OPENING: Casting And Unique Seating Announced For Parade at Writers Theatre 5/24 - 7/2

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Writers Theatre announces casting for

Parade

Book by Alfred Uhry

Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown

Co-conceived by Harold Prince

Music Direction by Michael Mahler

Choreography by Ericka Mac

Directed by Gary Griffin

May 24 – July 2, 2017

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, concludes its 2016/17 season with the musical Parade, with book by Alfred Uhry, music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, and co-conceived by Harold Prince.  The Writers Theatre production of Parade is directed by Gary Griffin and features musical direction by Michael Mahler and choreography by Ericka Mac.  Parade runs May 24 – July 2, 2017 in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. 

The cast of Parade includes: Larry Adams (Old Soldier/Judge Roan/Ensemble), Patrick Andrews (Leo Frank), Brianna Borger (Lucille Frank), Jonathan Butler-Duplessis (Jim Conley), McKinley Carter (Mrs. Phagan/Sally Slaton), Devin DeSantis (Britt Craig/Young Soldier/Ensemble), Kevin Gudahl (Hugh Dorsey/Ensemble), Derek Hasenstab (Governor John Slaton/Ensemble), Nicole Michelle Haskins (Minola "Minnie" McKnight/Angela), Caroline Heffernan (Mary Phagan/Essie/Ensemble), Zoe Nadal (Monteen/Ensemble), Jake Nicholson (Frankie Epps/Ensemble), Jeff Parker (Tom Watson/Ensemble), Leryn Turlington (Iola Stover/Ensemble), and Jonah D. Winston (Newt Lee/Riley).

This stirring, Tony Award-winning musical explores the endurance of love and hope against seemingly insurmountable odds, telling the true story of Leo Frank, a Brooklyn-born Jewish man falsely accused of murder in 1913 Atlanta. Innovative and daring, and filled with soaring music, Parade is a moving love story, a riveting murder mystery, a gripping courtroom drama and a powerful exploration of innocence and naïveté coming face-to-face with ignorance and prejudice.

Acclaimed director Gary Griffin, who directed the original Broadway production of Jason Robert Brown’s Honeymoon in Vegas and the world premiere of his The Trumpet of the Swan at the Kennedy Center, stages an intimate revival of this celebrated musical. With a book by playwright Alfred Uhry (Driving Miss Daisy) and a score by Brown (The Last Five Years, The Bridges of Madison County) that combines folk, rock, R&B and gospel, Parade ends WT’s 25th Anniversary Season with spectacular impact.

Single tickets for Parade, priced $35 - $80, are available online at www.writerstheatre.org, by phone at 847-242-6000, or in person at the box office at 325 Tudor Court in Glencoe.

PARADE On-stage Seating

For adventurous theatre goers who want to be part of the action, Writers Theatre is offering a limited  number of special on-stage seats for every performance of Parade!

These special on-stage seats, reachable via curved staircases, will be on a raised platform at the back of the stage so that the audience will fully surround the action on stage. This exclusive vantage point provides audience members an immersive experience of Parade, as the area will be located near the orchestra and will also be used by actors during the performance.

Some restrictions apply.  Visit writerstheatre.org/parade-on-stage for more information.

ABOUT WRITERS THEATRE

For 25 years, Writers Theatre has captivated Chicagoland audiences with inventive interpretations of classic work, a bold approach to contemporary theatre and a dedication to creating the most intimate theatrical experience possible.

Under the artistic leadership of Michael Halberstam and the executive leadership of Kathryn M. Lipuma, Writers Theatre has grown to become a major Chicagoland cultural destination with a national reputation for excellence, being called the top regional theatre in the nation by The Wall Street Journal. The company, which plays to a sold-out and discerning audience of more than 60,000 patrons each season, has garnered critical praise for the consistent high quality and intimacy of its artistry—providing the finest interpretations of both classic and contemporary theatre in its two intensely intimate venues. 

In February 2016, Writers Theatre opened a new, state-of-the-art facility. This established the company's first permanent home—a new theatre center in downtown Glencoe, designed by the award-winning, internationally renowned Studio Gang Architects, led by Founder and Design Principal Jeanne Gang, FAIA, in collaboration with Theatre Consultant Auerbach Pollock Friedlander. The new facility has allowed the Theatre to continue to grow to accommodate its audience, while maintaining its trademark intimacy. The new facility resonates with and complements the Theatre’s neighboring Glencoe community, adding tremendous value to Chicagoland and helping to establish the North Shore as a premier cultural destination.

Find Writers Theatre on Facebook at Facebook.com/WritersTheatre, follow @WritersTheatre on Twitter or @Writers_Theatre on Instagram. For more information, visit www.writerstheatre.org.

Steppenwolf's Casting Complete for Winter Productions The Christians and Straight White Men

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR STEPPENWOLF'S 2016 WINTER PRODUCTIONS: 

THE CHRISTIANS BY LUCAS HNATH AND 

STRAIGHT WHITE MEN BY YOUNG JEAN LEE

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced complete casting for two upcoming Chicago premiere productions: Lucas Hnath’s The Christians directed by ensemble member K. Todd Freeman (December 1, 2016 – January 29, 2017) in the Downstairs Theatre; and Straight White Men written and directed by Young Jean Lee (February 2, 2016 – March 19, 2017) in the Upstairs Theatre.

The Christians cast features ensemble member Tom Irwin as Pastor Paul and ensemble member Robert Breuler as Elder Jay with Shannon Cochran (Elizabeth), Glenn Davis (Joshua) and Jacqueline Williams (Congregant). 

The Downstairs Theatre will be transformed into a mega church with a choir performing live onstage. The choir, called The Praise Team, features Faith Howard, Yando Lopez, Jazelle Morriss, Mary-Margaret Roberts and Charlie Strater. Directed by ensemble member K. Todd Freeman, the production runs December 1 – January 29, 2017. 

The Straight White Men cast features ensemble members Alan Wilder (Ed) and Tim Hopper (Matt) with Madison Dirks (Jake), Ryan Hallahan (Drew) and Elliott Jenetopulos (Stagehand-in-charge). Written and directed by Young Jean Lee, the Chicago premiere production runs February 2 - March 19, 2017 in the Upstairs Theatre. 

Single tickets ($20-$89) to The Christians and Straight White Men are currently on sale at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org. Subscription Memberships are available through mid-October for audiences who like to lock in dates and secure seats in advance. Subscribers receive special access to buy additional shows. Flex Card Memberships are available for audiences interested in extreme flexibility with six tickets for use any time, along with perks including free exchanges, savings on single tickets and bar and restaurant discounts.

About The Christians

Pastor Paul has spent 20 years successfully growing his church from a small storefront to a gleaming megachurch, but now he fears that there may be a crack in the theological foundation. As he shares his new belief in the nature of salvation, the message is met with surprise and then growing trepidation from his closest confidantes in the congregation, threatening to create a schism within the church. Lucas Hnath’s fascinating new play looks with great complexity and compassion at the relationship between belief and behavior—and its evenhanded, unbiased take on faith in modern America can be appreciated no matter what you believe.

About Straight White Men

As Ed, a widower, prepares to celebrate Christmas, he calls his three grown sons back to the family home. Games are played, Chinese food is ordered, and brotherly pranks and trashtalk distract them from the ongoing issue that threatens to ruin the festivities:  when personal identity is essential and privilege is a problem, what is a straight white man to do? Playwright/ Director Young Jean Lee takes an outside look at the traditional father/son play narrative, shedding new and often hilarious light on a story we think we know all too well.

About the 2016/17 Season

Steppenwolf’s 41^st anniversary Season opens with the world premiere of Visiting Edna by David Rabe, directed by Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro, which is currently in previews and runs through November 6. In addition to The Christians and Straight White Men, the 2016/17 also features the world premiere of The Fundamentals by Erika Sheffer, directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov, November 10 – December 23, 2016 in the Upstairs Theatre. ); the world premiere of Linda Vista by ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by Dexter Bullard (March 30 – May 21, 2017); the Chicago premiere of Hir by Taylor Mac, directed by Hallie Gordon (June 29 – August 20, 2017); and an additional summer show, Pass Over by Antoinette Nwandu (June 1 – July 9, 2017).

Visitor Information & Accessibility

Steppenwolf is located at 1650 N Halsted St near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. The parking facility consists of both a covered garage ($11 cash or credt) and an open-air lot, located just south of our theater at 1624 N Halsted. Valet parking service ($14 cash) is available directly in front of the main entrance at 1650 N Halsted St starting at 5pm on weeknights, 1pm on weekends and at 12 noon before Wednesday matinees. Street and lot parking are also available. For last minute questions and concerns, patrons can call the Steppenwolf Parking Hotline at (312) 335-1774.

Committed to making the Steppenwolf experience accessible to everyone, performances featuring American Sign Language interpretation, open captioning and audio description are offered during the run of each play. Assistive listening devices and large-print programs are available for every performance. With the expertise of Assistive Hearing Systems Ltd., Steppenwolf installed an induction loop on both the main and balcony levels of our Downstairs Theatre in 2015. There is also an induction loop installed in the 1700 Theatre.

Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks

Located in front of the 1700 Theatre is Steppenwolf’s café & bar, Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks. Open daily from 7am to midnight, Front Bar is a creative space to grab a drink, have a bite, or meet up with friends and collaborators, day or night. A morning and evening menu is curated by Chef Chris Pandel, and artisanal coffee and espresso is provided by La Colombe. Front Bar was developed with consultation from Steppenwolf’s friends and neighbors, Boka Restaurant Group (BRG), along with interior designers Karen Herold and Kayce Carter of Studio K and the marketing and design firm Grip. More info at front-bar.com.

Sponsor Information

Major support for Steppenwolf’s expanded 2016/17 programming is provided by the Lefkofsky Family Foundation, The Negaunee Foundation and the Zell Family Foundation.

Major support for Steppenwolf’s New Play Development Initiative is provided by The Davee Foundation and the Zell Family Foundation.

PwC is the corporate presenting sponsor of Straight White Men.

United Airlines is the Official and Exclusive Airline of Steppenwolf.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is America’s longest standing, most distinguished ensemble theater, producing nearly 700 performances and events annually in its three Chicago theater spaces—the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat 1700 Theatre. Formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, Steppenwolf has grown into an ensemble of 46 actors, writers and directors. Artistic programming includes a seven-play season; a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season; Visiting Company engagements; and LookOut, a new multidisciplinary performance series. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Steppenwolf has the distinction receiving the National Medal of Arts, in addition to numerous other prestigious honors including an Illinois Arts Legend Award and 12 Tony Awards. Anna D. Shapiro is the Artistic Director and David Schmitz is the Managing Director. Nora Daley is Chair of Steppenwolf’s Board of Trustees. 

For additional information, visit www.steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre and twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr.

Additional A-List Talent Announced for Greenhouse Theater’s Solo Celebration!

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

STELLAR LIST OF CHICAGO ACTORS 

COMPLETE CASTING IN 

GREENHOUSE THEATER CENTER’S 

“SOLO CELEBRATION!” 

PRODUCTIONS

Gene Weygandt, Linda Reiter and Will Allan Join Previously Announced “Solo Celebration!” Actors, Including Simon Slater, Carin Silkaitis, Philip Dawkins and Kate Buddeke  Casting is now complete for the Greenhouse Theater’s Solo Celebration!, as Artistic Director Jacob Harvey announced the remaining performers to be featured in solo works being presented now through February 2017. The A-list group of Chicago performers joining the Solo Celebration include: Linda Reiter as Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy in “Rose,” directed by Steve Scott and running August 19 – September 25; Gene Weygandt as Matty in “Uncle Phillip’s Coat,” directed by Elizabeth Margolius and running November 27 – December 31; and Will Allan as Chester in “Circumference of a Squirrel,” directed by Jacob Harvey and running January 13 – February 12, 2017.  “I am thrilled to complete the lineup of performers for Solo Celebration series with such a diverse and celebrated group of Chicago actors. Linda, Gene, and Will join a phenomenal group of collaboartors working to bring audiences innovative and challenging new solo plays,” said Artistic Director Jacob Harvey. “One of the greatest joys of curating this series has been the opportunity to bring artists from different companies and parts of the city together to create on our stages.” Starring in the Chicago premiere of the off-Broadway hit “Rose” in August, Linda Reiter portrays the stalwart Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy in the hours following the tragedy at Chappaquiddick. Reiter debuted in her first solo performance in “The Testament of Mary” at Victory Gardens Theater, for which she received a Jeff nomination for Best Solo Performance. Reiter is an ensemble member of Shattered Globe Theatre, where she has performed in 41 productions in their 25 years, last appearing as Bessie in “Marvin's Room.”  Reiter has garnered Jeff Awards in the non-equity category for the roles of Eleanor Iselin in “The Manchurian Candidate,” Martha in “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” Kate in “All My Sons,” Mme. De Merteuil in “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” Dee Dee in “Invitation to a March” and Sarah in “Bondagers.” Gene Weygandt (a favorite of ours here at ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows!) stars as Matty in the Chicago premiere of “Uncle Phillip’s Coat,” this November, in a time traveling journey of self-discovery. Weygandt is best known as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in “Wicked” in Chicago, and on Broadway. More recently, he starred as Jean Shepherd in “A Christmas Story, The Musical.” Also on Broadway, Weygandt originated the role of Paul in “Big: The Musical.” He is a three-time Jeff Award recipient for “A Day in Hollywood/A Night in The Ukraine,” and “Me and My Girl” at The Marriott Theatre, and for “Little Shop of Horrors.” He received an After Dark Award for his role as Max in the long-running hit, “Lend Me a Tenor” at The Royal George Theatre. Other credits include “Inspecting Carol” at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, “The Taming of the Shrew” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and principal roles in “Old Jews Telling Jokes,” “The Miser,” “Arthur: the Musical,” “The Light In The Piazza,” “Hairspray,” “The Music Man,” Don’t Dress for Dinner,” “Little Me,” and “The Man Who Came To Dinner.” Weygandt’s TV and film credits include “The Birdcage,” “The Babe,” and “The Pager,” “Chicago Fire,” “Betrayal,” “Boss,” “Mind Games,” “The Beast,” “Home Improvement,” “Cybill,” “Murphy Brown,” “Drew Carey,” and more. In January, Will Allan stars as Chester in “Circumference of a Squirrel,” a savagely comic story of growing up with a father who developed a rabid hatred for squirrels that eventually infected every aspect of his life. Allan was last seen in Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s production of Annie Baker's ”The Flick.” Previous Chicago credits include “Good People,” “The March,” “Animal Farm,” and “A Separate Peace” (Steppenwolf); “The Seagull” and “Dartmoor Prison”(Goodman); “The History Boys” (TimeLine Theatre); “The Whale” (Victory Gardens); “The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?” (Remy Bumppo); “Speech and Debate” and “It's a Wonderful Life” (American Theater Company); “Romeo and Juliet” and “Much Ado About Nothing” (First Folio); and “Red Noses” and “Good Soul of Szechuan” (Strawdog). Regional credits include The “Mousetrap” (Milwaukee Rep) and “Red” (Human Race Theatre Co.). Other actors appearing in Solo Celebration include Cathy Schenkelberg in “Squeeze My Cans,” July 14 -24, Cameron Pfiffner in “The Portrait,” July 15 – Aug. 4, Melinda Buckley in “Mother (and Me),” Aug. 4 – 14, Simon Slater in “Bloodshot,” August 10 – Sept. 10, Carin Silkaitis in “I Do Today,” Sept. 2 – Oct. 9, Phillip Dawkins in “The Happiest Place on Earth,” Sept. 17 – Oct. 23 and Kate Buddeke in “Miss America,” Jan. 6 – Feb. 12. About “Solo Celebration!” The Greenhouse Theater Center presents “Solo Celebration!,” includes ten full productions, two limited engagements and other special events running June 2016 through February 2017. Most productions will be produced in their entirety by Greenhouse, while other plays will be staged with co-producers including Sideshow Theatre Company and The Other Theatre Company. Greenhouse’s “Solo Celebration!” is co-produced by Forum Productions and underwritten by the Wendy and William Spatz Charitable Foundation. More information and the full lineup, click here.    About the Greenhouse Theater Center The Greenhouse Theater Center is a nonprofit performance venue located at 2257 N Lincoln Ave, in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Our complex offers two newly remodeled 190-seat main stage spaces, two 60-seat studio theaters, an in-house rehearsal room, and Chicago’s only dedicated used theatre book store. Our mission at the Greenhouse is first and foremost to grow local theatre. We strive to cultivate a fertile environment for local artists, from individual renters to our bevy of resident companies, to develop and produce their work. In 2014 alone, The Greenhouse Theater Center provided space for almost 1,000 ticketed performances, serving more than 54,000 patrons. At least 30 productions by our resident companies were produced, including works by the celebrated American Blues Theater and Remy Bumpo Theatre Company. Through our Trellis Program, we offer the community affordable access to our work by housing Chicago’s only dedicated used theatre bookstore, located on the second floor of our complex, as well as offering a free reading series each Tuesday night where local artists workshop their latest scripts. Additionally, we also continue to play an active role in cultivating and nurturing our community through continued partnerships with the League of Chicago Theaters and local Chambers of Commerce. As of 2016, the Greenhouse Theater Center embraced the true spirit of growth and launched its producing entity. With the announcement of our 8 month long Solo Celebration Series, helmed by Artistic Director Jacob Harvey, we will produce 10 solo plays from June 2016 to February 2017. Through this inaugural effort, we hope to expand the solo play cannon while also cultivating a larger conversation about the possibilities of the one-person play. With new ideas always incubating, the Greenhouse Theater Center is flourishing.  Come grow with us!