Casting Announced For the UK Tour of TITANIC THE MUSICAL
by Stephi Wild - Jan 31, 2018
Casting has been confirmed for the first ever UK & Ireland Tour of Titanic The Musical. Directed by returning director Thom Southerland, 25 actors from across the country will take the production on its maiden UK and Ireland tour, to visit the cities and communities whose forebears built, manned and sailed on the famous ship.
Black Ensemble Theatre presents HAIL, HAIL CHUCK: A Tribute to Chuck Berry
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 29, 2018
Black Ensemble Theater opens its 2018 Season (Movers and Shakers) with Hail, Hail Chuck: A Tribute to Chuck Berry, written by L. Maceo Ferris a senior member of the Black Ensemble Theater's BPI (Black Playwrights Initiative) and directed by Black Ensemble Theater Associate Director Daryl D. Brooks. Hail, Hail Chuck: A Tribute to Chuck Berry will be performed at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago, February 17 - April 1, 2018. The press opening is scheduled for Sunday, February 25 at 3 p.m.
Hal Cazalet Stars in PLAY ON WORDS Live at Zedel
by Stephi Wild - Jan 29, 2018
Hal Cazalet returns to Crazy Coqs, Live at Zedel following his sell out debut in October 2017 to celebrate the centenary of P.G. Wodehouse on Broadway and his fellow wordsmiths - 'the Men Who Made Musicals' in Play on Words at Soho's Brasserie Zedel from Monday 12 to Wednesday 14 February, 2018. The British tenor, a relative of author Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, will be joined by special guests, to be announced in due course, with Simon Beck on piano and directed by Hugh Wooldridge at London's premier cabaret room.
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble Announces 2018 Season THE RECKONING
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 26, 2018
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble proudly announces its 2018 Season, "The Reckoning." The season includes three plays about women who come face to face with an essential truth that threatens to shatter the things they love most. The 2018 Season will be performed at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago.
Black Ensemble Theater Announces Casting for HAIL, HAIL CHUCK: A TRIBUTE TO CHUCK BERRY
by Julie Musbach - Jan 25, 2018
Black Ensemble Theater opens its 2018 Season (Movers and Shakers) with Hail, Hail Chuck: A Tribute to Chuck Berry, written by L. Maceo Ferris a senior member of the Black Ensemble Theater's BPI (Black Playwrights Initiative) and directed by Black Ensemble Theater Associate Director Daryl D. Brooks. Hail, Hail Chuck: A Tribute to Chuck Berry will be performed at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago, February 17 April 1, 2018. The press opening is scheduled for Sunday, February 25 at 3 p.m.
New Conservatory Theatre Center Presents World Premiere of STILL AT RISK
by Julie Musbach - Jan 25, 2018
In January, New Conservatory Theatre Center is proud to offer audiences the world premiere of Tim Pinckney's Still at Risk directed by Dennis Lickteig. This takes a new look at the personal and political effects of HIV/AIDS on the LGBT community decades after the crisis through the play's main character Kevin, a surviving activist from the front lines of the AIDS crisis who is struggling to find purpose in a modern age of greater gay rights. When an unexpected event threatens to erase the history he was part of creating, his anger and passion are renewed. Deeply moving and possessing sharp humor, Still at Risk is a powerful look at the hazards of rewriting the past, and one man's attempt to move forward.
Abingdon Theatre Co. To Offer Classes In Audition Technique and Script Analysis
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 24, 2018
Abingdon Theatre Company (Tony Speciale, Artistic Director; Denise Dickens, Producing Director) has announced its latest Studio Series of intensive classes focusing on audition technique and script analysis. For registration and further information visit abingdontheatre.org or call (212) 868-2055, ext. 1.
Additional Creative Team Members Announced for CHESS
by Rebecca Russo - Jan 23, 2018
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced additional creative team members for the Broadway Center Stage production of CHESS, the epic rock opera about love and political intrigue set against the backdrop of the Cold War as two superpowers attempt to manipulate an international chess championship for political ends.
Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre presents Albee's THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA?
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 23, 2018
CVThe Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre (CVRep) has announced it will present three-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Edward Albee's highly provocative award-winning play, The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?. Exemplifying this season's CVRep theme of 'Romance, Real or Imagined', The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? touches on relationships and betrayal in true Albee style. Well known for pushing the envelope, Mr. Albee, uses sexuality and humor to deflect where the real problems are based.
Shakespeare & Company Announces 2018 Season
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 23, 2018
Shakespeare & Company announces its 2018 summer season. Exploring themes of Delight, Deceit, and Desire, the season includes three Shakespeare plays: Macbeth, As You Like It, and Love's Labor's Lost; plus the New England Premiere of Morning After Grace by Carey Crim; Creditors by August Strindberg adapted by David Greig; Heisenberg by Laurence Olivier Award winner Simon Stephens; Mothers and Sons by Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally; and HIR by Pulitzer Prize finalist Taylor Mac.
