William Boles News

Cake, coffin, gavel, choir, composers, live musical trolling! On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the much lauded homo poet Walt Whitman's birth, a group of Philly queers and misfits known as The Bearded Ladies Cabaret gathers to put this ancestor and his legacy on trial.

Haven Theatre announces casting for its Chicago premiere of KISS by Guillermo Calderon, Chile's most acclaimed playwright-director. Monty Cole directs and performs in this bold theatrical experience that asks if art is a tool for empathy, what are the limits? Abhi Shrestha associate directs.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hosts more than 120 outstanding theater students from colleges and universities across the nation as part of the 50th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), which runs April 16-20, 2019 in multiple locations throughout the Center. The Center also announced the national awardees for the KCACTF. Selected awardees and representatives will be brought to Washington, D.C. for an expense-paid trip to participate in the National Festival. These student artists from across the United States have been recognized for their outstanding work from the eight regional festivals that were held January 8 through February 28, 2019.

Great theatre takes you out of yourself. It gives you empathy for people who are different from you and helps you understand the world from a perspective that's not your own. That's exactly what WOLF PLAY does.

First Floor Theater continues its seventh season with the world premiere of Dan Giles' twisted and timely MIKE PENCE SEX DREAM, directed by Artistic Director Hutch Pimentel, playing February 16 - March 16, 2019 at FFT's resident home,The Den Theatre (2B), 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are on sale now at firstfloortheater.com. The press opening is Wednesday, February 20 at 7:30 pm.

In DADA WOOF PAPA HOT, now in its Chicago premiere at About Face Theatre, playwright Peter Parnell explores that nagging question of what it means to have it all. The play centers on a gay couple and their circle of friends. Though Alan (Bruch Reed) and Rob (Benjamin Sprunger) have been together for fifteen years, they've been married for a much shorter period of time and must navigate their shifting identities as partners and as parents of their three-year-old daughter, Nicola. (The play's seemingly nonsensical title refers to her first words and attempt at her parents' names.) The characters in DADA WOOF PAPA HOT are clearly well-off, but that doesn't make the ways in which they struggle with the challenges of daily life and parenthood any less human.

About Face Theatre will continue its 2018-19 season with DADA WOOF PAPA HOT, a sexy comedy about gay parenting and modern families from Peter Parnell (The Cider House Rules), directed by Jeff Award-nominated AFT Artistic Associate Keira Fromm*. DADA WOOF PAPA HOT will play January 10 - February 16, 2019 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at aboutfacetheatre.com, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office. The press opening is Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 7:30 pm.

First Floor Theater continues its seventh season with the world premiere of Dan Giles' twisted and timely MIKE PENCE SEX DREAM, directed by Artistic Director Hutch Pimentel, playing February 16 - March 16, 2019 at FFT's resident home,The Den Theatre (2B), 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.

About Face Theatre is pleased to continue its 2018-19 season with DADA WOOF PAPA HOT, a sexy comedy about gay parenting and modern families from Peter Parnell (The Cider House Rules), directed by Jeff Award-nominated AFT Artistic Associate Keira Fromm*. DADA WOOF PAPA HOT will play January 10 - February 16, 2019 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.

About Face Theatre is pleased to announce casting for its Chicago premiere of DADA WOOF PAPA by Peter Parnell (The Cider House Rules) and directed by Jeff Award-nominated AFT Artistic Associate Keira Fromm*.

Actors Theatre of Louisville announces The Santaland Diaries, by David Sedaris, adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello, and directed by Associate Artistic Director Meredith McDonough, onstage from November 15-December 23. Described last year as "the adventurous yuletide theater-goers should check out!" by Arts Louisville, Sedaris's holiday tale will play to new audiences with an increased number of performances, in the 159-seat Victor Jory Theatre. The Santaland Diaries is brought to you in part by BB&T.

If you have been even remotely close to a mall and/or department store during the Holiday season, you know well the Scene. Often found within the center of the shopping hub-bub and cleverly placed near the toys, an onslaught of seasonal scenery is in sight: adorable gingerbread houses, cotton-candy like 'snow' drifts that are replete with gumdrops and woodland creatures and candy canes that are 4-8 feet tall that line a snow-covered road where you are assisted by happy helpers that support and guide your way. And we all know to whom that road leads...Santa Claus!!! Oh, the excitement builds just thinking about visiting with Ol' St. Nick, or is that anxiety and nausea?

First Floor Theater is pleased to announce casting for its world premiere of Dan Giles' twisted and timely MIKE PENCE SEX DREAM, directed by Artistic Director Hutch Pimentel.

Actors Theatre of Louisville announces The Santaland Diaries, by David Sedaris, adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello, and directed by Associate Artistic Director Meredith McDonough, onstage from November 15-December 23. Described last year as 'the adventurous yuletide theater-goers should check out!' by Arts Louisville, Sedaris's holiday tale will play to new audiences with an increased number of performances, in the 159-seat Victor Jory Theatre. The Santaland Diaries is brought to you in part by BB&T.

About Face Theatre is pleased to continue its 2018-19 season with DADA WOOF PAPA HOT, a sexy comedy about gay parenting and modern families from Peter Parnell (The Cider House Rules), directed by Jeff Award-nominated AFT Artistic Associate Keira Fromm*. DADA WOOF PAPA HOT will play January 10 - February 16, 2019 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Casting will be announced shortly. Tickets go on sale Saturday, December 1, 2018 at aboutfacetheatre.com, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office. The press opening is Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 7:30 pm.

Jackalope's 11th season begins with the World Premiere of IN THE CANYON, written by Calamity West, directed by Elly Green, with the full cast and production team announced below.

Kicking off with two shows in September, Artists Rep's 2018/19 season features seven compelling contemporary plays in their subscription series, plus two bonus shows. These plays are highly entertaining theatrical experiences, written by some of the nation's most acclaimed playwrights.

Sideshow Theatre Company is pleased to conclude its eleventh season with the world premiere of Kristiana Rae Colon's spectacular and fearless indictment TILIKUM, directed by Lili-Anne Brown, playing June 22 - July 29, 2018 at Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.

Sideshow Theatre Company is pleased to announce casting for its world premiere of Kristiana Rae Colon's spectacular and fearless indictment TILIKUM, directed by Lili-Anne Brown.

The Gift Theatre is pleased to continue its 17th season with William Shakespeare's HAMLET. Directed by guest artist Monty Cole, this production of the Bard's great tragedy will crack open the mind of one of western drama's most fascinating and complex characters. HAMLET will play June 1 - July 29, 2018 at 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood.