Artists from the Belarus Free Theatre, sure to be persecuted if they return to their homeland, have bought more time in America thanks to an invitation from the Goodman Theatre, Northwestern University and the League of Chicago Theatres.
"We found it imperative to extend this brave, bold theater company's stay in the United States by offering them the opportunity to perform in Chicago," said Goodman Artistic Director Robert Falls in a prepared statement. "These are artists struggling against an oppressive state, and their work is both essential and powerful."
The Belarus Free Theatre came to New York in December 2010 for a sold-out engagement of Vladimir Shcherban's play Being Harold Pinter at the Under the Radar Festival. The play uses writings from the late Nobel Prize-winning playwright to criticize the oppressive former Soviet bloc state. The drama is performed in Russian and Belarusian with projected English supertitles.
But instead of returning home, the company will play at three different locations in Chicago and Evanston in January and February. Tickets are $20, and performances run one hour and 15 minutes.
Performances at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, are at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27, and 8 p.m. Jan. 28 and 29. Call 312-443-3800 or visit www.goodmantheatre.org .
The production then moves to Northwestern University's Mussetter-Struble Theatre, 1949 Campus Drive, Evanston, between Feb. 4 and 6 with performances at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Call 847-491-7282 or visit www.tic.northwestern.edu .
The closing host is the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand (Navy Pier) with performances at 8 p.m. Feb. 18-19, and 2 p.m. Feb. 20. Call 312-595-5600 or www.chicagoshakes.com .
More suburban singing and dancing
Get ready for even more professional musical theater in the suburbs. The Paramount Theatre in Aurora has announced plans to produce a new four-musical season starting list fall utilizing professional performers, designers and directors at its 80-year-old 1,888-seat historic art deco theater.
To head up this effort, Broadway veteran Jim Corti (Ragtime, Dancin') has been tapped to be the Paramount Theatre's first-ever artistic director.
A multiple Jeff Award-winner as an actor/director/choreographer, Corti has plenty of professional credits around Chicago ranging from Drury Lane Oakbrook (Sugar, Cabaret, Curtains) to Victory Gardens Theater (The Lost Boys of Sudan).
What exactly is on the Paramount Theatre bill is to be revealed at 7 p.m. Friday, March 18, as part of a free "Big Reveal" party. But the Paramount is already trying to lure ticket buyers by offering an $89 four-show package to the first 10,000 subscribers.
Since the Paramount is within viewing distance of the Hollywood Casino, a few repertory suggestions include: Guys and Dolls (the gambling angle), Big River (since it's so close to the Fox River), Sunset Blvd., City of Angels or Singin' in the Rain (the Hollywood glamour connection).
Previously the only musical theatre to play the Paramount were the odd community theater productions or touring non-Equity shows that typically played only one or two performances. The Paramount's in-house productions are slated to run three-weeks, so much shorter than its closest competition with Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace and Fox Valley Repertory (formerly Noble Fool Theatricals) in St. Charles. The Paramount will also continue to host a variety of visiting performances with musicians, comedy troupes and more.
For more information, call 630-896-6666 or visit www.paramountaurora.com .
Departure lounge
Chicago Opera Theater general director Brian Dickie recently announced his decision not to renew his contract which expires at the end of the 2012 season. Dickie plans to return to the United Kingdom to be closer to his three grown children, his many grandchildren and so his youngest daughter can continue on with her schooling.
Dickie's artistic leadership helped push Chicago Opera Theater's worldwide recognition during his tenure, which saw the company move from the Athenaeum Theatre to Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, and more than 20 Chicago premieres ranging from Monteverdi's 1607 opera Orfeo to John Adams' 1987 "docu-opera" Nixon in China.
Dickie's departure coincides with that of Lyric Opera of Chicago General Director William Mason, who is also stepping down at the end of the 2012 season. Though Dickie could conceivably switch over the Lyric since he has so many friends with the company, it's more likely that Chicago opera fans will need to get used to two new leaders running the Windy City's two main opera companies.
And though not quite a departure, The Hypocrites' founder and artistic director, Sean Graney, will step down from his current position at the end of the season. Graney will still direct for the company, but in the capacity as Founding Director. The move allows Graney more freedom to direct for other companies, like the Court Theatre where he's scored some success with productions of What the Butler Saw and The Comedy of Errors.
Hypocrites ensemble member Halena Kays will assume the company's artistic directorship.
Broadway (off and on) bound
Three shows with Chicago debuts are headed to New York. Two have already come and gone, but one still has yet to be seen.
The Steppenwolf Theatre season opener Detroit by playwright Lisa D'Amour is slated to hit Broadway sometime next fall. No casting has been announced, but the Chicago production under Austin Pendleton's direction featured Steppenwolf ensemble members Laurie Metcalf, Kate Arrington, Ian Barford, Kevin Anderson and Robert Breuler.
Also Gotham-bound is Laurence Mark Wythe's musical Tomorrow Morning which played the Greenhouse Theater in 2008. The four-character chamber musical involving one couple facing marriage and another facing divorce is set to play off-Broadway at the York Theatre Company starting in March. A cast album is available featuring the Chicago cast.
And though it hasn't even had its Chicago world premiere at American Theater Company, Dan LeFranc's drama The Big Meal has already been announced as part of Playwright Horizon's off-Broadway 2011-12 theater season. The Big Meal features eight actors presenting the life-changing moments from five generations of a modern family.
Please send theater news and other related tidbits to scottishplayscott@yahoo.com and Andrew@windycitymediagroup.com .
