Kristoffer Diaz Recipient of the 2022 Blue Ink Award for “Things With Friends”

 American Blues Theater names Kristoffer Diaz 

the recipient of the 2022 Blue Ink Award 

for his play “Things With Friends”

 

Kristoffer Diaz; credit by Christopher Boudewyns

American Blues to host festival reading of the winning script

and feature three finalists:

Audrey Cefaly, Victor Lesniewski, and Gloria Majule.

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the recipient of the 2023 Blue Ink Award is Kristoffer Diaz for his play Things With Friends. As part of the award, Diaz receives a $2,500 cash prize, a staged reading at American Blues Theater, and the opportunity to further develop his script with American Blues Theater.

A staged reading of Things With Friends will be presented this August as part of the 2023 Blue Ink Playwriting Festival, along with new work by finalists Audrey Cefaly (Trouble), Victor Lesniewski (Cold Spring), and Gloria Majule (Uhuru). Details for 50 playwrights named in the 2023 Blue Ink Award are at AmericanBluesTheater.com. Information about the staged reading, including dates and tickets, will be announced at a later date.   

2023 Blue Ink Award winner Kristoffer Diaz notes, “It's truly an honor to receive this year's Blue Ink Award. Wendy Whiteside and American Blues have been an important part of my career dating back to before I even really had a career to speak of. It's fantastic to come full circle. Even though my life and work are based on the east coast these days, I'm proud to consider myself a Chicago playwright.”

“We are thrilled to announce Kristoffer Diaz as the 2023 Blue Ink Award winner,” notes Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside. “Diaz’s voice resonates through every page. He has the ability to surprise through character descriptions and actions, word choice, punctuation, and reveals details only as needed.”

About Things With Friends

Manhattan. Burt and Adele are hosting a dinner party. Steak is on the stove. The George Washington Bridge has collapsed into the Hudson. Kristoffer Diaz has written a play about it. I've already said too much. 

About Kristoffer Diaz

KRISTOFFER DIAZ is a playwright, librettist, screenwriter, and educator. His play The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama. Other full-length titles include Welcome to Arroyo’s, Reggie Hoops, Hercules, and The Unfortunates. His work has been produced, commissioned, and developed at The Public Theater, Dallas Theater Center, Geffen Playhouse, ACT, Center Theatre Group, The Goodman, Second Stage, Victory Gardens, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival, among many others. Awards include the Guggenheim, Jerome, Van Lier, NYFA, and Gail Merrifield Papp Fellowships; New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award; Lucille Lortel, Equity Jeff, and OBIE Awards; and the Future Aesthetics Artist Regrant, among others. As a screenwriter, Kristoffer has developed original television pilots for HBO and FX, written for the first season of Netflix’s GLOW, and adapted the musical Rent for FOX. Kristoffer teaches playwriting at New York University. He is an alumnus of New Dramatists and a member of its Board of Directors, and the current secretary of the Dramatists Guild Council.

 

Blue Ink 2023

About the Blue Ink Award for playwriting

The nationally-renowned Blue Ink Award was created in 2010 to support new work. Since inception, American Blues Theater has named 13 Blue Ink Award winners, 129 finalists, and 203 semi-finalists. Nearly $10,000 in cash and prizes will be distributed to playwrights in 2023.

Each year American Blues Theater accepts worldwide submissions of original, unpublished full-length plays. The winning play will be selected by Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and the theater’s Ensemble. The 2023 winning playwright receives a monetary prize of $2,500. Cash prizes are awarded to finalists and semi-finalists too.  All proceeds of the administrative fee are distributed for playwrights’ cash prizes. 

Submissions for the 2024 Blue Ink Playwriting Award open August 1, 2023. All submissions must be received by American Blues Theater by August 31, 2023 at 11:59pm. Playwrights may only submit one (1) manuscript each year for consideration.

About American Blues Theater

Winner of the American Theatre Wing’s prestigious National Theatre Company Award, American Blues Theater is a premier arts organization with an intimate environment that patrons, artists, and all Chicagoans call home.  American Blues Theater explores the American identity through the plays it produces and communities it serves.

The diverse and multi-generational artists have established the second-oldest professional Equity Ensemble theater in Chicago.  As of 2023, the theater and artists received 226 Joseph Jefferson Awards and nominations that celebrate excellence in Chicago theater and 44 Black Theatre Alliance Awards. The artists are honored with Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize nominations, Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards and numerous other accolades.  

TimeLine Theatre to open 2023-24 season with Chicago premiere production of THE LEHMAN TRILOGY, 2022 Tony Award Winner for Best Play SEPTEMBER 19 – OCTOBER 29th, 2023

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TimeLine Theatre to open 2023-24 season with Chicago premiere production of 

THE LEHMAN TRILOGY

2022 Tony Award Winner for Best Play

BY STEFANO MASSINI, ADAPTED BY BEN POWER, CO-DIRECTED BY NICK BOWLING AND VANESSA STALLING

PRESENTED AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE AT WATER TOWER PLACE, SEPTEMBER 19 – OCTOBER 29 

 

Pictured (from left): Playwright Stefano Massini, adapter Ben Power, and co-directors Nick Bowling and Vanessa Stalling.

TimeLine Theatre Company is pleased to announce that its Chicago premiere production of the internationally acclaimed and Tony Award-winning play THE LEHMAN TRILOGY by Stefano Massini, adapted by Ben Power, will open the company’s upcoming 2023-2024 season.

Co-directed by TimeLine Associate Artistic Director Nick Bowling and Vanessa Stalling, THE LEHMAN TRILOGY will run September 19 – October 29, 2023 at Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. Opening Night is Wednesday, September 27 at 7:30 p.m. Casting for THE LEHMAN TRILOGY, plus details of the three other productions planned for TimeLine’s 2023-2024 season, are still to be announced.

“TimeLine is elated to create a new production of the monumental play THE LEHMAN TRILOGY,” said TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers. “Tailor-made for TimeLine’s mission of exploring history, the theatrical ambition of this play is thrilling, yet told in an astonishingly simple way, utilizing only three actors. The opportunity for Nick Bowling and Vanessa Stalling to envision a new production specifically for Chicago audiences is an honor—as is the furthering of our relationship with Broadway In Chicago, with whom we partnered on another epic Tony Award-winning play, Oslo, in 2019.”

Told in three parts over one evening, THE LEHMAN TRILOGY is the quintessential story of western capitalism, rendered through the lens of a single immigrant family. On a cold September morning in 1844, a young man from Bavaria stands on a New York dockside dreaming of a new life in the new world. He is soon joined by his two brothers, and an American epic begins. 163 years later, the firm they establish—Lehman Brothers—spectacularly collapses into bankruptcy, triggering the largest financial crisis in history. Weaving together nearly two centuries of family history, this theatrical event charts the humble beginnings, outrageous successes, and devastating failure of the financial institution that would ultimately bring the global economy to its knees.                      

TimeLine’s production of THE LEHMAN TRILOGY is its Chicago premiere. The Italian theatre production had its world premiere in 2015 at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan, directed by the late Italian theater innovator Luca Ronconi. THE LEHMAN TRILOGY made its English-language debut in London on July 12, 2018 at the National Theatre's Lyttelton Theatre. On October 14, 2021, the play opened on Broadway. Both the London and Broadway premieres were directed by Sam Mendes.                 

Throughout its production history, THE LEHMAN TRILOGY has been met with extraordinary international acclaim. The Guardian proclaimed it “a kaleidoscopic social and political metaphor” and “an intimate epic about the shifting definition of the American Dream.” The Chicago Tribune praised it as “a masterwork” and The New York Times as “a vivid tale of profit and pain.” Vanity Fair raved that it is “true blockbuster theatre that will hold you captive until the final curtain call,” with Time Out New York saying “it leaves you dazzled.” And the Wall Street Journal declared that THE LEHMAN TRILOGY “surpasses all praise.”                                       

THE LEHMAN TRILOGY received five 2022 Tony Awards, including Best Play, plus Drama League and Outer Critics Circle awards, and was nominated for five Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Play.

 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE AND LOCATION

TimeLine’s Chicago premiere of THE LEHMAN TRILOGY begins performances on Tuesday, September 19. Opening Night is Wednesday, September 27 at 7:30 p.m. Performances run through October 29, 2023 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago.

The performance schedule is Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. (also 2 p.m. matinees on October 4, 11, and 25), Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (except no 7:30 p.m. on October 8, 15, and 29).

 

BUYING TICKETS

The best way to secure seats to THE LEHMAN TRILOGY is to purchase a 2023-2024 TimeLine FlexPass Subscription. Four different tiers of 4-Admission FlexPasses, priced from $119 - $275, will go on sale soon (specific date to be announced). The three other productions of TimeLine’s 2023-2024 season are still to be announced. For more information, call (773) 281-8463 x6 or visit  timelinetheatre.com.

THE LEHMAN TRILOGY will be part of the upcoming Broadway In Chicago season on sale in Spring 2023. Individual tickets for THE LEHMAN TRILOGY will go on sale in July 2023 (specific date to be announced). Group tickets for 10 or more are now on sale by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. For more information, visit  or  timelinetheatre.com.



ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Stefano Massini (Playwright) is an internationally renowned novelist and playwright who regularly contributes to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. For several years he has served as artistic consultant at Piccolo Teatro di Milano - Teatro d'Europa. His works, including The Lehman Trilogy, have been translated into 27 languages, and his plays have been performed in more theaters around the world than those of any other living Italian writer, produced as far afield as Iran and Korea, and staged by directors such as Luca Ronconi and Sam Mendes. His most acclaimed works, beyond The Lehman Trilogy, include Intractable Woman, a decades-long international success; Ladies Football Club, which premiered to wide acclaim in Spain; and 7 Minutes, hailed by LeMonde as a "masterpiece" at the Comédie Française. He has won numerous Italian awards, including the Premio Vittorio Tondelli and the Premio Ubu. Qualcosa sui Lehman (The Lehman Trilogy) was among the most acclaimed novels published in Italy in recent years and won the Selezione Campiello Prize, the Super Mondello Prize, the De Sica Prize, the Prix Médicis Essai and the Prix Meilleur Livre Stranger. He is currently creating a new multi-part play about the history of the atomic bomb, entitled Manhattan Project.

Ben Power (Adapter) is a writer for theatre and the screen. For the last 12 years he has worked at the National Theatre as associate director and deputy artistic director and was responsible for the temporary theatre The Shed. Work for the screen includes Munich: The Edge of War and The Hollow Crown (BAFTA nominations for Best Single Drama and Best Mini-Series). Work for the stage includes adaptations of DH Lawrence’s Husbands & Sons, Euripides' Medea and Ibsen’s Emperor & Galilean, all for the National; A Tender Thing for the RSC and Complicite’s A Disappearing Number (Olivier and Evening Standard Awards). He was associate director of Headlong where he adapted Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author and Marlowe’s Faustus. He is currently creating a television series for Working Title and is published by Faber & Faber.

Nick Bowling (Co-Director) was the founding Artistic Director and is now Associate Artistic Director and a Company Member of TimeLine Theatre, where he has directed more than 30 productions. He is the recipient of eight Jeff Awards for Outstanding Direction (The History Boys, The Normal Heart, Fiorello!, This Happy Breed, and The Crucible at TimeLine, Ragtime at Marriott Theatre, Sondheim on Sondheim at Porchlight Music Theatre, and Another Part of the Forest at Eclipse Theatre) and also received Jeff Award nominations for Oslo, Blood and Gifts, The Farnsworth Invention, Hauptmann, and The Lion in Winter at TimeLine; Closer Than Ever at Porchlight Music Theatre; and The Sound of Music, City of Angels, The King and I, and Man of La Mancha at Marriott Theatre. Other recent credits at TimeLine include the Chicago premiere of J.T. Rogers’ Oslo at Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse, Campaigns, Inc.; Master Class; The Audience; A Disappearing Number; The Last Wife; and Blood and Gifts. Other Chicago credits include Marriott’s Oliver! and The Bridges of Madison County, Paramount's A Christmas Story, Northwestern University’s Guys and Dolls and Cabaret, Porchlight’s A Catered Affair, Writers Theatre's Bach at Leipzig, and Shattered Globe Theatre's Time of the Cuckoo and Frozen Assets.

Vanessa Stalling (Co-Director) returns to TimeLine, where she previously directed the sold-out, extended production of A Shayna Maidel. She is the director and adaptor of the Jeff Award-winning play United Flight 232. Stalling was the Associate Artistic Director of Redmoon Theater in Chicago, a Michael Maggio Fellow at Goodman Theatre, and has been recognized as one of “The Fifty People Who Really Perform” for Chicago by Newcity magazine. Recent productions include Fen at The Court Theatre, The Great Leap at Asolo Rep, and Roe at the Goodman. She is also the Head of Directing at the University of California San Diego.

ABOUT TIMELINE’S CURRENT 2022-2023 SEASON 

Now playing at TimeLine Theatre is the world premiere of Boulevard of Bold Dreams by LaDarrion Williams, a Los Angeles-based playwright new to Chicago audiences, directed by Malkia Stampley. Set on the night in 1940 that Hattie McDaniel made history at the Oscars, this is a story of dreamers striving to overcome considerable obstacles and fighting for recognition amidst the racism and inequity of Hollywood. Performances run through March 19. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (773) 281-8463 x6 or visit timelinetheatre.com.

Following Boulevard of Bold Dreams, TimeLine has 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. 

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; Laughing Acres Family Foundation; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at Prince; National Endowment for the Arts; Polk Bros. Foundation; The Shubert Foundation; Van Dam Charitable Foundation; and Walder Foundation. TimeLine also acknowledges the support of 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).

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. 

For more information, visit BroadwayInChicago.com or Facebook (@BroadwayInChicago), Twitter (@broadwaychicago), and Instagram (@broadwayinchicago), and #broadwayinchicago.



Celebrate The First Ever ODD IN AVONDALE’S VALLOWEEN THIS VALENTINE’S DAY, FEBRUARY 14th!

 IT’S HALLOWEEN MEETS VALENTINE’S DAY WITH FIRST EVER  

“ODD IN AVONDALE’S VALLOWEEN” 

PRESENTED BY SMALL AVONDALE BUSINESSES 

SHOWCASING THEIR MOST ODD, UNIQUE AND RARE FINDS ALL IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD

Odd in Avondale’s Valloween Event Shows Off 

Why Time Out Declared Avondale 

“One of the Coolest Neighborhoods in the World” (2022) 

as Businesses such as The Alley, Insect Asylum, Avondale Bowl and More Offer Discounts, Treats and Other ODD Assortments 

One Day Only – Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14 

 “Odd in Avondale’s Valloween” is a one day only special event hosted by the most unique and odd small businesses in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood.There aren’t enough colorful adjectives to describe these businesses or enough wild categories to list about their offerings one might find -  all in one day -  as these businesses welcome all to their February 14 Valloween event. For the most up-to-date information on “Odd in Avondale’s Valloween,” please visit https://www.facebook.com/thealleystores or https://www.instagram.com/thealleychicago/ or reach out directly to any of the businesses listed below. 

“Odd in Avondale’s Valloween” Participants, Information and February 14 hours are listed below:  (NOTE: all specials are subject to change)

The Alley • 2620 W. Fletcher St. •  12 – 7 p.m. • www.thealleychicago.com • Facebook • Instagram 

VALLOWEEN SPECIAL: 

In true Alley form, they will not be announcing their special offer until 2 days prior to the event (Sunday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m.). Follow them here to get the details. 

ABOUT THE ALLEY

The Alley opened in 1976 on Clark St. in Lakeview and recently moved to their warehouse location in Avondale, houses a selection of hundreds of t-shirts for under $20, a collection of leather jackets, belt buckles, keychains, wallets and jewelry – all of which draws inspirations from the dark side, pop culture and everywhere in between. The Alley Chicago has been truly a unique and one-of-a-kind location in Chicago for nearly five decades.. If you're shopping for something with a skull and crossbones, vampires, brass knuckles, zombies, pirates, metal, rock and roll or pretty much anything else they will likely have it. 

Avondale Bowl • 3118 N. Milwaukee Ave. • 5 p.m. – 12 a.m. •  www.avondalebowl.com • Facebook • Instagram

VALLOWEEN SPECIAL: 

Avondale Bowl will offer 50% off bowling, shoe rental and pitchers of beer to all customers on Valentine’s Day. 

ABOUT AVONDALE BOWL 

Avondale Bowl is an eight-lane bowling alley and bar on Chicago's northwest side Avondale neighborhood. Originally built in the 1920s, it operated under many names, including Court Lanes, Avondale Recreation, and, from the 1950s until its closure in 1990, as Northwest Bowl. It subsequently sat vacant and fell into disrepair until 2018, when the current owners undertook to restore these vintage lanes to their former glory. Fast forward two years, with the restoration complete, the owners were able to turn their focus to developing a bar program that gives a nod to bowling's blue collar past - you can always get a beer and a shot for $6 - while also showcasing the Chicagoland area's robust selection of local breweries and distilleries, as well as the citizenry's penchant for a well-crafted cocktail. Originally opening in January 2020, the owners are grateful to have been able to weather the pandemic and have reopened our doors as of May 2021. 

Insect Asylum • 2870 N. Milwaukee Ave. • 1 - 8 p.m. • www.theinsectasylum.com • Facebook • Instagram

VALLOWEEN SPECIAL: 

The Insect Asylum will offer 10% off admission to “Bones & Butterfly,” a resin jewelry workshop. Ethically harvested bones, beautiful real butterflies wings, natural crystal and other gorgeous embellishments to make memorable pendants will be provided at the unique event.  This intimate event is $55 and only available for 5 couples only. The price includes all materials for the pendant and admission to a touch-friendly nature museum and insect menagerie is included with purchase. Add code “VALLOWEEN” during online checkout or call the store, 312-961-7219, to secure the discount. 

ABOUT THE INSECT ASYLUM

The Insect Asylum is truly a unique space where one will be faced with oddities of the natural world. As the name implies, thousands of preserved insects as well as a carefully curated live bug collection can be found within the walls of they asylum. Impressive vintage taxidermy of enormous animals, ancient fossils, shells and beautiful minerals also adorn the space.  They host a variety of engaging activities that are available for both adults and children as well as various events which cater to the curious, the cautious, the sensory seeking and the overstimulated.

Live Wire Lounge • 3394 N. Milwaukee Ave. • 6 p.m. – 2 a.m. • www.livewireloungechicago.com • Facebook • Instagram 

VALLOWEEN SPECIAL: 

In the spirit of the first “Odd In Avondale’s Valloween” event, Live Wire Lounge will open on a rare Tuesday for the “$3 U-Call-It Lonely Hearts Club.”  The lounge will be both “My Bloody Valentine” movies (1981 and 2009) and playing “Loveless” by My Bloody Valentine in between the two movies. In addition to the  “$3 U-Call-It”, anyone with a “Valloween” receipt from any of the participating businesses will get a complementary shot of Malort or PBR can!

Movie Times: 

“My Bloody Valentine” (1981) 8 p.m.

“Loveless” by My Bloody Valentine 10 p.m.

“My Bloody Valentine 3D” (2009) 11 p.m.

ABOUT LIVE WIRE LOUNGE

Formerly the Peacock Lounge since the ‘50s, Live Wire was the first bar to bring the rock and roll attitude to Avondale. A late-night conversation and a few (well, maybe more than a few) drinks were had among friends. A phone call or two later and in February 2011, keys were exchanged and, as they say the rest is history. Live Wire has hosted countless national touring bands, local events -  everything from burlesque nights, pinball leagues, clothing swaps, popup food events, vendor markets, cat shelter building events and countless fundraisers and charity events.  

Live Wire Lounge’s Chicago History Lesson: Former Peacock owner Andrew Zelek was gunned down inside the bar back in 1962 and some have said that his presence can still be felt on occasion.  

Kuma’s Corner • 2900 W. Belmont Ave. • 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. • www.kumascorner.com Facebook • Instagram  

VALLOWEEN SPECIAL: 

Kuma’s Corner will offer 10 (ONLY 10!) pre-booked Valentine dinners which will include one appetizer, entrée, drinks and a dessert. Each person who books one of the 10 dinners will be entered into a raffle to win a gift package filled with romantic and cool gifts from local businesses. 

FOR SINGLES: A wine special will be offered. Note: this offer is available at all Kuma’s location – book online at https://kumascorner.com/location/kumas-corner.

ABOUT KUMA’S CORNER

Kuma’s started in 2005 with its flagship location at the corner of Belmont and Francisco Ave. From their origins as a corner bar with American bistro flare, they have grown to six locations that offer the finest burgers, all named after heavy metal bands. Their mission: Support Community. Eat Beef. Bang your head. 

Additional participants include the following (below), be sure to follow all of the participants on social media to learn about any changes or new added specials in the coming days! 

The Horror House • 2911. W. Belmont Ave. • www.thecrypticcloset.com • Facebook • Instagram 

Reed’s Local • 3107 W. Belmont Ave. • www.reedslocal.com • Facebook • Instagram

The Brewed • 2843 N. Milwaukee Ave. •  www.thebrewedcoffee.com • Facebook • Instagram

Sleeping Village • 3734 W. Belmont Ave. • www.sleeping-village.com • Facebook • Instagram 

Chicago Premiere of HEISENBERG: The Uncertainty Principle Via Griffin Theatre Company at Raven Theatre February 23 – March 26, 2023

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Chicago Premiere!

Griffin Theatre Company Presents

HEISENBERG: The Uncertainty Principle

By Simon Stephens

Directed by Nate Cohen

February 23 – March 26, 2023 at Raven Theatre

 Griffin Theatre Company is pleased to continue its 33rd season with the Chicago premiere drama HEISENBERG: The Uncertainty Principle by Simon Stephens, directed by Nate Cohen, playing February 23 – March 26, 2023 on Raven Theatre’s Schwartz Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. in Chicago. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, January 25 at www.griffintheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177. I'll be out for the press opening February 26th so check back shortly after for my full review. 

The cast of Griffin Theatre Company’s Midwest premiere of HEISENBERG: The Uncertainty Principle includes (left to right) Scott Anderson and Laura Coover.

A man sits on a bench in train station in London. A woman from New Jersey impulsively plants a kiss on his neck. What starts as a chance encounter between two strangers turns into a fascinating and life-changing game. The Griffin Theatre returns to the work of Tony Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens with this fascinating Chicago premiere. HEISENBERG lays bare the beauty in the natural unpredictability of human connection. 

The Griffin Theatre previously produced the American premieres of Simon Stephens' On the Shore of the Wide World, Port and the multiple Jeff Award winning Punk Rock. HEISENBERG may be Simon Stephens most intimate play as it reveals in dramatic and comic fashion how opposites attract.

The production team includes Garrett Bell (Scenic and Lighting Designer), Rachel Sypniewski (Costume Designer), L.J. Luthringer (Sound Designer), Paloma Locsin(Properties Designer), Adam Goldstein (Dialect Coach), Matthew Chase(Production Manager) and Jake Snell (Stage Manager).

COVID-19 safety: Raven Theatre will require patrons to wear a face mask at all times inside the building (when not eating or drinking in the lobby). The theatre will no longer require patrons to provide proof of vaccination to attend a production. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please contact the box office to reschedule your tickets free of charge. For all of Raven’s current COVID-19 protocols, visitraventheatre.com/covid-19.

Cast (in alphabetical order): Scott Anderson (Alex) and Laura Coover (Georgie).

Location: Raven Theatre’s Schwartz Stage, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago

Dates: Previews: Thursday, February 23 at 7:30 pm, Friday, February 24 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, February 26 at 7:30 pm

Press performance: Sunday, February 26 at 7 pm

Regular run: Thursday, March 2 – Sunday, March 26, 2023

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm.Please note: there will not be a 3 pm performance on Sunday, February 26.

Tickets: Previews $30. Regular run $40. Students/active military and veterans $15.Group discounts are available for groups of ten or more. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, January 25 at www.griffintheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177.

 

About the Artists

Simon Stephens (Playwright) is an English playwright, whose recent works include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (2013 Olivier Award Best New Play, 2015 Tony Award Best Play), Heisenberg (2015 Off-Broadway), numerous adaptations of shows like the National Theatre's 2016 The Threepenny Opera, Chekov's The Seagull (2017) and The Cherry Orchard (2014), plus On the Shore of the Wide World (2006 Olivier Award Best New Play). Stephens ran the Young Writers' Program at the Royal Court Theatre in London, premiering several shows there including Motortown (2006), Country Music (2004), Herons (2001) and Bluebird (1998). Currently Stephens is an Artistic Associate at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in London, where his adaptation of The Seagull played in 2017. A father of three, he lives in London with his wife and family.

Nate Cohen (Director) is a director, teacher and activist. He is currently an adjunct professor at Northwestern University in Chicago, where he recently graduated with an MFA in Directing, and an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Chicago credits include productions with Porchlight Music Theatre (Director - I Am A Camera (upcoming), Dramaturg - Cabaret), Steppenwolf Theatre (AD - Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Script Assistant - Linda Vista), Northlight Theatre (AD -Mr Dickens' Hat, The Book of Will and Beauty Queen of Leenane), Collaboraction (Director - Manspread Madness) and the Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts (Director - Peter and the Starcatcher, Winnie-the-Pooh, The Angry Brigade, Midsummer A Play with Songs). Prior to moving to the Midwest, he was a Company Member at Theatre Vertigo, sat on the board of the Portland Area Theatre Alliance and worked extensively in various capacities with companies such as Artists Repertory Theatre, the Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble, Third Rail Repertory Theatre, Action/Adventure and Theatre Vertigo, where he was a company member and resident director. He was the lead producer of the international touring production of EM Lewis’ The Gun Show and has also directed the world premieres of the KCACTF award-winning plays Middle Names and Alone in a Taxicab in a Snowy Foreign Country at Three in the Morning. Nate is also the author of the viral flow-chart "Should I Direct this Play? A Guide for Well-intentioned Straight White Men". As a teacher, Nate has worked as a lecturer at Northwestern University and as a teaching artist at the Northlight Theatre, Lookingglass, the Institute of Contemporary Performance, Lewis & Clark College, the National High School Institute, Oregon Children's Theatre and more than a dozen public schools in and around Portland. He served for four years as the Program Director of Isinglass and Artists Repertory Theatre's esteemed Egg Summer Theatre Leadership Academy and has taught Non-violent Direct Action, protest safety and bias intervention workshops throughout the United States. 

Griffin Theatre Season Sponsors: Pamela Monaco & Donald Kehne, Barbara & Randy Thomas and Gale Dreas & Tom Brennan

The Griffin Theatre Company is partially supported by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The MacArthur Funds for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and the American Rescue Plan.

The Griffin Theatre Company is a Blue Star Theater and is proud to support our military enlisted and veterans. 

 

About Griffin Theatre Company

Established in 1988. the mission of the Griffin Theatre Company is to create extraordinary and meaningful theatrical experiences for both children and adults by building bridges of understanding between generations that instill in its audience an appreciation of the performing arts. Through artistic collaboration the Griffin Theatre Company produces literary adaptations, original work and classic plays that challenge and inspire, with wit, style and compassion for the audience.

The Griffin Theatre Company is the recipient of 125 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations for theater excellence in Chicago. The Griffin was honored with four 2018 Jeff awards for Ragtime including Best Ensemble, Best Musical, Best Director-Musical and Best Performer in a Supporting Role-Musical. Additionally, the company was the repeat winner of the 2016 Jeff Award for Best Production of a Play for London Wallhaving won the same award in 2015 for its production of Men Should Weep.

In addition, the Griffin is a nationally recognized producer of youth touring theatre in the United States. The Griffin’s national audience exceeds 100,000 young people and adults each year. Tours have included such prestigious venues as Cleveland Playhouse Square, Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York City, Tennessee Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville and the Cerritos Center for the Arts in Cerritos, California. Touring productions have included both youth focused plays, Frindle and The Stinky Cheese Man and the Griffin’s hit adult production of Letters Home—a production that pays tribute to the men and women in the US military, In to America, a play that traces America’s 400 year immigrant history and Ghosts of War. Most recently, the Griffin produced the world premiere production of the Emmy Award-winning children’s television show, Innovation Nation-LIVE. Overall, Griffin’s touring productions have been performed in 45 of our United States.

For additional information, visit www.griffintheatre.com.

Raven Theatre Renames East Stage “The Johnson Stage" In Honor Of Stephen Johnson

Raven Theatre is pleased to announce its 85-seat East Stage has been renamed “The Johnson Stage,” in honor of longtime Board Member and supporter Stephen Johnson. 

 

Thanks in part to a generous gift from Johnson, the theatre has been revitalized with new seating and other improvements. The space was officially dedicated during a ceremony on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. The newly-renovated theatre will be unveiled to the public during Raven’s upcoming Chicago premiere of Right To Be Forgotten, playing February 9 – March 26, 2023.

Comments Raven Managing Director Markie Gray, “It is not an exaggeration to say that Raven Theatre would not be where it is today without Stephen Johnson. His impact on our organization, from board leadership to financial support to care for our staff and artists, is immeasurable. We are honored to have his name on our theatre and hope it inspires others to emulate his true service to the arts.”

As Raven Theatre celebrates its 40th anniversary season, theatergoers are also invited to sponsor a new, personalized seat in The Johnson Theatre for $500, which includes an engraved plaque to ensure their legacy with Raven for years to come. For information visit raventheatre.com/support or call (773) 338-6537.

Longtime Raven Theatre Board Member and supporter Stephen Johnsonin the new seating of the “Johnson Stage.” Photo by Jenn Udoni/Franco Images.

Stephen Johnson joined Raven’s Board of Directors in January 2014 and served as the Treasurer until he assumed his current position of President in May 2021. In addition to years of service and philanthropy, he has served as the theatre’s volunteer bookkeeper since 2017. Johnson enjoys the intellectual stimulation provided by theater, having retired to Chicago (to live near his two sons and their families after having lived near his daughter and her family while working in the St Louis area) following careers in academia, public accounting and manufacturing. He has a B.A. in History from Austin College and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin. 

About Raven Theatre

Raven Theatre tells stories of today and the past that connect us to our cultural landscape. Through its plays, as well as its educational programming, Raven is committed to serving our communities’ needs through the arts.

Raven Theatre Company is funded in part by The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at Prince, Polk Bros Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, S&C Electric Company Fund, Paul M. Angell Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Chicago Premiere of RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN Via Raven Theatre February 9 – March 26, 2023

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Raven Theatre Presents the Chicago Premiere of

RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN

By Sharyn Rothstein

Directed by Sarah Gitenstein

February 9 – March 26, 2023

PHOTO CREDIT: The cast of Raven Theatre’s Chicago premiere of Right To Be Forgotten includes (top, l to r) Lucy Carapetyan, Kroydell Galima and Susaan Jamshidi with (bottom, l to r) Kelsey Elyse Rodriguez, Adam Shalzi and Jamila Tyler.

  

Raven Theatre, Chicago’s newest Equity-affiliated theatre, is pleased to continue its 40th Anniversary Season with the Chicago premiere of Right To Be Forgotten, Sharyn Rothstein’s smart and timely story about human forgiveness in the age of the internet. Directed by Sarah Gitenstein, Right To Be Forgotten will play February 9 – March 26, 2023 in Raven’s 85-seat East Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville) in Chicago. I'll be out for the press opening February 13th, so check back soon for my full review.

The cast includes Lucy Carapetyan, Kroydell Galima, Susaan Jamshidi, Kelsey Elyse Rodriguez, Adam Shalzi and Jamila Tyler.

Single tickets are now on sale at raventheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177. 

The internet never forgets, and Derril Lark’s mistake at 17 haunts him online a decade later. Desperate for a normal life, he goes to extraordinary lengths to erase his indiscretion. But freedom of information is a big business, and the tech companies aren’t going down without a fight. Secrets, lies and political backstabbing abound in this riveting new drama about one man’s fierce battle to reclaim his privacy by Primus Prize winning playwright Sharyn Rothstein (By the Water, Northlight Theatre).

Comments Director Sarah Gitenstein, “As the internet continues to record our personal narrative, from social media to the cloud, we must grapple with the concept that our memory, however subjective, has become permanent. Who we were and mistakes we may have made are cataloged, searchable and available for reinvestigation. But what if that could change? The European Union has recently legislated The Right to be Forgotten, an act that allows individuals to request the removal of personal information from search engines. But in the American constitutional system, where freedom of speech is protected, such an act is nearly impossible to adopt. So, what happens to people who want to escape the new digital permanence of memory? I’m excited to dig into these questions and ideas as we start work on Sharyn Rothstein’s nuanced take on the inescapable impact the internet has on our lives.”

The production team includes Jeffrey D. Kmiec (Scenic Designer), Finnegan Chu (Costume Designer), Liz Gomez (Lighting Designer), Eric Backus (Sound Designer), Ivy Treccani (Props Designer), Reese Craig and Liviu Pasare (Projection Designers), Sarah Slight (Dramaturg), Nora Geffen (Assistant Dramaturg), Catherine Miller (Casting Director), Mia Thomas (Assistant Costume Designer), Tor Campbell (Assistant Director), Lorenzo Blackett (Production Manager), Alan Weusthoff (Technical Director), Rose Johnson (Scenic Artist), Mark Brown (Master Electrician), James Chapman (Stage Manager) and Shana Gordon (Assistant Stage Manager).

COVID-19 safety: Raven Theatre will require patrons to wear a face mask at all times inside the building (when not eating or drinking in the lobby). The theatre will no longer require patrons to provide proof of vaccination to attend a production. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please contact the box office to reschedule your tickets free of charge. For all of Raven’s current COVID-19 protocols, visit raventheatre.com/covid-19.

Chicago Theatre Week

Right To Be Forgotten will be featured as part of Chicago Theatre Week, an annual celebration of the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago during which visitors and residents can access $15 or $30 value-priced tickets. As a program of the League of Chicago Theatres, in partnership with Choose Chicago, Chicago Theatre Week takes place February 16 – 26, 2023. Find more information at ChicagoTheatreWeek.com. Raven Theatre will offer $30 tickets to performances of Right To Be Forgotten.

Cast (in alphabetical order): Lucy Carapetyan (Annie Zahirovic), Kroydell Galima (Alvaro Santos), Susaan Jamshidi (Marta Lee), Kelsey Elyse Rodriguez (Sarita Imari), Adam Shalzi (Derril Lark) and Jamila Tyler (Eve Selinsky).

Location: Raven Theatre East Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville), Chicago

Dates: Previews: Thursday, February 9 at 7:30 pm, Friday, February 10 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, February 11 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, February 12 at 3 pm

Press performance: Monday, February 13 at 7:30 pm

Regular run: Thursday, February 16 – Sunday, March 26, 2023

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

Tickets: Previews $30. Regular run $40. Students/active military and veterans $15. Single tickets are currently available at raventheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177.

 

Closed Captioned performance: Sunday, March 5 at 3 pm. Note: screens are limited.

Touch Tour: Sunday, March 12 – 1:30 pm touch tour, 3 pm performance.

These accessibility features are available at no additional cost, with advance reservations required by contacting the box office at info@raventheatre.com or (773) 338-2177.

Group tickets: Special group rates are available. For information, call (773) 338-2177 or e-mail info@raventheatre.com.

 

Plan Your Visit:

Free parking is provided in a lot adjacent to the theatre – additional street parking is available. Nearest El station: Granville Red Line. Buses: #22 (Clark), #36 (Broadway), #151 (Sheridan), #155 (Devon), #84 (Peterson).

 

About the Artists

Sharyn Rothstein (Playwright) is an award-winning playwright and television writer. Her plays and musicals have been produced around the country, as well as internationally. Sharyn is currently writing for the spin-off of the sci-fi hit Orphan Black, soon to be on AMC, and was a writer and producer for the USA legal drama SUITS for many years. Her play By The Water was first produced by Manhattan Theater Club and Ars Nova and was the recipient of the American Theater Critic’s Association Francesca Primus Prize. Her play All The Days was produced at the McCarter Theater Center, directed by Emily Mann, and her technology drama Right To Be Forgotten premiered at Arena Stage, directed by Seema Sueko. Her audio drama Deep Fake, commissioned by Audible, was released this past fall. Sharyn holds an MFA in dramatic writing from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, and a Masters in Public Health from Hunter College. She teaches television writing at NYU, and lives in Brooklyn and Maine.

Sarah Gitenstein (Director) is a freelance director and educator in Chicago and works as the Associate Producer to the MFA Theater Program at Northwestern University. She hails from Washington, D.C. and graduated from Kenyon College (BA Theater) and Northwestern University (MFA Directing). Directing credits include work at American Theater Company, Court Theatre, Curious Theatre, The Gift, Raven Theatre and A Red Orchid Theatre. For The New Coordinates, Sarah directed Kate and Sam Are Not Breaking Up (Jeff Nomination – New Work) and the world premiere, Off-Broadway, national tour and commercial runs of 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche (Winner Best Production 2012 New York International Fringe Festival). Sarah is an adjunct professor at Northwestern University, where she teaches about her research in Best Practices in Directing. www.sarahgitenstein.com

About Raven Theatre

Raven Theatre tells stories of today and the past that connect us to our cultural landscape. Through its plays, as well as its educational programming, Raven is committed to serving our communities’ needs through the arts.

Raven Theatre Company is funded in part by The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at Prince, Polk Bros Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, S&C Electric Company Fund, Paul M. Angell Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

FREE With RSVP Kick Off Celebration For Chicago Theatre Week February 13, 2023 at The Den Theatre

League of Chicago Theatres to Host a Free, Public Celebration 

to Kick Off Chicago Theatre Week February 13, 2023 

at The Den Theatre

The League of Chicago Theatres, in partnership with Choose Chicago, announces a celebratory evening of food, drinks, mingling, and performances to launch Chicago Theatre Week 2023. The event will bring together a community of theatre-makers and theatregoers on Monday, February 13, from 5pm-7:30pm at The Den Theatre, 1331 N Milwaukee in Chicago. The celebration will include a welcome by League of Chicago Theatres Executive Director Marissa Lynn Ford and Chicago’s First Lady Amy Eshleman with performances of select productions featured during Chicago Theatre Week and in celebration of Black History Month.

The kick-off celebration is free and open to the public. Capacity is limited and reservations are required. CLICK HERE TO RSVP. 

Marissa Lynn Ford comments, “Theatre brings people together people across different communities and cultures, and I can’t think of a more fitting launch to Chicago Theatre Week than gathering people from across the city to celebrate theatre, dance and comedy in Chicago together. This first-ever public event welcomes everyone as we celebrate one of the best theatre cities in the world.”

Performances at the event will include selections from:

Broadway in Bronzeville’s

Queens of Policy

by the Harold Washington Cultural Center

written and directed by Jimalita Tilman

 

Definition Theatre Company’s

Alaiyo, a black American love poem

by Micah Ariel Watson, directed by McKenzie Chinn

performed by Felicia Oduh & Patrick Newson Jr.

 

Invictus Theatre Company’s

The Mountaintop

by Katori Hall, directed by Aaron Reese Boseman

performed by Mikha’el Amin & Ny’ajai Ellison

 

Mercury Theater Chicago’s

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill

by Lanie Robertson, directed by Christopher Chase Carter and Alexis J. Roston

performed by Alexis J. Roston

 

About Chicago Theatre Week

Chicago Theatre Week (#CTW23) will take place February 16-26, 2023, and is an annual celebration of the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago during which visitors and residents can access value-priced tickets. Chicago Theatre Week is a program of the League of Chicago Theatres in partnership with Choose Chicago.

The value-priced CTW tickets will be $30, $15, or less and are on sale at ChicagoTheatreWeek.com.

Currently, more than 70 productions are participating, offering value-priced tickets to productions throughout the city and suburbs. The program continues to bring in new audiences to area theatres with an average of 2/3 of attendees visiting their chosen theatre for the first time. Despite the pandemic, in February 2022 more than 10,500 value-priced tickets were sold to over 60 participating shows and almost 400 individual performances. Chicago Theatre Week, a program of the League of Chicago Theatres in partnership with Choose Chicago, will take place February 16-26, 2023. 

“Theatre at its root is about sharing stories. Every experience whether you are seeing a show for the first time or the 100th is completely unique in the way it’s told, the reaction from the audience, the actors on stage, the interpretation of the director, and the person you choose to share that moment with,” said League of Chicago Theatres Executive Director Marissa Lynn Ford. “Chicago Theatre Week gives you the opportunity to experience multiple stories and participate in this unique experience across the city. There is a story for everybody on our stages.”

“Nothing can replace the experience of a live show, and Chicago Theatre Week is the perfect time to explore some of Chicago’s incredible productions,” said Lynn Osmond, President and CEO of Choose Chicago. “We are proud to partner with the League of Chicago Theatres to present this exciting celebration of Chicago’s unique and vibrant theatre scene.”

Chicago Theatre Week is presented by the League of Chicago Theatres in partnership with Choose Chicago. Subscribe to the Theatre Week email newsletter for updates and announcements.

The official hashtag for Chicago Theatre Week 2023 is #CTW23.

 

About Chicago theatre 

Chicago theatre is the leader in the U.S. with more than 250 theatres throughout Chicagoland, comprising a rich and varied community ranging from storefront, non-union theatres to the most renowned resident theatres in the country, including 6 which have been honored with Regional Tony Awards, and the largest touring Broadway organization in the nation. Chicago’s theatres serve 5 million audience members annually and have a combined budget of more than $250 million. Chicago produces and/or presents more world premieres annually than any other city in the nation. Each year Chicago theatres send new work to resident theatres across the country, to Broadway, and around the world. For more information, visit www.chicagoplays.com. #ChiTheatre

The League of Chicago Theatres’ Mission Statement

Theatre is essential to the life of a great city and to its citizens. The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theatres, which leverages its collective strength to support, promote and advocate for Chicago’s theatre industry. Through our work, we ensure that theatre continues to thrive in our city.

 

About Choose Chicago

Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city and its member business community. Follow @choosechicago on Facebook, 

Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and tag #ChicaGOandKNOW. For more information, visit choosechicago.com.