Hell in a Handbag Productions’ Chicago premiere of I Promised Myself to Live Faster

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Chicago Premiere!

I PROMISED MYSELF TO LIVE FASTER

Conceived and Created by Pig Iron Theatre Company

Text by Greg Moss and Pig Iron

Directed by JD Caudill

March 23 – April 16, 2023 at The Chopin Theatre

PHOTO CREDIT: The cast of Hell in a Handbag Productions’ Chicago premiere of I Promised Myself to Live Faster includes (top, l to r) Kim Boler, David Cerda, Taylor Dalton, Lolly Extract and Sydney Genco (bottom, l to r) Caitlin Jackson, Tyler Anthony Smith, Emmanuel Ramirez, Ben Stacy and Robert Williams.

 

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to continue its 21st season with the Chicago premiere of I Promised Myself to Live Faster, an intergalactic queer extravaganza featuring closeted extraterrestrials, high stakes pursuits and nuns from outer space, created and conceived by Pig Iron Theatre Company, with text by Greg Moss and Pig Iron and directed by JD Caudill*. I Promised Myself to Live Faster will play March 23 – April 16, 2023 at The Chopin Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets are now on sale at buytickets.at/hellinahandbagproductions/825817 or handbagproductions.org. I'll be out for the press opening March 26th, so check back shortly after for my full review. 

The cast includes ensemble members David Cerda*, Sydney Genco*, Caitlin Jackson*, Tyler Anthony Smith* and Robert Williams* with Kim Boler, Taylor Dalton, Lolly Extract, Emmanuel Ramirez and Ben Stacy. Understudies include Connar Brown, Andres Coronado, Abbey Demorow, Ashley Graham, Rebecca Husk, Brian Knoll, Michael Radford and Scott Sawa (performing March 30 – April 2).

This space epic tells the tale of our reluctant hero Tim (Robert Williams*) who’s been put through an emotional ringer these past few months. Tim’s life takes a radical turn when an order of intergalactic nuns charge him with a quest: retrieve the Holy Gay Flame from the clutches of the evil emperor to save the race of Homosexuals and restore the balance of power in the universe. Once Tim is captured by the fabulously androgynous Ah-Ni (David Cerda*), Tim goes places he never dreamed in this ridiculous and delirious allegorical adventure.

The production team includes Jonathan Berg-Einhorn (Scenic Designer), Beth Laske-Miller and Rachel Sypniewski (Costume Designers), Liz Cooper (Lighting Designer), Danny Rockett (Sound Designer), Bren Coombs (Props Designer), Jamal Howard (Choreographer), Lolly Extract/Jabberwocky Marionettes (Puppet Designer and Puppetry), Sydney Genco* (Make-up Designer), Keith Ryan* (Wigs Designer), Carly Belle Cason (Violence Designer), Spencer Douglas Clark (Intimacy Designer) and Leo Batutis and Scott Sawa (Assistant Directors).

*Denotes Handbag Ensemble Member

COVID safety: Masking is recommended, but not required. COVID guidelines may change in accordance with public health guidelines.

Cast (in alphabetical order): Kim Boler (Mother Superior), David Cerda* (Ah-Ni), Taylor Dalton (Nun #2), Lolly Extract (Ensemble/Puppetry), Sydney Genco* (King Trout), Caitlin Jackson* (Nun #1), Tyler Anthony Smith (Movie Star Boy), Emmanuel Ramirez (Ensemble), Ben Stacy (Ensemble) and Robert Williams* (Tim).

Understudies: Connar Brown (Ensemble/Puppetry), Andres Coronado (Movie Star Boy), Abbey Demorow (Nun #1), Ashley Graham (Mother Superior), Rebecca Husk (King Trout), Brian Knoll (Tim), Michael Radford (Ensemble) and Scott Sawa (Ah-Ni, performing March 30 – April 2).

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

Previews: Thursday, March 23 at 7:30 pm, Friday, March 24 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, March 25 at 7:30 pm

Opening/Press performance: Sunday, March 26 at 7 pm

Regular run: Thursday, March 30 – Sunday, April 16, 2023

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm

Tickets: $24 previews. $42 general admission ($25 Thursday special), $61 VIP/reserved seating with drink ticket. Group rates $34 for 10 or more. Tickets are now on sale at buytickets.at/hellinahandbagproductions/825817 or handbagproductions.org. 

About the Artists     

Pig Iron Theatre Company (Creator, Text) has been creating original performance works in Philadelphia since 1995, making plays about live music, dead people, neuroscience and thwarted love affairs. A unique method of performance research and collaborative creation, plus a signature physical approach to character, has led to 29 plays, cabaret-ballets, hoaxes and installations over two decades. Past collaborations include work with the legendary director Joseph Chaikin, playwright Toshiki Okada, choreographer David Brick, composer Cynthia Hopkins and the rock band Dr. Dog. Pig Iron's work has been presented by FringeArts in Philadelphia and by theatres and festivals around the world. The company has won two Obie Awards, a Total Theatre Award and eight Barrymore Awards. Other scripts by Pig Iron are anthologized in Pig Iron: Three Plays, published by 53rd State Press. pigiron.org

Greg Moss (Text) is a writer, educator and performer from Newburyport MA. His work has been produced at Playwrights Horizons, Soho Rep, Steppenwolf, La Comédie-Française, EST-LA, Clubbed Thumb, Capital T Theatre and South Coast Rep, among others. His plays include Indian Summer, punkplay, Reunion, Billy Witch, House of Gold and sixsixsix. Upcoming: The Unauthorized Unofficial Hunter S. Thompson Musical at La Jolla Playhouse in September 2023. gregorymoss.com

JD Caudill (Director) is a queer director, artistic director, literary manager and music director, whose recent direction includes After the Blast (Broken Nose Theatre), Southern Comfort (Pride Films and Plays), Bechdel Fests 4-6 + 8 (Broken Nose Theatre), Book of Shadows (Broken Nose Theatre) and other plays at The New Colony, Haven Theatre, The Runaways Lab Theatre, New American Folk Theatre, Hobo Junction, 20% Theatre, Paragon Theatre, Otherworld Theatre, Arc Theatre, 16th Street Theatre, Stage Left, The Syndicates and Red Theatre. They are a proud ensemble member of Hell in a Handbag, where they have music directed countless shows, and recently became interim artistic director of Broken Nose Theatre, where they’ve served as a literary manager and ensemble member for the past five years.

 

About Hell in a Handbag Productions

Hell in a Handbag is dedicated to the preservation, exploration, and celebration of works ingrained in the realm of popular culture via theatrical productions through parody, music and homage. Handbag is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit. For additional information, visit handbagproductions.org.

 

Barbara Gaines' Final Production as Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Artistic Director: THE COMEDY OF ERRORS March 9–April 16, 2023

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Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces 

the cast and creative team of

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS 

March 9–April 16, 2023

Barbara Gaines celebrates a legacy of joyful collaboration in her final production as artistic director

 

In her final production as Chicago Shakespeare Theater artistic director, Barbara Gaines stages Shakespeare’s riotous The Comedy of Errors, imprinting her legacy of inventive and captivating interpretations of the Bard’s work for today’s audiences. The production features original framing scenes penned by Second City veteran Ron West and showcases an ensemble cast of beloved Chicago Shakespeare collaborators whose combined credits span the Theater’s 37-year history—from the first production on the rooftop of the Red Lion Pub to last fall’s searing Measure for Measure. The Comedy of Errors runs March 9–April 16, 2023, in the Courtyard Theater.

An eccentric group of stage and screen actors gather on a London movie set in 1941 to film Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors as much-needed comic relief for the troops. Backstage antics and hilarious complications abound as Antipholus and Dromio search for their long-lost identical twins. In over three decades with Chicago Shakespeare, Gaines has directed scores of productions, including nearly all of Shakespeare’s 38 plays and six world premieres. She now revisits Shakespeare’s high-spirited comedy with longtime collaborator Ron West, newly adapted from the Theater’s 2008 production.

"This project is a love letter to theater making—that ineffable process of an ensemble coming together to create something wholly new and magical," said Gaines. "That’s true in our framing of Shakespeare’s comedy on a film set, but it’s also reflected in our incredible company, a group of esteemed artists that I so admire and who embody the collaboration that has infused my time in the theater with joy and love."

Each cast member performs both a role on the London movie set and a character in The Comedy of Errors. The cast includes: Breon Arzell (David/Angelo), Adia Bell (Fanny/Merchant), Melanie Brezill (Alice Boggs/Luciana), Lillian Castillo (Marian/Courtesan), Dan Chameroy (Phil Sullivan/Antipholus of Ephesus), William Dick (Charles Chittick/Second Merchant), Kevin Gudahl (Brian Hallifax/Dromio of Ephesus), Ora Jones (Doris/Aemilia/Abbess), Bill Larkin (Eddie Philpot/Dr. Pinch), Ross Lehman (Dudley Marsh/Dromio of Syracuse), Michael E. Martin (Tom/First Officer), Steve McDonagh (Cyril/Nell), Russell Mernagh (Patch/Balthasar), Susan Moniz (Veronica Marsh/Adriana), Robert Petkoff (Emerson Furbelow/Antipholus of Syracuse), Maya Vinice Prentiss (Priscilla/First Merchant), Greg Vinkler (Admiral Philpot/Egeon), and Bruce A. Young (Monty/Duke Solinus). Understudies include Isabella Abel-Suarez, Michael Joseph Mitchell, Ian Reed, and Jonathan Schwart.

As long-separated twins the Dromios, Jeff Award-winners Ross Lehman and Kevin Gudahl boast over 75 Chicago Shakespeare credits combined. Lehman’s notable roles include Feste in Twelfth Night and the Fool in King Lear, and he appeared on Broadway in The Tempest, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Gudahl was recently seen on the Chicago Shakespeare stage in Measure for Measure and As You Like It; other memorable credits include Hal in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, Fredrik in A Little Night Music, and title roles in Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, and Troilus and Cressida. The play’s other set of twins, both named Antipholus, will be played by Dan Chameroy—who has performed in 15 seasons at the Stratford Festival and as Miss Trunchbull in the US national tour of Matilda the Musical—and Robert Petkoff, whose Chicago Shakespeare credits include Buddy in Follies, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet and title roles in Sunday In the Park with George, Hamlet, and Troilus and Cressida. Petkoff appeared in Broadway’s Anything Goes and Ragtime and the US tours of Fun Home and Spamalot.

Jeff Award-winner Susan Moniz was last seen on the Chicago Shakespeare stage in an acclaimed performance as Sally in Follies and has played feature roles in US tours of Fun Home and The Phantom of the Opera, and on Broadway in Grease. In addition to appearing in last season’s hit As You Like It, Melanie Brezill’s credits include work at Court Theatre, Goodman Theatre, and Writers Theatre, along with the Broadway production and US Tour of The Book of Mormon. In addition to appearing on Broadway in Matilda the Musical and Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Ora Jones has been on the Chicago Shakespeare stage numerous times in roles such as Katherine of Aragon in Henry VIII, Queen Charlotte in The Madness of George III, and Maria in Twelfth Night, and most recently as the Countess of Rossillion in last season’s All’s Well That Ends Well. Lillian Castillo, recently seen in Drury Lane’s Steel Magnolias, appeared in Gaines’ The Taming of the Shrew and the US premiere of Ride the Cyclone at Chicago Shakespeare.

Bruce A. Young memorably spoke the first line of Chicago Shakespeare’s inaugural production of Henry V at the Red Lion Pub. He has returned to Chicago Shakespeare many times and performed on Broadway in Macbeth. Greg Vinkler has performed in dozens of Chicago Shakespeare productions, including as Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Falstaff in Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2, and titular roles in King John and King Lear. William Dick’s Chicago Shakespeare credits include last year’s All’s Well That Ends Well, The Wizard of Oz, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and many more; he recently performed in the Jeff Award-winning ensemble of Choir Boy at Steppenwolf Theatre.

Bill Larkin is a comedian and actor who has performed with the Second City and played Genie in Chicago Shakespeare’s production of Aladdin. Russell Mernagh appeared in Chicago Shakespeare’s Ride the Cyclone and was last seen in Broadway in Chicago’s The Play That Goes Wrong. An actor and choreographer, Breon Arzell was recently listed as one of Newcity’s 50 Players of 2023—he has worked with theaters across the city and performed with Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks in 2021. Adia Bell performed in last summer’s Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks ShakesFest and her additional credits include work at Paramount Theatre and Music Theater Works. Both an actor and a Jeff Award-winning fight choreographer, Maya Vinice Prentiss has worked with Chicago Shakespeare in both capacities, most recently on Measure for Measure. Rounding out the cast are Steve McDonagh—a celebrated Food Network chef and actor with credits at the Kennedy Center, Royal George Theatre, and Drury Lane—and Michael E. Martin, who has appeared at Paramount Theatre and in the Jeff Award-winning ensemble of United Flight 232 at the House Theatre of Chicago.

Ron West has created new dialogue for the production to frame Shakespeare’s play. West’s illustrious career includes writing for shows like Whose Line Is It Anyway? and serving as writer and associate artistic director at The Second City. West collaborated with Gaines on an earlier adaptation of The Comedy of Errors, which garnered Jeff Awards for Best Production and Best Adaptation, as well as The Taming of the Shrew in 2017. West also wrote The Second City’s Romeo and Juliet Musical: The People vs. Friar Laurence, The Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet, which had a wildly popular run at Chicago Shakespeare.

Joining Gaines on the creative team are Scenic Designer James Noone, Costume Designer Mieka van der Ploeg, Lighting Designer Ken Posner, Composer & Sound Designer Lindsay Jones, Hair & Make Up Designer Richard Jarvie, Verse Coach Larry Yando, Music Director Charlotte Rivard-Hoster, Associate Director Peter G. Andersen, Intimacy Director Gregory Geffrard, Fight Choreographer Bruce A. Young, Dialect Coach Kathy Logelin, Dramaturg Martine Kei Green-Rogers, Assistant Intimacy Director Courtney Abbott, Production Stage Manager Katrina Herrmann, and Assistant Stage Manager Elisabeth Schapmann.

Chicago Shakespeare makes its facility and performances accessible to all patrons through its Access Shakespeare programs. Accessible performances for The Comedy of Errors include:

Audio-described Performance – Sunday, April 2, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.

A program that provides spoken narration of a play’s key visual elements for patrons who are blind or have low vision.

Open-captioned Performance – Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 1:00 & 7:30 p.m.

A text display of the words and sounds heard during a play, synced live with the action onstage.

ASL Duo-interpreted Performance – Friday, April 14, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.

All dialogue and lyrics are translated into American Sign Language by two certified interpreters.

For more information, visit www.chicagoshakes.com/comedy or on social media at @chicagoshakes at #cstComedy.

The Comedy of Errors will be presented March 9–April 16, 2023, in Chicago Shakespeare’s Courtyard Theater. Single tickets ($35–$92) are on sale now. Special discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater’s website at www.chicagoshakes.com.

ABOUT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER

Regional Tony Award-recipient Chicago Shakespeare Theater produces a bold and innovative year-round season—plays, musicals, world premieres, family productions, and theatrical presentations from around the globe—alongside nationally recognized education programming serving tens of thousands of students, teachers, and lifelong learners each year. Founded in 1986, the Theater’s onstage work has expanded to as many as twenty productions and 650 performances annually. Chicago Shakespeare is dedicated to welcoming the next generation of theatergoers; one in four of its audience members is under the age of eighteen. As a nonprofit organization, the Theater works to embrace diversity, prioritize inclusion, provide equitable opportunities, and offer an accessible experience for all. On the Theater’s three stages at its home on Navy Pier, in classrooms and neighborhoods across the city, and in venues around the world, Chicago Shakespeare is a multifaceted cultural hub—inviting audiences, artists, and community members to share powerful stories that connect and inspire. www.chicagoshakes.com.

THEO UBIQUE CABARET THEATRE ANNOUNCES THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM FOR THEIR SPRING PRODUCTION OF THE THREEPENNY OPERA March 23-April 30, 2023

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Artistic Director Fred Anzevino directs the Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht classic for Theo’s 25th Anniversary in tribute to the revues that were a part of the company’s founding cabaret years.

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre announced today the cast and creative team for their upcoming production of The Threepenny Opera playing at Theo’s Howard Street Theatre March 10 through April 30, 2023. Arguably the pinnacle production of Theo’s 25th Anniversary season, the show reunites Artistic Director Fred Anzevino with Music Director Ryan Brewster, both of whom won back-to-back Jeff Awards for their collaboration on Theo’s Evita and Chess. Returning for her fourth production with Theo is Jeff Award-winning choreographer Jenna Schoppe as Associate Director/Choreographer (choreographer for Theo’s The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Godspell and Once Upon a Mattress.)

As a tip of the hat to the company’s 25th Anniversary season, this production of The Threepenny Opera honors the theatre’s founding history with Kurt Weill. Theo originally opened its doors at the No Exit Cafe in Rogers Park with A Kurt Weill Revue: Songs of Darkness and Light during the 2004-2005 season, marking the beginning of the working relationship with the Kurt Weill Foundation. Notably, the company later gained permission to create an original cabaret show featuring two sets of Weill music; the first act focusing on Weill's Berlin years and the second act featuring Weill's time and experiences in New York and on Broadway.

“The Threepenny Opera is the "mother" of all cabaret shows,” says Anzevino. “I'm excited to be revisiting this show primarily because it touches on many of the same issues that we, as a society, are dealing with today, particularly political corruption and the growing gap between the haves and have nots. This will be Theo's third Kurt Weill production - audiences have always been very enthusiastic with our attempts in re-imaging his work.”Audiences will yearn for more as the cast brings life to bold text and Weill’s sexy songs that have evolved into classic standards including “Mack the Knife,” which has been covered by everyone from Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra to Michael Buble.

The crooner cast welcomes the return of familiar Theo faces; Carl Herzog (he/him) in the role of Macheath, Megan Elk (they/she) playing Mrs. Peachum and Chamaya Moody (she/her) as Polly Peachum. Also returning to Theo is Nathe Rowbotham (they/them) as Lucy Brown and Liz Bollar (she/her) as Jenny. Making their Theo debuts are Thomas M. Shea (he/him) as Mr. Peachum, Michael Mejia (they/them) as Tiger Brown, Rusty Allen (he/him) as Filch along with Tyler DeLoatch (he/they), Isabel Garcia (they/them), Peter Stielstra (he/him) and Luiza Vitucci (she/her) in the Ensemble. Rounding out the cast are Danielle Kerr (she/her) and Larry D. Trice II (they/them) as Swings.

Howard Street Theatre will transform to the world of Macheath at the hands of scenic designer Mara Ishihara Zinky (she/her), lighting designer Maggie Fulliulove-Nugent (she/her), costume designer Cindy Moon (she/her), properties designer Lonnae Hickman (she/her), and sound designer Daniel Etti-Williams (they/he). The production team also includes production manager Matthew R. Chase (he/him), stage manager Caitlyn Birmingham (she/her), intimacy and violence director Charlie Baker (they/he), dialect coach Kathy Logelin (she/her), assistant music director Isabella Isherwood (she/her), technical director Manuel Ortiz, production electrician Josiah Croegaert (he/him) and audio engineer Isaac Mandel (he/him).

The Threepenny Opera is a "play with music" by Bertolt Brecht, adapted from a translation by Elisabeth Hauptmann of John Gay's 18th-century English ballad opera, The Beggar's Opera, and four ballads by François Villon, with music by Kurt Weill. 

Tickets can be purchased online at theo-u.com or via phone at 773-939-4101. Single tickets are $35 for preview performances, and range between $45-$55 during the regular run of performances. Box office hours are Wednesday-Sunday 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Theo continues to offer its one-stop dinner and theatrical experience with pre-show dinner courtesy of a local Evanston restaurant partner. All performances take place at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre located at 721 Howard Street in Evanston.

The Threepenny Opera

By Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill

In collaboration with: Elisabeth Hauptmann

Based on “The Beggar’s Opera,” by John Gay

English translation: by Marc Blitzstein

Director Fred Anzevino

Associate Director/Choreographer Jenna Schoppe

Music Director Ryan Brewster

Previews: March 10-18, 2023 (Fridays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 6:00pm)

Run: March 23-April 30, 2023 (Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 6:00pm)

The Threepenny Opera is a biting satire of the post-war rise of capitalism, wrapped up in Kurt Weill’s jazzy score, and the tale of Macheath, a debonair crime lord on the verge of turning his illegal empire into a legitimate business. Songs from Threepenny have become classic standards, including “Pirate Jenny” and, most notably, “Mack the Knife,” which has been covered by everyone from Frank Sinatra to Michael Buble. Theo’s Artistic Director Fred Anzevino will direct this production for our 25th Anniversary Season, in honor of the many Kurt Weill revues that were part of the company’s founding years.

ABOUT THEO UBIQUE

Theo Ubique was founded in 1997 by Artistic Director Fred Anzevino. Productions were first staged at the Heartland Studio Theatre, and from 2004 to May 2018, at No Exit Café, where the company began focusing on musicals and revues, reigniting the cabaret theatre trend in Chicago. The company moved to the Howard Street Theatre, a venue owned and developed for Theo Ubique by the City of Evanston, in fall of 2018. Theo Ubique has produced more than 60 shows and won 64 Jeff Awards, having received 154 nominations. The company also earned three After Dark Awards. theo-u.com



SASHA VELOUR ANNOUNCES “THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW!” BOOK TOUR

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The critically acclaimed drag queen will perform in Chicago on a tour of the United States and Canada in support of her upcoming, debut book, 

The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S

BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE

APRIL 29, 2023

Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce that SASHA VELOUR: THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW! will play Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse for one night only on April 29. Individual tickets for SASHA VELOUR: THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW! will go on sale Thursday, January 19.

Internationally renowned drag queen, visual artist, and newly minted author Sasha Velour has announced her upcoming book tour, THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW! This news follows the announcement of her forthcoming, debut book, The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag, (HarperCollins) premiered exclusively by Entertainment Weekly on November 29, 2022, and set to hit bookstands on April 4, 2023.

Billed as a first-of-its-kind, “spellbinding” book, The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag thoughtfully weaves memoir, history, and theory into a living portrait of an artist and an art. Throughout the book, Velour illuminates drag as a unique form of expression with rich history and a revolutionary spirit as she recalls her own journey and uncovers the history of queer life around the world that made it all possible. The new work by Velour will highlight both intellect and imagination, featuring photos and her own original artwork intertwined with insightful critical theory, riveting LGTBQ+ history, personal memoir, and all-engrossing camp.

In support of the book’s release, Velour will stage exciting new performances across major cities in the United States and Canada. The show will present an immersive evening of drag, storytelling, and live art, bringing Velour’s book to life, featuring iconic new performances from Velour herself, an in-person conversation with a special guest star, an audience Q&A, and book signings.

Of the upcoming tour, Velour says, “I can’t believe I wrote a book without a ghostwriter! Who do I think I am?! A drag queen with things to say, apparently… That’s why I wanted to translate this book to the stage and open it up for conversation with you! Let’s celebrate the big reveals, the artistry, and the human stories that brings us together!”

THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW! will run for 90 minutes with no intermission, and tickets will be available for purchase beginning January 19, 2023. VIP tickets will also be available, which will include exclusive art prints from the book and a meet-and-greet/photo-op with Velour before the show. Books are not included with ticket purchase; however, purchase of the book is not required. Copies of The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag will be available for sale in the lobby at all show venues from local sellers, as well as online. Books are available for preorder in the US (https://bit.ly/3HDau4X) and Canada (http://bit.ly/3GVe49E).

About Sasha Velour

As a modern-day pioneer of innovative, emotive, and provocative drag aesthetics, Sasha Velour continues to raise the bar for the art of drag performance across the globe. Velour is most notably recognized as the winner of season nine of the Emmy-nominated RuPaul’s Drag Race on VH1 in 2017, where her lip-sync performance to Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional” made history and was hailed as “the performance of the year” by The A.V. Club and named one of “TV’s Best Musical Moments on Television” by Entertainment Weekly. The act cleverly featured an elaborate reveal full of rose petals hidden in her gloves and wig and is now widely regarded as one of the most iconic performances in the show’s history. Ingenuity is not something new to Velour, as her live performances have been renowned by critics as “an entirely new level of performance art” (Yahoo!) and “heart-wrenching” (Billboard). Her first one-queen drag show Smoke & Mirrors toured from 2019-2022 to over 80 cities around the world including sold-out performances at the prestigious London Palladium and the Folies Bergère in Paris. Velour’s esteemed drag show NightGowns, founded in 2015, has hosted some of the world’s greatest drag performers before being adapted into a docu-series directed by Sophie Muller and The Documentary Group in 2020. In 2021, the cast released two original NightGowns films: NightGowns Forever, an anthology of past shows, and NightGowns the Musical, an original comedy set in 1966, adapted from a live show performed Off-Broadway. 

Velour’s talents also expand beyond the drag universe, as her artist profile continues to transcend boundaries and mediums untouched by many other queens. Her studio and illustration work has been the subject of two acclaimed solo gallery shows in New York in 2014 and 2016 before being tapped by Google to draw their homepage search engine doodle of the late Marlene Dietrich in celebration of her 116th birthday in 2017. Together with her partner Johnny Velour, she also self-published and designed the art magazine Velour, which celebrates the art of drag through visual art, poetry, photography, and essays. Velour frequently uses her platform to discuss politics, queer history, and LGBTQ+ issues in an educational format, having transformed her into a highly sought-after public speaker. She has graced the stages at prestigious venues, including The Smithsonian for The Long Conversation, an event with thought leaders from around the world, the US Embassy in Singapore, and many distinguished universities including Purdue, The University of Illinois, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Columbia. 

For more information about Sasha Velour, please visit www.sashavelour.com.

https://www.sashavelour.com/ | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Show Dates (with additional dates to be announced)

April 6, 2023 – San Francisco, CA (Palace of Fine Arts)

April 7, 2023 + April 8, 2023 – Portland, OR (Winningstad Theater)

April 10, 2023 – Seattle, WA (Neptune Theater)

April 20, 2023 – Newark, NJ (Victoria Theatre, NJPAC)

April 29, 2023 – Chicago, IL (Broadway Playhouse)

May 4, 2023 – Montreal, Canada (Mtelus)

May 5, 2023 – Ottawa, Canada (Bronson Music Centre)

May 6, 2023 – Toronto, Canada (Bluma Appel Theatre)

May 8, 2023 – Boston, MA (The Wilbur)

May 9, 2023 – New York, NY (Skirball Center)

May 11, 2023 – Edmonton, Canada (The Maclab Theatre)

May 12, 2023 – Calgary, Canada (Bella Concert Hall)

May 13, 2023 – Vancouver, Canada (Vogue Theatre)

May 18, 2023 – Philadelphia, PA (Perelman Theater)

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

The one night only performance will be Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW will go on sale to the public on Thursday, January 19 and range from $45.00 - $70.00 with a limited number of VIP tickets available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 22 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

COVID-19  PROTOCOL

We recommend our audiences wear masks throughout the theatre. Visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com/covid19 for further details.

For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● TikTok @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

LiV Warfield One Night Only on Tuesday, February 7th at 7:30 p.m. at Cabaret ZaZou

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

LIV WARFIELD AND HER BAND 

SET TO PERFORM 

LIVE AT CABARET ZAZOU 

ON FEBRUARY 7

LiV Warfield is a woman who cannot be defined. Not by label. Not by genre. And not by any terms.

The critically acclaimed, electrifying singer will be performing for one night only on Tuesday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Cabaret ZaZou, located on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel Chicago Loop (32 W. Randolph Street).

Women change and grow, but at their core is their unadulterated truth. At the core of LiV Warfield is Olivia! Raw. Unfiltered. Unapologetic. An aware empath. A true Cancer. Fierce and loyal. Sensitive and sensual.

She has shown the world her softer side with “Embrace Me.” She has shown the world her dynamic side with the “Unexpected.” She has given a taste to the world of that fortifying LiV Warfield power, that can only fully be experienced at her shows, with the Live at Café Wha? album.

In Fall 2023, she will invite the world to witness her third studio album and in February 2023, “Bloom,” her new single from the upcoming album, will drop! “Bloom,” is a song about the moment you realize you’ve been growing within the cracks of the concrete, broken but you’ve managed to make it through.

To celebrate the occasion, LiV is bringing, for one night only, her very own show to Cabaret ZaZou on February 7 at 7:30 p.m.! Her band is made up of music royalty and up and coming all stars: Ryan Waters (guitar), Justin “Jaymck” McKinney (Bass), and Marlon Patton (Drums); featuring Chicago’s own Nashon Holloway (acoustic), and Seattle’s DJ Nine.

LiV’s style has been described as “alternative soul with a li’l bit of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” In 2014, LiV released her sophomore album, co-executive produced by Prince, titled The Unexpected. LiV caught the eye of Prince in 2006 with her self-release of “Embrace Me,” and joined his group, The New Power Generation (NPG). For LiV’s The Unexpected album, she received a 2014 Soul Train Music Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Artist with two additional Soul Train nominations (Best New Artist and Best Independent R&B/Soul Performance); and a BET Best New Artist Award nomination.

LiV collaborated with Questlove, Black Thought, and Ray Angry of The Roots in last year’s release of “#Toyland.” She had showstopper performances with both Jimmy Fallon and David Letterman in 2015. In 2020, she joined forces with Nuno Bettencourt, Nancy Wilson of Heart, Taylor Hawkins, and Derek Frank in a viral cover of “Barracuda.” No matter the format, LiV consistently captivates audiences, which is what she is currently doing as a cast member of CABARET ZAZOU’s variety show where she electrifies the production with her vocal skills and aerial artistry.

Prepare to meet LiV Warfield at her truth – raw, innocent, jaded, as strong as they come, and ready to party!

Learn more about LiV here. Tickets at www.cabaretzazou.com

The 25th Anniversary Tour of CHICAGO Now Playing at Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre Through January 29, 2023

 BROADWAY’S RECORD-BREAKING,

TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL SMASH

CHICAGO

CELEBRATES 25 RAZZLE DAZZLE YEARS BACK WHERE IT ALL BEGAN!

The 25th Anniversary Tour of CHICAGO is now playing at Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.). The production is running for a limited engagement through January 29, 2023. Tickets are on sale now at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

CHICAGO is BACK IN TOWN and after 25 years, CHICAGO is still the one musical with everything that makes Broadway shimmy-shake: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz, with one show stopping song after another and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen.

The cast of CHICAGO features Katie Frieden as Roxie Hart, Logan Floyd as Velma Kelly, Jeff Brooks as Billy Flynn, Christina Wells as Matron “Mama” Morton, Brian Kalinowski as Amos Hart and G.A. James as Mary Sunshine.

The cast also includes Michelle Attardo, Lincoln Belford, Cate Benioff, Megan Campbell, Tony Carrubba, Jess DiForte, Robert Garris Aka Shapiro, Ed Gotthelf, Jasmine Janae, Tal Kedem, Liz Lester, Chase McFadden, Sammy Tuchman, Asher Van Meter, Jordan Vasquez and Evy Vaughan.

Produced by Apex Touring, CHICAGO is the winner of six 1997 Tony AwardsⓇ including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy AwardⓇ for Best Musical Cast Recording.   

Re-creation of the Original Production Direction by Tânia Nardini. Re-creation of the Original Production Choreography by Gary Chryst. Original Direction by Tony AwardⓇ winner Walter Bobbie and original choreography in the style of Bob Fosse by Tony AwardⓇ winner Ann Reinking. CHICAGO features set design by Tony AwardⓇ winner John Lee Beatty, costume design by Tony AwardⓇ winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony AwardⓇ winner Ken Billington and sound design by Scott Lehrer. Supervising Music Director Robert Billig with Orchestrations by Ralph Burns, and Music Direction by Cameron Blake Kinnear. Casting by Stewart/Whitley. 

With a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, CHICAGO is the #1 longest-running American musical in Broadway history -- and it still shows no sign of ever slowing down!

There’s never been a better time to experience CHICAGO, Broadway’s razzle-dazzle smash. This triumphant hit musical is the recipient of six Tony AwardsⓇ, two Olivier Awards, a GrammyⓇ and thousands of standing ovations. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary — you’ve got to come see why the name on everyone’s lips is still… CHICAGO.

Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who maliciously murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.

It’s no surprise that CHICAGO has wowed audiences from Mexico City to Moscow, from Sao Paulo to South Africa. Over the last 25 years, the show has been seen in 36 different countries and seen by 33 million people worldwide and now it’s coming back to its namesake city!

Whether you're looking for your first Broadway musical, whether you've seen the Academy AwardⓇ-winning film and want to experience the show live on stage or whether you've seen it before and want to recapture the magic, CHICAGO always delivers!

CHICAGO is a production not to be missed. And all the reviewers agree.

TIME magazine calls it “A Triumph,” Newsweek raves “Smashing” and Entertainment Weekly sums it up by calling CHICAGO “Broadway’s Most Electrifying Show.”

Come on, babe! Head to CHICAGO! We’re hotter than ever.

APEX TOURING (Producer). Highlighting their sixth tour season with recent national tours of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Once and Finding Neverland. They were honored to be the first company to bring a live production to the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Middle East with the international tour of The Wizard of Oz, which also performed across China. APEX produced the 2018 tour of Cabaret and 2017 tour of Pippin. APEX has been created to serve the ever-expanding need for high-quality, Broadway caliber touring productions around the world. Relying on the steady producing skills of its affiliates, APEX looks forward to many years of producing Broadway’s brightest new shows.

For more CHICAGO information: www.ChicagoOnTour.com

Connect with CHICAGO at:

Chicago The Musical On Tour | Facebook

https://www.instagram.com/ChicagoOnTour/

https://twitter.com/ChicagoOnTour/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXAWrP-8Ov7EdoUEJ4yKimQ

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Performances are Tuesday through Friday at 7:30 p.m. (with a Wednesday matinee at 2:00 p.m. on January 25). Saturday performances are at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Sunday performances are at 2:00 p.m. with an additional performance on Sunday, January 22 at 7:30 p.m.

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for CHICAGO are now on sale and range from $30.00 - $105.00 with a select number of premium tickets available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 22 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

COVID-19  PROTOCOL

We recommend our audiences wear masks throughout the theatre. Visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com/covid19 for further details.

For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Follow Broadway In Chicago: Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● TikTok @broadwayinchicago● #broadwayinchicago

OPENING: TimeLine Theatre’s World Premiere of Boulevard of Bold Dreams February 1 – March 19, 2023

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

TIMELINE THEATRE’S WORLD PREMIERE OF 

BOULEVARD OF BOLD DREAMS 

BY LADARRION WILLIAMS, DIRECTED BY MALKIA STAMPLEY, IS A TALE OF RACE, CLASS, GENDER, AND THE NOT-SO-CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF HOLLYWOOD

WHAT IF HATTIE MCDANIEL HAD NOT ACCEPTED HER OSCAR?

 

Pictured (from left): Boulevard of Bold Dreams playwright LaDarrion Williams, director Malkia Stampley, and cast members Charles Andrew Gardner, Mildred Marie Langford, and Gabrielle Lott-Rogers. 

TimeLine’s 2022-23 subscription season returns February 1 – March 19, 2023 with the world premiere of Boulevard of Bold Dreams by LaDarrion Williams, a Los Angeles-based playwright new to Chicago audiences, with a story about dreamers overcoming obstacles and fighting for recognition amidst the racism and inequity of Hollywood. I'll be there for opening night on February 9th, so check back shortly after for my full review. 

The date is February 29, 1940, the night Hattie McDaniel made history at the Oscars. Bartender Arthur Brooks, an ambitious Black man from rural Alabama, dreams of becoming a movie director. His best friend, Dottie Hudson, is a maid at the Ambassador Hotel and a cynic of all dreams. But when the actress Hattie McDaniel stops in the bar and decides not to attend the biggest event in show business, Arthur and Dottie must do everything in their power to convince her to claim her historic win—all while confronting their dark pasts and making their own dreams come to life.

Malkia Stampley directs Williams’ riveting new play about dreamers, obstacles, and the not-so-changing landscape of Hollywood. The cast features TimeLine Theatre Company Members Charles Andrew Gardner (he/him) as Arthur and Mildred Marie Langford (she/her) as Dottie. Gabrielle Lott-Rogers (she/her) plays Hattie McDaniel. The production team includes Ryan Emens (Scenic Designer, he/him), Christine Pascual (Costume Designer, she/her), Jason Lynch (Lighting Designer, he/him), Rasean Davonté Johnson (Projections Designer, he/him), Daniel Etti-Williams (Co-Sound Designer, they/them) and Andre Pluess (Co-Sound Designer,he/him), Lonnae Hickman (Properties Designer, she/her), Rueben D. Echoles (Wig and Hair Designer, he/him), Khalid Y. Long (Dramaturg, he/him), Dina Spoerl (Dramaturgical Display Designer, she/her), and Madeline M. Scott (Stage Manager, she/her).

“Earlier this season, TimeLine explored the intersection of politics, race, and entertainment in the 1930s and 1950s with Campaigns, Inc. and Trouble in Mind,” said TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers. “Now, we’re thrilled to delve further into those topics through the lens of 1940 with the world premiere of Boulevard of Bold Dreams, shining a light on the trailblazer Hattie McDaniel on the historic night she won the Oscar for Gone with the Wind. We’re delighted to introduce playwright LaDarrion Williams to Chicago, and welcome director Malkia Stampley to TimeLine for the first time to helm this play about conviction, representation, and the pursuit of artistic passion.”

Tickets to Boulevard of Bold Dreams are now on sale. Previews begin February 1, 2023. Press Night is Wednesday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m. Performances run through March 19 at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., in Chicago’s Lakeview East neighborhood. For tickets and information, visit timelinetheatre.com or call the TimeLine Box Office at (773) 281-8463 x6.

Preview tickets are $25. Single tickets to regular performances start at $42 (Wednesday through Friday), $49 (Saturday evenings) and $57 (Saturday and Sunday matinees). Student discount is 35% off regular price with valid ID. TimeLine is also a member of TCG’s Blue Star Theatre Program and is offering $25 tickets to U.S. military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their spouses and family.

Ticket buyers ages 18-35 may join TimeLine’s free MyLine program to obtain access to discounted tickets, special events and more. Discounted rates for groups of 10 or more are also available. Visit timelinetheatre.com/discounts for more about available discounts.

LOCATION/TRANSPORTATION/PARKING

Boulevard of Bold Dreams will take place at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., in Chicago’s Lakeview East neighborhood, near the corner of Wellington and Broadway, inside the former Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ building, now Chabad East Lakeview.

TimeLine is served by multiple CTA trains and buses. There are multiple paid parking options nearby, plus limited free and metered street parking. Visit timelinetheatre.com/timeline-theatre for details and available discounts. 

BOULEVARD OF BOLD DREAMS PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE/EVENTS

Previews are Wednesday, February 1 through Friday, February 3 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, February 4 at 4 p.m.; Sunday, February 5 at 2 p.m.; and Tuesday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m. Press Night is Wednesday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m. Opening Night is Thursday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m. Regular performances continue through March 19: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. Exception: No 4 p.m. show Saturday, February 11.

DISCUSSIONS

Post-Show Discussions: A brief, informal post-show discussion hosted by a TimeLine Company Member and featuring the dramaturg and members of the production team on Wednesday, February 15; Sunday, February 19; Thursday, March 2; and Wednesday, March 8.

Pre-Show Discussions: Starting one hour before the performance, a 25-minute introductory conversation hosted by a TimeLine Company Member and the dramaturg on Sunday, February 26, and Thursday, March 9.

Company Member Discussion: A post-show discussion with the collaborative team of artists who choose TimeLine’s programming and guide the company’s mission on Sunday, March 5.

Sunday Scholars Panel Discussion: A one-hour panel discussion featuring experts on the themes and issues of the play alongside a member of the production team in a moderated discussion, following the performance on Sunday, March 12.

All discussions are free and open to the public. For details, visit timelinetheatre.com.

 

ACCESSIBILITY

Distanced Performances: Performances on Sunday, February 12 and Wednesday, March 1 will have a capacity cap and seating chart so that patrons can sit with additional space allocated between parties.

Captioned Performances: Open-captioned performances with a text display of words and sounds heard during performances are Friday, March 10, and Saturday, March 11 at 4 p.m.

Audio-Described Performance: On Friday, March 17, the performance will feature narration about visual elements of the production around the dialogue, available for individual patrons via headphones.

TimeLine Theatre is accessible to people with disabilities. Two wheelchair lifts provide access from street level to the theatre space and to lower-level restrooms. Audience members using wheelchairs

or who need to avoid stairs, and others with special seating or accessibility needs, should contact the TimeLine Box Office in advance to confirm arrangements.

 

HEALTH AND SAFETY

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, TimeLine continues to work to ensure the safety of artists, audiences, and staff through safety protocols at its performances. For Trouble in Mind, the theatre will require mask-wearing in order to attend. These protocols are subject to change as the pandemic evolves. For current information about TimeLine’s COVID-19 safety protocols, visit timelinetheatre.com/health-and-safety.

MORE TIMELINE 2022-23 SEASON PRODUCTIONS

Following Boulevard of Bold Dreams, TimeLine just added an exciting fourth production, the first Chicago-based production of What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck, directed by Helen Young, May 10 – June 24, 2023. Press Night is Wednesday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Only TimeLine FlexPass Subscribers get advance, priority access to tickets for TimeLine’s What the Constitution Means to Me. Two-admission FlexPasses good for remaining 2022-23 Season productions Boulevard of Bold Dreams and What the Constitution Means to Me are now available, priced

$52 – $121.

To purchase a FlexPass and secure your seats for these sure-to-be-in-demand productions, visit timelinetheatre.com or call the TimeLine Box Office at (773) 281-8463 x6. Tickets for What the Constitution Means to Me will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.

ABOUT TIMELINE THEATRE COMPANY

TimeLine Theatre Company, recipient of the prestigious 2016 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, was founded in April 1997 with a mission to present stories inspired by history that connect with today's social and political issues. Currently celebrating its 26th season, TimeLine has presented 85 productions, including 12 world premieres and 39 Chicago premieres, and launched the Living History Education Program, which brings the company's mission to life for students in Chicago Public Schools. Recipient of the Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence and the Richard Goodman Strategic Planning Award from the Association for Strategic Planning, TimeLine has received 58 Jeff Awards, including an award for Outstanding Production 11 times.

The company has long been bursting at the seams of its current leased home located at 615 W. Wellington Avenue in Chicago’s Lakeview East neighborhood, where the theatre has been in residence since 1999. In December 2018, TimeLine announced the purchase of property at 5033-35 North Broadway in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood to be the site of its new home. Plans feature an intimate black box theater seating up to 250 audience members, expanded area for the immersive lobby experiences that are a TimeLine hallmark, new opportunities for education and engagement, room to allow audience members to arrive early and stay late for theatergoing experiences that extend far beyond the stage, and more. TimeLine is working with HGA as architect for its new home project, which is expected to be completed in 2024.

TimeLine is led by Artistic Director PJ Powers, Executive Director Mica Cole, and Board President John Sterling. TimeLine Company members are Tyla Abercrumbie, Will Allan, Nick Bowling, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Behzad Dabu, Charles Andrew Gardner, Lara Goetsch, Juliet Hart, Anish Jethmalani, Mildred Marie Langford, Mechelle Moe, David Parkes, Ron OJ Parson, PJ Powers, and Maren Robinson.

Major corporate, government and foundation donors providing season support via TimeLine’s Annual Fund include: Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation, John A. Cable Foundation, Laughing Acres Family Foundation, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Polk Bros. Foundation, The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at Prince, The Shubert Foundation, Van Dam Charitable Foundation, and Walder Foundation. This project is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events and a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

For more information, visit timelinetheatre.com or Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (@TimeLineTheatre).

BIOGRAPHIES 

LaDarrion Williams (Playwright) is a Los Angeles based-playwright, filmmaker, author, and screenwriter whose goal is to cultivate a new era of Black fantasy, providing space and agency for Black characters and stories in a new, fresh and fantastical way. His first play, Katrina, won first place at the Alabama State Thespian Conference. It was also a part of A Noise Within Theatre for their Noise Now Reading Series. His adaptation of the best-selling memoir, Feeding A Monster, was directed by award-winning actor and director Art Evans at the Hudson Theatre in Hollywood, CA. In 2019, he was invited to be a guest writer for Center Theatre Groups’ August Wilson Monologue Competition. His play Black Creek Risin’ was a part of the Great Plains Theatre Conference in Omaha, Nebraska. In September 2019, his play, Coco Queens, was a part of the Sundance Institute’s Playwriting Intensive and was also a semi-finalist for the 2020 Eugene O’Neill National Playwriting Conference. In 2021, his play Boulevard of Bold Dreams had previous public readings, both featuring Mildred Marie Langford, at The Echo Theatre Company in 2020, and the New Works Festival at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica, California in 2021. After TimeLine’s production, it will also premiere at Greater Stage Boston in March 2023. Williams is currently a resident playwright/co-creator of The Black Creators Collective where his play UMOJA made its West Coast premiere in January 2022, and he also produced North Hollywood’s first Black playwrights festival at the Waco Theater Center. Serving as a writer-producer, Williams has curated three short films on YouTube. His viral and award-winning short film Blood at the Root is anticipated to become a Young Adult fantasy novel. 

Malkia Stampley (Director) was born and raised in Milwaukee where she attended Marquette University for Theater Arts. She is Goodman Theatre's BOLD Artistic Producer (since October 2021) after serving as founding Artistic Producer for the Milwaukee Black Theater Festival. Directing credits include STEW at Shattered Globe Theatre; Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (Farmers Alley Theatre); Shakesfest: A Community Cabaret (Chicago Shakespeare in the Park); The Gift of the Magi (American Players Theater); Black Nativity (Black Arts MKE, three years); STEW (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre); Nunsense (Milwaukee Repertory Theater); Five Guys Named Moe (Skylight Music Theatre); Antarctica, WI (First Stage), IN:FLUENCE/SPIRATION (University of Wisconsin-Madison) with workshops and readings at American Players Theatre, Northern Sky, Milwaukee Fringe Festival, #ENOUGH and Texas State University's Black and Latino Playwright Celebration. As a budding playwright, Stampley co-authored Lines, commissioned by Theatre LILA in 2018. Stampley is a co-founder of Milwaukee Black Theater Festival and Bronzeville Arts Ensemble, a theater established in Milwaukee, where she served as Producing Artistic Director for three seasons. Malkia is a BOLD artist, a member of a cohort of emerging women arts leaders around the country.