SAVE THE DATES: Chicago Theatre Week Returns February 9-19th, 2017

Chicago Theatre Week 2017 Dates Announced

February 9 – 19, 2017

Tickets On Sale Tuesday, January 10 at 10 am CST

Chicago Theatre Week (#CTW17), an annual celebration of the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago, will take place February 9 – 19, 2017, spanning a week and two full weekends. Heading into its fifth year, Chicago Theatre Week is a program of the League of Chicago Theatres in partnership with Choose Chicago. Tickets are priced at $30, $15, or less and will go on sale Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 10:00am CST.

All participating Theatre Week shows and $15 and $30 ticket offer details will be listed on the Theatre Week website, www.ChicagoTheatreWeek.com, when tickets go on sale on January 10, 2017. A sample of the many productions expected to participate are:

THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD – Filament Theatre

CARMEN – Lyric Opera of Chicago

DEATH OF A SALESMAN – Redtwist Theatre

FACELESS – Northlight Theatre

GLORIA – Goodman Theatre

LOVE’S LABOR’S LOST – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

MR. AND MRS. PENNYWORTH – Lookingglass Theatre

STRAIGHT WHITE MEN – Steppenwolf Theatre

SWEENEY TODD – Paramount Theatre

THE WOLF AT THE END OF THE BLOCK – Teatro Vista

A WONDER IN MY SOUL – Victory Gardens Theater

In February 2016, 124 productions offered value-priced tickets for performances during Chicago Theatre Week. Almost 11,000 Chicago residents and visitors spanning 40 states attended a show during Chicago Theatre Week. This coming February, visitors and residents will again have the opportunity to sample the extraordinary range of theatrical offerings throughout Chicagoland. 

“This year marks the fifth year of Chicago Theatre Week—and each year, the program proves more successful than ever. Theatre Week invites Chicago audiences and visitors to experience the wide range of offerings,” comments Deb Clapp, Executive Director of the League of Chicago Theatres. “We are so thrilled to be able to share the amazing work and we equally love hearing from participants that they visited a favorite theatre or discovered a great new one. This is a week that reminds us all that Chicago is known locally, nationally, and internationally for its theatre scene, and especially this season for generating new work, showcasing fresh talent and spotlighting its rich Chicago tradition.”

“Chicago Theatre Week is an excellent opportunity to experience the breadth of Chicago’s expansive and renowned theatre community and we’re thrilled to see this celebration now in its fifth year,” David Whitaker, President and CEO of Choose Chicago said. “It is our celebrated theatre scene—from the large productions to the Tony-award winning theatres to neighborhood storefront performances—that help make Chicago such an exciting destination. These 11 days offer a unique chance to get the most out of a Chicago theatre itinerary.”

Kate Lipuma, Executive Director of Writers Theatre and Chair of the League of Chicago Theatres adds, “Chicago Theatre Week celebrates the tradition and quality of theatre in Chicago. With over 100 productions during Chicago Theatre Week—in many suburbs and in almost every neighborhood—there are seemingly endless opportunities to visit a favorite theatre and explore new companies all across the city.”

The lead hotel sponsor of Chicago Theatre Week 2017 is Sheraton Grand Chicago.

Chicago Theatre Week is presented by the League of Chicago Theatres in partnership with Choose Chicago. Subscribe to the Theatre Week email newsletter or follow @ChicagoPlays on Twitter for updates and announcements. The official hashtag for Chicago Theatre Week 2017 is #CTW17.

About Chicago theatre

Chicago theatre is a leader in the U.S. with more than 250 theatres throughout Chicagoland, comprising a rich and varied community ranging from storefront, non-union theaters to the most renowned resident theatres in the country, including 5 that 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. In the 2014-2015 season, Chicago theatre companies produced more than 100 world premiere productions and adaptations. Each year, Chicago theatres send new work to resident theatres across the country, to Broadway, and around the world.

About the League of Chicago Theatres

The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theatres which leverages its collective strength to promote, support, and advocate for Chicago's theatre industry locally, nationally, and internationally. The League of Chicago Theatres Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the art of theatre in the Chicago area through audience development and support services for theatres and theatre professionals.

For a comprehensive list of Chicago productions, visit the League of Chicago Theatres website, ChicagoPlays.com.  Half-price tickets are available each week at HotTix.org.  Additional information about Chicago Theatre Week is available at ChicagoTheatreWeek.com.

WIN A Pair of Tickets To The Bardy Bunch, Theatre Y's Macbeth or Dr. Seward's Dracula

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we LOVE to ChiIL out at the theatre. Chi, IL may be called the second city, but our theatre scene is second to none. We have 3 sweet giveaways this week for free pairs of tickets so you can have a fun night out this October! Enter like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often. We're accepting entries for all three through midnight Wednesday 8/12. Feel free to enter all 3 but please read the details and be sure you can attend within the required date choices before entering.

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

The Bardy Bunch, Mercury Theater 

The Bardy Bunch: The War of the Families Partridge and Brady, a musical parody by Stephen Garvey that gained cult status during its Off-Broadway run in 2014, is now playing a limited engagement in Chicago at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue. It is 1974 and we join the Bradys and Patridges just after the ABC Network ceased airing their chronicles. It was a summer when these beloved TV families, no longer under America's watchful eye, met on a collision course in a blood-soaked, vengeance-fueled, lust-filled crossover episode of Shakespearean proportions. For more information, visit TheBardyBunch.com.

WIN 2 Tickets to The Bardy Bunch (up to $116 value) ENTER HERE through midnight Wednesday 8/12 *Valid for any shows through Oct 31st

First Folio Theatre Presents: October 8 - November 6 Come experience the legend of Dracula anew, as First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents the Chicago premiere of DR. SEWARD’S DRACULA, opening Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 8:15 p.m., and running through November 6, 2016, with previews October 5-7. This sinful and spooky adaptation by Joseph Zettelmaier is directed by Jeff Award nominee Alison C. Vesely and produced by David Rice, author of The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe and composer, adaptor, and lyricist of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline: A Folk Tale with Music. Tickets may be purchased by calling the box office at 630.986.8067 or online at www.firstfolio.org. WIN 2 DR. SEWARD’S DRACULA Tickets ($58 value) ENTER HERE through midnight Wednesday 8/12  *Valid for Wednesday and Thursday show dates ONLY through October 30th.

Theatre Y Presents: October 19 - December 4 Following a year-long artistic collaboration with French theatre luminary, Georges Bigot, the Theatre Y Ensemble presents William Shakespeare's MACBETH at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 West Division. An iconic figure to Ariane Mnouchkine's Theatre du Soleil and one of France's most lauded contemporary actors, Bigot brings his lifelong experience and hallmark style of highly physical ensemble work to direct MACBETH, featured as part of Chicago Shakespeare 400 International Arts Festival. What's done cannot be undone. www.theatre-y.com.

WIN 2 Macbeth Tickets ($50 value) ENTER HERE through midnight Wednesday 8/12

*Valid for any show dates October 19-November 27th 

REVIEW: Rabe World Premiere, Visiting Edna Personifies TV and Cancer

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS 

VISITING EDNA 

A WORLD PREMIERE BY DAVID RABE DIRECTED BY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ANNA D. SHAPIRO PLAYING NOW THROUGH NOVEMBER 6, 2016 

41ST SEASON OPENS WITH MOVING NEW PLAY FROM TONY AWARD WINNER DAVID RABE 

Visiting Edna has a slow narrative arc without much action or plot. Still, there are nuggets of dialogue that are pure gold and Debra Monk gives an excellent performance carrying the brunt of the dialogue in what almost amounts to a one woman show. We enjoyed David Rabe's clever construct of personification for both cancer and the TV. This enables some dark humor and inner dialogue with a deadly disease that's amusing yet uniquely disturbing. The TV as constant companion and distraction manages to amplify the loneliness of families scattered by distance and lack of deep communication even when they are together.

Although the rapport is decent between characters, the big reveal about the reason for the rift in the mother/son relationship was anticlimactic. Compared to Rabe's other productions, particularly Good for Otto at The Gift Theatre last season, Visiting Edna is a bit underwhelming, yet still worth a look. Recommended. 

Steppenwolf Theatre Company launches its 41st season, the first curated by Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro, with the moving and enthralling world premiere of Visiting Edna by renowned American playwright David Rabe (Streamers, Good for Otto). Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro (Mary Page Marlowe, August: Osage County) directs this powerful play about the enduring connection between a mother and her son. The cast features Tony and Emmy Award winner Debra Monk as Edna and ensemble member Ian Barford as her son, Andrew. Ensemble members Tim Hopper and Sally Murphy form a supporting trio with Michael Rabe. 

The production runs through November 6, 2015 in the Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - $89) are available through Audience Services at 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org. 

Edna has suffered a number of losses as she has aged, and now faces the stealthy advance of cancer embodied by an intimate figure that she could do without. Home for a visit, Edna’s son Andrew tries to bridge the gulf between the childhood love they shared and the aggressively polite but baffling relationship they now live with. Mother and son stumble toward honesty as they wrestle with the distractions–-both mundane and profound—that keep us from real connection. 

“Steppenwolf is thrilled to bring David Rabe back on our stage after last producing his play Streamers in 1985. Mr. Rabe, along with being a lion of the American Theatre, has impacted every generation of Steppenwolf’s ensemble. With his form-pushing narratives and deeply complex character construction, he has, decade by decade, created a sweeping body of work that represents everything Steppenwolf aspires to be: truthful, brave, original and vital,” shares Director Anna D. Shapiro. 

“Visiting Edna marks Mr. Rabe’s 18th play and signals yet another chapter in his own formidable journey as an artist and we are deeply honored that he has chosen Steppenwolf as his partner for this next chapter,” adds Shapiro. 

   

Visiting Edna features three Steppenwolf ensemble members—Ian Barford, an original cast member of August: Osage County, who performed at Steppenwolf last season in Mary Page Marlowe; Tim Hopper, most recently seen in 2015’s critically acclaimed Between Riverside and Crazy; and Sally Murphy, also an original cast member of August: Osage County, who was last on the Steppenwolf stage in 2012’s Time Stands Still. 

Debra Monk’s stage accolades include a Tony Award for her performance in Redwood Curtain, an Obie award for The Time of the Cuckoo, two Drama Desk Awards for Curtains and Oil City Symphony, and most recently a 2012 Tony Award nomination for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Monk has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including Devil's Advocate, Center Stage and currently both TV series, Mozart in the Jungle and Mercy Street. Michael Rabe was last seen in The Future is Not What It Was at New York’s Kindling Theatre Company and makes his Steppenwolf debut with Visiting Edna. 

BIOS:
David Rabe (Playwright) is an acclaimed American playwright, screenwriter and novelist. He completed his graduate studies in theatre after serving in the army (1965–67), and his experiences as a draftee assigned to a hospital-support unit in Vietnam provided a key influence on his early career as a playwright. Four dramas, later collected in The Vietnam Plays (1993), include his first play, The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel (1971); Sticks and Bones (1972; film 1973), the first of David’s plays to be mounted on Broadway and which won a Tony Award for Best Play; Streamers; and The Orphan (1975), a contemporary reworking of Aeschylus’s Oresteia trilogy. Subsequent plays include In the Boom Boom Room (1975); Goose and Tom Tom; Hurlyburly (1985; film 1998); Those the River Keeps (1991); A Question of Mercy (1998); The Dog Problem (2002); The Black Monk (2004), based on a Chekhov short story; and An Early History of Fire (first performed 2012). Rabe wrote the film adaptations of Streamers and Hurlyburly. He also contributed screenplays for the movies I’m Dancing As Fast As I Can (1982) and Casualties of War (1989). His fiction includes A Primitive Heart (2005), a collection of his short stories and the novels Recital of the Dog (1993); Dinosaurs on the Roof (2008); and Girl by the Road at Night (2010). Most recently, Chicago’s The Gift Theatre produced the world premiere of Good for Otto in 2015 to critical acclaim. 

Anna D. Shapiro (Director) has directed many notable productions with Steppenwolf, including most recently Mary Page Marlowe by ensemble member Tracy Letts. She won the 2008 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Director August: Osage County, also by Letts. In 2011 she received a Tony Award nomination for her direction of The Motherf**ker with the Hat, which she also directed at Steppenwolf. Broadway credits include Larry David’s Fish in the Dark, the revival of Steppenwolf’s production of This Is Our Youth and the Broadway revival of Of Mice and Men, which National Theatre Live selected as the first American production to be broadcast to over 700 cinemas across the US and Canada. Additional Steppenwolf directing credits include A Parallelogram, Up, The Unmentionables, The Pain and the Itch (also at Playwrights Horizons), Tracy Letts’s Man from Nebraska, (named by TIME Magazine as one of the Year’s Top Ten of 2003), Side Man (also in Ireland, Australia and Colorado), among others. She is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and Columbia College and the recipient of a 1996 Princess Grace Award, as well as the 2010 Princess Grace Statue Award. Shapiro began working with Steppenwolf in 1995 as the original director of the New Plays Lab, joined the ensemble in 2005 and became Artistic Director at the start of the 2015/16 Season. 

Visiting Edna by David Rabe opens 41st season (Sept 15 – Nov 6) Page 3 of 4 

Visiting Edna production team includes David Zinn (scenic design), Linda Roethke (costume design), Marcus Doshi (lighting design), Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen (original music and sound design). Additional credits include Jonathan Berry (artistic producer), JC Clementz and Tam Dickson (casting) and Christine D. Freeburg (stage manager) and Brian Maschka (assistant stage manager). 

TICKET AND PRODUCTION INFO
Single tickets to Visiting Edna are available through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org. Regular Run: $20 – $89. Prices subject to change. 20 for $20: twenty $20 tickets are available beginning at 11am on the day of each performance (1pm for Sunday performances). Rush Tickets: half-price rush tickets are available one hour before each show. Student Discounts: a limited number of $15 student tickets are available online. Limit 2 tickets per student; must present a valid student ID for each ticket. Group Tickets: all groups of 10 or more receive a discounted rate for any performance throughout the season, steppenwolf.org/groups. 

Subscriptions: Season Subscriptions available through mid-October for audiences who like to lock in dates and secure seats in advance. Black and Red Card Memberships: Card memberships are for audiences interested in extreme flexibility with six tickets for use any time for any production. The credits are valid for one year with the option to add additional credits as needed. Perks include easy and free exchanges, access to seats before the general public, savings on single ticket prices and bar and restaurant discounts for pre- and post-show socializing. To purchase a 2016/17 Subscription or Membership, visit Audience Services at 1650 N Halsted St, call 312-335-1650 or visit steppenwolf.org. 

  

Accessible Performances include Sunday, October 16 at 7:30pm (ASL Interpretation); Saturday, October 29 at 3pm (Open-captioned); Sunday, October 30 1:30pm touch tour with 3pm audio-described performance. 

Full performance schedule included at end of the release. Curtain Times are Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30pm; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3pm; Wednesday matinees at 2pm on October 19, October 26, and November 2. 

SPONSOR INFO 

Lead support for Visiting Edna is provided by the Laurents/Hatcher Foundation and Northern Trust is the Corporate Production Sponsor. 

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

2016/17 SEASON 

Steppenwolf’s 2016/17 Season also includes the world premiere of The Fundamentals by Erika Sheffer, directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov (November 10 – December 23, 2016); the Chicago premiere of The Christians by Lucas Hnath, directed by ensemble member K. Todd Freeman (December 1, 2016 – January 29, 2017); the Chicago premiere of Straight White Men, written and directed by Young Jean Lee (February 2 – March 19, 2017); the world premiere of Linda Vista by ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by Dexter Bullard (March 30 – May 21, 2017); and the Chicago premiere of Hir by Taylor Mac, directed by Hallie Gordon 

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

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

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

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR STEPPENWOLF'S 2016 WINTER PRODUCTIONS: 

THE CHRISTIANS BY LUCAS HNATH AND 

STRAIGHT WHITE MEN BY YOUNG JEAN LEE

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

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

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

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

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

About The Christians

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

About Straight White Men

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

About the 2016/17 Season

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

Visitor Information & Accessibility

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

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

Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks

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

Sponsor Information

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

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

PwC is the corporate presenting sponsor of Straight White Men.

United Airlines is the Official and Exclusive Airline of Steppenwolf.

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

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

REVIEW: A Red Orchid's Production of Pinter's The Room Brings Full Sensory Exploration To Infamous Comedy of Menace

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

A RED ORCHID THEATRE KICKS OFF 2016-2017 SEASON WITH 

THE ROOM BY HAROLD PINTER

DIRECTED BY ENSEMBLE MEMBER DADO

September 29 – November 13, 2016

There's power in beginnings and it's a thrill to see a staging of the first play ever written by Nobel Prize winner, Harold Pinter. The Room is disturbing, edgy and far more about "how do you feel" than "what does it mean". A Red Orchid's exceptional production makes this a full sensory experience, from the opening scene with aromas and sounds of bacon and eggs actually cooking, to the closing scene of a brutal, inexplicable beating. The sounds of clanging pipes, slamming doors, creaking floorboards, electrical shorts and thumping potatoes are as key as the dialogue. I had read The Room back in college as part of my theatre degree, but I'd never seen it performed, and what a difference that makes in the piece. 

Ensemble Member Kirsten Fitzgerald and HB Ward

All Production Photos by Michael Brosilow

This is an ambitious season opener for A Red Orchid, and director DADO does an admirable job of bringing this unsettling, psychologically tense "comedy of menace" to life on stage. We've seen many of the productions she's directed over the years, and she never ceases to impress.

Light and lack thereof effectively evoked anxiety, and talk of the world beyond the room's walls being frigid and dangerous outside and dank and dripping above and below made the room a claustrophobic but cozy refuge. The angular, sparse set is perfect for this production and the choice to match the curtains to Rose's housedress was brilliant. She not only couldn't seem to leave the room, but the room really became Rose personified. What's left unsaid and unaddressed is as strong as the disjointed dialogue and strange relationships. The timing and rapport of the entire cast was stellar. Highly recommended. 

Mierka Girten and Dano Duran

A Red Orchid Theatre begins its 2016-2017 Season with The Room by Harold Pinter, directed by Ensemble Member Dado and featuring Ensemble Members Kirsten Fitzgerald and Mierka Girten. The Room runs September 29 – November 13, 2016. The press opening is October 3 at 7 p.m. at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N Wells Street. 

“Though I have seen and read many, The Room is my very first Pinter as an actor,” says Artistic Director Kirsten Fitzgerald. “I find his plays to be something of a Rorschach; everyone perceives something a bit different depending on the day and what they bring in. Today, as I consider The Room and the character of Rose in particular, I wonder what causes a person to retreat and how this willful isolation or chosen ignorance breeds territorialism and xenophobia. I wonder these same things when considering the world.”

By turns terrifying, moving and wildly funny, The Room is Pinter’s very first play. Rose prefers to stay in, safe from the hostile world outside, but her seemingly cozy sanctuary is continually being invaded. With visits from the landlord, a couple in search of their own space, a stranger and the return of her husband, it becomes increasingly unclear whether the menace comes from within or without.

Ticket Information

A Red Orchid continues the FLASHPASS, with some exciting new options this year. As always, FLAHPASS holders get reserved seats, ticket and date flexibility, no-fee ticket exchanges, discounts for friends & family tickets, and early access to events such as readings, panel discussions, and more. Three-show Flashpasses are $80 and include one ticket to each of the 3 shows in our 24^th Season, excluding Press Opening and Red Nights. Three-show Red Night Flashpasses are $130 and include a ticket to each Red Night Opening and post-show reception with the cast and creative team. New this season, the Preview Saver Flashpasses are $50 and include one ticket to a preview performance of each of the 3 shows in our 24^th season. 

2 new membership options that allow you to watch a show grow throughout the run:

The Artist’s Circle Membership is $600 and allows you to see a show develop over the run with 2 Flashpasses to see each show in our season as many times as you want and more. The Red Circle Membership is $1500 and includes 2 Flashpasses to our 3-play season, with access to see each show as many times as you want including Red Night Openings and post-show celebrations with the artists and more.  For full breakdown of benefits please give us a ring or visit www.aredorchictheatre.org.  A portion of your Artist Circle Membership and/or Red Circle Membership is tax deductible. Tickets are non-transferable and may only be used by member

Flashpasses and Memberships may be purchased from the Box Office at 1531 N. Wells Street, Monday through Friday from 12 pm to 5:00 pm. Subscriptions may also be purchased by telephone during office hours by dialing (312) 943-8722, or online at www.aredorchidtheatre.org. Individual tickets will go on sale at a later date.

Dates:

Regular Run: October 6 – November 13, 2016

Red Night: October 7, 2016 

Schedule:     Thursdays: 8:00 p.m. 

Fridays: 8:00 p.m. 

Saturdays: 8:00 p.m. 

Sundays: 3:00 p.m. (Sunday 10/2 preview at 7:00pm)

Location: A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells Ave.

Tickets: $15-$25 previews, $30-$35 regular run.  ($30Thurs, $35 Fri, Sat, Sun)

Box Office: Located at 1531 N. Wells Ave, Chicago, (312) 943-8722; or online www.aredorchidtheatre.org 

Anish Jethmalani 

Ensemble Member Kirsten Fitzgerald and Anish Jethmalani 

The cast of The Room includes JoJo Brown (Riley), Dano Duran (Mr. Sands), Kirsten Fitzgerald (Rose), Mierka Girten (Mrs. Sands), Anish Jethmalani (Mr. Kidd) and HB Ward (Bert). 

The creative team for The Room includes Grant Sabin (scenic), Kotryna Hilko (costumes), Claire Chzran (lighting), Heath Hays (sound), Alec Long (properties) and Barbara Siefert (violence). Katie Adams is the stage manager and Shannon Golden is the production manager. 

About The Artists

Dado (Director) directed A Red Orchid’s Jeff nominated production of Tennessee William’s The Mutilated last season. Previous shows at A Red Orchid include Red Handed Otter, Strandline (Actor), Simpatico, Megacosm and The Hothouse, among others. In 2015, Dado directed the Incubator project of Harold Pinter's Celebration (infused with the music of Mauricio Kagel) for A Red Orchid, which enjoyed an extended run at Kamehachi. She also directed As You Like It at UIC and Suburbia at St Joseph (where she also teaches Intro to Performance). She also staged an experimental opera at the Art Expo 2015 called Cake Mix, originally composed by Mikey Moran (Red Handed Otter) and based on the contents of a box of Pillsbury cake mix. She recently took her MFA from the University of Chicago in visual art. She lives in Whiting, Indiana with Stella and Booker.

Jo Jo Brown (Riley) is making their debut at A Red Orchid Theatre. Past credits include Passing Strange at UIC’s School of Theatre and Music, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Two Pence Theater, and The People’s Temple at American Theater Company.

Dano Duran (Mr. Sands) is debuting with A Red Orchid Theatre for the first time. Dano also shoots as many films/TV/commercials as he's allowed to. When not acting Dano is a broker with The North Clybourn Group.

Kirsten Fitzgerald (Rose) has been a member of the Artistic Ensemble at A Red Orchid since 2001. Her performances here at home include three world premieres by Brett Neveu; Pilgrim’s Progress, Weapon of Mass Impact and Four Murders. Other AROT performances include Mud Blue Sky, The Butcher of Baraboo, The New Electric Ballroom, Abigail's Party, The Sea Horse [Jeff Award], Pumpgirl, Mr. Bundy, The Killer and more. Other Chicago credits include Mary Page Marlowe, The Qualms, Clybourne Park, The Elephant Man, and A Streetcar Named Desire (Steppenwolf Theatre); Appropriate (Victory Gardens), and work with Defiant Theatre, Circle Theatre, Next, Remy Bumppo, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Goodman, Shattered Globe, Famous Door, Plasticene and the Utah Shakespeare Festival among others. You can see her on the small screen now in The Exorcist (FOX) and other TV credits include Sirens (USA), Chicago Fire (NBC), ER (NBC) and Underemployed (MTV).

Mierka Girten (Mrs. Sands) is an ensemble member at A Red Orchid, where she has been seen in over thirteen productions, including The Mutilated, Simpatico, Red Handed Otter, Mud Blue Sky and Abigail’s Party among others. This past summer Mierka played Maria Callas in Master Class at The Human Race Theatre Company in Dayton Ohio. Additionally, she has worked with The Hypocrites, Rivendell Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Cobalt Ensemble, Apple Tree, Provision, Strawdog, Circle Theatre, American Blues, Mary-Arrchie, Live Bait, Roadworks, Steppenwolf and The Goodman. She played Esther in Mistakes Were Made both here at A Red Orchid and in the Off-Broadway Barrow Street Theatre production with friend Mike Shannon. Her voice can be heard on national broadcast and web commercials.

Anish Jethmalani (Mr. Kidd) makes his A Red Orchid debut with The Room. His stage credits include Wit and ten seasons of A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre); Water by the Spoonful, Titus Andronicus, Mary Stuart, The Invention of Love and Life’s a Dream (Court Theatre); Romeo & Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Homeland Security (Victory Gardens Theater); Inana, Blood and Gifts (TimeLine Theatre Company); Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Around the World in 80 Days and Sita Ram (Lookingglass Theatre Company); The Caretaker, To the Green Fields Beyond (Writers’ Theatre); Citizens of the World (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Omnium Gatherum, Return to Haifa and The Millionairess (Next Theatre Company); Twelfth Night (First Folio Theatre); The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes (Mercury Theatre); Indian Ink, The Sign of the Four (Apple Tree Theatre); Merchant of Venice (Silk Road Rising) and The Age of Cynicism (Chicago Dramatists). Regionally, he appeared in Henry VIII and Much Ado About Nothing at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. His film and television credits include APB, Boss, Leverage, Early Edition,and Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

H.B. Ward (Bert) has worked with A Red Orchid Theatre once before, in The Butcher of Baraboo. He has acted with many Chicago companies including Curious Theatre Branch, Prop Thtr, Collaboraction, DOG – a Theater Company, The Magpies, Teatro Vista, WNEP, Theater Oobleck, Tympanic Theatre,16th Street Theater, Wildclaw Theatre, Trap Door Theatre, Next Theatre, Rivendell Theatre, The Side Project, Jackalope Theatre, American Blues Theater, Haven Theatre and, most recently, with Timeline Theatre in Chimerica. He has also acted in television, commercials, and films, including Stephen Cone’s In Memoriam. He has understudied at Victory Gardens Theater, Goodman Theatre and Steppenwolf Theater. He is represented by Paonessa Talent Agency.

HB Ward and Anish Jethmalani 

About A Red Orchid

A Red Orchid Theatre has served as an artistic focal point in the heart of the Old Town community of Chicago since 1993 and was honored this year with a 2016 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. Over the past 23 years, its Resident Ensemble has welcomed into its fold an impressive array of award winning actors, playwrights and theatre artists with the firm belief that live theatre is the greatest sustenance for the human spirit. A Red Orchid is well known and highly acclaimed for its fearless approach to performance and design in the service of unflinchingly intimate stories. In addition to its professional season, the company also produces an annual OrKids (youth) project and hosts The Incubator (providing artists with space and time to explore new work, new forms and new artistic collaborations). 

A Red Orchid Theatre is: Lance Baker, Kamal Angelo Bolden, Dado, Mike Durst, Jennifer Engstrom, Kirsten Fitzgerald, Joseph Fosco, Steve Haggard, Mierka Girten, Larry Grimm, Karen Kawa, Karen Kessler, Danny McCarthy, Shade Murray, Brett Neveu, Michael Shannon, Guy Van Swearingen, Doug Vickers and Natalie West

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME WILL PLAY BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S ORIENTAL THEATRE DECEMBER 6 – DECEMBER 24, 2016

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

TICKETS GO ON SALE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

A NEW PLAY BY SIMON STEPHENS

ADAPTED FROM THE NOVEL BY MARK HADDON

DIRECTED BY MARIANNE ELLIOTT

WINNER OF:

Five Tony Awards including Best Play,

Six Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Play,

Five Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding New Broadway Play,

Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play

  

Broadway In Chicago is pleased to announce that individual tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, October 7, 2016 for The National Theatre production of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, the Tony Award-winning new play by Simon Stephens, adapted from Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel.  Directed by Tony winner Marianne Elliott, the critically acclaimed production will play Broadway In Chicago’s Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph) December 6 – December 24, 2016.

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME on Broadway is the recipient of five Tony Awards including Best Play, six Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Play, five Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding New Broadway Play, and the Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play. The production was named among the Top 10 productions of 2014 by amNY, Associated Press, Bergen Record, Broadway.com, Broadway Insider, Chicago Tribune, Daily News, Deadline, Entertainment Weekly, Hollywood Reporter, Huffington Post, New York Magazine, New York Post, NY-1, The New York Times, Playbill, Star Ledger, Time Magazine, Time Out New York and Towleroad.

Fifteen-year old Christopher has an extraordinary brain; he is exceptionally intelligent but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor’s dog, he sets out to identify the true culprit, which leads to an earth-shattering discovery and a journey that will change his life forever.

The production is designed by Tony Award-winner Bunny Christie and Tony Award-winning video designer Finn Ross, with lighting by Tony Award-winner Paule Constable, choreography by Scott Graham and Olivier Award-winner Steven Hoggett for Frantic Assembly, music by Adrian Sutton, sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph, and hair and wig design by David Brian Brown. Casting is by Daniel Swee and Cindy Tolan.

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME transferred to London’s West End, following a sold-out run at the National’s Cottesloe Theatre in 2012. The production received seven 2013 Olivier Awards, including Best New Play and continues to play to sold-out houses at the Gielgud Theatre in London.

The North American tour is produced by Stuart Thompson, Tim Levy for NT America, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures Inc., Lisa Burger for NT Productions, Bob Boyett, Roger and William Berlind, Scott M. Delman, Roy Furman, Glass Half Full Productions, Ruth Hendel, JFLT TLP Partnership, Jon B. Platt, Scott Rudin, Triple Play Broadway and The Shubert Organization.

Mark Haddon’s novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was published in 2003. It was the winner of more than 17 literary awards, including prizes in the US, Japan, Holland and Italy as well as the Whitbread Book of the Year Award in the UK in 2004, and has been translated into 44 languages.

www.CuriousOnBroadway.com

Follow THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME: TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Tuesdays at 7:30 PM

Wednesdays at 7:30 PM (additional 2 PM matinee on Dec. 14 & Dec. 21)

Thursdays at 7:30 PM (additional 2 PM matinee on Dec. 22)

Fridays at 7:30 PM

Saturdays at 2 PM and 8 PM (no evening performance on Dec. 24)

Sundays at 2 PM (additional 7:30 PM evening performance on Dec. 11)

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME at the Oriental Theatre range from $25-$98. A select number of premium tickets are available for many performances. Group tickets for 10 or more are available by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 16 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 well 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 PrivateBank Theatre, Oriental Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

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

Cast Announced For Porchlight's Upcoming Judy Garland Story, End of the Rainbow

PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE ANNOUNCES THE CAST FOR

THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF 

END OF THE RAINBOW

FEATURING THE MUSIC OF THE LEGENDARY JUDY GARLAND, 

NOVEMBER 4 - DECEMBER 4, AT STAGE 773

All Photos by Michelle Leatherby. Angela Ingersoll as “Judy Garland”

Angela Ingersoll Stars in the Highly Lauded Play with Music Nominated for an Olivier Award and Three Tony Awards Featuring Garland’s Most Memorable Songs and the Story of the Events Leading up to the Final Days of Her Life

Porchlight Music Theatre announces the Chicago premiere of End of the Rainbow, November 4 – December 4,  featuring music from the songbook of Judy Garland, written by Peter Quilter, starring Angela Ingersoll as “Judy Garland,” direction by Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Director Michael Weber, music direction by Jon Steinhagen, who also appears as “Anthony,” at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Previews are Friday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. and Monday, Nov 7 at 1:30 p.m. Opening night is Monday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. 

The performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There is an added matinee performance Thursday, Nov. 17 at 1:30 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 25 at 4 p.m. NOTE: *There are no Thursday 7:30 p.m. performances November 10 and 24. Tickets for previews are $38 and for the regular run $45 - $51. Single tickets may be purchased at 773.327.5252 or at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org. 

Subscriptions to the entire season or Porchlight’s series, Porchlight Revisits, are currently on sale as well as single tickets for the entire season.  Subscriptions are available at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by calling 773.777.9884. Groups of ten or more may receive discounts on tickets purchased via Group Theater Tix at 312.423.6612 or grouptheatertix.com.

It’s December 1968 and Judy Garland (Angela Ingersoll) is about to make her comeback... again. In a London hotel room, with both her new fiancé (Kyle Hatley) and her adoring accompanist (Jon Steinhagen), Garland struggles to get 'beyond the rainbow' with her signature cocktail of talent, tenacity and razor-sharp wit. Featuring many of Garland’s most memorable songs, this savagely funny play with music offers unique insight into the inner conflict that inspired and consumed one of the most beloved figures in American popular culture. 

End of the Rainbow also features Felipe Jorge as ”The Radio Interviewer/The Porter/The ASM.”

The End of the Rainbow production team includes: Christopher Rhoton, scenic designer; Bill Morey, costume designer; Shelley Strasser Holland, lighting designer; Ross Hoppe, projection designer; Mealah Heidenreich, properties designer; Robert Hornbostel, sound designer; Christopher Pazdernik, assistant director and Alex Rhyan, production manager.

ABOUT ANGELA INGERSOLL, “Judy Garland”

Angela Ingersoll returns to Porchlight where she last appeared in The Secret Garden. Currently appearing in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at Marriott Theatre, other credits include: The Great Gatsby (Indiana Repertory Theatre); Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Richard III, The Comedy of Errors (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); The Game’s Afoot, The 39 Steps (Drury Lane Theatre); The Mistress Cycle (Apple Tree/Auditorium); Carousel (Madison Rep); South Pacific (Light Opera Works); Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Man of La Mancha, Macbeth, Jekyll and Hyde, Ragtime, Nine, The Philadelphia Story, The Wizard of Oz (Playhouse on the Square). Comedy: Second City Hollywood. TV: “Chicago PD.” Ingersoll and husband Michael Ingersoll produce the Artists Lounge Live concert series. Concerts: I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues (Paramount Theatre, etc); My Baby Just Cares for Me (Northlight Theatre, etc,) and The 12 Dames of Christmas. She’s the recipient of two Jeff Award Nominations, two Ostrander Award Nominations and four Ostrander Awards.

ABOUT KYLE HATLEY, “Mickey Deans”

Kyle Hatley is making his Porchlight debut. He is an actor, director and writer. Hatley was born and raised in Memphis, TN and relocated to Chicago after graduating from Rhodes College. His television credits include a guest starring role on NBC’s “Chicago Fire” and co-starring in FOX’s “Prison Break” and CBS’s “As The World Turns.” He is a 2011 Charlotte Street Foundation Generative Artist Fellow and served as associate artistic director of Kansas City Repertory Theatre from 2008 until 2014, where he directed, performed and produced six seasons alongside Artistic Director Eric Rosen and Producing Director Jerry Genochio. After joining his wife in Chicago in August of 2014, he served as resident director for the 50th Anniversary Season at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, and remains a board member and artistic associate of The Living Room Theatre. In the last seven years he has worked primarily in Kansas City, Missouri at KC Rep, The Living Room Theatre, The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival and KC Fringe. In Chicago he has worked on Take Me Out (Steppenwolf Theatre), Execution of Justice (About Face Theatre), The Last Supper (InFusion Theatre), Picasso at the Lapine Agile (Noble Fool Theatricals), and Danny Casolaro Died for Your Sins (TimeLine Theatre Company) and, recently, The Iliad (Geva Theatre Center).

ABOUT JON STEINHAGEN, “Anthony” and Music Director/Conductor

Jon Steinhagen returns to Porchlight where he last music directed the Porchlight Revisits production of Fade Out – Fade In and where his critically acclaimed musical The Teapot Scandals made its world premiere. Last seen starring as “Artie” in The House of Blue Leaves at Raven Theatre, this prolific Chicago actor and playwright has appeared in Dividing the Estate, The Odd Couple and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Raven Theatre),1776, Six Degrees of Separation, The Real Inspector Hound, and ACES (Signal Ensemble); Mack & Mabel, Sweet Smell of Success, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Circle Theatre). Steinhagen is also a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists, a past winner of the Julie Harris Playwriting Award, a finalist for the first Noël Coward Award and a member of the Dramatists Guild, He has received four Jeff Awards and six nominations (AEA and non-AEA).

ABOUT FELIPE JORGE, “The Radio Interviewer/The Porter/The ASM”

Felipe Jorge makes his Porchlight debut with this production. Recent credits include Parachute Men (Teatro Vista), The Lieutenant of Inishmore, The Importance of Being Earnest and Cruel Intentions (White Mask Theatre Club), War of the Worlds (Gorilla Tango Theatre) and Spring Awakening (Teatro-Escola Celia Helena).

ABOUT PETER QUILTER, playwright

Peter Quilter's plays have been performed in major theatres in cities across six continents, including London, Cape Town, Rome, Prague, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Rio de Janeiro, Toronto, Chicago, Madrid, Sydney and New York and translated into 27 languages. He is best known for his Broadway play End of the Rainbow and his West End comedy Glorious!. He has twice been nominated for the Olivier Award (Best New Comedy 2006 and Best New Play 2011) and his Broadway debut was nominated for three Tony Awards.

ABOUT MICHAEL WEBER, director

Artistic director of Porchlight Music Theatre, Weber previously served as artistic director for the inaugural season of Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place (now The Broadway Playhouse) and at Theatre at the Center (1998-2004). His productions of Side Show, Sweeney Todd, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Pal Joey and Assassins at Porchlight Music Theatre, Grand Hotel at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place and She Loves Me at Theatre at the Center were each nominated for the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Production-Musical. Most recently he directed Side Show (2016 Jeff Award-nomination) and Chess for Porchlight. Directing credits include Living the History-125 Years of The Auditorium Theatre starring Patti LuPone, John Mahoney and stars of Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and more, Fifth of July and Talley’s Folly at the Oak Park Festival Theatre, The Petrified Forest at Theatre at the Center, Beauty and the Beast at Marriott Theatre, Over the River and Through the Woods at The Mercury Theater, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Pheasant Run Theatre, and Cirque du Symphony at Sears Center Arena. The recipient of two Joseph Jefferson Awards, he has written and directed the past nine Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards ceremonies. Weber is proud to serve as a pledge host on WTTW, Channel 11, and he is author of the play, WAR of the WELLES.

(L to R) Kyle Hatley, Angela Ingersoll and Jon Steinhagen as 

“Mickey Deans,” “Judy Garland” and “Anthony" 

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE

Porchlight Music Theatre, now in its 22^nd season, is nationally recognized for developing innovative new works, reimagining classic productions and showcasing musical theatre’s noted veterans and rising stars. Porchlight elevates the genre in Chicago by providing intimate and powerful theatrical experiences for its growing and diverse audiences. With the vision of Artistic Director Michael Weber, Porchlight builds on its role as Chicago’s only Equity not-for-profit company exclusively specializing in music theatre. Porchlight’s rich history includes the staging of more than 60 productions with 15 Chicago premieres and five world premieres. Through Porchlight’s “Off the Porch” new works program, the musicals of the next generation are developed and given a first audience. The School at Porchlight is Chicago’s new center for music theatre training in the areas of performance, writing and appreciation. The company’s many accolades include 15 Black Theatre Alliance nominations and two awards, as well as a total of 126 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations resulting in 35 Jeff Awards including three consecutive Best Production awards for Sondheim on Sondheim (2015), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (2014) and A Class Act (2013) as well as Sondheim on Sondheim being named one of the Chicago Tribune’s “Best Theatre of 2015.”

Porchlight Music Theatre announces the Chicago premiere of End of the Rainbow, November 4 – December 4,  featuring music from the songbook of Judy Garland, written by Peter Quilter, starring Angela Ingersoll as “Judy Garland,” direction by Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Director Michael Weber, music direction by Jon Steinhagen, who also appears as “Anthony,” at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Previews are Friday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. and Monday, Nov 7 at 1:30 p.m. Opening night is Monday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There is an added matinee performance Thursday, Nov. 17 at 1:30 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 25 at 4 p.m. NOTE: *There are no Thursday 7:30 p.m. performances November 10 and 24. Tickets for previews are $38 and for the regular run $45 - $51. Single tickets may be purchased at 773.327.5252 or at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org.

Subscriptions to the entire season or Porchlight’s series, Porchlight Revisits, are currently on sale as well as single tickets for the entire season.  Subscriptions are available at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by calling 773.777.9884. Groups of ten or more may receive discounts on tickets purchased via Group Theater Tix at 312.423.6612 or grouptheatertix.com.

Porchlight Music Theatre is partially supported by generous contributions from the Actors’ Equity Foundation, the Arts Work Fund at the Chicago Community Trust, the Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, Cooper’s: A Neighborhood Eatery, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, James P. and Brenda S. Grusecki, Family Foundation, the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Prince Foundation, the National Association of Realtors, The Saints and the Service Club of Chicago. The season program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency.