Theatre News Wire

A major milestone for Chicago's arts and entertainment community, the historic space formerly known as Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Ave., previously managed and operated by Tawani Property Management, has been acquired by Rhapsody Theater LLC. to be completely reimagined as Rhapsody Theater, a destination with an entirely new vision set to open this June. The beautiful, intimate new space is located in the heart of Rogers Park and is primed for acoustic excellence from every area of the 200-seat venue. The Rhapsody Theater will offer a diverse lineup of star-studded talent including internationally renowned magicians, highly acclaimed chamber music, as well as unique world music, cabaret, and dance performances.

The Rhapsody Theater named Ricardo T. Rosenkranz, MD as Managing Partner and Artistic Director responsible for the new development. Dr. Ricardo T. Rosenkranz is the producer and internationally regarded illusionist known for "The Rosenkranz Mysteries", as well as an award-winning Physician and Assistant Professor in Clinical Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

The Rhapsody Theater is also proud to announce industry leader Mark Kozy has been added to the team to lead in the role of General Manager of the Rhapsody Theater. Mark brings with him an impressive two decades of theatrical experience and excellence, including leadership roles at the Goodman Theater and League of Chicago Theatres.

"Our vision for the space is enthusiastically new, and our ultimate goal is to bring a whole new genre of theatrical and musical experiences to Chicago," said Dr. Ricardo T. Rosenkranz, Managing Partner and Artistic Director of The Rhapsody Theater. "We look forward to offering our patrons access to some of the brightest names in magic, chamber music, world music, and cabaret. We plan to curate a myriad of exclusive experiences in our intimate atmosphere in a storied place to enjoy and appreciate the arts."

Kicking things off with a larger-than-life opening lineup of magicians, Rhapsody Theater is proud to present the Premier of Award-winning magician Carisa Hendrix's revised and reimagined first full-theatrical show: Lucy Darling: Indulgence. David Copperfield calls her "Funny. Engaging. Stylish. What a lovely way to spend an evening!"

Originally known as the Morse Theater built in 1912, the destination has long been a source of arts and entertainment, formerly operating as the Co-Ed Theater and most recently, the Mayne Stage. The Rhapsody Theater will bring an entirely new vision, and will also be home to a full-service, 110-seat restaurant space and three distinct bars throughout, which Dr. Ricardo T. Rosenkranz anticipates developing and operating as an outlet for both patrons and community members alike to enjoy year-round. The multi-faceted theater is perfectly primed for world-class performances with state-of-the-art acoustics and versatile seating arrangement capabilities allowing for enhanced experiences of both intimate and large format events and programs. The new space will also include an upstairs lounge, perfect for after- performance socializing, "meet and greet" events with performers, and more. A Close-up magic space will open later in the year.

Speaking to the theater's mission, Rosenkranz said, "We are honored to become a part of the Rogers Park neighborhood and contribute to the beautiful fabric of this diverse and forward-looking neighborhood. We plan to place a distinct focus on active participation in the livelihood of the wonderful community we are now a part of through educational programs and special performances curated to highlight diversity, equity, and inclusion for all at our new space."

With ample valet parking, pre-performance dining, wonderful performance venues and lounges, post-performance dining, and three bars, The Rhapsody Theater plans to create easy to enjoy, accessible, and unforgettable days and nights for Chicago audiences.

"We could not be more honored to welcome such an enthusiastic supporter and promoter of the arts as Dr. Rosenkranz to bring this exciting new development to the Rogers Park neighborhood," said Alderwoman Maria Hadden, 49th Ward of Chicago. "The Rhapsody Theater will serve as a staple for years to come and we as a community look forward to providing our overwhelming support upon its opening this Spring."