stoppard's hysterical farce ROUGH CROSSING previewing January 29, opening Saturday, February 1 at 8 p.m., and running through March 2, 2014. Directed by Jeff Award nominee and First Folio Theatre favorite Alison C. Vesely, ROUGH CROSSING is a musical romp on the high seas. Jeff Award winner Christopher Kriz ("The Turn of the Screw") will be composing three new jazz songs to Stoppard's original lyrics.

Eclipse Theatre Company, the only theatre company in the Midwest to feature the works of one playwright in one season, will continue their 2013 season featuring the works of Sir Alan Ayckbourn with his hilarious comedy Bedroom Farce, directed by Remy Bumppo Theatre Artistic Director Nick Sandys.

Eclipse Theatre Company, the only theatre company in the Midwest to feature the works of one playwright in one season, will continue their 2013 season featuring the works of Sir Alan Ayckbourn with his hilarious comedy Bedroom Farce, directed by Remy Bumppo Theatre Artistic Director Nick Sandys. Click below for a look behind the scenes!

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83), will present the rollicking World Premiere of SHAKESPEARE'S CYMBELINE: A FOLK TALE WITH MUSIC, previewing tonight, June 19, opening Saturday, June 22 at 8:15 p.m., and running through July 21, 2013.

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83), will present the rollicking World Premiere of SHAKESPEARE'S CYMBELINE: A FOLK TALE WITH MUSIC, previewing June 19, opening Saturday, June 22 at 8:15 p.m., and running through July 21, 2013. This wondrous new version of the timeless Shakespearean folk tale has been moved to Civil War Appalachia and includes 10 original songs featuring beautiful bluegrass melodies. SHAKESPEARE'S CYMBELINE: A FOLK TALE WITH MUSIC is adapted by First Folio Theatre's Executive Director and Jeff Award-nominee, David Rice, with Music and Lyrics by Rice and Michael Keefe (First Folio's Resident Composer). Michael Goldberg (The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night's Dream at First Folio Theatre) directs the "Shakespeare Under the Stars" production, which concludes First Folio Theatre's smash hit 2013 season. It will appear on the outdoor main stage situated on the scenic slopes of the historic Mayslake Peabody Estate.

Eclipse Theatre Company, the only theatre company in the Midwest to feature the works of one playwright in one season, will continue their 2013 season featuring the works of Sir Alan Ayckbourn with his hilarious comedy Bedroom Farce, directed by Remy Bumppo Theatre Artistic Director Nick Sandys.

The Museo della Grafica, Palazzo Lanfranchi, Pisa, will present the exhibition 'Botanical Art into the Third Milllennium' - a stunning array of contemporary works in all media which explore the visual richness of Botanical Art, its long history and unique interface with scientific traditions. The exhibition, curated by Lucia Tongiorgi Tomasi and Alessandro Tosi, will be accompanied by an illustrated catalogue published by ETS Editions of Pisa, Italy.

Eclipse Theatre Company (www.eclipsetheatre.com), the only theatre company in the Midwest to feature the works of one playwright in one season, will open their 2013 season featuring the works of Sir Alan Ayckbourn with his dark comedy Woman in Mind, directed by Eclipse Ensemble Member and Goodman Theatre Associate Producer/Artistic Associate Steve Scott.

An original production by First Folio Theatre's Executive Director David Rice, THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY, recently opened and runs through November 4th, directed by Michael Goldberg and stars Christian Gray as 'Edgar Allan Poe'. Watch the video below for a behind-the-scenes look at the actors after their opening night performance!