REVIEW: The Outsider Now Playing Through February 22 at Oil Lamp Theater

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar: 

Oil Lamp's Finding the Funny in Political Theatre 

OIL LAMP THEATER’S 2026 SEASON KICKS OFF WITH 

THE OUTSIDER

NOW PLAYING THROUGH FEBRUARY 22, 2026

DIRECTED BY SCOTT WESTERMAN

A Comedy of Campaign Chaos Kicks Off the New Season

REVIEW

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

In the weird microcosm that is Chicago Theatre, you can catch both The Outsider and The Outsiders playing this February. Lest you get confused, the first to open, Oil Lamp Theatre's political comedy, is a laugh out loud slice of hilarious human nature. What a welcome break from the alternating tragedy and absurdist theatre our actual US politics so often descend into these days.  

We were charmed and amused by Ned Newley, a guy too smart, genuine, and nice to be governor. He's been running everything efficiently for years, behind the scenes, while the corrupt governor playboy takes credit for his work and goofs off. When the camera shy, bumbling 2nd in command becomes governor by default, the pr team runs triage and hilarity ensues. Newbie Newley won our hearts, and while the jokes and physical comedy provided a welcome breath of fresh laughter, there's depth and truth to this tale too. It's about time we take another look at slickness over substance; image over integrity, and start picking politicians with brains and a moral compass, over social media fluff that polls well. 

The entire cast brought a high energy, playful vibe to the production, that's well worth a trek to suburban Glenview. Even my husband, a location sound engineer, who's done plenty of political press junkets over the decades, thought it was quite funny and spot on. He's run audio for Joe Biden (ABC: World News Tonight) and George W Bush (CNN),  as well as lots of local politicians, so he found the crew bits particularly funny. 

The Outsider's got our vote! Three out of three stars. ★★★ Recommended. 

Kudos also to Oil Lamp on their recent expansion with the SPARK CENTER, which offers arts education for all ages with a focus on youth. In September 2025, Oil Lamp launched Light The Way, a transformative fundraising campaign designed to expand arts education, strengthen essential staff and establish a larger performance venue. Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we've been covering Oil Lamp for years and we're excited to see what's next for this intrepid, suburban storefront. We hope they'll continue with the beloved, free chocolate chip cookies from Misericordia, in their new lobby, too. 

Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theatre critic, photographer, artist, and Mama to 2 amazing adults. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly).

Oil Lamp Theater’s first production of its 2026 season, The Outsider, written by Paul Slade Smith and directed by Scott Westerman, is now playing through February 22 at Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road. The running time, including the intermission, is two hours and 15 minutes. The performance schedule is Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. There will be additional Wednesday performances Jan. 28 and Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. There will be an understudy performance on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m.Tickets are on sale now for $30 for previews and $55 for the run at OilLampTheater.org.

When the sitting governor gets kicked out of office for, you guessed it, corruption, it’s time for someone new to take the throne… uh...the role. And the polls are in, it's time for an outsider. Enter bumbling brainiac Ned Newley. With bright ideas and hope in his eyes, he’s the perfect candidate - on paper. It will take a team of dedicated pollsters, campaign coordinators and more notecards than one can count, to turn him into a poised politician who can expertly avoid questions like it's his job. This knee-slappingly hilarious play will have the audience reaching across the aisle to share a laugh. Audiences may even find a renewed sense of hope for politics…okay maybe not… but they'll at least enjoy an absolutely hysterical and highly entertaining break from the news.

The cast of The Outsider includes (in alphabetical order) Andrew Bosworth (he/him, Arthur Vance); Sara DiPasquale (she/her, Rachel Parsons); Kenneth D. Johnson (he/him, A.C. Petersen); Michael Morrow (he/they, Dave Riley); Melody Rowland (she/her, Paige Caldwell); William Ryder (he/him, Ned Newley) and Jenna Steege (she/they, Louise Peakes) with understudies Sam Fain (he/they, U/S Ned Newley and U/S Arthur Vance); Stanley King (he/him, U/S A.C. Petersen); Megan Kueter (she/her, U/S Paige Caldwell and U/S Rachel Parsons); Sean Price (he/him, U/S Dave Riley), and Amy Yulish (she/her, U/S Louise Peakes).

The production team includes Scott Westerman (he/him, director); Sara Segneri (she/her, stage manager); Connor Windle (she/her, production manager); Rose Leisner (she/her, company manager); Spencer Donovan (he/him, scenic designer); Ellen Markus (she/her; properties designer); Janelle Smith (she/they; costume designer); Rachel D. Hemm (she/her, lighting designer); Alex Trinh (he/him, sound designer) and Andy Cahoon (he/him, technical director).

ABOUT PAUL SLADE SMITH, Playwright

Paul Slade Smith is an actor and playwright living in Brooklyn, New York with his wife, actress Erin Noel Grennan. He received a Helpmann Award nomination for his performance as “Willy Wonka” in the Australian premiere of the Broadway musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. ​Stateside, his acting credits include: the original Broadway casts of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Finding Neverland and the 2018 Lincoln Center revival of My Fair Lady; U.S. national tours of Wicked (“Doctor Dillamond”), My Fair Lady (“Jaime”) ​and The Phantom of the Opera; and productions at American Repertory Theatre, The Goodman, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, ​Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Paper Mill Playhouse, The Goodspeed, Geva Theatre Center, Asolo Repertory and Theatre Under the Stars in Houston, Texas. His TV credits include NBC's “The Blacklist” and “The Other Two” and “The Gilded Age”, both on HBO. He is the award-winning author of three plays: Unnecessary Farce, The Outsider and Theatre People, or the Angel Next Door.

ABOUT SCOTT WESTERMAN, Director

Scott Westerman is the founding artistic director of Go To Productions, a 501©3 nonprofit which develops projects that explore the nexus between live theatre and film. He created and directed the web series “Hamlet & Ophelia” which won Best Picture at the New York Film Awards, Best Web Series at the LA Film Awards and Best Mobile Series at the 2022 New Media Film Festival. Westerman has directed stage productions for The Artistic Home, Citadel Theatre, ChiArts, City Lit Theatre, Chimera Theatre Company, Beyond This Point, Barter Theatre, Stage Left Theatre, The Smithsonian Institution, American Theatre Company (Bridge) and Reverie Theatre Company. He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, an ensemble member with The Artistic Home, represented by Gray Talent Group and a teaching artist with Lookingglass Theatre, Writers Theatre and Filament Theatre. He has an MFA from The Shakespeare Theatre Academy. As an actor, he has worked with Steppenwolf Theatre, Writers Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Lookingglass, Northlight Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre Company and Ford’s Theatre in DC, Everyman Theatre in Baltimore, the Warehouse Theatre in South Carolina and the Barter Theatre in Virginia to name a few. On camera credits include “Chicago Fire,” “Machine Gun Preacher” and “Prison Break.”


MORE FROM FROM OIL LAMP THEATER

Poor Behavior
April 10 – May 10, 2026

By Theresa Rebeck
Directed by Lauren Katz
Preview Performances: Friday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 11 at 3 p.m.
Opening Night: Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Performance schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances Wednesday, April 15 at 11 a.m and 3 p.m.; Wednesday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday April 29 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; and Wednesday May 6 at 7:30 p.m.

A visit from old friends takes an unexpected turn when a bombshell accusation throws niceties out the window. Hospitality turns to havoc. Sanity shatters into shambles. Manners take a backseat as two couples are pushed to their limits during a weekend in the country. Will they be able to pick up the pieces over wine and muffins or will their poor behavior leave them irrevocably broken? Find out in this sharp-witted play by acclaimed playwright Theresa Rebeck.

The Last 5 Years
June 5 – July 5, 2026

Book, music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
Directed by Christina Ramirez
Music Directed by Amy Branahl
Preview performances: Friday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday June 6 at 3 p.m.
Opening Night: Saturday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Performance schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances Wednesday, June 10 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Wednesday June 17 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, June 24 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; and Wednesday July 1 at 7:30 p.m. There are no performances on Saturday July 4.

Straight from Broadway, Jason Robert Brown’s musical masterpiece The Last Five Years comes to Oil Lamp Theater. This widely beloved show takes audiences on the romantic rollercoaster of Jamie and Cathy as they fall in and out of love over the last five years. Told from each individual’s perspective – one chronologically and one backwards – audiences will be swept into the unique storytelling and find an anti-love story full of humor and heart. Hailed as a powerful and intimate production, this Drama Desk Award-winner for Outstanding Music is not to be missed.

I Love You Because
August 14 – September 13, 2026

Book and Lyrics by Ryan Cunningham
Music by Joshua Salzman
Directed by Scott Shallenbarger
Music Directed by Aaron Kahn
Preview Performances: Friday, Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday Aug. 15 at 3 p.m .
Opening Night: Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Performance schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances Wednesday Aug. 19 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday September 2 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; and Wednesday September 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Modern dating is a mess. Sometimes to find Mr. Right you need to find Mr. Wrong even if that means seeing someone stuck on their ex, awkward encounters of the intimate kind and lots of horrible coffee dates. Opposites attract in this feel-good musical that will transport audiences into the heart of your favorite guilty pleasure rom-com. Created by acclaimed musical team Ryan Cunningham and Joshua Salzman and inspired by Jane Austen’s gold-standard romance novel “Pride and Prejudice,” this delightful musical will make you fall head over heels.

Dial M for Murder
October 2 – November 1, 2026\

Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from the original play by Frederick Knott
Directed by Daniel King
Preview Performances: Friday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday Oct. 3 at 3 p.m.
Opening Night: Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Performance schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Wednesday Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday Oct. 21 at 11:00 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Alfred Hitchcock’s adored, chilling thriller gets a modern twist that no one will see coming. A murderous misstep begins a high-stakes hunt for the real criminal as time is quickly running out. This captivating, heart-racing play leaves audiences on the edge of their seats while the mystery of the year unravels before their eyes. Will the clues unlock the right person, or will an innocent victim pay the price? The suspense is to die for…

*All productions, dates, creatives, etc. are subject to change.


ABOUT OIL LAMP THEATER

Oil Lamp Theater is a professional nonprofit performing arts organization in Glenview, Illinois, welcoming over 10,000 patrons annually from more than 225 communities—41% from Glenview and others from across the North Shore and Chicago. Since establishing its intimate 60-seat home in downtown Glenview in 2012, Oil Lamp has grown into a cultural beacon, earning recognition as “Best Live Theatre in the North Shore” for four consecutive years.

With more than 70 productions to date, Oil Lamp is known for its dynamic Mainstage season, special events and its resilience during the pandemic, when it innovated with drive-in performances and outdoor productions. Today, the theatre continues to foster connection, broaden horizons and illuminate the human condition through professional theater and year-round programming.

In addition to its productions, Oil Lamp recently expanded with the SPARK CENTER, which offers arts education for all ages with a focus on youth. These process-driven classes inspire a lifelong love of the arts while equipping students with creativity, confidence and critical life skills.

In September 2025, Oil Lamp launched Light The Way, a transformative fundraising campaign designed to expand arts education, strengthen essential staff and establish a larger performance venue with the goal of staying in downtown Glenview. Building on its roots as a scrappy storefront, Oil Lamp is evolving into a more robust organization—without losing the intimacy and warmth that define its theater experience. Oil Lamp Theater hopes this announcement inspires excitement throughout the community. Interested community members are invited to learn more by reaching out to the theater and staying tuned as additional news is shared in the near future. For information or to support the campaign go to OilLampTheater.org/Light-the-Way or reach out to Oil Lamp at light-the-way@oillamptheater.org.

Production photo credit: Gosia Matuszewska - GosiaPhotography.com for Oil Lamp Theater’s The Outsider, now playing through February 22 at Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road in Glenview.

Marriott Theatre Presents Little Shop of Horrors January 21 Through March 15, 2026

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Peter Blair, Executive Producer

Peter Marston Sullivan, Artistic Director

Presents

The Sci-Fi Cult Musical Favorite

Chicagoland’s longest-running musical theatre, Marriott Theatre, opens its highly anticipated 2026 season with the long-requested fan favorite, Little Shop of Horrors, previewing Wednesday, January 21, opening Wednesday, January 28, and running through Sunday, March 15. Directed and choreographed by Tommy Rapley (Marriott Theatre:James and the Giant Peach, Big Fish) and featuring music direction by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson, this production brings the beloved, darkly comic musical to life with a blend of sci-fi flair, 1960s pop, and outrageous theatrical imagination. I'll be out to review on Wednesday, February 11th, so check back shortly after for our full coverage. 

Little Shop provides a tasty musical theatre recipe: start with well-intended people in dire and seemingly inescapable circumstances. Add a healthy handful of love, plenty of greed, a touch of murder, and a dash of carnivorous magicalplant from outer space. Mix well with a banging score by Alan Menken and the incredible talents of this Chicago-based cast, and you have yourself a rollicking good time. Puppets are the icing on the cake.

“I hope that audiences leave the theatre with guts sore from laughing, with hearts heavy for our tragic and loveable lovers, and with ears joyfully ringing with this delectable score,” said director and choreographer Tommy Rapley. “And also, with a little more empathy for the folks who are desperately trying to get by-well-intended people in dire and seemingly inescapable circumstances who haven’t succumbed to the murderous temptations of a man-eating plant… yet. Perhaps if we build better roads in and out of Skid Row, and care more for the people who live there, we can save the world before The Plant consumes us all.”

Little Shop of Horrors stars Jackson Evans as “Seymour” (Marriott Theatre: Singin’ in the Rain, A Christmas Story, Charlie Brown); Maya Rowe as “Audrey” (Marriott Theatre: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Disney's Finding Nemo; Theo Ubique: A Little Night Music–Jeff Award Winner, Best Supporting Actress); Andrew Mueller as “Orin & Others” (Marriott Theatre: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical–Jeff Award, Man of La Mancha, For The Boys); Mark David Kaplan as “Mr. Mushnik” (Marriott Theatre: Titanic, Oliver!, Anything Goes); Lorenzo Rush Jr. as “Audrey II (Voice)” (Marriott Theatre:Joseph…,A Christmas Story, The Wizard of Oz); with Lydia Burke, Daryn Harrell, Miciah Lathan, and Garrett Lutz; Ensemble Jordan Anthony Arredondo, and Ed Kross; and understudies Marta Bady, Dan Gold, Darryl D'Angelo Jones, and Arwen-Vira Marsh. Starting March 4th the role of “Audrey” will be played by Amanda Walker.

The artistic team features Costume Design by Amanda Vander Byl, Lighting Design by Jesse Klug, Sound Design by John Johnson, Scenic Design by Milo Bue, Props Design by Ivy Thomas, Puppet Design by Jesse Mooney-Bullock, Wig Design by Miguel Armstrong and Stage Manager Richard Strimer.
Little Shop of Horrors is scheduled to run Wednesdays at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., with select Thursday 1:00 p.m. shows. 

Call for dinner-theatre, student, senior, and military discounts. Free parking is available at all performances. 

To reserve tickets or become a Marriott Theatre subscriber, please call the Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or go to www.tickets.marriotttheatre.com. Visit www.MarriottTheatre.com for more information. To make a restaurant reservation, please call 847.634.0100.

Theater Grottesco Presents ACTION AT A DISTANCE… IN 2025 NOVEMBER 13 - 16 AT FACILITY THEATER

SIX PLAYS, FOUR ACTORS, ONE STAGE: COLLIDE IN 

ACTION AT A DISTANCE… IN 2025 

A BOLD THEATRICAL CHICAGO PREMIERE OF A FAY|GLASSMAN PERFORMANCE STAGED WITH THE COLLABORATION OF THEATER GROTTESCO

NOVEMBER 13 - 16 AT FACILITY THEATER 

Santa Fe’s celebrated physical theater ensemble, Theater Grottesco, proudly announces a limited Chicago engagement for Action at a Distance … in 2025, November 13 - 16 at Facility Theater, 1138 N. California Ave. Action at a Distance … in 2025 is a bold theatrical experiment from Fay|Glassman Performance crafted in collaboration with Theater Grottesco. 

This new production, graphically scored in detail, offers a kaleidoscopic theatrical experience that is closer to music composition and dance, blending six simultaneous plays performed on a 10ft x 10ft stage by four actors. In 2018, the two companies received a national grant from the Network of Ensemble Theaters for five weeks of outlandish theatrical research and development. 

After four months of intensive work in 2025, the fully-developed production comes to Chicago for a limited engagement. The performance schedule is Thursday, Nov. 13 - Saturday, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 16 at 3 and 8 p.m. 

Theater Grottesco and Fay|Glassman Performance are committed to making the performances accessible. As part of this commitment, the companies welcome audiences with a sliding scale of ticket prices from $15 - $30.

 Tickets are on sale now and available at: LisaFayAndJeffGlassmanDuo.org/tickets. Action at a Distance ... in 2025 is an original work of new theatrical form that breaches several of theatre’s conventional boundaries. Using techniques often found in film, musical composition and dance such as innovative physical “jump cuts” and “gestural choreography,” characters and actions depart from common representations of time and space, to create moments of astonishing synchronicity, while actors fluidly transform among multiple characters and interact across disparate scenes. 

This dynamic, multilayered performance challenges traditional storytelling, immersing audiences in a constantly shifting mosaic of interactions and emotions. Action at a Distance … in 2025 follows the structural truths when people distraught and disconnected from one another live together, in imperceptible yet finely-tuned synchronicity, as do the actors on this stage. Much like the bustle of a crowded airport, Action at a Distance captures the unpredictability within human connections. 

Six original plays happen simultaneously as performed by four dynamic actors who seamlessly switch between narratives using some of the techniques invented by the Fay|Glassman Performance duo, creating an ever-shifting structural mosaic of simultaneous stories, with juxtaposition, montage, irony and satire, brought to life on a 10ft x 10ft stage. 

Six plays. One tiny stage. All happening at once. But what does that actually mean? The plays: 1. A family with a crying child frantically prepares to evacuate their home in advance of a hurricane. 2. An international human rights lawyer flees her international arms-dealing partner. 3. A filmmaker interviews a doctor who volunteered at the Occupy Wall Street tent camp in 2011. 4. A union local hosts an address by a revolutionary Venezuelan union leader. 5. An artist prepares a gallery installation of the UN negotiator's office for the 1948 Palestine Mandate, just before the negotiator’s assassination by the Stern Gang. 6. A financial mogul is unnerved by a rock, with a photo attached, smashing his window. 

The Action at a Distance … in 2025 cast includes John Flax (he/him), Apollo Garcia Orellana (he/they), Elizabeth Glass (she/her) and Danielle Louise Reddick (she/her). The creative team includes Jeff Glassman (he/him, composition/director); Lisa Fay (she/her, composition); Elizabeth Glass (she/her, Santa Fe directing assistance); William Miglino (he/him, Santa Fe rehearsal manager); Richard Norwood (he/him, lighting, Chicago); Joshua Billiter (he/him, lighting, Santa Fe); Julie Williams (she/her, production manager and consultant, Chicago); Stefan Brun (he/him, production manager and consultant, Chicago); Marc Romanelli (photography) and Mariah Olesen (she/her, media materials, consulting and photography). 

ABOUT THE LISA FAY AND JEFF GLASSMAN DUO (FAY|GLASSMAN PERFORMANCE) The Lisa Fay and Jeff Glassman Duo are known for creating theatre that ranges from humorous and disarming to mesmerizing and disorienting. Their work applies composed structures to ordinary human behavior, just as electronic music applies composed structures to ordinary sounds. The techniques they’ve developed over 40 years allow us to observe methodically re-organized behavior in social space. The reflections can be cathartic and awakening, opening windows on new ways of seeing humanity. New doubts and new truths arise about what’s happening “right now.” 

ABOUT THEATER GROTTESCO Founded in Paris in 1983, Theater Grottesco is known internationally for visual and explosive physical productions. The Grottesco Ensemble rekindles interest in live performance by juxtaposing classical and modern theatrical styles with daring, poetic research of culture and imagination, giving voice to marginal elements of contemporary society and taking audiences to the brink of emotional wonder and soulful reflection. Theater Grottesco is celebrating its 29th year in Santa Fe and is a 2017 award winner of the National Theater Program. 

ABOUT THE CREATIVE PROCESS Both companies create collaboratively, involving intensive workshops, improvisation and experimentation with an eye toward making a new work of art instead of crafting an already existing play. Devising a new play often takes years. As for the work's rigorous movement, Glassman has said, “Theater Grottesco is the only company I know of that could handle the strange physicality of this work.” Special thanks for media and publicity materials and advising to Mariah Olesen, Santa Fe; to artists Myriah Duda and Koppany Pusztai, Santa Fe; to Estevan Vigil on lights, Santa Fe; Fay|Glassman Performance for their production support and to Lisa Fay for her keen and cracking good, decades long, artistic consultation and enduring support for this project.

This program supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council

Court Theatre presents Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew November 14 – December 14, 2025

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Court Theatre announces complete cast and creative team for Marti Lyons' adaptation of 

The Taming of the Shrew

November 14 – December 14, 2025

Under the leadership of Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director Avery Willis Hoffman and Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, Court Theatre is proud to present William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, adapted and directed by Marti Lyons (with Associate Director Daira Rodriguez). This production will run from November 14 – December 14, 2025 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. 

Welcome to a tale of deception, disguise, and desire. The richest man in town has two daughters and one big problem: he refuses to marry the youngest, Bianca, until the eldest, Katherina, is married first. Much to her family’s dismay, Katherina repeatedly—and violently— rejects the men interested in her and her wealth, and refuses to sacrifice her independence. When a mysterious gentleman enters the mix, suddenly Kate sees that surrender is no sacrifice. Perhaps there is strength in submission.

Artistic Director of Remy Bumppo Theatre Company Marti Lyons turns William Shakespeare’s classic inside out, with a fresh interpretation focused on feminine desire. This is not your standard Shrew.

“​​I was drawn to adapt The Taming of the Shrew because of its unnerving timeliness,” shares Director and Adaptor Marti Lyons. “It is a piece that brims with contradictions that are urgent and resonant. This complex study of power continues to intrigue even as it provokes. I am thrilled to craft this production at Court Theatre with this superb company of artists, and I cannot wait for audiences to join us on this journey.”

Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director Avery Willis Hoffman adds: "One of Shakespeare’s earliest comedies, The Taming of the Shrew has been reimagined countless times because it invites us to debate vital questions about the complexity of human relationships and gender dynamics. We revere it as a classic precisely because of these complexities and perhaps because we all need a little bit of comic virtuosity to help us navigate ever-challenging times. As the first production of my tenure at Court, I look forward to diving into Shakespeare's canonical battle of wits alongside our audiences.”

The cast of The Taming of the Shrew includes Ryder Dean McDaniel (Tranio/Ensemble); Mark L. Montgomery (Baptista/Petruchio’s Servant/Ensemble); Melisa Soledad Pereyra (Katherina/Ensemble); Nate Santana (Lucentio/Ensemble); Samuel Taylor (Hortensio/Ensemble); Netta Walker (Bianca/Ensemble); Alex Weisman (Grumio/Ensemble); Monica West (Widow/Ensemble); Jay Whittaker (Petruchio/Ensemble); and Dexter Zollifcoffer (Gremio/Ensemble).

The creative team includes Jackie Fox (Scenic Designer): Kotryna Hilko (Costume Designer); Maximo Grano De Oro (Lighting Designer), with Sierra Walker (Associate Lighting Designer); Matthew Chapman (Sound Designer); Ethan Korvne (Composer); Tanya Palmer (Production Dramaturg); Becca McCracken, CSA (Director of Casting and Artist Cultivation), with Celeste M. Cooper (Associate Casting Director); Danny Fender (Production Stage Manager); and Anna Vu (Assistant Stage Manager).

Tickets and subscription packages including The Taming of the Shrew are on sale now, and can be purchased online at CourtTheatre.org or by calling the Box Office at (773) 753-4472.

Complementing this production, Court is proud to partner with Jenn Freeman/Po’Chop on a presentation of their performance, THICK: a crumbling freak show. This event is free and open to the public, and reservations are highly encouraged. More information and tickets will be available at CourtTheatre.org or by calling the Box Office at (773) 753-4472.

About the Artists
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (Playwright, 1564–1616) was an English poet and playwright. He is widely considered to be the greatest writer in the English language. He wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets. His early plays were mainly comedies (e.g. Much Ado about Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and histories (e.g. Henry V). By the early seventeenth century, Shakespeare had begun to write plays in the genre of tragedy. These plays— such as Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear—often hinge on some fatal error or flaw in the lead character and provide fascinating insights into the darker aspects of human nature. These later plays are considered Shakespeare’s finest achievements.

MARTI LYONS (Director and Adaptor) is thrilled to return to Court Theatre, where she most recently directed Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?. Other recent credits include the world premiere of John Proctor is the Villain by Kimberly Belflower at Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C., the world-premiere of Witch by Jen Silverman at Writers Theatre and the subsequent award-winning production at Geffen Playhouse in L.A., Botticelli in the Fire by Jordan Tannahill at Woolly Mammoth Theatre, her co-adaptation of Cymbeline at American Players Theatre, and ‘ART’ by Yasmina Reza at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, where she is Artistic Director. Lyons is also an ensemble member at The Gift Theatre and a member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

RYDER DEAN MCDANIEL (Tranio/Ensemble) is excited to be making his Court Theatre debut! He received his B.A. from Northwestern University in theatre and musical theatre. Recent credits include Hairspray (Uptown Theatre), Disaster! (Big Noise Theatre), Bacchanal (Fowl Players), Throbbin’ Wood (PrideArts), as well as As You Like It, Night Side Songs, and Cock Envy (Northwestern University). He sends a big thank you to this team, his roommates, and family. Represented by Big Mouth Talent and Asteria Artists.

