American Music Theatre Project

The American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) at Northwestern University, in association with the Johnny Mercer Foundation, will host a weeklong summer festival on the Evanston campus titled “The Power of the American Popular Song.”  The American Music Theatre Project is a new initiative at Northwestern University dedicated to the development of new musicals and the creation of exciting educational opportunities in the field of musical theatre.  AMTP is looking for talented young songwriters or writing teams (up to the age of 30) to participate in the festival's free workshops and master classes.  Related concerts featuring guest artists will be open to the public and have an admission charge.  The festival will be held from August 7-12 and feature some of America's most prominent songwriters working in the tradition of the legendary Johnny Mercer.  These guest artists will serve as faculty for a weeklong educational program of master classes and workshops for a jury-selected group of young composers.  The week's activities will culminate in a concert featuring the artists/faculty and the class of songwriters in a presentation of their songs, and a salute to the legacy of Johnny Mercer.  Guest faculty will include songwriters Alan Bergman (“The Way We Were”), John Bucchino (“Grateful”) and Amanda McBroom (“The Rose”).  Because of the support of the Johnny Mercer Foundation there is no fee for this workshop for the approximately 16 writers/writing teams selected, though all participants must cover their own travel expenses.  Applicants will be required to submit three songs for adjudication.  For an application and more information visit the American Music Theatre Project web site at www.amtp.northwestern.edu or call (847) 467-0333.

Writers' Theatre has announced its 2006-2007 season, which marks the company's 15th anniversary.  Writers' Theatre performs in two performance spaces in Glencoe – its original 50-seat venue at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Avenue, and its 108-seat theatre at 325 Tudor Court in the Woman's Library Club of Glencoe.  The 2006-2007 season includes “Another Part of the Forest” by Lillian Hellman October 3-November 26, 2006; “Bach at Leipzig” by Itamar Moses January 30-March 25, 2007; “The Puppetmaster of Lodz” by Gilles Segal, translated by Sara O'Connor March 27-July 8, 2007; and “Othello” by William Shakespeare May 22-July 15, 2007.  According to Artistic Director Michael Halberstam, “Our selections weave a rich tapestry of both old and new.  Two classic dramas, Othello and Another Part of the Forest, will be given a vital infusion of energy from an intimate telling in the most intimate of theatres.  The two more recent plays, Bach at Leipzig and The Puppetmaster of Lodz, stand alongside these classics and tell exploring the nature of intrigue, secrets and lies, but with personal differences in style, approach and outcome.  Magnificent verse, southern discomfort, rapier wit and passionate theatricality all combine to make our fifteenth season our finest!”  For complete season information, visit www.writerstheatre.org or call (847) 242-6000.

As previously reported on Theatre in Chicago, Northlight Theatre will open its 2006-2007 season with “Inherit the Wind” by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, October 4-November 12, 2006.  “Inherit” will be followed by “Bad Dates” by Theresa Rebeck November 29, 2006-January 7, 2007; the world premiere of “Lady” by Craig Wright, commissioned by Northlight January 24-February 25, 2007; “She Stoops to Conquer” by Oliver Goldsmith March 21-April 29, 2007; and “Fire on the Mountain” by Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman May 9-June 17, 2007.  Northlight Artistic Director BJ Jones says, “Our 2005-06 season was a remarkable year, both artistically and fiscally.  This season alone, we added a record number of single ticket buyers and welcomed over 2000 new subscribers – and the momentum continues with our 32nd season.  We are welcoming back some of our favorite artists – Judith Ivey, Randal Myler, Mississippi Bevel, Craig Wright, Jessica Thebus, among many others,” said Jones.  He adds, “This year we put the American experience in focus, by fondly gazing back, rigorously examining our present and by fearlessly peering into the future with a refreshed theatrical perspective.”
 
Joe Stead
Theatre In Chicago News Contributor Joe Stead has spent over 20 years as a critic, director, designer and performer. His reviews currently appear online at www.steadstylechicago.com.