Sharriese Hamilton and James Earl Jones II Star In Porchlight's THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 22, 2018
Porchlight Music Theatre continues its fifth season of Chicago's lost musicals in staged concert series with Porchlight Revisits They're Playing Our Song, starring Sharriese Hamilton and James Earl Jones II, music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and book by Neil Simon, with direction and choreography by Christopher Carter and musical direction by Andra Velis Simon. Porchlight Revisits They're Playing our Song is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, March 6 through Thursday, March 8 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's Merrily We Roll Along (previews begin January 26) at Porchlight's new home, The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Tickets for They're Playing Our Song are $35. All tickets include access to the popular pre-performance event, Behind the Show Backstory, a multimedia presentation, created and hosted by Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Director Michael Weber that discusses the evening's production including the show's creative history, juicy backstage gossip and the state of the art on Broadway that season. Single tickets to They're Playing Our Song and subscriptions for the entire series are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight Music Theatre box office at 773.777.9884.
BWW Review: ZANNA, DON'T! at Island City Stage
by John Lariviere - Jan 21, 2018
Do not be confused by the title. This musical fairy tale is not based on the 1980s Olivia Newton John movie Xanadu. However, author Tim Acito did purposely reference the film in his title because he hoped to emulate that same feeling of sweetness and magic. Like Olivia Newton Johns' character in Xanadu, who was a mystical muse sent to Earth to inspire men, the leading character of Zanna, Don't! is a magical matchmaking teen named Zanna (Conor Walton). With the help of his magic wand, Zanna tends to the hearts and lives of all around him in this fantastical tale touting a humorous and hopeful message of tolerance and acceptance.
3-D Theatricals presents MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 10, 2018
The untold tale of four rock n' roll pioneers and takes center stage when the hit Broadway musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET returns to Southern California... courtesy of 3-D Theatricals (3DT), one of Los Angeles' and Orange County's most critically acclaimed musical theatre production companies.
MAN OF LA MANCHA Comes to Custom Made 1/11- 2/17
by BWW
News Desk - Jan 11, 2018
This intimate revival of the 1964 Tony Award Winning musical, Man of La Mancha is directed by Artistic Director, Brian Katz (Chess, Next to Normal). Featuring on-stage actor/musicians, it stars TBA Award-winner Edward Hightower (seen as Booth in Custom Made's 'Assassins' and the Storyteller in 'Cotton Patch Gospel') as Cervantes/Quixote.
Kendra Kassebaum to Lead 5th Avenue Theatre's New Production of MAMMA MIA!, Full Cast Announced!
by Julie Musbach - Jan 4, 2018
Rehearsals begin today for The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Mamma Mia!, the celebrated musical that features the music of global pop sensation ABBA. The 5th Avenue Theatre is the first producing theater company in the Pacific Northwest to be granted the rights to create its own refreshed version of the show, which toured the world for nearly 20 years.
Thom Sesma & Sally Ann Triplett to Take Over the Pie Shop in Barrow Street Theatre's SWEENEY TODD
by Julie Musbach - Jan 3, 2018
Producers of the Tooting Arts Club production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which broke the Barrow Street Theatre sales house record for the week ending December 31st, announced today that Thom Sesma (as Sweeney Todd), Sally Ann Triplett (as Mrs. Lovett), Zachary Noah Piser (as Tobias), Billy Harrigan Tighe (as Anthony) and DeLaney Westfall (as Johanna) will join current cast members Michael James Leslie (as Judge Turpin), John Rapson (as The Beadle) and Stacie Bono (as Pirelli & Beggar Woman) startingTuesday, February 27, 2018. The cast also includes Matt Leisy, Liz Pearce, Danny Rothman and Monet Sabel.
MAN OF LA MANCHA Comes to Custom Made 1/11- 2/17
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 22, 2017
This intimate revival of the 1964 Tony Award Winning musical, Man of La Mancha is directed by Artistic Director, Brian Katz (Chess, Next to Normal). Featuring on-stage actor/musicians, it stars TBA Award-winner Edward Hightower (seen as Booth in Custom Made's 'Assassins' and the Storyteller in 'Cotton Patch Gospel') as Cervantes/Quixote.
Raven Theatre's NICE GIRL Makes Chicago Premiere
by Julie Musbach - Dec 21, 2017
Raven Theatre is pleased to continue its 35th anniversary season with the Chicago premiere of Melissa Ross's humorous and heartfelt play NICE GIRL, directed by Lauren Shouse, playing January 24 March 11, 2018 in Raven's 105-seat East Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville) in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.raventheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177. The press opening is Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at 7:30 pm.
Ahmad Kamal, Michael John Casey, and More Announced to Star in Signature's 4,380 NIGHTS
by Julie Musbach - Dec 20, 2017
Signature Theatre is excited to announce the cast and creative team for the world premiere of 4,380 Nights by DC playwright Annalisa Dias. The production will be directed by Kathleen Akerley (Artistic Director of Longacre Lea) and will feature Ahmad Kamal (Woolly Mammoth's KISS) as Malik Essaid/El Hadj El Kaim, Michael John Casey (Shakespeare Theatre's Othello, Folger Theatre's Henry V) as Bud Abramson/Man, Rex Daugherty (Signature'sShakespeare's R&J) as Luke/Colonel Pelissier, and Lynette Rathnam (Ford Theatre's Death of a Salesman) as Woman (complete cast and creative team bios are below). 4,380 Nights will run from January 16 through February 18 in Signature Theatre's ARK Theatre. 4,380 Nights is Signature's submission to the 2018 Women's Voices Theater Festival.