Theatre Building Chicago News

This classic tale set in London in 1885 comes to life through gorgeous love songs and powerful production numbers.

Village Theatre is pleased to announce its exciting director line-up for the 2008-2009 Mainstage Season. Andrea Dymond, Resident Director of Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago, will direct the new musical and season opener, Saint Heaven. Dymond comments, 'I'd originally directed an earlier version of Saint Heaven in a developmental workshop production, about five years ago, at the Stages Festival at Theatre Building Chicago. That's when I got to know Marty [Martin Casella, book writer] and Keith [Keith Gordon, lyricist and composer] who are every bit as gorgeous to work with as is their musical. I think Saint Heaven is unique in the fullness of its telling, the richness of its characters, and the variety of forms of deeply American music it uses to engage us in the story.' At Victory Gardens Theater, Dymond has staged a wealth of productions such as Gloria Bond Clunie's Shoes (Best Director nomination, Black Theatre Alliance) and Charles Smith's Free Man of Color (winner of the Jeff award for Best New Work). Steve Tomkins, Artistic Director for Village Theatre is set to direct the charming Disney classic Beauty and the Beast. Tomkins gave his directorial debut at Village Theatre with the 1988 production of Gypsy. This upcoming season marks his sixteenth season as Artistic Director for Village Theatre. David Ira Goldstein will direct Oscar Wilde's classic play The Importance of Being Earnest. 'I have been eager to direct Wilde's greatest comedy ever since I directed his earlier play A Woman of No Importance for the University of Washington School of Drama in 1994. If any play can invoke a spirit of pure pleasure for two hours, it is certainly Wilde's Earnest,' Goldstein comments. As artistic director of Arizona Theatre Company (ATC), Goldstein has received the 2003 Governor's Arts Award as Individual Artist for his contributions to the arts in Arizona. He has directed over 30 mainstage productions for ATC and has been a guest director across the country. Before living in Arizona, he was the associate Artistic Director of A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle. Steve Tomkins will also take on the original work Stunt Girl this season. His last three new musical projects, which include Once Upon A Time in New Jersey (2006-2007), Girl of My Dreams (2005-2006), and The Ark (2002-2003), quickly became huge hits amongst Village Theatre audiences. Lastly, Village Theatre is thrilled to announce Jerry Dixon as the director of the musical masterpiece, Show Boat. Dixon began his career as an actor with original Broadway cast performances in Once On This Island and Five Guys Named Moe, with other original roles in Bright Lights, Big City, The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, new yorkers, and tick, tick…BOOM!. Dixon's directing credits vary and include tick, tick…BOOM! (Korea and Singapore), Crowns (Kalamazoo Civic), and concerts and special events for Tony winner LaChanze, recording artist Raúl Midón, Carnegie Hall, and the Belgium National Symphony. Dixon's directorial work was last seen at Village Theatre in 2007, when he was brought from New York to direct the Village Originals production of Barnstormer.

BoHo will present a complete reconceptualization of this gothic tale presenting the power of Wildhorn's music and Bricusse's lyrics and book…

Soon to be a feature film, see it first at Porchlight Music Theatre!

Porchlight Music Theatre's production of the sultry musical 'Nine' runs April 6 and runs through May 18.

Actor/playwright Tony Fiorentino who has burst onto the Chicago theatre scene with his witty and well received romantic comedies, shares the details of his newest, 'My Dinner With Amy' which is garnering great pre-opening buzz.

Vitalist Theatre, in association with Premiere Theatre and Performance, will present E.M. Forster's A Passage to India, adapted by Martin Sherman and staged by recent After Dark Award-winning director, Elizabeth Carlin-Metz. Press Opening is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30PM at Theatre Building Chicago. A Passage to India will run through May 18, 2008.

Muse of Fire, the dynamic one-man play that explores the influence of legendary classical music conductor and teacher Charles Bruck, makes its Chickago premiere at Theatre Building Chicago (1225 W. Belmont Ave) with performances February 14 - March 23.

My Dinner with Amy, a comedic exploration of both internet romance and religious fanaticism, makes its Midwest premiere at Theatre Building Chicago

My Dinner with Amy, a comedic exploration of both internet romance and religious fanaticism, makes its world premiere at Theatre Building Chicago in the heart of Chicago's Lakeview. Produced by Diamante Productions, My Dinner with Amy is written by Tony Fiorentino. The show opens February 14 and runs through March 23. Tickets are currently on sale.

On Monday, December 10 at 7:30PM, at the Theatre Building Chicago (1225 W Belmont) D.C. Anderson's theatrical cabaret songs, Claudia Anderson's Celtic story songs, and Hope Nunnery and Steve Tarshis' rousing 'Baptist by way of the juke joint' tunes will comprise what may be the most eclectic concert experience of the season!

Phantom, with Book by Arthur Kopit and Music & Lyrics by Maury Yeston is the latest undertaking of Porchlight Music Theatre. Based on the novel 'The Phantom of the Opera' by Gaston Leroux, Phantom's lead actor's Lara Filip and Peter Oyloe with Director L. Walter Stearns speak to Michael Roberts about the production.

Chicago's Elaine Rivkin and Dorothy Tristan play Mother and Daughter in this brilliant adaptation of Marsha Norman's classic.

Tony award winner Maury Yeston speaks with Michael Roberts before the opening of Phantom by Porchlight Theatre at the Theatre Building Chicago. Yeston is also known for his incredible work on Titanic, Cloud 9, Grand Hotel and Nine.

Though this work is often revived,'night Mother is rarely revived well. The most current incarnation, which opened last night at the Theatre Building Chicago, is the exception.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents Phantom by Arthur Kopit with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston beginning September 14.

Hancock Productions presents in repertory the world premiere spy thriller The Brother (through November 18) and Marsha Norman's Pulitzer Prize winning 'night Mother (September 14 through November 18) at the Theatre Building Chicago.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents two musical theatre productions this season: Phantom, by Arthur Kopit with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston beginning September 14; and A Wonderful Life, based on Frank Capra's iconic movie It's a Wonderful Life, beginning November 17.