Sarah E. News

American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity Ensemble, under the continued leadership of Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, has named Idris Goodwin the winner of the 2017 National Blue Ink Playwriting Award. Goodwin's play, HYPE MAN, was selected from a pool 543 submissions. As part of the award, Goodwin receives a $1,000 cash prize and the opportunity to further develop his script with American Blues Theater.

BRIC is pleased to present Surface Matters, an exhibition of work by artistsVeronique Gambier and Sarah E. Brook, in the Project Room of BRIC House. Curated by Brooklyn-based art collective 3walls, theshow highlights the deep investment both artists put in the materials used to create their work-art that expresses rich emotional content, visual interest and aesthetic beauty. Through the use of varying media and dimension, their quiet, powerful works suggest vastness as well as disappearance, solitude as well as strength. Both Gambier and Brook are on BRIC's Contemporary Artist Registry.BRIC House is located at 647 Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn, and Gallery and Project Room hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm, and Sunday 12-6pm. The exhibition is on view from February 1-26. An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 from 7-9pm.

American Blues Theater continues its 2016-2017 Season with the Chicago Premiere of The Columnist by David Auburn and directed by Keira Fromm. The Columnist runs February 17 - April 1, 2017 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.  

American Blues Theater continues its 2016-2017 Season with the Chicago Premiere of The Columnist by David Auburn and directed by Keira Fromm. The Columnist runs February 17 - April 9, 2017 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.  The official press opening is Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.

American Blues Theater continues its 2016-2017 Season with the 15th Anniversary Production of the holiday favorite It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! The production, based on the beloved Frank Capra's film, is directed by Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside with music direction by Michael Mahler. It's a Wonderful Life runs November 18 - December 31, 2016 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.  

This season's PlayFest lineup will be dedicated to new works that have a direct correlation to themes relating to the Pulse shooting that took place in Orlando on June 12, 2016. The groundbreaking new works will include Israel Horovitz's The Day Before Yesterday, Karen Zacarias'Native Gardens, Allison Gregory's Motherland, Lee Blessing's Minneapolis/St. Paul, and John Biguenet's Ever After.  

Three women--all seduced into marriage and relieved of their lives and fortunes--beautifully retell their rather unfortunate stories in Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) The Drowning Girls on stage in the Studio Theatre. A play written by Beth Graham, Charlie Tomilnson and Daniela Vlaskalic, the play relates the true story of George Joseph Smith, a man who married three vulnerable maids during England's early 20th century and then immediately drowned them in their own bathtubs.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater (Orlando Shakes) in Partnership with UCF invites audiences to take a risk on new plays at PlayFest presented by Harriett's Charitable Trust from November 3 - 6, 2016. This year's four-day event titled PlayFest: After Pulse will feature six new plays that explore issues surrounding the Pulse tragedy. Tickets to individual PlayFest readings ($10) may be purchased online at www.orlandoshakes.org, by phone at (407) 447-1700 ext. 1, or in person at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 East Rollins Street). PlayFest Passes ($49) and PlayFest VIP Passes ($100) are on sale now and may be purchased by phone or in person.

The gala 48th Annual Equity Jeff Awards held at Drury Lane Oakbrook on Monday, October 17, celebrated a season of outstanding productions.

American Blues Theater continues its 2016-2017 Season with the 15th Anniversary Production of the holiday favorite It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! The production, based on the beloved Frank Capra's film, is directed by Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside with music direction by Michael Mahler. It's a Wonderful Life runs November 18 - December 31, 2016 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.  

American Blues Theater announces the addition of a new Ensemble member and three new Artistic Affiliates.

Six world premiere plays and four new adaptations seen first by Chicago audiences were among those receiving nominations by The Jeff Awards Committee. 178 nominations in 32 categories honor Chicago Equity theatrical productions that opened between August 1, 2015 and July 31, 2016.

September 5 is Labor Day, a day not only devoted to picnics and kicking back but to honoring the contributions of American workers. It is also a time for individuals to reflect on their careers to look at what is working and what could be better.

 Peninsula Players Theatre, America's Oldest Professional Resident Summer Theatre and Door County's professional theatrical icon, continues its 81st season throughAugust 14 with the lively, uplifting pop-rock musical that takes it all off, 'The Full Monty' with book by Terrence McNally and music and lyrics by David Yazbek.   'The Full Monty.'   'The Full Monty' contains adult themes, language and nudity.

Peninsula Players Theatre, America's Oldest Professional Resident Summer Theatre and Door County's theatrical icon, continues its 81st season now through July 24 when it presents Agatha Christie's intriguing whodunit, 'The Hollow.' A weekend in the English countryside goes deathly awry with an explosive murder in this spell-binding mystery.

American Blues Theater kicks off its 31st Season - 'Define Yourself' - with a pair of one acts, including Dutchman by Amiri Baraka, directed by Chuck Smith and the World Premiere of TRANSit by Darren Canady, directed by Lisa Portes. Dutchman and TRANSit run August 26 - September 25, 2016 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. The official press opening is Thursday, September 1 at 7:30 pm.

American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity Ensemble, under the continued leadership of Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announce the submission period for the 2017 National Blue Ink Playwriting Award. Playwrights are invited to submit one (1) manuscript for consideration. The winner will have the opportunity to further develop their script with American Blues Theatre. The submission period runs July 1 - August 31, 2016. Submissions are accepted via email at BlueInk@AmericanBluesTheater.com.

The League of American Orchestras has appointed Sarah E. Kelly to the position of vice president for development, League President and CEO Jesse Rosen announced today.

?Peninsula Players Theatre, America's Oldest Professional Resident Summer Theatre and Door County's theatrical icon, opened its 81st season June 14 with the Wisconsin premiere of "Chapatti" by Christian O'Reilly.   Unexpected sparks fly when Betty, the caregiver to 19 cats, meets Dan and his dog Chapatti in a Dublin vet office.   This funny, gentle and poignant story centers around two lonely animal lovers who rediscover, very unexpectedly, the need for caring and companionship.   "Chapatti" will perform through July 3.

Peninsula Players Theatre, America's Oldest Professional Resident Summer Theatre and Door County's theatrical icon, announces company members for its 81st season, running June 14 through October 16, 2016. The mix of plays include a late-in-life romance, an intriguing whodunit, a raucous pop-rock musical, an engaging Midwest premiere and a wildly comic thriller.