The Chicago Fringe Festival

The Chicago Fringe Festival has announced the complete lineup for its inaugural performing arts festival, slated for September 1st through the 5th in the Pilsen neighborhood.  In the spirit of fringe festivals worldwide, 46 productions were selected by lottery from a total of 156 applicants. The final schedule will be released on August.... Read More

Profiles Theatre Announces 2010-2011 Season

Artistic Directors Joe Jahraus and Darrell W. Cox announce Profiles Theatre's 2010-2011 Season. Profiles, one of Chicago's longest-running storefront theatres, is presenting its 22nd season of new and challenging works, beginning with the Midwest Premiere of the acclaimed new play Jailbait by Deirdre O'Connor.

The Profiles Theatre season also includes the Midwest Premiere of Neil LaBute's.... Read More

It's all Greek To Dream Theatre

Jeremy Menekseoglu seems genuinely surprised, "It's so much more heartbreaking than I thought it was going to be. Ending a trilogy...you really want a satisfying ending." Menekseoglu, as artistic director of Dream Theatre Company, is gearing up for the opening of Orestes, the final chapter of the "Agon Trilogy" a group of plays structured around the Ancient Greek.... Read More

Rock of Ages set for Chicago

Individual tickets to the Broadway production of Rock Of Ages will go on sale on Friday, July 16, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.  The five time Tony Award nominated smash-hit musical Rock Of Ageswill play the Bank of America Theatre for a limited two week engagement September 21 - October 3, 2010.  Tony Award Nominee.... Read More

Billy Elliot to close in January

After a successful 10-month run, Billy Elliot will play its final Chicago performance on January 15, 2011. This final block of performances runs from October 26, 2010 through January 15, 2011 and includes popular holiday performances. Tickets for the final block of Billy Elliot The Musical in Chicago will go on sale Friday, July 16, 2010.

On stage.... Read More

Steppenwolf Announces Garage Rep 2011 Companies

Steppenwolf Theatre has announced the three Chicago companies selected for its 2nd annual GARAGE REP: Sideshow Theatre Company, The Strange Tree Group and UrbanTheater Company. These innovative, young companies will present three productions in rotating repertory for a ten-week run February 16 - April 24, 2011 in Steppenwolf's Merle Reskin Garage Theatre, 1624.... Read More

A Red Orchid Theatre Keeps Its Friends Close

Kirsten Fitzgerald, actress, ensemble member and Artistic Director of A Red Orchid Theatre, has a hard time defining what makes her company unique, "We tend to talk about it only in really pedestrian terms - 'intimate', 'edgy,' - the kind of thing everyone says about themselves."

A Red Orchid, however, is not a theatre like any other, and.... Read More

Voice of America: Saluting American Popular Music During the Wartime Years

In preparation for the upcoming 4th of July weekend, the Skokie Theatre is presenting Voice of America: Saluting American Popular Music During the Wartime Years , a musical and historical journey through the major conflicts of the twentieth century, as both a salute to our military personnel and an exploration of the role popular music has played in.... Read More

The New Colony Settles In

Not yet done with their second season, The New Colony has made an impressive ripple in the crowded pool of Chicago Theater. Having wrapped 10 productions, including 5 mainstage shows and 5 additional short form shows and festival appearances, The New Colony and artistic director Andrew Hobgood still have at least two more shows to go before starting.... Read More

"Killer Joe" and "Chess" Garner Outstanding Production Awards

Chicago's nationally-renowned storefront and black box theatre community gathered at the Park West tonight for its annual celebration as the Jeff Awards Non-Equity Wing gave out 28 Awards in 24 categories. In addition, a Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Chicago Theatre was given to Circle Theatre, celebrating its 25th.... Read More

LiveWire Chicago Stays Current

It was a dark and stormy night. Glenn Proud, today the artistic director of LiveWire Chicago Theatre, looked out the window of his parents' home in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. He heard a crash, "and I could just see a downed power cable and it was just sparking and dancing around. I was so struck by.... Read More

Circle Theatre to Receive Special Award at Jeff Awards Ceremony

The Jeff Awards has announced that Circle Theatre, celebrating its 25th Anniversary, will receive a Special Award at the 37th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards Ceremony on June 7, 2010, honoring its many contributions to Chicago theatre over the years.

In 1985, Karen Skinner, Wayne Buidens and Joseph Bass founded.... Read More

About Face Theatre - Looks Fresh

One of America's most-produced plays of the past decade was a one-man show about an East German transvestite, Doug Wright's I Am My Own Wife. Like dozens of other adventurous plays engaged in ideas of gender and sexuality, I Am My Own Wife received a healthy dose of its early support from a resilient and passionate Chicago company.... Read More

The Jeff Awards Announces 2010 Non-Equity Nominations

The Jeff Awards today announced 105 nominations in 24 categories for Non-Equity Jeff Awards, which honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract, for productions that opened between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2010.  The Jeff Awards judged the opening nights of 116 productions offered by 55 non-Equity producing organizations.... Read More

TheatreInChicago Goes To Washington

TheatreInChicago has already gone Hollywood, and now it's going political! Now, mixed in with your daily dose of all things theatrical, TheatreInChicago will be posting political soapbox rants from all of your favorite on-the-fringe bloggers and journalists! About all of your favorite "isn't-this-a-dead-horse-by-now topics!"

Don't worry, thankfully this is not what TheatreInChicago is doing at all. What TheatreInChicago is,.... Read More

Something's Developing at Chicago Dramatists

Two's company, three's a crowd, and 160 is the number of playwrights in the diverse roster of Chicago Dramatists' playwrights' network.  But if you think they're worried about overdoing it you should guess again. Over the last year this group of playwrights received some 700 productions, awards, and honors around the world, and.... Read More

Victory Gardens Theater Announces 2010-11 Season

Victory Gardens Theater Artistic Director Dennis Zacek has announced exciting plans for the company's 38th season, promising "new and compelling stories that transform, entertain and reflect the human condition."

Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo will receive its Chicago premiere, starring Peter Strauss, star of stage and screen, directed by Zacek, to launch Victory Gardens'.... Read More

Babes With Blades Carve Out a Home

Common thinking goes, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, but in the case of Babes With Blades, when you fight 'em, you beat 'em. Frustrated at the lack of opportunity for female actors to use their stage combat skills, Babes With Blades was founded in 1997 originally purely as a showcase for the .... Read More

Theatre On The Lake Announces 2010 Season

The Chicago Park District's 58th annual Theater on the Lake season features reprisals of eight artistically diverse Chicago theater companies June 16 - Aug. 8, 2010.  The season opens with The Second City's 50th Anniversary Revue (June 16-20) and continues with popular productions by Bohemian Theatre Ensemble (June 23-27), A.... Read More

Broadway In Chicago Announces New Venue - The Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place

Broadway In Chicago and Water Tower Place have announced the addition of a new venue, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut Street to its family of theatres. Broadway In Chicago has entered into a long-term agreement with General Growth Properties (owner and manager of Water Tower Place) that will allow the theatre, formerly known.... Read More