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Arts + Public Life announces 2020/2021 resident theatre company
--From a press release
(Chicago, IL Arts + Public Life (APL), an initiative of UChicago Arts, and Definition Theatre Company (DTC) announce Definition as the resident theatre company for Fall 2020/Winter 2021 at the Green Line Performing Arts Center, 329 ...
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THEATER A War of the Worlds
Playwright: Adapted by Mack Gordon and Corey Bradberry from the novel by H.G. Wells At: Theatre In the Dark online at TheatreInTheDark.com . Tickets: Suggested donation of $20-$25 Runs through: Nov. 21 Nothing makes an imperialist ...
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Writers Theatre plans expanded season with digital programming, changes to live programming
--From a press release
Glencoe, IL—Writers Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce changes to the company's 2020/21 Season, to include additional digital programming and updates to previously announced ...
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About Face Theatre announces 25th season of new work, digital performances
--From a press release
CHICAGO — About Face Theatre is excited to announce plans for its landmark 25th anniversary season. Featuring new and original works, the company will focus on using digital streaming and online tools for most of the ...
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Virtual reading of Boys Don't Wear Lipstick Nov. 9
--From a press release
Emerging Artist Theatre and Red Spear Productions will present a virtual reading of the award-winning Boy's Don't Wear Lipstick on Monday, Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. celebrating its 20th anniversary. The play is written by Brian ...
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'Jagged Little Pill,' 'Moulin Rouge!' lead Tony nods
The nominations for the 2020 Tony Awards were revealed Oct. 15. The Alanis Morissette musical Jagged Little Pill led with 15 nominations, earning at least one nomination in every eligible category (including six for the show's ...
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'Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol' running Dec. 3-20
Tickets are now on sale for the world premiere of Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol, a live streaming adaption of Charles Dickens's holiday classic created specifically for the 2020 holiday season. ...
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Goodman Theatre offers A Christmas Carol, an audio play, free
(Chicago, IL) This holiday season, as indoor performances remain suspended due to COVID-19, Goodman Theatre produces A Christmas Carol as an audio play directed by Jessica Thebus. Offered free for all audiences, the 43rd annual production ...
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Black Lives, Black Words holding virtual events in October, November
Black Lives, Black Words—an international initiative that provides local Black creatives with an artistic platform—is bringing its "Plays for the People" virtual series to a close with two more plays in October and November. On Oct. ...
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'Twisted Tales of Poe' Oct. 26-31
Just in time for Halloween, AstonRep Theatre Company launches its 2020-21 season with a free streaming radio broadcast of Twisted Tales of Poe, based on Tales of Edgar Allan Poe, adapted by Philip Grecian and directed ...
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Interrobang launching season with 'The Spin'
Interrobang Theatre Project (ITP) is launching its 11th season with The Spin, a virtual dark comedy ripped from the headlines, written and directed by Spenser Davis and commissioned by ITP. The plot is described as follows: ...
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Hell in a Handbag to celebrate Halloween by streaming
Airport 1970something
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Oct. 9, 2020) — Hell in a Handbag Productions once again takes on the classic 1970s disaster film genre with a totally ridiculous twist! Airport 1970SOMETHING is a parody that celebrates the popular '70s Airport ...
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Victory Gardens Theater announces StudentsFirst Virtual Showcase
--From a press release
Chicago, IL—Victory Gardens Theater announces the Voices of Tomorrow: Their World on Stagefundraising event on Dec. 9, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. The virtual event will showcase powerful and moving spoken word and artistic works created by ...
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THEATER Run the Beast Down
Playwright: Titas Halder At: Strawdog Theatre online at Strawdog.org . Tickets: Free with donation . Runs through: Oct. 25 Tottenham was once a quiet semi-rural suburb north of London where Charlie's parents lived in a bungalow ...
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'Women of Broadway' series starts Oct. 24
Northlight Theatre is one of a select group of nonprofit arts organizations participating in the three-part virtual concert series "Live from the West Side: Women of Broadway." The series will feature two-time Tony Award winner Patti ...
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Black Ensemble's 'BE Gala' Oct. 16
The Black Ensemble Theater, led by Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor, will celebrate 44 years of musical theater with its BE Gala, with the theme "The Legacy Continues: Together We Are the Change, A Musical Celebration ...
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African American Arts Alliance to hold auditions, workshop
Sponsored by the African American Arts Alliance (AAAA) and in celebration of Black Arts Month this October, several Black theaters of Chicago will partner for a united audition for Black theater artists. The free, three-day event ...
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STREAMING THEATER REVIEW We're Gonna Die
Playwright: Young Jean Lee At: Theatre Y, streaming online at Theatre-Y.com. Tickets: Free. Runs through: Oct. 25 "To be, or not to be" may have once been a dilemma to beguile wealthy Danish princes, but the ...
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STREAMING THEATER REVIEW Broadway by the Decade
Playwright: Various composer & lyricists At: Streaming on Vimeo. Tickets: PorchlightMusicTheatre.org; $15-$50. Runs through: Oct. 25 Most musical-theater fans will get a kick out of this well-produced and very well-sung ...
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The Most Important LGBTQ+ Plays
"A gay play?" playwright Robert Patrick wrote, "Is that a play that sleeps with other plays of the same sex?" We think a gay play reveals one of three things in a significant way: (1) how ...
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THEATER REVIEW Rastus and Hattie
Playwright: Lisa Langford At: 16th Street Theater online, at 16thStreetTheater.org. Tickets: Free, with donation . Runs through: Oct. 24 Content warning: Rastus and Hattie includes racist caricatures, racism and violence. ...
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League of Chicago Theatres highlights creative approaches to Fall 2020 Theatre
--From a press release
Chicago, IL — Theatre venues in Chicago and across the world remain closed due to the COVID 19 pandemic while the industry in Chicago has developed creative ways to connect with audiences. Chicago theatre artists and ...
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg films out Sept. 25
As a tribute of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's life and legacy, Focus Features and Magnolia Pictures will be re-releasing On the Basis of Sex and RBG—both films about Ginsburg—Friday, Sept. 25 in theaters, ...
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THEATER REVIEW We're Gonna Die
Playwright: Young Jean Lee At: Theatre Y, streaming online at Theatre-Y.com . Ticketsfree. Runs through: Oct. 4 "To be, or not to be" may have once been a dilemma to beguile wealthy Danish princes, but the ...
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'Under the Stars with Handbag' drive-in fest through Sept. 19
Hell in a Handbag Productions is hosting "Under the Stars with Handbag: A Drive-In Festival," which is running Fridays and Saturdays through Sept. 19 at The Red Box Workshop, 4242 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., at 7:30 ...
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THEATER REVIEW Pride and Prejudice: A Virtual Play
Playwright: Adapted by Christina Calvit from the novel by Jane Austen At: Streaming online at LifelineTheatre.com . Tickets: Free with donation. Runs through: Oct. 4 For starters, what we've got are two wealthy young bachelors, two ...
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'Iconic: A Broadway Hits Cabaret' on Sept. 25, 27
Oil Lamp Theater has announced the first event in its Onstage and Outdoors: A Live Performance Series—" Iconic: A Broadway Hits Cabaret." The shows will take place Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. ...
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Jeff Awards to be online this fall
The 52nd annual Jeff Awards, recognizing theater excellence among Equity theater productions, will be presented this fall as an online program. In preparation for this program, the 2020 Equity nominations will be publicly announced Tuesday, Sept. ...
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Closet Play virtual benefit concert leads PrideArts virtual season
--From a press release
CHICAGO - PrideArts Artistic Director Donterrio Johnson today announced a four - show virtual fall season called REIGNITE! that will look to the 17th and 19th Centuries for inspiration. The season will open with a benefit ...
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STREAMING
THEATER REVIEW The Pursuit of Happiness: A BoHo Exploration of Freedom
Playwright: Scripted by the artists and curated by Sana Selemon At: Streaming online at BoHoTheatre.com Tickets: free with donation . Runs through: Open run The projected shuttering of theater facilities for the remainder of the year ...
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American Blues marking 35 years on Sept. 4 with 'Blue Bash'
American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announced the 2021 Blue Bash, a fundraiser celebrating 35 Years Strong. The interactive celebration with live performances by ...
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Mishkan Chicago to host High Holiday events Sept. 12-28
Local Jewish spiritual community Mishkan Chicago, 4001 N. Ravenswood Ave., is merging ancient ritual with film, theater and music production to create unique programming for the 2020 Jewish New Year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On Sept. ...
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Congo Square Theatre Company announces 2020-2021 Season including digital
--From a Congo Square press release
CHICAGO (August 25, 2020)—Congo Square Theatre Company (Congo Square), one of the nation's premier African American theatres, is proud to announce its full 21st Season of programming for 2020-2021. Kicking ...
