Iceboy! Sneak Peek Into Goodman's Rehearsals With Megan Mullally And Nick Offerman

Chi, IL Live Shows on our Radar:

Iceboy! Now in Rehearsals

A PEEK INTO REHEARSALS OF THE NEW MUSICAL ICEBOY!WITH MEGAN MULLALLY AND NICK OFFERMAN, GREY HENSON, CEDRIC YARBROUGH, SARAH STILES, ALEX GOODRICH & MORE 

***WITH MUSIC BY MARK HOLLMAN, LYRICS BY HOLLMAN AND JAY REISS, BOOK BY ERIN QUINN PURCELL AND REISS, ICEBOY! STARTS JUNE 20—MARC BRUNI DIRECTS, JOANN M. HUNTER CHOREOGRAPHS***

Rehearsals are underway for the musical event of the summer: Iceboy! Or, The Completely Untrue Story of How Eugene O‘Neill Came to Write The Iceman Cometh. With music by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Jay Reiss, and book by Erin Quinn Purcell and Jay Reiss, the world-premiere production is at once the capstone to The Goodman’s Centennial Season and its latest in a longtime history of premiering new large-scale American musicals. 

Iceboy Rehearsals: (L-R) Alex Goodrich, Sarah Stiles, Cedric Yarbrough, Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, Grey Henson.

Iceboy Rehearsals: (L-R) Mark Hollmann, JoAnn M. Hunter, Erin Quinn Purcell, Jay Reiss, Marc Bruni. Photos by Todd Rosenberg

Marc Bruni (Broadway’s The Great Gatsby and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) directs with choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter (The Penelopiad). Iceboy! Or The Completely Untrue Story of How Eugene O’Neill Came to Write The Iceman Cometh appears in the 856-seat Albert Theatre June 20 – July 26. Opening night is June 29. For tickets ($44 - $189, subject to change) call 312.443.3800 or purchase online at GoodmanTheatre.org/Iceboy. The Goodman is grateful for the support of its Iceboy! sponsors: Edgerton Foundation (New Play Award), Mayer Brown (Lead Corporate Sponsor) and Athletico (Physical Therapy Provider).

Iceboy Rehearsals: (L-R) Jay Reiss, Sarah Stiles.

"It began as a scrappy little play called Hooray for Iceboy, which Jay and I co-wrote with the adobe theatre company in New York City. Audiences responded right away, which encouraged us to keep going. In 2012, we brought Mark on board—and here we are today,” said playwright Erin Quinn Purcell. "As someone from Illinois, working at The Goodman feels like a theatrical mecca. And there’s something exciting about creating Iceboy! in a place with such a rich history with Eugene O’Neill’s work, for audiences who are so smart and savvy. We hope we live up to that—in a fun way.”

Iceboy Rehearsals: (L-R) Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally.

Broadway’s brightest star of 1938, Vera Vimm  (Megan Mullally), is at the top of her game.  But when she adopts a 40,000-year-old Neanderthal discovered frozen in the Arctic, the spotlight begins to shift.  As  Iceboy (Grey Henson)  thaws, he unexpectedly becomes a theatrical sensation, inspiring the “father of the American drama” Eugene O’Neill (Nick Offerman) and challenging his legendary mother for center stage. It’s All About Eve...if only Eve  was  a caveman.

Iceboy Rehearsals: (L-R) Grey Henson, Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, Cedric Yarbrough.

“The late 1930s were such a strange time—people would go to the theater at 8:30pm, be out by 11, and then head to a supper club...on a weeknight. When did they sleep? It’s fun to cherry-pick history to suit the story,” said Jay Reiss, the creator of the Tony Award-winning musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (with Rachel Sheinkin and William Finn). "Iceboy! is still evolving, but together we hope to create something unique and special that we can’t wait for audiences to experience.”

Iceboy Rehearsals: (L-R) Cedric Yarbrough, Alex Goodrich, Donterrio.

The cast stars Emmy Award winners Megan Mullally (NBC’s Will & Grace) and Nick Offerman (NBC’s Parks and Recreation), Tony Award nominee Grey Henson (Broadway’s Mean Girls), Cedric Yarbrough (Comedy Central’s Reno 911!), Tony Award nominee Sarah Stiles (Broadway’s Tootsie) and Alex Goodrich (Marriott Theatre’s Hero: The Musical), together with Donterrio (Nightbirds), Melanie Brezill (A Christmas Carol), Will Koski (Paramount Theatre’s Into the Woods), Linda Mugleston (Broadway’s The Music Man), Shawn Pfautsch (The Matchbox Magic Flute), Andrea San Miguel (The Penelopiad), Will Lidke (Theo Ubique’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Leah Morrow(Marriott Theatre’s Heartbreak Hotel) and Jeff Parker (Betrayal). Casting note: Shawn Pfautsch will appear as Eugene O’Neill, the role typically played by Nick Offerman, at the June 20, 21, 23 and 24 preview performances.

Iceboy Rehearsals: (L-R) Vadim Feichtner

“Bringing this new musical to The Goodman during its Centennial Season is especially meaningful for me. I grew up in downstate Illinois and spent my early adulthood in Chicago working in storefront theaters, dreaming of one day working at The Goodman. I learned so much by seeing world premieres here—so it’s an honor to now have one of my own musicals premiere on this stage,” said Mark Hollmann, Tony Award-winning creator of the musical Urinetown (with Greg Kotis).

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Megan Mullally (Vera Vimm) created the role of Karen Walker on Will & Grace, a role for which she went on to win two Emmys and four SAG awards. On Broadway, she has starred in How to Succeed in Business, Young Frankenstein, and Grease, in addition to Guys and Dolls at Carnegie Hall, opposite Nathan Lane. On-screen credits include Chasing Summer, Dicks: The Musical, The Righteous Gemstones, Party Down, Reservation Dogs, Bobs’s Burgers, Childrens Hospital, Parks and Recreation, and the upcoming film Goodbye Girl. She tours worldwide with her band Nancy And Beth as creator, lead singer and choreographer.

Nick Offerman (Eugene O’Neill) is an actor, author, humorist and woodworker whose credits include the Emmy award-winning role of Bill in The Last of Us (HBO), Ron Swanson on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, Forest in Devs (FX), and Jinx in Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple). Stage credits include the role of Ignatius J. Reilly in A Confederacy of Dunces at the Huntington Theatre, Ulysses in Sharr White’s Annapurna, opposite Megan Mullally as Emma at The Odyssey/Evidence Room in LA and The New Group Off-Broadway, Adding Machine at The Minetta Lane (Off-Broadway) and many Chicago credits at Defiant Theatre (Founding Member), Steppenwolf, A Red Orchid, Wisdom Bridge, Chicago Shakespeare and, of course, his 1994 Goodman debut as The Keeper/Fight Captain in Richard II. Recent screen projects include Death by Lightning (Netflix), Sovereign, Voicemails For Isabel (Netflix), Civil War (written and directed by Alex Garland), The Pout Pout Fish, Origin (written and directed by Ava DuVernay), Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, Fargo (FX), Smurfs, The Umbrella Academy (Netflix), and NBC’s Making It (co-host and executive producer). He is the voice of Beef Tobin in the FOX animated series The Great North and audiobook narrator for Wendell Berry’s latest, The Need to Be Whole.

Grey Henson (Iceboy) was most recently seen as Bigfoot in Bigfoot! The Musical Off-Broadway, for which he earned a Drama League Award nomination. Broadway credits include Buddy in the 2024 revival of Elf The Musical (Drama Desk Award nomination), Damian in Mean Girls The Musical (Tony and Drama Desk nominations), Storyteller 2 in Shucked, and Elder McKinley in The Book of Mormon, a role that he originated on the first national tour. Other credits include Michael in tick, tick… BOOM! at the Kennedy Center and Tate in the Netflix series Girls5Eva. Carnegie Mellon University Drama.

Cedric Yarbrough (Floyd) is a multi-hyphenate performer recently seen in Clint Eastwood's latest film Juror #2, the Netflix film Unfrosted and the AMC series Lucky Hank. He starred in ABC's Speechless, The Goldbergs, CBS’ Carol's Second Act, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Key and Peele. The Minnesotan began his career with 8 seasons of Comedy Central’s hit Reno 911! as “Deputy S. Jones.” He was seen in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, The House, The Boss and Black Dynamite. Yarbrough is also a talented voice-over artist whose work includes Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy, Bojack Horseman, Kung Fu Panda 4 and the Peabody Award-winning The Boondocks.

Sarah Stiles (Lambert) is a two-time Tony Award-nominated actor for Tootsie and Hand to God. Other Broadway: On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Avenue Q and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Off-Broadway: The Imaginary Invalid (Red Bull); Into the Woods (Delacorte); Vanities (Second Stage). Stiles stars opposite Kevin James in the Netflix comedy The Crew, is Gladys in the critically acclaimed EPIX Original Series Get Shorty and Bonnie on Showtime’s Billions. She voices Spinel in Steven Universe (Cartoon Network) and Mimzy in Hazbin Hotel (Amazon). Film: Transformers: Rise of the Beast, This Will Never Work, Unsane.

Alex Goodrich (Frankenstein) is thawed to make his Goodman Theatre debut! Chicago credits include several shows at Court Theater, Marriott Theater, Chicago Shakespeare, Northlight, Royal George, Drury Lane and Writers Theater. He’s been nominated several times for a Jeff award and won once. TV credits include Chicago Fire and Shining Girls on Apple TV+.

Mark Hollmann (Music and Lyrics) won the Tony Award®, the Obie Award, and the National Broadway Theatre Award for his music and lyrics to Urinetown The Musical, which went from the 1999 New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC) to receive 10 Tony Award® nominations and 11 Drama Desk Award nominations and win the Outer Critics Circle, the Drama League and the Lucille Lortel Awards for best musical.  His other shows as composer/lyricist include The Sting (Paper Mill Playhouse), ZM (Village Theatre Beta Series), Yeast Nation (FringeNYC), Bigfoot and Other Lost Souls (Perseverance Theatre), and The Girl, The Grouch and The Goat (University of Kansas Theatreand Chance Theatre).  For TV, he has written songs for the Disney Channel’s Johnny and the Sprites.  He received his A.B. in music from the University of Chicago, where he won the Louis J. Sudler Award in the Performing and Creative Arts.  He has taught at Princeton University, Columbia College Chicago and the Dramatists Guild Institute.  He is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and the Dramatists Guild of America, and has served on the council of the Dramatists Guild as well as on the Tony Award® Nominating Committee.

Jay Reiss (Book and Lyrics) is one of the creators of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which won two Tony awards, and made his Broadway acting debut as the Bee’s word pronouncer, Vice Principal Douglas Panch. He co-wrote the screenplay for The Oranges, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, and starred Hugh Laurie, Allison Janney, Oliver Platt and Catherine Keener. He wrote the documentary New Wave: Dare To Be Different, about legendary NY radio Station WLIR. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and later on Showtime. Reiss is a graduate of The Juilliard School’s playwriting program.

Native Illinoisan Erin Quinn Purcell (Book) has been a mainstay in New York’s downtown theater scene for more than 30 years. She was one of the founding members of the critically acclaimed adobe theatre company, and participated as an actor, writer and/or director in countless productions. Writingcredits include Duet! A Romantic Fable (Broadway Play Publishing), The Fiona Apple Kwanzaa Explosion (PSNBC), the musical A Fish Story (Jonathan Larson Foundation award) and the Russ Meyer inspired Go-Go Kitty, Go! (Outstanding Play, 2005 New York Fringe Festival).

