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Mercury Theater Chicago open house July 10-11; Honey West new Venus Cabaret director
--From a press release
Chicago (June 14, 2021)— Mercury Theater Chicago will celebrate its reopening plans at an Open House at the Venus Cabaret, 3745 N. Southport Ave, on July 10 and 11, 2021. The Open House will be a ...
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Mayor Lightfoot and DCASE announce more summer cultural events across Chicago
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced even more returning, new and reimagined summer cultural events across Chicago — plus artist lineups and other details ...
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Dennis Watkins' The Magic Parlour reopens at Palmer House Hilton on Aug. 6
Third-generation magician and mind reader Dennis Watkins announced that Dennis Watkins' The Magic Parlour will return to Chicago's Palmer House Hilton for in-person performances beginning Friday, Aug. 6. Watkins will ...
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2021-22 Season at Goodman Theatre announced
--From a press release
(Chicago, IL) It's a summer "homecoming" for Goodman Theatre audiences! On July 30, Chicago's theater since 1925 resumes live, in-person performances following a 16-month COVID-19 pandemic period of darkened stages. ...
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About Face Theatre announces recipients of playwriting grants
--From a press release
CHICAGO (June 3, 2021) - About Face Theatre announced today that it is awarding grants to two local LGBTQ+ playwrights to support their creative work. Playwrights Hannah Ii-Epstein (she/her) and ...
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Actor/artist creates huge mural for new Steppenwolf center
Chicago-based artist/actor Tony Fitzpatrick has created a massive mural for the exterior of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's new Arts and Education Center, 1646 N. Halsted St. Commissioned by Steppenwolf as a highly visible public-art installation for th ...
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Jay Españo named Artistic Director of PrideArts, planning 2021-22 season
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Jay Espano, a Chicago actor, director, and filmmaker whose theater training includes education in The Philippines as well as an MFA from Chicago's Columbia College, has been named Artistic Director of PrideArts. Cheri Tatar, ...
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VIRTUAL CONCERT Lyric Opera airing 'The New Classics' on June 10
On Thursday, June 10, The Lyric Opera will air airtual cabaret featuring Broadway and Lyric artists in "The New Classics: Songs from the New Golden Age of Musical Theater." The event will start at 7 p.m ...
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Black Ensemble Theater, African American theater companies across country form new national alliance
--From a press release
[CHICAGO, IL] — In an effort to share knowledge, resources and strengthen the infrastructure of the Black theatre landscape in the United States, the country's independent Black theatre building owners ...
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Billy Masters
"I will never trust pants again!"—Lil Nas X on his wardrobe malfunction on Saturday Night Live. To see the incident—and Lil's commentary—check out BillyMasters.com. We have a Memorial Day tradition ...
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Oak Park Festival Theatre holding June 15 talk on James Baldwin
Oak Park Festival Theatre is hosting the free online event "James Baldwin: His Impact on the Theatre Then, Now, and in the Future," on Tuesday, June 15, at 7-8 p.m., that will feature scholar/author Dr. Eddie ...
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Northlight Theatre to open its 2021-2022 season in September
--From a press release
Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces its 2021-2022 season, opening with the tour-de-force musical Songs for Nobodies, by Joanna ...
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ARTS 'Teatro ZinZanni' returning July 8
Teatro ZinZanni is returning to the Chicago Loop with new acts and a unique, immersive dining and live entertainment experience. Its brand-new show begins July 8 in the Spiegeltent ZaZou, located on the 14th floor in ...
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Court Theatre announces return to live theatrical programming for 2021/22
--From a press release
COURT THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2021/22 SEASON, RETURN TO LIVE PROGRAMMING Chicago, IL - Court Theatre, under the continuing leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, and Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, announces a return to live ...
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About Face Theatre starts Green Room Collective for LGBTQ+ arts leadership development
--From a press release
CHICAGO (May 19, 2021) — About Face Theatre announces the launch of the Green Room Collective, a new program for early career LGBTQ+ arts leaders. This program builds on over two decades of leadership development work ...
