Willow James News

Due to popular demand, The Story Theatre's Chicago premiere of  Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes is pleased to add one additional week of performances, extending through Sunday, July 24, 2022 on Raven Theatre's Schwartz Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville) in Chicago.

The Story Theatre will present the Chicago premiere of MARIE ANTOINETTE AND THE MAGICAL NEGROES, written and directed by Chicago playwright and Governing Ensemble Member Terry Guest. This new play, which explores rebellion and Black liberation through the lens of the French Revolution, will play June 30 – July 17, 2022.

Redtwist Theater's Modern Adaptation of ANTIGONE Opens This Sunday. Sophoklese’ Tragedy is given a modern adaptation by Anne Carson, directed by Christine Freije and starring Redtwist Company Members Brian Parry and Sarah Sapperstein.

Victory Gardens Theater preesents the final show in its 2021/22 Mainstage Season, the regional premiere of cullud wattah, written by Erika Dickerson-Despenza and directed by Lili-Anne Brown. 

On June 19, 2022, Victory Gardens Theater opened the regional premiere of cullud wattah, written by Erika Dickerson-Despenza and directed by Lili-Anne Brown. 

In cullud wattah, Erika Dickerson-Despenza compellingly weaves the personal and political. The play is ultimately a narrative of resilience as the women in the play struggle with environmental racism and to econcile with the tension between their desire for justice (especially in ainee’s case) and the will to survive and make enough money to pay their bills.

The Story Theatre will welcome back audiences with the Chicago premiere of Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes, written and directed by Chicago playwright and Governing Ensemble Member Terry Guest.

Victory Gardens Theater has announced the cast for the final show in its 2021/22 Mainstage Season, the regional premiere of cullud wattah, written by Erika Dickerson-Despenza and directed by Lili-Anne Brown. cullud wattah runs June 11 – July 17, 2022 at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

James Beard Award-winning Chef Rick Bayless and Windy City Playhouse Artistic Director Amy Rubenstein today announced that their hit immersive production, “A Recipe For Disaster,” must close Sunday, April 24 on the Club Level at Petterino's (150 N Dearborn). “A Recipe For Disaster” is written by Bayless, Rubenstein and Windy City Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Carl Menninger and directed by Jeff Award Winner David H. Bell.

Chicago's Artemisia Theater will return to in-person performances in 2022, providing platforms for fiercely feminist viewpoints with two daring new productions. 

James Beard Award-winning Chef Rick Bayless and Windy City Playhouse Artistic Director Amy Rubenstein today announced they will join the cast of their hit immersive production “A Recipe For Disaster,” written by Bayless, Rubenstein and Windy City Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Carl Menninger and directed by Jeff Award Winner David H. Bell.

Definition Theatre opens its 10th anniversary season with the Chicago premiere of WHITE by ensemble member James Ijames and directed by Ericka Ratcliff. Produced in partnership with Steppenwolf Theatre Company's LookOut Series, WHITE will run in Steppenwolf's 1700 Theater from March 10 – April 10, 2021. 

Artemisia Theater announced today the appointment of Kelcey Anyá as the company's first managing director, marking a key moment of growth and renewed commitment to elevating women's voices.

Pegasus Theatre Chicago will present the 35th Annual Young Playwrights Festival, streaming Jan. 6 - Feb. 6, 2022 and a virtual opening night ceremony, Sunday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. CST. This year’s world premieres, written by high school students and given a staged professional production, share judgment in the material, mundane and mystical worlds.

This is the last chance to vote for the 2021 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards! The 2021 Regional Awards honor productions which had their first performance between October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.

Time is running out to vote for for the 2021 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards! The 2021 Regional Awards honor productions which had their first performance between October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.

Pegasus Theatre Chicago has announced the authors and plays being presented at the 35th Annual Young Playwrights Festival, streaming Jan. 6 - Feb. 6, 2022 and a virtual opening night ceremony, Sunday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. CST.

Pegasus Theatre Chicago has announced the authors and plays being presented at the 35th Annual Young Playwrights Festival, streaming Jan. 6 - Feb. 6, 2022 and a virtual opening night ceremony, Sunday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. CST.

Raven Theatre, Chicago's newest Equity-affiliated theatre, is pleased to continue its 2021-22 Season with Jonathan Harvey's sweet and charming coming-of-age play Beautiful Thing, directed by Mikael Burke. This touching story of two boys living in London discovering how they fit into the world around them will play February 9 – March 27, 2022 on Raven's 85-seat East Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville) in Chicago.

Guest, a Governing Ensemble member, served as The Story's Resident Playwright from 2019-2020, receiving three developmental workshops over the course of a year, culminating in a staged reading of Marie in early March 2020.