Chicago 1979 - Articles Page 15

A special tribute concert to Stephen Sondheim, including 17 premieres of commissioned works inspired by his songs, will be taking place at "Music in the Loft" in Chicago's historic Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 801, on April 7, 2013 at 3:00 pm. Pianist Anthony de Mare will be premiering/performing some of the 36-piece "LIAISONS Project" featuring Sondheim-inspired pieces by composers ranging from Nico Muhly and Steve Reich to Duncan Sheik and Jason Robert Brown.

The Akron Civic Theatre will present Verb Ballets', Honoring Poll, tonight, March 8, 2013, at 8pm with intimate cabaret seating on stage at the historic theatre. The program will highlight the late choreographer Heinz Poll and his legacy through works created for the Ohio Ballet and features a new work by former Ohio Ballet dancer and ballet master, Richard Dickinson (Ohio Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Boston Ballet).

The Akron Civic Theatre will present Verb Ballets', Honoring Poll, on Friday, March 8, 2013, at 8pm with intimate cabaret seating on stage at the historic theatre. The program will highlight the late choreographer Heinz Poll and his legacy through works created for the Ohio Ballet and features a new work by former Ohio Ballet dancer and ballet master, Richard Dickinson (Ohio Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Boston Ballet).

Westport Country Playhouse's next Script in Hand playreading will be the romantic comedy, 'Beau Jest' by James Sherman, a former actor/writer for Chicago's Second City, on one-night-only, Monday, March 18, 7 p.m. Director is Anne Keefe, Playhouse artistic advisor. Casting will be announced soon.

Multi-platinum Grammy-nominated Island Records group Fall Out Boy finally puts an end to years of rumors and speculation, with the official announcement today from their hometown of Chicago that the band has returned and will globally launch their new single - 'My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)'- today at iTunes

On November 5, 1901, Walter Elias Disney was born to Flora and Elias Disney in Chicago, Illinois. Since that day, Disney has brought his magic to millions and millions of people all over the world. Below, watch the opening moments from a 1979 broadcast of 'The Wonderful World of Disney', a beloved Sunday evening family staple for decades.

Eighteen talented Chicago youngsters, all students in Merit School of Music's Suzuki-Alegre Strings program, will pack their suitcases and string instruments for the trip of a lifetime to Matsumoto, Japan, where they will represent Chicago at the 16th Suzuki Method World Convention, March 27-31, 2013.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award, kicks off its holiday season with William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Director Ethan McSweeny (Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice) takes a fresh approach to this well-loved play filled with magic and wonder. The production runs at STC's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from tonight, November 15-December 30, 2012.

The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble's Student Outreach Program, THE ODDS, and the Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy present the world premiere of a multi-disciplinary performance piece that takes as its subject the biographical life of Andy Warhol and the intersection of the counterculture, art world, and social and cultural shifts in the 60s through the 1980s. Tina Kronis and Leslie Ferreira direct Untitled Warhol Project for eight performances only from tonight, November 8 through November 18 at the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles. The production will be remounted at Los Angeles City College for four performances, November 29 through December 1.

The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble's Student Outreach Program, THE ODDS, and the Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy present the world premiere of a multi-disciplinary performance piece that takes as its subject the biographical life of Andy Warhol and the intersection of the counterculture, art world, and social and cultural shifts in the 60s through the 1980s. Tina Kronis and Leslie Ferreira direct Untitled Warhol Project for eight performances only from November 8 through November 18 at the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles. The production will be remounted at Los Angeles City College for four performances, November 29 through December 1.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award®, kicks off its holiday season with William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Director Ethan McSweeny (Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice) takes a fresh approach to this well-loved play filled with magic and wonder. The production runs at STC's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from November 15-December 30, 2012.

Anthony Freud, general director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, announced today that Gianna Rolandi will retire as director of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center on April 15, 2013, following the annual "Rising Stars in Concert" performance April 13. Rolandi has held that position since May 2006, and served as director of vocal studies for the Ryan Opera Center for the previous four years, following a distinguished international career as a coloratura soprano. Rolandi will continue her association with the Ryan Opera Center as vocal consultant, a new position.

Shoshana Bean joins the cast of 'A Magical Night On Broadway' at The Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage tonight, September 8 at 8:00 pm. 'A Magical Night On Broadway" is a fully-staged and costumed tribute to the American musical theatre starring stage, film and television personality JoAnne Worley and featuring music from some of Broadway's most celebrated musicals including "Chicago," "Wicked," "Hairspray," "A Chorus Line," "The Lion King" and more. Joining Worley are Bean and Broadway and television star Rex Smith, Tony-nominated actress Jonelle Allen, Terron Brooks and Carol Channing's American Glee Club - a young song and dance group representing America's public schools, along with a few surprise guests. The show is directed by David Green with musical direction by Stephen Smith.