Marc Bruni (Director) helmed The Great Gatsby (Broadway, West End, Korea) as well as the Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award-winning Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Broadway, West End, US and UK Tours, and in Australia- Helpmann Award Best Director). Other credits include Billie Jean(Chicago Shakes), The Sound of Music (Chicago Lyric), Bull Durham (Paper Mill), A Little Night Music (Geffen Hall), Trevor: The Musical (Stage 42, Disney+), Bye Bye Birdie, Guys and Dolls, The Music Man, How to Succeed in Business..., 50 Years of Broadway (Kennedy Center), and Hey, Look Me Over!, Paint Your Wagon, Pipe Dream and Fanny (City Center Encores!), Tale of Despereaux (Old Globe, Berkeley), Love All (La Jolla), The Explorers Club (MTC), Ordinary Days (Roundabout), 9 shows for the St. Louis MUNY.  

Company of Iceboy! Or The Completely Untrue Story of How Eugene O’Neill Came to Write The Iceman Cometh

Music By Mark Hollmann
Lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Jay Reiss
Book by Erin Quinn Purcell and Jay Reiss
Directed by Marc Bruni
Choreographed by JoAnn M. Hunter

Alex Goodrich...Frankenstein
Grey Henson... Iceboy
Megan Mullally...Vera Vimm
Nick Offerman...Eugene O’Neill
Sarah Stiles...Lambert
Cedric Yarbrough...Floyd Richards

Donterrio, Melanie Brezill, Will Koski, Linda Mugleston, Shawn Pfautsch, Andrea San Miguel…Ensemble 

Will Lidke, Leah Morrow, Jeff Parker…Swing

Iceboy Rehearsals: (L-R) Andrea San Miguel, Shawn Pfautsch, Linda Mugleston.

CREATIVE TEAM
Set Designer...Paul Tate dePoo III
Lighting Designer...Jen Schriever
Costume Designer...Linda Cho
Wig & Hair Designer...Charles “Chuck” LaPointe
Sound Designer...Connor Wang
Music Director and Conductor/Pianist...Vadim Feichtner
Orchestrations...Bruce Coughlin
Music Preparation...John Blane
Voice & Dialect...Michelle Lopez-Rios
Violence & Intimacy...Chels Morgan
Associate Director...Keira Fromm
Associate Sound Designer...Emily Hayman
Associate Choreographer...Liz Ramos
Associate Costume Designer...Patrick Bevilacqua
Associate Wig & Hair Designer/Makeup Designer...Rachael Geier
Associate Lighting Designer...Paul Vaillancourt
Associate Set Designer...Kaitlyn Peterson
Assistant Director...Lo Williams
Assistant Music Director and Cover Conductor...Jo Ann Daugherty
Music Assistant...Jordan Klein
Assistant Sound Designer...Emily Lynch
Assistant Lighting Designer...Emma Berry
Script and Production Assistant...Molly Rosen
Production Assistant...Tuesday Thacker
Line Producer...Malkia Stampley
Second Line Producer...Adam Belcuore

Casting by Lauren Port, CSA and NY Casting by Jim Carnahan, CSA and Jason Thinger, CSA.Jennifer Gregory is the Production Stage Manager. Nikki Blue and Beth Koehler are the Stage Managers.

ENHANCED AND ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES

Visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Access for more information about The Goodman’s accessibility efforts.

ASL-Interpreted...July 17 at 7:30pm – An ASL interpreter signs the action/text as played.
Audio-Described...July 18 at 2pm; Touch Tour; 12:30pm – Action audibly enhanced via headset.
Spanish-Subtitled...July 18 at 7:30pm – Spanish-translated dialogue via LED sign.
Open-Captioned...July 19 at 2pm – LED sign presents dialogue in sync with the performance.

ABOUT THE GOODMAN

Since 1925, The Goodman has been more than a stage. A theatrical home for artists and a gathering space for community, it’s where stories come to life—bold in artistry and rich in history, deeply rooted in the city it serves.

Led by Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins, The Goodman sparks conversation, connection and change through new plays, reimagined classics and large-scale musicals. With distinctions including nearly 200 world or American premieres, two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and nearly 200 Joseph Jefferson Awards, The Goodman is proud to be the first theater to produce all 10 plays of August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” In addition, the theater frequently serves as a production partner—with national and international companies to Chicago’s Off-Loop theaters—to help amplify theatrical voices.

But The Goodman believes a more empathetic, more connected Chicago is created one story at a time, and counts as its greatest legacy the community it’s built. Generation-spanning productions and programs offer theater for a lifetime; from Theater for the Very Young (plays designed for ages 0-5) to the long-running annual A Christmas Carol, which has introduced new generations to theater over five decades, The Goodman is committed to being an asset for all of Chicago. Education and Engagement programs led by Clifford Director of Education and Engagement Jared Bellot and housed in the Alice Rapoport Center use the tools of theater to spark imagination, reflection and belonging. Each year, these programs reach thousands of people (85% from underserved communities) as well as educators, artists and lifelong learners across the city.

The Goodman stands on the unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations—and acknowledges the many other Nations for whom this land now called Chicago has long been home, including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo, and Mascouten. The Goodman is proud to partner with the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum (Gichigamiin-Museum.org) and the Center for Native Futures (CenterForNativeFutures.org)—organizations devoted to honoring Indigenous stories, preserving cultural memory, and deepening public understanding.

The Goodman was founded by William O. Goodman and his family to honor the memory of Kenneth Sawyer Goodman—a visionary playwright whose bold ideas helped shape Chicago’s early cultural renaissance. That spirit of creativity and generosity endures today. In 2000, through the commitment of Mr. Goodman’s descendants—Albert Ivar Goodman and his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton—The Goodman opened the doors to its current home in the heart of the Loop.

Marsha Cruzan is Chair of the Goodman Theatre Board of Trustees; Diane Landgren is Women’s Board President; and Kelli Garcia is president of the Scenemakers Board for Young Professionals.

Iceboy Rehearsals: (L-R) Kiera Fromm, Marc Bruni

All Rehearsal Photos by Todd Rosenberg

Iceboy! Or, The Completely Untrue Story of How Eugene O’Neill Came to Write The Iceman Cometh
Music By Mark Hollmann 
Lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Jay Reiss 
Book by Erin Quinn Purcell and Jay Reiss 
Directed by Marc Bruni 

Choreographed by JoAnn M. Hunter 

June 20 – July 26, 2026 in the Albert Theatre

REVIEW: The OLDest PROfession Now Playing Theater WIT Through May 27, 2026

The Oldest Profession: Solo Comedy Show About Sex Worker History 

Three nights only at Theater Wit

May 25, 26 & 27

Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes with no intermission 

GUEST REVIEW

By Barbara Belcore

I was so pleased to see The Oldest Profession at Theater Wit, with my daughter last night, and with only two nights left, I’d absolutely hurry to get a seat. Kaytlin Bailey delivers a fast paced one woman show that somehow manages to be hilarious, deeply informative, personal, and genuinely moving all at once.

Blending stand up, storytelling, and art history, Bailey traces 10,000 years of sex worker history while making the subject incredibly accessible, even for audience members who may know very little about it going in. The show balances humor with serious social commentary in a way that never feels preachy. I found myself laughing one minute and sitting with something profoundly uncomfortable or thought provoking the next.

One of the most powerful threads throughout the show was the comparison between Bailey’s experience as a sex worker and her father’s experience as a soldier, especially the irony that his profession was statistically far more dangerous. Her reflections on how society assigns morality and value to different kinds of labor were sharp and memorable.

The historical sections were fascinating too, from discussions of virginity tests and the weaponization of the word “whore” starting in childhood, to debunking myths like Mary Magdalene being a sex worker. Bailey also explores how institutions, particularly the church, shaped attitudes toward sexuality, women, queer people, and sex workers over centuries.

The opener, Lauren, was fantastic too and set the tone perfectly with a warm, funny set before Bailey took the stage.

It’s rare to see a show that is this funny, this smart, and this human all at the same time. I left entertained, challenged, and still thinking about it hours later.

Barbara is a Chicago-area home birth midwife, maker, theater enthusiast, avid reader, and mom of two quirky, creative teens. She is currently snuggling three cats who are perpetually convinced that they have never been fed.

The Oldest Profession is a solo comedy show by Kaytlin Bailey who is a comedian, former sex worker, and host of the acclaimed podcast of the same name. Bailey offers a new angle on the world’s oldest profession, reframing the story of western civilization in a fast-paced and profoundly moving solo show. The performance is enhanced by a projected art history slideshow.

Blending stand-up, storytelling, and lived experience with meticulously researched history, the show races through 10,000 years of sex worker history in a funny yet thought provoking hour. The performance makes use of a projected art history slideshow.

Check out The Oldest Profession HERE for more information and upcoming show dates: https://theoldestprofession.org/

Review: Lazy Susan Theatre Co's Moonwatchers Now Playing Through May 17, 2026

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

LAZY SUSAN THEATRE CO. PRESENTS THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF

MOONWATCHERS

APRIL 30 - MAY 17

AT THE GREENHOUSE THEATER CENTER

A Puppet Filled Tale of a Moon Heist, a Lovelorn Cow, and The Night Everything Changes

Written by Corey Farrell & Nigel Berkeley. 

Directed by Co-Artistic Director Nealie Tinlin

The total running time is one hour, no intermission

 Please note, this production contains some mature language, humor, and the use of fog and strobe effects.

All Production Photography by Mollie Menuck

REVIEW

By Dugan Kenaz-Mara

Everyone knows what it's like to work a minimum wage job. You show up, give a short greeting to your coworker, then have to deal with the monotony of the same routine night after night. And it's no different watching the moon. It's especially harrowing when you and your only coworker don't quite get along. But, when the focal point of your job suddenly goes missing? Everything might just get a lot more exciting. 

I am not exaggerating when I say that Moonwatchers is an absolute masterpiece when it comes to whimsy. It packs all of the joy, silliness, action, and simple puns of a TYA show into a story that any adult can relate to. The performance prominently features a kazoo battle, sock puppet murder, and character sound effect gags that had the audience laughing the whole way through. 

Elijah J. Jones (Allen) and Renzo Vicente (Rocko) share incredible chemistry on stage, pulling off the "opposite personality coworker duo" dynamic with ease. They each also play over-the-top side characters, like Johnny Rumble - the Meanest Moon Rustler in the solar system, and Bessie - the Cow who jumps over the moon each night. Two characters who have a shared past that we get to witness reconnect on stage as well. Both actors are funny, charming, and good musicians, singing multiple hilarious songs throughout the 55 minute performance. 

As a theater designer myself I couldn't help notice a neat aesthetic that scenic designer Jon Yawn and props designer Pierce Julian Howard pulled together. The Supergraphic '70's stripes' across the set and the 50s 'Atomic star' designs presented a space age vibe, that reinforced the feeling of a repetative workday in need of some variety. The costumes by Ephraim Page, lighting by Emma Berry and sound by Matthew Masino did the opposite, infusing the fun back into the show, and leaving opportunity for the space to transform into a western-inspired space desert or a crazy comet-fishing area. And despite the limited playing space of the intimate theater, the designers were able to transport us on a grand space adventure. 

If you're in the mood for an adult show that makes you feel like a kid again, I would definitely recommend this one! 

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar. Four out of Four Stars. Highly Recommended ★★★★

Dugan Kenaz-Mara is a Chicago based designer, photographer, educator, and graduate of Northwestern University's theatre program.

It is Rocko and Allen’s job to watch the moon, and it is really quite boring. Night after night, they time the sequences exactly - the cow jumps, the comet soars, but NEVER the alien spaceship. This is until the dastardly space criminal Johnny Rumble steals the moon, taking it to the far-off space desert of the Midnight Sun. This course of events sends the moonwatchers on an intergalactic space odyssey filled with music, love, new friendships, and epic showdowns to win back the one, the only, the Moon.

For tickets click here: https://lazysusantheatreco.org/moonwatchers

Cast and Crew:

Elijah J. Jones

“Allen”

Renzo Vicente

“Rocko”

Nicholas Ford Kinney

“Allen” u/s

Jack Humphrey

“Rocko” u/s

Nigel Berkeley

Playwright

Corey Farrell

Playwright

Nealie Tinlin*

Director

Dominic Rincker*

Music Director

Jon Yawn*

Scenic Designer

Emma Berry

Lighting Designer

Ephraim Page

Costume Designer

Matthew Masino*

Sound Designer

Pierce Julian Howard*

Prop Designer

Jacob Sousley

Stage Manager

Maeve Carroll

Asst. Stage Manager

At Lazy Susan Theatre Co., we embrace the importance of the artistic process by creating a space that is celebratory of the art. From the early stages to the final performance, we work to cultivate an environment where both audience and artist feel a sense of home and humanness.  We believe the need to create is a reason to create.  We work to grow our theatrical community and foster a safe and inclusive place for artists to learn and explore.

We believe the need to create is a reason to create. As a theatre company rooted in the vibrant city of Chicago, we are dedicated to creating bold, inclusive, and thought-provoking productions. Your generosity keeps the light shining and the stories unfolding. Lazy Susan Theatre Co is a 501(c)(3) non-profit; your donation is fully tax deductible.

It's ON! One of a Kind Spring Show at THE MART April 24-26, 2026

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

THE ANNUAL 

ONE OF A KIND SPRING SHOW® CHICAGO 

WILL RETURN TO THE MART FEATURING 350+ ARTISTS, 150+ NEW EXHIBITORS, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, GOURMET MARKET & MORE 

APRIL 24–26

Here at ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows, we've been covering The holiday and spring One of a Kind Shows for years and always meet the most interesting creatives. We also usually leave with fabulous OOAK finds. At the holiday show we shared an elevator with a group of women who came prepared, and left with rolling shopping carts packed to the brim! Express your unique self! Support indy artists and small businesses. Shop OOAK Chicago this Friday through Sunday.

The Best Place to Shop Original Work from Hundreds of Independent Artists, Designers and Makers Under One Roof, Chicago’s Favorite Spring Shopping Event Returns with a Curated Experience Including a Fine Art Gallery, Emerging Market, Gourmet Food, Drinks, Live Music and More

Chicago’s favorite 3‑day spring shopping event returns in full bloom! The One of a Kind Spring Show is pleased to announce the 2026 edition of the beloved event, taking over the 7th Floor of THE MART from Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26. Featuring animpressive selection of original work from more than 350 talented artists, designers and makers from across North America, attendees will have theopportunity to meet and shop directly from the show’s jury‑selected exhibitors, including 35 emerging artists and over 150 new participants debuting at the show this year. 

The One of a Kind Spring Show will showcase a vibrant mix of fine art, home décor, fashion, jewelry, ceramics, photography, gourmet goods and unique pieces perfect for spring celebrations including Mother’s Day, graduations, weddings and seasonal entertaining. Throughout the weekend attendees can enjoy live music from local performers and watch engaging artist demonstrations at center stage, indulge in artisan culinary creations in the Gourmet Market, meet rising food entrepreneurs inside The Hatchery Pavilion, and discover new favorites in the Emerging Market, featuring up‑and‑coming talent exhibiting for thefirst time.

Guests can also stroll through the curated Fine Art Gallery, where select works from exhibiting fine artists are presented in a dedicated gallery setting. Food and beverages will be available throughout the show floor with a variety of gourmet offerings provided by Foodstuffs, and courtesy carts will be available to make shopping easy and enjoyable. Each evening of the show, attendees can head outdoors to enjoy ART on THE MART, one of the world’s largest digital art projections, illuminating the iconic façade of THE MART with vivid, large‑scale displays.

“We are thrilled to be returning for our Spring Show, which continues to grow in creativity, excitement and community every year,” said Kathleen Hogan, Director of the One of a Kind Show. “Spring is the perfect time to refresh, explore and discover new work from our incredibly talented group of artists, and we can’t wait to offer an unforgettable weekend full of inspiration, artistry and connection.”

General Show Information:
The One of a Kind Spring Show® Chicago takes place at THE MART, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, 7th Floor, April 24–26, 2026. For tickets or more information, visit: http://oneofakindshowchicago.com/.
Tickets start at $15 for adult admissions (12+) and are valid for re‑entry all three days of the show.

Hours are as follows:
Friday, April 24: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 25: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 26: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For news and real-time updates, follow the One of a Kind Show on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About THE MART
THE MART (formerly The Merchandise Mart), located in the center of the sought-after River North submarket, is interwoven into the fabric of Chicago as aninnovator in business, technology, design, culture, art, media and more. It is one of the world’s leading commercial buildings, wholesale design centers and thepreeminent international business location in Chicago. Encompassing 4.2 million gross square feet, THE MART spans two city blocks, rises 25 stories, and is visited by an average of 30,000 people each business day and nearly 10 million people annually. Offering continuous innovation and creativity from leading manufacturers and design forward showrooms, THE MART serves as the home to Chicago's most creative and technologically innovative companies.

