The Artistic Home Studio will present the 2024 edition of its CUT TO THE CHASE festival of new one act plays, from May 2-5, 2024, at the Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Avenue. The seven selections will celebrate the theme "Face to Face." Ranging from drama to sci-fi to dark comedy, these one-acts will highlight moment-to-moment acting in the intimacy of the Den's Upstairs Mainstage. Now in its 21st year, the festival has become a Chicago fan favorite, premiering new work form Chicago playwrights as well as well-known talent from across the country. 
 
The Artistic Home accepted 400 play submissions for this year's festival, narrowing them down to the final seven.  Festival Curator Ted James says, "When you read that many plays with specific criteria in mind, you end up with a really outstanding program. These plays span genres, but they each in their own way represent the theme – face to face. They also each present a special opportunity for actors to demonstrate The Artistic Home style of moment-to-moment acting, providing a great opportunity for the audiences to experience the thrill of up-close Chicago theater."
 
The show runs as one program, with the seven plays back-to-back, running approximately 90 minutes in total. Five of the plays are world premieres and two are Chicago premieres. The plays are by Chicago playwrights Will Dunne, Siah Berlatsky, and Lydia Moss; and Peter Snoad, Michael Hagins, Drew Carnwath, and Erin Osgood. They will be directed by Frank Nall, Rachel Lambert, Justice Ford, Savaun Stokes, Patrick Thornton, Julian Hester, and Jenna Steege. The casts include Whitney Minarik, Faris El-Kildani, Jeremy Osinga, Dakota Pariset, Peter Snoad, Luke Steadman, Laura Zhang, Chris Willumsen, Hannah Green, Tommy Martin, Demi VanderWerff, Garrett Wiegel, Jessica McCluskey, Jared Goudsmit, Kendal Romero, Angie Simonetta, and Mary Mikva.

Tickets for CUT TO THE CHASE 2024 are $20 will be on sale soon through The Den Theatre Box Office www.thedentheatre.com.

The Artistic Home performs at The Den Theatre, and also maintains an acting studio and rehearsal space at 3054 N. Milwaukee Avenue in the Avondale/Logan neighborhood.
 
PLAYS

Hollow Valley by Will Dunne
Directed by Frank Nall
A World Premiere
*Chicago playwright
Cast: Jeremy Osinga, Dakota Pariset
 
When a man is confronted by a stranger who claims to know him, the truth slowly unfolds into an unexpected journey of resilience and hope. In this world premiere by Will Dunne, audiences are challenged to confront the familiar strangers in their own lives.
 
Rot! by Siah Berlatsky
Directed by Rachel Lambert
A World Premiere
*Chicago playwright and AH Artistic Associate
Cast: Kendal Romero, Angie Simonetta, and Mary Mikva

When a young woman refuses to leave her bed, her mom brings in a professional. ROT! invites viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about mental health, human connection, and finding meaning in an indifferent world. 
 
The Outline by Lydia Moss
Directed by Justice Ford
A World Premiere
*Chicago playwright
Cast: Jessica McCluskey, Jared Goudsmit
 
When Simone and Paul find themselves trapped in a metaphysical waiting room, they must grapple with their own inner demons and past mistakes. A broken cell phone becomes the last hope and a demonstration in the power of belief.
 
Kindred Spirits by Peter Snoad
Directed by Savaun Stokes
A World Premiere
Cast: Luke Steadman, Laura Zhang, Chris Willumsen

While exploring a tranquil forest, two strangers discover uncanny similarities between them. With great wit and tricks of language, Kindred Spirits questions the nature of human relationships and the boundaries between each of us.
 
First Date by Michael Hagins
Directed by Patrick Thornton
A Chicago Premiere
Cast: Whitney Minarik, Faris El-Kildani
 
During a cringey first date, a divorced mom and a younger man find a surprise attraction. Through endearing characters and plenty of folly, this comedy explores the courage to be true to oneself in a delightfully modern context.
 
Orpheus in the New Year by Drew Carnwath
Directed by Julian Hester
A World Premiere
Cast: Whitney Minarik, Tommy Martin, Garrett Wiegel
 
Amidst a lively New Year's Eve party, a chance encounter between two strangers on a balcony leads to a cryptic exchange about myths, past lives, and hidden intentions. As they grapple with existential questions, the boundaries of reality blur.
 
Minor Deviations by Erin Osgood
Directed by Jenna Steege
A Chicago Premiere
Cast: Hannah Green, Tommy Martin, Demi VanderWerff
 
A grieving widower seeks a robot companion in the likeness of his deceased wife. But beneath the surface lies a secret, and consequences emerge from seeking artificial comfort.
 
LISTING INFORMATION
 
CUT TO THE CHASE 2024
One-act plays by Siah Berlatsky, Drew Carnwath, Will Dunne, Michael Hagins, Lydia Moss, Erin Osgood, and Peter Snoad
Directed by Justice Ford, Julian Hester, Rachel Lambert, Frank Nall Savaun  Stokes, Jenna Steege, and Patrick Thornton
May 2 -5, 2024
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:00 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm.
The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago
All seats $20.00
Tickets available soon at www.thedentheatre.com, or by phone at 773-697-3830
More information at www.theartistichome.org
 
Annual festival of new of new one act plays, this year celebrating the theme "Face to Face." These seven one-acts plays are each built around an intense interaction between two people and will highlight moment-to-moment acting in an intimate theater space. The show runs as one program, with the seven plays back-to-back, running approximately 90 minutes. Five are world premieres and two are Chicago premieres.
 
PLAYWRIGHT BIOS

Siah Berlatsky (ROT!) is a Chicago-based actor and playwright. Her first play, MALAPERT LOVE, was produced by The Artistic Home in 2022, and received the Jeff Award for Best New Work. She is an artistic associate with The Artistic Home and is proud to participate in the Cut to the Chase festival for the first time.
 
Drew Carnwath (ORPHEUS IN THE NEW YEAR). Drew is a Toronto-based writer and performer. Upon graduating from Queen's University, Drew continued to train and work as an actor at The American Academy of Dramatic Art, in New York, followed by three seasons with The Advanced Actor's Master Class Company at The Banff Centre for the Arts.
 
As a writer, Drew's plays (including JOHNNYVILLE, GRACE AND AFTER, TOTAL BODY WASHOUT and HIDE AND SEEK) have all been produced across the country. He was a playwright-in-residence at Toronto's esteemed Tarragon Theatre, and both JOHNNYVILLE and TOTAL BODY WASHOUT were published by Playwrights Canada Press. His play I DREAM OF THE LIVING won First Prize at The Canadian National Playwriting Competition in British Columbia and the Canadian One Act Playwriting Competition in Ottawa.
 
More recently Drew's play HOGTOWN: THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE (co-written with Sam Rosenthal) ran for two full seasons in Toronto and was a smash hit with audiences and critics alike. In 2017 HOGTOWN was nominated for a prestigious DORA Mavor Moore Award. Most recently: the World Premiere of Drew's latest play, MERCY, took place on February 2023 at The Grand Theatre in Kingston, Ontario.
 
Will Dunne (HOLLOW VALLEY) is a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists, and author of THE DRAMATIC WRITER'S COMPANION and other books (University of Chicago Press). His plays have been presented worldwide in three languages and earned numerous honors, including three selections by the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center for the U.S. National Playwrights Conference, a Charles MacArthur Fellowship awarded by the O'Neill for outstanding comedy, four Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards, and two DramaLogue Playwriting Awards. Plays produced at The Artistic Home include TEA TIME, THE RED DOOR AJAR, DEEP GARDENS, TWO MEN ON A TRAIN PLATFORM JUST BEFORE THE APOCALYPSE, and HI.
 
Michael Hagins (FIRST DATE) is a published African American Playwright, Director, Fight Director, Actor, and Producer. Michael is a Member of Dramatists Guild and an Advanced Actor-Combatant for the Society of American Fight Directors. Michael was born in Brooklyn, New York, but raised in a small town in Florida for his childhood. He has used the racism and prejudice he dealt with at an early age to fuel his writing, which he has done since the age of nine. Michael is an avid lover of Shakespeare, having performed or directed every play in the Shakespeare Canon, and has performed, directed and taken part in over 1,000 plays and films over his artistic career.
 
Lydia Moss (she/her, THE OUTLINE) is a playwright, actor, and dramaturg who's called Chicago home since 2020. In her writing she centers the complexities of love, loss, and existence, and how those experiences live on through our bodies in ways we may be unable to express. Two of her other short pieces have premiered in Chicago: FRANKENSTEIN (Seven Deadly Sins Play Festival, 2022), and SKIN (Fat Tuesday PlayFest, 2024), and she is a finalist for the Amplify New Play Commission at Definition Theater for her full-length play, DEATH OF EVE. Her other theater interests include scenic painting, theater administration, Shakespeare education, and Theater for Young Audiences. She's excited to collaborate with this incredible director, cast, and crew, and is eternally grateful to everyone supporting the Cut to the Chase! Thank you!  
 
Erin Osgood (she/her, MINOR DEVIATIONS) is a Michigan playwright, actress, and Dramatists Guild member whose work has been produced throughout the country and abroad. She has a Master's in Social Work from the University of Michigan and is a Make-a-Wish volunteer. Erin enjoys traveling, a good book, Cavatappi with shallots and mushrooms in a parmesan cream sauce, an underdog winner, 70 degree weather, and Fireball. She loves to laugh, cry (often at the same time), and can curse with the best of them. She especially enjoys having very talented people bring her words to life (because they make her look good). http://erinosgood.com
 
Peter Snoad (KINDRED SPIRITS) is a British-American playwright and recovering actor based in Boston, Massachusetts. His work has been produced throughout the U.S. and in Canada, the U.K., Singapore, and Australia. Peter's award-winning plays include: SEEING VIOLET (Pestalozzi Prize, Firehouse Center for the Arts, Newburyport, Mass.); GUIDED TOUR (Stanley Drama Award, Wagner College, NY); NOW WHAT? (Winner, Rising Artists Play Competition, Southwest Theatre Productions, Austin, Texas); IDENTITY CRISIS (Winner, New Play Festival, Centre Stage, Greenville, South Carolina); THE DRAFT (Best Ensemble, ArtsImpulse Award, Boston, Mass.); ORBITING MARS (Winner, New Play Contest, Santa Cruz Actors Theatre, California); and PERFECT STRANGERS (Winner, International Short Play Contest, Stratford Fringe, Stratford-Upon-Avon, U.K.) You can read Peter's plays at the New Play Exchange.
 
ABOUT THE ARTISTIC HOME
 
The Artistic Home is noted for their innovative and intimate presentations of rarely produced classics as well for developing new works. The company has been frequently honored in the Jeff Awards. For 2023, they received nine nominations, including a nomination for Production of a Play (DYING FOR IT) and win for Kevin Hagan's scenic design of DYING FOR IT. In 2022, they received nine nominations and two wins – one for New Work (MALAPERT LOVE, written by artistic associate Siah Berlatsky) and one for Supporting Actor in a play (Todd Wojcik – in THE PAVILION). The company's 2022 nominations also included two for Best Play production (MALAPERT LOVE and THE PAVILION). The Artistic Home was one of the big winners in the 2019 Jeff Awards, with four awards including Production of a Play, Director of a Play, Principal Performer in a Play, and Sound Design, all for REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT. Brookelyn Hebert won a Jeff as Principal Performer in a Play for the company's 2020 production of ADA AND THE ENGINE. The company was nominated for Jeff Awards in 2019 for ROCK 'N' ROLL, and in 2018 for HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE.
 
Other memorable productions of recent years include 2017's WEDDING BAND, BY THE BOG OF CATS and THE SCHOOL FOR LIES; their Jeff-nominated productions of THE SEAGULL, WATCH ON THE RHINE, MACBETH and THE LATE HENRY MOSS; and their 2013 Jeff Award-winner THE GODDESS. Other Artistic Home productions include the Jeff-Award-winning production of JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK, which also received three After Dark Awards, the Jeff-Nominated SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, THE TALLEST MAN, LANDSCAPE OF THE BODY, NATURAL AFFECTION, FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS, AFTER THE FALL and PEER GYNT (which also received an After Dark award for Direction).
 
For more than 25 years, The Artistic Home has consistently produced compelling theatre in Chicago. First formed in 1998 with the belief that the actor is at the heart of great theater, the company strives to give birth to unforgettable moments; to touch audiences who are increasingly distanced from human contact; to readdress the classics and explore new works with passion.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to continue its 22^nd season with the world premiere of POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical, an insane homage to many of the characters, songs and tropes of those very expensive Broadway and West End musicals about the less fortunate (Annie, Oliver!, Les Miz, Sweeney Todd... you get the gist). Written by ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith* with direction by Stephanie Shaw, music direction by Andrew Milliken and choreography by Christopher Kelley, POOR PEOPLE! will play May 2 – June 16, 2024 at The Chopin Studio Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago. Tickets are now on sale at handbagproductions.org or buytickets.at/hellinahandbagproductions/1116848. The press opening is Friday, May 10 at 8 pm.

The cast includes ensemble members David Cerda*, Sydney Genco*, Caitlin Jackson*, Elizabeth Lesinski* and Tyler Anthony Smith* with Matty Bettencourt, Brittney Brown, Taylor Dalton, Dakota Hughes, Patrick O'Keefe, Shane Roberie and Tommy Thurston. Understudies include Connar Brown, Miguel Long, Halli Morgan and Brandon Nelson.

It's 1979 in dangerous, smoky, glorious New York City. Our story's red-headed protagonist Li'l Orphan Arnie (Dakota Hughes) is fleeing from the guardianship of a sex-starved, meth-cooking madwoman (Sydney Genco*). Out on the streets, they befriend a slinky dancing cat (Matty Bettencourt), who leads them to a magical manhole, transporting them back in time to Paris, France in 1815. Trading in one poverty-plagued lifestyle for another, Arnie gives up the desire to find their parents and joins forces with a gang of pick-pocketing prostitutes, led by the mysterious Fagin (David Cerda*).

Life becomes even more dire when Mama Moneybags (Brittney Brown), a corrupt Republican from the future, takes it upon herself to put Fagin's troupe out of work. Thankfully, there's a bounty of colorful, destitute characters to help save the day, such as the tuberculosis-ridden Pantene (Caitlin Jackson*), a feral Beggar Woman (Elizabeth Lesinski*) and Nance, the classic hooker with a heart of gold (Tyler Anthony Smith*). Will the sun come out tomorrow? Do you hear the people sing? Will we be changing all of the lyrics to avoid being sued? Yes!

Comments playwright Tyler Anthony Smith, "When I was in the fourth grade, I was supposed to be in the ensemble of our district's high school production of Oliver! I got sick, missed too many rehearsals, and was forced to exit the show. So not only is this Handbag's response to Apple TV's Schmigadoon!, it's also my revenge."

The production team includes G. "Max" Maxin IV (Scenic, Lighting and Projection Design), Rachel M. Sypniewski (Costume Design), Miranda Coble (Sound Design), Maggie O'Brien (Props Design), Jabberwocky Marionettes (Puppet Design), Keith Ryan* (Wig Design), Syd Genco* (Make-up Design), Michael S. Miller* (Graphic Design), Rick Aguilar (Photography), Jenna Raithel (Stage Manager), Veronica Kostka* (Assistant Stage Manager) and David Cerda* (Executive Producer).

*Denotes Hell in a Handbag Ensemble Member

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical – World Premiere!
Playwright: ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith*
Director: Stephanie Shaw

Music Director: Andrew Milliken

Choreographer: Christopher Kelley

Cast (in alphabetical order): David Cerda* (Fagin), Sydney Genco* (Miss A), Caitlin Jackson* (Pantene), Elizabeth Lesinski* (Beggar Woman) and Tyler Anthony Smith* (Nance) with Matty Bettencourt (Fosse Kitty), Brittney Brown (Mama Moneybags), Taylor Dalton (Epipen), Dakota Hughes (Li'l Orphan Arnie), Patrick O'Keefe (Twinky), Shane Roberie (The Groomer of the Flop'ra) and Tommy Thurston (Pretty Rich Boy). Understudies: Connar Brown, Miguel Long, Halli Morgan and Brandon Nelson.

Location: The Chopin Studio Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago

Previews: Thursday, May 2 at 8 pm, Friday, May 3 at 8 pm, Saturday, May 4 at 8 pm, Sunday, May 5 at 4 pm and Thursday, May 9 at 8 pm
Opening/Press performance: Friday, May 10 at 8 pm
Regular run: Saturday, May 11 – Sunday, June 16, 2024
Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 4 pm.

Industry Night: Wednesday, June 12 at 8 pm

Tickets: $25 previews, $42 general admission, $60 VIP/reserved seating. Group rates $36 for 10 or more. Tickets are now on sale at handbagproductions.org or buytickets.at/hellinahandbagproductions/1116848.

About the Artists

Tyler Anthony Smith (Playwright)  is in show business. He/She/They is/is/are a proud Hell in a Handbag ensemble member. Lots of performing here and there, lots of writing this and that, lots of saying, "There's a hole in my crotch. Again." Ms. Smith is not represented by any sort of talent agency. 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 FRANKENSTREISAND for Hell in a Handbag, and 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.

Andrew Milliken (Music Director) has been a music director/pianist in the Chicago area since 2016. Previous credits with Hell in a Handbag include Poseidon! An Upside Down Musical, Bewildered and The Facts of Life: Satan's School for Girls, for which he also composed the music with David Cerda.

Christopher Kelley (Choreographer) is a choreographer, dancer and teacher based in Chicago. Favorite performing credits include The Muny, Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Paramount, Marriott, Drury Lane, Porchlight and Timberlake Playhouse. Christopher was a company member of Chicago Repertory Ballet from 2020-2023. They have taught ballet and jazz at several studios around Chicago and are on faculty at Visceral Dance Chicago and CCPA. BFA in Music Theatre from CCM.

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.

A.B.L.E.—Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations—a Chicago-based nonprofit that creates theatre and film for, with, and by individuals with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announce today a re-imagining of the epic classic The Odyssey.

A.B.L.E's production weaves music, movement, shadow puppetry, and scenes devised by the group into a powerful and joyful celebration of the choices we make, and the challenges we face along our journey. The vibrant adaptation features a neurodiverse cast of 44 performers, including 24 actors with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The performance in the Courtyard Theater on May 11, 2024 at 2:00pm will mark the two companies' 7th collaboration, most recently having co-produced A Midsummer Night's Dream last spring.

The theme of fate vs. agency is prevalent in Homer's tale, and it's one that co-directors Braden Cleary and Katie Yohe particularly wanted to highlight with the Ensembles. Currently, 24 actors with varying disabilities including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism take part in A.B.L.E.'s performance ensembles. "Folks with intellectual and developmental disabilities often have a lot of choices made for them, or it's presumed that they are not capable of making their own choices," says Yohe, also A.B.L.E.'s Executive Artistic Director. "Braden and I drafted a loose skeleton of the story but the script and production is really actor-led." Each actor self-identified where their strengths lie as a performer and were assigned to a chapter of the story based on their interests.

Over the course of a 10-week rehearsal process, actors collaborated with a team of volunteer facilitators to build the story. Facilitator Kara Davidson, a company member at Manual Cinema, helped actors design and build shadow puppets to bring to life monsters like the Cyclops and Scylla. Music Educator Polly Yukevich loaned the ensembles 15 ukuleles to bring musical magic to The Lotus Eaters and the seductive Sirens.

A.B.L.E. is committed to ensuring everyone feels they have a space in the theatre. The sensory-friendly performance will include numerous accessibility supports for audience members of all ages and ability levels. This includes dual ASL interpretation and open captioning. A.B.L.E. also reserves a designated movement zone for audience members who need to move around to help them focus. Audience members will receive a social story and sensory guide before the show to help audience members know what to expect from their trip to the theatre. "We hope we can set an example for our community of what true inclusion looks like both onstage and off."

EVENT DETAILS

Saturday May 11, 2024 at 2:00pm
Chicago Shakespeare's Courtyard Theater
800 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

Tickets: All tickets are Pay-what-you-can starting at $15, general admission
Online: ableensemble.com/events
Phone: 312.595.5600
In person: at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater Box Office

Access: Performances will be open captioned and dual ASL interpreted. Out of consideration for our immunocompromised community members, masks are required in the theater.

This production of The Odyssey is sponsored by Gail and Dennis Rossow. A.B.L.E.'s 2023-2024 Season is partially supported by grants from The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, FunFund, The Illinois Arts Council, Innovation 80, The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, and The National Endowment for the Arts.

ABOUT A.B.L.E.

A.B.L.E.—Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations - is celebrating their 8th anniversary of creating theatre and film for, with, and by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A.B.L.E. engages actors ages 13 and up through ensembles and outreach programming. Whether in person or online, all A.B.L.E. programs strive to foster agency, and nurture lifelong skills like communication, collaboration, and creativity. A.B.L.E.'s ensembles have produced more than 25 projects for the stage and screen, ranging from adaptations of theatrical classics by Shakespeare, Dickens, and Gilbert & Sullivan, to original work, to innovative Zoom projects including Romeo & Juliet Remix. A.B.L.E.'s feature films have been recognized by several local and international festivals. By placing people with disabilities in the spotlight, A.B.L.E.'s work strives to shift societal preconceptions, and build more inclusive, empathetic communities. For more information about A.B.L.E., please visit www.ableensemble.com and find them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

ABOUT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER

Regional Tony Award-recipient Chicago Shakespeare Theater produces a bold and innovative year-round season—plays, musicals, world premieres, family productions, and theatrical presentations from around the globe—alongside nationally recognized education programming serving tens of thousands of students, teachers, and lifelong learners each year. Founded in 1986, the Theater's onstage work has expanded to as many as twenty productions and 650 performances annually. Chicago Shakespeare is dedicated to welcoming the next generation of theatergoers; one in four of its audience members is under the age of eighteen. As a nonprofit organization, the Theater works to embrace diversity, prioritize inclusion, provide equitable opportunities, and offer an accessible experience for all. On the Theater's three stages at its home on Navy Pier, in classrooms and neighborhoods across the city, and in venues around the world, Chicago Shakespeare is a multifaceted cultural hub—inviting audiences, artists, and community members to share powerful stories that connect and inspire. www.chicagoshakes.com.

Lifeline Theatre and Artistic Director ILesa Duncan announce the casting for Chicagoan Nambi E. Kelley's "gutsy, powerful, and relentless" adaptation of Richard Wright's powerful introspection on race and justice like never before. Based on a true murder case, Nambi E. Kelley's adaptation is a suspenseful re-telling of Richard Wright's novel. Lifeline is producing the play on the 10th anniversary of its original staging and captures the power of the original work for a whole new generation. Native Son runs at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. in Rogers Park, from May 10 – June 30, 2024.

Cast members for the production (from left to right, top to bottom) include Dairyon Bolden (Buddy), Kamille Dawkins (Hannah), Ashli Funches (Bessie/Vera/Leslie), Gabe Fries (Britten), Tamarus Harvell (Bigger), James Lewis (Black Rat), Laura Nelson (Mary), Nick Trengove (Jan) and Mandy Walsh (Mrs. Dalton); with understudies Keith Surney, Dairyon Bolden, Brian Bradford, Maureen Azzun, Ashlea Woodley, and Zachary Koptik.

The creative team for Native Son includes Faramade (Fara) Oladapo (Assistant Director), Regina García (Scenic), Paloma Locsin (Props), Branden Marble (Lighting), Steve Labedz (Sound), Eme Ospina-López (Projections), Janelle Smith (Costume), Sheryl Williams (Fight/Intimacy), Martine Kei Green-Rogers (Dramaturg), Carrie Hardin (Dialect), Hanna Smaglis (Stage Manager), NaVada Reed (Assistant Stage Manager), Addoris Davis (Production Manager), Harrison Ornelas (Technical Director), and Karan Wallace (Lighting Supervisor).

"It's an exciting challenge to delve into Nambi's fiercely passionate, highly theatrical adaptation a decade after its Court/American Blues Theatre debut," says Lifeline Artistic Director and Native Son Director ILesa Duncan. "Kelley deftly crafts a riveting experience of Bigger's journey that is both contemporary and historic."

ABOUT THE CAST

Dairyon Bolden (Buddy) is ecstatic to be a part of the Lifeline Theater family. Favorite credits include: For Colored Boys (Blake Martin), Bad Seed (Reginald Tasker), 1800 vs 2020 (Joshua), When Silence Screams (Adam), Topdog/Underdog (Lincoln/Booth), Peter Pan (Peter Pan), Lord of the Flies (Simon), Anthony & Cleopatra (Octavius Caesar), and King Hedley II (King Hedley II). Dairyon is also a poet and photographer expanding his craft within words on paper.

Kamille Dawkins (Hannah) is a Chicago based theatre artist and the Executive Artistic Director of Strawdog Theatre Company. This is Kamille's second time working with Lifeline Theatre, appearing in last year's Cat's Cradle. Previous works include: The Revolutionists, Pillars of Community, Barbecue at Strawdog Theatre, Gender Breakdown at Collaboraction Theatre, Hand in Hand at Akvavit Theatre, Pinocchio The Folk Musical at Filament Theatre, If Scrooge Was A Brother at ETA Creative Arts Foundation, and many others.

Ashli Funches (Bessie/Vera/Leslie) is currently working as an Actor, Educator, and Florist. They are from Birmingham, Alabama but she considers Chicago her artistic home. Ashli's recent credits include: IS GOD IS (Red Orchid), Notes from the Field (Timeline), Stew (Shattered Globe), and Detroit 67 (The Theatre School). Ashli received their BFA in Acting and an BA in African Diaspora from DePaul University. She wrote, produced, and portrayed Amari in the film, A Yellow Circus. Ashli also portrays Z in a feature entitled, The Lapse. Both films are set to premiere in 2024. @ayellowcircusofficial

Gabe Fries (Britten) is delighted to return to Lifeline, where he previously appeared in Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile and Think It's Easy Being the Tooth Fairy? Recent credits include A Christmas Carol (Metropolis PAC), A Streetcar Named Desire (Paramount Theatre), Big River (Mercury Theater Chicago) and The Mama & the Papa Goose (Inkwell Arts). Other Chicago credits include productions with TimeLine, Porchlight, City Lit, Nothing Without a Company, and Oil Lamp. Gabriel is at work on an album of original music, and you can catch him in The Merry Beggars' On the Night Train and The Saints podcasts! He is a proud graduate of Wesleyan University and is represented by Big Mouth Talent. www.gabrielfries.net

Tamarus Harvell (Bigger) is excited to be working with Lifeline Theatre for the first time. He is currently a company member with MPAACT Theatre, where he was last seen in their production of Tad in 5th City. He has worked with several theatre companies in Chicago such as Perceptions Theatre, Black Ensemble, and Raven Theatre. He has several short films that have premiered at Chicago's Black Harvest Film Festival and other festivals across the country. He is currently represented by Big Mouth Talent Inc.

James Lewis (Black Rat) is excited to be in his first Lifeline production for Native Son. A proud father of two beautiful kids, his previous Chicago credits include The Secret Council (First Folio, Jeff Nominated), The Last Pair of Earlies (Raven, Jeff Nominated) and Titus Andronicus (Haven). James also performed in various locations in LA, NY and Connecticut. TV/Film credits include True Blood, 2 Broke Girls and Brooklyn 99. A CAG Artist Board member, James is also an Alumni of The Theatre School at DePaul University and represented by Stewart Talent. @prodigenoir

Laura Nelson (Mary) is thrilled to make her Lifeline Theatre debut. Chicago credits include: Bowie in Warsaw (Chicago, New York tour), Princess Ivona, Medea Material, The Killer (Trap Door Theatre), The Hilary Duff Project (Newport Theatre), Masque Macabre (Strawdog Theatre), The Sound of Music (Drury Lane Theatre), The Roar on Rush (The Roar Chicago), Bros do Prose: Peter Pan (u/s Mercury Theater) and Grey Gardens (u/s Northlight Theatre). Film/TV: Senior Moments, The MisEducation of Bindu and Garden Doc web series. Laura graduated with a BFA in drama from NYU Tisch, Experimental Theatre Wing. She is an ensemble member at Trap Door Theatre and represented by Stewart Talent.

Nick Trengove (Jan) is thrilled to be making his Lifeline Theatre debut. A California native, Nick has worked as a professional actor, director, and VO artist in both the SF Bay Area and in Chicago. He holds an MFA from DePaul University. Recent credits include two new play festivals with Pocket Theater VR and Playground Chicago.

Mandy Walsh (Mrs. Dalton) is thrilled to return to Lifeline after last being seen earlier this season as Sandra/Mrs. Crosby in Cat's Cradle. She has also previously appeared at Lifeline as Watson in both productions of Miss Holmes and Miss Holmes Returns, as well as Monstrous Regiment, Watership Down, and The Count of Monte Cristo (U/S). Other Chicago area credits include work with Paramount Theatre, A Red Orchid Theatre, 16th Street Theatre, Windy City Playhouse, WildClaw Theatre, The Factory Theater, and more. Regionally she has performed at Dunes Summer Theatre in Michigan City, IN. She has also appeared on NBC's Chicago Fire and in the upcoming short film I Wish I Were Pretty. Mandy is represented by Big Mouth Talent, Inc. www.mandywalsh.com

SCHEDULE

May 10 – June 30, 2024

Regular tickets $45; preview tickets $25; Group Pricing (10 or more people) 20% off all tickets

Previews: Fridays, May 10 and May 17 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, May 11 and May 19 at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, May 12 and May 19 at 2:30 p.m.

Press Preview: Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 2:30 p.m.

Opening night: Monday, May 20, 2024 at 7:00pm.

Regular Run: May 24 – June 30, 2024: Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Special Performances:
Open Captioning: Sunday, June 2 at 2:30pm AND Friday, June 14 at 7:30pm

Audio Description & Touch Tour: Sunday, June 9 (Tour: 1:00pm – Performance: 2:30pm)

Set in Chicago's South Side during the 1930's, the play follows 20-year-old Bigger Thomas struggling to realize his dreams in a world that has shut him out. After taking a job in a wealthy white man's house, Bigger unintentionally unleashes a series of events that violently and irrevocably seal his fate.

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets to Native Son are on sale athttps://lifelinetheatre.com/performances/2023-2024/native-son/ Season memberships for the 2023-2024 are also available now. To purchase season memberships or for more information call the Lifeline Theatre Box Office at 773-761-4477, or visit www.lifelinetheatre.com.

ABOUT LIFELINE THEATRE
Lifeline Theatre is located at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood. Lifeline is easily accessible by CTA (Red Line Morse stop/buses) and free parking is available at Sullivan High School (6631 N Bosworth Ave, lot located on the corner of Albion and Bosworth) which is a half mile walk from the theatre. Street parking is also available. Lifeline is accessible to wheelchair users and visitors who need to avoid stairs.

Founded in 1982, Lifeline Theatre is known for staging innovative adaptations of great works of fiction as well as commissioning original work. In 1987, Lifeline Theatre added KidSeries plays for children and families, and has been producing full seasons of programming for both adults and children ever since.  Over the course of forty seasons and over two hundred productions, Lifeline Theatre has made not only an indelible mark on the Chicago theater scene, but an invaluable contribution to the theater world at large. Lifeline's dedicated artistic ensemble has developed one hundred and forty-six world premiere literary adaptations and original plays, nearly forty of which have had a life beyond their Lifeline premieres, with over three hundred subsequent productions spread across over forty U.S. states, six Canadian provinces, plus productions in England, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, and Guatemala. Additionally, four scripts developed at Lifeline Theatre have gone on to U.S. national tours, and over a dozen have been published. Lifeline Theatre has garnered a total of fifty-three Jeff Awards (Equity and Non-Equity), including sixteen for New Adaptation, New Musical, or New Work.

Identity's Spring concert offers a captivating performance with two dissimilar works in its dynamic. Join us for the premiere of choreographer Ginny Ching-Yin Lo’s newest work Muted. 

The program features the return of Enliven, premiered fall 2023, highlighting energy in motion. This East/West fusion dance work will also be performed at the Seattle International Dance Festival (SIDF) this summer. Identity received wonderful reviews from Buzz News and See Chicago Dance of Lo’s Enliven.

In contrast with Enliven, Muted explores the complexity of being muted, muting someone, and telepathic connection. This dance reflects a collective flashback of being muted and/or muting someone.  A powerful piece, this asks us to consider how aggressive and passive outer facade may not reflect the real situation, as communication within relationships connect without a word. 

This Spring concert offers two performances only, April 27 at 7:30pm and April 28 at 3pm, both at Visceral Dance Studio. Tickets are easy to book on Eventbrite; walk-ins may be available.

About Identity Performing Arts:

Identity is a not-for-profit organization established in 2016 by founder and artistic director, Ginny Ching-Yin Lo, focused on teaching dance to the underserved community and creating independent dance projects. Lo has performed in the U.S., China, France and Germany with her original works. In 2020 fall Identity expanded beyond teaching and transitioned to a full season professional dance troupe. The company's first live concert debuted in fall, 2021. Since then, Identity has performed locally in Chicago, Evanston, and internationally in Hanover, Germany. Identity was one of the featured companies appearing on WGN Morning News TV for See Chicago Dance Month last summer.  Identity is excited to present Enliven in Seattle International Dance Festival this summer along with companies, globally.  All works created for and performed by Identity dancers express the beauty of our individual identities, interconnected in unity. We invite you as our audience to witness this intention with every dance work.

Saturday, April 27 @7.30 PM

https://Muted.eventbrite.com

Sunday, April 28 @3.00 PM

https://MutedMartinee.eventbrite.com

Visceral – Ann Barzel Theater

 For more information, call 312.600.3076 or visit

https://www.identityperformingarts.org/

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces today a thrilling addition to the season: Tony Award-nominated actor Eddie Izzard brings her celebrated solo theatrical performance of Hamlet to Chicago, direct from a triple-extended New York run at the Orpheum and Greenwich House Theaters and prior to launching a highly anticipated London transfer at Riverside Studios. Izzard portrays 23 characters in William Shakespeare's iconic play in this dynamic new staging adapted by Mark Izzard and directed by Selina Cadell. This strictly limited two-week engagement plays April 19–May 4, 2024 in the Courtyard Theater.

In Hamlet, The King of Denmark is dead, and Prince Hamlet is determined to take revenge—initiating a cascade of events that will destroy both family and state. Izzard portrays men, women, ghosts, scholars, tyrants, courtiers, lovers, fools, and poets.

She says of the monumental undertaking, "I have always gravitated towards playing complex and challenging characters and Hamlet is the ultimate. This is a production for everyone, a timeless drama with an accidental hero. Selina, Mark, and I want audiences to see and hear an accessible, touching, scary, and dramatic Hamlet."

CST Executive Director Kimberly Motes and Artistic Director Edward Hall shared, "After seeing Eddie's extraordinary performance in New York, we are thrilled she's agreed to join us at CST and share her Hamlet with Chicago audiences before London. It's a rare opportunity to see a Hamlet that makes this a play for all of us—truly a play for today."

A Tony Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning actor, Izzard's boundary-pushing career includes critically acclaimed roles in theater, film, and television. On Broadway, Izzard starred in Roundabout Theatre Company's 2003 revival of A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, garnering the Tony nomination for Leading Actor in a Play—and appeared in David Mamet's Race. Major London stage credits include The Cryptogram, Edward II, 900 Oneonta, Joe Egg, and Lenny. Izzard made her West End debut in 1993 in the solo show Live at the Ambassadors, receiving an Olivier Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement. Izzard's film roles include Stephen Frears' Victoria & Abdul opposite Dame Judi Dench, Julie Taymor's Across the Universe, Peter Bogdanovich's The Cat's Meow, Valkyrie, Ocean's Twelve, Ocean's Thirteen, and the recent Doctor Jekyll in which she plays Dr. Nina Jekyll and Rachel Hyde. She is the recipient of two Emmy Awards for her televised special, Dressed to Kill. She's also been seen as Dr. Abel Gideon in "Hannibal" and in FX's critically acclaimed series, "The Riches," in which Izzard both starred and executive produced.

In 2022, Izzard performed a solo adaptation of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations—also created in collaboration with Mark Izzard and Selina Cadell—which played to rave reviews and sold-out audiences in New York and in London's West End. The creative team reunites for Hamlet, which features set design by Tom Piper, lighting by Tyler Elich, costume styled by Tom Piper and Libby DaCosta, composer Eliza Thompson, movement director Didi Hopkins, and fight director J. Allen Suddeth. It is produced by Westbeth Entertainment, Mick Perrin Worldwide, and John Gore.

More information at www.chicagoshakes.com/hamlet or on social media at @chicagoshakes.

Hamlet will be presented April 19–May 4, 2024, in the Courtyard Theater. Single tickets starting at $69 are on sale now. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit www.chicagoshakes.com.

ABOUT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER

Regional Tony Award-recipient Chicago Shakespeare Theater produces a bold and innovative year-round season—plays, musicals, world premieres, family productions, and theatrical presentations from around the globe—alongside nationally recognized education programming serving tens of thousands of students, teachers, and lifelong learners each year. Founded in 1986, Chicago Shakespeare's onstage work has expanded to as many as twenty productions and 650 performances annually. CST is dedicated to welcoming the next generation of theatergoers; one in four of its audience members is under the age of eighteen. As a nonprofit organization, Chicago Shakespeare works to embrace diversity, prioritize inclusion, provide equitable opportunities, and offer an accessible experience for all. On CST's three stages at its home on Navy Pier, in classrooms and neighborhoods across the city, and in venues around the world, Chicago Shakespeare Theater is a multifaceted cultural hub—inviting audiences, artists, and community members to share powerful stories that connect and inspire. www.chicagoshakes.com.

Marriott Theatre continues its thrilling 2024 season with MEREDITH WILLSON'S THE MUSIC MAN, the six-time Tony Award-winning musical comedy, directed and choreographed by Katie Spelman (Broadway: The Notebook, Moulin Rouge!, Amelie; Writers Theater: Once) with Music Direction by Jeff Award Winner Ryan T. Nelson. By turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, THE MUSIC MAN is family entertainment at its best. THE MUSIC MAN previews April 10, opens Wednesday, April 17 at 7:30 pm and runs through June 2, 2024.

A cherished story to be shared with every generation, The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a band that he vows to organize – despite the fact that he doesn't know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian, the librarian. With the help of Marian and River City, Harold sees himself turned into an upstanding citizen by the curtain's fall.

"THE MUSIC MAN is a timeless story, and one that showcases the enduring charm of the Golden Age musical," said director Katie Spelman. "The idea that love, community, and redemption are all inextricably intertwined with one another is a wonderful reminder in these turbulent times."

THE MUSIC MAN will star KJ Hippensteel as "Harold Hill" (Broadway: The Book of Mormon, Some Like it Hot, Mrs. Doubtfire; Marriott Theatre: Something Rotten!) along with Alexandra Silber as "Marian Paroo" (Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof, Master Class; Chicago Shakespeare Theatre: Lend me a Soprano);  Emily Ann Brooks as "Zaneeta" (Marriott Theatre: Big Fish, Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Beauty and the Beast); Janet Ulrich Brooks as "Mrs. Paroo" (Marriott Theatre: Beautiful; Goodman Theatre: The Cherry Orchard); Kai Edgar as "Winthrop" (Marriott Theatre: Oliver!, Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach; Music Theater Works: Billy Elliott); Alex Goodrich as "Mayor Shinn" (Marriott Theatre: Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story; Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Hamlet); Michael Earvin Martin as "Marcellus Washburn" (Marriott Theatre: Beautiful; Chicago Shakespeare Theatre: The Comedy of Errors);  Sam Linda as "Tommy Djilas" (Marriott Theatre: Damn Yankees; Writers Theater: The Band's Visit); Melanie Loren as "Eulalie Shinn" (Drury Lane Theater: The Color Purple, Little Shop of Horrors; TV: "Chicago Med", "The Chi"); Ron E. Rains as "Charlie Cowell" (Marriott Theatre: Damn Yankees; Paramount Theatre: Billy Elliot: The Musical); and Elin Joy Seiler as "Amaryllis" (Marriott Theatre: A Christmas Story, The Musical, Gypsy; Paramount Theater: Billy Elliot) with Bridget Adams-King, Elliot Angsurat, Emma Grace Bailey, Logan Becker, Caron Buinis, Lillian Castillo, Brandon Dahlquist, Morgan DiFonzo, Kalea Edgar, Matt Edmonds, Kelly Felthous, Max Antonio Gonzalez, Darian Goulding, Laura Guley, Naya Rosalie James, Maya Keane, Kevin Kulp, Irene Lo, Charlie Long, Michael Lunder, Michael Mahler, Christine Mayland Perkins, Michael Potsic, Quinn Rigg, Ayana Strutz, and Matthew Weidenbener.

The artistic team features Scenic Designer Collette Pollard, Costume Designer Raquel Adorno, Lighting Designer Jesse Klug, Sound Designer Michael Daly, Wig Designer Miguel A. Armstrong, Props Designer Sally Zack, Associate Choreographer Kim Hudman, Conductor Kevin Reeks, Production Manager Meg Love, Stage Manager Jessica Banaszak, Dialect Coach Sammi Grant, Assistant Director Laura Rook and Assistant Stage Manager Richard Strimer.

This production is dedicated to the Music Man in everyone's hearts, the late Bernie Yvon (1964-2014). A veteran of countless theatres across the country, Bernie was especially beloved for his performances on the Marriott Theatre stage. Bernie considered Marriott Theatre home, and their patrons considered him family. A scholarship fund in Bernie's name ensures that the next generation of theatre artists are given the same opportunity to learn and light up the stage as Bernie did. To play a part in honoring his legacy, please visit BernieYvon.com.

THE MUSIC MAN is scheduled to run Wednesdays at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 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. Ticket prices start at $60 (excluding tax and handling fees). Call for student, senior, and military discounts. To make a restaurant reservation, please call 847.634.0100. Reservations are strongly recommended. 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. This production of THE MUSIC MAN was licensed by Music Theatre International.

TimeLine Theatre announces the world premiere of the latest play developed through the company’s Playwrights Collective—Black Sunday, by Chicago playwright Dolores Díaz, a startling look at conflicts of climate change, race, and gender in the days leading up to one of the worst dust storms in American history. Sandra Marquez makes her TimeLine directorial debut with Black Sunday, running May 8 – June 29, 2024. Press opening is Wednesday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Black Sunday also marks the bookend to a chapter of TimeLine Theatre’s growth. After 25 amazing years at the company’s longtime home at 615 W. Wellington Avenue in Chicago’s Lakeview East neighborhood, Black Sunday will be the final production presented in that space, leading toward the company’s exciting new era.

Last month, TimeLine announced plans for a thrilling 28th season, including producing partnerships with three of Chicago’s preeminent performing arts organizations in 2024-25, as a bridge toward opening its future home at 5035 N. Broadway Avenue in Uptown. 

BLACK SUNDAY: A WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE WORLD IN THE 1930s … AND TODAY

Step back to April 1935 in the dust storm-riddled plains of Texas, where a family is struggling to keep their farm afloat amidst a mounting series of environmental disasters. As Jesús, a new field worker, arrives in their midst, stubborn Pa refuses to believe his land is no longer viable, young Sunny dreams of a new life in bountiful California, and Ma starts having mysterious visions of the future. It’s a startling look at conflicts surrounding climate change, race, and gender in the days leading up to an infamous dust storm known as Black Sunday.

Black Sunday is the fourth world premiere play developed through TimeLine Theatre’s Playwrights Collective, the same new play program that brought forth TimeLine’s debut productions of Tyla Abercrumbie’s Relentless (Jeff Award, Outstanding New Work), Will Allan’s Campaigns, Inc. and Brett Neveu’s To Catch a Fish. The Collective was launched in 2013 to support Chicago-based playwrights in residence and create new work centered on TimeLine’s mission.

The cast of Black Sunday features TimeLine Company Members Mechelle Moe (she/her) as Ma and David Parkes (he/him) as Pa, with Christopher Alvarenga (he/him) as Jésus, Vic Kuligoski (he/him) as Jim, and Angela Morris (she/her) as Sunny.

The Black Sunday production team includes Joe Schermoly (Scenic Designer, he/him), Christine Pascual (Costume Designer, she/her), Conchita Avitia (Lighting Designer, she/her/ella), Saskia Baker (Properties Designer, she/her), Anthony Churchill (Projections Designer, he/him), Forrest Gregor (Sound Designer, he/him), Kristina Fluty (Intimacy Director, she/her), J. Isabel Salazar (Literary Dramaturg, they/them), Bryar Barborka (Production Dramaturg, they/them), Dina Spoerl (Dramaturgical Display Designer, she/her), and Alden Vasquez (Stage Manager, he/him). Understudies are Connor Green (Jim, he/him), Christopher Hainsworth (Pa, he/him), Lauren Grace Thompson (Sunny, she/her), Richie Villafuerte (Jésus, he/him), and India Whiteside (Ma, she/her).

“Black Sunday embodies TimeLine’s mission—illuminating aspects of history often untold, while drawing haunting parallels to critical issues of today,” said TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers. “As part of TimeLine’s Playwrights Collective, Dolores has demonstrated evocative storytelling, fierce intellect, and propensity for collaboration. Black Sunday is the fourth world premiere to emerge from the Playwright’s Collective, and I’m confident it will make as notable an impact as the acclaimed plays which preceded it. Witnessing the play’s evolution the past four years, I’ve seen Dolores’ indefatigable passion, and we’re thrilled to pair her with the remarkable director Sandra Marquez whose career, including work as an educator and actor, has distinguished her among Chicago’s most notable leaders.”

BLACK SUNDAY PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Previews start May 8, 2024: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, May 8–10 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 11 at 4 p.m.; Sunday, May 12 at 2 p.m.; and Tuesday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. Press Opening is Wednesday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. Opening Night is Thursday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. Regular performances continue through June 29: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m., plus two added matinees: Thursdays, June 20 and June 27 at 2 p.m. Exceptions: No 4 p.m. show on Saturday, May 18; and no performance on Wednesday, June 19.

BUYING TICKETS

Single tickets to Black Sunday are now on sale, priced $35–$67. For tickets and information, visit timelinetheatre.com or call the TimeLine Box Office at (773) 281-8463 x6. 

Preview tickets are $35. Single tickets to regular performances are $52 (all evening performances) and $67 (all matinee performances). Student discount is 35% off regular price with valid ID. TimeLine is also a member of TCG’s Blue Star Theatre Program and is offering $25 tickets to U.S. military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their spouses and family.

Ticket buyers ages 18-35 may join TimeLine’s free MyLine program to obtain access to discounted tickets, special events and more. Discounted rates for groups of 10 or more are also available. Visit timelinetheatre.com/discounts for more about available discounts.

LOCATION/TRANSPORTATION/PARKING

Black Sunday will take place at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., in Chicago’s Lakeview East neighborhood, near the corner of Wellington and Broadway, inside Chabad East Lakeview, the former Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ building. TimeLine is served by multiple CTA trains and buses. There are multiple paid parking options nearby, plus limited free and metered street parking. Visit timelinetheatre.com/timeline-theatre for details and available discounts.

The Joffrey Ballet boldly closes its 2023-24 season with the return of Midsummer Night's Dream by internationally renowned Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman. Premiered by The Joffrey Ballet to North American audiences in 2018 with critical acclaim, Ekman's Midsummer Night's Dream is a mind-bending trip to a surreal realm of unearthly delights. Far from a Shakespearean tale, this fully immersive theatrical experience pays homage to the summer solstice and the Scandinavian Midsummer holiday—a time of uproarious celebration, mystery, adventure, and love. Midsummer Night's Dream is presented in 10 performances only at the historic Lyric Opera House, 20 North Upper Wacker Drive, from April 25-May 5, 2024.

"Alexander Ekman dares to be bold with Midsummer Night's Dream, creating an astonishing dance/theater performance of tremendous theatricality and scale," said The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE. "Playing to the strengths of Joffrey Company Artists to convey the evolution of our art form, woven together with the trailblazing talents of Ekman's creative team, Midsummer gifts audiences with an unforgettable experience to end our 2023-24 season."

"The Joffrey Ballet's premiere of Ekman's Midsummer Night's Dream in 2018 reverberated throughout Chicago long after the curtains closed," says Greg Cameron, President and CEO of The Joffrey Ballet. "Bringing to life our founder Robert Joffrey's vision to embrace the new and the bold, Midsummer awakens our appreciation for the arts and its power to feed energy into our lives, and the great creative spirit of Chicago."

Midsummer features a commissioned score by Swedish composer Mikael Karlsson, who has partnered with Ekman on several major works, including his popular contemporary work Tulle, which received its US premiere by The Joffrey Ballet in 2015. Swedish indie rock sensation Anna von Hausswolff will also join the Joffrey dancers on-stage to perform three songs for Ekman's Midsummer Night's Dream, live at every performance. Von Hausswolff is best known for pushing the limits of metal, experimental pop, and progressive rock.

A production in two acts with costumes by Bregje van Balen (former dancer with Nederlands Dance Theatre) and original set/lighting designs by Linus Fellbom (credited with more than 200 productions, including the world tour for Swedish rock band Refused), Midsummer Night's Dream made its world premiere with The Royal Swedish Ballet in 2015 and is widely considered Ekman's wildest and most daring production. Ekman's ode to the longest day of the year follows a traditional Midsummer festival—from a passionate, lively celebration by day to a whirlwind dream by night. Ekman's picturesque fusion of classical and contemporary ballet blurs the line between the real and the imagined, making audiences wonder, was it all just a dream?

Celebrated around the globe for his cutting-edge creativity, Ekman has collaborated with companies worldwide to create award-winning works that both entertain and challenge the observer. Midsummer Night's Dream will be the fourth work by Ekman that The Joffrey Ballet has performed; past productions include his critically acclaimed Joy (April 2017) and Tulle in 2015, along with the wild and rhythmic Episode 31.

Midsummer Night's Dream features live music performed by the Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Scott Speck, Music Director of The Joffrey Ballet.

With gratitude to Midsummer Night's Dream Presenting Sponsor and Set and Costume Build Sponsor: Lynda Sue Lane M.D., Major Production Sponsors: Mary Jo and Doug Basler, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald V. Waters III, and the Women's Board of The Joffrey Ballet, and Production Sponsors: Holly Palmer Foundation, and Jeanette Stevens.

Tickets and Schedule

The Joffrey Ballet performs Midsummer Night's Dream Thursday, April 25–Sunday, May 5, 2024; the full performance schedule is as follows: Thursday, April 25 at 7:30PM; Friday, April 26 at 7:30PM; Saturday, April 27 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM; Sunday, April 28 at 2:00PM; Thursday, May 2 at 7:30PM; Friday, May 3 at 7:30PM; Saturday, May 4 at 2:00PM and 7:30PM; and Sunday, May 5 at 2:00PM.

 Single tickets start at $36 and are available for purchase at Lyric Opera Box Office located at

20 N. Upper Wacker Dr. and by telephone at 312.386.8905, or online at joffrey.org.

About The Joffrey Ballet

The Joffrey Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the world today, with a reputation for boundary-breaking performances for more than 65 years. The Joffrey repertoire is an extensive collection of all-time classics, modern masterpieces, and original works.

Founded in 1956 by pioneers Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, the Joffrey remains dedicated to artistic expression, innovation, and first-rate education and engagement programming. The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE and President and CEO Greg Cameron.

The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for the support of its 2023–2024 Season Sponsors: Abbott Fund, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation, Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, Anne L. Kaplan, The Florian Fund, and Margot and Josef Lakonishok. 

Live Music Sponsors: Sandy and Roger Deromedi, Sage Foundation, Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation, The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music. The Joffrey also acknowledges our Season Partners: ATHLETICO, Chicago Athletic Clubs, and Jewell Events Catering.

For more information on The Joffrey Ballet and its programs, visit joffrey.org. Connect with the Joffrey on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Drury Lane Theatre is thrilled to announce casting for its first show of the 2024/2025 season, Guys and Dolls, making its triumphant return to Chicagoland's professional stage after over a decade!

Tony Award-nominated Director and Choreographer Dan Knechtges, who previously directed and choreographed the smash-hit Saturday Night Fever at Drury Lane, is at the helm of the production.

"'Guys and Dolls' is one of the greatest shows ever written," says Dan Knechtges. "It's a fusion of a musical fable with the authenticity of human interactions, reminding us that despite the passage of time, certain truths remain universal. Get ready to be swept off your feet and leave exhilarated, for with Guys and Dolls, the excitement and thrills are boundless!"

The cast of Guys and Dolls includes Jackson Evans (Nathan Detroit), Alanna Lovely (Miss Adelaide), Pepe Nufrio (Sky Masterson), Erica Stephan (Sarah Brown), Nkrumah Gatling (Nicely-Nicely Johnson), Heidi Kettenring (General Cartwright), KC McNeil (Big Jule), Christopher Llewyn Ramirez (Benny Southstreet), and Gene Weygandt (Arvide Abernathy). Rounding out the ensemble are Mack Alexander, Jenessa Altvater, Jordan Anthony Arredondo, Anna Louise Bramlett, Leah Casey, Tim Foszcz, Karl Hamilton, Will Leonard, Spencer Milford, Mandy Modic, Austin Nelson Jr., Justin Payton Nelson, Martin Ortiz Tapia, Alexandra Palkovic, Maxel McLoud Schingen, Brian Selcik, and Fred Zimmerman.

Hailed as the perfect musical comedy, Guys and Dolls features music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, based on the story and characters of Damon Runyon. The creative team includes Roberta Duchak (co-music director), Chris Sargent (co-music director), Angie Weber Miller (scenic design), Leon Dobkowski (costume design), Lee Fiskness (lighting design), Ray Nardelli (sound design), Cassy Schillo (properties design), Emily Santiago (co-wig/hair designer), Ansley Hughes (co-wig/hair designer), Felicia Finley (assistant choreographer), Larry Baker (production stage manager), and Casie Morell (assistant stage manager)

TIME Magazine calls it "the greatest of all American musicals!" and The New York Times raves it's "the show that defines Broadway dazzle." Featuring unforgettable tunes like "Luck Be a Lady" and "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," it's a story packed with wit, charm, and plenty of heart.

Guys and Dolls runs April 10 – June 9, 2024, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. 

Tickets are available online at drurylanetheatre.com or by phone at (630) 530-0111.

Guys and Dolls is rated PG.

Fact Sheet / Guys and Dolls

Title:                           Guys and Dolls

Music and

Lyrics by:  Frank Loesser

Book by:                     Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows

Based on a Story

and Characters of:     Damon Runyon

Directed and

Choreographed by:   Dan Knechteges

Cast:                           

Jackson Evans (Nathan Detroit), Alanna Lovely (Miss Adelaide), Pepe Nufrio (Sky Masterson), Erica Stephan (Sarah Brown), Nkrumah Gatling (Nicely-Nicely Johnson), Heidi Kettenring (General Cartwright), KC McNeil (Big Jule), Christopher Llewyn Ramirez (Benny Southstreet), and Gene Weygandt (Arvide Abernathy). Rounding out the ensemble are Mack Alexander, Jenessa Altvater, Jordan Anthony Arredondo, Anna Louise Bramlett, Leah Casey, Tim Foszcz, Karl Hamilton, Will Leonard, Spencer Milford, Mandy Modic, Austin Nelson Jr., Justin Payton Nelson, Martin Ortiz Tapia, Alexandra Palkovic, Maxel McLoud Schingen, Brian Selcik, and Fred Zimmerman.

Creative Team:           

Roberta Duchak (co-music director), Chris Sargent (co-music director), Angie Weber Miller (scenic design), Leon Dobkowski (costume design), Lee Fiskness (lighting design), Ray Nardelli (sound design), Cassy Schillo (props design supervisor), Emily Santiago (co-wig/hair designer), Ansley Hughes (co-wig/hair designer), Felicia Finley (assistant choreographer), Larry Baker (production stage manager), and Casie Morell (assistant stage manager)

Dates:                         April 10 – June 9, 2024

Press Opening:      Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

Schedule:                 

Wednesdays: 1:30 p.m.

Thursdays: 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Fridays: 7:00 p.m.

Saturdays: 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Sundays: 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Location:              Drury Lane Theatre at 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace

Tickets:                      Tickets start at $94.95*

*Including taxes and fees

Group discounts available to groups of 15 or more

Dining and show packages are available

Box Office:            

100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace

(630) 530-0111

Monday through Sunday from 10am to 5pm or visit DruryLaneTheatre.com

2024/2025 Season and Subscription Information

The 2024/2025 season includes the professional return of the musical comedy Guys and Dolls (April 10 – June 9, 2024); Ain't Misbehavin' (June 26 – August 18, 2024), celebrating the music of Fats Waller; the masterful intimate portrait of Queen Elizabeth II The Audience (August 28 – October 20, 2024); the spellbinding Disney's The Little Mermaid (November 6, 2024 – January 12, 2025); and the inspiring true story Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (January 29, 2025 – March 30, 2025).

Drury Lane Theatre's performance schedule for the 2024/2025 season is as follows: Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Fridays at 7:00 p.m., Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Subscriptions are now on sale with packages starting at $224 - over 50% savings compared to single ticket prices. This includes priority theatre seating, great dining discounts at Lucille Restaurant and The Lounge, exclusive presale opportunities, and much more. For more information, visit DruryLaneTheatre.com/Subscribe.

Group tickets start at $50.05 and Student group tickets start at just $35.35. On-site dining is available at Lucille Restaurant with convenient pre-show or post-show prix fixe menus. To book a group of 15 people or more, call Group Services at 630-570-7272 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Excellence isn't limited to the stage at Drury Lane! Before or after the show, theatergoers can indulge in delicious onsite dining at Lucille Restaurant featuring seasonal pre-fixe menus and an elevated atmosphere to complete their experience. Exclusive to subscribers is a pre-paid dining subscription at Lucille. Boasting over a century of collective expertise in hospitality, the dedicated team ensures that you will be cared for with freshly prepared meals, handcrafted cocktails, and exceptional service. At Drury Lane, everything is in one place, so you will never be late for your performance.

About Drury Lane Theatre  

Built from scratch. Built in Oakbrook. Built for you. 

Founded by Anthony DeSantis over 70 years ago, Drury Lane remains a family-run organization under the leadership of President Kyle DeSantis. Drury Lane Theatre continues as a major force in the Chicagoland theatre scene, producing world-class theatre in collaboration with some of the nation's leading actors, directors, and creative minds. Drury Lane Theatre produces the highest quality theatrical experience that immerses and supports our artists and audiences in the exploration of what it means to be human and to experience the transcending power of the performing and visual arts. Drury Lane strives to create an environment in which every individual or group is welcomed, respected, supported, valued and able to fully experience and participate in this transformative art form. 

The theatre has staged more than 2,000 productions and has been nominated for over 360 Joseph Jefferson Awards. Drury Lane proudly employs thousands of professional actors, musicians, designers, and crew members to entertain upwards of nine million audience members and counting.