Sheldon Patinkin News

Nicholas Meyer's The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, in a world premiere adaptation by City Lit Artistic Director Terry McCabe and directed by Warner Crocker, will open City Lit Theater's thirty-sixth season, McCabe announced today.

The Gift Theatre's artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton, co-founder William Nedved and associate artistic director Paul D'Addario are proud to announce nine artists have joined the company ensemble: playwrights Will Eno and Laura Marks; directors Marti Lyons and Erica Weiss; and actors Cyd Blakewell, Darci Nalepa, Keith Neagle, Mary Ann Thebus, and Kyle Zornes. Conceived in 1997 by Michael Patrick Thornton and William Nedved, The Gift's mission was to grow and nurture an ensemble while laying roots in an artistically underserved Chicago neighborhood. Today, The Gift Theatre thrives in Jefferson Park as Chicago's most intimate Equity theater and is home to a nationally respected acting ensemble.

Irish Theatre of Chicago, formerly Seanachai Theatre Company, is pleased to announce its 2015-16 Season, featuring a U.S premiere and two Midwest premieres. The company's first-ever three-show season kicks off this fall with the Midwest premiere of Geraldine Aron's touching and comedic one-woman show MY BRILLIANT DIVORCE, directed by Siiri Scott. ITC's 21st Season continues in March 2016 with the Midwest premiere of Gary Mitchell's intense thriller IN A LITTLE WORLD OF OUR OWN, directed by Associate Artistic Director Jeri Frederickson. The season concludes in spring 2016 with the U.S. premiere of Deirdre Kinahan's probing drama SPINNING, directed by Joanie Schultz.

To accommodate demand for tickets, The Gift Theatre has added performances and extended the run of its critically acclaimed new play, The Royal Society of Antarctica, written by Mat Smart and directed by Gift ensemble member John Gawlik. Originally scheduled to close April 26, The Royal Society of Antarctica, will now continue through Sunday, May 24, 2015. Performances are Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Please consult the Gift's website at thegifttheatre.org or call the box office at 773-283-7071 for the most current schedule and ticket availability.

The Gift Theatre artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton has announced that Emjoy Gavino has joined the company as casting director. Gavino has been a casting consultant on several theater projects in the Chicago area since 2012; her most recent credits include work with Remy Bumppo, Pavement Group and Theatre on the Lake.

On the coldest night of the year, spirits were high at The Call Bar in the Andersonville neighborhood, as the 2014 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards Celebration was held on Wednesday, January 7, 2015. Hosted by BroadwayWorld Chicago Regional Editor Paul W. Thompson and The Call's hostess, Ashley Morgan, the Celebration lasted from 8:00 pm to the stroke of midnight, as the winners in 36 categories were revealed.

The Gift Theatre artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton announces the world premiere of intriguing and touching drama The Royal Society of Antarctica by Naperville native Mat Smart (whose play Naperville, which opened Off-Broadway in November, is a New York Times Critics' Pick). The Royal Society of Antarctica is directed by Gift ensemble member John Gawlik and features Gift ensemble members Paul D'Addario (Bethany), Lynda Newton (Thinner Than Water), John Connolly (Broadsword), Jay Worthington (Thinner Than Water) and Brittany Burch (Othello) with guest artists Aila Peck (Promethean Theatre's The Lark), Brian Keys (Profiles Theatre's Hellcab) and Kyle Zornes (Artistic Director of The Gift's Natural Gas).

