Goodman Theatre News

Route 66 Theatre Company has announced the details of their newest world premiere collaboration, a one-of-a-kind original musical by local sensation Diana Lawrence (of Diana and the Dishes, and currently musical director of TICK, TICK, BOOM at Porchlight Music Theatre). NEXT STOP runs Monday and Tuesday nights at 7:30pm, June 18-26, at Theater Wit, 1229 West Belmont Ave, Chicago IL. (more...)

Berkeley Repertory Theatre concludes its season with another new play, Dael Orlandersmith's BLACK N BLUE BOYS/BROKEN MEN. This world premiere introduces audiences to children and adults forging identities in families fractured by abuse. Each relates a story that transforms these challenges into a celebration of our capacity to survive. Orlandersmith created this show after becoming a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize with Yellowman, and she brings these characters to life with the help of Obie Award-winning director Chay Yew. (more...)

In celebration of the 100th Chicago performance of the FREUDÂ’S LAST SESSION at the Mercury Theater (3745 N. Southport), the producers will host a Sigmund Freud Look-A-Like contest. (more...)

Pine Box Theater Company kicks off its 2012 Season with THE JAMMER by Rolin Jones, directed by Artistic Director Vincent Teninty, playing now through July 1, 2012 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. THE JAMMER features Pine Box Ensemble Members Josh Odor and Greg Rothman with Bill Bannon, Sara Gorsky, Kersten Haile, Amy Jean Johnson, Michael Kevin Martin, Miguel Nunez, Levenix Riddle and Eliza Shin. Check out photos of the cast in action below! (more...)

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis will present a free production of OTHELLO from 5/25 to 6/17, 2012 at Shakespeare Glen, Forest Park nightly at 8pm with previews 5/23-24. (more...)

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events in the theatre world? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer! (more...)

South Coast RepertoryÂ’s 49th season will offer audiences an exciting blend of current hits and world premieres. The season begins with Alan AyckbournÂ’s hilarious farce, Absurd Person Singular, and will include new plays by some of the hottest writers on the theatre scene, including the world premiere of Noah HaidleÂ’s Smokefall and a second world premiere to be announced; Sarah RuhlÂ’s comic tale of loss, Eurydice; the Southland debuts of Bill CainÂ’s touching How to Write a New Book for the Bible, Amanda DehnertÂ’s trailblazing musical take on Shakespeare, The Verona Project, and David Henry HwangÂ’s hit comedy Chinglish; and the West Coast premieres of Samuel D. HunterÂ’s poignantly funny The Whale and Stephen Adly GuirgisÂ’ Broadway hit The Motherf**ker with the Hat. (more...)

According to an Equity Audition notice, the Steppenwolf's production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf will begin previews on Broadway on September 27, 2012 in anticipation of its previously announced October 13, 2012 opening at a Shubert Theatre to be announced. Pam Mackinnon will continue to helm the project. Jerry Frankel, Jeffrey Richards Susan Q. Gallin and Mary Lu Roffe will produce. (more...)

Khanisha Foster is a mixed race artist, the Associate Artistic Director of 2nd Story and an ensemble member of Teatro Vista. She was chosen for the Theatre Communication GroupsÂ’s Young Leaders of Color 2009 and an artist exchange with the CitizenÂ’s Theatre of Scotland in Glasgow. She is a Sarah SiddonÂ’s Society Scholarship recipient and a finalist for the PEN Emerging Voices Fellowship. Her teaching artist work was honored by the White House this year. Her writing has been published with CellStories and Podcast through 2nd Story. She is the live event's Producer for Mixed Roots Film and Literary Festival. She has performed with Teatro Vista, the Goodman Theatre, Steep Theater, and Collaboraction, among others. She can be seen in the film CHICAGO BORICUA, official selection the Tribeca Film Festival, the Chicago Latino Film Festivals, and closing night selection for the New York Latino International Film Festival. (more...)

