The Opera Festival of Chicago announces the cast and creative team for Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo, directed by Sasha Gerritson, conducted by Uff. Emanuele Andrizzi with a cast of more than 50 performers and a 40-piece orchestra. Performances are Friday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 29 at 2 p.m. at the George Van Dusen Theatre, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie. Single tickets are $25 - $50 with subscriptions available at OperaFestivalChicago.org. 

The 2025 season concludes with one of the pillars of Italian opera and one of the most passionate dramas of all times, Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo. Sung in Italian, Pagliacci follows the story of a troupe of actors led by Canio and his unfaithful wife Nedda and features the famous aria “Vesti la giubba.” Love triangles, heartbreaks, betrayal and violent verismo vendettas erupt on stage, where art imitates life in this tragic masterpiece

In addition to Pagliacci, the Opera Festival of Chicago continues with its Young Artists program performing a delicious program featuring songs inspired by food in opera, Delicatessen Recital, June 5.  The Opera Festival of Chicago's leading artists will then appear in concert for Love is a Triangle, June 14.

“The Chicago Opera Festival began this May with the incredible and rarely performedThe Love of Three Kings (L’Amore dei tre Re) and continues into June with more must see productions,” said General Director Sasha Gerritson. “All of us look forward to welcoming audiences to three different locations for three very special performances as we celebrate opera inspired by food, a concert embracing our 2025 theme of “Love is a Triangle” and concluding with one of the standards of opera - Pagliacci.”

The cast of Pagliacci includes Michelle Allie Drever (Nedda); Jonathan Burton (Canio); Franco Pomponi (Tonio); Jeref Fernandez (Peppe) and Jonathan Wilson (Silvio).

In addition, there will be a chorus including Floriana Bivona; Lizzie Broeker; Benjamin Burney; Melanie Budreck; Winifer Castaneda; Jorie Clark; Brooke Craig; Ryan Daly; Jade Dasha; Katrina Dubbs; Angela DeVenuto; Theresa Egan; David Green; Abigail Greer Arcamona; CeCe Hastreiter; Cameo Humes; Lauren Ingebrigtsen (COVER Nedda); Marina Karimi; Jess Koehn; Alexis Langlois; Ally Lewkowski; Joseph Lodato (COVER Tonio) Cary Lovett; Samantha McGonigal, Margaret Meierhenry; Gisella Milla; Lauryn Nelson, Chiemerie Obianom; Jennifer Parr; Brian Pember; Leo Radosavljevic; Dominic Martin Reyes; Sierra Shoemaker; Pamela Spann; Diana Stoic; Meg Thomas-Cary; Daniel Uglunts; Jose Vargas Ramirez; Carmen Vizin; Vince Wallace; Eric Wassenaar (COVER Pepe) and Kevin Wheatle.

Alan Glassman is the external cover for the role of “Canio.”

Finally, the children’s chorus includes Leah Born; Rachel Born; Ella McCarty; Sarah Winger; Emily Laginess; Rae Hill; Eliza Hinton and Riley Tone.

The creative team for Pagliacci includes Uff. Emanuele Andrizzi (conductor); Sasha Gerritson (director/supertitle design); Richard Robbins (chorus master); Catherine O’Shaunessy (assistant conductor); Darren Brown (production manager); Bill Morey  (costume designer); Erzebet Schneider (costumes supervisor); Shane Cinal (set designer); Mike Goebel (lighting designer); Mary Mazurek (recording engineer); Melanie Saso (hair and wigs designer); Errin Austin (makeup designer); Gisella Milla (assistant to the director); Sebastian Medina (master electrician); Hannah Wein (assistant lighting designer); Kaitlyn Meine (stage manager); Lorenzo Formosa (house manager); James Juliano (SHOUT!) (publicity director); Jacob Little (production assistant); Luis Viva (orchestra manager) and Leo Radosavljevich (chorus accompanist)

ABOUT SASHA GERRITSON, GENERAL DIRECTOR

Sasha Gerritson is a highly sought after opera and musical theater stage director who directs for many local and regional companies, specializing in traditional productions of believed repertoire. For the Opera Festival of Chicago, Gerritson received rave reviews for her production of Assassinio nella Cathedrale (2023). She also is regularly involved with Music Theater Works where she recently directed Guys and Dolls (March 6 - 30, 2025), Lerner & Loewe’s Brigadoon (2023) and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (2022) both to great critical acclaim.