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Deeply Rooted launches 25th-anniversary season
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater which diversifies the aesthetics of contemporary dance by uniting modern, classical, U.S. and African-American traditions in dance and storytelling announced initial plans for Deeply 25: Beyond Dance ...
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'Under the Stars with Handbag' drive-in festival thru Sept. 19
Hell in a Handbag Productions is hosting "Under the Stars with Handbag: A Drive-In Festival," which is running Fridays and Saturdays through Sept. 19 at The Red Box Workshop, 4242 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., at 7:30 ...
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Tony Awards to be held virtually
The Tony Awards, having put its 74th annual ceremony on hold earlier this year, will head online in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Playbill reported. The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, co-presenters of ...
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Sideshow announces new artistic leadership
Sideshow Theatre Company Artistic director Jonathan L. Green announced he will step down this fall after helming the company for 13 years. Green will be succeeded by ensemble member and Artistic Director-elect Regina Victor (a onetime ...
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STREAMING THEATER REVIEW Bad Dates
Playwright: Theresa Rebeck At: Online. Tickets: $25-$50; OilLampTheater.org. Runs through: Aug. 23 Fashion being an integral element in romantic fiction, we are not surprised to first discover our heroine in her boudoir, readying herself for a ...
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'Making Sweet Tea': Out NU dean talks about new documentary
Performer and Northwestern University Dean E. Patrick Johnson discussed his new film and the importance of reclaiming storytelling agency in a virtual Q&A Lambda Legal hosted Aug. 9. Johnson, dean of Northwestern University's School of Communication, ...
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Goodman Theatre unveils 2021 season, "Whenever" Memberships"
(Chicago, IL) Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer announce "Our Next Act"—Goodman Theatre's 2021 Season of eight plays on its two stages (the 856-seat Albert Theatre and ...
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Hyde Park Art Center reopening Sept. 1
Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave., will reopen its doors for limited exhibition hours starting Tuesday, Sept. 1. The reopening will feature the Artists Run Chicago 2.0 exhibition, celebrating the work of 50 artist-run ...
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Illinois Arts Council Agency announces open-deadline grants
The Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) has announced the release of fiscal year 2021 guidelines and application materials for its open deadline programs: Artstour & Live Music, Short-term Artists Residency, and Individual ...
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STREAMING THEATER REVIEW Bad Dates
Playwright: Theresa Rebeck At: Online. Tickets: $25-$50; OilLampTheater.org . Runs through: Aug. 23 Fashion being an integral element in romantic fiction, we are not surprised to first discover our heroine in her boudoir, readying herself for ...
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Lookingglass hosting 'Eastland' watch party Aug. 20
Lookingglass Theatre Company will host a one-night watch party of Eastland: An Original Musical Watch Party, on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. It's a free online public fundraiser of the production in support of Lookingglass ...
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American Blues kicks off reading series Aug. 7 with 'A Shot'
American Blues Theater (ABT), under the leadership of Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announced "The Room"—a brand-new reading series that brings original work, plays in development and new stories to Chicago ...
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Fellowship for local Black theater artists announced
The League of Chicago Theatres announced The Samuel G. Roberson Jr. Resident Fellowship, a grant to fund a residency for early to mid-career Black theater artists based in Chicago for a one-year partnership with a Chicago-area ...
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STREAMING
THEATER REVIEW Alas: A Monologue from Matei Visniec's Cabaret of Words
Playwright: Matei Visniec, translation by Daniela Silindean. At: Trap Door Theatre streaming online . Tickets: TrapDoorTheatre.com; $10 suggested donation. Runs through: Sept. 4 Romania's location amid the quasi-feudal Balkan states ...
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About Face Theatre names new associate artistic director
About Face Theatre (AFT) welcomes Mikael Burke to its staff in the role of associate artistic director to lead AFT's education and new work development programs. Burke has been working with AFT since 2016, when he ...
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Greenhouse Theater stops creating shows
Greenhouse Theater Center co-owner William Spatz said July 27 that he no longer intends to produce theater at the multi-space Lincoln Park venue at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., formerly the home of the Victory Gardens Theater ...
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Oil Lamp Theater hosting drive-in premiere Aug. 7
Oil Lamp Theater Executive Director Jay Pastucha and Associate Artistic Director Stephen Smith announced Bad Dates, which will premiere Friday, Aug. 7, 6 and 8:30 p.m., in the parking lot of Our Lady of Perpetual Help ...
