Theatre In Chicago
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Nickelodeon Presents Storytime Live! Mar 12 - Mar 14, 2010  
Rosemont Theatre Nickelodeon Presents Storytime Live!
 
Nickelodeon and Broadway Across America present Storytime Live!--the first-ever live family theatrical tour featuring characters from four of the current top-rated preschool television shows: Dora the Explorer, The Backyardigans, Wonder Pets! and Ni Hao, Kai-lan. Storytime Live! celebrates the magic of storytelling through four brand-new adventures. With Nick Jr.'s Moose and Zee as hosts, Storytime Live! will take kids and their families on musical adventures whether by leaping into Fairytale Land with Dora and Sleeping Boots, journeying through Filthingham with The Backyardigans, hopping into Wonderland with the Wonder Pets! or jumping on clouds with Kai-lan and the Monkey King.
 
   
Hey! Dancin'! Mar 12 - Apr 24, 2010  
Factory Theater at Prop Theatre Hey! Dancin'!
 
The year is 1986. The hair is big, the fashion is ridiculous, and dancing is king. The hottest dance show in Chicago rules the cable access airwaves -- and its name is Hey! Dancin'! It's the last show of the season, and the station manager is threatening to change the music format because the show has gotten "too black". Our heroine Halle Stanton, with the help of her slutty friend Trisha, finagle their way onto the show. Halle hopes to meet the show's Ray-Ban-wearing star -- Kenny Kaposki, better known as Double K. Will love blossom between the innocent Halle and the dance superstar Double K? Will the show survive the change of music from Cameo to Poison? And will Trisha have sex with the show's older (yet willing) host, Randy Massingill? Find out in Hey! Dancin'!
 
   
J.B. Mar 12 - Apr 18, 2010  
Chicago Fusion Theatre at Oracle Theatre J.B.
 
As darkness descends upon the circus world, two spirited vendors reenact the story of Job. In this play- within-a-play, a wealthy banker goes from prosperity to hopelessness and despair before eventually turning to love as the only solace for his suffering. In our own lives often filled with disappointment, we can find comfort in MacLeish's gripping drama where one man's faith is put to the ultimate test. This production is influenced by circus style movement and Apache dance (fight dance with roots in early 20th century Parisian street culture) and uses physical movement to enhance the high emotional stakes.
 
   
The Blue Shadow Mar 13 - May 2, 2010  
Lifeline Theatre The Blue Shadow
 
A Native American girl named Shadow feels blue because she knows nothing of her heritage. When she brings together four of her neighbors to share their friendship and storytelling traditions, Shadow learns to embrace who she is, and to celebrate the beauty of all cultures. Explore a whole world of mythology in this new musical filled with folklore, laughter, and multi-lingual song, by award-winning playwright Nambi E. Kelley.
 
   
Legion Mar 13 - Apr 18, 2010  
WildClaw Theatre at The Viaduct Legion
 
Legion is the bestselling sequel to Blatty’s “The Exorcist.” More than a decade after the death of Father Karras, Lieutenant Kinderman is faced with a series of grisly murders resembling the work of a dead serial killer. Kinderman’s investigation brings him face to face with the essence of true evil, and its origin. This terrifying supernatural thriller continues WildClaw theatre’s quest of bringing intelligent and imaginative horror to the Chicago stage.
 
   
My Brother's Keeper (The Story of the Nicholas Brothers) Mar 13 - May 16, 2010  
Black Ensemble Theater My Brother's Keeper (The Story of the Nicholas Brothers)
 
Having danced for nine U.S. presidents, headlined shows all over the world, and appeared in every major television show, nightclub, and theater in America, the Nicholas brothers danced their way into the hearts of millions with successful careers spanning sixty years. Appearing at segregated clubs in the 1930s and in music videos in the 1990s, Fayard and Harold Nicholas dismantled racial barriers and became the most famous dance team of the twentieth century. Starring Rueben Echoles and RaShawn Thompson as the famous Nicholas Brothers, “My Brother’s Keeper (The Story of the Nicholas Brothers)” will showcase the power and excitement of these two dazzling men and share a joyous story with the audience.
 
   
A True History of the Johnstown Flood Mar 13 - Apr 18, 2010  
Goodman Theatre A True History of the Johnstown Flood
 
Five years after Hurricane Katrina and six years after the Indian Ocean Tsunami comes Rebecca Gilman's world premiere based on another major historical disaster—the Johnstown Flood of 1889. Inspired by the devastation brought on by Hurricane Katrina, A True History of the Johnstown Flood introduces us to The Baxter Theatre Troupe—comprised of siblings James (Stephen Louis Grush), Richard (Cliff Chamberlain) and Fanny (Heather Wood)—who have been summoned to perform at an exclusive resort next to a beautiful man-made lake in the Pennsylvania mountains. Although the troupe's repertoire consists of the romantic trifles typical of the era, James envisions a different kind of play, one that exposes the true struggles of common people. When a violent rainstorm compromises the lake's shoddily constructed dam, the resulting disaster lays bare the tragic inequities of the rigid class system-and paves the way for a seismic change in both theater and society.
 
   
Medea with Child Mar 14 - Apr 25, 2010  
La Costa Theatre Medea with Child
 
This spring, Sideshow Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere of Pulitzer Prize nominee Janet Burroway's Medea With Child. Unleashing Euripides' tragedy on a modern, magical, lyrically soaring stage of physical and verbal athletics, this wildly witty retelling blasts down to the core of the Greek classic Medea. When her husband strays from their marriage, Medea's fury unleashes a storm of epic proportions on both family and country. Can the characters escape the fate that awaits them? And what will be left if they can?
 
   
The Diary of Anne Frank Mar 15 - Mar 20, 2010  
Theatre At The Center The Diary of Anne Frank
 
he timeless story, The Diary of Anne Frank, will be presented on stage March 15 through March 20. The story begins with Otto Frank, as he returns to the attic where his Jewish family survived for years, hiding from the Nazis. Taking a trip back in time, Otto begins reading The Diary of Anne Frank which follows Anne and her family as she documents the events of her life.
 
   
Street Scene Mar 15 - Apr 25, 2010  
National Pastime Theater Street Scene
 
Elmer Rice's 1929 Pulitzer Prize winning play depicts first generation immigrant families struggling to reach the American dream in one New York tenement.
 
   
Right As Rain Mar 17 - Apr 24, 2010  
InnateVolution Theater Productions at North Lakeside Cultural Center Right As Rain
 
The play about two teenage boys—one gay and one unsure—and their struggle between religion and sexuality was part of InnateVolution’s New Play Circle Series of staged readings. Right As Rain is InnateVolution Theater Production’s second production—following last summer’s well-received Edward Albee double bill of The Zoo Story and The Sandbox—in the company’s inaugural season.
 
   
Les Liaisons Dangereuses Mar 17 - May 2, 2010  
Remy Bumppo Theatre at The Greenhouse Theater Center Les Liaisons Dangereuses
 
Christopher Hampton adapts Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Choderlos de Laclos's 1782 novel of sexual intrigue and ruthless manipulation set in the salons and boudoirs of pre-Revolutionary France. Feeling their aristocratic world waning, the Vicomte de Valmont and the Marquise de Merteuil, devise a game to test their skills as rapacious lovers. In their tenacious battle for the upper hand, they, like their innocent prey, become part of the wreckage.
 
   
Uncle Vanya Mar 17 - Mar 21, 2010  
Chicago Shakespeare Theater Uncle Vanya
 
Celebrate the 150th anniversary of Anton Chekhov’s birth with this acclaimed production featuring Russia’s leading actors. This extraordinary World’s Stage event marks the Chicago debut of the Maly Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg—hailed by Peter Brook as “the finest ensemble in Europe.” Artistic Director Lev Dodin’s production of Chekhov’s classic has won worldwide critical acclaim and now comes to Chicago for five performances only.
 
   
Borderline Apologetic Mar 17 - Apr 7, 2010  
Honest Productions at Pub Theater at Fizz Chicago Borderline Apologetic
 
Borderline Apologetic finds the humor in the fact that we find it hard to earnestly admit when we are wrong. Often an apology is a quick fix to placate people we don’t want to deal with (see Tiger Woods). Or when the world wants an answer and the truth will hurt too many people’s feelings (see Bill Clinton). Or when we make a very sound observation that isn’t so popular and we could face Deportation (see John Lennon). Borderline Apologetic is a tongue-in-cheek commentary on our half-assed attempts to make nice when we have wronged those around us.
 
   
A Life Mar 18 - Apr 25, 2010  
Northlight Theatre A Life
 
In the sequel to the late Hugh Leonard’s most celebrated work, Da, John Mahoney stars in this evocative play about the evolution of friendships in a small Irish town. Desmond Drumm nears retirement and his memories come to life, reminding him of the triumphs and tragedies of his youth and prompting him to mend relationships with a childhood friend and the love interest that had charmed them both. But as scenes from the past shed light on the misunderstandings of today, Desmond must realize that his lifelong ability to use his great intellect and acerbic wit as a means of self-defense has come at a cost.
 
   
Billy Elliot the Musical Mar 18 - Dec 31, 2010  
Ford Oriental Theatre Billy Elliot the Musical
 
Billy Elliot the Musical is the funny, heartwarming tale of a young boy with a dream, and a celebration of his triumph against the odds. Set against the historic British miners' strike of the 1980s, the story follows Billy's journey as a boy in a small mining town who, after stumbling across a ballet class while on his way to a boxing lesson, realizes that his future lay not in the boxing ring but on stage as a dancer.
 
   
Ragtime Mar 18 - May 23, 2010  
Drury Lane- Oakbrook Ragtime
 
A nostalgic and powerful portrait of life in turn of the century America, Ragtime is based on E.L. Doctorow’s distinguished novel. The musical intertwines the stories of a Harlem musician, a wealthy New York family and a Latvian Jewish immigrant. Ragtime poignantly explores history’s timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and love and hate. Featuring a Tony Award winning book by Terrence McNally, and a Tony Award-winning score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, Ragtime combines diverse fictional characters with several famous figures of the era to create a stirring musical portrayal of turn-of-the 20th century America.
 
   
Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz Mar 18 - Mar 21, 2010  
Athenaeum Theatre Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz
 
Chicago audiences will be taken on a 60-year journey through the life and music of Cruz, from her humble beginnings in Cuba to her international superstardom. Told through the eyes of her beloved husband Pedro Knight, the show features a superb ensemble of 16 singers, dancers and musicians in a live performance that highlights the global music icon’s greatest hits.
 
   
The Bloody Fabulous Curse of Dragula Mar 18 - Apr 23, 2010  
1-800-838-3006 at Mary's Attic The Bloody Fabulous Curse of Dragula
 
A Castle... A Coffin... A Comic Tale of Death & Dentures. The Bloody Fabulous Curse of Dragula is an outrageous vampire parody of "Sunset Boulevard" and boasts a Jeff-awarding winning cast.
 
   
Departure Lounge Mar 18 - Apr 18, 2010  
Royal George Theatre Departure Lounge
 
It's 'High School Musical' with a hangover as the 'Brits on Tour' return from the summer holiday of their young lives and face an hours delay in Malaga Airport Departure Lounge. With time to kill they begin to recount some of the hilarious antics of the week, but they can't agree on anything, least of all the character of Sophie, who is a princess or a slapper depending on whose memory she inhabits. The lads are forced to examine who they really are, as individuals, a group and even as a nationality as the discover what it's like to be young, British and despised by the rest of Europe.
 
   
The Lost Boys of Sudan Mar 19 - Apr 25, 2010  
Victory Gardens Theater - Biograph The Lost Boys of Sudan
 
A.I. Josh, T-Mac Sam and K-Gar Ollie all meet in the worst way: fleeing the horrors of war. And as they team up on a perilous journey to a refugee camp, they exchange heroic survival stories, song and even laughter.
 
   
The Crucible Mar 19 - Apr 25, 2010  
Infamous Commonwealth Theatre at Raven Theatre The Crucible
 
Set during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and written in direct response to the McCarthy trials in the 1950s, this scathing indictment of censorship remains a timeless classic of American drama - a master study on the inherent frailty, delicate beauty and limitless possibility of the human spirit.
 
   
Chug Chicago: A Drinking Party Musical Mar 19 - Apr 9, 2010  
Gorilla Tango Theatre Chug Chicago: A Drinking Party Musical
 
Ever read "Create Your Own Adventure Books" when you were a kid? Chug Chicago: A Drinking Party Musical is a ‘Create Your Own Drunken Party’ show for adults! YOU are having a Wrigleyville house party! Upon arriving to the theatre, audience members get to vote on which characters they would like to invite to their party. Want to see Oprah and The Pope go shot for shot? Want to hold the Mormon's legs as he does a keg stand? Want your friend Steve to appear in the show? Highly interactive, every show is individually tailored to that night’s audience and their idea of hilarity and mayhem.
 
   
Beauty And The Beast Mar 20 - Apr 3, 2010  
Noble Fool Theatricals Beauty And The Beast
 
In this Disney classic fairy tale, the brainy and beautiful Belle yearns to escape her provincial life and her brute of a suitor, Gaston. However, Belle gets more adventurous than she wanted when she becomes a captive in the Beast's enchanted castle! Dancing flatware, menacing wolves, and singing furniture fill the stage with thrills in this beloved fairy tale about very different people finding strength in one another and learning how to love.
 
   
A Gulag Mouse Mar 21 - May 1, 2010  
Babes With Blades at Trap Door Theatre A Gulag Mouse
 
Winner of the Joining Sword and Pen 2009-2010 competition, this gritty new work takes place in a Siberian gulag in the post-war Soviet Union of the 1940s. Here Masha, Svetlana, Lubov, Prushka, and newcomer Anastasia navigate a brutal world of shifting alliances and betrayals. Who will survive?
 
   
Disney's Beauty and the Beast Mar 23 - Apr 4, 2010  
Cadillac Palace Theatre Disney's Beauty and the Beast
 
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.
 
   
Resurrection Blues Mar 25 - May 9, 2010  
The Greenhouse Theater Center Resurrection Blues
 
High in the mountains of an unnamed dictatorship, a revolution is brewing. When the rebels' messiah-like leader is captured, an American production company purchases the rights to televise his sentence: death by crucifixion. Published in 2002, Miller's penultimate play brilliantly satirizes modern politics and faith in a media-obsessed society.
 
   
Mud Mar 25 - Apr 25, 2010  
Village Players Performing Arts Center Mud
 
In this Fornes play, Mae and Lloyd have an odd partnership that they grew into, with Lloyd taking care of the farm and pigs while Mae takes care of the household chores. Despite their very modest income Mae tries to better herself, going to school so she can be literate and numerate. When Henry enters the picture to help read some health advice, Mae feels she has found a replacement for Lloyd. However, Mae realizes that as time goes on both men are holding her back. "Mud" is a complex tale with simple characters and meager situations, where one will resonate with the need to achieve something more.
 
   
Magical Exploding Boy Mar 26 - Apr 3, 2010  
Next Theatre Company Magical Exploding Boy
 
Darkly comical and completely wordless this one-person show reaches beyond the limits of language to turn the conventions of Mime and Clown on their heads. From a child with mind control powers, to an amoeba struggling for life, to a man cast helplessly adrift in outer space, this unique new show transforms space to present an original story. Magical Exploding Boy is physical comedy that transcends the need for written word with a refreshingly offbeat and existential voice of its own.
 
   
Equus Mar 27 - Apr 25, 2010  
Redtwist Theatre Equus
 
Peter Shaffer's unique modern thriller, which explores the boundaries of passion versus normalcy. The play, rooted in both modern psychology and ancient ritual, dissects the everlasting human need of worship. The use of stylized masks, creative lighting, and an original score will enhance what is sure to be an intense and electrifying theatre experience of this respected and esoteric drama.
 
   
Haroun And The Sea Of Stories Mar 30 - May 22, 2010  
The Theatre School at DePaul University at Merle Reskin Theatre Haroun And The Sea Of Stories
 
Based on Salman Rushdie's award-winning children's novel, this fantastical tale follows Haroun to the mythical moon of Kahani. He joins forces with shadow warriors, mechanical flying birds, talking fish, and water genies in his quest to recover his father's magical storytelling powers. Recommended for ages 7 and up.
 
   
Will Rogers: An American Original Mar 31 - May 2, 2010  
First Folio Theatre Will Rogers: An American Original
 
This one-man show explores the life and times of America’s most popular humorist. At the time of his death in 1935, Will Rogers hosted the number one radio show in America, had a daily column that ran in over 400 papers, and was the number one male box office star for three years running. In the course of a career that included both Cactus Jack’s Wild West Show and the Ziegfeld Follies, Will Rogers invented the American stand-up comic. Using his trick roping skills to punctuate his delivery, Will Rogers’ folksy humor set the groundwork for everyone from Bob Hope to Johnny Carson to David Letterman. His observations on government, the economy, and society are as timely now as when he first made them. On his political affiliations: “I’m not a member of any organized political party. I’m a Democrat.” Of the Stock Market Crash: “If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?” Famous for the statement, “I never met a man I didn’t like,” Will Rogers is the quintessential image of the common man.
 
   
Endgame Apr 1 - Jun 6, 2010  
Steppenwolf Theatre Endgame
 
Beckett’s absurd comic masterpiece follows Hamm, a blind man unable to stand, and his servant Clov, who is unable to sit, as they pass their days in a tiny house by the sea—if the sea still exists. Pestered by Hamm’s parents, they move through their daily rituals, awaiting the end of everything. A powerful all-ensemble cast anchors this profound exploration of the stories we construct to make sense of our lives.
 
   
Our Lady of the Underpass Apr 1 - May 1, 2010  
Berwyn Cultural Center Our Lady of the Underpass
 
The same week that Rome announced a new Pope, a woman driving home from work spotted an image of the Virgin Mary on a discolored wall of the Fullerton Avenue underpass. Inspired by real life interviews, playwright Tanya Saracho renders the voices of those who were drawn to that wall, exploring issues of faith and desire in present day Chicago.
 
   
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Apr 2 - Jun 20, 2010  
Circle Theatre The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
 
Yee haw! Circle presents this Broadway blockbuster of small town vice and political side stepping recounting the good times and the demise of the Chicken Ranch, known since the 1850s as one of the better “pleasure palaces” in all of Texas. Governors, senators, mayors and even victorious college football teams frequented Miss Mona's bordello until puritanical hypocrites focus righteousness on the landmark. Religious zealots dictating decency and morality—sound familiar? Stomp your feet and holler out loud, this down home charmer will thrill audiences.
 
   
Hello Again Apr 2 - May 1, 2010  
BoHo Theatre @ Heartland Studio Hello Again
 
Ten nameless characters pair up in ten different scenes of sexual pleasure and/or despair. One character from each scene moves on to the next, seemingly dumping his old partner in favor of new prey.
 
   
The Body Snatchers Apr 2 - May 9, 2010  
City Lit Theater The Body Snatchers
 
The Body Snatchers concerns a small-town doctor who discovers that the people around him are being replaced by emotionless alien duplicates. Finney’s novel, published in 1955, has been the inspiration for four motion pictures: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Body Snatchers (1993), and The Invasion (2007). As a tie-in to the second film, Finney updated the novel to the 1970s and retitled it to match the movie. City Lit’s adaptation is of the original 1955 novel.
 
   
Cougars! The Musical Apr 3 - May 22, 2010  
Fireworx Productions at The Greenhouse Theater Center Cougars! The Musical
 
Cougars! The Musical is the story of three of the hottest grannies you've ever seen … and they’re on the prowl for fresh meat! It's not easy being a cougar (in fact, it’s a jungle out there!), but these ladies work their magic and sink their claws into some unsuspecting (but often excited) prey. In this musical, go on a hilarious journey when the hunter becomes the hunted. With a cast featuring some of Chicago’s premiere comedians and improvisers, this show has catchy, bawdy and clever lyrics that’ll keep you laughing (and hot music that will get your bootie shaking!). You may even fall in love just a little bit, too!
 
   
High School Musical Apr 3 - May 22, 2010  
Drury Lane- Oakbrook High School Musical
 
Based on the wildly popular Disney Channel Original movie, follows Gabriella, a shy, brainy transfer student, and Troy, the hunky captain of the basketball team as they discover their secret passion for singing. East High’s well established social structure is rocked to its core when Troy and Gabriella no longer “Stick to the Status Quo,” and audition for the school’s winter musical. The culmination of the resulting twists and turns is a singing and dancing extravaganza where the students of East High proudly proclaim, “We’re All in This Together!” HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL boasts a quadruple platinum soundtrack filled with hits like: “Breaking Free,” “What I’ve Been Looking For,” and “Start of Something New.”
 
   
Abe's in a Bad Way Apr 3 - Apr 17, 2010  
Free Street Abe's in a Bad Way
 
Abe's in a Bad Way penetrates the mind of one miserable man who lived to make one nation indivisible. Free Street Theater's ensemble explored Abraham Lincoln's struggle with depression, a life fraught with failure and a steadfast determination that led him to become president at a time when the country was unraveling.
 
   
The Taming of the Shrew Apr 7 - Jun 6, 2010  
Chicago Shakespeare Theater The Taming of the Shrew
 
Shakespeare's playfully provocative battle of the sexes pits the shrewish Katharina against the fortune-seeking Petruchio—but even now the verdict is still out on who tames whom. British director Josie Rourke returns to CST, after her joyous production of Twelfth Night this spring, to bring Shakespeare's fiery courtship to the Courtyard Theater's stage.
 
   
The Hiding Place Apr 7 - May 23, 2010  
Provision Theater Company The Hiding Place
 
The inspiring true story of Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom. With the WWII Nazi invasion of Holland, the ten Boom family joins the underground resistance to help save Jewish families. But when they are arrested and imprisoned in concentration camps themselves, they're left with nothing to cling to but their faith.
 
   
Hephaestus: A Greek Mythology Circus Tale Apr 7 - May 23, 2010  
Lookingglass Theatre Company at Goodman Theatre Hephaestus: A Greek Mythology Circus Tale
 
According to Greek Myth, Hephaestus was born weak, disfigured and crippled. Displeased by the sight of her son, Hera cast Hephaestus from the heavens, and he fell for an entire day before landing in the sea. On Earth, Hephaestus became a great artist, fashioning metal into beautiful works of art. Combining elements of circus, theatre, live music and dance, Hephaestus: A Greek Mythology Circus Tale follows the god of the forge as he encounters sea nymphs, creates men out of steel and falls in love with the most beautiful goddess of all.
 
   
The Ghosts of Treasure Island Apr 8 - May 20, 2010  
Adventure Stage Chicago The Ghosts of Treasure Island
 
This rollicking new musical follows young cabin boy Jim Hawkins as he fights to survive while shipwrecked on a mysterious island. Accompanied by the singing shenanigans of a raucous band of pirate ghosts, Jim races to find notorious Captain Flint's fabled treasure before mutinous shipmates steal the fortune for themselves. Faced with danger at every turn, Jim persists on his quest armed with nothing but an old treasure map and an endless supply of courage. Sail the high seas with the crew of The Hispaniola in this rowdy adventure recommended for ages 8 and up.
 
   
The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites Apr 8 - May 2, 2010  
The Field Museum The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites
 
The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Stories draws upon the magic of black light and fluorescent puppet creations to capture the charm of three favorite Eric Carle stories. A Very Hungry Caterpillar encounters wonderful adventures as he progresses through an amazing variety of foods towards his eventual metamorphosis into a beautiful butterfly. A Little Cloud slips away from its parent clouds and turns itself into a series of wonderful forms - a sheep, an airplane, a hat, a clown - before rejoining the other clouds as they perform their real function: making rain.
 
   
The Literati Apr 8 - May 2, 2010  
Chicago dell' Arte at RBP Rorschack The Literati
 
It was the best of ideas, it was the worst of ideas. A fast paced and unpredictable comedy, The Literati is 25 pieces of classic literature condensed to 10-25 minute adaptations. 5 audience members are randomly selected, and through a die roll, 5 titles are selected for the evening. The adaptations themselves vary greatly, from Pride and Prejudice (with Puppets), to AGE! (the rock opera based on Age of Innocence). With 3,125 possible combinations, return customers are unlikely to ever see the same performance more than once.
 
   
Into The Woods Apr 9 - May 30, 2010  
Porchlight Music Theatre at Theatre Building Chicago Into The Woods
 
Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s fairy tale musical first played at Porchlight in 2000–2001 and received 4 Jeff Nominations, 1 Jeff Citation and 1 After Dark Award. When a Baker and his Wife learn they've been cursed with childlessness by the Witch next door, they embark on a quest for the special objects required to break the spell, swindling, lying to and stealing from Cinderella, Little Red, Rapunzel and Jack (the one who climbed the beanstalk). Everyone's wish is granted at the end of Act One, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results. What begins a lively irreverent fantasy in the style of “The Princess Bride” becomes a moving lesson about community responsibility and the stories we tell our children.
 
   
In the Blood Apr 9 - Apr 18, 2010  
UIC Theatre In the Blood
 
In an updated version of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s masterpiece, "The Scarlet Letter," Hester is a homeless African American woman living under a bridge with her five children, each of whom has a different father. Her white girlfriend and an African American welfare worker lead her into troubles with drugs and sex as she struggles to feed her children and deal with society's moral absolutes.
 
   
Blithe Spirit Apr 9 - May 9, 2010  
Steel Beam Theatre Blithe Spirit
 
This delightful play has been called "a master class in comedy" by The New Yorker, and "a highly efficient laugh machine sheathed in satiny sophistication" by The New York Times. High praise indeed for a "ghost story." But then this smash hit was penned by Noel Coward, and is an out-of-the-ordinary out-of-body experience.
 
   
The Farnsworth Invention Apr 14 - Jun 13, 2010  
TimeLine Theatre Company The Farnsworth Invention
 
From the creator of A Few Good Men and The West Wing comes this fascinating new play direct from Broadway. It’s the story of two ambitious visionaries — Philo T. Farnsworth, an Idaho farmboy, and David Sarnoff, head of RCA — battling each other for the rights to one of the greatest inventions of all time: the television. Through corporate espionage, family tragedy, financial disaster and the thrill of discovery, these two larger-than-life men compete for fame and credit and become part of a decision that would change America, and eventually the world.
 
   
Days of Late Apr 14 - May 22, 2010  
SiNNERMAN Ensemble at The Viaduct Days of Late
 
his romantic comedic drama is a hybrid of raw, naturalistic, fast-paced dialogue and poetic sections of ensemble movement, following a savage, hilarious and heartbreaking journey of eight young professionals and aspiring artists. They attempt to navigate the minefields of love, sex and career goals in this current moment of sexual liberation, including anonymous sex, on-line dating and the growing acceptance of bisexuality and homosexuality.
 
   
War With The Newts Apr 15 - May 16, 2010  
Next Theatre Company War With The Newts
 
Can one man stop an empire? In 1936, Czech-born Karel Čapek wrote a spooky, fantastical novel about the discovery of an intelligent race of giant salamanders, which humanity enslaves for profit and national advantage. This highly-anticipated adaptation comes to us from Artistic Director Emeritus Jason Loewith (Adding Machine: A Musical) and Artistic Associate Justin D.M. Palmer in collaboration with puppet designer Michael Montenegro. Brought to life with pools, puppets and projections, War With the Newts is an incredibly timely satire about a global economy planting the seeds of its own destruction.
 
   
Welcome to Arroyo's Apr 15 - May 16, 2010  
American Theatre Company Welcome to Arroyo's
 
New York. Today. Two DJ narrators spin a heartwarming and hilarious tale of two siblings’ desire to transform their family-run bar into New York City’s cultural sensation. Combining the adolescent wit of Season 23’s Speech & Debate with the music and world of Broadway’s Tony Award-winning In the Heights, ATC premieres this groundbreaking celebration of the urban rhythms of life and love.
 
   
Cabaret Apr 15 - May 23, 2010  
The Hypocrites at Storefront Theater Cabaret
 
Featuring sexy, witty and politically-charged musical numbers, Cabaret highlights the impact global conflicts bear on the lives of everyday people. Set in Weimar Berlin just prior to Nazi rule, the play follows the unlikely romance between two young people from very different worlds. Circumventing the indulgent tradition of musicals, Guest Director Matt Hawkins' staging strongly favors a more intimate and immediate approach, powerfully depicting people struggling with the moments that define who they are to become.
 
   
Little Women Apr 15 - Apr 25, 2010  
Loyola University Theatre Little Women
 
When was the last time you revisited an old friend in the pages of a beloved novel from your childhood? In Alan Knee’s Tony-award-winning musical adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s timeless novel, the battles on the home front take center stage in spectacular melodic form. While Father is away serving as a chaplain in the Union Army during the Civil War, the March sisters come of age, fall in love, lean on each other, and learn life lessons with the guidance of Marmee, a role originated by songstress Maureen McGovern. Relive the growing pains of aspiring writer Jo, one of literature’s feistiest heroines, in this sensational re-imagining of a heartfelt classic when the Broadway hit comes to Loyola!
 
   
Heaven Can Wait Apr 16 - May 30, 2010  
Attic Playhouse Heaven Can Wait
 
A "spirited," timeless classic set in the 1940's. Not only is Joe Pendleton's soul accidentally plucked from his body and sent to heaven sixty years too early, but the angelic messengers are too late to restore him. Solution: take up residence in Jonathan Farnsworth's body, a rich business tycoon who is about to be murdered by his wife and her lover. With the help of Mr. Jordan - the head messenger, Joe tries to train for the championship boxing career he began in his former body, while undoing Farnsworth's wrong-doings before Mrs. Farnsworth can murder him…again. (The basis for the Oscar-winning movies – "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" and "Heaven Can Wait")
 
   
The Doctor's Dilemma Apr 17 - May 10, 2010  
ShawChicago at Chicago Cultural Center The Doctor's Dilemma
 
The Doctor's Dilemma is just what its title implies—the dilemma of who should receive medical care and at what cost. In this play a number of dilemmas crop up, including that of a doctor who has developed a new cure for tuberculosis, but has only enough of it for one patient. He then has to choose which patient he is going to give it to: a kindly poor medical colleague, or an extremely gifted but also very unpleasant young artist. The doctor struggles to separate his emotions from his academic judgment for the decision. ShawChicago revisits the play that served as the vehicle for its launch in 1974 as the problems of medical issues and ethics are still debated over today as much as they were when the play was originally written in 1906.
 
   
Jack and the Giant Apr 17 - May 15, 2010  
Steel Beam Theatre Jack and the Giant
 
This charming musical version of Benjamin Tabart's classic English folk tale is a delight, spiced with a variety of tunes that will have adults and children alike humming.
 
   
Jade Heart Apr 22 - May 30, 2010  
Chicago Dramatists Jade Heart
 
Abandoned as an infant on a pile of vegetables, a Chinese girl is adopted by an American and grows up in America with only half a jade heart as a clue to her identity. Is she Chinese, American, or Chinese-American? Through dreams and remembrances, she seeks to find out why she was denied the life she was born to, and how she can become fully herself.
 
   
A Very Neo-Futurist Game Show Apr 22 - May 29, 2010  
Neo-Futurists A Very Neo-Futurist Game Show
 
Come on down! Winners, losers and cash prizes play their part in this interactive spring show. Inspired by the styles of classic televised game shows, return contestants defend their titles and winners take home cash prizes up to a third of the night's door sales. Games are mixed with short plays and a dash of local business appreciation. Come early to fill out the question and answer Scantrons that determine the players for the evening. Check The Neo-blog each day through the run to see clips of the previous shows and size up the competition. Game on!
 
   
The Good Soul of Szechuan Apr 22 - May 29, 2010  
Strawdog Theatre The Good Soul of Szechuan
 
A trio of gods pass through Szechuan and bestow great wealth on the poor prostitute Shen-Te as a reward her for pure and charitable heart. Shen-Te struggles to maintain her decency as greedy locals and fair-weather lovers take advantage her good soul. Brecht’s classic receives a new translation from Scottish playwright David Harrower, author of Strawdog’s Jeff Award-winning production of “Knives in Hens.” Company member Shade Murray returns to Strawdog.
 
   
I Do! I Do! Apr 22 - May 23, 2010  
Theatre At The Center I Do! I Do!
 
This remarkably intimate, thoroughly romantic piece, allows audiences into the bedroom of Agnes and Michael, as they try to maintain passion and devotion through the joys and pains, trials and tribulations, setbacks and celebrations of their fifty year marital odyssey. In that time we watch them go through their wedding night jitters, raise a family, negotiate mid-life crises, quarrel, separate, reconcile and grow old together, all lovingly to the strains of a tuneful, charming score which includes the standard "My Cup Runneth Over."
 
   
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Apr 22 - Jun 13, 2010  
Noble Fool Theatricals The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
 
In this Tony Award-winning new musical comedy, six of Putnam County's quirkiest and nerdiest spelling titans want nothing more than to be the B-E-S-T. These loveable spellers, played by adults, fiercely battle it out for the title only to learn that winning isn't everything and losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. Either way you spell it, this comical competition comes alive with a cornucopia of spelling words, a plethora of sharp humor, and intelligent interaction from only the best spellers in the audience (which could be you!). Before each performance, four members of the audience are chosen to participate in the spelling bee. Rating: PG-13 due to mature situations and language.
 
   
Body Awareness Apr 23 - Jun 13, 2010  
Profiles Theatre Body Awareness
 
It's "Body Awareness" week on a Vermont college campus and Phyllis, the organizer, and her partner, Joyce, are hosting one of the guest artists in their home, Frank, a photographer famous for his female nude portraits. Both his presence in the home and his chosen subject instigate tension from the start. Phyllis is furious at his depictions, but Joyce is actually rather intrigued by the whole thing, even going so far as to contemplate posing for him. As Joyce and Phyllis bicker, Joyce's adult son, struggles to express himself physically with heartbreaking results.
 
   
How Theater Failed America Apr 26 - May 2, 2010  
Victory Gardens Theater - Biograph How Theater Failed America
 
In How Theater Failed America, Daisey sinks his razor-sharp wit into a subject he knows well: the American theater, from the sublimely crass to the genuinely ugly. From gorgeous new theaters standing empty as cathedrals, to “successful” working actors traveling like migrant farmhands, to an arts culture unwilling to speak or listen to its own nation, Daisey takes stock of the dystopian state of theater in America: a shrinking world with smaller audiences every year. Fearlessly implicating himself and the system he works within, Daisey seeks answers to essential and dangerous questions about the art we’re making, the legacy we leave the future, and who it is we believe we’re speaking to.
 
   
Stomp Apr 27 - May 2, 2010  
Bank of America Theatre (formerly LaSalle Bank Theatre) Stomp
 
Stomp is explosive, provocative, sophisticated, sexy, utterly unique and appeals to audiences of all ages. The international percussion sensation has garnered an armful of awards and rave reviews, and has appeared on numerous national television shows. The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps – to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms.
 
   
The Drowsy Chaperone Apr 28 - Jun 27, 2010  
Marriott Theatre In Lincolnshire The Drowsy Chaperone
 
The Drowsy Chaperone, a “musical within a comedy,” debuted on Broadway in 2006 and was an instant hit, winning seven Drama Desk Awards and five Tony Awards. To chase his blues away, a modern day musical theater addict known simply as 'Man in Chair,' drops the needle on his favorite LP, the 1928 musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone. When the record begins to play, the musical magically bursts to life on stage, telling the tale of a pampered Broadway starlet who wants to give up show business to get married, her producer who sets out to sabotage the wedding, her chaperone, the debonair groom, her Latin lover and a pair of bumbling gangsters.
 
   
The Feast Apr 29 - May 23, 2010  
Athenaeum Theatre The Feast
 
It’s Thanksgiving Day at the home of Vincent Baker, CEO of American Way Insurance, and his fractious family has gathered for the feast. But when a contentious medical claim exposes a history of corporate fraud, the Bakers must confront the true source of their wealth without losing their appetite.
 
   
Neverwhere Apr 30 - Jun 20, 2010  
Lifeline Theatre Neverwhere
 
When Richard Mayhew stops to care for an injured girl on the street, he is drawn into a nightmare shadow world beneath the city of London. To return to his normal life, Richard must brave countless trials, uncover the truth behind a dark conspiracy, and face the indomitable Great Beast. Journey to London Below with a rogues’ gallery of liars, outcasts and assassins, on a treacherous voyage to awaken the hero within.
 
   
Tad in 5th City Apr 30 - Jun 13, 2010  
MPAACT at The Greenhouse Theater Center Tad in 5th City
 
This play walks us through the journey of young Tad Brown, his family and the neighborhood that festered under the weight of poverty, gang violence and addiction after the ’68 Chicago riots.
 
   
The Love of the Nightingale Apr 30 - May 29, 2010  
St. Peter's Episcopal Church The Love of the Nightingale
 
This modern retelling of the Philomele myth features a large ensemble cast and employs dance, music, and expressionistic design.
 
   
The Good Negro May 1 - Jun 6, 2010  
Goodman Theatre The Good Negro
 
The Good Negro is a gripping new play that rips through the pages of history to uncover the human story at the heart of the 1960s American Civil Rights Movement. Tensions build in the increasingly hostile South as a trio of emerging black leaders attempts to conquer their individual demons amid death threats from the Ku Klux Klan and wire taps by the FBI. Through personal and intimate stories inspired by the political upheavals of the era, The Good Negro examines the human frailties behind the historic headlines.
 
   
A Streetcar Named Desire May 4 - Jul 11, 2010  
Writers' Theatre A Streetcar Named Desire
 
Blanche DuBois, an aging southern belle, arrives unexpectedly on the doorstep of her sister Stella and her explosive brother-in-law Stanley. Over the course of one hot and steamy New Orleans summer, Blanche’s fragile façade slowly crumbles, wreaking havoc on Stella and Stanley’s already turbulent relationship. Embodying the turmoil and drama of a changing nation, A Streetcar Named Desire strips Williams’ tortured characters of their illusions, leaving a wake of destruction in their path.
 
   
People We Know May 4 - Jun 6, 2010  
Side Project People We Know
 
A lot has happened since college. Sure, Paul got sent away over the Thing with the Young Girl, and Dianne is Not Dealing Well. But Joshua and Hannah are avoiding something themselves, and Eric and Maddy – well, who really knows what makes people tick?
 
   
Avenue Q May 4 - May 9, 2010  
Bank of America Theatre (formerly LaSalle Bank Theatre) Avenue Q
 
Avenue Q tells the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who moves to NYC with big dreams and a tiny bank account. The only apartment he can afford is way out on Avenue Q, where everyone's looking for the same things he is: a decent job, a stable relationship, and a “purpose.” Eventually, Princeton learns to embrace the ups and downs of city life and realizes that “the real world” isn't so bad, after all!
 
   
The Last Cargo Cult May 5 - May 9, 2010  
Victory Gardens Theater - Biograph The Last Cargo Cult
 
In his latest work, Daisey divulges the true-life story of his time on a remote South Pacific island whose inhabitants worship America at the base of a constantly erupting volcano. Their religion is explored alongside our own to form a sharp and searing examination of the international financial crisis. Daisey wrestles with the largest questions of what the collapse means, and what it says about our deepest values. Part adventure story and part memoir, he uses each culture to illuminate the other to find, between the seemingly primitive and the achingly modern, a human answer.
 
   
The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) May 6 - Jun 20, 2010  
Pegasus Players at Truman College- O'Rourke Theatre The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)
 
One story becomes five delightful musicals in this homage to some of Broadway's greatest composers. The timeless tale of the ingénue who can't pay her rent, the evil landlord, and the hero boyfriend in the styles of Rodgers & Hammerstein, Sondheim, Herman, Lloyd Webber and Kander & Ebb.
 
   
The Ghost Sonata May 7 - Jun 19, 2010  
Oracle Theatre The Ghost Sonata
 
This mesmerizing and complex narrative portrays a world where two families are imprisoned in their legacy of greed, duplicity and manipulation. Truax's vision highlights the play's depiction of the destructive force of truth. There are things in life much more frightening than death.
 
   
The Regulars May 7 - Jun 13, 2010  
Hobo Junction at Apollo Theater The Regulars
 
From the lunatics who brought you Bad Guys In Suits and Horrible, comes THE REGULARS, a brand-new, earth-quakingly tasty musical-comedy about glory, heroism and soup. The story begins in the heat of battle as eight steakhouse waiters must fight for their lives against the largest crowd any restaurant has ever seen. Using all they know, they will hold their defenses, stay true to each other and learn to love until a threat from within begins to tear them apart.
 
   
Aftermath May 8 - Jun 6, 2010  
Signal Ensemble Theatre at Raven Theatre Aftermath
 
Brian Jones, founder and original leader of The Rolling Stones, was perhaps most famous for his mysterious death at age 27. Jones’s lasting impact on rock ‘n roll was masked behind his sexual escapades, high profile relationships and drug induced arrests. Spanning the years 1966-1969, “Aftermath,” a drama with the actors playing live music, maps the rise and fall of a troubled genius whose legacy was overshadowed by the very band he created.
 
   
Mid-Life! The Crisis Musical May 13 - Jun 19, 2010  
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre Mid-Life! The Crisis Musical
 
Empty-nests and proctology exams, morning aches and gray hair... In your ears. Middle age has never been so much fun. This musical comedy goes where most people dare not venture – and takes you on an incredibly touching, joyous and hysterical ride through it all. Whether you are middle-aged, going to be soon, or already on the other side, Mid-Life! The Crisis Musical warmly embraces the joy and wisdom that comes with getting older. Audiences have always loved this fantastic and hilarious show – now you will too!
 
   
Sizwe Banzi is Dead May 13 - Jun 13, 2010  
Court Theatre Sizwe Banzi is Dead
 
Master playwright Fugard and the actors of the original South African cast collaboratively wrote the story of a man who pretends to be dead in order to live. This searing exploration of identity and the political power of storytelling is presented in a new, intimate staging by Court Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson.
 
   
Jacob and Jack May 14 - Jun 20, 2010  
Victory Gardens Theater - Biograph Jacob and Jack
 
Jack Shore, a well-known television personality, is appearing for one night only in a tribute to his grandfather, Jacob Shemerinsky, great star of the Yiddish Theatre. Backstage, in his dressing room, Jack confronts his challenges as an actor and as a husband to his co-starring wife.
 
   
The Gay American May 16 - May 26, 2010  
The Ruckus Theater at Side Project The Gay American
 
Farce meets docudrama in The Gay American, an unblinking and provocative investigation of the sexual politics of sex and politics. We follow the rise and fall of former New Jersey governor James McGreevey through the impact it has on those around him—an Everyman-like Congressional Page, his miserable daughter Morag, silently simmering wife Dina, and ambitious aide Golan—and watch his carefully-crafted rising star go supernova in the crucible that is the American political theater.
 
   
The Odd Couple May 18 - Jul 18, 2010  
Raven Theatre The Odd Couple
 
Neil Simon's classic comedy offers a hilarious tale of ordinary men who are extraordinarily irreconcilable. Oscar Madison, the super slob and Felix Unger, the ultimate neat freak battle as recently single middle-aged roommates. The explosively bad union brings reality T.V. at it's finest to the stage.
 
   
The 39 Steps May 19 - May 30, 2010  
Bank of America Theatre (formerly LaSalle Bank Theatre) The 39 Steps
 
THE 39 STEPS features a cast of four actors who, against all odds, breathlessly and hilariously attempt to reenact all of the characters, locations and famous scenes in Hitchcock’s 1935 film thriller with just a few props and a lot of theatrical ingenuity and split second quick changes.
 
   
Baal May 20 - Jun 20, 2010  
TUTA Theatre at Chopin Theatre Baal
 
The World premiere of a new adaptation loosely based on Brecht's Baal, directed by Zeljko Djukic, with music by Josh Schmidt (Adding Machine – A Musical) and libretto/book by Ugljesa Sajtinac (author of the critically acclaimed play Huddersfield). With this production, TUTA strives to musically enlighten the play of young Brecht known for its inaugural form and risky themes of stardom and power. A fusion of serious drama and music, this premiere will have a strong emphasis on the musicality of the words, saturating them with rhythm, harmony, sound and structures. Developed through company workshops, this collaboration brings forward an original score, full of surprises and frequent shifts in perspective that explore the value of the politically charged subject of arts in times of economic crisis.
 
   
Dixie Swim Club May 21 - Jun 27, 2010  
Steel Beam Theatre Dixie Swim Club
 
Think Steel Magnolias and then add water. Swim teammates from the old college days reunite every year in a beachfront condo to catch up, reminisce and celebrate the kind of friendships that last forever.
 
   
Fuerza Bruta: Look Up May 21 - Aug 15, 2010  
Auditorium Theatre Fuerza Bruta: Look Up
 
Fuerza Bruta: Look Up is a non-stop collision of dynamic music, visceral emotion and kinetic aerial imagery that resembles nothing less than a fantastic mash-up between aerial theater and a late-night dance party.
 
   
Low Down Dirty Blues May 27 - Jul 3, 2010  
Northlight Theatre Low Down Dirty Blues
 
From the very birth of the Blues, great musicians have captivated audiences with their Dirty Blues—music filled with passion, soul and a love of life, as well as innuendo, insinuation and sly wit. Featuring the very best of the style made (in)famous by the likes of Mae West, Muddy Waters, Ma Rainey, Sophie Tucker, Howlin’ Wolf, Pearl Bailey and many others, Low Down Dirty Blues is a look at life and sex in all it's fascinating and painful expressions, and a rousing, raucous musical event!
 
   
Cirque Shanghai: Cloud Nine May 28 - Sep 6, 2010  
Navy Pier Skyline Stage Cirque Shanghai: Cloud Nine
 
Embraced by Chicagoans and visitors alike as “Chicago’s Summer Circus,” Cirque Shanghai will perform once again this summer at the 1,500-seat, canopied, open-air theater at Navy Pier.
 
   
Sugar Jun 3 - Aug 1, 2010  
Drury Lane- Oakbrook Sugar
 
Sugar originally debuted as the widely known film Some Like it Hot, starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and the blonde goddess, Marilyn Monroe. The film then was transformed into the musical Sugar, which opened at the Majestic Theater in 1972, running for 505 performances and earning four Tony Award nominations. In this side-splitting musical, two struggling musicians witness what appears to be the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and try to find a way out of the city under the threat of the mob. Unfortunately, they are in no position to finance such a move. Desperate times call for desperate measure and the pair take on the only job available—as an all-female band heading to Florida. The cross-dressing frauds board a train and ride right into a world of trouble.
 
   
The Yeomen of the Guard Jun 4 - Jun 13, 2010  
Light Opera Works at Cahn Auditorium The Yeomen of the Guard
 
The Yeomen of the Guard tells a tale of ill-fated love, intrigue and escape in Tudor England. Colonel Fairfax is to be executed in the Tower of London on false charges of witchcraft. In order to keep his estate out of the hands of his betrayer, a wedding is hastily arranged for the condemned man. But when he escapes the headsman’s block, he finds the bonds of wedlock stronger than his prison bars.
 
   
Misery Jun 5 - Jul 3, 2010  
Redtwist Theatre Misery
 
In this wicked psychological thriller, the entire, versatile Redtwist space becomes the eerie nooks and crannies of Annie Wilkes' home, and writer Paul Sheldon's prison as he convalesces from a mountainside car crash under the care of his number one sick and obsessed fan. Company members Debra Rodkin and Brian Parry, will keep you on the edge of your seat.
 
   
Sketchbook X Jun 5 - Jun 27, 2010  
Collaboraction at Chopin Theatre Sketchbook X
 
SKETCHBOOK is Collaboraction at its best: breaking down the walls that divide theater, music, visual art, video and the Internet. Selected from hundreds of submissions via the Internet, SKETCHBOOK once again brings together the collective talents of more than 200 pioneering directors, designers, actors, musicians and artists from Chicago and around the country for a jaw-dropping evening of creativity, experimentation and celebration. For the past decade, Collaboraction’s critically acclaimed SKETCHBOOK Festival has provided a unique and uninhibited platform where hundreds of multi-disciplinary artists have come together to create an immersive, singular world, inviting the audience to be both spectator and artist. For the landmark 10th anniversary, the sky is the limit as Collaboraction explores the theme of Exponential with SKETCHBOOK X featuring an immersive multi-media evening of never-before-seen original works, all seven minutes or less, intermingled with a different live musical performance each night, a visual art component and group participatory art projects.
 
   
Dead Letter Office Jun 9 - Jul 18, 2010  
Dog and Pony Theatre Company at Storefront Theater Dead Letter Office
 
In this world premier thriller written by Ben Viccellio, each staff member of the Dead Letter Office communicates in his or her own special manner. While examining the changing nature of language in our digital culture, the play surveys the staff sorting the backlog of the postal system and searching for anything of value among the written letters. But when a newcomer joins the group, she uncovers a secret – a secret buried deep within the walls of the post office and threatened to be lost with the buildings imminent destruction.
 
   
The Tallest Man Jun 15 - Aug 1, 2010  
The Artistic Home The Tallest Man
 
As the people of a tiny village in West Ireland struggle with the spectre of poverty, forbidden love, and the dawning of the 20th century, a looming spirit haunts the local pub. Secrets lurk behind every turn of turf and intrigue behind every Irish eye.
 
   
Lookingglass Alice Jun 16 - Aug 1, 2010  
Lookingglass Theatre Lookingglass Alice
 
Adapted by Ensemble Member and Artistic Director David Catlin from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, Lookingglass Alice is a muscular, acrobatic, and dizzyingly playful show for all ages. This Alice falls, floats, flies, defies gravity and the rules of logic during her wonderland journey through the looking glass to become a queen. With a juggling Mad Hatter, a precariously balancing Humpty Dumpty, and a bumbling Knight who invents his way into Alice’s heart, Lookingglass Alice revisits the stories that inspired the founding of Lookingglass Theatre Company twenty years ago.
 
   
Steel Magnolias Jun 24 - Jul 31, 2010  
The Greenhouse Theater Center Steel Magnolias
 
The action is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich curmudgeon, Ouiser; an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M'Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a "good ole boy."
 
   
Once on this Island Jun 30 - Aug 29, 2010  
Marriott Theatre In Lincolnshire Once on this Island
 
Once on this Island is a musical love story set in the beautiful Caribbean islands. Based on the novel My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy and the classic fairy tale The Little Mermaid, Once on this Island tells the story of Ti Moune, a poor peasant girl who falls in love with an upper-class gentleman named Daniel. The island gods of Love, Earth, Water, and Death try to manipulate the young lovers on a fateful journey that tests the strength of their love. The show features a contemporary, calypso-flavored score by the Tony Award-winning songwriting team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime). An enchanting story for all ages, Once on this Island received eight Tony Award Nominations in 1991, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book.
 
   
A Parallelogram Jul 1 - Aug 29, 2010  
Steppenwolf Theatre A Parallelogram
 
If you knew your fate—would you accept it? Or try to change it? Bee is a young woman who believes she has an uncanny ability to see the future, and maybe even alter it. From the playwright and Tony Award-winning director who brought you The Unmentionables and The Pain and the Itch comes this dark, funny world premiere about a woman bent on reinventing her own destiny—and possibly the world.
 
   
Twelfth Night Jul 7 - Aug 8, 2010  
First Folio Theatre Twelfth Night
 
When Viola is shipwrecked on the shores of Illyria, she must re-invent herself as a man in order to survive. After she falls in love with the Duke, though, she must choose between love and loyalty. Directed by Artistic Associate Michael Goldberg, this tale of mistaken identities is a tour-de-force of romance and laughter.
 
   
Jesus Christ Superstar Jul 8 - Aug 8, 2010  
Theatre At The Center Jesus Christ Superstar
 
The first collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice to be performed on the professional stage, Jesus Christ Superstar illuminates the transcendent power of the human spirit with a passion that goes straight to the heart. The production features a stirring score including “Superstar”, “Everything’s Alright” and “I Don’t Know How to Love Him”. In Jesus Christ Superstar, Jesus is portrayed as a prophet / rock star whose appeal stems as much from the crowd’s energy as from his own inspirational message. Jesus' meteor-like rise in renown provides, as the title suggests, a parallel to contemporary celebrity worship. As his radical teachings are evermore embraced, Judas increasingly questions the enlightened motives of this new prophet, resulting in betrayal. In this production, Christ's final days are dramatized with emotional intensity, thought-provoking edge and explosive theatricality.
 
   
After the Fall Jul 8 - Aug 22, 2010  
The Greenhouse Theater Center After the Fall
 
Miller's ambitious and personal 1964 masterpiece explores a new sense of non-linear theatricality in its powerful study of one man's search for meaning through his memories and relationships. Images and scenes intertwine, illuminating his humanity and probing into the revealing, often painful events of his past.
 
   
A Guide for the Perplexed Jul 9 - Aug 23, 2010  
Victory Gardens Theater - Biograph A Guide for the Perplexed
 
Anderson plays Doug, a newly released petty criminal, forced to take reluctant residence with his sister’s husband, their teenage son, and a tank of tropical fish. The rehabilitation process, both absurdly funny and heartbreakingly sad, is by no means limited to the ex-con.
 
   
The Philadelphia Story Jul 9 - Sep 5, 2010  
Circle Theatre The Philadelphia Story
 
Divorcee Tracy Lord is engaged to a successful young snob. Her brother invites a gossip columnist to invade her home to divert attention from their father's romance with a Broadway dancer. At a pre-wedding party, worlds collide as Tracy, her ex-husband, the reporter, the new fiancé and the eccentric family all land in the same spot at once. Twists and turns are never far off as this group of rich, spoiled brats careens from one scheme to the next. In today’s age of TMZ and Perez Hilton, this fame-obsessed comedy seems more relevant than ever.
 
   
Escape From Happiness Jul 10 - Aug 8, 2010  
Infamous Commonwealth Theatre at Raven Theatre Escape From Happiness
 
This darkly caustic comedy follows the idiosyncratic members of one very broken family in search of wholeness again. Both a viciously funny satire and poignant meditation on forgiveness, Escape from Happiness offers a unique and hilarious perspective on the many familial ties that bind.
 
   
Shrek The Musical Jul 13 - Sep 5, 2010  
Cadillac Palace Theatre Shrek The Musical
 
Shrek The Musical tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing adventure to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey, this unlikely hero fights a fearsome dragon, rescues a feisty princess and learns that real friendship and true love aren't only found in fairy tales.
 
   
Late: A Cowboy Song Jul 17 - Aug 22, 2010  
Piven Theatre Late: A Cowboy Song
 
Late: A Cowboy Story is the story of one woman's education and her search to find true love after she meets a female cowboy just outside of Pittsburgh.
 
   
Incident at Vichy Jul 24 - Aug 22, 2010  
Redtwist Theatre Incident at Vichy
 
A dazzling debate of social and political ideas from the master dramatist as he elegantly probes the unsolvable dilemma of man's inhumanity to man. Miller's trademark insight, humor, and compassion are on full display as he attempts to deconstruct the human machinery that led to the most disgraceful event in history. Twenty-one characters are huddled in a police station in Vichy, France, and their immersion in this pressure cooker yields a shocking act of transcendent courage and redemption.
 
   
   

 





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