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

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

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.

EXTENDED: Cabaret Via Porchlight Music Theatre Now Playing Through March 5, 2023

 PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE ANNOUNCES CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM FOR THE AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL

CABARET

Now Extended Through March 5th Due to Popular Demand 

AT THE RUTH PAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Porchlight Transports Audiences to Berlin’s Kit Kat Club Where “Life is Beautiful.” This Landmark Musical is Envisioned Anew  by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber with Associate Director and Choreographer Brenda Didier and Music Director Linda Madonia

 

Porchlight Music Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning landmark musical Cabaret, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., January 14 - February 12, 2023. Based on the 1951 play I Am a Camera by John Van Druten and the novel “Goodbye to Berlin'' by Christopher Isherwood, Porchlight’s production is directed by Artistic Director Michael Weber, associate directed and choreographed by Brenda Didier and music directed by Linda Madonia. Previews are Saturday, Jan. 14 at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19 at 1:30 p.m. 

The regular performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3:30 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. with a weekday matinee Thursday, Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m. Post-Show Discussions are scheduled Friday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m and Thursday, Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m. and open caption performances Saturday Jan. 28 at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday Feb. 4 at 3:30p.m.  Tickets for Cabaret are now on sale starting at $25 and may be purchased through the Box Office by calling 773.777.9884 or by visiting PorchlightMusicTheatre.org. 

Bold and provocative, this winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, shines a spotlight on Berlin in the late 1920s and the colorful, gritty and hedonistic lives found there. Filled with iconic songs and electrifying dance, Cabaret tells the story of the American writer Clifford Bradshaw and his relationship with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles on the eve of the Nazi party’s rise to power. Overseen by an ominous Emcee at the fabled Kit Kat Club, Cabaret is a cautionary tale that has renewed resonance in today’s political climate. 

The cast for Cabaret, in alphabetical order, includes Neala Barron* (Fraulein "Fritzie" Kost); Frankie Leo Bennett+ (standby The Emcee and Max); Jordan Beyeler* (swing); Anna Brockman* (Lulu/ensemble);  Morgan DiFonzo* (Texas/ensemble); Gilbert Domally+ (Clifford Bradshaw); Julia Fleckenstein* (Helga/ensemble); Tim Foszcz+ (Herman/ensemble);  Haley Gustafson*/^ (Frenchie/ensemble); Josiah Haugen+ (Ernst Ludwig); Natalie Henry* (Rosie/ensemble); Mark David Kaplan+ (Herr Schultz); Darren Patin+ (Victor/ensemble); Shane Roberie+ (Max/ensemble); Mary Robin Roth* (Fraulein Schneider); Erica Stephan* (Sally Bowles); Cam Turner+ (swing/Dance Captain); Josh Walker+ (The Emcee); Shaun White+ (Bobby/ensemble) and Evan Wilhelm+(Hans/ensemble).

The Cabaret production team includes Michael Weber+ (director); Brenda Didier* (associate director/choreographer); Linda Madonia* (music director);  Angela Weber Miller* (scenic design); Bill Morey+ (costume design); Patrick Chan+ (lighting design); Matthew R. Chase+ (sound design), Johnnie Schleyer+ (scenic supervisor); Tina Stasny* (costume supervisor); Rachel West* (lighting supervisor); Madeline M. Scott* (production stage manager); Kathy Logelin* (dialect coach),  Sheryl Williams* (intimacy Choreographer); Nate Cohen+ (dramaturg/cultural consultant) and Frankie Leo Bennett+ (producing artistic associate.)