Gerritson served as the Opera and Music Theatre director of Northeastern Illinois University from 2010-2022, has directed for Musica Nelle Marche (Urbino, Italy), Opera Piccola, DePaul University, the Cherub Music Theatre program for Northwestern University, in addition to various other summer programs in the area.

In addition to her stage direction work, she is a choral conductor and singer, serving as the director of music ministries for the Park Ridge Community Church. She also proudly serves on a number of boards city-wide, including The Brookfield Zoo, the Navy Pier Foundation, the Goodman Theatre and DePaul University, for which she is vice chair.

Gerritson lives in Glenview with her husband, Eugene Jarvis, and their two sons.

ABOUT OPERA FESTIVAL OF CHICAGO

The Opera Festival of Chicago presents world-class standard productions of Italian opera masterpieces in Chicago that rarely grace the stage in the United States. In doing so the Opera Festival of Chicago aspires to: generate an inquisitive operatic appetite within Chicago audiences; make its work – and its cultural context – accessible to a wide audience; provide a stimulating and inspirational environment of Italian opera for artists and audiences alike; provide a vital opportunity for young artists entering the profession to uphold the high integrity and demands of Italian opera with artists and musicians who are established professionals and to highlight and celebrate the immense talent that has originated from the Chicagoland area.

Producers Lia Vollack, John Branca, and John McClain and Broadway In Chicago are thrilled to announce that individual tickets for the highly anticipated return engagement of the smash-hit musical, MJ, will go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, May 28. MJ makes its Chicago return at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, August 12-31. Ticket prices start at $49 with a select number of premium seats available. Additional fees apply for online purchases. See below for more ticket information and the performance schedule.

Back by overwhelming demand, the multiple Tony Award®-winning musical MJ is making a victorious return to Chicago. Created by Tony Award-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond Michael Jackson’s singular moves and signature sound, offering a rare glimpse at the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour. It’s electrifying sold-out crowds on Broadway; in cities across North America; London’s West End; Hamburg, Germany; Sydney, Australia and once again at the Nederlander Theatre in August. 

The MJ creative team features Scenic Design by two-time Tony and Emmy Award winner Derek McLane, Lighting Design by seven-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz, Costume Design by Oscar, Tony and Emmy Award winner Paul Tazewell, Sound Design by Tony Award winner Gareth Owen, Projection Design by two-time Tony Award nominee Peter Nigrini, Hair & Wig Design by two-time Emmy Award nominee Charles G. LaPointe and Makeup Design by Emmy nominee Joe Dulude II. The creative team also features Musical Supervision by Tony Award nominee David Holcenberg, Orchestrations and Arrangements by David Holcenberg and Tony Award winner Jason Michael Webb, and Music Direction by Nathanael Wilkerson and Jason Yarcho. Casting by The Telsey Office / Rachel Hoffman, CSA, Lindsay Levine, CSA.

The MJ First National Tour is general managed by Bespoke Theatricals. The stage management team is led by Production Stage Manager Nicole Olson, Stage Manager Xavier Khan and Assistant Stage Managers Alexander Pierce, Christopher K Anaya-Gorman and Lauren Taylor Winston. The company management team is led by Company Manager Eric Armstrong and Assistant Company Manager Bianca Jean-Charles. 

For more information worldwide, visit: www.mjthemusical.com  ● Facebook ● Twitter ● Instagram.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
 

TICKET INFORMATION (as of 5/28/25, based on availability and subject to change)
Individual tickets sales for MJ start tomorrow Wednesday, May 28 and range in price from $49 - $153 with a select number of premium seats available. Individual tickets may be purchased by visiting www.BroadwayInChicago.com, or any Broadway In Chicago venue box office. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Broadway In Chicago subscribers may add tickets to their subscription by  clicking here. Additional fees apply for online purchases.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 25 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of
entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
Follow @BroadwayInChicago on Facebook,  Instagram , TikTok, and Bluesky #BroadwayInChicago

Corn Productions announces the world premiere of “Support Group For The End Of The World” Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, June 5th-28th, at 7:30pm. Located at Cornservatory, 4210 N Lincoln Ave Chicago IL.

The world is ending, there's no stopping it (probably) and you have nothing to do but sit with your thoughts and those thoughts suck. Better join a support group! Started by former pre-k teacher, Alex, this group of strangers has come together each week to work through their grief, their mental health struggles, and their concept of the end. What would be a normal session takes a turn when one of the regulars fails to show up and a new stranger crashes the party.

