Rachel Wilson News

Director Thomas and choreographer Gary Roberts have designed some creative staging, but it never quite takes off

Legally Blonde: The Musical is based on the beloved 2001 film, which itself was adapted from Amanda Brown’s novel. Developed in the mid-2000s by producer Hal Luftig and others, the musical features music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, with a book by Heather Hach.

Hershey Area Playhouse has announced its summer production for 2024, Jimmy Buffett's ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. This jukebox musical centered around the songs of Jimmy Buffett will help the audience escape from their daily life and take an imaginary vacation to Margaritaville.

Enjoy first look photos of the Santa Fe Opera's new production of Don Giovanni directed by Stephen Barlow and inspired by the Picture of Dorian Gray.

PlayMakers Laboratory will celebrate its 25th anniversary of arts education in Chicago schools with 25 Years of Students’ Stories, two public performances featuring stories written by Chicago youth on Monday, December 5 at 6:30 pm & 8:30 pm at the Neo-Futurist Theater.

Misogynoir, colorism, objectification, and body-shaming are a part of the Black woman's experience. Brown Sugar Bake-Off 2021 will focus on what it means to take ownership after an undeniable history of policing Black and Brown bodies. 

PlayMakers Laboratory will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its popular sketch comedy revue That's Weird, Grandma with a free digital special on Thursday, August 5 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. PML will host an in-person viewing party at The Annoyance Theater, 851 W. Belmont Ave. (proof of vaccine required) in Chicago or guests may stream the show on Facebook Live.

Blumenthal Performing Arts has announced the nominees competing for Best Actor and Best Actress in this year’s High School Musical Theater Awards, also known as The Blumey Awards, presented by Wells Fargo that will air on PBS Charlotte Tuesday, May 25th at 8pm.

Almost Adults, an inclusive local theatre company and member of Theatre Santa Fe have been providing creative opportunities for both beginning and seasoned writers, actors, directors, producers, crew members, and local non-profits since 2015.

New Baltimore theater company Two Strikes Theatre Collective announces Black womxn play festival, writing seminar, and Facebook Live event series. 

PlayMakers Laboratory is taking its signature revue online with That's Weird, Grandma: House Par-Tay, featuring a creative line-up of stories written by elementary school students, adapted and performed by professional actors and directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd. Streaming will begin Monday, May 11, 2020 via Patreon, with a new line-up released every Monday. Tickets ($3 for a one-week pass) will go on sale Friday, May 8, 2020 at playmakerslab.org.

PlayMakers Laboratory, formerly Barrel of Monkeys, is pleased to launch its 2019-20 season with a spooky twist: THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Goes Trick or Treating, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Sundays at 3 pm from October 6 – November 3, 2019 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.playmakerslab.org or by calling (773) 506-7140. The press opening is Sunday, October 13 at 3 pm.

PlayMakers Laboratory, formerly Barrel of Monkeys, is pleased to launch its 2019-20 season with a spooky twist: THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Goes Trick or Treating, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Sundays at 3 pm from October 6 a?" November 3, 2019 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago.

NYU Steinhardt's Vocal Performance program will present the classic musical Gypsy, September 19a?"23. The renowned show business tale features a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Acting faculty member Jessica Bashline will direct NYU's production. 

The Neo-Futurist Theater is proud to host more than 50 Chicago-based activists, artists and leaders to take part of its 24-hour staged reading of the Mueller Report. The report, which is nearly 450 pages, was originally delivered by Special Counsel Robert Mueller on April 18, 2019 and covers subjects ranging from questions about Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election to whether President Donald Trump.

Barrel of Monkeys is bringing its much-lauded sketch show THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA to audiences across the city this summer for a series of free performances through the Chicago Park District's Night Out In The Parks initiative. The stories featured in THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA are written by Chicago elementary school students, adapted for the stage and performed by Barrel of Monkeys company members and directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd. No reservations necessary. For additional information, visit www.barrelofmonkeys.org.

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to present the annual all musical edition of its much-lauded sketch show:THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Stories That Sing and Dance, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Fridays and Saturday at 7:30 pm from May 3 - 25, 2019 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago.

Baby Boys return today with a new music video for 'Wannabe,' taken from the I'm SetEP. The video was directed by Ethan Nelson, who helmed the 'Kinky Toe' music video as well. It features hip hop dancer Rachel Wilson, and was shot on location in Holy Land USA up in Waterbury, CT.

Barrel of Monkeys presents the annual all musical edition of its much-lauded sketch show: THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Stories That Sing and Dance, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Fridays and Saturday at 7:30 pm from May 3 - 25, 2019 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago.

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to conclude its 2019-20 season with THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Fantastic Beasts and the Stories About Them, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Mondays at 8 pm from June 24 - August 12, 2019 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Casting will be announced shortly. Tickets go on sale Monday, May 13 at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140.