Steve Leary - Page 8

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and Nonprofit Finance Fund have awarded Steppenwolf Theatre Company a $1,075,000 grant to create groundbreaking new programming aimed at engaging young artists - and enhance the theater's Visiting Companies Initiative. Steppenwolf and nine other performing arts organizations across the country are receiving grants as part of Leading for the Future: Innovative Support for Artistic Excellence, a landmark arts initiative to fund innovative projects that address sector-wide challenges such as shifting audiences, decreased funding sources, and new technologies.

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, the hit drama presented by Fellowship for the Performing Arts at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, has been extended through Sunday, November 23. The production, which recently had sold-out runs in New York and Washington, D.C., recently made its Chicago premiere. 'THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS' offers a funny and provocative look into C.S. Lewis' brilliant novel that explores the theme of spiritual warfare from a demon's point of view.

American Theater Company (ATC) continues its wildly successful Friday night improv performances with IMPROV ATC featuring house team Pudding-Thank-You and special guests St. Olaf performing October 17, 2008 and Rich Sohn and Rebecca Sohn performing October 24, 2008. Pudding-Thank-You performs Friday nights at 11 PM at American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron St, Chicago.

MAME tells the hilarious story of an eccentric socialite who finds her chaotic Manhattan lifestyle turned upside down when she is appointed guardian of her orphaned nephew. Auntie Mame takes him on one whirlwind adventure after another, proving that 'life is a banquet.' The irresistible score by Jerry Herman includes the title song 'Mame', 'If He Walked Into My Life' and 'We Need A Little Christmas.'

Village Players Theater for Youth seeks singer/actors with strong operatic vocal technique and dancer/singers with strong lyrical/ballet training for its annual production of Humperdinck's opera Hansel and Gretel.

The record-breaking Chicago Company of Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, is thrilled to celebrate its first anniversary in Chicago on Tuesday, October 14, 2008. In celebration of this major event, a new block of tickets for performances through April 12, 2009 will go on-sale to the public at 10 a.m. Jersey Boys will also hold a citywide lunchtime pizza party, giving away 4,000 slices of Home Run Inn Pizza at various locations throughout the city, from noon - 1 p.m. and present a special anniversary performance at the Bank of America Theatre that evening at 7:30 p.m.

In an effort to comply with the mission statement created by the Tympanic Theatre, the final three weeks of performances are being offered with a special incentive.

The trustees of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation have awarded Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company a three-year, $600,000 grant as part of a new initiative to expand the commissioning for the development of new plays for the American stage - while providing audiences greater transparency into the artistic process.

The title alone with its irreverent reference to one of the most iconic proto-feminist figures of the 20th century is enough to scare a few people off. Those theatergoers who do decide to take the plunge will undoubtedly walk in…for a pleasant surprise.

Chicago Cabaret Professionals presents its tenth anniversary Gala Benefit 2008: 'OUR KIND OF TOWN'

Opening night of THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, currently running at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, for a limited engagement.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2008-2009 season, an exploration of the imagination, with The Seafarer by Conor McPherson, directed by ensemble member Randall Arney. The production, featuring ensemble members Francis Guinan, Tom Irwin, John Mahoney and Alan Wilder with Randall Newsome, runs December 4, 2008 - February 8, 2009 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. The press performance is Saturday, December 13 at 3 p.m.

Profiles Theatre continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the OBIE Award-winning dark comedy The Thugs by Adam Bock, directed by Profiles Artistic Director Joe Jahraus. The production runs October 29-December 14, 2008, at Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway. The play will run in repertory with Profiles' production of Men of Tortuga, playing through December 7, 2008. The press opening for The Thugs is Wednesday, October 29, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.

Join the Composers, Writers and Performers who are creating the Chicago AIDS Quit Songbook for cocktails and conversation from 8-11PM this Saturday, October 11 at Hydrate, 3458 N Halsted St, Chicago! This very special cocktail party supports the creation Chicago AIDS Quit Songbook, a fundraising event for Season of Concern, presented by Chicago Opera Vanguard at the Court Theatre on World AIDS Day 2008, December 1.

Starting October 3, celebrate your Halloween Season with The Flaming Dames, Chicago's premiere concept burlesque troupe, as they return from the depths of hell in their most erotic and dark revue to date, 'Hell's Belles'.

Chemically Imbalanced Comedy is proud to announce we will be adding a showcase night to our popular self titled Comedy Showcase.

Miranda Towers had it all- a promising singing career, a dashing husband, a loving a daughter, and her very own circus! Then, one day that world came tumbling down and Miranda went from wearing a top hat to a strait-jacket. Fast forward 15 years to 1966- Miranda returns to her circus a broken woman, when a mysterious and gruesome string of 'accidental' deaths occur. Is Miranda making up for lost time? See for yourself in this deliriously over-the-top homage to 60's horror b-movies.

Join Village Players as national storyteller Megan Wells treats audiences to a one-woman performance of the original Dracula! Called 'the Kate Hepburn of storytelling,' Megan gives audiences a dramatic and heart-pounding mix of myth and theater, adapted from Bram Stoker's famous novel.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2008-2009 season, an exploration of the imagination, with a special engagement of Dublin Carol, by Conor McPherson, directed by ensemble member Amy Morton. The production, featuring Stephen Louis Grush, William Petersen and Nicole Wiesner, runs November 6 - December 21, 2008 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. The press performance is Sunday, November 16 at 3:00 p.m.

Join us for a spectacular evening Honoring Amanda McBroom and Frank D'Rone with Lifetime Achievement Awards and the Gold Coast Award honor to Nan Mason. Featuring members of Chicago Cabaret Professionals.