ABOUT MICHAEL WEBER, director

Michael Weber is the artistic director at Porchlight Music Theatre and most recently directed Sunset Boulevard and Gypsy for Porchlight Music Theatre as well as the Porchlight Revisits production of 1776 and Broadway by the Decade for PorchlightOnline. His productions of Gypsy, End of the Rainbow, Side Show, ...Forum, Sweeney Todd, Pal Joey and Assassins at Porchlight, Grand Hotel at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place and She Loves Me at Theatre at the Center were each nominated for the Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Production— Musical. Other 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 Theatre and others), 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 Mercury Theater and Cirque du Symphony at Sears Center Arena. The recipient of two Joseph Jefferson Awards, Weber’s regional acting credits include The Merry Widow and The Sound of Music at Lyric Opera, 42nd Street at Paramount, Annie Get Your Gun and Gypsy (both starring Patti LuPone) at Ravinia, Disney’s My Son Pinocchio at First Stage Milwaukee, Around the World in 80 Days at Cleveland Playhouse, The Winter’s Tale and Henry V at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Angel Street at First Folio Shakespeare and The Gifts of the Magi at Indiana Repertory. He previously served as artistic director of Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place (now The Broadway Playhouse) and Theatre at the Center. Weber is proud to serve as a pledge host with WTTW, Channel 11.

ABOUT LINDA MADONIA, music director/conductor

Linda Madonia has been musical directing in the Chicago area for more than 25 years including Porchlight’s recent New Faces Sing Broadway 1979 as well as Chicago Sings Rock & Roll Broadway and the 2019 critically-acclaimed production of A Chorus Line. Other credits include Pirates of Penzance and Joseph and the  Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for Music Theater Works and Forbidden Broadway: SVU at The Royal George Theater. Other credits include Grand  Hotel and Nunsensations at Drury Lane Water Tower Place and Gigi, She  Loves Me and Me and My Girl at Theater at the Center. Madonia has also been the music director for Chicago’s Equity and non-union Joseph Jefferson Awards numerous times. She owns American Eagle Productions, an educational theatre that has presented 300 shows and workshops a year in Chicago area schools for the past 28 years. 

ABOUT BRENDA DIDIER, associate director/choreographer

Brenda Didier returns to Porchlight where she recently directed the spring 2022 production of Spring Awakening. She also co-directed and co-choreographed Porchlight’s  award-winning Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies with Florence Walker Harris,  directed A Chorus Line and directed and choreographed Billy Elliot, The Musical, In The Heights and Dreamgirls among others. Didier is a multiple Jeff Award recipient in both direction and choreography, and the recipient of After Dark Awards, BroadwayWorld awards and the National Youth Theatre award. She is the proud owner and artistic director of the Lincolnshire Academy of Dance, celebrating its 24th season. Other credits include work at the Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, Second City, Marriott Theatre, The Paramount, Theatre at the Center, BoHo, Mercury Theatre Chicago, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, the Studebaker Theatre, Stage Left, Six Flags Great America, Busch Gardens Virginia, Cirque Shanghai at Navy Pier, T-Mobile’s national commercial “Home for the Holidays,” The Kenny Rogers Christmas Tour and the University of Illinois, University of Wisconsin and Carthage College.

 

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE AS RUTH PAGE IN-RESIDENCE ORGANIZATION

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to be a member of the vibrant Ruth Page Center for the Arts community and an In-Residence Organization. Central to the Ruth Page Center for the Arts’ programming is this program, which is designed to serve organizations looking for a home base while they grow or expand their artistic and organizational capabilities. The Center is committed to nurturing and assisting dance and other performing artists, allowing for exchange and collaborative relationships to develop within the artistic community. The Ruth Page Center for the Arts is a destination for quality performing arts, accessible to a wide community regardless of race, gender, age, education or disability. An incubator of artistic energy and excellence, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts carries forward the vision of its founder, legendary dance icon Ruth Page, to be a platform for developing great artists and connecting them with audiences and community.

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE

Porchlight Music Theatre is the award-winning center for music theatre in Chicago. Through live performance, youth education and community outreach, we impact thousands of lives each season, bringing the magic of musicals to our theatre home at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts in the Gold Coast and to neighborhoods across the city. Porchlight has built a national reputation for boldly reimagining classic musicals, supporting new works and young performers, and showcasing Chicago’s most notable music theatre artists, all through the intimate and powerful theatrical lens of the “Chicago Style.” 

Porchlight's history, over the last 27 years, includes more than 70 mainstage works with 15 Chicago premieres and five world premieres. Porchlight’s commitment to the past, present and future of music theatre led the company to develop the Porchlight Revisits and New Faces Sing Broadway program series, both quickly becoming audience favorites. 

