Pangs of the Messiah

Silk Road Theatre Project begins its 2009 season with the Midwest Premiere of Pangs of the Messiah by renowned Israeli playwright Motti Lerner. The production, directed by Piven Theatre Workshop Artistic Director Jennifer Green, will run March 19 - May 10, 2009, in Pierce Hall at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St, Chicago.

Set in 2012 amidst the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians, Motti Lerner's Pangs of the Messiah is an apocalyptic yet fiercely humane drama about eight West Bank Jewish settlers pitted against an Israel they feel betrayed by. The play focuses on a religious family that finds itself torn between fighting to stay in their settlement and obeying their government's decision to dismantle it. Left hanging in the balance is the legacy of their beliefs.

Silk Road Theatre Project Artistic Director Jamil Khoury comments that "I am utterly bound up and wound up by this play. Pangs of the Messiah embodies everything that Silk Road Theatre Project audiences have come to cherish about the company's repertoire. It's an intelligent, provocative, and emotionally compelling play that allows audiences to arrive at their own conclusions." Khoury adds, "I come to this play with lived experience of the issues at hand.  During the first Intifada [Palestinian uprising in the Israeli occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip], I worked with and advocated for Palestinian refugee communities in Jerusalem and the West Bank as a United Nations Refugee Affairs Officer.  Thus Pangs of the Messiah speaks to me and challenges me on deeply personal levels.  The play elicits within me sympathy for the settler family depicted, at times empathy, and in so doing, it creates a distinct discomfort, a fear of committing betrayal and of forgetting, particularly as an Arab American.   But it was while swimming in those initial feelings of anxiety and unease that I knew instinctively we had to produce this play."

Pay What You Can

In light of Chicago's recent spat of gloomy weather - not to mention the country's even gloomier financial forecast - the producer of Don't Dress for Dinner invites theatergoers to enjoy a laugh, and "pay what you can," for two performances of the hit comedy now playing at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted Street.  For the Wednesday evening performances on March 18 and, somewhat fittingly, April 15 ("tax day"), theatergoers may purchase tickets at whatever price they'd like (minimum purchase $1/ticket).  Tickets, which are regularly priced at $49.50 on Wednesday evenings, can only be purchased day of show, at the Royal George Theatre box office only. There is a maximum of six tickets per order, and all are tickets are subject to availability.

"We know there is no better time to be enjoying a laugh, and we don't want financial considerations standing in the way. So, following such pricing pioneers as Radiohead, we are inviting Chicagoans to pay what they can and want so as to enjoy our comedy," explained Damian Arnold, head of Chicago-based British Stage Company which is producing Don't Dress for Dinner. "I am confident whatever they pay - even the standard price of $49.50 - audience members will get their money's worth and more!"

Don't Dress for Dinner is a frenetic case of mistaken identity with more twists than a corkscrew.  Since opening in November, the romantic comedy has attracted both critical and audience acclaim. It was recently announced that actor Gene Weygandt, fresh from his three-and-a-half year starring role in Wicked, plus actresses Bethany Caputo and Katherine Keberlein, will join the cast beginning performances March 25.   

Chicago gets BackStage with Mary Poppins

Local PBS WTTW11-Chicago will air the "BackStage With Mary Poppins" program on Sunday, March 15 at 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday, March 17 at 8 p.m. thanks to an arts education collaboration between Playhouse Square and Cleveland's Ideastream. The "Idea  Center" partnership serves as a convergence of the performing arts, radio/TV broadcast news, technology and education.

The new "BackStage With" series hosted by NPR's Scott Simon explores the creation of this magical Disney musical with Thomas Schumacher (producer), Cameron Mackintosh (co-creater and producer), Richard Sherman (original music and lyrics), George Stiles (new songs and additional music), Anthony Drewe (new songs and additional lyrics), David Caddick (music supervisor), Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and Gavin Lee (Bert).

The series features show clips interspersed between dynamic interviews with performing arts masters who offer revealing insights and inspirational motivation into the creation of groundbreaking Broadway musicals. During the initial taping, the program's format allows guests to connect with a live studio audience of high school through graduate school students, particularly those in theater arts.

Mary Poppins will be run at the Cadillac Palace Theatre through July 12, 2009.

Second City's Rod Blagojevich Superstar Comes to Chicago Shakespeare

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) welcomes Second City back to Navy Pier with a limited six-week engagement of their smash hit, Rod Blagojevich Superstar. The show will play in a cabaret-style setting in which audience members can enjoy drinks Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare. At CST, the production will feature new music and frequent updates-incorporating Blagojevich's brother, his $100,000 book deal and Roland Burris's son as the Illinois political saga continues to unfold. Following each performance, the cast will improvise a 20-minute political comedy set based on audience suggestions. Rod Blagojevich Superstar runs March 26 through May 3, 2009, Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare. Performance dates are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 3:00pm, 7:00pm and 9:30pm and Sundays at 3:00pm. Tickets are $25 ($20 for groups of 10 or more) and may be purchased by visiting Chicago Shakespeare Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com or calling the CST Box Office at 312.595.5600.

Originating as a joke at a holiday party, writers Ed Furman (book) and T.J. Shanoff (music and lyrics) quickly turned Rod Blagojevich Superstar into a critically acclaimed musical account of the rise and fall of ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich. Never afraid to push the boundaries with their long tradition of satirizing political headlines, the Second City writers and cast have turned the Blagojevich scandal into a rollicking musical that quickly sold out its run at the Second City e.t.c. In response to continued, overwhelming demand, the company will give a special command performance in Springfield to delight elected officials and citizens of the capital city before returning to Chicago for a limited engagement on Navy Pier.

"We are hoping to have the Rod wig blessed or anointed while we're in Springfield," reports Second City Vice President Kelly Leonard. "Then, we'll have an armored car service deliver the wig directly to Navy Pier."

Rod Blagojevich Superstar marks Second City's third production with Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The two companies first worked together in 2001 to create the critically acclaimed production of Hamlet! the Musical, followed by Romeo and Juliet the Musical in 2004. With Rod Blagojevich Superstar, Chicago Shakespeare and Second City continue their long tradition of bringing classic theater together with contemporary satire.

Lifeline Theatre Announces 2009/2010 Season

Lifeline Theatre Artistic Director Dorothy Milne and the artistic ensemble announce their 2009-2010, 27th anniversary season of presenting Big Stories, Up Close.  In its award-winning and audience-acclaimed style, Lifeline's 2009-2010 season will feature five popular books onstage and one original play (four productions written by Lifeline ensemble members).  The season will feature sprawling, classic stories as well as stirring, contemporary titles, as Lifeline retains its reputation for fresh, imaginative interpretations of well-loved stories and embraces the challenge and excitement of new, thought-provoking works.

The MainStage season will begin with the classic adventure of Treasure Island, followed by the post-modern fable, Mrs. Caliban, and conclude with the dark urban fantasy, Neverwhere.  The KidSeries offerings start with the best-selling story of personal expression, Dooby Dooby Moo, followed by the classic tale of empowerment, The Last of the Dragons, and end with a retelling of world folktales in a new musical by Nambi E. Kelley, The Blue Shadow. 

For more information, or to purchase tickets and subscriptions, call the Lifeline Box Office at 773-761-4477, or visit www.lifelinetheatre.com  Season subscriptions go on sale April 1, and offer the three MainStage productions for $75; and the three KidSeries plays for $27.