Theatre News Wire

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces its 2023-2024 season, opening with the critically-acclaimed Broadway hit Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle, directed by Jessica Thebus; the murder mystery made famous by Alfred Hitchcock Dial M for Murder, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from the original by Frederick Knott and directed by Georgette Verdin; the suspenseful 2022 Pulitzer Prize Finalist Selling Kabul by Sylvia Khoury, directed by Hamid Dehghani; and the world premiere of John Patrick Shanley's Brooklyn Laundry, directed by BJ Jones. One title is yet to be announced.

"Artistic Director BJ Jones comments, "Our audience has told us time and again how much they appreciate the eclectic nature of our work. As Northlight plans for a bold and exciting future, we've been surveying our audience, and we're delighted that new work is their favorite work at Northlight: fresh projects, like next season's world premiere of Brooklyn Laundry by John Patrick Shanley, or even a new adaptation of a familiar title, like Jeffrey Hatcher's Dial M For Murder. We are highlighting exciting artists, like Hamid Dehghani in Andy Warhol in Iran who is returning to direct Selling Kabul; our new Associate Artistic Director Georgette Verdin, who will direct Dial M; and Chicagoland favorite Kate Fry starring in Birthday Candles, directed by Northlight veteran Jessica Thebus. With this upcoming season, we continue to deliver on our promise of producing compelling, inspiring, and entertaining work."

The 2023-2024 season includes:

BIRTHDAY CANDLES
By Noah Haidle
Directed by Jessica Thebus
Featuring Kate Fry
September 7 - October 8, 2023

Ernestine Ashworth spends her 17th birthday agonizing over her insignificance in the universe. Soon enough, it's her 18th birthday. Even sooner, her 41st. Her 70th. Her 101st. Five generations, an infinity of dreams, and one cake baked over a century.

DIAL M FOR MURDER
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
From the original by Frederick Knott
Directed by Georgette Verdin
November 30- December 31, 2023

A new version of the celebrated murder mystery that inspired Hitchcock's masterpiece!
Tony Wendice married his wife Margot for money, neglected her, got jealous of her affair, and now he wants her dead. In his meticulous planning of the perfect crime, Tony spins a web of suspicion and deception that will ensnare them both in this edge-of-your-seat adaptation of a modern classic.

SELLING KABUL
By Sylvia Khoury
Directed by Hamid Dehghani
January 25 - February 25, 2024

The 2022 Pulitzer Prize Finalist is a suspenseful drama about family and sacrifice. Taroon once served as an interpreter for the U.S. military in Afghanistan. Now that the Americans have withdrawn - along with their promises of protection - Taroon spends his days in hiding, a target of the increasingly powerful Taliban. On the eve of his son's birth, he must choose between staying safe but trapped in his sister's apartment or risking his life to see his child.

BROOKLYN LAUNDRY
By John Patrick Shanley
Directed by BJ Jones
April 11- May 12, 2024

A world premiere from the Pulitzer, Tony, and Oscar-award winning author of Moonstruck, Doubt, and Outside Mullingar!
Fran is chronically single, has piles of bills, and finds Owen obnoxious. Owen has a bad back, runs a laundry, and thinks Fran is gloomy. And then he asks her out. After years of putting the rest of her family first, Fran is ready to make the leap toward her own romantic dreams. Little does she know that even bigger challenges are headed her way.