Willow James News

Get a first look at this spirited scene from THE PENELOPIAD by Margaret Atwood starring Jennifer Morrison (Once Upon a Time, House) in an all-new video.

Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Susan V. Booth puts her own spin on Margaret Atwood’s decidedly feminist tale THE PENELOPIAD. As with her famous novel THE HANDMAID’S TALE, Atwood uses THE PENELOPIAD as a device to convey the horrors and abuse committed against women. Atwood’s points are valid and mirror the gender inequalities and abuse women still experience now (the original novella was penned in 2005). But THE PENELOPIAD’s feminist argument isn’t revelatory. Instead of providing truly new insight or perspective, the play rather reinforces existing (though rightfully undeniable) points. 

Get a first look at Goodman Theatre's world premiere of The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood starring Jennifer Morrison (Once Upon a Time, House) in an all-new video.

Watch Choreographer JoAnn Hunter talk about her collaboration with Artistic Director Susan V. Booth on The Penelopiad. 'I wanted the movement to help enhance storytelling...' she says in an all-new video.

Writers Theatre has announced an additional week of performances to the run of The Band’s Visit, featuring music and lyrics by David Yazbek, book by Itamar Moses, and based on the screenplay by Eran Kolirin.

Watch as the cast of The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood starring Jennifer Morrison (Once Upon a Time, House) talk about the production's world premiere in Chicago. Watch the all-new video!

Director Zi Alikhan has gifted Chicago audiences with a production of THE BAND'S VISIT whose talent and creative execution equal---and may even exceed---those of the Broadway and touring productions. It runs through March 17 at Writers Theatre in Glencoe.

Goodman Theatre is presenting The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets!

Court Theatre has revealed the cast for 'Antigone,' a timely masterwork by Sophocles. Directed by Gabrielle Randle-Bent and featuring Nicholas Rudall's translation, this production concludes Court Theatre's Oedipus Trilogy.

Definition Theatre announces two world premiere plays as part of its 2024 season. The company has also added stage and production manager Julie Jachym and Sound Designer Willow James to the ensemble and welcomes media producer and host Troy Pryor to its artistic advisory board. 

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Artistic Director Braden Abraham, continues its 2023/24 Season with The Band’s Visit, featuring music and lyrics by David Yazbek, book by Itamar Moses, and based on the screenplay by Eran Kolirin. See photos from the production. 

What did our critic think of THE BAND'S VISIT at TheatreSquared?

The Clinic, Congo Square Theatre Company's (Congo Square) popular old-school radio drama, culminates with its third and final season with all episodes now available online.

The Band's Visit, the musical sensation that swept the Tony Awards after its Broadway debut, will have its regional premier October 11 at TheatreSquared.

Get a first look at Goodman Theatre's production of The Nacirema Society, now on stage through October 15th.

It seems fitting that Goodman Theatre opens new Artistic Director Susan V. Booth’s inaugural season with THE NACIREMA SOCIETY, a play that’s about coming out to society. This Chicago premiere marks a continuation of Booth’s long-standing relationship with celebrated Black playwright Pearl Cleage. THE NACIREMA SOCIETY takes the form of an extended farce, following the incredibly wealthy Dunbar family in 1964 Montgomery, Alabama. In this light-hearted (if not always legitimately laugh-out-loud) comedic play, Cleage draws heavily from classic farce conventions. As the centennial event of matriarch Grace Dubose Dunbar’s beloved Nacirema Society, Montgomery’s organization for Black young women, dawns — and she awaits her own granddaughter Grace’s coming out — the antics become more and more heightened as family secrets come to light.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater has announced the cast and creative team for the upcoming production of William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy Twelfth Night. Learn more about who is starring in the production here!

Artemisia Theatre, Chicago's feminist theatre dedicated to empowerment of women and female-identifying people through outstanding performances, is excited to announce its Fall production, 'A Hit Dog Will Holler.' 

Goodman Theatre’s 2023/2024 Season—Susan V. Booth’s first to curate as new Artistic Director—begins with works by Pearl Cleage, Atlanta’s first Poet Laureate and Booth’s longtime creative collaborator and friend. Learn more about the cast here!

Discover the nominations for the 55th Anniversary Jeff Awards for Equity Theater! Find out who made the cut and get ready for the highly anticipated awards ceremony.