Shoshana Bean joins the cast of 'A Magical Night On Broadway' at The Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage on Saturday, September 8 at 8:00 pm. 'A Magical Night On Broadway" is a fully-staged and costumed tribute to the American musical theatre starring stage, film and television personality JoAnne Worley and featuring music from some of Broadway's most celebrated musicals including "Chicago," "Wicked," "Hairspray," "A Chorus Line," "The Lion King" and more. Joining Worley are Bean and Broadway and television star Rex Smith, Tony-nominated actress Jonelle Allen, Terron Brooks and Carol Channing's American Glee Club - a young song and dance group representing America's public schools, along with a few surprise guests. The show is directed by David Green with musical direction by Stephen Smith.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces the full cast for Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, directed by Artistic Director BJ Jones. The comedy will play at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, from November 2-December 9, 2012. The Press Opening is Friday, November 9, at 7:30 pm.

Founded in 1979 by its artistic director Jeffrey Horowitz, Theatre for a New Audience is a modern classical theatre that produces Shakespeare alongside other major authors in a dialogue that spans centuries. Its 33rd season, the last before moving to its first home adjacent to BAM in the new Downtown Brooklyn Cultural District, features boldly diverse works from William Shakespeare, Franz Kafka in a theatrical adaptation by Colin Teevan, Samuel Beckett and Wallace Shawn. In a co-production with The Public Theater, Mr. Shawn's plays will be part of The Wallace Shaw-Andre Gregory Project.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces that the company's acclaimed World Premiere production of The Outgoing Tide, by Bruce Graham and directed by BJ Jones, will be presented in association with Galway Arts Festival in Galway, Ireland, today, July 17 - July 21, 2012. Cast members John Mahoney, Rondi Reed and Thomas J. Cox, are set to reprise the roles they originated in the Northlight production.

Pride Films and Plays continues its very fun summer with one repeating event and a Chicago premiere. PFP's second annual Women's Work Weekend will feature enhanced staged readings of new lesbian plays and screenplays by women writers from across the country. And that will be closely followed by Mariah MacCarthy's delightful comedy spoofing all things gender-centric: The All-American Genderf*ck Cabaret, directed by Tara Branham.

From adultery on a dart team to Chicago White Sox players on trial for throwing the World Series, the July offerings on 'Reel 13' - including 'Heartlands,' 'The Hustler,' 'Eight Men Out' and 'Rocky II' -- show that, whatever the game, good sportsmanship doesn't always prevail.

TBS and Just For Laughs are thrilled to announce that Emmy(R) Award-winning comedian Sarah Silverman will host two shows at The Chicago Theatre tonight, June 16. Sarah Silverman and Guests will feature some of her favorite comedians, with line-up details to be revealed shortly.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces that the company's acclaimed World Premiere production of The Outgoing Tide, by Bruce Graham and directed by BJ Jones, will be presented in association with Galway Arts Festival in Galway, Ireland, July 17 - 21, 2012. Cast members John Mahoney, Rondi Reed and Thomas J. Cox, are set to reprise the roles they originated in the Northlight production.

TBS and Just For Laughs are thrilled to announce that Emmy(R) Award-winning comedian Sarah Silverman will host two shows at The Chicago Theatre on Saturday, June 16. Sarah Silverman and Guests will feature some of her favorite comedians, with line-up details to be revealed shortly.

Chicago Dramatists, known for producing innovative and award-winning new work, is proud to announce its 34th season featuring three world premiere productions by its Resident Playwrights. Chicago Dramatists continues to nurture the city's most promising playwrights and to push the envelope with the newest plays, helping to advance Chicago's reputation as a leader in American theatre new play development. The season begins with Freshly Fallen Snow, September 20 - October 28, by Resident Playwright M.E.H. Lewis and directed by Associate Artistic Director Meghan Beals McCarthy. The first show of 2013 is Southbridge, January 24 - March 13, by Resident Playwright Reginald Edmund and directed by Artistic Director Russ Tutterow. The Chicago Dramatists' season concludes with Homecoming 1972, May 16 - June 23, by Resident Playwright Robert Koon and directed by Associate Artist Kimberly Senior.

The 39th annual edition of the Chicago area's Bach Week Festival, where Baroque music lovers luxuriate in diverse works of Johann Sebastian Bach, will present a signature blend of solo, concerto, orchestral, and choral performances in concerts tonight April 27, May 4, and May 6 in Evanston.

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts continues its 31st season with a night of dance hits on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 8pm. One of dance music's biggest stars for over three decades, GRAMMY Award winner GLORIA GAYNOR will perform with a full band. Her 1979 #1 hit, the greatest disco anthem of all time, "I Will Survive," is her signature song of inspiration that has touched the hearts of people all over the world. The song was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame at this year's ceremony in February. Urban and dance music phenomenon COLONEL ABRAMS will perform his biggest hits, including "Trapped," "I'm Not Gonna Let You" and "How Soon We Forget." Also performing will be THE HIT MEN, a group of six guys who made, played, sang and recorded the hits of the '60s, '70s and '80s. This group features original recording and performing members of such iconic bands as Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and Tommy James and The Shondells and the original recording artists of such historic megahits as "Oh What a Night (Dec. '63)," "Sherry," "Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown" and 'Who Loves You."