Exploring mental health, death, and trash donuts, this original dark comedy looks at how some might handle the doom and gloom of a world-ending event and how it takes an apocalypse to work on yourself and learn about those around you.

Written & Directed by Corn Productions Artistic Director, Justin Oliver Lance

Featuring: Jamie Link* as Lucy Gretchen Greear as Alex Tom Cannan* as Ben T Bixby as Crissy Mary Ferguson as Mary Deanna DeMay* as Grace and Maddy Grady* as Rae

 *Denotes Corn Productions Company Member

Support Group For The End Of The World runs for 4 weekends on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from June 5th - June 28th at 7:30pm. Located at Cornservatory, 4210 N Lincoln Ave Chicago IL. Tickets are $15.00 for Thursday performances and $20.00 for Friday and Saturday performances. Tickets can be purchased online at www.cornservatory.org. Further information provided by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Chicago's Raven Theatre Company today announced its 43rd season, with productions appearing on its Edgewater stages at 6157 N. Clark St. in the 2025 - 2026 season. Subscriptions ($120 - $220) on sale beginning May 22, 2025, with individual tickets on sale at a later date, at www.raventheatre.com.  

The season opens with Terry Guest's return to Raven Theatre, with the Chicago Premiere and a Rolling World Premiere of OAK, directed by Mikael Burke, a Southern gothic exploring the world of three Black kids as they navigate a town where kids go missing, and there's no one to blame except the mythical creek monster. It then closes with OCTET, by Tony-winning NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 writer Dave Malloy, an a cappella musical directed by Keira Fromm, that examines the addiction and isolation caused by life online.

The season also includes Caryl Churchill's most famous play, TOP GIRLS, led by Chicago director Lucky Stiff, presenting a masterclass on feminism, class, and politics. Heralded as one of the best British plays of the 20th century, TOP GIRLS navigates the shifting dynamics of a patriarchal society. 

This production will run alongside Raven Theatre's Resident Company The Story Theatre's POT GIRLS, a new riff on Churchill's play. The never-before-seen pairing of TOP GIRLS and POT GIRLS gives audiences the unique opportunity to experience both shows – either back to back or on separate nights – expanding Raven's longstanding partnership with The Story Theatre and fostering understanding of what constitutes the theatrical canon.

"In Season 43, we are leaning into bold theatrical experiences from award-winning artists whose work has been celebrated locally, nationally, and internationally," said Artistic Director Sarah Slight. "The season centers Chicago as a destination for acclaimed work – and Raven as a cornerstone for courageous stories that connect us – at a time when it's needed most."

Raven Theatre's 43rd Season is: 

OAK

Chicago Premiere

Written by Terry Guest

Directed by Mikael Burke

October 2 - November 9, 2025

Three kids, an old woman with a shotgun, and a mysterious creek monster. Set firmly in the southern gothic tradition, Terry Guest's OAK dives into the world of three Black kids as they navigate a community where children aren't safe, and the adults fail to protect them. It's 7pm, do you know where your children are?  

TOP GIRLS

Written by Caryl Churchill

Directed by Lucky Stiff

February 12 - March 22, 2026

Raven Theatre continues its commitment to timely plays in the theatrical canon, presenting Caryl Churchill's masterpiece on feminism, class, and politics, TOP GIRLS. From an Algonquin round table boasting some of history's most notable women, to the halls of the Top Girls Employment Agency, Marlene's exchanges with the women around her create a vivid and compelling exploration of their aspirations through time. Heralded as one of the best British plays of the 20th century, TOP GIRLS navigates the shifting dynamics of a patriarchal society. 

On weekends throughout the run, TOP GIRLS will be paired with Raven Theatre resident company The Story Theatre's World Premiere of POT GIRLS, their riff on the same play, updated to present day. In dialogue with one another, audiences will have the opportunity to experience both productions with a double feature package.

OCTET

Chicago Premiere

Written by Dave Malloy

Directed by Keira Fromm

April 30 - June 7, 2026

In a church basement meeting room, a group of people –always eight—gather to sing. Told via chamber-inspired, a cappella music, OCTET investigates the total impact of internet and technology addiction on modern society, from Dave Malloy, writer of Tony-winning NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812.  

Chicago's Raven Theatre Company today announced its 43rd season, with productions appearing on its Edgewater stages at 6157 N. Clark St. in the 2025 - 2026 season. Subscriptions ($120 - $220) on sale beginning May 22, 2025, with individual tickets on sale at a later date, at www.raventheatre.com.  

The season opens with Terry Guest's return to Raven Theatre, with the Chicago Premiere and a Rolling World Premiere of OAK, directed by Mikael Burke, a Southern gothic exploring the world of three Black kids as they navigate a town where kids go missing, and there's no one to blame except the mythical creek monster. It then closes with OCTET, by Tony-winning NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 writer Dave Malloy, an a cappella musical directed by Keira Fromm, that examines the addiction and isolation caused by life online.

The season also includes Caryl Churchill's most famous play, TOP GIRLS, led by Chicago director Lucky Stiff, presenting a masterclass on feminism, class, and politics. Heralded as one of the best British plays of the 20th century, TOP GIRLS navigates the shifting dynamics of a patriarchal society. 

This production will run alongside Raven Theatre's Resident Company The Story Theatre's POT GIRLS, a new riff on Churchill's play. The never-before-seen pairing of TOP GIRLS and POT GIRLS gives audiences the unique opportunity to experience both shows – either back to back or on separate nights – expanding Raven's longstanding partnership with The Story Theatre and fostering understanding of what constitutes the theatrical canon.

"In Season 43, we are leaning into bold theatrical experiences from award-winning artists whose work has been celebrated locally, nationally, and internationally," said Artistic Director Sarah Slight. "The season centers Chicago as a destination for acclaimed work – and Raven as a cornerstone for courageous stories that connect us – at a time when it's needed most."

Raven Theatre's 43rd Season is: 

OAK

Chicago Premiere

Written by Terry Guest

Directed by Mikael Burke

October 2 - November 9, 2025

Three kids, an old woman with a shotgun, and a mysterious creek monster. Set firmly in the southern gothic tradition, Terry Guest's OAK dives into the world of three Black kids as they navigate a community where children aren't safe, and the adults fail to protect them. It's 7pm, do you know where your children are?  

TOP GIRLS

Written by Caryl Churchill

Directed by Lucky Stiff

February 12 - March 22, 2026

Raven Theatre continues its commitment to timely plays in the theatrical canon, presenting Caryl Churchill's masterpiece on feminism, class, and politics, TOP GIRLS. From an Algonquin round table boasting some of history's most notable women, to the halls of the Top Girls Employment Agency, Marlene's exchanges with the women around her create a vivid and compelling exploration of their aspirations through time. Heralded as one of the best British plays of the 20th century, TOP GIRLS navigates the shifting dynamics of a patriarchal society. 

On weekends throughout the run, TOP GIRLS will be paired with Raven Theatre resident company The Story Theatre's World Premiere of POT GIRLS, their riff on the same play, updated to present day. In dialogue with one another, audiences will have the opportunity to experience both productions with a double feature package.

OCTET

Chicago Premiere

Written by Dave Malloy

Directed by Keira Fromm

April 30 - June 7, 2026

In a church basement meeting room, a group of people –always eight—gather to sing. Told via chamber-inspired, a cappella music, OCTET investigates the total impact of internet and technology addiction on modern society, from Dave Malloy, writer of Tony-winning NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812.  

For a dose of summer fun, theatergoers are invited to grab their Walkman, cue up their favorite 80s mix tape, and head to Marriott Theatre—Chicagoland's longest running musical theatre—as it continues its unforgettable 50th anniversary season with the world premiere of Always Something There..., previewing June 18, opening Wednesday, June 25 at 7pm, and running through August 10. Written by Sandy Rustin (Clue, The Cottage, Mystic Pizza), directed by James Vásquez (Marriott Theatre: In the Heights, Damn Yankees; Old Globe: HAIR, Cabaret), choreographed by Tyler Hanes (Marriott Theatre: Damn Yankees [Jeff Nom.]; Fulton Theatre: Jesus Christ Superstar), and featuring music direction by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson, and arrangements and orchestrations by Geoffrey Ko, Always Something There... is a modern musical homage to all things 1980s.

"As a child of the 80s, I'm totally excited to bring Always Something There... to life with this rad team of creators and artists," said director James Vásquez. "It's a celebration of finding your voice and stepping into your authentic self, with the help of, like, the most awesome mixtape of 80s hits you can imagine."

