Scott Penner News

Discover the upcoming 9th season of COAL MINE THEATRE, featuring two world premieres that promise to captivate audiences. Get all the details and dates for this exciting lineup of shows.

Shakespeare's Will is a one-woman show about the Bard's wife. At a brisk 90 minutes, the show covers a lot of ground. The famous playwright leaves grief in his wake, but Anne Hathaway was a woman with her own story.

Artistic Director, Dennis Garnhum and Executive Director, Evan Klassen have announced the Grand Theatre’s 2023/24 playbill - a “Season of Pure Imagination,” on stage from September 2023 through May 2024.

Recognizing a strong return to the spotlight over the 2021-2022 Equity theater season, the Joseph Jefferson Awards in Chicago announced its nominations for theater excellence. This year’s nominees include 201 theater artists across 38 categories of excellence in theater production among shows from 43 companies.

The Joseph Jefferson Awards have announced this year's Equity nominations, including 201 theater artists across 38 categories.  The 54th anniversary Equity Jeff Awards will take place October 17, 2022, at Drury Lane in Oakbrook, IL. 

Shattered Globe Theatre is presenting a revival of Chicago writer Joel Drake Johnson’s Rasheeda Speaking, directed by SGT Associate Artistic Director AmBer D. Montgomery. This comedy-turned-social thriller about workplace racism will play through June 4, 2022 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.

Shattered Globe Theatre will present a revival of Chicago writer Joel Drake Johnson's Rasheeda Speaking, directed by SGT Associate Artistic Director AmBer D. Montgomery.

Shattered Globe Theatre today announced it will postpone its winter production of Rasheeda Speaking due to the current surge of the Omicron variant. The revival, originally scheduled for February 25 – April 9, 2022, will now play from April 22 – June 4, 2022 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2021–2022 season with Fireflies by Donja R. Love, directed by Mikael Burke. 

Shattered Globe Theatre has announced a revival of Chicago writer Joel Drake Johnson’s Rasheeda Speaking, directed by SGT Associate Artistic Director AmBer D. Montgomery.

In 1905, a black seamstress named Esther sews her way out of poverty stitch by delicate stitch, creating fine lingerie for her Manhattan clientele while longing for a husband and a future. She finds common ground with a Jewish fabric merchant, a relationship they both know cannot grow.

Definition Theatre announces casting for the Chicago premiere of WHITE by newly-added ensemble member James Ijames, directed by Tasia A. Jones. WHITE will run from April 17 a?" May 24, 2020, with a press opening on Saturday, April 25 at 6:00pm. Definition Theatre presents WHITE in collaboration with Steppenwolf Theatre's LookOut Series in the Steppenwolf 1700 Theatre. Tickets for WHITE are on sale and can be purchased online at steppenwolf.org or by calling 312-335-1650. The 1700 Theatre is located behind Front Bar at 1700 N Halsted.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2019-2020 season with Intimate Apparel, written by Lynn Nottage and directed by Tasia A. Jones. Intimate Apparel runs March 12 a?" April 19, 2020 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. The press opening is Friday, March 20, 2020 at 8pm.

Northlight Theatre continues its 2019-2020 season with Intimate Apparel, written by Lynn Nottage and directed by Tasia A. Jones. Intimate Apparel runs March 12 a?" April 19, 2020 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. The press opening is Friday, March 20, 2020 at 8pm.     

Definition Theatre announces it will open its 2020/21 Season with the Chicago premiere of WHITE by newly-added ensemble member James Ijames, directed by Tasia A. Jones. WHITE will run from April 17 a?" May 24, 2020, with a press opening on Saturday, April 25 at 6:00pm. Definition Theatre presents WHITE in collaboration with Steppenwolf Theatre's LookOut Series in the Steppenwolf 1700 Theatre. Tickets for WHITE are on sale and can be purchased online at steppenwolf.org or by calling 312-335-1650. The 1700 Theatre is located behind Front Bar at 1700 N Halsted.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company will host two bold visiting companies as part of LookOut, a year-round series that presents the work of artists and companies across genre and form. Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre will be the home to two productions from impressive Chicago storefront theatres next year: First Floor Theater and Definition Theatre.

About Face Theatre is pleased to present the world premiere of BRAVE LIKE THEM, a punk-infused exploration of the underground "riot grrrl" movement of the 1990s, devised and performed by members of the About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble and co-directed by AFT Education and Outreach Director Ali Hoefnagel and Education Coordinator Kieran Kredell. BRAVE LIKE THEM will play seven performances only, July 26 - August 6, 2017 at the Pride Arts Center (The Buena), 4147 N. Broadway in Chicago. Tickets for BRAVE LIKE THEM ($20 or Pay-What-You-Can) are currently available at aboutfacetheatre.com or by calling (773) 784-8565. 

About Face Theatre is pleased to present the world premiere of BRAVE LIKE THEM, a punk-infused exploration of the underground "riot grrrl" movement of the 1990s, devised and performed by members of the About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble and co-directed by AFT Education and Outreach Director Ali Hoefnagel and Education Coordinator Kieran Kredell. BRAVE LIKE THEM will play seven performances only, July 26 - August 6, 2017 at the Pride Arts Center (The Buena), 4147 N. Broadway in Chicago. Tickets for BRAVE LIKE THEM ($20 or Pay-What-You-Can) are currently available at aboutfacetheatre.com or by calling (773) 784-8565. 

Marlene Smith's production of BUDDY! THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY may be on hold until further notice. Tickets for the production, which was scheduled to play the Elgin Theatre, were set to go on sale on August 27th - but are not currently available according to Ticketmaster.

Before The Beatles, Dylan, Hendrix or Cobain, there was Buddy! Nu Musical Productions (NuMu) is proud to present BUDDY! THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY with a Canadian company of established and emerging musical theatre artists including: Troy Adams (Angels in America, Part 1 & 2/Soulpepper, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown/Stratford Theatre Festival); Danny Balkwill (We Will Rock You, Mamma Mia National Tours); Susan Dunstan (The Lion King US/National Tour, Lord of the Rings/Mirvish Productions); Zachary Knowles (A Midsummer Nights Dream/Saint Lawrence Shakespeare Festival); Judy Kovacs (CATS/NuMu, The Little Mermaid and Snow White/Ross Petty Productions;Oscar Moreno (West Side Story/Grand Theatre, Urinetown/Stageworks Toronto); Dana Jean Phoenix (The Musical of Musicals, The Musical!/Mirvish Productions, The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen/Summerworks); Jay T. Schramek (CATS/NuMu, Mamma Mia/Mirvish Productions); Kent Sheridan (Dirty Dancing, Mamma Mia/Mirvish Productions); David Silvestri: (42nd Street/Stratford Festival, Guys and Dolls/Drayton Festival); Jeremy Walmsley (Harvey, Jane Eyre/ Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre).