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As it approaches its third anniversary of residence in the Downtown Theatre District, the record-breaking Chicago company of Wicked will enable a new block of tickets for purchase. Tickets for performances July 29 - November 2, 2008 will go on-sale to the public on Friday, May 9 at 10 a.m.
Breaking multiple box office records since opening, Wicked is the top grossing and longest running Broadway show in Chicago history. Chicago’s Wicked celebrated its 1000th performance in November 2007 and has performed to well over 2 million audience members.
Tickets for Wicked range in price from $25 - $90 and are available via the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (312) 902-1400, in person at all Broadway In Chicago box offices, all Ticketmaster ticket centers and online at ticketmaster.com.
Shattered Globe Theatre Announces 18th Anniversary Season and Kevin Hagan Appointed Artistic Director
Shattered Globe Theatre Artistic Director Kevin Hagan and the artistic ensemble announce their 18th anniversary, 2008-2009 season of presenting ensemble-driven theatre. In keeping with its mission of "dissecting, challenging, and reveling in the American experiment; inspiring social discourse by raising questions rather than espousing philosophy; stimulating artistic growth for and broadening the perspectives of both artist and audience; and pushing the boundaries of excellence in ensemble theatre," SGT's 2008-2009 season will consist of productions which address some of the most complex themes at work in modern life, seen through the lens of realistic, carefully drawn characters by three influential American playwrights and plays that launched two of their careers.
The Season Includes:
- The Glass Menagerie:
September 4–November 2, 2008
- The Little Foxes :
January 8–March 8, 2009
- Buried Child : May 14-July 12, 2009
Also, Shattered Globe’s Suddenly, Last Summer will be remounted at Theatre on the Lake (July 30 – August 3, tickets at 312-742-7529).
Just appointed SGT’s Artistic Director, Kevin Hagan said, "I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to accept the appointment of Artistic Director, and look forward to working with the ensemble and Board as we conclude our current season and move forward into the 2008-2009 season. I have done my best work as an artist at Shattered Globe Theatre - I am very proud of my past work with the ensemble, and I am pleased to help lead its future. Our 2007-2008 season was a 'bridge' year, and I look for 2008-2009 to be a growth year, adding new ensemble and staff members to support our infrastructure. We have a distinguished history in Chicago and continue to offer patrons something special and not found elsewhere in the community, mounting productions that folks can clearly say 'Only Shattered Globe Theater could have done that so well!.' I often hear patrons ask (when talking with them about an upcoming show) is 'which ensemble members are going to be working on that?' With SGT's resources, history, and value in mind, we have selected a season that focuses on well known works suited to our mission and artistic niche in the Chicago theater community, and most importantly plays that provide the best opportunities to feature ensemble members in roles as actor, designer, or director."
To purchase subscriptions to Shattered Globe's 18th anniversary season (starting at $42), call the Victory Gardens Box Office at 773-871-3000, Shattered Globe at 773-770-0333, or visit www.shatteredglobe.org
Hizzoner Performances at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame Have Been Postponed, But Show will Go On at the Beverly Arts Center
Gipeti Entertainment announces the return of the critically acclaimed production of Hizzoner: Daley the First to the Beverly Arts Center, Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St. beginning Saturday, June 14 at 8 p.m. Performances at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame have been postponed until completion of the Frank Sinatra Performing Arts Center.
Hizzoner: Daley the First will be the first long-running production to have sit down performances at the Beverly Arts Center. The opening at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame slated for May 18 is delayed until the space is completed. Ron Onesti of Onesti Entertainment said, "Construction of the new Frank Sinatra Center for the Performing Arts is currently happening at a rapid pace. We are excited to bring Hizzoner and its audience to Taylor Street at this amazing new venue as soon as possible."
Tickets for the June Beverly Arts Center performances may be purchased at 773-445-3838, ext 200 or purchased online at www.beverlyartcenter.org.
A Steady Rain Is Extended Through October 5
A Steady Rain, Chicago Dramatists’ smash hit production now playing at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted, is extended through October 5 announced producers Frank Gero, Ray Gaspard and Jono Gero. A Steady Rain, which just celebrated its 100th performance, has enjoyed extraordinary ticket sales and huge critical acclaim.
Critics have been touting playwright Keith Huff as the next David Mamet. Huff’s new show Pursued By Happiness will open as part of Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s 4th annual First Look Repertory of New Work this summer. A Steady Rain stars Randy Steinmeyer and Peter DeFarina, who were recently cast in the film Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale (but will continue with the play).
Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council Presents 6th Annual Red or White Ball To Benefit Steppenwolf for Young Adults
More than 600 of Chicagoland's young professionals will gather for a spectacular evening of cocktails, food, entertainment, a silent auction and raffle prizes at the Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council's sixth annual Red or White Ball on Friday, May 30, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. The premier event for Chicago's most influential young philanthropists will be held at the ultra-chic Chicago Illuminating Company, 19 E. 21st Street. Individual tickets, currently available to the public, start at $135 and can be purchased online at www.steppenwolf.org or by calling (312) 654-5672.
