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Showing posts with label women in theatre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label women in theatre. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Steppenwolf To Honor Phylicia Rashad and Salute Women In The Arts Monday February 6th

Help Out:
Support Women In The Arts At 
Steppenwolf's annual fundraiser luncheon

TONY AWARD-WINNING ACTOR, SINGER AND STAGE DIRECTOR 
PHYLICIA RASHAD TO BE HONORED AT 
STEPPENWOLF SALUTES WOMEN IN THE ARTS FUNDRAISER 
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6



Steppenwolf Theatre Company proudly announces stage director, singer and Tony Award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad as the 2017 honoree at the annual Steppenwolf Salutes Women in the Arts fundraising luncheon on Monday, February 6, 2017 at 12noon at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, 221 N Columbus Dr. Ms. Rashad joins Steppenwolf Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro for a riveting conversation about her multifaceted career and her role as a leader in the field.

Phylicia Rashad is a close collaborator with the Steppenwolf ensemble, having starred as Violet Weston in the Shapiro-helmed 2009 Broadway production of August: Osage County and more recently, in ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Head of Passes alongside ensemble member Alana Arenas and directed by ensemble member Tina Landau at the Public Theater. Her powerful work on stage has garnered much acclaim. Ms. Rashad was the first African American actor to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, which she received for her performance of Lena Younger in a revival of A Raisin in the Sun in 2004.
Best known to television audiences for her groundbreaking role of attorney Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show, for which she received two N.A.A.C.P. Image Awards and two Emmy nominations, Phylicia Rashad returns to television this season with a featured guest-starring role in Empire. Recent film credits include Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls and the 2015 Rocky spin-off and sequel Creed.

The eighth annual Women in the Arts luncheon brings together nearly 400 leaders from Chicago’s business and civic communities to honor Ms. Rashad for her indelible contribution to the field. The event raises funds for Steppenwolf’s professional development programs, including Steppenwolf for Young Adults, the nationally recognized education program, the School at Steppenwolf, as well as the Professional Leadership Programs, providing apprenticeships, fellowships and internships for the next generation of arts managers and producers.

Table sponsorships, starting at $5,000 for Women in the Arts are currently available. Individual tickets, start at $200. To purchase tickets or learn about table sponsorship opportunities, contact Steppenwolf’s Special Events Department at 312-654-5632 or specialevents@steppenwolf.org.

Lead sponsor of the 2017 Women in the Arts luncheon is BMO Harris Bank. United Airlines is the Official and Exclusive Airline Partner of Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
Previous honorees for Steppenwolf Salutes Women in the Arts include ensemble members Joan Allen, Laurie Metcalf and Martha Plimpton, along with Claire Danes, Juliette Lewis, Julianna Margulies, Margo Martindale, Julianne Nicholson and Mary-Louise Parker.
About the Honoree

Whether she is bringing laughter to millions of television viewers around the world, moving theatre-goers to tears, thrilling movie fans, offering new insights to students by teaching Master Classes at renowned learning institutions that include Howard University, Julliard, and Carnegie Mellon, serving on Boards of prestigious organizations, or breaking new ground as a director, Phylicia Rashad is one of the entertainment world's most extraordinary performing artists.

A native of Houston, Texas, Rashad graduated Magna Cum Laude from Howard University. A versatile performer, Rashad became a household name when she portrayed “Claire Huxtable” on The Cosby Show, a character whose appeal has earned her numerous honors and awards for over two decades. She teamed up with Bill Cosby again on television as “Ruth Lucas” on Cosby. Currently, she has a recurring role as “Diana Dubois'” on the popular Fox TV series Empire and is slated to appear in the upcoming Amazon series,Jean Claude Van Johnson.

While television was a catalyst in the rise of Rashad's career, she has also been a force on the stage, appearing both on and off-Broadway, often in projects that showcase her musical talent such as Jelly's Last Jam, Into The Woods, Dreamgirls and The Wiz.

Inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 2016, Ms. Rashad received the 2016 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play for her performance as “Shelah” in Tarell Alvin McCraney's Head of Passes at the Public Theater. She has performed on Broadway as “Violet Weston” in August Osage County, “Big Mama” in Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (a role that she reprised on the London Stage), “Aunt Ester” in August Wilson’s Gem Of The Ocean, (Tony Award nomination) and “Queen Britannia” in Shakespeare’s Cymbeline at Lincoln Center. Ms. Rashad received both the Drama Desk and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her riveting performance as “Lena Younger” in the Broadway revival of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In The Sun. She appeared in Ryan Coogler's Creed, Tyler Perry's Good Deeds and starred in Perry's highly acclaimed film version of Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf.

Ms. Rashad made her directorial debut at the Seattle Repertory Theater with August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean. Critics gave her first foray into the directing world rave reviews, saying "Rashad steers Seattle Rep's show with great sensitivity and understanding - for both the text and actors."

Of her work at the helm of The Ebony Repertory Theatre’s production of A Raisin in the Sun in the Spring of 2011, the Los Angeles Times hailed Rashad’s California directing debut by stating that she “…nails the play's rich humor in a solidly rendered production." She remounted the production at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles and at the Westport County Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut. Ms. Rashad has also directed August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles (2014 NAACP Theatre Award for Best Director) and Fences at the Longwharf Theatre and the McCarter Theatre. She returned to the Mark Taper Forum in 2015 to direct Paul Oakley Stovall's Immediate Family.

Respected in the academic world, Ms. Rashad is the first recipient of the Denzel Washington Chair in Theatre at Fordham University. She received an Honorary Doctorate from Spelman College where First Lady Michelle Obama delivered the 2011 commencement address. Ms. Rashad conducted Master Classes at the prestigious Ten Chimneys Foundation for the 2015 Lunt Fontanne Fellows. She also holds Honorary Doctorates from Fordham University, Carnegie Mellon University, Howard University, Providence College, Morris Brown College, Clark Atlanta University, Barber Scotia College, St. Augustine College and Brown University.

In 2015, Ms. Rashad received the BET Honors Theatrical Arts Award, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's Spirit of Shakespeare Award and the Inaugural Legacy Award of the Ruben Santiago Hudson Fine Arts Learning Center. Among the other awards that decorate her walls and shelves are the 2014 Mosaic Woman Legend Award of Diversity Woman Magazine, the Texas Medal of Arts, the National Council of Negro Women's Dorothy L. Height Dreammaker Award, AFTRA’s AMEE Award for Excellence in Entertainment, the Board of Directors of New York Women In Film and Television's Muse Award for Outstanding Vision and Achievement, Dallas Women In Film Topaz Award, Peoples’ Choice Awards, several NAACP Image Awards, and the Pan African Film Festival's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ms. Rashad serves on the Advisory Board of the PRASAD Project and the Board of Directors of True Colors Theatre, the Broadway Inspirational Voices, The Actors Center, the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University and the ADEPT Center which is steering the restoration of the historic Brainerd Institute.


Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation’s premier ensemble theater—redefining the landscape of acting and performance. Formed by a collective of actors in 1976, the ensemble has grown to 46 members who represent a remarkable cross-section of actors, directors and playwrights. Thrilling and powerful productions from Balm in Gilead to August: Osage County—and accolades that include the National Medal of Arts and 12 Tony Awards—have made the theater legendary. Steppenwolf produces hundreds of performances and events annually in its three spaces: the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat 1700 Theatre. Artistic programing includes a seven-play season; a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season; Visiting Company engagements; and LookOut, a multi-genre performances series. Education initiatives include the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf for Young Adults, which engages 14,000 participants annually from Chicago’s diverse communities; the esteemed School at Steppenwolf; and Professional Leadership Programs for arts administration training. Steppenwolf’s own Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks serves coffee, cocktails and a menu curated in partnership with the Boka Restaurant Group day and night. 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. Anna D. Shapiro is the Artistic Director and David Schmitz is the Executive Director. Eric Lefkofsky is Chair of Steppenwolf’s Board of Trustees. 

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

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

OPENING: Einstein’s Gift at the Athenaeum Theatre, Studio One

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar:

A Rare Chicago Theatre event and one of the most eagerly anticipated productions of the summer.  Meet the cast of 
“Einstein’s Gift”
Chicago premiere from Genesis Theatrical Productions

Einstein's Gift begs the question, if you could return to a time and change everything, what would it be?



Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows we're all about supporting and promoting women in the arts, so we're particularly excited about the works Genesis Theatrical Productions is bringing to fruition. We're particularly looking forward to their next offering, Einstein’s Gift. This award winning play from Vern Thiessen is running August 4-28 at the Athenaeum Theatre, Studio One. 

Based on a true story, German scientist Fritz Haber is renouncing his faith, fearing persecution from an increasingly oppressive and militaristic government. In this award winning play, Haber's friend, Albert Einstein, fears Haber's work has taken a dangerous turn. While Einstein sees science as a discipline which transcends national boundaries as a force for good, Haber's work has become a deadly tool of the state. Einstein makes a desperate and emotional appeal that will resonate for generations and define the course of history. With daunting forces arrayed against him, Einstein is prepared to risk everything; his life, his work and his reputation against a building storm threatening to engulf the world in war. 