Porchlight's education and outreach programs serve schools, youth of all ages and skill levels and community organizations, most notably the ongoing collaboration with Chicago Youth Centers. Porchlight annually awards dozens of full scholarships and hundreds of free tickets to ensure accessibility and real engagement with this uniquely American art form. 

The company’s many honors include 184 Joseph Jefferson Award (Jeff) nominations and 45 Jeff awards, as well as 44 Black Theatre Alliance (BTA) nominations and 12 BTA awards. In 2019, Porchlight graduated to the Large Theatre tier of the Equity Jeff Awards, and was honored with eight nominations in both technical and artistic categories and won three awards in its inaugural year in this tier, most notably Best Ensemble for Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies. 

Through the global pandemic, Porchlight emerged as one of Chicago’s leaders in virtual programming, quickly launching a host of free offerings like Sondheim @ 90 Roundtables, Movie Musical Mondays, Porchlight by Request: Command Performances and WPMT: Classic Musicals from the Golden Age of Radio. Porchlight launched its annual summer series in 2021, Broadway in your Backyard, performing at parks and venues throughout the city. 

Porchlight Music Theatre is partially supported by generous contributions from: Allstate; Michael Best & Friedrich LLP; Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation; Elegant Event Lighting; Glimpse Vision; James P. and Brenda S. Grusecki Family Foundation; Hearty Boys; The League of Chicago Theatres PAV Grant Fund; The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity and the Arts at Prince; the Pritzker Traubert Foundation; Ryan and Spaeth, Inc.; Daniel and Genevieve Ratner Foundation; The Saints and The Dr. Scholl Foundation.

The season program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency, and by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events. 

Porchlight Music Theatre wishes to thank members of the Matching Gift Corporate Program including: Allstate; Crowdstrike; Google; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; Peoples Gas; Pepsico; Polk Bros Foundation; State Farm; The Saints and U.S. Cellular. 

Tickets start at $25. Website: PorchlightMusicTheatre.org

THE JEFF AWARDS ANNOUNCES 2023 NON-EQUITY THEATER AWARD NOMINATIONS

Kicking off the new year, the Joseph Jefferson Awards announces its nominations for theater excellence among Non-Equity theater. The Non-Equity awards presented in 2023 spotlight 167 theater artists across 28 categories of excellence in theater production among shows from 30 companies. During the most recent season extended due to the pandemic, which ran from July 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, Jeff Awards members attended 106 Non-Equity productions. From these, 49 productions became “Jeff Recommended” and, therefore, eligible for award nominations.                                                           

Four theater companies were recognized for the upcoming Non-Equity awards with more than 10 nominations each. Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre garnered the most honors, with 19 from five productions. Kokandy Productions received 16 nominations, followed by Blank Theatre Company (14) and Invictus Theatre (13). “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” at Kokandy Productions drew the largest nominations for a single production (9).

Among New Work, seven world premiere plays and one new musical are in award consideration. In addition, the Jeff Awards expanded award categories this past season to include a new classification recognizing Short Run Productions (nine to 17 performances). Within this new category, the Jeff Awards recognize nominees for Best Production, Ensemble, Director, Performer – Principal Role, Performer – Supporting Role, Solo Performance, New Work, and Artistic Specialization.

 

2023 NON-EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES

Production - Play

"Botticelli in the Fire" - First Floor Theater

"Malapert Love" - The Artistic Home

"Ruined" - Invictus Theatre

"Solaris" - Griffin Theatre Company

"The Pavilion" - The Artistic Home

"White" - Definition Theatre

"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" - Invictus Theatre

 

Production - Musical or Revue

"8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

"Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical" - Kokandy Productions

"She Loves Me" - Blank Theatre Company

"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" - Kokandy Productions

"The Wild Party" - Blank Theatre Company

 

Production – Short Run

"Buried Child" - AstonRep Theatre Company

"Hertha Nova" - The Impostors Theatre Company

"Marie Antoinette & the Magical Negroes" - The Story Theatre

"Tebas Land" - Chicago Latino Theater Alliance in partnership with the National Museum of Mexican Art

"WILDCATS" - The Neo-Futurists

 

Ensemble - Play

"Medea Material" - Trap Door Theatre

"Refuge" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

"Ride or Die" - MPAACT - Ma'at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre

"The Secretaries: A Parable" - First Floor Theater

"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" - Invictus Theatre

 

Ensemble - Musical or Revue

"8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

"Godspell" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

"She Loves Me" - Blank Theatre Company

"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" - Kokandy Productions

"The Wild Party" - Blank Theatre Company

  

Ensemble -Short Run

"Boeing-Boeing" - Saint Sebastian Players

"Hertha Nova" - The Impostors Theatre Company

"Marie Antoinette & the Magical Negroes" - The Story Theatre

"Urinetown: The Musical" - Surging Films & Theatrics

 

New Work

Shepsu Aakhu - "Ride or Die" - MPAACT - Ma'at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre

Siah Berlatsky - "Malapert Love" - The Artistic Home

Tina Fakhrid-Deen - "Pulled Punches" - MPAACT - Ma'at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre

Karissa Murrell Myers - "On the Greenbelt" - Strawdog Theatre Company

Ed Rutherford & Jeff Bouthiette - "Mary Rose" - Black Button Eyes Productions

 

New Work - Short Run

Rachel Borgo - “Hertha Nova” – The Impostors Theatre Company

Ida Cuttler & Nick Hart - “WILDCATS” – The Neo-Futurists

Terry Guest - “Marie Antoinette & the Magical Negroes” – The Story Theatre

 

Director - Play

Charles Askenaizer - "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" - Invictus Theatre

Rinska Carraso-Prestinary - "Isaac's Eye" - Redtwist Theatre

Bo Frazier - "Botticelli in the Fire" - First Floor Theater

Julian Hester - "Malapert Love" - The Artistic Home

Ebby Offord - "Ruined" - Invictus Theatre

Ericka Ratcliff - "White" - Definition Theatre

Scott Weinstein - "Solaris" - Griffin Theatre Company

 

Director - Musical or Revue 

Adrian Abel Azevedo - "Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical" - Kokandy Productions

Jason A. Fleece - "The Wild Party" - Blank Theatre Company

Landree Fleming - "Once Upon a Mattress" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Danny Kapinos - "She Loves Me" - Blank Theatre Company

Derek Van Barham - "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" - Kokandy Productions

 

Director - Short Run

Sean Michael Barrett - "Boeing-Boeing" - Saint Sebastian Players

Terry Guest - "Marie Antoinette & the Magical Negroes" - The Story Theatre

Halena Kays - "WILDCATS" - The Neo-Futurists

Juan Parodi - "Tebas Land" - Chicago Latino Theater Alliance in partnership with the National Museum of Mexican Art

Stefan Roseen - "Hertha Nova" - The Impostors Theatre Company

 

Performer in a Principal Role - Play 

Kim Boler (Anna) - "After the Blast" - Broken Nose Theatre

Kierra Bunch (Vanessa/St. Diana/Balkonae) - "White" - Definition Theatre

John Drea (Marc Chagall) - "Chagall in School" - Grippo Stage Company

Jacqueline Grandt (Ruth Steiner) - "Collected Stories" - Redtwist Theatre

Alex Benito Rodriguez (Sandro Botticelli) - "Botticelli in the Fire" - First Floor Theater

Ana Santos-Sánchez (Ana Morgana) - "La gran tirana (descarga dramática)" - Aguijón Theater Company

James Turano (George) - "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" - Invictus Theatre

Andrea Uppling (Martha) - "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" - Invictus Theatre

Rosario Vargas (The Painter) - "Cintas de Seda" - Aguijón Theater Company

Melanie Victoria (Isis) - "Pulled Punches" - MPAACT - Ma'at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre

Tekeisha Yelton-Hunter (Mama Nadi) - "Ruined" - Invictus Theatre

 

Performer in a Principal Role - Musical or Revue 

Maddison Denault (Kathryn Merteuil) - "Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical" - Kokandy Productions

Sonia Goldberg (Princess Winnifred) - "Once Upon a Mattress" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Caitlin Jackson (Mrs. Lovett) - "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" - Kokandy Productions

Joe Lewis (Will) - "Girlfriend" - PrideArts

Nikki Lynette (Nikki Lynette) - "Get Out Alive" - Haven Chicago

Brandy Miller (Amalia Balash) - "She Loves Me" - Blank Theatre Company

David Moreland (Sebastian Valmont) - "Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical" - Kokandy Productions

Anne Sheridan Smith (Miss Mona) - "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Peter Stielstra (Mike) - "Girlfriend" - PrideArts

Stephanie Stockstill (Mary Rose) - "Mary Rose" - Black Button Eyes Productions

Karylin Veres (Queenie) - "The Wild Party" - Blank Theatre Company

Kevin Webb (Sweeney Todd) - "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" - Kokandy Productions

 

Performer in a Principal Role - Short Run 

Ida Cuttler (Ida Cuttler) - "WILDCATS" - The Neo-Futurists

Jim Morley (Dodge) - "Buried Child" - AstonRep Theatre Company

Tommy Rivera-Vega (Martín) - "Tebas Land" - Chicago Latino Theater Alliance in partnership with the National Museum of Mexican Art

Esteban Schemberg (S) - "Tebas Land" - Chicago Latino Theater Alliance in partnership with the National Museum of Mexican Art

Keaton Stewart (Eve) - "Hertha Nova" - The Impostors Theatre Company

Joshua Paul Wright (Robert) - "Boeing-Boeing" - Saint Sebastian Players

 

Performer in a Supporting Role - Play 

JoAnn Birt (Mary Anne) - "When We Were Young and Unafraid" - AstonRep Theatre Company

Carley Cornelius (Jane) - "White" - Definition Theatre

Emilie Rose Danno (Esperanza) - "Malapert Love" - The Artistic Home

John Drea (Ray) - "Solaris" - Griffin Theatre Company

Courtney Gardner (Salima) - "Ruined" - Invictus Theatre

Stanley King (Christian) - "Ruined" - Invictus Theatre

Arielle Leverett (Arthur/Sam) - "After the Blast" - Broken Nose Theatre

Rachel Livingston (Honey) - "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" - Invictus Theatre

marssie Mencotti (Clara) - "Hay Fever" - City Lit Theater Company

Frank Nall (Phischbreath) - "Malapert Love" - The Artistic Home

Jackie Seijo (Actor/Dying Man Named Sam) - "Isaac's Eye" - Redtwist Theatre

Todd Wojcik (Narrator) - "The Pavilion" - The Artistic Home

 

Performer in a Supporting Role - Musical or Revue 

Bryce Ancil (Arpad Laszlo) - "She Loves Me" - Blank Theatre Company

LJ Bullen (Kate) - "The Wild Party" - Blank Theatre Company

August Forman (Prince Dauntless) - "Once Upon a Mattress" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Andrew Fortman (King Sextimus) - "Once Upon a Mattress" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Rachel Guth (Ilona Ritter) - "She Loves Me" - Blank Theatre Company

Mia Nevarez (Lead Vocalist) - "8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Anabella Oddo (Cecile Caldwell) - "Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical" - Kokandy Productions

Patrick O'Keefe (Tobias Ragg) - "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" - Kokandy Productions

Anne Sheridan Smith (Queen Aggravain) - "Once Upon a Mattress" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Kevin Webb (Chaplain) - "Mary Rose" - Black Button Eyes Productions

 

Performer in a Supporting Role - Short Run 

Valerie Gerlock (Gretchen) - "Boeing-Boeing" - Saint Sebastian Players

Samm Hilger (Guide/Professor Simpkins/Head Waiter/Objector) - "Hertha Nova" - The Impostors Theatre Company

Dakota Hughes (Hunchback) - "Frankenstreisand" - Hell in a Handbag Productions

Nolan Robinson (Reuben) - "St. Sebastian" - Refracted Theatre Company

Korinne Yonan (Little Sally) - "Urinetown: The Musical" - Surging Films & Theatrics

 

Solo Performance - Short Run 

Flaco Navaja (Flaco Navaja) - "Evolution of a Sonero" - UrbanTheater Company

 

Scenic Design 

Jeremiah Barr - "When We Were Young and Unafraid" - AstonRep Theatre Company

Jonathan Berg-Einhorn - "Isaac’s Eye" - Redtwist Theatre

Kevin Rolfs - "Ruined" - Invictus Theatre

Kevin Rolfs - "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" - Invictus Theatre

Joe Schermoly - "Solaris" - Griffin Theatre Company

 

Costume Design 

Uriel Gómez - "Once Upon a Mattress" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Jessie Gowens - "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" - Idle Muse Theatre Company

Beth Laske-Miller & Bill Morey - "A Fine Feathered Murder" - Hell in a Handbag Productions

Cindy Moon - "She Loves Me" - Blank Theatre Company

Hilary Rubio - "Botticelli in the Fire" - First Floor Theater

Rachel Sypniewski - "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" - Kokandy Productions

 

Sound Design  

Eric Backus - "Solaris" - Griffin Theatre Company

Danny Rockett - "Medea Material" - Trap Door Theatre

Willow James - "Botticelli in the Fire" - First Floor Theater

L.J. Luthringer - "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" - Idle Muse Theatre Company

Petter Wahlbäck - "The Pavilion" - The Artistic Home

 

Lighting Design  

Benjamin Carne - "Botticelli in the Fire" - First Floor Theater

G. "Max" Maxin IV - "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" - Kokandy Productions

Brandon Wardell - "Solaris" - Griffin Theatre Company

Hannah Wein - "Medea Material" – Trap Door Theatre

Levi J. Wilkins - "The Pavilion" - The Artistic Home

Marcela Muñoz & Augusto Yanacopulos - "Cintas de Seda" - Aguijón Theater Company

 

Choreography

Keeley B. Morris & Jacinda Ratcliffe - "Get Out Alive" - Haven Chicago

Laura Savage - "Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical" - Kokandy Productions

Lauryn Schmelzer - "The Wild Party" - Blank Theatre Company

Jenna Schoppe - "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Jenna Schoppe - "Godspell" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

 

Original Music in a Play  

Eric Backus - "Solaris" - Griffin Theatre Company

Satya Jnani Chávez & Andrew Rosendorf - "Refuge" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Jonathan Guillen - "Medea Material" - Trap Door Theatre

L.J. Luthringer - "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" - Idle Muse Theatre Company

Danny Rockett - "The Martyrdom of Peter Ohey" - Trap Door Theatre

 

Music Direction 

Satya Jnani Chávez - "Refuge" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Isabella Isherwood - "Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical" - Kokandy Productions

Aaron Kaplan - "The Wild Party" - Blank Theatre Company

Jeremy Ramey - "8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Jeremy Ramey - "Godspell" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Nick Sula - "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" - Kokandy Productions

 

Projection Design  

Yeaji Kim - "Solaris" - Griffin Theatre Company

Abboyé Lawrence - "Pulled Punches" - MPAACT - Ma'at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre

G. "Max" Maxin IV - "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" - Black Button Eyes Productions

Chris Owens - "Get Out Alive" - Haven Chicago

Erin Pleake - "Chagall in School" - Grippo Stage Company

  

Artistic Specialization 

The Ensemble (Movement) - "Medea Material" - Trap Door Theatre

Jabberwocky Marionettes (Puppet Design) - "After the Blast" - Broken Nose Theatre

Jabberwocky Marionettes (Puppet Design) - "A Fine Feathered Murder" - Hell in a Handbag Productions

Royen Kent (Wig Design) - "The Secretaries: A Parable" - First Floor Theater

Adolfo Romero (Puppet Design) - "Refuge" - Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Augusto Yanacopulos (Properties Design) - "La gran tirana (descarga dramática)" - Aguijón Theater Company

 

Artistic Specialization - Short Run  

Daphne Agosin (Lighting Design) - "Tebas Land" - Chicago Latino Theater Alliance in partnership with the National Museum of Mexican Art

Dominick Vincent Alesia (Original Music in a Play) - "Hertha Nova" - The Impostors Theatre Company

Tim Huggenberger (Choreography) - "Urinetown: The Musical" - Surging Films & Theatrics

Darwin Noguera (Music Direction) - "Evolution of a Sonero" - UrbanTheater Company

Emil Zbella (Set Design) - "Boeing-Boeing" - Saint Sebastian Players

 

MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS  

By Company  

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre 19

Kokandy Productions 16

Blank Theatre Company 14

Invictus Theatre 13

The Artistic Home 8

Griffin Theatre Company 8

First Floor Theater 7

The Impostors Theatre Company 7

AstonRep Theatre Company 5

Chicago Latino Theatre Alliance in partnership with the National Museum of Mexican Art 5

MPAACT - Ma'at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre 5

Redtwist Theatre 5

Saint Sebastian Players 5

Trap Door Theatre 5

Aguijón Theater Company 4

Black Button Eyes Productions 4

Definition Theatre 4

The Neo-Futurists 4

The Story Theatre 4

Broken Nose Theatre 3

Haven Chicago 3

Hell in a Handbag Productions 3

Surging Films & Theatrics 3

Grippo Stage Company 2

Idle Muse Theatre Company 2

PrideArts 2

UrbanTheater Company 2

   

By Production  

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” 9

“Solaris” 8

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” 8

“Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical” 7

“Hertha Nova” 7

“Ruined” 7

“She Loves Me” 7

“The Wild Party” 7

“Once Upon a Mattress” 6

“Boeing-Boeing” 5

“Botticelli in the Fire” 5

“Malapert Love” 5

“Tebas Land” 5

“8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s” 4

“Isaac's Eye” 4

“Madea Material” 4

“Marie Antoinette & the Magical Negroes” 4

“The Pavilion" 4

"Refuge" 4

“White” 4

“WILDCATS” 4

“After the Blast” 3

"Get Out Alive” 3

"Godspell" 3

"Mary Rose" 3

“Pulled Punches” 3

“Urinetown: The Musical” 3

“When We Were Young and Unafraid” 3

“The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” 2

“Buried Child” 2

“Chagall in School” 2

“Cintas de Seda” 2

“Evolution of a Sonero” 2

“A Fine Feathered Murder” 2

“Girlfriend” 2

“La gran tirana (descarga dramática)" 2

“Ride or Die” 2

“The Secretaries: A Parable” 2

“The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” 2

   

   

By Individual  

Eric Backus 2

Satya Jnani Chávez 2

Ida Cuttler 2

John Drea 2

Terry Guest 2

L.J. Luthringer 2

Jabberwocky Marionettes 2

G. “Max” Maxin IV 2

Jeremy Ramey 2

Danny Rockett 2

Kevin Rolfs 2

Jenna Schoppe 2

Anne Sheridan Smith 2

Kevin Webb 2

Augusto Yanacopulous 2

 

ABOUT THE JEFF AWARDS

The Jeff Awards is one of the most active and engaged theater awards organizations in the country evaluating hundreds of theatrical productions annually and holding two awards ceremonies highlighting work over the past Equity and Non-Equity seasons. Through our recommendations, awards, and honors we help foster the growth of companies, encourage artists, bring new appreciation for diverse storytelling, and cultivate civic pride in the achievements of the Chicago theater community. Originally chartered in 1968 to recognize Equity productions, the Jeff Awards Non-Equity Wing was established in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union theatre. For more information, visit www.jeffawards.org.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON NOMINATIONS AND THE AWARDS PROGRAM 

The Jeff Awards website lists all current nominees, previous recipients and nominations, and other Jeff Awards information and news. Visit www.jeffawards.org.

The 2023 Jeff Awards for Non-Equity Theater will be held Monday, March 27, 2023, at Park West in Chicago, IL.  Doors will open at 6:00pm with light food and a cash bar available, and the awards program will begin at 7:30pm. General Admission tickets are $65 (includes $50 ticket + required fees) and available now at www.jeffawards.org. A group rate of $54 (includes $40 ticket + required fees) is available for parties of 10. Festive cocktail attire is suggested, and the public is cordially invited. For more information, contact AJ Wright, Non-Equity Wing Chair, at nonequitywing@jeffawards.org.

Names of award recipients will be released immediately following the program on March 27th by e-mail and on our website under Non-Equity Awards at www.jeffawards.org.