A limited number of $500 VIP packages are also available: each includes two event tickets, access for two to a private cocktail reception at 7:00 p.m. with Steppenwolf ensemble members, enhanced goody bags and a one-year membership in the Auxiliary Council.
"The Red or White Ball has been a sell-out event the past two years and we anticipate another great response again in 2008," comments Co-Chair Nancy Collins. "We have moved to a larger venue, allowed for additional bars and food stations, and shifted the format from a wine tasting to an expanded cocktail party to create more networking opportunities for Chicago’s young professional set," adds Collins.
The Red or White Ball serves as the primary fundraiser for the Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council – a community of dynamic young professionals who develop new financial resources and audiences for the creation and presentation of new work. In just eight years of operation, the Auxiliary Council has raised over $600,000 in contributions, enabling Steppenwolf to continue to advance artistic experimentation and collaboration. Last year’s event successfully attracted more than 550 attendees and raised over $110,000 for the theater's nationally recognized arts education program, Steppenwolf for Young Adults, which annually serves over 15,000 individuals through productions and programs specifically geared towards teachers, families and young adults.
Lookingglass Theatre's Hit Lookingglass Alice Returns This Summer
Lookingglass Theatre Company, in association with Actors Gymnasium, announced the triumphant return of Lookingglass Alice, July 2-August 31, 2008, at its home located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave at Pearson. Lookingglass Alice returns to Chicago for a limited run after enjoying its world premiere production in 2006, followed by an east coast tour in 2007 and a sold-out run last summer at Lookingglass.
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. 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.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.lookingglasstheatre.org or by phone at 312-337-0665.
The Neo-Futurists Invite Audiences To Witness The Frustrations and Elations of Being 'Picked Up'
The Neo-Futurists announced a special panel discussion with Dino Stamatopoulos, Joe Janes and comedy troupe Schadenfreude following the Thursday, May 15 performance of Picked Up, a series of six never-before-seen television pilots performed live onstage. These successful comedy writers share their first-hand experiences with the television sitcom machine and controlled chaos of the writers’ room. Hear stories of sitcom babies being killed or burned alive then rising again in the ashes of their very own afterbirth. Bring questions for these hosts and have them properly answered, or at least creatively evaded. After the discussion, Stamatopoulos will show his sitcom pilot, Saturday TV Funhouse, co-created by Robert Smigel, which was produced but never 'picked up'.
The pilot being 'aired' on May 15 is The Mime in which a reluctant superhero mime artist takes on the mafia by thinking outside of the box. "Don’t do the crime if you can’t face the mime."
Dino Stamatopoulos is an American television comedy writer, actor and producer who has worked on Mr. Show, The Ben Stiller Show, TV Funhouse, Mad TV, The Dana Carvey Show, Late Night with David Letterman, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He was nominated for an Emmy in 1998 for "Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program" and in 1999 for "Outstanding Music and Lyrics.” His current project is Moral Orel on Adult Swim.
Joe Janes is the Improv Program Coordinator and a part-time faculty member of the theater department at Columbia College. He is a founding member of the WNEP Theater Foundation, Teatro Bastardo, and Robot vs Dinosaur - Chicago. For Second City, he has been a member of the national touring company, a director of the national Touring Company, Second City-Detroit and Second City–Las Vegas, and has taught for the training center since 1997. He is a playwright and an Emmy Award-winning writer of a children's show in Cincinnati.
Schadenfreude, formed in 1997, has performed sketch comedy at countless venues around the world including The Goodman Theatre, The Second City, Steppenwolf, Lollapalooza, ImprovOlympic, ComedySportz, the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (LA), Area 51 (LA), HERE (NYC), the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and the Chicago Improv Festival, where they were the first group to receive the "Festival Highlight Award."
Special Performance Of Jersey Boys
The smash Broadway hit Jersey Boys, now running at the Bank of America Theatre (formerly called the LaSalle Bank Theatre), has added a special extra performance on Sunday, May 11th, at 7:30 pm. This extra evening performance is being held to benefit The Actors Fund, the national non-profit that supports everyone in the entertainment industry.
Actors Fund Benefit Performances are a long-standing Broadway show business tradition. At the Sunday, May 11th, performance of Jersey Boys, the cast and company are all donating their time and talents so that all proceeds from ticket sales will go to support the vital programs and services of The Fund.
The biggest need right now is help for those affected by the writer’s strike. Though the strike has been settled, thousands remain unemployed as television series were cancelled, pilots were postponed and much film production has been put on hold. Many are in danger of losing their homes, being evicted from their apartments, having their cars re-possessed or unable to afford basic health care. In the last four months, The Actors Fund has given out over $1.1-million in assistance to those affected by the strike and the need continues to grow. Every ticket purchased to this performance of Jersey Boys will help The Fund continue to help those who need it most.
Tickets can be ordered online at ticketmaster.com, which can be linked to through The Actors Fund web site at www.actorsfund.org, or at the LaSalle Bank Theatre box office which is located on Monroe at State Street in downtown Chicago. Ticket prices range from $27.50 to $122.50. For more information call the theatre box office at 312-977-1700.