Alison C. Vesely

First Folio Theatre Announces it Will Cease Operations

First Folio Theatre’s Board of Directors has announced that Founding Executive Director David Rice will be stepping down in the spring of 2024. In conjunction with that decision, the Board has also determined that First Folio will cease operations at the end of the 2023-2024 season.

WHY DOGS DON'T TALK to be Presented at First Folio Theatre

First Folio Theatre will present an online streaming production of WHY DOGS DON'T TALK, by Dean Monti, adapted by David Rice.  Man's best friend is his dog. So it must follow, then, that a dog's best friend is…well, his human, right?

First Folio Theatre Announces Three New Team Members

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83.) has announced the expansion of its administrative staff, with the hiring of Melanie Keller as Associate Artistic Director, Kate Danziger as Managing Director, and Katie Cora Johnson as Director of Audience Relations. In their new capacities, each professional will assist in developing and growing the theater with each of their unique experiences.

3rd Chicago Theater Bike Ride Benefits Actors' Fund

The Third Annual Chicago Theater Bike Ride: Love Hard, a 501(c)(3) organization, will benefit The Actors Fund, a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment (www.actorsfund.org), and The Emergency Aid Fund, which has assisted community members with funeral and apartment fire expenses with proceeds from the first two Rides.

First Folio Addresses AS YOU LIKE IT Casting Complaints: 'Art Should Engender Discussion'

One of Shakespeare's classic romances, AS YOU LIKE IT, is currently running at First Folio Theatre through August 20. The company has received some complaints about its casting decisions and released a 'Statement of Artistic Integrity' in response.

Chicago Theater Bike Ride to Celebrate Theater Community at Foster Beach

The Third Annual Chicago Theater Bike Ride: Love Hard, a 501(c)(3) organization, will benefit The Actors Fund, a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment (www.actorsfund.org), and TheEmergency Aid Fund, which has assisted community members with funeral and apartment fire expenses with proceeds from the first two Rides.

Alison Vesely of First Folio Theatre Dies at the Age of 59

Alison C. Vesely, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of First Folio Theatre, passed away Friday at the age of 59 of ovarian cancer.

Photo Flash: First Folio Theatre Presents DR. SEWARD'S DRACULA

Come experience the legend of Dracula anew, as First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents the Chicago premiere of DR. SEWARD'S DRACULA, opening Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 8:15 p.m., and running through November 6, 2016, with previews October 5-7. This sinful and spooky adaptation by Joseph Zettelmaier is directed by Jeff Award nominee Alison C. Vesely and produced by David Rice, author of The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe and composer, adaptor, and lyricist of Shakespeare's Cymbeline: A Folk Tale with Music.

Photo Flash: First Look at DR. SEWARD'S DRACULA at First Folio Theatre

Come experience the legend of Dracula anew, as First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents the Chicago premiere of DR. SEWARD'S DRACULA, opening Today, October 8, 2016 at 8:15 p.m., and running through November 6, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

First Folio Theatre to Present Chicago Premiere of DR. SEWARD'S DRACULA

Come experience the legend of Dracula anew, as First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents the Chicago premiere of DR. SEWARD'S DRACULA, opening Today, October 8, 2016 at 8:15 p.m., and running through November 6, 2016, with previews October 5-7.

Photo Flash: First Look at DR. SEWARD'S DRACULA at First Folio Theatre

Come experience the legend of Dracula anew, as First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents the Chicago premiere of DR. SEWARD'S DRACULA, opening Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 8:15 p.m., and running through November 6, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

First Folio Theatre to Present Chicago Premiere of DR. SEWARD'S DRACULA

Come experience the legend of Dracula anew, as First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents the Chicago premiere of DR. SEWARD'S DRACULA, opening Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 8:15 p.m., and running through November 6, 2016, with previews October 5-7.