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. December is here, and 'Peter Pan' is finally live! Plus Light Opera Works and The Hyprocrites tackle operettas, 'Newsies' and 'Mary Poppins' have significant holiday runs, 'Stomp' and 'Schooner' return, Billy Corgan and Patti Lupone strut their stuff, and the community schedules a tribute to Sheldon Patinkin.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards are back with nominations open now! Plus the Jeff Awards on Monday night, three acclaimed recent openings, two shows proudly closing, three local shows that may never end, and NBC's live 'Peter Pan' is ready to fly!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's Super October! Local productions of 'Sweeney Todd,' 'Titanic,' 'Parade' and 'The Wild Party' have folks excited! 'At Last' and 'Cole Porter's Greatest Hits' honor past artists, the Savoyaires mount 'The Grand Duke,' and Des Plaines goes 'Legally Blonde.' Colleges produce 'Into The Woods' and 'In The Heights, 'Amazing Grace' arrives downtown and more!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. All the scoop from the amazing FWD Theatre Project gala, and 'The Last Unicorn' gets some big backers. Plus concerts by Chita Rivera, Felicia P. Fields, Sierra Boggess and Donna McKechnie, 'Sweeney Todd' on PBS and 'From Here To Eternity' on movie screens, plus the Marriott announces two casts!

The Gift Theatre's contemporary production of Othello, starring Kareem Bandealy as Othello and artistic director and ensemble member Michael Patrick Thornton as villainous Iago, began previews on July 10. Directed by Jonathan Berry (Dirty), this marks The Gift Theatre's first Shakespeare production ever mounted in its intimate 40-seat theater and Berry's Shakespearean directorial debut. Othello runs tonight, July 17-August 24 at The Gif.

The Gift Theatre's contemporary production of Othello, starring Kareem Bandealy as Othello and artistic director and ensemble member Michael Patrick Thornton as villainous Iago, begins previews this Thursday, July 10. Directed by Jonathan Berry (Dirty), this marks The Gift Theatre's first Shakespeare production ever mounted in its intimate 40-seat theater and Berry's Shakespearean directorial debut. Othello runs July 17-August 24 at The Gift, www.thegifttheatre.org

During last night's Season Release Bash at Fischman Liquors and Tavern, artistic director and co-founder Michael Patrick Thornton proudly announced The Gift Theatre's 2015 season of three world premieres. The all-new season will include the debuts of David Rabe's expanded Good For Otto, Gift Ensemble member William Nedved's Body and Blood and Naperville native Mat Smart's The Royal Society of Antarctica.

The Gift Theatre has announced that Kareem Bandealy will star as Othello and artistic director and ensemble member Michael Patrick Thornton will play villainous Iago in its production of William Shakespeare's tragedy Othello, directed by Jonathan Berry (Dirty). This marks The Gift Theatre's first Shakespeare production ever mounted in its intimate 40-seat theater and Berry's Shakespearean directorial debut.

Tympanic Theatre Company and the side project are excited to announce their upcoming world premiere co-production of Sandalwood. Developed over the course of three years through a series of workshops, the script of Sandalwood is written by Dan Caffrey* and directed by Aaron Henrickson*. Sandalwood is performed at the side project (1439 W. Jarvis) today, March 28-April 20, 2014.

Tympanic Theatre Company and the side project are excited to announce their upcoming world premiere co-production of Sandalwood. Developed over the course of three years through a series of workshops, the script of Sandalwood is written by Dan Caffrey* and directed by Aaron Henrickson*. Sandalwood is performed at the side project (1439 W. Jarvis) March 28-April 20, 2014.

Haven Theatre Chicago presents the company's inaugural production, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, beginning tonight, July 5 - August 11, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Hedwig and the Angry Inch, written by John Cameron Mitchell, with lyrics and music by Stephen Trask is directed by Kyle Trentwith music direction by Kory Danielson. The newly formed Haven Theatre strives to conserve, renew and reinvent theatre traditions while providing ongoing support and mentorship to emerging artists.

Bernard Sahlins died peacefully at his home after a short illness. In 1959, Sahlins founded The Second City with Howard Alk and Paul Sills and served as the theatre's longtime producer and director until 1984. He produced multiple television productions in the UK and the USA, as well as SCTV in Canada. For the past eight years, he worked with the Poetry Foundation directing staged readings - the most recent of which was Comic Poetry. Honors include the Sergel Prize for playwright, several Jeff Awards for directing and the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Chicago for his contributions to the theatre.