| Uncle Vanya Mar 17 - Mar 21, 2010 |
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Chicago Shakespeare Theater |
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| 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. |
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| A Life Mar 18 - Apr 25, 2010 |
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Northlight Theatre |
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| 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. |
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| Billy Elliot the Musical Mar 18 - Dec 31, 2010 |
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Ford Oriental Theatre |
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| 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. |
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| Ragtime Mar 18 - May 23, 2010 |
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Drury Lane- Oakbrook |
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| 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. |
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| The Lost Boys of Sudan Mar 19 - Apr 25, 2010 |
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Victory Gardens Theater - Biograph |
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| 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. |
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| A Gulag Mouse Mar 21 - May 1, 2010 |
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Babes With Blades at
Trap Door Theatre |
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| 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? |
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| The Crucible Mar 27 - May 2, 2010 |
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Infamous Commonwealth Theatre at
Raven Theatre |
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| 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. |
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| Equus Mar 27 - Apr 25, 2010 |
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Redtwist Theatre |
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| 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. |
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| Will Rogers: An American Original Mar 31 - May 2, 2010 |
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First Folio Theatre |
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| 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. |
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| Endgame Apr 1 - Jun 6, 2010 |
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Steppenwolf Theatre |
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| 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. |
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| The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Apr 2 - Jun 20, 2010 |
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Circle Theatre |
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| 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. |
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| Into The Woods Apr 3 - May 30, 2010 |
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Porchlight Music Theatre at
Theatre Building Chicago |
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| 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. |
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| The Taming of the Shrew Apr 7 - Jun 6, 2010 |
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Chicago Shakespeare Theater |
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| 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. |
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| The Hiding Place Apr 7 - May 23, 2010 |
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Provision Theater Company |
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| 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.
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| Hephaestus: A Greek Mythology Circus Tale Apr 7 - May 23, 2010 |
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Lookingglass Theatre Company at
Goodman Theatre |
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| 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. |
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| The Ghosts of Treasure Island Apr 8 - May 20, 2010 |
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Adventure Stage Chicago |
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| 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. |
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| In the Blood Apr 9 - Apr 18, 2010 |
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UIC Theatre |
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| 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. |
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