Always Something There... is a vibrant new jukebox musical by Chicago-raised playwright Sandy Rustin. Set to an electrifying soundtrack of hits from the 1980s, this show delivers a fresh twist on the time-travel tale, promising a fun and relatable experience for audiences of all ages. When Samantha Craig wakes up on the morning of her 45th birthday in her 18-year-old life, she has a golden opportunity to relive her senior year of high school in suburban Chicago, 1989. Armed with the wisdom of her adult self, Samantha can reshape her teenage choices. She can rekindle friendships, reclaim her voice, and maybe even get a second shot at first love. Inspired by '80s teen-flicks and pop culture (think Sixteen Candles, Back to the Future, Peggy Sue Got Married), this meta, playful musical ultimately returns Samantha to the present where she emerges transformed by her ultimate "do-over" experience. Powered by a score of hits made famous by Madonna, Whitney Houston, Culture Club, Naked Eyes, The Go-Go's, and Tiffany, among many others, Always Something There... is a nostalgic love letter to the 80s and a celebration of self-discovery, second chances, and the power of music to heal old wounds.

Always Something There... stars Christina Priestner as "Teen Samantha Craig," Heidi Kettenring as "Adult Samantha Craig," Marina Jansen as "Camelia Shacklebaum,"  Ian Coursey as "Cooper Roy," Ty Shay as "Johnny Stevens," Matthew Hommel as "Winston Lee," with Leah Morrow, Jeremiah James, Genevieve Corkery, Gabriel Subervi, Caleb Mathura, Anna Louise Bramlett, Tiyanna Gentry, Logan Becker, Alejandro Medina, Cristina Benninghoff Uribe, Emma Ogea, Tony Mercado, Jason Richards and Savannah Sinclair.

The artistic team features Associate Choreographer Shanna VanDerwerker, Scenic Designer Collette Pollard, Costume Designer Amanda Vander Byl, Wig, Hair & Makeup Designer Miguel A. Armstrong, Lighting Designer Jesse Klug, Sound Designer Michael Daly, Media Designer Anthony Churchill, Props Designer Sally Zack, Intimacy Director Katie Johannigman, Stage Manager Colt Luedtke, Music Coordinator Trevor Jones and Conductor Celia Villacres.

NEW FOR 2025 WEEKNIGHT PERFORMANCE TIMES, Always Something There... is scheduled to run Wednesdays at 1 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., with select Thursday 1:00 p.m. shows. Call for group, dinner-theatre, student, senior, and military discounts. To make a restaurant reservation, please call 847.634.0100. Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets please call the Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or go to www.tickets.marriotttheatre.com. Visit www.MarriottTheatre.com for more information. Guests are also invited to visit Three Embers Restaurant before the show to experience a pop-up experience that will coincide with Always Something There..., transporting guests to another realm while enjoying a themed food and beverage menu led by the culinary team at Three Embers Restaurant.

Always Something There... is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). www.mtishows.com

Broadway In Chicago announced today that HAMILTON will return to Chicago for a multi-week engagement beginning March 4, 2026 through April 26, 2026, at the CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe). Group tickets for 10+ are available now by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling 312-977-1710. Current Broadway In Chicago subscribers can purchase tickets by calling the Subscription Office at 312-977-1717. Individual tickets will go on sale later this year. For more details, visit BroadwayInChicago.com.

A revolutionary story of passion, unstoppable ambition, and the dawn of a new nation.

HAMILTON is the epic saga that follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love, and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation. Based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography and set to a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education.

HAMILTON features book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire. In addition to its 11 Tony Awards, it has won Grammy®, Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.

HAMILTON features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, casting by The Telsey Office, Bethany Knox, CSA, Alexis Brown and General Management by Baseline Theatrical.

The musical is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman and The Public Theater.

The HAMILTON Original Broadway Cast Recording received a 2016 Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album and is available everywhere nationwide.

For information on HAMILTON, visit: HamiltonMusical.com
Follow HAMILTON on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter @HamiltonMusical

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 25 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
Follow @BroadwayInChicago on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok , Bluesky #BroadwayInChicago

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to conclude its 2024/25 Season with the world premiere of QUEEN FOR A DAY written by ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith* and directed by Stephanie Shaw. This gay fantasia on national themes... wait, wrong play. This one-act comedy/drama/cry for help about a diva (Queen Elizabeth I, previously played by Cate Blanchett), another diva (America's first superstar designer Halston) and a very sane normal person (Liza Minnelli) will play July 9 – August 3, 2025 at the Bramble Arts Loft – The Berry, 5545 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Tickets now on sale at handbagproductions.org or buytickets.at/hellinahandbagproductions/1690572. 

Please note: QUEEN FOR A DAY replaces Handbag's previously-announced production of ANNIE COKELEY, which will be staged at a later date.

The cast includes ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith with Dakota Hughes and Will Lidke. Understudies include Wendy Hayne, Cory McMenomy and Brandon Nelson.

About the Production:

American fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick (Will Lidke), known to the world simply as Halston, is down on his luck. He's packing up his chic-as-hell Olympic Tower office for reasons he doesn't want to discuss. To make matters worse, Elizabeth I (Tyler Anthony Smith*) is knocking on his door. Yes, Elizabeth I, whose reign as Queen of England spanned from 1558 to 1603. But it's 1984 in New York City. All that time spent at Studio 54 might be starting to catch up to the King of Minimalism's brain.

Elizabeth I demands that Roy (who hates being called that) make her a new gown to (she lets out a singular cough) die in. Oh, and she needs it by the end of the day, even though he seems to be in the midst of a breakdown. He takes her money and agrees, and the unlikely pair moves forward with the design of a lifetime. That is until Halston has to help his best friend, Liza Minnelli (Dakota Hughes), with her new act. Any questions?

The production team includes Taylor Dalton (Scenic Designer), Rachel M. Sypniewski (Costume Designer), Garrett Bell (Lighting Designer), Miranda Coble (Sound Designer), Maggie O'Brien (Props Designer), Syd Genco* (Make-up Designer), Keith Ryan* (Wig Designer), Tom Daniel (Technical Director), Tyler Anthony Smith* (Production Manager), Michael S. Miller* (Graphic Designer) and Jenna Raithel (Stage Manager).

*Denotes Handbag Ensemble Member

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: QUEEN FOR A DAY

Playwright: Tyler Anthony Smith*
Director: Stephanie Shaw
Cast (in alphabetical order): Dakota Hughes (Liza Minnelli), Will Lidke (Halston) and Tyler Anthony Smith* (Elizabeth I). Understudies: Wendy Hayne, Cory McMenomy and Brandon Nelson.

Location: Bramble Arts Loft – The Berry, 5545 N. Clark St., Chicago

Previews: Wednesday, July 9 at 7:30 pm, Thursday, July 10 at 7:30 pm and Friday, July 11 at 7:30 pm.
Regular run: Sunday, July 13 – Sunday, August 3, 2025
Curtain Times: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays at 4 pm & 7:30 pm; and Sundays at 4 pm. Please note: there will be an added performance on Monday, July 28 at 7:30 pm (Industry Night).

Tickets: Previews: $25. General admission: $35. VIP reserved: $43. Tickets now on sale at handbagproductions.org or buytickets.at/hellinahandbagproductions/1690572.

About the Artists:

Tyler Anthony Smith (Playwright) is the unwell Hell in a Handbag ensemble member responsible for creating last season's megamusical, Poor People! Some other Chicago companies Miss Smith has worked with include: Haven (Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Jeff Award, Performer in a Principal Role - Musical), [producing body], Curious Theatre Branch (Rhino Fest), Sweetback Productions, The Neo-Futurists and Eclipse Theatre Company. Tyler appeared Off-Off-Broadway at La MaMa via Hell in a Handbag. He/She/They is/is/are represented by DDO. Instagram: @judithnightlight

Stephanie Shaw (Director) has presented her original solo performance work for a wide range of venues in the Chicago area, as well as NYC. An alumni member of the Neo-Futurists, she wrote and performed regularly for Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind for five years. She has directed a number of Solo Shows for Live Bait Theatre, The New York Fringe, Sweetback Productions and the simple pleasure of Tyler Anthony Smith and his audiences. She directed Tyler's Poor People! The Parody Musical, Frankenstreisand and Out! Darn Spot for Hell In A Handbag, as well as his People Do Do Such Things, The Kindness of Mangers and I Know You Need My Verve. She has directed for The Neo-Futurists, The New York Fringe, Oak Park Festival Theatre, MirrorBox Theatre (Cedar Rapids) and over a dozen plays and musicals for the theatre department of Columbia College Chicago, where she is a Professor of Instruction. Once upon a time, she was a theatre critic for the Chicago Reader.

About Hell in a Handbag Productions:

Hell in a Handbag is dedicated to the preservation, exploration, and celebration of works ingrained in the realm of popular culture via theatrical productions through parody, music and homage. Handbag is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit. For additional information, visit handbagproductions.org.