Robert Falls' major revival of THE ICEMAN COMETH, O'Neill's towering portrait of hope and disillusionment, just opened on May 3 at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. The production is led by Tony Award-winning stage and screen star Nathan Lane as Theodore "Hickey" Hickman, the quintessential purveyor and slayer of pipe dreams. The 18-member cast is one of the largest ensembles to take the Goodman stage in recent years. Tony Award-winner Brian Dennehy portrays one-time syndicalist-anarchist Larry Slade, joined by mix of local and out-of-town actors as the motley assortment of former soldiers of fortune, entrepreneurs, political dissidents and social outcasts in Harry Hope's saloon. BroadwayWorld brings you performance highlights below! (more...)

Following an acclaimed season which included the world premiere of Paul WeitzÂ’s Lonely, IÂ’m Not and a critically lauded second staging of Paula VogelÂ’s Pulitzer Prize-winner, How I Learned To Drive, Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has just announced two of the four mainstage productions in the companyÂ’s upcoming 34th season. For subscription or ticket information, please call the Second Stage Box Office at 212-246-4422 or visit the companyÂ’s website, www.2ST.com. All productions are staged at Second StageÂ’s Tony Kiser Theatre, 305 West 43rd Street (just west of Eighth Avenue). (more...)

Westport Country Playhouse will stage the National Book Award-winning memoir, “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion, June 12 – 30, featuring noted actress Maureen Anderman as Didion. Directed by Nicholas Martin, the play is based on the author’s actual experience rebuilding her life during the year after her spouse’s death and her capacity to emerge strengthened from even the most shattering of life’s trials. (more...)

Eclipse Theatre Company (www.eclipsetheatre.com), the only theatre company in the Midwest to feature the works of one playwright in one season, continues their 2012 season featuring the works of legendary American playwright Eugene O’Neill with his romantic comedy, “Ah, Wilderness!” directed by Eclipse ensemble member Steve Scott. This will be the second of three productions by America’s first great playwright. (more...)

Berkeley Repertory Theatre announced the cast and creative team for its world premiere of Eve Ensler’s EMOTIONAL CREATURE. This positive and propulsive new show – from the Tony Award-winning playwright, performer, and activist who created The Vagina Monologues – features a choreographer, a composer, four top designers, and an ensemble of talented young women. Directed by Obie Award-winner Jo Bonney, Emotional Creature plays only 36 performances in the Roda Theatre. The limited engagement at Berkeley Rep begins previews on June 14, opens June 22, and runs through July 15. The lead producers of this premiere are Wayne Jordan and Quinn Delaney, Marjorie Randolph, and Jack and Betty Schafer; the executive producer is the Strauch Kulhanjian Family. The development of this production has been supported in part by The Mosse Artistic Development Fund. (more...)

Lifeline Theatre presents “An Austen Soiree: Readings, Music and Games of Jane’s World” for its 29th Anniversary Benefit. (more...)

The Route 66 montly reading series continues this month with the veteran of Stage, Screen, Film, and soon-to-be-published author Wandachristine. May 21, at 7:30 PM Upstairs at Mrs. Murphy's Irish Bistro, Chicago IL. (more...)

Theatre Communications Group (TCG) today announced the publication of Chinglish, a new comedy by two-time Pulitzer finalist David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly, Yellow Face). (more...)

Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the world premiere of EASTLAND: A NEW MUSICAL, written by Artistic Director Andrew White with music by Ben Sussman and Artistic Associate Andre Pluess and directed by Amanda Dehnert. The production runs June 6 – July 29, 2012 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. (more...)

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company will announce the hire of Jocelyn Prince as the theatreÂ’s new Connectivity Director. (more...)

The Goodman Theatre and Derrick Sanders, in collaboration with the Department of Theatre and Music at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), the League of Chicago Theatres, American Theater Company, Court Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre and Atlanta’s True Colors Theatre Company have announced that Chicago’s own Christian Helem (Chicago High School for the Arts – American Theater Company), placed second in the national August Wilson Monologue Competition held this past Monday, May 7, 2012, at Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre. (more...)