Samantha Beach News

Need something new to read, watch, or listen to? Check out this week's list of new and upcoming releases! This week's list includes new music from Andy Karl and Orfeh with Andrew Logan, a debut album from Joshua Henry, a new Randy Rainbow parody, and more!

Mill Girls follows a year in the life of Agnes, a weaver who transforms from farmer's daughter to poet with the encouragement of her fellow mill girls and from poet to activist when the corporation lengthens the workday. 

Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre has announced that Will Kiley and Samantha Beach Kiley have accepted the position of Education Directors for the summer of 2020. Having been such an asset to the youth theatre summer camps last year, Will and Sam will make the transition smooth as they take the helm of these programs.

When Caroline Heffernan leaves Chicago for Los Angeles to share the title role in Amanda Peet's World Premiere, Our Very Own Carlin McClough at the Geffen Playhouse and attend UCLA as a Business Economics major in the fall of 2018, she will likely have spent more hours on Chicago's stages than any other kid in Chicago theatre history. She has starred in leading roles in World Premieres written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning playwrights (Tracy Letts and David Rabe), guest starred on NBC's Chicago Med and played a lead in Lifetime Movie Channel's My Daughter Was Stolen, filmed in Chicago. She was Steppenwolf's only Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, Paramount Theatre's only Annie in Annie and Chicago Lyric's only Young Kim in Showboat.

Victory Gardens Theater announces Jess McLeod and Aaron Todd Douglas as the 2018 Next Generation Fellows. Beginning in February 2018, the Next Generation Fellowship will provide comprehensive mentorship, requisite training, and experience for these future leaders of color, preparing them to helm arts institutions or departments on the national and local level. The program is made possible by a generous grant from The Field Foundation of Illinois.

Pivot Arts is pleased to present the world premiere of DON'T LOOK BACK/MUST LOOK BACK, a site-specific performance experience in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, directed by Devon de Mayo and devised by an ensemble of actors and designers, written by Tanya Palmer and conceived by Julieanne Ehre. Audience members are taken on an immersive journey inspired by the stories and experiences of Uptown residents, many of whom came to Uptown as refugees.

Pivot Arts is pleased to present the world premiere of DON'T LOOK BACK/MUST LOOK BACK, a site-specific performance experience in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, conceived by Julieanne Ehre, written by Tanya Palmer, directed by Devon de Mayo and devised by an ensemble of actors and designers. Audience members are taken on an immersive journey inspired by the stories and experiences of Uptown residents, many of whom came to Uptown as refugees.

TodayTix has just launched its Next Generation Series, a first-of-its-kind program bringing together a multidisciplinary ensemble of students to create a piece of theater in 24 hours.

Jackalope's 9th season continues with the world premiere of The Snare, written by Samantha Beach, directed by Elana Boulos*, with the full cast and production team announced below.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, presents the World Premiere of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, written by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon and directed by Jessica Thebus, has been extended for an additional six performances and will now run through December 24, 2016.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, presents the World Premiere of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, written by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon and directed by Jessica Thebus, runs November 10 - December 18, 2016 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. The press opening is scheduled for Friday, November 18 at 8 pm.

The League of Chicago Theatres announces the Theatre Todays line-up for the 2016-2017 Chicago theatre season including world premiere productions of Carroll Gardens (16th Street Theater), A Life Extra Ordinary (The Gift Theatre), Cinderella at the Theater of Potatoes (The Hypocrites), The Rip Nelson Holiday Spectacular (Hell in a Handbag Productions), Mr. and Mrs. Pennyworth (Lookingglass Theatre Company), The Wolf at the End of the Block (Teatro Vista), The Snare (Jackalope Theatre Company), Linda Vista (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), and Relativity (Northlight Theatre). Additional information for each event is available at http://bit.ly/theatrethursdays.

The League of Chicago Theatres announces the Theatre Thursdays line-up for the 2016-2017 Chicago theatre season including world premiere productions of Carroll Gardens (16th Street Theater), A Life Extra Ordinary (The Gift Theatre), Cinderella at the Theater of Potatoes (The Hypocrites), The Rip Nelson Holiday Spectacular (Hell in a Handbag Productions), Mr. and Mrs. Pennyworth (Lookingglass Theatre Company), The Wolf at the End of the Block (Teatro Vista), The Snare (Jackalope Theatre Company), Linda Vista (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), and Relativity (Northlight Theatre). Additional information for each event is available at http://bit.ly/theatrethursdays.

Jackalope Theatre Company wraps up its 8th season with The 7th Annual Living Newspaper Festival. In homage to the 1930's Living Newspapers of the Federal Theatre Project, Jackalope has assembled an exciting group of Chicago playwrights, directors, and actors to dramatize stories ripped from recent newspaper headlines.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces casting for the first three shows of its 42nd season, including The City of Conversation, the World Premiere of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley and the World Premiere of Faceless.

Jackalope Theatre Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Gus Menary and Managing Director Nate Silver, announces its 2016/17 season. The company's 9th season features three productions: a world premiere, a U.S premiere, and a Midwest premiere. The season begins with the U.S premiere of Octagon by Kristiana Rae Colon, directed by Tara Branham, continues with the world premiere of The Snare by Samantha Beach, directed by Jackalope Associated Producer Elana Boulos, and concludes with the Midwest premiere of Ideation by Aaron Loeb, directed by Jackalope Artistic Director Gus Menary.

The CHICAGO ONE-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL (#1MPF) returns with a twist: the sixth annual event will celebrate the works of all women and women-identified playwrights and directors.

The CHICAGO ONE-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL (#1MPF) returns with a twist: the sixth annual event will celebrate the works of all women and women-identified playwrights and directors.

The Hypocrites has announced its 20th Anniversary Season, featuring five dynamic productions, including a world premiere musical adaptation and two Chicago premieres. The company is also thrilled to launch a new play development initiative, with its first-ever new play commissions.

The CHICAGO ONE-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL (#1MPF) returns with a twist: the sixth annual event will celebrate the works of all women and women-identified playwrights and directors. The marathon evening of one-minute plays by more than 70 of Chicago's established and emerging playwrights and directors will play two nights only, Tuesday, May 3 and Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets, priced at $18, are currently available at brownpapertickets.com.