First Folio Theatre's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM to Open in July

First Folio Theatre presents A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM as part of its annual outdoor Shakespeare Under the Stars series, opening Saturday, July 9, 2016 at 8:15 p.m., and running through August 14,2016 with previews July 6-8. Pack a picnic and experience the Shakespearean classic that the Chicago Sun-Times raves to be 'ideal for the sylvan backdrop of Oak Brook's Peabody Estate grounds, [A Midsummer Night's] Dream seems to speak directly to the trees and moonlight.' Shakespeare's magical story about the difficulties of love is directed by Jeff Award-nominee Alison C. Vesely and produced by David Rice, author of The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe and composer, adaptor and lyricist of Shakespeare's Cymbeline: A Folk Tale with Music.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Is 20th Annual Shakespeare Under The Stars Production

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM as part of its annual outdoor Shakespeare Under the Stars series, opening Saturday, July 9, 2016 at 8:15 p.m., and running through August 14, 2016 with previews July 6-8. Pack a picnic and experience the Shakespearean classic that the Chicago Sun-Times raves to be "ideal for the sylvan backdrop of Oak Brook's Peabody Estate grounds, [A Midsummer Night's] Dream seems to speak directly to the trees and moonlight." Shakespeare's magical story about the difficulties of love is directed by Jeff Award-nominee Alison C. Vesely and produced by David Rice, author of The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe and composer, adaptor and lyricist of Shakespeare's Cymbeline: A Folk Tale with Music.

First Folio Theatre's 2016- 17 Season to Feature Chicago, World Premieres

First Folio Theatre has announced its 2016-2017 season, kicking off with the Chicago premiere of DR. SEWARD'S DRACULA, running October 5 through November 6, 2016. For its winter show, First Folio Theatre presents the World Premiere adaptation of the adventure novel CAPTAIN BLOOD, running January 25 through February 26, 2016. The true story behind SILENT SKY completes the indoor season, running March 29 through April 30, 2017, and Shakespeare's most pastoral comedy, AS YOU LIKE IT takes the outdoor stage for the 21st year of First Folio's Shakespeare Under the Stars summer series, running July 12 through August 20, 2017.

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of JEEVES AT SEA at First Folio Theatre

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents the Chicago premiere of the witty comedy JEEVES AT SEA, opening Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 8:00 p.m., and running through February 28, 2016 with previews January 27- 29. Directed by Jeff Award nominee Alison C. Vesely (First Folio's Winter's Tale and The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe), the stars of First Folio's productions of Jeeves in Bloom and Jeeves Takes a Bow, will reprise their roles in JEEVES AT SEA, with Jim McCance as "Jeeves" and Christian Gray (The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe and Winter's Tale at First Folio Theatre, The Glass Menagerie at Oak Park Festival Theatre) as "Bertie."

Photo Flash: First Look at JEEVES AT SEA at First Folio Theatre

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents the Chicago premiere of the witty comedy JEEVES AT SEA, opening Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 8:00 p.m., and running through February 28, 2016 with previews January 27- 29. Directed by Jeff Award nominee Alison C. Vesely (First Folio's Winter's Tale and The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe), the stars of First Folio's productions of Jeeves in Bloom and Jeeves Takes a Bow, will reprise their roles in JEEVES AT SEA, with Jim McCance as "Jeeves" and Christian Gray (The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe and Winter's Tale at First Folio Theatre, The Glass Menagerie at Oak Park Festival Theatre) as "Bertie."

First Folio Theatre to Stage Chicago Premiere of JEEVES AT SEA

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents the Chicago premiere of the witty comedy JEEVES AT SEA, opening Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 8:00 p.m., and running through February 28, 2016 with previews January 27- 29. Directed by Jeff Award nominee Alison C. Vesely (First Folio's Winter's Tale and The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe), the stars of First Folio's productions of Jeeves in Bloom and Jeeves Takes a Bow, will reprise their roles in JEEVES AT SEA, with Jim McCance as "Jeeves" and Christian Gray (The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe and Winter's Tale at First Folio Theatre, The Glass Menagerie at Oak Park Festival Theatre) as "Bertie."

Photo Flash: First Folio Theatre's 'THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE' Celebrates Opening Night

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY, an original play by Executive Director David Rice. This critically acclaimed production first premiered in 2006 and has sold out all four of its previous productions. The riveting tale of life and death, love and heartbreak opened on September 26 and runs through November 1, 2015. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Photo Flash: THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY Opens Tonight at First Folio Theatre

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY, an original play by Executive Director David Rice. This critically acclaimed production first premiered in 2006 and has sold out all four of its previous productions. The riveting tale of life and death, love and heartbreak opens tonight, September 26 through November 1, 2015. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!