Steve Leary - Page 10

Chicago Opera Theater's (COT) Opera for All is an educational outreach program for elementary school students. Beginning in the fall of 2008 and continuing through the academic year, the Opera for All curriculum will concentrate on Mozart's La clemenza di Tito, the opening production of Chicago Opera Theater's 2009 Spring Festival Season. This opera tells the story of the great Roman ruler, Emperor Tito, and his strong leadership that was steeped in mercy, forgiveness, truth and leading by example-an appropriate commentary during this current presidential transition in the United States.

On Monday, The Mime Company begins a new semester of classes for performers in Chicago. Register by 12:00pm on 9/29 to reserve a space in this specialized course in mime for theater professionals.

American Theater Company (ATC) continues its ambitious Season 24 with the Chicago Premiere of 'Celebrity Row' written by Itamar Moses and directed by David Cromer. The production will run October 16- November 9, 2008 at American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron St, Chicago.

It's time to act like adults again, and Victory Gardens Theater's Family Saturday series makes it easy.

'Kafka on the Shore' at Steppenwolf Theatre is Frank Galati's latest bold theatrical undertaking that exposes the audience to an incredibly thought-provoking work that is both disconnected and connected at the same time.

'Auditions can be hell.' says Paul Russell, of New York, an award-winning casting director, director, former actor, and author, who will be at the Barnes & Noble DePaul University Bookstore, East Jackson Boulevard, October 15th at 5:30 PM as he continues his national book tour discussing his new, blunt, often hilarious, entertainment-industry insider book ACTING-Make It Your Business: How to Avoid Mistakes and Achieve Success as a Working Actor.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company launches its Steppenwolf for Young Adults 2008-2009 Season with The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov. The production, featuring James T. Alfred, Shanesia Davis, Anthony Fleming III and Nambi E. Kelley, runs October 21 - November 9, 2008 in the Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted.

Philadelphia wants to build its new American Museum of Liberty on the grounds of George Washington's home and slave quarters. Soon a conservative academic star and a liberal political activist are confronting each other with polarizing questions of African-American identity and legacy. Elegantly juxtaposed with this contemporary conflict is the true story of one of Washington's slaves as she contemplates escape. The result is a thought-provoking drama that asks vital questions about race in America, both where we've been and where we go next.

Just in time for the Halloween season Hell in a Handbag kicks off it's 2008-2009 season with a spine-tingling, horror comedy parody under the big top. HAYWIRE!

Bailiwick will be holding a Halloween Costume and Clearance Sale on Saturday, October 18 from 10 am to 4 p.m.

The mission of Best Buddies is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-on-one friendships and integrated employment.

Lookingglass Theatre Company presents its 50th World Premiere with its production of the Lookingglass Original, 'The Brothers Karamazov', written and directed by Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman, adapted from the novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. The production runs October 15- December 7, 2008 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The press opening is Saturday, October 25, 2008, at 7:30 p.m.

Individual tickets are now available to all Visa and Visa Signature cardholders through October 19 for MARY POPPINS in Chicago as part of a special pre-sale. Individual tickets which range in price from $23 - $90 will go on-sale to the general public on Friday, November 14 at 10 a.m. The North American Tour of MARY POPPINS will premiere at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) starting March 11, 2009.

Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace, 100 Drury Lane, known for producing acclaimed, innovative and classic musicals, announces its exciting 2009 season, featuring five musicals that have never been seen on the Drury Lane stage. Hot off the Broadway stage, the musical comedy 'CURTAINS', directed by William Brown previews March 19, opens March 26 and runs through May 17; the feel-good musical review 'PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES', directed by Shawn Stengel previews May 28, opens June 4 and runs through August 2; the Tony Award-winning musical 'CABARET', directed by Jim Corti previews August 13, opens August 20 and runs through October 11; the delightful Jazz Age musical 'THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE', directed by Artistic Director William Osetek, previews October 22, opens October 29 and runs through December 20; and the beloved musical 'FUNNY GIRL', directed by Gary Griffin, previews December 31, opens January 7 and runs through March 7, 2010.

Just in time for Halloween, The Shadowmen open their 2008 - 2009 season with Quills, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Doug Wright's incendiary ode to the Marquis de Sade.

Haram Iran tells the story of two boys coming of age, and struggling with their identities as Arab Iranians, and as typical teenagers longing to discover their place in the world. Ayaz Marhouni and Mahmoud Asgari, two fifteen year old boys may have been gay or may have been experimenting with their sexuality-like many teenagers do, however, they get caught in a compromised position, publicly humiliated and tried in the Iranian legal system.

Chicago Dramatists has appointed six new playwrights to its Resident Playwright program, Artistic Director Russ Tutterow announced today. The new Residents in this 30th anniversary season are Mary Ruth Clarke, Cheryl Coons, Christopher De Paola, Sarah Gubbins, David Scott Hay, and Jon Steinhagen.

XANADU in Chicago will star Elizabeth Stanley as 'Kira' (played in the film version by Olivia Newton-John), Max Von Essen as 'Sonny,' Sharon Wilkins and Joanna Glushak as the evil Muses 'Melpomene' and 'Calliope,' respectively, and Larry Marshal as 'Danny' (played in the film version by Gene Kelly). XANADU's cast also features Tallia Brinson, Amy Goldberger, Vince Rodriguez III, Jason Michael Snow, Kristofer Stock, JB Wing and Chicagoland-natives Julius Thomas III and Tiffany Topol.

The Saint Sebastian Players (SSP) open their 2008-09 season with Moon Over Buffalo by Ken Ludwig, author of Lend Me A Tenor. The production runs October 17-November 9 at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey Pkwy. in Chicago.

New York, 1959. Once the king of Broadway, downtrodden Max Bialystock is now the infamous producer of dreadfully unsuccessful shows. Leo Bloom, his neurotic accountant, tells Max he could actually get rich by producing a flop! Together they hatch a get-rich-quick scheme to raise more money than they need for a sure-fire Broadway flop. With plans to pocket the leftover funds when the show bombs, the pair creates the ultimate box office fiasco: a musical called 'Springtime for Hitler.' Of course… not everything goes as planned. This uninhibited and irreverent romp features a hit score including, 'When You Got It, Flaunt It,' 'We Can Do It,' 'I Wanna Be a Producer,' and 'Prisoners of Love.'