MARK L. MONTGOMERY (Baptista/Petruchio’s Servant/Ensemble) has appeared in Court’s Iphigenia in Aulis, Agamemnon, and M. Butterfly. Chicago credits include Outside Mullingar (Jeff Award nominee – Performer in a Principal Role) and Brooklyn Laundry (Northlight); Camino Real, Stage Kiss, and A Christmas Carol (Goodman); Fascination (About Face); Want, The Time of Your Life, and The Wheel (Steppenwolf); In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) and Equivocation (Victory Gardens); Hedda Gabler and The Letters (Writers). He has also appeared in more than a dozen productions with Chicago Shakespeare Theater and recently completed a tour of Julius Caesar throughout France with Théâtre National de Bretagne.

MELISA SOLEDAD PEREYRA (Katherina/Ensemble) is making her Court Theatre debut. Chicago credits: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Shakespeare), Blood Wedding (Lookingglass). Broadway credits: A Doll’s House (Hudson Theatre). Regional credits: Anna in the Tropics, The River Bride, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Macbeth, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, among others (American Players Theatre Core Company). Other regional work includes Huntington Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Indiana Repertory Theatre, South Coast Rep, among others. Upcoming television debut on an acclaimed sci-fi series on Apple TV. Represented by Gray Talent Group.

NATE SANTANA (Lucentio/Ensemble) is an Artistic Collective member at Teatro Vista and Creative Producer at Shattered Globe, where he recently directed Lobby Hero. Theatre: Ironbound (Raven Theatre); The Thanksgiving Play, Ironbound (Steppenwolf); The Legend of Georgia McBride, Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley (Northlight); Frankenstein, Sense and Sensibility (Indiana Repertory); Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet, Short Shakespeare! Twelfth Night (Chicago Shakespeare); Marvin’s Room (Shattered Globe); Balm in Gilead, Golden Boy (Griffin); The Abuelas, White Tie Ball (Teatro Vista); The Rainmaker (BoHo). Television: Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., Suits, and The Exorcist. He studied at the School at Steppenwolf, the Moscow Art Theatre, and received his B.A. from Valparaiso University.

SAMUEL TAYLOR (Hortensio/Ensemble) returns to Court Theatre, having previously appeared in The Lady from the Sea. He is an Artistic Associate at Lookingglass Theatre. Other Chicago credits include work at Steppenwolf, TimeLine, Redmoon, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. He is a Co-Founder of the Back Room Shakespeare Project and author of the book My Life with the Shakespeare Cult. Regional credits include work at American Players Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Syracuse Stage, and the Guthrie Theater. On-camera credits include recurring roles on Boardwalk Empire, Red Line, and Crisis.

NETTA WALKER (Bianca/Ensemble) returns to Court after appearing in The Lion in Winter. Other Chicago credits include: How to Defend Yourself (Victory Gardens); Yen (Jeff Award – Performer in a Supporting Role, Raven Theatre); Hamlet, The Grapes of Wrath (The Gift); No Child (Definition Theatre); Continuity (Goodman); among many others. Film: Come As You Are, Whole. She played Keisha for three seasons on All American and All American: Homecoming, and has appeared in The Chi, The Big Leap, and Chicago Fire. Her original play keerah is being workshopped by Definition Theatre’s Amplify Festival, and she was selected as the playwright for the Blueprint Commission with First Floor Theater. Proudly represented by Paonessa Talent.

ALEX WEISMAN (Grumio/Ensemble) was previously in The Good Book at Court. Recent Chicago credits: Prayer For the French Republic (Northlight/Theater Wit) and An Act of God (Paramount). He is a two-time Jeff Award winner for The History Boys and Hand to God. Broadway: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (OBC). Select television: Frank on Sesame Street (GLAAD New Media Award), Chicago Fire/Med/P.D., Ted Lasso, New Amsterdam, Empire, Inventing Anna. Film: A Complete Unknown, An Acceptable Loss, and others. Founding stakeholder with Back Room Shakespeare and NU grad.

MONICA WEST (Widow/Ensemble) is making her Court Theatre debut. Chicago credits include Hand to God (Paramount Theatre); The Matchbox Magic Flute, The Music Man (Goodman Theatre); Eastland, Moby Dick (Lookingglass Theatre Company). Off-Broadway: The Glass Menagerie (Roundabout Theatre Company); Red Light Winter (Barrow Street Theatre); Germans in Paris (59E59). International: Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage (Royal Alexandra Theatre). Regional highlights: Guthrie Theater, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Westport Country Playhouse. TV: Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, Law & Order, Underemployed. Ms. West is a graduate of Marquette University and an M.F.A. candidate in writing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

JAY WHITTAKER (Petruchio/Ensemble) returns to Court Theatre, having previously appeared in The Romance Cycle, Travesties, Cyrano, The Glass Menagerie, and The Wild Duck. Jay has worked at Goodman, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and Northlight. Off-Broadway: Frank’s Home at Playwrights Horizons and Rose Rage at The Duke on 42nd Street. Regionally: Huntington, Shakespeare Theatre, and the Old Globe. Film: Unexpected Treasures, Gray Matter, Let’s Go to Prison, Death of a President, Dust Clouds, The Sea. Television: The Orville, Scream Queens, Chicago P.D., Prison Break, Early Edition. Jay recently wrote a short film that has premiered at five film festivals, and he is currently producing the feature film.

DEXTER ZOLLICOFFER (Gremio/Ensemble) has appeared at Court Theatre in Our Lan’ (2025 Spotlight Reading Series), The Lady from the Sea, King Hedley II, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and others. Other theatre credits: Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, The Little Foxes, Dartmoor Prison (Goodman); Charm (Jeff Award – Actor in a Principal Role, Northlight); To Kill a Mockingbird, A Lesson Before Dying (Steppenwolf); Relatively Close, Knock Me a Kiss (Victory Gardens); and The Overwhelming (Next). Television and film credits include: Ghostlight, South Side, Joe Pera Talks to You, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Detroit 1-8-7, The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain, and Who Gets the Dog.

Dates: Previews: November 14 – November 21, 2025

Press Opening: November 22, 2025 at 7:30pm

Regular Run: November 23 – December 14, 2025

Schedule: Wed/Thurs/Fri: 7:30 p.m.

Sat/Sun: 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Accessible ASL Interpretation on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 2:00pm

Performances: Touch Tour on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 12:30pm
Open Captioning and Audio Description on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 2:00pm

Location: Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.

Tickets: $42.00 – $74.00 Previews
$60.00 – $90.00 Regular Run

Student, group, and military discounts available
Box Office: Located at 5535 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago; (773) 753-4472 or www.CourtTheatre.org.

Winner of the 2022 Regional Theatre Tony Award, Court Theatre reimagines classic theatre to illuminate our current times. In residence at the University of Chicago and on Chicago’s historic South Side, we engage our audiences with intimate and provocative experiences that inspire deeper exploration of the enduring questions that confront humanity and connect us as people.

WildDoor Theater Makes Chicago Debut With SMOKEFALL At Theater WIT November 10 – December 21, 2025

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WILD DOOR THEATER MAKES ITS CHICAGO DEBUT WITH

NOAH HAIDLE’S SMOKEFALL 

AT THEATER WIT,

NOVEMBER 10 – DECEMBER 21

Gallant Directs the Poetic Meditation on how Families Fracture, Endure and Find Grace in the Ordinary

A new voice joins Chicago’s vibrant theater scene this fall as Wild Door Theater proudly launches its inaugural production, Smokefall, November 10 - December 21, by Noah Haidle and directed by Andrew Gallant, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Performed in the round for an intimate and immersive audience experience, Smokefall marks Wild Door Theater’s debut, signaling the company’s mission to create bold, heartfelt work that bridges theatrical imagination and emotional truth. 

The performance schedule is Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. There are no Thursday performances, Nov. 13 and Nov. 27 and an added performance, Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. The running time, including intermission, is two hours. Tickets are $25–$39 and are available at WildDoorTheater.com.

Blending magical realism with aching humanity, Smokefall unfolds inside a crumbling Midwestern home where three generations navigate love, loss and the passage of time. Talking fetuses debate existence, a father vanishes and an apple tree grows through the home — all in a poetic meditation on how families fracture, endure and find grace in the ordinary.

Smokefall defies easy categorization: part family drama, part philosophical meditation and part surreal dreamscape. As Violet prepares to bring twin boys into the world, unseen forces swirl around her—the past and future, birth and decay, love and loss. With scenes shifting between heartbreak and humor, Smokefall explores what it means to begin again even when everything seems to fall apart.

