By Dennis Polkow

For a guy who has been working as a high-profile Broadway composer and lyricist for “over forty years now—oh my God, can you believe it?” Stephen Schwartz is remarkably youthful both in appearance and attitude.

Sitting in the basement of Northlight Theatre in Skokie on an early Saturday morning clutching green tea prior to the final day of rehearsals before the first preview of his new work “Snapshots,” Schwartz exudes an enthusiasm and energy that is refreshing and contagious.

“It’s a new work, certainly, in that we keep tinkering and changing things,” he says, “but this isn’t the first version of the show that has been presented. We haven’t had an official ‘world premiere’ yet because I always feel that is the finished work at that point. ‘World premiere’ is a concept that is more important to theaters and venues than to writers.”  Read the rest of this entry »

DRURY LANE ANNOUNCES ITS EXCITING 2012-2013 SEASON

Featuring HAIRSPRAY, THE 39 STEPS, XANADU, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN AND SUNSET BOULEVARD

Oak Brook, Ill.—Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, known for producing acclaimed, innovative and classic musicals and comedies, announces its 2012-2013 season featuring five glorious films brought to new life on stage. The Tony Award-winning phenomenon HAIRSPRAY previews April 12, opens April 19 and runs through June 17; the riveting thriller THE 39 STEPS previews July 5, opens July 12 and runs through August 26; the effervescent Broadway hit XANADU previews September 6, opens September 13 and runs through October 28; the beloved masterpieceSINGIN’ IN THE RAIN previews November 8, opens November 15 and runs through January 13; and SUNSET BOULEVARD, the triumphant Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, previews January 24, opens January 31 and runs through April 7.  Read the rest of this entry »

Oracle Announces Its 2012 Mainstage Season
Public Access Theatre Continues Providing Art for All

After the breathtaking Season One of Public Access Theatre, which provided free theatre to 3691 people, Oracle’s new Artistic Director of Theatre Max Truax is excited to announce Season Two of Public Access Theatre opening in 2012.

IRONMISTRESS
by April De Angelis
Directed by Karen Yates
January 7 – February 11, 2012

THE MAIDS
by Jean Genet
Directed by Ben Fuchsen
March 10 – April 21, 2012

THE SANDMAN
by E.T.A Hoffmann
Adapted by Bob Fisher
Directed by Max Truax
May 19 – June 30, 2012

THE RETURN OF RADIO GOGGLES
by the Oracle collective
in association with Oracle Outreach
July 14 – August 4, 2012  Read the rest of this entry »

Shattered Globe Theatre Company Finds New Home For 2011-2012 Season

Shattered Globe 2.0 takes up residency at Chicago’s newly remodeled performing arts complex, Stage 773.

Chicago, IL – Shattered Globe Theatre Company turns 20 this season and marks this notable milestone with an exciting move to Stage 773 as a Resident Company. Stage 773 is located at 1225 West Belmont Avenue in Chicago. The move not only coincides with the Company’s 20th Anniversary Season, but also reflects the continued rejuvenation of SGT under Artistic Director Roger Smart. The year-long celebration will pay homage to SGT’s illustrious history, while pointing to the theatre’s evolving artistic vision. In addition to a “Greatest Hits” series of staged readings, beginning on October 23rd, Shattered Globe will present a reimagining of the Tennessee Williams’, Orpheus Descending, directed by guest artist Julieanne Ehre, and the Midwest Premiere of Her Naked Skin by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, directed by Roger Smart, during their 2011-2012 Season.  Read the rest of this entry »

For those unfamiliar with twenty-four hour theater festivals, the idea may seem more than a little crazy: a set number of short new plays are written, directed, memorized, blocked, teched and performed in the space of a single day. For Geopolis Theater, the Just-A-Day Play Fest is the perfect way to kick off their new season and involve local talent in a low-commitment, high-stakes theatrical event.

For each season of shows, Geopolis chooses a particular area of the world to focus on when selecting their plays. Germany, Austria and Switzerland were selected this year, allowing Geopolis to draw on their rich tradition of folk tales. “We wanted to do something that would start the season off with Grimm’s Fairy Tales,” says Kristy Scheuer, Geopolis’ artistic director. Read the rest of this entry »

Lincolnshire, IL — The Marriott Theatre, Chicago’s longest running musical theatre announces its 2012 season. Kicking off the season will be what TIME MAGAZINE raves as “One ELLE of a good show”, LEGALLY BLONDE, previewing January 18th, opening January 25th, running through April 1st; the swashbuckling comedic opera THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, previewing April 4th, opening April 11th, running through June 10th; the World Premiere of HERO, a quirky new musical by Aaron Thielen and Michael Mahler, previews June 20th, opens June 27th, runs through August 19th; the show stopping, Six time Tony Award-winning DREAMGIRLS previewing August 22nd, opening August 29th, and running through November 4th, and closing out the year with the Tap Spectacular, MY ONE AND ONLY, previewing November 7th, opening November 14th, and running through January 13, 2013.  Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s the press release from Broadway in Chicago:

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE 2012 BROADWAY IN CHICAGO SPRING SEASON SERIES:
THE BOOK OF MORMON, AMERICAN IDIOT, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC, BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL, FELA! and JERSEY BOYS
Off-season specials include: IN THE HEIGHTS, MAMMA MIA!, RIVERDANCE and CATS

CHICAGO (Sep. 8, 2011) – Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce the complete 2012 Spring Season Series. The upcoming spring season will include THE BOOK OF MORMON, AMERICAN IDIOT, SOUTH PACIFIC, BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL, FELA! and JERSEY BOYS. Off-season specials include IN THE HEIGHTS, MAMMA MIA, RIVERDANCE and CATS. Read the rest of this entry »

FILAMENT THEATRE ENSEMBLE ANNOUNCES 2011-2012 SEASON AND WELCOMES NEW ENSEMBLE MEMBERS

(Chicago, IL) Filament Theatre Ensemble is proud to announce their 2011-2012 Season of work in Chicago. Following last season’s critically acclaimed contemporary takes on classic stories (including a choose your own Shakespeare adventure and Greek mythology with a club beat), Filament’s upcoming season will explore storytelling – who we are, the stories we tell, and the intersection and disconnect between the two.

The 2011-2012 season kicks off in the fall with the world premiere of Filament’s From the Circle: Remembering the Earth Through Folktales, a world-premiere evening of theatrical storytelling examining humanity’s fragile relationship with the natural world. From the Circle is presented in partnership with Chicago’s Foresight Design Initiative as part of Filament’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability. From the Circle is directed by Literary Manager Jack Novak and adapted by the ensemble. In the winter, Managing Artistic Director Julie Ritchey will direct The Drawer Boy, Michael Healey’s multi-award-winning play about the complicated friendship between two WWII veterans. Filament closes their season out in the spring with the Chicago premiere of Hank Williams: Lost Highway, Tony-nominated Randal Myler and Mark Harelik’s musical about the life of the legendary musician. Further details regarding the 2011/2012 season, including casting, ticket information and additional dates will be announced in the coming weeks. Please visit Filament’s website, www.filamenttheatre.org for more information.  Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s the press release from Focal Point:

Focal Point Theatre Company Announces Their Inaugural Season

CHICAGO, IL – Newly formed Focal Point Theatre Company is pleased to announce the start of their first season. Opening this season will be a benefit performance: The Against Type Project. The season will continue with the Chicago Premier of Patrick Marber’s After Miss Julie. The inaugural season will be rounded out by the devised theatre piece You Make Me. Individual tickets may be purchased online at www.focalpointtheatre.com. Read the rest of this entry »