Fantastic Negrito at Reva and David Logan Center For The Arts April 11, 2026

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar: 

Fantastic Negrito 

Performing at Reva and David Logan Center For The Arts

April 11, 2026  

“Reimagining the blues for a new age — and audience.” - LA Times

TOP WEEKEND PICKS: TONIGHT 4/11 Fantastic Negrito at Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts! We'll be there covering the concert for ChiIL Live Shows. Can't wait to catch this incredibly talented performer live. 

Limited tickets still available: 

General 

$37.00 ($33.00 ticket price + $4.00 fees)

UChicago Faculty/Staff

$30.00 ($26.00 ticket price + $4.00 fees)

Limit 1 per valid ID

Free Youth

$0.00 (NO Ticket Fee)

Limit 1 per adult ticket. Must be under 12 years-old.

“It’s the truest testament in believing not only is change gonna come, but it is here.” - Rolling Stone

Blending grit, soul, funk, rock, and blues, Fantastic Negrito has built a global following with performances that transcend genre and are communal between artist and audience. Since winning the inaugural NPR Tiny Desk Contest, he’s continued to reshape contemporary roots music, earning acclaim at major festivals worldwide and collaborating with artists like Sting, E-40, and Tank and the Bangas -- all a testament to the breadth and power of his artistry.

“Ripping up any blueprint for how a blues album should sound.” - American Songwriter

3x GRAMMY® Award-winner Fantastic Negrito released his highly anticipated album, Son of a Broken Man, on October 18, 2024 via his own Storefront Records. This album sees Fantastic Negrito encapsulating his inimitable style, from hard-hitting guitar riffs to expressive ballads, with the unexpected twists that have become his trademark. It stands as one of his most personal works to date, exploring family, deception, and the human desire to hide the true self as he dives deep into the struggle between father and son. 

“Something like Led Zeppelin’s debut, Negrito is too weird and wired to stay in the blues channel, though he is unlikely to head off toward hobbits. He is headed somewhere, that’s for sure.” - Pitchfork

Born Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, Fantastic Negrito's story is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of music. By now much has been made of Negrito’s unique story – growing up in an orthodox Muslim household, a doomed major label deal, the near-fatal car crash that permanently damaged his guitar playing hand—as well as the remarkable redemption arc that began in 2015, when he won the first-ever NPR Tiny Desk Contest. He has since earned three GRAMMY® Awards for “Best Contemporary Blues Album," and shared stages with everyone from Sturgill Simpson to Chris Cornell to Bruce Springsteen. He's collaborated in the studio with the likes of Sting, E-40, and Tank and The Bangas, performed on countless headline world tours and at festivals such as Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Newport Folk, and WOMAD, and founded the Revolution Plantation, an urban farm aimed at youth education and empowerment.

“You’ll see that newly rediscovered purpose in his eyes and hear it in his voice.” - NPR

Listen to his album here: Son of a Broken Man

For full tour dates and information check out his site HERE.

League of Chicago Theatres' Deal Hunt Is Back April 14-22, 2026

 League of Chicago Theatres welcomes Spring with the return of Deal Hunt

 Dozens of participating shows are offering an additional $5 off

already discounted tickets on Hot Tix

The League of Chicago Theatres announces the popular spring theatre promotion Deal Hunt, bringing audiences the best of Chicago theatre at unbeatable prices.

 

Redeemable from April 14-22, 2026, Hot Tix patrons receive an extra $5 off already-discounted theater tickets for participating performances throughout the Spring season by using the code “Deal Hunt” at www.HotTix.org.

 

Marissa Lynn Jones, Executive Director of the League of Chicago Theatres, comments, “We are so excited about Spring’s arrival, bringing with it an abundance of new productions to Chicago stages. To kick-start the season, we are proud to bring back Deal Hunt to Hot Tix, making theatre even more accessible and affordable than ever.”

 

To date, 36 productions are participating, including: A Streetcar Named Desire, MadKap Productions at Skokie Theatre; Amplify Queer Joy, Chicago Playback Theatre Ensemble at Center on Halsted; Birthday Candles, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble at McAninch Arts Center; Building American Pop, Chicago a cappella  at Nichols Concert Hall; Chamber Music Series: Saint-Saëns, Vieuxtemps, and Fauré, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at Harris Theater for Music and Dance; Comedy Pageant, Stars & Garters Theater; Cosmic Comedy Hour and The Cosmic Underground Show, Cosmic Underground Theater; Deep Schwa, Doing Our Moms, Improvised Jane Austen, The Armando Diaz Experience, Whirled News Tonight and Devil’s Daughter at iO Theater; DIVIDED, The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University; Do Something Pretty, Rivendell Theatre Company; Eelpout!, Shattered Globe Theatre at Theater Wit; Father of the Bride, Drury Lane Theatre; FreakShow & Tell, Stars & Garters Theater; Heartbreak Hotel, Marriott Theatre; I Hate Hamlet, Saint Sebastian Players at St. Bonaventure; Jetlag, Physical Theater Festival at The Dance Center at Columbia College Chicago; Lizzy & The Triggermen, The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University; LOKI-The End of the World Tour, Lifeline Theatre; M.A.S.T.E.R.M.I.N.D.S., Stars & Garters Theater; Modern Gentleman, About Face Theatre at Raven Theatre; moonwatchers, Lazy Susan Theatre Co.at Greenhouse Theater Center; Nomad by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Eastman, Harris Theater for Music and Dance; Octet,Raven Theatre; Out Here, Court Theatre; Rising Stars Burlesque Revue, Stars & Garters Theater; Ruthless! The Musical, Citadel Theatre Company; The Cuttlefish, or the Hyrcanian Worldview, Trap Door Theatre; The Sugar Wife, The Artistic Home at Theater Wit; The Trojan Women, Eos Theatre Company at Bramble Arts Loft; and Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, at Studebaker Theater.