“What moves me most about Smokefall,” says Director Andrew Gallant, “is how each character faces the quiet unraveling of their own small corner of the world — and yet, amidst that growing darkness, they find hope, courage and strength in one another. That’s what makes this play both timely and timeless.”

Performed in the round for an intimate and immersive audience experience, Smokefall marks Wild Door Theater’s debut — signaling the company’s mission to create bold, heartfelt work that bridges theatrical imagination and emotional truth.

The cast of Smokefall includes Isabella Isherwood (she/her, ensemble); Lucky Star (he/they, ensemble); Vilmarie Rosario (she/her, ensemble); Richard Schumacher (he/him, ensemble); Lauren Secrest (she/her, understudy); Katie Hope Noble (she/her, understudy) and Noah Moulton (he/him, understudy).

The production team is Andrew Gallant (he/him, director); Lauren Secrest (she/her, assistant director/assistant stage manager); Joshua Bennett (he/him, stage manager); Spencer Donovan (he/him, scenic designer); Saawan Tiwari (she/they, costume designer); Andy Cahoon (he/him, technical director); Kate Schnetzer (she/her, sound designer); Josiah Croegaert (he/him, lighting designer) and Adanna Eziri (she/her, props designer).


ABOUT NOAH HAIDLE, Playwright

Noah Haidle’s plays have been produced at South Coast Repertory, The Long Wharf Theater, The Goodman Theater, The Woolly Mammoth Theatre, The Huntington Theater and The Roundabout Theatre Company. Haidle has been commissioned by The Goodman Theater and written a screenplay for Scott Rudin Productions. He is a graduate of Princeton University and The Juilliard School, where he was a Lila Acheson Wallace playwright-in-residence. He is the recipient of three Lincoln Center Le Compte Du Nouy Awards, the 2005 Helen Merrill Award for Emerging Playwrights and an NEA/TCG theater residency grant.


ABOUT ANDREW GALLANT, Director

Andrew Gallant holds an M.F.A in acting from DePaul University, a postgraduate diploma from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, a BA in theatre from UW-Madison and is a proud member of Actor’s Equity. For the last 15 years, Gallant has worked professionally in Chicago as an actor, playwright, director and artistic director. His plays I Wish to Apologize to the People of Illinois, At the Center and Out of Tune Confessional were staged at The Agency Theater and his play Mackerel Sky is currently being adapted into a short film with festival submissions pending.




ABOUT WILD DOOR THEATER

Wild Door Theater embraces bold theatrical storytelling to create transformative experiences for Chicago audiences. With roots in the city’s storefront theater scene, they value truthful, ensemble-driven performances as they reimagine classics and develop new works that challenge, connect and inspire the community. On stage and beyond, they are committed to cultivating emerging talent, championing unexpected perspectives and recentering theater as vital to civic life.

Marriott Theatre Celebrates the Season with Rockin’ Million Dollar Quartet Christmas November 12 at 7pm, and runs through January 4, 2026

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Peter Blair, Executive Producer

Peter Marston Sullivan, Artistic Director

Presents

Marriott Theatre Celebrates the Season with Rockin’ 

Million Dollar Quartet Christmas

This holiday season, the Marriott Theatre, Chicagoland’s longest running musical theatre, concludes its unforgettable 50th anniversary season by inviting audiences to turn up the cheer and rock out with Million Dollar Quartet Christmas, a high-voltage musical celebration. Directed by Jeff Award winner Scott Weinstein (Marriott Theatre: Grease, Something Rotten!; Drury Lane: The Little Mermaid, Always, Patsy Cline) with Musical Direction by Jeff Award nominee Matt Deitchman, this festive spin on the Tony-nominated hit brings together four legendary voices - Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley - for a one-of-a-kind holiday jam session at Sun Records. 

Million Dollar Quartet Christmas previews November 5, 2025, opens Wednesday, November 12 at 7pm, and runs through January 4, 2026.

“I’m so thrilled to be returning to direct at Marriott Theatre - one of my absolute favorite theatres to work at,” says Director Scott Weinstein. “It’s doubly meaningful because one of my first professional directing jobs was as the associate and resident director on the original production of Million Dollar Quartet, which ran at the Apollo Theatre for eight years and impacted my life in innumerable and profound ways. So getting to bring this new holiday version (which I had the privilege of helping develop) to Chicago for the first time at one of my favorite theatres - it’s hard to imagine a better holiday.”

From the creators of the original Million Dollar Quartet, this brand-new production transforms a legendary night in music history into a rockin’ Christmas spectacular. Set in the iconic Memphis studio, the show is packed with seasonal favorites and the chart-topping hits that made these icons famous. Audiences will be treated to a nostalgic journey through stories of Christmas past, present, and future, told through unforgettable performances and playful antics. With a soundtrack that blends rockabilly, gospel, and country, Million Dollar Quartet Christmas delivers a joyful, toe-tapping tribute to the spirit of the season and the enduring power of music.

Million Dollar Quartet Christmas stars JP Coletta as “Jerry Lee Lewis,” Trevor Lindley Craft as “Carl Perkins,” Michael D. Potter as “Johnny Cash,” Colton Sims as “Elvis Presley,” Ross Griffin as “Sam Phillips,” Teah Kiang Mirabelli as “Dyanne,” Jed Feder as “Fluke,” Cody Siragusa as “Brother Jay,” with understudies Jake Busse, Nathan Gallop, Madison Kauffman, Justin Akira Kono, Adelina Marinello, Kelan M. Smith, and Zachary Tate.

The artistic team features Scenic Designer Milo Bue, Costume Designer Nicholas Hartman, Lighting Designer Jesse Klug, Sound Designer Michael Daly, Video/Projections Designer Tony Churchill, Wig, Hair & Makeup Designer Miguel A. Armstrong, Props Designer Sally Zack, Dialect Coach Susan Gosdick, and Stage Manager Richard Strimer.

Marriott Theatre is committed to cultivating a culture of inclusivity for its audience. To provide increased enjoyment of their performances for people with hearing loss or other issues which prevent them from understanding performers without effort, they are one of the first theatres in the country to install the new assistive listening system Auracast™ broadcast audio in addition to their existing Hearing Loop. Anyone with Auracast compatible hearing aids or consumer earbuds can tune in and receive crystal-clear audio directly to their ears while reducing external sounds.

 
Million Dollar Quartet Christmas runs Wednesdays at 1 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., with select Thursday 1:00 p.m. shows. Call for group, dinner-theatre, student, senior, and military discounts. 

Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets or become a Marriott Theatre subscriber, please call the Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or go to www.tickets.marriotttheatre.com. Visit www.MarriottTheatre.com for more information. Attendees are also invited to visit Three Embers Restaurant before the show to experience a pop-up experience that will coincide with Million Dollar Quartet Christmas, transporting guests to another realm while enjoying a themed food and beverage menu led by the culinary team at Three Embers Restaurant.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater Presents Much Ado About Nothing November 18 Through December 21, 2025

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Casting announced for 

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Selina Cadell

Just in time for the holiday season, Shakespeare’s wittiest rom-com is “as merry as the day is long!”

Running November 18‑December 21 in the Courtyard Theater

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the cast and creative team for Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s wittiest rom-com playing just in time for the holiday season, November 18-December 21. Beatrice is living it up as a fiercely independent woman who answers to no man. Benedick is an avowed bachelor with no plans to settle down. But when these stubborn singles finally meet their match under the sultry Sicilian sun, who can resist romance? Linguistic fireworks and a hilarious battle of wits dazzle in the original “enemies-to-lovers" rom-com. Staged by famed director Selina Cadell, you’ll be transported on holiday to the warm embrace of the Italian countryside in CST’s Jentes Family Courtyard Theater, considered one of the finest spaces to experience Shakespeare’s stories live in performance. Deborah Hay and Craig Bierko star as Beatrice and Benedick, leading an exceptionally talented ensemble cast that also features Debo Balogun, Mark Bedard, Joey Chelius, Sean Fortunato, Kevin Gudahl, Suzanne Hannau, Colin Huerta, Samuel B. Jackson, Mi Kang, Jaylon Muchison, Felicia Oduh, Yona Moises Olivares, Jeff Parker, and Tiffany Scott.

“Much Ado About Nothing is a wonderfully well-rounded, mature, romantic story which embraces all the ridiculous ups and downs of our own behavior when we're in the throes of deep feeling,” shared Artistic Director Edward Hall. “It also offers some of Shakespeare’s wittiest prose and most dazzling language. A truly warm and inviting treat for audiences during the holiday season.”

Director Selina Cadell stated, “In a turbulent world, where charm turns on a dime to hot-headed decisions and disproven assumptions, Much Ado About Nothing is a play for our times, reflecting the tangles of a powerful patriarchy and the wrongful accusations made when power and reputation take precedent over listening and truth. Shakespeare balances this tragic lens with comedy and compassion, as Beatrice and Benedick guide themselves and us through the obstacles that can thwart enduring love.”

In the role of Beatrice, Deborah Hay returns to Chicago Shakespeare after appearing in As You Like It and The School for Lies. Her other credits include nine seasons at the Shaw Festival and seven seasons at the Stratford Festival. Craig Bierko makes his Chicago Shakespeare debut in the role of Benedick, with Broadway credits including The Music Man (Tony Award nomination), Guys and Dolls, Matilda the Musical, and Girl from the North Country. The company also includes Debo Balogun (Richard III, Measure for Measure at CST), Mark Bedard (All’s Well That Ends Well, Richard III at CST), Joey Chelius (Sunny Afternoon at CST), Sean Fortunato (multiple CST credits, including Sunny Afternoon, Henry V, and Richard III), Kevin Gudahl (multiple CST credits, including The Comedy of Errors, Measure for Measure, and As You Like It), Suzanne Hannau (The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale at CST), Colin Huerta (CST debut, with credits at The Colony Theatre, Jackalope Theater, and DePaul University), Samuel B. Jackson (CST debut, with credits at Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, and Black Ensemble Theatre), Mi Kang (CST debut, with credits at Goodman Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, and TimeLine Theatre), Jaylon Muchison (Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Henry V at CST), Felicia Oduh (Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet and Measure for Measure at CST), Yona Moises Olivares (CST debut, with credits at Steppenwolf Theatre, About Face Theatre, and Remy Bumppo), Jeff Parker (The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale, As You Like It, The King’s Speech and more at CST), and Tiffany Scott (The King’s Speech, Sense and Sensibility, and more at CST).

Director Selina Cadell is an acclaimed director and actress. She directed Eddie Izzard’s Hamlet, which saw a record-breaking run at Chicago Shakespeare last year, and also directed Izzard in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. Her other directing credits include Love for Love (Royal Shakespeare Company), The Life I Lead (West End), The Double Dealer (Orange Tree London), The Rivals (Arcola London), The Way of the World and The Rake’s Progress (Wilton’s London). As an actor, her many credits include Top Girls (NYC) /Obie Award, Stanley (NYC), The Madness of King George (NYC), Twelfth Night, The Cherry Orchard (NYC), and A Monster Calls (London), and she has been seen on TV in Midsomer Murders, Queens of Mystery, Poirot, and Doc Martin (Mrs. Tishell). Cadell also runs an opera company with Eliza Thompson, OperaGlass Works, which released a filmed version of La Traviata earlier this year.

The creative team for Much Ado About Nothing also includes Amber Mak (Movement Director), Tom Piper (Scenic and Costume Designer), Jason Lynch (Lighting Designer), Nicholas Pope (Sound Designer), Eliza Thompson (Composer), Bob Mason (Casting), Nathan Allen (Associate Director), Jinni Pike (Production Stage Manager), Katrina Herrmann (Assistant Stage Manager), and Tuesday Thacker (Production Assistant)

PERFORMANCES

Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. (no matinee November 19, no evening performance November 26)

Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. (no performance on Thanksgiving, November 27)

Fridays at 7:00 p.m.

Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (no matinee November 22)

Sundays at 2:00 p.m. (plus 6:30 p.m. on November 30)

More information at chicagoshakes.com/muchado or on social media at @chicagoshakes.


CREATIVE TEAM

Selina Cadell - Director
Amber Mak - Movement Director
Tom Piper - Scenic and Costume Designer
Jason Lynch - Lighting Designer
Nicholas Pope - Sound Designer
Eliza Thompson - Composer
Bob Mason - Casting
Nathan Allen - Associate Director
Jinni Pike - Production Stage Manager
Katrina Herrmann - Assistant Stage Manager
Tuesday Thacker - Production Assistant


CAST
Debo Balogun - Don Pedro
Mark Bedard - Don John
Craig Bierko - Benedick
Joey Chelius - Messenger / Second Watch
Sean Fortunato - Dogberry
Kevin Gudahl - Leonato
Suzanne Hannau - First Watch
Deborah Hay - Beatrice
Colin Huerta - Conrade
Samuel B. Jackson - Claudio
Mi Kang - Hero
Jaylon Muchison - Friar / Verges / Balthasar
Felicia Oduh - Ursula
Yona Moises Olivares - Borachio
Jeff Parker - Antonio / Sexton
Tiffany Scott - Margaret
Will Burdin - Understudy
Jonathan Gillard Daly – Understudy
Caroline Kidwell - Understudy
Josh Zambrano - Understudy


CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER (CST)

CST is a leading international theater company and the nation’s largest year-round theater dedicated to the works of Shakespeare. Under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director Edward Hall and Executive Director Kimberly Motes, the Regional Tony Award recipient is committed to creating vivid, entertaining theatrical experiences that invigorate and engage people of all ages and identities by illuminating the complexity, ambiguity, and wonder of our world. Each year, nearly a quarter of a million people experience CST’s artistry through more than 12 productions. With Shakespeare at the heart of the artistic work, CST also produces compelling, contemporary stories from fresh voices of today. CST brings the world to Chicago and sends Chicago out into the world as Chicago’s foremost presenter of international theater, and consistent producer of North American and world premieres. Serving more students and teachers than any theater in the city, CST annually welcomes more than 20,000 students to performances and programs like Chicago Shakespeare SLAM, alongside professional development opportunities for teachers. CST activates its campus with three venues: 700-seat The Yard; the 500-seat Jentes Family Courtyard Theater; and the 200-seat Carl and Marilynn Thoma Upstairs Studio. Free programs like Shakes in the City bring performances to parks and community spaces across Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. Shared humanity and unforgettable stories—now THIS is Chicago Shakespeare. www.chicagoshakes.com

THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND Via Invictus Theatre Company October 28 - December 14, 2025

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Cast and production team announced for 

THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND

October 28 - December 14, 2025

Aaron Reese Boseman to direct Marcus Gardley’s drama set in 1813 New Orleans

Invictus Theatre Company’s follow-up to its enormously successful production of ANGELS IN AMERICA will be THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND, by Marcus Gardley, a former playwright-in-residence at Chicago’s Victory Gardens Theatre. Company member and Jeff Award nominee, Aaron Reese Boseman, who previously directed Invictus’s productions of TOPDPOG/UNDERDOG (2024), THE MOUNTAINTOP (2023), and A RAISIN IN THE SUN (2020), will direct. Gardley’s drama, inspired by Federico Garcia Lorca’s THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA, is set in 1813 New Orleans, as the French-owned Louisiana Territory is about to be acquired by the United States, threatening the liberty of the free people of color residing on the land. A young woman skilled in the art of voodoo, and the appearance of a ghost, play into this story set during a very real, but little-known and disturbing chapter of United States history. 

THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND has been produced at some of North America’s most prestigious theaters, including Berkeley Rep, Yale Rep, the New York Theatre Workshop (where it won the Off-Broadway OBIE Award for Playwriting), and the Shaw Festival in Ontario, Canada. Invictus’ production will be the drama’s first professional Chicago production since it was staged at Victory Gardens Theater in 2016. Performances are at the Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. I'll be out for the press opening Monday, November 3rd, so check back soon after for my full review. 

Boseman announced his cast today. Appearing as Beartrice Albans, a free woman of color who struggles to maintain her daughters’ independence, will be Britt Edwards, a veteran of seven shows at Black Ensemble Theatre, where she has played such luminaries as Donna Summer, Sheila E, and Tina Turner. Agnès Albans, the strong-willed and sensual eldest daughter, will be played by Kaylah Marie Crosby, whose credits include performances with Steppenwolf, Writers Theatre, and Court Theatre. Cast as Maude Lynn Albans, Beartrice’s light-hearted middle daughter, is Sierra Coachman, who appeared in BENEATH THE WILLOW TREE for Pulse Theatre. Coachman has also performed at the Goodman, Court Theatre and Griffin Theatre, among others. Odette Albans, the youngest daughter, will be played by Aysia Slade, making her Chicago debut after many credits in Raleigh, North Carolina. Shenise Brown, a veteran of productions with Northlight Theatre, Black Ensemble Theatre, MPAACT, and others, will be Makeda — the Albans’ servant who is known for her wisdom and regal presence.

Playing La Veuve, a free woman of color who is Beartrice’s sworn enemy, will be Sandra Adjoumani. Adjoumani appeared in THE MAMALOGUES for Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre and additionally has many credits with Yellow Rose Theatre and Second City Skybox. Marie Josephine, Beartrice’s clairvoyant sister, will be played by Jimiece Gilbert, who has appeared with such companies as ETA Creative Arts, Black Ensemble Theatre, and Invictus, where she understudied key roles in A RAISIN IN THE SUN and ‘NIGHT, MOTHER.

Longtime Chicago actor Ron Quade, whose recent appearances include THE INNOCENCE OF SEDUCTION with City Lit Theatre, will play Lazare, the father of Beartrice’s daughters. Bryan Nicholas Carter, who is just completing his role in GANGSTA BABY with Open Space Arts, will play The Man with the Bamboula. Understudies are Quenna Lené (u/s Beartrice, Marie Josephine), Sarah Driessen (u/s Agnés, Maude Lynn), Karli Scott (u/s Odette), LaTorious R. Givens (u/s Makeda, La Veuve), Ronald McDowell (u/s Man with the Bamboula), and Charles Askenaizer (Lazare).




Top Row (Left to Right): Sandra Adjoumani (La Veuve), Shenise Brown (Makeda), Bryan Nicholas Carter (Man with the Bamboula), Sierra Coachman (Maude Lynn)

Second Row Down from Top (Left to Right): Kaylah Marie Crosby (Agnés), Sarah Driessen (U/S-Agnés and Maude Lynn), Britt Edwards (Beartrice), Jimiece Gilbert (Marie Josephine)

Third Row Down from Top (Left to Right): LaTorious R. Givens (U/S- Makeda and La Veuve), Quenna Lené (U/S- Beartrice and Marie Josephine), Ronald McDowell (U/S-Man With The Bamboula), Ron Quade (Lazare)

Bottom Row (Left to Right): Karli Scott (U/S- Odette), Aysia Slade (Odette)

The production team that will recreate the beauty and romance of New Orleans of 1813 in the Windy City Playhouse will include Jeff Award winners Kevin Rolfs (Scenic Designer) and Petter Wahlbäck (Sound Designer); and Christie Chiles Twillie (Composer), Terrie Devine (Costume Designer), Anika Splettstoeszer (Wardrobe Supervisor), Levi J. Wilkins (Lighting Designer), Mark Brown (Production Electrician), Mariah Bennett (Properties Designer), Rueben Echoles (Wig, Hair, and Makeup Designer), Jessica Moore (Wig, Hair, and Makeup Assistant), Greg Geffrard (Violence and Intimacy), Susan Gosdick (Dialect Coach), Cliford St. Laurent (Dialect Consultant), Isis Elizabeth (Assistant Director and Movement), Anthony Doyle (Stage Manager), Laura Courtney (Assistant Stage Manager), Tom McNelis (Technical Director), and Becca Holloway (Casting Director). Invictus staff includes Charles Askenaizer (Artistic Director), Todd Henry Faulstich (Executive Producer), Mary Carroll Dougherty (Marketing Director), and Ana Schedler (Graphic Design).

Performances are Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 7:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. (No performances November 28, 29 and 30). Tickets are $38.00 for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday performances and $25.00 for Monday performances (except opening night, Monday, November 3). Tickets are on sale now at https://www.invictustheatreco.com/house.

Production Details
October 28 – December 14, 2025
Previews: October 28 and 31 at 7 p.m., November 1 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., November 2 at 1 p.m.
Press Opening: Monday, November 3 at 7 p.m.
Closing: Sunday December 14 at 1 p.m.

Performances Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m.
No performances November 28, 29 and 30 (Thanksgiving Weekend)
Performances at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago
Ticket prices: Previews $25. Mondays $25 (except Opening Night 11/3 is $38).

In early nineteenth-century New Orleans, widowed mother Beartrice struggles to manage her headstrong daughters after the death of her second husband. But as the matriarch takes her place as head of the household, a more ominous transfer of power transpires in the region. The French-owned Louisiana Territory is about to be acquired by the United States, threatening the liberty of the free people of color residing on the land. A gripping examination of intersecting captivities, THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND follows four women in mourning as they look ahead to an uncertain and haunting future.

BIOS

Aaron Reese Boseman (Director) is a Chicago native and a graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Direction and Acting. He directed Invictus’s acclaimed productions of TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, THE MOUNTAINTOP, and A RAISIN IN THE SUN and is a Jeff Award, Black Excellence Award, and Black Theatre Alliance Award nominated theatre artist. He is also co-founder and Artistic Director of PULSE Theatre Chicago, where his directing credits include the world premiere of BENEATH THE WILLOW TREE by Isis Elizabeth, the Jeff Award Winning production of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, IN THE BLOOD, THE COLORED MUSEUM, FABULATION, OR THE RE-EDUCATION OF UNDINE, and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. Other directing credits include AMERICAN SON (Ghostlight Theatre), NETWORTH, ROOM FOR MORE (Film Series), FABULATION OR, THE RE-EDUCATION OF UNDINE, DETROIT '67 (Columbia College Chicago-Mainstage),THE MUSIC MAN (Metropolis Performing Arts) and FAIRVIEW (Theatre at Cedar Rapids), THE TIGER WHO WORE WHITE GLOVES (eta Creative Arts Foundation), THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, S'KIN, THE PHILADELPHIA (Columbia College Chicago). Boseman is also an adjunct professor of Theatre at Columbia College Chicago.

Recent Acting Credits include BLUE HEAVEN (Black Ensemble Theater), RAGTIME (Metropolis Performing Arts), RUINED (Invictus Theatre), BIG RIVER (TATC), SHREK THE MUSICAL (Windy City Performs), IN THE HEIGHTS (The Miracle Center, Slate), VIOLET, BALM IN GILEAD (Griffin Theatre and Loyola University), GOLDEN BOY, DO RE MI (Porchlight Music Theatre), RENT (CCC), and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Skylight Music Theatre and Citadel Theatre).

Marcus Gardley (Playwright) is an acclaimed poet, playwright, and screenwriter whom THE NEW YORKER describes as “the heir to Garcia Lorca, Pirandello and Tennessee Williams.” His plays include THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND, which had its world premiere at Yale Rep in 2014, and for which he received the 2018 AUDELCO Award and the 2019 OBIE Award; X: OR, BETTY SHABAZZ V. THE NATION; BLACK ODYSSEY (2023 Drama Desk nomination); THE GOSPEL OF LOVING KINDNESS; EVERY TONGUE CONFESS; ON THE LEVEE, music and lyrics by Todd Almond (commissioned by Yale Rep); …AND JESUS MOONWALKS THE MISSISSIPPI; THE ROAD WEEPS, THE WELL RUNS DRY; and DANCE OF THE HOLY GHOSTS (Yale Rep world premiere, 2006).

Charles Askenaizer (Artistic Director) is the Founding Artistic Director of Invictus Theatre Company. He won the 2023 Jeff Award (Non-Equity Wing) for his direction of the company’s WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, which also won Jeff Awards for Production of a Play, Scenic Design (Kevin Rolfs), and Performer in a Supporting Role – Play (Rachel Livingston). Other recent Invictus directing credits include: ANGELS IN AMERICA, THE WINTER’S TALE, NETWORK, THREE SISTERS, THE CRUCIBLE (Jeff Award Nominations-Director, Production), JULIUS CAESAR, HAMLET, 'NIGHT, MOTHER (Associate Director), THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, and OTHELLO: THE MOOR OF VENICE. Directing credits outside of Invictus include TITUS ANDRONICUS (Bare Knuckles Theater), JULIUS CAESAR (Associate Director- Brown Paper Box), THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (Reutan Collective) and readings with Chicago Dramatists and Piccolo Theater. Since 2018, Charles has also directed several productions for Invictus's outreach programming in partnership with the Cook County Juvenile Justice System and Lawrence Hall. In 2024, Charles was named one of New City Magazine’s “Players 50 2024: The Rising Stars and Storefront Stalwarts.”

ABOUT INVICTUS THEATRE COMPANY

At Invictus Theatre Company, our mission is to create theatre that promotes a better understanding of language: its poetry, its rhythm, its resonance; through diverse works by diverse artists. We respect the power of heightened language: spoken, written, sung; to express the breadth of the human condition. We work to harness the power of language: to promote diversity, to engender respect, to foster collaboration; and to empower our communities to share their voices.

Invictus Theatre Company incorporated in January 2017 and received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in February 2017. A diverse group of Chicago actors and directors founded Invictus with the vision to empower their communities through theatrical productions of heightened language. We are committed to the idea that our productions should reflect the communities we represent, and, to that end, we are committed to non-discriminatory hiring practices. In working with local artists, designers, and production teams, Invictus Theatre Company does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, nationality, citizenship, religion, or any other status protected by law.

Invictus Theatre Company is generously supported by Michael and Mona Heath of The Heath Fund, The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Untouchable Times Tours, Inc., and the Illinois Arts Council

JEKYLL & HYDE Via Kokandy Productions at The Chopin Theatre October 9 – December 21, 2025

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Kokandy Productions Presents

JEKYLL & HYDE

October 9 – December 21, 2025 at The Chopin Theatre

Pictured (left to right) Emily McCormick, David Moreland and Ava Stovall in a publicity image

for Kokandy Productions’ production of Jekyll & Hyde. Photo by Collin Quinn Rice.

Just in time for Halloween, Kokandy Productions embraces gothic horror with a revival of Jekyll & Hyde – the first Chicago staging of the macabre musical in over 15 years. Directed by Producing Artistic Director Derek Van Barham with music direction by Nick Sula and choreography by Brenda Didier, Jekyll & Hyde will play October 9 – December 21, 2025 on the The Chopin Theatre Mainstage, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago. I'll be ChiILin' with Chi, IL's Kokandy Productions on Halloween night, so check back shortly after for my full review. Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we've been covering Kokandy's fabulous productions since their inception in 2010 and they just get better every season! 

Featuring the full orchestration and a 15-piece orchestra, the epic and sweeping score takes the company to the Chopin Mainstage for the first time, creating a chilling chamber for this haunting tale. Tickets are on sale now at kokandyproductions.com or bit.ly/JekyllChicago. 
Based on the story by Robert Louis Stevenson, Jekyll & Hyde is conceived for the stage by Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cuden, with book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and music by Frank Wildhorn.

Audiences will be taken to the moral limit by David Moreland (Cruel Intentions, American Psycho) in the titular roles of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde. Ava Stovall (Alice by Heart) returns to Kokandy as Lucy Harris (the Red Rat's main attraction and Hyde's obsession) and Emily McCormick makes her Kokandy debut as Emma Carew (Jekyll's fiance). The trio will be joined by Nathan Calaranan (Sir Danvers Carew), Ismael Garcia (Lord Savage), Jon Parker Jackson (Bishop of Basingstoke), Quinn Kelch (Simon Stride), Quinn Rigg (General Lord Glossop), Gabby Sauceda-Koziol (Sir Archibold Proops) Quinn Simmons (Poole), Maiko Terazawa (Lady Beaconsfield) and Kevin Webb (Gabriel John Utterson).

Swings include Jeffrey Gougis Jr, Emily Ling Mei, Caitlin Preuss, Anna Seibert, Jaxson Smith and Kelan M. Smith.

About the Production:
An evocative tale of two men – one, a doctor, passionate and romantic; the other, a terrifying madman – and two women – one, beautiful and trusting; the other, beautiful and trusting only herself – both women in love with the same man and both unaware of his dark secret. A devoted man of science, Dr. Henry Jekyll is driven to find a chemical breakthrough that can solve some of mankind's most challenging medical dilemmas. Rebuffed by the powers that be, he decides to make himself the subject of his own experimental treatments, accidentally unleashing his inner demons along with the man that the world would come to know as Mr. Hyde.

Producing Artistic Director Derek Van Barham comments, “At the heart of Jekyll & Hyde is a question... and a dare: how far is too far, and are we willing to take the risk and find out? In spending our fall with this beloved gothic thriller, we're taking the dare, heading upstairs and going full swoon into penny dreadful pulp. With a 15-piece orchestra supporting our cast, the music will drive us to the edge, taunting and tantalizing us with a curiosity that is provocative, sexy and scary as hell. Do you dare?

Music Director Nick Sula adds, “We are so excited to explore the broad range and color of the full orchestration, to emphasize the theme of duality – powerful brass paired with agile woodwinds, bold synths and percussion contrasting the elegant string quartet – all accompanying the passionate ballads and the intimate duets, from the explosions of full ensemble chorus to the quiet intensity of personal revelations. With the largest orchestra in Kokandy history and a cast of powerhouse voices, this production is sure to be an unforgettable experience!”

The production team includes Sotirios Livaditis (Scenic Design), Rachel Sypniewski (Costume Design), G “Max” Maxin IV (Lighting Design), Matt Reich (Sound Design), Forrest Gregor (Associate Sound Design), Syd Genco (Make-up Design), Keith Ryan (Wig Design), Charlie Baker (Violence Director), Kirsten Baity (Intimacy Director), Shane Roberie (Casting Director), Nicholas Reinhart (Production Manager), Kendyl Meyer (Assistant Production Manager), Hannah Kwak (A1), Christine Burquest (A2), Shelby Burgus (Stage Manager) and Yasmeen Abiad (Assistant Stage Manager).



PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Conceived for the Stage by Frank Wildhorn & Steve Cuden

Book and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse

Music by Frank Wildhorn

Based on the story by Robert Louis Stevenson

Directed by Derek Van Barham

Music Direction by Nick Sula

Choreography by Brenda Didier

Location: The Chopin Theatre Mainstage, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago

Dates: Previews: Thursday, October 9 – Friday, October 24, 2025

Press performance: Saturday, October 25 at 7 pm

Regular run: Sunday, October 26 – Sunday, December 21, 2025

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm; Sundays at 5 pm. Please note: there will be an added performance on Wednesday, November 26 at 7 pm; there will not be a performance on Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving Day).

Tickets: Previews $25 general admission, $33 reserved seating. Regular run $45 general admission, $55 reserved seating. Students/Seniors $35. There will be a limited number of $15 tickets (with code ARTIST) available to artists for each performance. Tickets are on sale now at kokandyproductions.com or bit.ly/JekyllChicago.



About the Artists

Derek Van Barham (Director) is the Producing Artistic Director of Kokandy Productions. Directing credits include Children of Eden in Concert (Broadway In Chicago), Amélie, Into the Woods, Alice by Heart, Sweeney Todd, American Psycho, Head Over Heels (3 Jeff Awards and 2 Jeff nominations, Kokandy); Spring Awakening (Flint Rep); Rock of Ages (Metropolis); The View Upstairs (Circle Theatre); Miracle by Dan Savage, Poseidon (Hell in a Handbag); Carrie, Bat Boy, Merrily We Roll Along (CCPA/Roosevelt University). Choreography credits include Evil Dead (Jeff nomination), Coraline the Musical, Ghost Quartet and Shockheaded Peter (Black Button Eyes). He was previously named one of Windy City Times’ 30 Under 30, and one of Newcity Magazine’s 50 Players 2024. MFA: CCPA/Roosevelt University. IG: @dvbarham

Nick Sula (Music Director) is an award-winning pianist and music director, proud to return to Kokandy Productions and the Chopin Theatre where he served as music director for the Jeff Award-winning productions of Sweeney Todd (Jeff Award for Outstanding Music Direction), Into the Woods (Jeff Awards for Outstanding Music Direction and Orchestrations), as well as the Chicago Musical Theatre Festival. Other Chicago theatre music direction credits include: Anything Goes (Jeff nomination) with Porchlight Music Theatre; Ghost Quartet (Jeff nomination), Mary Rose, Nevermore, Amour and Coraline with Black Button Eyes Productions; Myths & Hymns, The Glorious Ones (Jeff nomination), Hello Again, La Cage aux Folles and Pippin with BoHo Theatre. As a professor of musical theatre he serves as a music director, instructor and vocal coach at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

Brenda Didier (Choreographer) is thrilled to collaborate with Derek (DVB) for the first time and to return to Kokandy after choreographing Grand Hotel in 2018 (Jeff nomination). Direction and/or Choreography credits include work with: Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Goodman, Marriott, Paramount, Porchlight Music Theatre, Mercury Theater, Theo and many others. Tour: Kenny Rogers Christmas Tour, Cirque Shanghai: Navy Pier Skyline Stage and productions in Atlantic City, Las Vegas and the New Victory Theatre in New York. Ms. Didier made her TV Choreography debut with T-Mobile's national holiday commercial "Home for the Holidays." She is a multiple Jeff Award recipient in both Direction and Choreography (Equity and Non-Equity wings) and Artistic Director/Founder of The Lincolnshire Academy of Dance, now in its 28th Season. "Thank you to Derek, Nick, Shane, Scot and our incredible cast, design team, band and crew! Thank you for supporting live theatre! Love to Mike, Mom, family and friends!”

About Kokandy Productions
Founded in 2010, Kokandy Productions seeks to leverage the heightened reality of musical theatre to tell complex and challenging stories, with a focus on contributing to the development of Chicago-based musical theatre artists, and raising the profile of Chicago's non-Equity musical theatre community.

The company's artistic staff is comprised of Derek Van Barham (Producing Artistic Director), Scot T. Kokandy (Executive Producer) and Adrian Abel Azevedo & Leda Hoffman (Artistic Associates). The Board of Directors includes Preston Cropp, Scot T. Kokandy, Danielle Sparklin and Katie Svaicer.

For additional information, visit www.kokandyproductions.com.