HANG MAN Premiere, COSMOLOGIES and More Set for The Gift Theatre's 2018 Season
During last night's Season Release Bash at Old Irving Brewery Co., artistic director and co-founder Michael Patrick Thornton proudly announced The Gift Theatre's 2018 season will include: Stacy Amma Osei-Kuffour's world premiere of Hang Man, directed by ensemble member Erica Weiss (February 9-April 8); Shakespeare's Hamlet, directed by Monty Cole (June 1-July 29); and the Midwest premiere of Tony Award-winning playwright and ensemble member David Rabe's Cosmologies, directed by Thornton (October 12-December 9).
Gift Theatre Welcomes Nine New Ensemble Members
The Gift Theatre's artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton, co-founder William Nedved and associate artistic director Paul D'Addario are proud to announce nine artists have joined the company ensemble: playwrights Will Eno and Laura Marks; directors Marti Lyons and Erica Weiss; and actors Cyd Blakewell, Darci Nalepa, Keith Neagle, Mary Ann Thebus, and Kyle Zornes. Conceived in 1997 by Michael Patrick Thornton and William Nedved, The Gift's mission was to grow and nurture an ensemble while laying roots in an artistically underserved Chicago neighborhood. Today, The Gift Theatre thrives in Jefferson Park as Chicago's most intimate Equity theater and is home to a nationally respected acting ensemble.
BODY & BLOOD Begins Tonight at The Gift Theatre
The Gift Theatre artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton presents the World Premiere of Body & Blood, the smart, exhilarating new play by Gift Co-Founder and playwright William Nedved, directed by Marti Lyons, who recently directed Thornton in Lookingglass' Title and Deed. Body & Blood features The Gift ensemble members Lynda Newton (The Royal Society of Antarctica) and Gabriel Franken (Thinner Than Water) with guest artists Cyd Blakewell (Griffin Theatre Company's Balm in Gilead), Stephen Spencer (Remy Bumppo's Our Class) and Nicholas Harazin (Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Macbeth). Body & Blood runs tonight, June 11 - August 9 at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Press opening is Monday, June 15 at 7:30pm.
Cast Announced for BODY & BLOOD at The Gift Theatre, 6/11-8/9
The Gift Theatre artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton announces the cast for the World Premiere of Body & Blood, the smart, exhilarating new play by Gift Co-Founder and playwright William Nedved, directed by Marti Lyons, who recently directed Thornton in Lookingglass' Title and Deed. Body & Blood features The Gift ensemble members Lynda Newton (The Royal Society of Antarctica) and Gabriel Franken (Thinner Than Water) with guest artists Cyd Blakewell (Griffin Theatre Company's Balm in Gilead), Stephen Spencer (Remy Bumppo's Our Class) and Nicholas Harazin (Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Macbeth). Body & Blood runs June 11 - August 9 at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Press opening is Monday, June 15 at 7:30pm.
Gift Theatre's OTHELLO Opens Tonight
The Gift Theatre's contemporary production of Othello, starring Kareem Bandealy as Othello and artistic director and ensemble member Michael Patrick Thornton as villainous Iago, began previews on July 10. Directed by Jonathan Berry (Dirty), this marks The Gift Theatre's first Shakespeare production ever mounted in its intimate 40-seat theater and Berry's Shakespearean directorial debut. Othello runs tonight, July 17-August 24 at The Gif.
Gift Theatre's OTHELLO Begins Performances Tomorrow
The Gift Theatre's contemporary production of Othello, starring Kareem Bandealy as Othello and artistic director and ensemble member Michael Patrick Thornton as villainous Iago, begins previews this Thursday, July 10. Directed by Jonathan Berry (Dirty), this marks The Gift Theatre's first Shakespeare production ever mounted in its intimate 40-seat theater and Berry's Shakespearean directorial debut. Othello runs July 17-August 24 at The Gift, www.thegifttheatre.org
The Gift Announces Three World Premieres for 2015 Season
During last night's Season Release Bash at Fischman Liquors and Tavern, artistic director and co-founder Michael Patrick Thornton proudly announced The Gift Theatre's 2015 season of three world premieres. The all-new season will include the debuts of David Rabe's expanded Good For Otto, Gift Ensemble member William Nedved's Body and Blood and Naperville native Mat Smart's The Royal Society of Antarctica.
Michael Patrick Thornton Returns to The Gift Theatre in THINNER THAN WATER Tonight
The Gift Theatre Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton announces the Chicago premiere of Thinner Than Water written by Melissa Ross and directed by The Gift ensemble member John Gawlik (2013 Jeff Award winner for When the Rain Stops Falling at Circle Theatre). The production marks Thornton's return to The Gift main stage since ensemble member Andrew Hinderaker's Jeff Nominated Dirty in 2012. Thornton recently appeared in Les Waters' production of Our Town at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Thornton joins guest artists Donna McGough (last seen in Coriolanus with The Hypocrites) and Darci Nalepa (Dirty) and fellow Gift ensemble members Brittany Burch (The Lonesome West), Paul D'Addario (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), Gabriel Franken (Broadsword), Lynda Newton (Absolute Hell) and Jay Worthington (Vigils).
Michael Patrick Thornton Returns to The Gift Theatre in THINNER THAN WATER; Full Casting Announced!
The Gift Theatre Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton announces the Chicago premiere of Thinner Than Water written by Melissa Ross and directed by The Gift ensemble member John Gawlik (2013 Jeff Award winner for When the Rain Stops Falling at Circle Theatre). The production marks Thornton's return to The Gift main stage since ensemble member Andrew Hinderaker's Jeff Nominated Dirty in 2012. Thornton recently appeared in Les Waters' production of Our Town at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Thornton joins guest artists Donna McGough (last seen in Coriolanus with The Hypocrites) and Darci Nalepa (Dirty) and fellow Gift ensemble members Brittany Burch (The Lonesome West), Paul D'Addario (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), Gabriel Franken (Broadsword), Lynda Newton (Absolute Hell) and Jay Worthington (Vigils).
Chuck Spencer & Cyd Blakewell Set for Marco Ramirez's BROADSWORD at Gift Theatre; Full Cast Announced
The Gift Theatre artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton has announced casting for the Chicago premiere of Broadsword: A Heavy Metal Play written by Marco Ramirez (Orange is the New Black; Sons of Anarchy) and directed by Keira Fromm. Guest artists Chuck Spencer (Jeff Award-winner for Redtwist's Man From Nebraska) and Pavement Group's Cyd Blakewell (currently co-starring in Mine) join The Gift Ensemble members John Kelly Connolly (The Lonesome West), James D. Farruggio (Suicide, Inc.), Gabriel Franken (Mine) and John Gawlik (The Lonesome West).
Photo Flash: First Look at Hillary Clemens and More in The Gift Theatre's MINE
New mother Mari has a devoted husband, a reassuring midwife and a mom who can't wait to babysit. But she can't shake the feeling that there's something strange about her newborn daughter. Chicago's The Gift Theatre Company births a world of new motherhood, where doubt and certainty blur, in the Chicago premiere of Laura Marks' thrilling, haunting and terrifying Mine, directed by Marti Lyons. Mine makes its Chicago premiere now through August 11, 2013, at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Avenue (at Lawrence) in Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!
Photo Flash: First Look at Hillary Clemens, Cyd Blakewell and More in MINE
New mother Mari has a devoted husband, a reassuring midwife and a mom who can't wait to babysit. But she can't shake the feeling that there's something strange about her newborn daughter. Chicago's The Gift Theatre Company births a world of new motherhood, where doubt and certainty blur, in the Chicago premiere of Laura Marks' thrilling, haunting and terrifying Mine, directed by Marti Lyons. Mine makes its Chicago premiere now through August 11, 2013, at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Avenue (at Lawrence) in Chicago. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., with Sundaymatinees at 2:30 p.m. Single tickets are $25-$30 and subscriptions start at $50. To purchase tickets or for more information, please call 773-283-7071 or visit www.thegifttheatre.org.
The Gift Theatre Opens MINE Tonight
New mother Mari has a devoted husband, a reassuring midwife and a mom who can't wait to babysit. But she can't shake the feeling that there's something strange about her newborn daughter. Chicago's The Gift Theatre Company births a world of new motherhood, where doubt and certainty blur, in the Chicago premiere of Laura Marks' thrilling, haunting and terrifying Mine, directed byMarti Lyons. Mine makes its Chicago Premiere tonight, June 13 - August 11 at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave (at Lawrence) in Chicago. Press opening is Monday, June 17.
The Gift Theatre Opens MINE, 6/13
New mother Mari has a devoted husband, a reassuring midwife and a mom who can't wait to babysit. But she can't shake the feeling that there's something strange about her newborn daughter. Chicago's The Gift Theatre Company births a world of new motherhood, where doubt and certainty blur, in the Chicago premiere of Laura Marks' thrilling, haunting and terrifying Mine, directed byMarti Lyons. Mine makes its Chicago Premiere June 13 - August 11 at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave (at Lawrence) in Chicago. Press opening is Monday, June 17.
The Building Stage Announces DAWN, QUIXOTE, Opening 3/22
The Building Stage's Founder and Artistic Director Blake Montgomery announces that the world premiere of Dawn, Quixote, conceived and directed by Montgomery, at The Building Stage, 412 N. Carpenter Street in Chicago's West Loop, March 22 - April 27 will be the final production for The Building Stage. Previews are Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 24 at 4 p.m. Opening/press night is Monday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m. The regular performance schedule is Thursday - Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Tickets for the previews are students/children: $5, adults: $15 and for the regular run, students/children: $15/$20 and adults: $25/$30. Tickets may be purchased at buildingstage.com or by calling The Building Stage box office at 312.491.1369.
Chicago Dramatists Present Andrew Hinderaker's I AM GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD, Now thru 7/1
Chicago Dramatists present the final production of their 2011 - 2012 Season, I Am Going to Change the World by Resident Playwright Andrew Hinderaker and directed by Jonathan Berry from tonight, May 24 - July 1 at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 West Chicago Ave. Opening nights are Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2 at 8 p.m. Previews are tonight, May 24 through May 26 and May 31 at 8 p.m. Regular performance times (June 3 - July 1) are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.