 

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 7 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.

 

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.

REVIEW: Idle Muse's Bite Sized Three Musketeers Is Big Fun!

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

IDLE MUSE THEATRE COMPANY CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF PRODUCTIONS 

WITH ROBERT KAUZLARIC’S 

THE THREE MUSKETEERS

MARCH 26 - APRIL 25 

AT THE EDGE OFF-BROADWAY

Artistic Director Evan Jackson Directs this Adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’s Celebrated Adventure Novel 

The total running time is two hours and 25 minutes including the intermission

All Production Photography by Steven Townshend, Distant Era

(L to R) Boomer Lusink, Brendan Hutt, Vanessa Copeland and Sam Neel  

REVIEW

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

Something huge is happening in what's arguably one of Chicago's smallest storefronts. The Edge Off Broadway theater, on Chicago's north east side, is an intimate, black box space with a seating capacity of just 45, and Idle Muse's latest will have you on the edge of your seat. Pick the front row for an adrenaline fueled adventure, full of sword and gun fights inches from your face. Think you know The Three Musketeers? Think again. 

Jack Sharkey

(L to R) Troy Schaeflein and Joel Thompson

Troy Schaeflein (D’Artagnan), Jack Sharkey (Athos); Boomer Lusink (Porthos); and Xavier Lagunas (Aramis) are a joy to see in action, and play the kind of low-key folk heroes we still need more of today. By the time Benjamin Jouras hit the stage as posh, pampered Louis XIII, we were in stitches. The entire cast are consummate storytellers, and provide an action packed evening of thoroughly enjoyable live theatre.

(L to R) Caty Gordon and Benjamin Jouras

We're also longtime fans of Jeff Award-winning playwright, Robert Kauzlaric, as well as assistant director and violence director, Libby Beyreis. All in all this cast and crew form a fitting and fantastic launch for Idle Muse's 20th year of productions. The Three Musketeers is based on Alexander Dumas’s celebrated 1844 novel.

We couldn't stop laughing at this hilarious take on a classic. Reminiscent of Jackie Chan's drunken Master, Idle Muse's Three Musketeers are anything but slick and professional. They're a ragtag bunch of drunken, bumbling oafs, constantly underestimated, yet incredibly effective when it matters. We adored this tiny but mighty rendition, and count it as is a must see this spring. 

Eric Duhon

Ready for a swashbuckling adventure that's big on laughs? Don't miss this! Recommended. Three out of four stars. ★★★

Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theatre critic, photographer, artist, and Mama to 2 amazing adults. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly)

(L to R) Xavier Lagunas, Jack Sharkey and Boomer Lusink in THE THREE MUSKETEERS from Idle Muse Theatre, now playing through April 25 at The Edge Off-Broadway. 

Idle Muse Theatre Company launches its 20th anniversary season with The Three Musketeers, March 26 - April 25, written by Robert Kauzlaric, directed by Idle Muse Artistic Director Evan Jackson adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas and originally commissioned for the 2010 Illinois Shakespeare Festival, at The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, 1133 W Catalpa Ave. 

(L to R) Jamie Redwood and Troy Schaeflein

The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m., with an added Wednesday performance on April 22 at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are now on sale for $30 and $20 for seniors and students with $50 “pay it forward” tickets that assist in subsidizing tickets for those who may not be able to access the production otherwise. Tickets and additional group discounts are available at IdleMuse.org or the Idle Muse Theatre Company Box Office, 773.340.9438.

Idle Muse celebrates 20 years of productions with The Three Musketeers. Based on Alexander Dumas’s celebrated 1844 novel, the Jeff Award-winning Robert Kauzlaric adapts the French tale of swashbuckling intrigue, adventure and fellowship as newly-minted musketeer D’Artagnan and the famous “three inseparables,” Athos, Porthos and Aramis take on the machinations of a scheming cardinal and his minions.

(L to R) Xavier Lagunas, Jack Sharkey, Troy Schaeflein and Boomer Lusink

The Three Musketeers cast includes Troy Schaeflein~ (he/him, D’Artagnan); Jack Sharkey~ (he/him, Athos); Boomer Lusink (he/him, Porthos); Xavier Lagunas~ (he/him, Aramis); Jennifer Mohr~ (she/her, Milady); Joel Thompson~ (he/him, Rochefort); Eric Duhon (he/him, Richelieu); Benjamin Jouras (he/him, Louis XIII/Buckingham);  Erik Schnitger~ (he/him, Treville); Vanessa Copeland (she/her, Jane Felton/Bonacieux); Brendan Hutt~ (he/him, Laporte); Sam Neel (he/him, Combat Ensemble); Jamie Redwood~ (she/her, Cosntance); Caty Gordon~ (she/her, Queen Anne); Ian Saderholm (he/him, u/s D’Artagnan) Elise Soeder (she/her, u/s Milady); Emily Pfriem (she/her, u/s Constance, u/s Jane Felton); Emely Cuestas (she/her, u/s Queen Anne); Alex George (they/them, u/s Porthos); Malachi Marrero (he/they, u/s Rochefort); Rick Adams (he/him, u/s Combat Ensemble); Derek Preston Ray (he/him, u/s Louis XIII/Buckingham) and Alex Hultman (they/them, u/s Laporte, u/s Aramis).

The creative team includes Robert Kauzlaric (he/him, playwright); Evan Jackson~ (he/him, director);  Tristan Brandon~ (he/him, health and safety officer, props designer); Libby Beyreis~ (she/her, assistant director, violence director); Lindsey Chidester~ (she/her, stage manager); Beth Bruins~ (she/her, assistant stage manager); Kati Lechner~ (she/her, production manager, health and safety officer); Erin Alys (she/her, intimacy director); Brendan Hutt~ (he/him, violence director); Emma Rund (she/her, dramaturg); Jeremiah Barr (he/him, technical director, master carpenter); Laura J. Wiley~ (she/her, lighting & projection designer); L.J. Luthringer~ (he/him, sound designer and composer); Vicki Jablonski (she/her, costume designer); Breezy Snyder~ (she/they, scenic painter); Mara Kovacevic~ (she/her, house manager); Mario Mazzetti (they/he, dialect and voice direction); Elizabeth MacDougald~ (she/her, rehearsal fight coach); Caty Gordon~ (she/her, marketing and social media); Michael Dalberg~ (he/him, Idle Muse literary director) and Becky Warner~ (she/her, props designer).

~ Denotes Idle Muse Company Member

ABOUT ROBERT KAUZLARIC, PLAYWRIGHT 

Robert Kauzlaric is a Chicago-based playwright, actor and director. He has written more than a dozen theatrical adaptations which have been performed in nearly forty of the United States, as well as in England, Ireland and Canada. His adaptations include The Island of Dr. Moreau (Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards: Best Production-Play and New Adaptation), The Picture of Dorian Gray (Non-Equity Jeff Nomination: New Adaptation), Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere (Non-Equity Jeff Award: New Adaptation), The Three Musketeers (commissioned for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival), Wilkie Collins's The Moonstone and The Woman in White, and a musical version of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. For children, Kauzlaric has written musical adaptations of Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith's The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! (called "one of the best children's shows of the year" by The New York Times), Peter Brown's Flight of the Dodo, Mo Willems' Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed and Richard and Florence Atwater's Mr. Popper's Penguins, as well as a fanciful twist on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, called Lions in Illyria.

ABOUT EVAN JACKSON, DIRECTOR

Evan Jackson serves as the artistic director of Idle Muse Theatre Company, a position he has had the honor of holding since the company’s inception. He has directed 16 previous productions for Idle Muse Theatre Company, including last season's Jeff-nominated Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The School for Scandal as well as the Jeff-recommended What the Weird Sisters Saw and Jeff-nominated The Last Queen of Camelot. At Idle Muse he also directed Upon this Shore: A Tale of Pericles and the Daughters of Tyre, Best for Winter, being a short Shakespeare adapted from the Winter’s Tale and other works, Equivocation, as well as The Lion in Winter and Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (both Jeff-Recommended). Other favorite Idle Muse productions include The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Talking Cure, Rites and Sacrifices, a world premiere by Chicago playwright Jennifer L. Mickelson, Enchanted April, and The Scullery Maid. He was also director and co-adapter of the original Shotgun Shakespeare: What the Weird Sisters Saw with Idle Muse company member Tristan Brandon. Outside directing projects include several short plays in the Martin de Maat New Works Festival at Boxer Rebellion Theatre and two summers serving as assistant director for Shakespeare on the Green in Lake Forest. Jackson is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University, where he received his MFA in directing.

(L to R) Jennifer Mohr and Eric Duhon

(L to R) Jack Sharkey and Jennifer Mohr

ABOUT IDLE MUSE THEATRE COMPANY 

Idle Muse Theatre Company’s mission is to produce theatre that is transporting,  timely and true. The company was established in 2006 by theatre artists interested in exploring the relationship between individuals and the worlds they inhabit. Seeking to create production opportunities, they established a modern ‘guild’ of players and environment where theatre artists of different experiences and backgrounds could develop their craft. Today, IMTC remains focused on the following core values:

Transporting: We believe that great theatre removes both audience members and  artists from their respective reality and transports them to another world.

Timely: We believe that human connection can be accomplished through  meaningful, relevant, and accessible storytelling here and now.

True: We believe in unflinching honesty in the playing and storytelling.

Since 2022, Idle Muse Theatre Company has instituted a profit share model with artists and team members for each production. In addition to any stipend or payment for services, a full 50% of all box office revenue is reserved and divided evenly among the cast and production team.

Idle Muse Theatre Company launches its 20th anniversary season with The Three Musketeers, March 26 - April 25, written by Robert Kauzlaric, directed by Idle Muse Artistic Director Evan Jackson and adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas at The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, 1133 W Catalpa Ave. Previews are Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27 at 8 p.m. with the press opening Saturday, March 28 at 8 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m., with an added Wednesday performance on April 22 at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are now on sale for $30 and $20 for seniors and students with $50 “pay it forward” tickets that assist in subsidizing tickets for those who may not be able to access the production otherwise. Tickets and additional group discounts are available at IdleMuse.org or the Idle Muse Theatre Company Box Office, 773.340.9438.

Row 1 (L to R): Playwright Robert Kauzlaric, Director Evan Jackson, Troy Schaeflein, Jack Sharkey and Boomer Lusink Row 2 (L to R): Xavier Lagunas, Jennifer Mohr, Joel Thompson, Eric Duhon and Benjamin Jouras Row 3 (L to R): Erik Schnitger, Vanessa Copeland, Brendan Hutt, Sam Neel and Jamie Redwood Row 4 (L to R): Caty Gordon, Ian Saderholm, Elisa Soeder, Emily Pfriem and Emely Cuestas Row 5 (L to R): Alex George, Malachi Marrero, Rick Adams, Derek Preston Ray and Alex Hultman