M. William Panek

Brown Paper Box Co. Announces Final Season & 10th Anniversary
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 22, 2020

After 10 years, 16 venues, 6 Jeff Award recommendations, 2 Performer in a Leading Role nominations, and hundreds of actors, collaborators, designers, staff members, donors, volunteers, audience members, & friends, Brown Paper Box Co. is proud to share the bittersweet announcement of their 10th and final season.

Photo Flash: Strawdog Theatre Presents LITTLE WOMEN: THE MUSICAL
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 1, 2019

Brown Paper Box Co. concludes their 2018/2019 season with their Jeff Recommended production of Little Women the Musical running now through February 9, 2019 at Strawdog Theatre. Tickets and information can be found by visiting www.BrownPaperBox.org.

LITTLE WOMEN THE MUSICAL Offers Free Tickets To Furloughed Federal Employees
by Julie Musbach - Jan 21, 2019

Brown Paper Box Co. is supporting the hundreds of federal workers In and around Chicago currently furloughed as a result of the government shutdown.

Cast Announced For Chicago Storefront Premiere Of LITTLE WOMEN THE MUSICAL
by Stephi Wild - Oct 10, 2018

Following their Jeff Award Recommended run of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' regional premiere of EVERYBODY, Brown Paper Box Co. concludes their 2018/2019 season with the Chicago storefront premiere of Little Women the Musical running January 11-February 9, 2019 at Strawdog Theatre Company.

TV: Santino Fontana, Lilli Cooper, David Yazbek and More Talk Bringing TOOTSIE from the Screen to Stage
by Alan Henry - Sep 5, 2018

BroadwayWorld was on site when the cast and creative of the new comedy musical, Tootsie, which will play a pre-Broadway engagement at Broadway In Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre from September 11th - October 14th, met the press! Watch stars Lilli Cooper and Santino Fotana, as well as composer/lyricist David Yazbek talk about bringing the production from the silver screen to the stage in the video below!

Photo Flash: The Cast And Creative Of TOOTSIE Pose For The Press In Chicago
by Alan Henry - Aug 24, 2018

BroadwayWorld was on site this morning when the cast and creative of the new comedy musical, TOOTSIE, which will play a pre-Broadway engagement at Broadway In Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre from September 11th - October 14th, met the press! See the photos below!

Tickets On Sale For EVERYBODY By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 30, 2018

Tickets are now on sale for Brown Paper Box Co.'s regional premiere of EVERYBODY! This modern riff on the medieval morality play Everyman follows Everybody (chosen from the cast via lottery at each performance) as they question and explore life's most basic and universal elements of death, love, friendship, family, God. etc. Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Gloria, An Octoroon) bases EVERYBODY on the 15th century morality play that instructs sinners on how to repent and seek redemption.

VIDEO: Meet The Cast And Creative Of THE CHER SHOW in Chicago
by M. William Panek - Jun 6, 2018

THE CHER SHOW, the new musical based on the life and six-decade career of the iconic singer and actress, will have its pre-Broadway world premiere in Chicago with previews beginning on June 12, 2018 at the Oriental Theatre before making its Broadway debut at the Neil Simon Theatre in Fall 2018. We caught up with the cast this morning as they met the press in Chicago! See the video below!

Photo Flash: The Cast Of THE CHER SHOW Meets The Press in Chicago
by Alan Henry - Jun 5, 2018

THE CHER SHOW, the new musical based on the life and six-decade career of the iconic singer and actress, will have its pre-Broadway world premiere in Chicago with previews beginning on June 12, 2018 at the Oriental Theatre before making its Broadway debut at the Neil Simon Theatre in Fall 2018. We caught up with the cast this morning as they met the press in Chicago! See the photos below!

Cast Announced For Regional Premiere Of EVERYBODY With Brown Paper Box Co. In Chicago
by Julie Musbach - May 15, 2018

Brown Paper Box Co.'s regional premiere of EVERYBODY has found its cast! This modern riff on the medieval morality play Everyman follows Everybody (chosen from the cast via lottery at each performance) as they question and explore life's most basic and universal elements of death, love, friendship, family, God. etc. Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Gloria, An Octoroon) bases EVERYBODY on the 15th century morality play that instructs sinners on how to repent and seek redemption.

AN EXISTENTIAL CABARET Opens Brown Paper Box Co.'s Season
by Stephi Wild - Apr 24, 2018

Inspired by life's great mysteries presented in the regional premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Pulitzer Prize finalist EVERYBODY, "An Existential Cabaret" continues Brown Paper Box Co.'s relationship with original cabaret series at Mary's Attic in Andersonville.

Brown Paper Box Co. Announces 2018/2019 Season
by Julie Musbach - Apr 10, 2018

Following their Jeff Recommended run of They're Playing Our Song and the Chicago Reader Recommended Speech & Debate, Brown Paper Box Co. is proud to announce its 2018/2019 season. With an exciting regional premiere fresh out of New York - cast by lottery each night live on stage, a Chicago storefront chamber musical premiere, a new cabaret at Mary's Attic in Andersonville, and a Spring 2019 Special Event to be announced soon, BPBCo.'s upcoming season has a little bit of something for everyone & everybody.

Photo Flash: Brown Paper Box Co. Presents SPEECH & DEBATE
by Julie Musbach - Feb 13, 2018

Following their Jeff Award Recommended run of They're Playing Our Song, Brown Paper Box Co. concludes their 2017/2018 season with the non-Equity Chicago debut of Tony Award winner Stephen Karam's Speech & Debate. BPBCo. Board President David Lipschutz* helms the timely dark comedy at The Edge Theater (5451 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660).

Photo Flash: Check Out the Promo Photos for SPEECH AND DEBATE's Non-Equity Debut
by Stephi Wild - Jan 26, 2018

Following their Jeff Award Recommended run of They're Playing Our Song, Brown Paper Box Co. concludes their 2017/2018 season with the non-Equity Chicago debut of Tony Award winner Stephen Karam's Speech & Debate. BPBCo. Board President David Lipschutz* helms the timely dark comedy at The Edge Theater (5451 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660).

SPEECH & DEBATE to Make Non-Equity Chicago Debut at Brown Paper Box Co.; Cast Set!
by BWW News Desk - Nov 8, 2017

Following their Jeff Award Recommended run of They're Playing Our Song, Brown Paper Box Co. concludes their 2017/2018 season with the non-Equity Chicago debut of Tony Award winner Stephen Karam's Speech & Debate. BPBCo. Board President David Lipschutz* helms the timely dark comedy at The Edge Theater (5451 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660).

Roundup: Check Out The Top Stories From Chicago You Might Have Missed 5/26 - Vote in the BWW Awards!
by BWW News Desk - May 26, 2017

Roundup: Check Out The Top Stories From Chicago You Might Have Missed 5/26 - Vote in the BWW Awards!

Photo Flash: Positively Presents AN UPLIFTING CABARET
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 14, 2017

Brown Paper Box Co. kicked off their 2017/2018 season with a wildly successful 2-night cabaret at Mary's Attic in Andersonville April 7 & 8. Hosted by company member Kristi Szczepanek*, Positively Present: An Uplifting Cabaret featured performances from BPBCo. company members and friends, as well as past (and present!) show participants.

Positively presents AN UPLIFTING CABARET
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 14, 2017

Brown Paper Box Co. kicked off their 2017/2018 season with a wildly successful 2-night cabaret at Mary's Attic in Andersonville April 7 & 8. Hosted by company member Kristi Szczepanek*, Positively Present: An Uplifting Cabaret featured performances from BPBCo. company members and friends, as well as past (and present!) show participants. Brown Paper Box Co. kicked off their 2017/2018 season with a wildly successful 2-night cabaret at Mary's Attic in Andersonville April 7 & 8. Hosted by company member Kristi Szczepanek*, Positively Present: An Uplifting Cabaret featured performances from BPBCo. company members and friends, as well as past (and present!) show participants.

POSITIVELY PRESENT Cabaret to Kick Off Brown Paper Box Co.'s 2017-18 Season
by BWW News Desk - Mar 31, 2017

Brown Paper Box Co. has announced its upcoming cabaret event to kick off their 2017/2018 season.

Brown Paper Box Co Announces Spring Cabaret POSITIVELY PRESENT: AN UPLIFTING CABARET
by Julie Musbach - Mar 11, 2017

Brown Paper Box Co. is thrilled to announce their upcoming cabaret event, hosted by company member, Kristi Szczepanek*. This is the first occasion that the company has announced their season in full, and they are excited to do so. This cabaret will feature performers, some of which are members of Brown Paper Box Co. and some that are not! Kristi Szczepanek* first worked with the company as the female understudy in NOW. HERE. THIS. in the summer of 2016.