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Congo Square Theatre Company, Sydney Chatman recipients of 2021 Joyce Awards
--From a press release
CHICAGO (May 20, 2021)—Sydney Chatman and Congo Square Theatre Company were announced this week as recipients of the Joyce Foundation's 2021 Joyce Awards. Since 2003, the Joyce Awards have supported the creation of new work by ...
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Chicago theaters announce plans for in-person performances
--From a press release
Chicago — The League of Chicago Theatres is pleased to highlight upcoming in-person performances this spring and summer. Many companies are also preparing for fall venue and production openings and some are taking advantage of the ...
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Steppenwolf announces The Loft, youth art competition
--From a press release
CHICAGO (May 19, 2021)—Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is excited to announce initial programming details for The Loft, its first-ever dedicated education space that encompasses the ...
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Next OUTspoken event taking place June 1
OUTspoken will provide four tales of fun and fortune from an LGBTQ+ perspective on Tuesday, June 1, starting at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This program is free. Interested parties can go to Facebook, log on to ...
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COMEDY Bianca Del Rio announces 'Unsanitized' comedy tour
Comedy queen and RuPaul's Drag Race champion Bianca Del Rio announced her "Unsanitized" comedy tour, which will hit 26 cities this fall. Among the stops will be the Chicago venue The Vic, on Oct. 10. Del ...
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Citadel Theatre to return in fall with a four-show 2021-22 season
--From a press release
LAKE FOREST, IL - Citadel Theatre Company will return to live, in-person, indoor performances in September with a season of four productions — three plays plus the company's traditional holiday musical - according to Artistic Director ...
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Cast announced for May 18 virtual reading of JEFFREY
--From a press release
CHICAGO — PrideArts today announced the full cast for its upcoming reading of Paul Rudnick's comedy JEFFREY. David Belew, founder and former artistic director of Eclectic Full Contact Theatre, will direct a cast that will include ...
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Heather Headley to headline Goodman Theatre's May 22 virtual gala
Goodman Theatre announced that Tony-winning Broadway actor and Grammy Award-winning singer Heather Headley will headline the company's "Together Center Stage" virtual 2021 gala fundraiser. "Together Center Stage" is slated to stream Saturday, May 22, ...
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THEATER Artistic Director Anna Shapiro leaving Steppenwolf post
Anna D. Shapiro—the artistic director of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company since 2015—will leave her post when her contract expires in August. Over the last several months, Shapiro has been working ...
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VIRTUAL THEATER Oak Park Festival Theatre to present 'The Venetians'
Oak Park Festival Theatre, in partnership with Kane Repertory Theatre, is presenting a virtual production of The Venetians, a new play by Matt Barbot that brings together various characters from several of Shakespeare's best-loved plays to ...
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THEATER 'A Portrait of My Mother' to start streaming May 9
Jarrott Productions will present the world premiere of A Portrait of My Mother, written and performed by Carlo Lorenzo Garcia and directed by David R. Jarrott. The autobiographical tribute to Garcia's mother, Maria, begins streaming on ...
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Mercury Theater to reopen; new artistic director named
Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Ave., has announced its reopening—along with new leadership. New Artistic Director Christopher Chase Carter returns to the theater where he collaborated on the hit productions of Little Shop of Horrors ...
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Story of Chicagoan and Broadway influencer Sister Rosetta Tharpe on to Broadway
--From a press release
NEW YORK (April 4, 2021) — Prolific writer and Chicago native Cheryl L. West (FANNIE: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer; Jar the Floor), will be joined on the creative team of SHOUT SISTER ...
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THEATER 'Security,' with Eric Roberts, running April 10-May 2
Kane Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Daniil Krimer and Managing Director Avery Bowne announced the world-premiere online production of Hammaad Chaudry's Security, as part of the company's new Multiplatform Commission. Security ...
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THEATER 'The Summer of Daisy Fay' out April 5
New American Folk Theatre (NAFT) is presenting The Summer of Daisy Fay—the inaugural production of NAFT's "season of audio theater" that features new recordings of three of the company's past productions. The one-woman show starring N ...
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Submissions from Black musical-theater writers sought for album
Broadway Records and Black Theatre Coalition (BTC) announced today the call for submissions for Black Writers Amplified, a new album consisting entirely of new works by Black musical-theater writers to be released in 2021. Black Writers ...
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Victory Gardens names artists for Black Monologues, part of Black Beauty Fest
--From a Victory Gardens Theater press release
Chicago, IL— Victory Gardens Theater, in partnership with The Black Women's Expo and Black Owned Chicago, presents the 5th Edition of the Black Beauty Festival (BBF), April 10-11, 2021. Offered virtually for the first time, Black ...
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Next virtual OUTspoken on April 6
The next OUTspoken storytelling event will take place Tuesday, April 6, starting at 7 p.m., on Zoom. Speakers will include a writer/storyteller, a teacher, a professional photographer and a caregiver. Joy Wright is a nominated Best-of-the-Net ...
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Steppenwolf to present reading of queer Muslim play on March 28
Steppenwolf Theatre Company's new play-development initiative, SCOUT, will present A Virtual Reading of Mosque4Mosque, by Omer Abbas Salem, on Sunday, March 28, at 2 p.m. The free reading follows a 30-hour workshop process directed by Arti ...
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SHOWBIZ 'The World to Come' film, Dan Reynolds, Broadway, Green Lantern
The lesbian-themed film The World to Come is available to buy or rent, a press release noted. In this 19th-century romance (from Bleeker Street) that's set in the Northeast, Abigail (played by Katherine Waterston), a farmer's ...
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THEATER Global, Grindr-based 'Borders' to run Feb. 25-27
Dirty Laundry Theatre's virtual experience Borders, directed by Chicago resident Michael R. Piazza, will feature three live shows on Feb. 25-27. Written by Nimrod Danishman and directed by Piazza, Borders tells the story of two gay ...
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'You For Me For You' benefit on Feb. 28
Sideshow Theatre Company will launch its 2021 season with a one-night-only benefit screening of its 2018 hit You For Me For You, written by Mia Chung and directed by ensemble member Elly Green. The archival recording ...
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Court Theatre announces 2021 Southside Youth Fest, platform for teens
--From a press release
Chicago, IL - Court Theatre, under the continuing leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, and Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, announces Court's 2021 Southside Youth Fest, inviting South Side teens to submit original digi ...
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Court Theatre premieres spotlight podcast highlighting Black writers
--From a press release
Chicago, IL - Court Theatre, under the continuing leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, and Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, announces the online premiere of its Spotlight Podcast. A key component of Court's community ...
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Next 'OUTspoken' event March 2
The next session of OUTspoken—a monthly storytelling event that centers on tales of fun and fortune from local LGBTQ+ men and women and their close friends—will take place Tuesday, March 2, at 7 p.m. on Zoom. ...
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Stage Left Theatre announces new Literary Manager
--From a press release
Stage Left Theatre is delighted to announce Bobbi Masters as our new Literary Manager. She is an artist/educator with a passion for new work who has been involved in various phases of new play development throughout ...
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Where Did We Sit on the Bus? online streaming production starts Feb. 22
--From a press release
Chicago, IL— Victory Gardens Theater and Geva Theatre Center announce the online streaming production of Brian Quijada's music-infused production of Where Did We Sit on the Bus?, written and performed by Brian Quijada and directed by ...
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Actors Gym opens another venue, will hold in-person classes
Actors Gym announced the opening of a third studio in Evanston's Noyes Cultural Arts Center and a new, expanded class curriculum. The facility will be primarily dedicated to the nine month Professional Training Program's new Clown ...
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Actor, writer Lena Waithe to headline screenwriting conference at DePaul U
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Emmy Award-winning writer, creator, producer and actor Lena Waithe of "Twenties," "The Chi" and "Queen & Slim" will headline DePaul University's Courier 12 Screenwriting Conference Feb. 5-6. DePaul's School of Cinematic Arts will pr ...
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African American Arts Alliance, Black Ensemble Theater Martin Luther King Day
--From a press release
The African American Arts Alliance of Chicago and Black Ensemble Theater present the 10th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, January 18, 2021 at 6:00pm. The jubilant, online event is free will be ...
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THEATER A Red Orchid Theatre running magical 'Missed Connections' Feb. 2-28
A Red Orchid Theatre is presenting Missed Connections—a live, interactive play with magic, conceived for virtual experience, co-written by Jon Tai and Alex Gruhin, performed by magician Jon Tai and produced by Alex Gruhin—on Feb. 2-28. ...
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Virtual OUTspoken storytelling event Feb. 2
The next virtual OUTspoken Storytelling Night will take place Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. The speakers will be as follows: —Donald Bell is a third-generation Chicagoan, South Sider and White Sox fan who is a retired ...
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'Dixie's Happy Hour' streaming Jan. 26-31
On the heels of Dixie's Tupperware Party and Dixie's: Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull (and 16 other things I learned while I was drinking last Thursday), drag personality Dixie Longate is ...
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Hell in a Handbag Productions to present
Out, Darn Spot!
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Jan. 15, 2021) — Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to present the campy comedyOut, Darn Spot!, written by and starring ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith* and directed, filmed and edited by Stephanie Shaw. ...
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Artemisia Theatre announces entirely virtual 2021 season
--From a press release
CHICAGO - In order to continue its strong feminist story-telling tradition, Artemisia Theatre announces an entirely virtual 2021 season. The new season includes two World Premiere theater productions and eight audio performances airing on its podcast ...
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SHOWBIZ Laverne Cox, lesbian coach, Jim Parsons, 'Brokeback,' theater items
Laverne Cox is teaming with Meryl Streep and Rashida Jones to executive-produce a new documentary exploring one of the most critical issues at the intersection of race, feminism, and power: the sex industry, out.com noted. Sell/Buy/Date ...
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African American Arts Alliance, Black Ensemble to present MLK event Jan. 18
The African American Arts Alliance of Chicago and Black Ensemble Theater will present the 10th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, Jan. 18, at 6 p.m. The online event will be free. This ...
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Rip Nelson Holiday Quarantine Special extended through Jan. 17
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Jan. 4, 2021) — Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to announce one additional week of performances of its streaming holiday hit The Rip Nelson Holiday Quarantine Special, now playing through Jan. 17, 2021. ...
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Hell in a Handbag announces annual benefit, "The Morning After"
CHICAGO (Dec. 17, 2020) — Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to announce its annual benefit "The Morning After," featuring the streaming world premiere of the smash hit musical that started it all for them, ...
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PrideArts to screen one-night-only live virtual readings
--From a press release
PrideArts series of one-night-only live virtual readings resumes with TWELFTH NIGHT on the Twelfth of January Peter Vamvakas to direct a cast of seven Click here for a Word doc version of this release CHICAGO — ...
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Bechdel Fest 8 to highlight femme, female-identifying, non-binary, trans, queer actors
Broken Nose Theatre (BNT) will present Bechdel Fest 8: Realign—the company’s annual festival of new short plays featuring an ensemble of femme, female-identifying, non-binary, trans and queer actors talking about things other than men.
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OUTSpoken: LGBTQ storytelling event Jan. 5 on Zoom
Another OUTspoken Storytelling Night will offer the perspective of four Chicagoans telling life stories from their LGBTQ+ viewpoint or that of their close friends and relatives, Tuesday, Jan. 5, starting at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The ...
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Pegasus holding Young Playwrights Festival Jan. 7-31
On Jan. 7-31, Pegasus Theatre Chicago is presenting the 34th Young Playwrights Festival (YPF), which selects winning high school-age scribes to apprentice with theater professionals to workshop and produce their ...
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THEATER About Face airing festival with Black LGBTQ+ artists
About Face Theatre is launching its 25th season with Kickback—an online festival of 10 newly commissioned short plays and performances by Black LGBTQ+ artists, inspired by the Rebuild Foundation's collections at the Stony Island Arts Bank. ...
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Black Ensemble Theater's 'Holiday' event Dec. 18-25
The Black Ensemble Theater is celebrating the 2020 holiday season with The Black Ensemble Virtual Holiday Extravaganza, written and directed by Producing Managing Director Daryl D. Brooks. Filmed from the performers' homes and the theater, the ...
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Billy Masters
"Will you issue pardons before leaving office? Will you be issuing a pardon for yourself?"—A reporter asked El Presidente this question after the traditional pardoning of the Thanksgiving turkeys. And by turkey, we don't mean anyone ...
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'The Prom' out Dec. 11 on Netflix
The Prom—a musical-comedy film directed by Ryan Murphy and adapted by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin (from their and Matthew Sklar's 2018 Broadway musical of the same name)—will be out on Netflix on Dec. 11. The ...
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THEATER Harry Lennix to direct Dec. 13 reading of 'Mercy'
Northlight Theatre will present an Interplay New Play Development Program reading of Mercy, written by Felicia Oduh and directed by Harry Lennix (known for his acting roles on TV shows such as The Blacklist and Billions ...
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Play development series seeks new plays authored by artists of color
--From a press release
(Chicago, IL) Calling all bold, imaginative new plays authored by artists of color for Future Labs—Goodman Theatre's newest artistic program to develop works authored and directed by Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI and other artists of co ...
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About Face Theatre starts 25th season with Kickback online short play fest
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Nov 9, 2020) — About Face Theatre kicks off its landmark 25th season with KICKBACK, an online festival of newly commissioned short plays and performances by Black LGBTQ+ artists, inspired by the Rebuild Foundation's collections ...
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THEATER
Lookingglass to present 'Her Honor Jane Byrne' on Nov. 26, 28
Lookingglass Theatre Company, in collaboration with WBEZ 91.5 Chicago, will present a world-premiere audio play of Her Honor Jane Byrne, written and directed by Ensemble Member and Mellon Playwright in Residence J. Nicole Brooks. Her Honor ...
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MUSICALS 1997 version of Anyone Can Whistle out Dec. 4
On Sunday, Dec. 4, Jay Records will release a 1997 recording of the musical Anyone Can Whistle, which originally had music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim as well as a book by Arthur Laurents. The production ...
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Hell in a Handbag to present Rip Nelson Holiday Quarantine Special
CHICAGO (November 12, 2020) — Hell in a Handbag Productions celebrates the holidays with the return of America's favorite funnyman, Rip Nelson (Ed Jones*), in the star-studded world premiere of ...
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THEATER Pride Arts artistic director resigns; PFP keeps Zak
Two controversial developments have occurred at Pride Arts (in which Pride Films & Plays, PFP, is the main tenant). According to a letter from PrideArts President Cheri Tatar that Windy City Times obtained, PFP Artistic Director ...
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THEATER Andre De Shields to help celebrate youth Dec. 9
Andre De Shields—a Grammy-, Emmy- and Tony-winning actor, director and educator, and the 2019 "Triple Crown" winner for his portrayal of Hermes in Hadestown—will be the keynote speaker of the Victory Gardens Theater event "Voices of ...
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Theater community to offer online plays, musicals, dance, comedy for holidays
--From a press release
Chicago, IL (November 10, 2020)— The Chicago theater community will produce a wide variety of online festive plays, musicals, dance and comedy offerings this Holiday season. Theatre venues in Chicago and across the world remain closed ...
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A Red Orchid Theatre appoints Travis Knight, Sadieh Rifai to new positions
--From a press release
CHICAGO, IL—A Red Orchid Theatre announces the appointments of Ensemble Member Travis Knight as Associate Artistic Director and Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai as Artistic Development Coordinator. Ensemble member Shade Murray ...
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Theater excellence honored with 52nd annual Equity Awards
--From a press release
Nov. 9, 2020 — CHICAGO — In its 52nd annual celebration of theater excellence, the Jeff Awards has recognized 39 recipients for the 2020 awards, selected from among 142 theater artist nominees across 30 artistic and ...
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The African American Arts Alliance announces 2020 Black Excellence Awards
--From a press release
Chicago, IL—The African American Arts Alliance (AAAA) will host the 20th annual Black Excellence Awards, an evening celebrating Black artists, Black voices, and Black stories across artistic disciplines, on November 10, 2020 at 7pm. The 2020 ...
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OUTspoken Storytelling to host tales from LGBTQ perspectives Nov. 10
--From a press release
Another exciting OUTspoken Storytelling Night will offer the perspective of four Chicagoans telling life's stories from their LGBTQ+ viewpoint or that of their close friends and relatives, Tuesday, Nov. 10, starting at 7 p.m. on Zoom. ...
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