Ray Toler News

City Lit Theater has revealed the full cast and crew for the third production of its 2023-24  season: TWO HOURS IN A BAR. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets.

City Lit has announced the full cast and creative/production team for the closing production of the company’s 42nd season, the musical AZTEC HUMAN SACRIFICE, with music and lyrics by Kingsley Day and book by Philip LaZebnik and Kingsley Day.

City Lit will return from the holidays with THE BIRTHDAY PARTY, Harold Pinter’s first produced full-length play. Artistic Director Terry McCabe, who will direct this dark comedy, has announced the cast and creative team.

Kristine Thatcher's VOICE OF GOOD HOPE is a bio-drama of Barbara Jordan, the first African American congresswoman from the Deep South. Jordan earned national stature in the 1970's as a member of the House Judiciary Committee that considered articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon and as the keynote speaker of the 1976 Democratic National Convention. Kristine Thatcher, who is City Lit's playwright-in-residence, was nominated for Best New Work in the 2019 Jeff Awards for her play, THE SAFE HOUSE, which premiered at City Lit last fall. VOICE OF GOOD HOPE premiered at Victory Gardens Theater in 2000 and has been produced across the US since then.

Cast and design team have been announced for City Lit Theater's second production of the 2019-2020 season, Kristine Thatcher's VOICE OF GOOD HOPE, a bio-drama of Barbara Jordan, the first African American congresswoman from the Deep South. Jordan earned national stature in the 1970's as a member of the House Judiciary Committee that considered articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon and as the keynote speaker of the 1976 Democratic National Convention. Kristine Thatcher, who is City Lit's playwright-in-residence, was nominated for Best New Work in the 2019 Jeff Awards for her play, THE SAFE HOUSE, which premiered at City Lit last fall. VOICE OF GOOD HOPE premiered at Victory Gardens Theater in 2000 and has been produced across the US since then. Press opening is Sunday, January 19, 2020.  

City Lit Theater's Artistic Director Terry McCabe today announced his full cast for the company's new staging of its 2007 Jeff Award-nominated production of THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES.

Full casting was announced today for City Lit's commissioned world premiere of THE SAFE HOUSE, by the Chicago-based playwright, director and actor Kristine Thatcher. In this play commissioned by City Lit, 32-year-old Bridget has come back home for a visit to Lansing, Michigan from New York City, where she has been getting by--but not better than that--as an actress.  She is staying with her widowed grandmother Hannah, whose forgetfulness and declining physical abilities have begun to concern Bridget's uncle Matt. But in her own way, Hannah may just be the strongest member of the family. Thatcher's play, set in 1982, is a study in the sometimes unexpected ways families can support each other as they adapt to life changes and make peace with the past. Terry McCabe is directing this world premiere opening November 11, 2018, following previews from November 2.

The Jeff Awards announced today a total of 115 nominations in 19 categories for the 45th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards.

Raven Theatre is pleased to launch its 35th anniversary season with the Chicago premiere of CHOIR BOY, by recent Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney who, together with writer-director Barry Jenkins, won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for the Academy's Best Picture winner, Moonlight. Directed by Artistic Director Michael Menendian, CHOIR BOY will play September 27 November 12, 2017 in Raven's 120-seat East Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville) in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.raventheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177.

Raven Theatre is pleased to launch its 35th anniversary season with the Chicago premiere of CHOIR BOY, by recent Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney who, together with writer-director Barry Jenkins, won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for the Academy's Best Picture winner, Moonlight.  Directed by Artistic Director Michael Menendian, CHOIR BOY will play September 27 - November 12, 2017 in Raven's 120-seat East Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville) in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.raventheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177. The press opening is Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 7:30 pm.

Raven Theatre Company's 35th anniversary season will begin in September with the Chicago premiere of Choir Boy by recent Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney who, together with writer-director Barry Jenkins, won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for the Academy's Best Picture winner, Moonlight.  

The Agency Theater Collective's spring production is the world premiere of Skin For Skin, written by Paul Pasulka and directed by Michael Menendian, running now through April 2, at the Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave. Opening night is tomorrow, March 4 at 7:30 p.m., and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Raven Theatre Company, which will turn 35 years old in March of 2018, announced today that its upcoming 2017-18 season will give Chicago audiences their first looks at plays by three of America's most acclaimed young playwrights.

The cast of Raven Theatre Company's premiere of Tennessee Williams' Not About Nightingales has been announced, with Raven Founding Artistic Director Michael Menendian directing. The play's action revolves around the tyrannical prison warden Boss Whalen's inhumane treatment of the inmates in his island prison.  Deciding they have had enough, and inspired by their de facto leader Butch, the inmates of Hall C fight back by waging a hunger strike. When it garners media attention, Boss Whalen responds with torture.  All the while, Whalen's inmate assistant Jim and new secretary Eva struggle with the moral dilemma of either exposing the strike and losing their jobs or assisting Whalen in keeping it under wraps. 

The Agency Theater Collective has announced its spring production of the world premiere of Skin For Skin, written by Paul Pasulka and directed by Michael Menendian, February 28  - April 2, at the Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave.

The Agency Theater Collective has announced its spring production of the world premiere of Skin For Skin, written by Paul Pasulka and directed by Michael Menendian, February 28  - April 2, at the Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave.

A third audience engagement event has been added to the list of special events surrounding Raven Theatre's production of Red Velvet, which details the story of Ira Aldridge, who in 1833 became the first black actor to play Othello on a London stage.

A third audience engagement event has been added to the list of special events surrounding Raven Theatre's production of Red Velvet, which details the story of Ira Aldridge, who in 1833 became the first black actor to play Othello on a London stage.

Michael Menendian, Producing Artistic Director of Raven Theatre, has announced casting for the company's upcoming production of Red Velvet, by Lolita Chakrabarti.

Psmith - one of the most popular characters created by British humorist P.G. Wodehouse - will come to life on the City Lit stage this fall in an original stage adaptation by Artistic Director Terry McCabe, who will also stage the comedy. Richard Eisloeffel will star as Psmith. Also in the cast are T. J. Anderson, John Blick, Nicholas Roy Caesar, Joe Ciresi, Patrick Delaney, George Ellison, Jay Hobson, Robert Kaercher, Charles Schoenherr and Lee Wichman, McCabe, who will direct the production, announced casting today.