Michelle Bester

Definition Theatre Announces 2024 Season
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 20, 2023

Definition Theatre announces two world premiere plays as part of its 2024 season. The company has also added stage and production manager Julie Jachym and Sound Designer Willow James to the ensemble and welcomes media producer and host Troy Pryor to its artistic advisory board. 

Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago Reveals Winners of the 23rd Annual Black Excellence Awards
by Stephi Wild - Nov 8, 2023

The nonprofit Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago has announced the winners of its 23rd Annual Black Excellence Awards, honored Monday night in a festive celebration at Black Ensemble Theater. Learn more about the winners here!

Jackie Taylor's THE OTHER CINDERELLA to be Presented at Black Ensemble Theater
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 23, 2023

BLACK ENSEMBLE THEATER will conclude its 2023 season with the holiday favorite, THE OTHER CINDERELLA, written and directed by Jackie Taylor.

Cast and Creative Team Set For TWELFTH NIGHT at Chicago Shakespeare Theater 
by Stephi Wild - Sep 8, 2023

Chicago Shakespeare Theater has announced the cast and creative team for the upcoming production of William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy Twelfth Night. Learn more about who is starring in the production here!

Remy Bumppo Announces Cast And Creative Team For BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY, September 14- October 15
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 29, 2023

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company has announced the cast, creative and production teams for Blues for an Alabama Sky, the opening production in its 2023 - 2024 season, written by Pearl Cleage and directed by Mikael Burke, September 14 - October 15, at Theater Wit.

Black Ensemble Theater Announces 2022 Season
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 13, 2022

Black Ensemble Theater's Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor announces its 2022 Season of Excellence: The Season of Healings. 

Photo Flash: HOW TO USE A KNIFE Makes Chicago Premiere at Shattered Globe Theatre
by Julie Musbach - Apr 30, 2018

Shattered Globe Theatre is pleased to conclude its 2017-18 Season with the Chicago premiere of Will Snider's fast-paced gritty drama HOW TO USE A KNIFE, directed by SGT Producing Artistic Director Sandy Shinner*, playing April 26 - June 9, 2018 at SGT's resident home Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.

Shattered Globe Theatre Presents Chicago Premiere of HOW TO USE A KNIFE
by Julie Musbach - Mar 28, 2018

Shattered Globe Theatre is pleased to conclude its 2017-18 Season with the Chicago premiere of Will Snider's fast-paced gritty drama HOW TO USE A KNIFE, directed by SGT Producing Artistic Director Sandy Shinner*, playing April 26 - June 9, 2018 at SGT's resident home Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Single tickets are currently available at www.shatteredglobe.org, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office. The press opening is Sunday, April 29 at 3 pm.

Casting Announced For Shattered Globe's HOW TO USE A KNIFE
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 24, 2018

Shattered Globe Theatre is pleased to announce casting for the Chicago premiere of Will Snider's fast-paced gritty drama HOW TO USE A KNIFE, directed by SGT Producing Artistic Director Sandy Shinner*.

Photo Flash: First Look at Circle Theatre's THE CONDITION OF FEMME
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 7, 2018

THE CONDITION OF FEMME by Lauren Marie Powell follows the learning curve of Reagan, a compassionate young woman working for a sexual assault hotline. Over the course of a year, callers and confidantes share their stories -- some heartfelt, some humorous, some very painful.

Circle Theatre presents THE CONDITION OF FEMME, 3/7
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 14, 2018

Circle Theatre's 2017-18 season will begin with the world premiere of THE CONDITION OF FEMME, an exploration of rape culture based on actual events in the lives of sexual assault survivors interviewed by playwright Lauren Marie Powell. The drama includes monologues delivered by 11 characters created from Powell's interviewees, as well as a central character called Reagan, who is a counselor for a sexual assault hotline.  Powell says, "Every character in the show is a fictionalized person based on those many testimonies, with verbatim quotes included throughout the piece. Most of the characters are an amalgamation of multiple testimonies around recurrent themes in their interviews. Reagan, based on a social worker and a rape-crisis hotline worker I interviewed, meets the 11 survivors through her work and ties their stories together."

Circle Theatre's World Premiere THE CONDITION OF FEMME to Explore the Many Facets of Rape Culture
by Julie Musbach - Jan 17, 2018

Circle Theatre's 2017-18 season will begin with the world premiere of THE CONDITION OF FEMME, an exploration of rape culture based on actual events in the lives of sexual assault survivors interviewed by playwright Lauren Marie Powell. The drama includes monologues delivered by 11 characters created from Powell's interviewees, as well as a central character called Reagan, who is a counselor for a sexual assault hotline.

Photo Flash: First Look at Refuge Theatre Project's LYSISTRATA JONES
by BWW News Desk - Oct 27, 2017

LYSISTRATA JONES a musical comedy by five-time Tony Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane, with songs by Lewis Flinn takes the premise of the Greek comedy LYSISTRATA, in which the women of Athens refuse to have sex with their husbands and lovers until the long-lasting Peloponnesian War is finally ended and updates it to the present day at an American college.

STAGE TUBE: Watch Performances from Porchlight's DREAMGIRLS!
by Tyler Peterson - Apr 20, 2016

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber present DREAMGIRLS, book and lyrics by Tom Eyen, music by Henry Krieger. This production is directed and choreographed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music directed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck, now through May 22, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. BroadwayWorld brings you performances from the production below!

Photo Flash: DREAMGIRLS Celebrates Opening Night at Porchlight Music Theatre
by BWW News Desk - Apr 14, 2016

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber present DREAMGIRLS, book and lyrics by Tom Eyen, music by Henry Krieger. This production is directed and choreographed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music directed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck, now through May 22, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Photo Flash: First Look at Porchlight Music Theatre's DREAMGIRLS
by Tyler Peterson - Apr 13, 2016

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber present Dreamgirls, book and lyrics by Tom Eyen, music by Henry Krieger. This production is directed and choreographed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music directed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck, now April 8 - May 22, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

Porchlight Extends DREAMGIRLS Ahead of First Performance
by Tyler Peterson - Mar 31, 2016

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the extension and additional performances of Dreamgirls, book and lyrics by Tom Eyen, music by Henry Krieger. This production is directed and choreographed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music directed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck, now April 8 - May 22. Previews are Friday, April 8 at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 9 at 8 p.m., Sunday, April 10 at 2 p.m. and Monday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. with opening night Tuesday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. The regular performance times are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., with no Thursday performances on April 14 with added performances Thursday, May 5, 12 and 19 at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 8 at 7 p.m. Single tickets may be purchased at porchlightmusictheatre.org or 773.327.5252. Groups of ten or more may receive discounts on tickets purchased via Group Theater Tix at 312.423.6612 or grouptheatertix.com.

Porchlight Music Theatre to Stage DREAMGIRLS This Spring
by Tyler Peterson - Feb 15, 2016

 Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to present Dreamgirls, book and lyrics byTom Eyen, music by Henry Krieger. This production is directed and choreographed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music directed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck, April 8 - May 15. Previews are Friday, April 8 at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 9 at 8 p.m., Sunday, April 10 at 2 p.m. and Monday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. with opening night Tuesday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Stage 773,