Joseph Jefferson 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...)

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. (more...)

Enchanting audiences of all generations worldwide, Disney's Beauty and the Beast casts its spell in Chicago Shakespeare's Courtyard Theater on Navy Pier June 28 to August 26, 2012. Tickets are $18–$25 with special discounts available for groups of 10 or more. All patrons receive a 40 percent parking discount at Navy Pier garages. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com. (more...)

Firecat Projects and 16th Street Theater present Nickel History: The Nation of Heat, written and performed by Tony Fitzpatrick with Stan Klein July 19-August 5 in SteppenwolfÂ’s Garage Theatre, 1624 N. Halsted with a press opening of Thursday, July 19 at 8 p.m. Adapted and directed by 16th Street artistic director Ann Filmer, Nickel History features film and video art by Kristin Reeves, music by John Rice and Anna Fermin. Singer-songwriter Joe Pug is a guest performer on opening night. (more...)

EMMY and Joseph Jefferson AWARD winner and Broadway performer, Nikkieli DeMone, takes center stage at the Time Out New York Lounge at NEW WORLD STAGES on June 6, 2012 in a new theatrical concert: NIKKIELI DEMONE HOW GLORY GOES. The concert is billed as a celebration of the music of today's most celebrated Broadway and Film composers and will benefit THE CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN. (more...)

The Flea Theater presents an encore production of THESE SEVEN SICKNESSES, a 5-hour marathon of all seven of SophoclesÂ’ plays re-envisioned by playwright Sean Graney. Directed by Ed Sylvanus Iskandar (a 2012 Drama Desk Award nominee for Outstanding Director -- in his professional directing debut in NYC), the production stars 38 members of The Bats. Performances run June 6 - July 1 at The Flea (41 White Street between Church and Broadway in Tribeca). (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...)

The Chicago Commercial Collective today announced the return of the Chicago and Broadway hit drama, A Steady Rain, with its original cast and crew to the Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave. (more...)

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to present the NY premiere of the hit musical comedy THE HUNCHBACK VARIATIONS, based on the play by Mickle Maher, with music by Mark Messing, libretto by Mr. Maher and directed by and featuring George Andrew Wolff and Larry Adams. (more...)

Producing Artistic Director Michael Menendian and Co-Artistic Director JoAnn Montemurro announce Raven TheatreÂ’s 30th anniversary 2012/2013 season, which includes The Big Knife by Clifford Odets, Boy Gets Girl, by Chicago playwright, Rebecca Gilman; A Soldier's Play by Charles Fuller and Brighton Beach Memoirs (rights pending) by Neil Simon. (more...)

Piece by Piece productions, Rising Phoenix Repertory, and Rattlestick Playwrights Theater have announced that the world premiere of 3C, written by David Adjmi and directed by Jackson Gay, will begin performances Wednesday, June 6 at 7pm at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, 224 Waverly Place. The opening night is set for Thursday, June 21 at 7pm. (more...)

Mirror Stage continues reflecting the diversity of the community on stage in high quality, progressive productions that play it smart without always playing it safe with West Coast premiere reading of The Anatomy of Pain on Saturday, May 19 at 8pm and Sunday, May 20 at 2pm at the Ethnic Cultural Theatre in Seattle. Feed Your Mind: The Anatomy of Pain will be directed by Suzanne M. Cohen and feature McKenzie Clifford (Maty), Ryan Dominguez (Detective Gutierrez), Macall Gordon (Grace), Troy Johnson (Lt. Burch/Bruce), Eleanor Moseley (Nancy) and Kevin Tighe (Fredrik). (more...)

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County presents City Theatre’s 17th annual SUMMER SHORTS FESTIVAL, South Florida’s fast and furiously fun program of the nation's hottest short plays, staged in the intimate Carnival Studio Theater (Ziff Ballet Opera House) from June 1-17, 2012. Under the new direction of Producing Artistic Director John Manzelli, the sizzling 17th season of the company’s acclaimed SUMMER SHORTS FESTIVAL features fifteen performances of ten original short plays – some raucous, others innovative and poignant, but with the ultimate goal to make audiences laugh. (more...)

Mirror Stage will present the West Coast premiere reading of Mia McCullough's The Anatomy of Pain on Saturday, May 19 at 8pm and Sunday, May 20 at 2pm at the Ethnic Cultural Theatre in Seattle. Feed Your Mind: The Anatomy of Pain will be directed by Suzanne M. Cohen and feature McKenzie Clifford (Maty), Ryan Dominguez (Detective Gutierrez), Macall Gordon (Grace), Troy Johnson (Lt. Burch/Bruce), Eleanor Moseley (Nancy) and John Wray(Fredrik). (more...)

The Chicago Park District’s Theater on the Lake: The Chicago Summer Theater Festival turns 60 this year and is proud to announce the eight artistically diverse Chicago theater companies that will receive encore presentations from June 13 – Aug. 5, 2012. Each production will be performed for five evenings only at the theater at Fullerton Avenue and Lake Shore Drive. (more...)

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Jessie Mueller, "Cats," "[title of show]," David Cromer's "Rent" "The Marvin Gaye Story," "Fame" seeks a tenor and more.... (more...)

Due to popular demand, The Flea Theater will bring back THESE SEVEN SICKNESSES this summer. This theatrical adaptation of SophoclesÂ’ seven surviving plays (Oedipus, In Trachis, Philoktetes, In Colonus, Ajax, Elektra and Antigone) will return for a limited engagement June 6 through July 1. (more...)

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County presents City Theatre’s 17th annual SUMMER SHORTS FESTIVAL, South Florida’s fast and furiously fun program of the nation's hottest short plays, staged in the intimate Carnival Studio Theater (Ziff Ballet Opera House) from June 1-17, 2012. Under the new direction of Producing Artistic Director John Manzelli, the sizzling 17th season of the company’s acclaimed SUMMER SHORTS FESTIVAL features fifteen performances of ten original short plays – some raucous, others innovative and poignant, but with the ultimate goal to make audiences laugh. (more...)

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County presents City Theatre’s 17th annual SUMMER SHORTS FESTIVAL, South Florida’s fast and furiously fun program of the nation's hottest short plays, staged in the intimate Carnival Studio Theater (Ziff Ballet Opera House) from June 1-17, 2012. Under the new direction of Producing Artistic Director John Manzelli, the sizzling 17th season of the company’s acclaimed SUMMER SHORTS FESTIVAL features fifteen performances of ten original short plays – some raucous, others innovative and poignant, but with the ultimate goal to make audiences laugh. (more...)

Nominations for the Chicago-based Non-Equity Jeff Awards were announced today; Theo Ubique leads with 14 nominations (more...)