Acclaimed Chicago Director Elayne LeTraunik, Associate Artistic Director of Genesis, unveils the Chicago premier of “Einstein’s Gift” a timely and powerful play for the first time before Chicago audiences. Written by award winning Canadian playwright Vern Thiessen, Einstein’s Gift features a seasoned cast, including local standouts, Chris Saunders, Guy Wicke, Nick Hodge, Glenn Garrabrant, James McGuire, Darryn Glass, Vered Hankin and Becky Lang. 

In addition to an auspicious cast, the designers include Harrison Ornelas (Sets/Props), Jeremy Hollis (Lights), Paula Kenar (Costumes), JJ Porterfield (Sound), Brian LeTraunik (Fight Choreography) and Patrick Murphy (Stage Manager).

Performances are August 4-28 at the Athenaeum Theatre, Studio One, 2936 N. Southport, in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.  Performance days and times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 3pm.  Tickets are $30 with discounts for students, seniors and groups of 10 or more.  Discounted tickets are also available on Goldstar and Hot Tix.  For tickets call 773-935-6875 or go to www.athenaeumtheatre.org.

Chicago Director and Producer Elayne LeTraunik
Elayne LeTraunik and Genesis brings to life a story that resonates in today’s headlines “I did a staged reading of this play more than 10 years ago,” says Elayne LeTraunik, “and I have been wanting to do a full production ever since.  I think the issues it examines including the perverted use of science by government, the horror of war and the danger of ultra-nationalism are issues that are still prevalent today.”

Elayne is a native Chicagoan, involved in the Chicago Theatre scene since the 1970s.  A graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago, she received a B.A. Degree with honors in History and Theatre.  She continued her acting studied at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art (now part of the Central School of Drama) in London, England. Elayne has worked extensively both as an actress and a producer/director and starred in the Chicago premieres of “Nuts” and “Extremities.”  She also appeared in “Beyond Therapy” which featured Skipp Sudduth and Carmen Roman. Elayne is a member of Actors’ Equity, Chicago Women in Philanthropy and the League of Professional Theatre Women

As a producer, she has overseen a number of award winning and critically acclaimed productions including the Chicago premiere of “A Dybbuk” directed by Curt Columbus and a revival of “Class Enemy” directed by Steve Scott.  She has produced and/or directed such productions as “Today I am a Fountain Pen,” “The Stroop Report,” “From Generation to Generation,” and “Tunnel Rat.”  The Genesis production of “The Last Cyclist” received 4 stars from Chicago Theatre Beat.  Elayne directed “On Holy Ground” in 2014 and in 2015, directed “Creation’s Birthday,” “Jihad,” “Zelda at the Oasis,” and co-directed with Patrick Murphy “Hope Throws Her Heart Away.”  Three of the aforementioned plays were written by women.

Helping Women in the Arts
Genesis Theatrical Productions has worked since 2006 to empower and educate through dynamic and unique theatrical works with exclusive Chicago, Midwest or World premieres, placing a multicultural focus on playwrights, and emphasizing social justice and community responsibility.

In addition, Genesis promotes the place of women in theater at all levels. It’s program, Athena’s Wisdom, emphasizes their efforts and talents, and works to inspire other women to achieve their artistic goals.  Genesis develops, creates and produces.  We feed the mind. In 2014, Genesis received a 50/50 award from the International Centre for Women Playwrights in recognition of its work in promoting the work of women playwrights.

About the Playwright

Vern Thiessen’s plays have entertained audiences across Canada, the US, Asia, UK, and Europe, including Einstein’s Gift, Blowfish, Lenin’s Embalmers, Bird Brain, Vimy, Shakespeare’s Will, Apple and Of Human Bondage. He has had four plays produced off-Broadway. Thiessen is the recipient of the Sterling and Dora Awards for Outstanding New Play, The City of Edmonton Arts Achievement Award, the University of Alberta Alumni Award for Excellence, The Carol Bolt Award, the Alberta Playwriting Competition, the Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition, and the Governor General’s Literary Award. He is Past President of both the Playwrights Guild of Canada and the Writers Guild of Alberta. He is currently at work on commissions from Epic Theatre Ensemble, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Concrete Theatre/L’Uni Theatre, and Touchstone Theatre/Patrick Street Productions. In 2014, Vern was appointed as Artistic Director of Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre.

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