Relatively Close

Victory Gardens Theater wraps up its 2007-2008 season with Relatively Close, running June 6 through July 13. Relatively Close is a new work by James Sherman and tells the story of three Chicago sisters, now grown, who return to the family's old vacation home on Lake Michigan where they spent their childhood summers. One sister wants to keep the old place, one wants to sell it, and one just wants the other two to stop fighting about it. With their spouses and children along for the fun, this self-described "family comedy" will have audiences laughing with recognition.

Relatively Close is James Sherman's twelfth world premiere production at Victory Gardens. Each was developed in collaboration with and directed by Zacek, who is culminating his 30th anniversary season at the artistic helm of Victory Gardens - the longest tenure of any Artistic Director in Chicago. As Sherman put it, "Dennis has been my director, collaborator, mentor, protector, counselor, advocate, faithful friend, and midwife to my plays for 24 years. Whatever success I've had in my life as a playwright is with thanks to him." Their 1989 smash hit collaboration Beau Jest remains Victory Gardens' biggest box office success ever.

To encourage sisters to enjoy the show together, Victory Gardens is offering female siblings 2-for-1 tickets to previews of Relatively Close, June 6-15 only. To take advantage of the offer, use promo code SISTERS when purchasing tickets by phone, in person, or online at www.VictoryGardens.org.

Mary Poppins' Takes Flight In Chicago With Original Broadway Stars

The wind has changed in the Windy City, and with it comes Mary Poppins, breezing into town for a stay at the Cadillac Palace Theatre beginning March 11, 2009. Producers Cameron Mackintosh and Thomas Schumacher have announced that Gavin Lee, who originated the role of Bert in the hit Broadway and London productions of Mary Poppins, will be joining Ashley Brown, who originated the title role on Broadway, for the show's eagerly anticipated North American National Tour.

Both Brown and Lee are currently starring in Mary Poppins on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre and will remain on The Great White Way until a date to be determined. Their replacements in the Broadway company will be announced at a later date. After Chicago, the tour is scheduled to play The State Theatre in Cleveland, The Fox Theatre in St. Louis, and The Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, with additional cities, venues and dates to be announced.

Since its Broadway debut in November 2006, Mary Poppins has proved a hit with critics and audiences alike, and this co-production by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh brings the fun and magic of the 1964 film starring Julie Andrews to Chicago.

Information regarding individual ticket pricing, the public on-sale date and performance schedules will be announced as it becomes available.

Festivals In Chicago

First Annual Alcyone Festival

Halcyon Theatre will conclude its second season with the first annual Alcyone Festival. This festival chronicles and commemorates nearly one thousand years of female playwrights, and explores how their groundbreaking "firsts" have shaped women's place as a creative force in the arts today, how far we have come in those thousand years, and how far we still have to go.

The Alcyone Festival runs June 19th through July 13th and tickets to individual performances are $15 ($10 for students and seniors). Festival passes are also available for $25. For more information or tickets visit halcyontheatre.org.


SKALD Storytelling Festival

WNEP Theatre and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs present the ninth Annual SKALD Storytelling Festival, a week-long event celebrating the art of storytelling. The workshops and competitions offer adults and children (ages 9-14) the chance to try their own hand at storytelling, and then watch the professionals. The events will take place at the Chicago Cultural Center, located at 77 E. Randolph Street, from June 16 through June 21, 2008.

The mission of SKALD, named after the ancient Scandinavian word for 'storyteller' or 'poet', is to present storytelling as theatre "stripped of its dazzle camouflage", and focused entirely on the performer and the story itself. WNEP Theatre has been holding the SKALD Storytelling Competition annually since 1999, and has been creating unexpectedly imaginative and original theater in Chicago for fourteen years. Guest judges of previous SKALD competitions have included the late Martin DeMaat, Live Bait Theatre's Sharon Evans, local critic Jack Helbig, Stage Left Theatre's Jessi D. Hill, Wild Chicago's Ben Hollis, American Idol Finalist Leslie Hunt, and Acorn Theatre's Kim Clark. For more information about SKALD, visit www.dcatheater.org or call 312-742-TIXS.


Words In Motion Festival

The 16th Street Theatre in Berwyn announced the Words In Motion Festival at the Berwyn Cultural Center, opening July 11 and running through August 16. The festival features three plays: Aiming For Sainthood by Arlene Malinowski, The Scarlet Ibis by Susan Hahn, and The Pull Of The Moon by Elizabeth Berg.

Says Artistic Director Ann Filmer, "[Words In Motion is] about the movement of the language, heightening the audience's imagination, and bringing out the beauty and strength of these female authors' words."

Words In Motion is a part of 16th Street Theatre's inaugural season at the Berwyn Cultural Center, following Will Dunne's The Ascension of Carlotta and Teatro Luna's highly recommended hit Machos, which sold out its entire run. Tickets are on sale now at www.16thstreettheater.org or at 708-795-6704.

Journeyman Theatre...On The Lake

The Journeymen Theatre has a new arts partnership with Chicago's Berger Park District. Beginning this summer, Journeymen will produce their mainstage shows in the newly-converted Coach House Theatre in Edgewater's Berger Park at 6215 N. Sheridan. The inaugural production in their new home will be Jonathan Larson's musical tick, tick...Boom. Written by Larson before Rent brought him worldwide (and sadly posthumous) acclaim, tick, tick...Boom is essentially the autobiographical account of his attempts to write a hit musical like Rent while his friends tire of the New York artist life. Featuring Aaron Dore, Eric Michaels, and Lindsey Naas, it is directed by Frank Pullen with musical direction by Isaiah Robinson. It opens June 26th at 7pm. For more information visit www.thejourneymen.org.

Extensions

Due to overwhelming demand, Timeline Theatre is extending its run of Fiorello! Five weeks of performances have been added to this award-winning show, and the new closing date is July 20. Tickets for the extension are available online now at timelinetheatre.com. Sales by phone begin Tuesday, May 27 at 12 pm. by calling 773.281.TIME (8463).

Shout! The Mod Musical, now playing at the Drury Lane Water Tower Place, has announced an extension of its run through Sunday, July 20, 2008. The extended performance schedule for Shout! The Mod Musical is as follows: Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. There will be matinee performances on Wednesday, July 2 and Wednesday, July 11 at 2 p.m., and no performance on Thursday, July 3 at 7:30 p.m. or Sunday, July 15 at 6 p.m.

Hell In A Handbag Productions announced the addition of two performances to Die, Mommie! Die! This Midwest Premiere has been Jeff Recommended and was called "The Gold Standard of camp in Chicago" by the Chicago Reader. The two additional performances will be on June 5 and June 6.

The Raven Theatre is announcing a four-week extension of Neil Simon's Laughter On The 23rd Floor, the final play of their 25th Anniversary season. It will now run through Saturday, July 26th, with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm.