Barbara Gaines News

Last week, we got two different sets of data that started to make a case for the current state of the cultural economy - a report from the NEA laying out just how bad things got in the depths of 2020 (and hinting at some initial recovery in 2021) - and the first time The Broadway League reported individual show grosses since Broadway reopened.

New data points show that the theatre industry is once again at an inflection point - first, data backs up the anecdotal sense that the recovery from the pandemic shutdown has been uneven across the globe, and across different regions within countries. With pandemic response being handled on a local level, this uneven recovery is not surprising.

The announcement of the Tony Awards and the return of the BC/EFA Red Bucket campaign brought a huge sense of normalcy back to the theatre industry last week - unfortunately this week, we were also reminded how far the industry has to go in establishing the new normal with the release of Actors Equity Association’s latest Diversity and Inclusion report.

Special Offer - Kelvin Dinkins, Jr New Executive Director at ART, Barbara Gaines to Retire from CST

With many of the pandemic restrictions being lifted in New York City this week, that the Broadway COVID safety team will celebrate their 2,000th performance on Broadway Tuesday night highlights the new phase of normalcy that the industry has entered.

Thirty-six years after founding Chicago Shakespeare Theater and paving the way for the Tony Award-winning company to become one of the nation’s leading theaters, Barbara Gaines has announced her plan to step down as Artistic Director in 2023.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces the return of in-person performances at the Theater’s home on Navy Pier with the much-awaited debut of As You Like It infused with the hit songs of The Beatles, beginning October 6, 2021. 

Chicago Shakespeare Theater will welcome artists back to make theater again as dozens of actors, directors, designers, and technicians are busy creating upcoming productions, captured live in the Theater's performance spaces and streaming on-demand for audiences at home via the new Chicago ShakesSTREAM platform. 

New York Theatre Barn will host a free live stream of the 30th installment of its virtual New Works Series on Wednesday, November 18th, 2020 at 7PM EDT, featuring excerpts from the new musicals It Came From Outer Space and Broken Ground.

Regional Tony Award-winner Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces its 35th Anniversary Season with a dynamic line-up of artistic offeringsa?"both ina?'person and virtuala?"including plays written and inspired by Shakespeare, new musicals, a timely contemporary opera, and engaging digital content for audiences, students, and teachers.

In partnership with the Chicago Park District, Boeing, and BMO Harris Bank, Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces today programming for this summer's Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced today that Brooke Flanagan, who previously worked at Steppenwolf for seven years, will return to the organization in the role of Executive Director and will become the first woman to hold the title in Steppenwolf's 45-year history.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents a one-night-only streaming event Toast to Shakespeare's Birthday! tomorrow, Thursday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m. Central Time.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater is proud to welcome the return of the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) to Chicago for the first time in nearly 25 years. Chicago Shakespeare will present the company's acclaimed gender-swapped production of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Justin Audibert, in a special limited engagement April 15a?"May 2, 2020 in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare.

A season filled with thrilling music, captivating stories, world-class singers, and exciting productions goes on sale by subscription Thursday, February 13. Eight new-to-Chicago productions, including three Lyric premieres plus two original Lyric productions, will entertain and thrill audiences from September 2020 through June 2021.

Following a record number of nominations and votes, winners have been announced for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, brought to you by TodayTix!! The nominees were set, audiences voted, and now we get to recognize local theatres and performers for their outstanding achievement!

There's just one final week to submit votes for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! Vote today to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces the cast and creative team for the Theater's highly anticipated production of Emma-a musical adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved novel, with book, music, and lyrics by Tony Award-nominated composer Paul Gordon, whose world premiere production of Sense and Sensibility captivated Chicago Shakespeare audiences in 2015.

We're heading into the final week of voting for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! Vote today to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! The people have spoken nominations are set, and now you can vote to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!