The Gift Theatre is pleased to announce the final play of its 2019 Season: the Chicago premiere of Leah Nanako Winkler’s dark comedy KENTUCKY, directed by ensemble member Chika Ike, playing October 17 – November 17, 2019 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.
Kokandy Productions is pleased to announce the Chicago premiere of the bold new musical comedy HEAD OVER HEELS, featuring songs by The Go-Go’s, based on The Arcadia by Sir Phillip Sidney, conceived and original book by Jeff Whitty and adapted by James Magruder. Making its Chicago debut just six months after concluding its Broadway run, HEAD OVER HEELS is co-directed by Kokandy’s new Producing Artistic Director Derek Van Barham and Elizabeth Swanson, with music direction by Kyra Leigh and choreography by Breon Arzell.
Four-show subscription season will include two beloved musicals and two comedies about families lost, found and strengthened.
Director and Artistic Director Linda Fortunato has cast Kelly Felthous as Ruby, Todd Aulwurm as Dick, Colette Todd as Mona Kent, Sierra Schnack as Joan, Sam Shankman as Lucky, and Steven Strafford as Hennesey and The Captain in Dames at Sea, the Spring musical production at Theatre at the Center in Munster. Previews begin May 2 with Opening Night on May 5 and continued run through June 2.
Walter Stearns, Executive Director of Mercury Theater Chicago, announced today the summer extension of the hit production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, now running through Sunday, June 30. The show opened March 10 to rave reviews, with the Chicago Sun Times declaring “LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is decidedly charming, with a killer love story,” PerformInk proclaiming the production “boasts an excellent cast and terrific music, and moves far beyond the limits of traditional musical theatre,” and the Chicago Reader noting “LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS hits all the right notes.” This hit sci-fi musical has devoured the hearts of audiences around the world for more than 30 years, following the story of floral assistant who stumbles across a new breed of carnivorous plant that promises to grant him fame, fortune and all his desires – as long as the blood keeps flowing.
Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE), the professional Equity company in residence at the McAninch Arts Center, located at 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage (COD), caps its 2018-2019 season with “Miracle on South Division Street” by Tom Dudzick, directed by Steve Scott, May 2-June 2. Press opening is Friday, May 3.
Broadway In Chicago is pleased to announce the internationally-acclaimed hit theater show The Simon & Garfunkel Story will play at Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) for a limited two-week engagement November 19 through December 1, 2019.
THE GOODMAN’S 2019/2020 SEASON TO FEATURE A GROUNDBREAKING WORLD-PREMIERE MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF THE OUTSIDERS, BASED ON S.E. HINTON’S NOVEL AND FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA’S FILM, DIRECTED BY LIESL TOMMY
**NEW SEASON INCLUDES WORLD PREMIERES BY LUCAS HNATH AND KORDE ARRINGTON TUTTLE; CHICAGO PREMIERES OF AMERICAN MARIACHI BY JOSÉ CRUZ GONZÁLEZ; BERNHARDT/HAMLET BY THERESA REBECK; LISA LOOMER’S ROE; AND JOCEYLN BIOH’S OFF-BROADWAY HIT SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY**
***ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ROBERT FALLS TO DIRECT A MAJOR REVIVAL OF MOLLY SWEENEY BY BRIAN FRIEL**
Windy City Playhouse, known for presenting unique and immersive theater pieces that create an intimate audience experience, is set to debut its newest immersive production with the Chicago premiere of Jonathan Caren’s “The Recommendation” at its Flagship location (3014 N. Irving Park Road). Fresh off successful productions at The Old Globe (in San Diego) and the Flea Theater in New York, the psychological thriller follows two friends through the trials and tribulations of life and tests just how far they will go to get what they want. The cast of “The Recommendation” includes Michael Aaron Pogue as Iskinder Iodouku, Julian Hester as Aaron Feldman and Brian Keys as Dwight Barnes.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces today the Queens of the critically acclaimed new musical SIX, written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, which makes its North American premiere in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, May 14–June 30, 2019. The six ex-wives of King Henry VIII headline an electrifying pop-concert spectacle—flipping the narrative on the one-sided story from our history books. After its runaway debut at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and a sold-out UK tour, the musical phenomenon is now taking London by storm with an open-ended run on the West End, now nominated for five Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical.