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg exhibit extended
The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center has extended the run of its exhibit "Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg" through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. Based on the New York Times best-selling ...
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'Women Take the Stage' concert event Aug. 26
On Wed., Aug. 26, at 8 p.m. CT, top musicians, activists and feminist icons will gather for "Women Take the Stage"—a free virtual concert and rally to increase votes by and for women before the November ...
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STREAMING THEATER REVIEW Groups of Ten or More People
Playwright: Gaby Labotka and Zach Barr At: Littlebrain Theatre streaming online. Tickets: Facebook.com/LittlebrainTheatre/ . Runs through: Open run The forays into digital playmaking, Zoom-grid scenic design and headshot acting engendered ...
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'Christmas Bingo: Summer Edition' online through July
Christmas Bingo: Summer Edition—written by Vicki Quade, one of the creators of the hit comedy Late Nite Catechism—is streaming through Friday, July 31. A portion of every ticket sold will go to help the Daughters of ...
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Goodman reimagines summer education
Free programming for participants "aged eight to 80" is underway online, as Goodman Theatre's popular Education and Engagement summer offerings for multigenerational learners go virtual, a press release noted. In ...
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Fellowship for local Black theater artists announced
The League of Chicago Theatres announced The Samuel G. Roberson Jr. Resident Fellowship, a grant to fund a residency for early to mid-career Black theater artists based in Chicago for a one-year partnership with a Chicago-area ...
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Court's new season: 'Othello,' August Wilson, 'Theatre & Thought' series
--From a press release
Court Theatre—under the continuing leadership of Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre—announced updates to its 2020-21 season in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The ...
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Filament Theatre director stepping down
Filament Theatre announced that, after 13 years, founding Managing Director Christian Libonati will be stepping down from his position at the end of the summer. Libonati is stepping down to make more time for his own ...
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STREAMING THEATER REVIEW The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes!
Vol. 4, Lockdown!
Playwright: David Cerda At: Hell in a Handbag Productions, streaming online. Tickets: HandbagProductions.org/Stage773.com. Runs through: Aug. 15 As the long intermission drags on into its fifth month, home movies and backstage chat are no longer enough ...
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NUNN ON ONE MOVIES Queer filmmaker has 'Mucho Mucho Amor' for famed astrologer
For generations, Puerto Rican astrologer Walter Mercado has brought hope and the future for many families over the years. He grew up a dancer, an actor in theater and starred in many telenovelas before his unique ...
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Director David Zak steps down from post after community outcry
Pride Films & Plays (PFP) Executive Director David Zak stepped down from his longtime post July 3 after numerous members of Chicago's theater community voiced complaints about his working style in late June and began a ...
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Broadway suspends shows through 2020
The Broadway League announced June 29 that Broadway performances in New York City will be suspended through the remainder of 2020 due to COVID-19, media reports noted. Broadway theaters are also now offering refunds and exchanges ...
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'Magic Parlour at Home' during July
Magician Dennis Watkins is taking his experience The Magic Parlour online for a completely new virtual offering dubbed "The Magic Parlour at Home." The new virtual magic show, designed for group and family viewings, will offer ...
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CHF talk to feature Abby McEnany and Samantha Irby
Actor Abby McEnany and writer Samantha Irby will have a conversation in a Chicago Humanities Festival digital program that will take place Thursday, June 25, at 7 p.m. McEnany has adapted her Chicago's iO Theater one-woman ...
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THEATER Despite everything, there are shows for Pride Week
It's almost impossible to write about the indelible events of 2020 (which is still not quite half over) without diminishing them. Words fall short in describing—let alone analyzing—the failures of ...
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Raven Theatre names new managing director
Following a nationwide search, Raven Theatre's board of directors announced Markie Gray as the company's new managing director, effective July 1. Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Gray most recently was the associate director of marketing & ...
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47th Non-Equity Jeff Awards announces honorees
June 22, 2020 — Chicago — As part of the annual recognition of theater excellence, the 47th Non-Equity Jeff Awards has announced honorees in 21 artistic and technical categories. Recipients included 27 theater artists whose work ...
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'That's Queer, Grandma' June 22-July 6
PlayMakers Laboratory (PML) celebrates Pride Month virtually with a free presentation of That's Queer, Grandma—a romp through student-written stories that at the heart are centered on inclusivity, equality and what ...
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COVID-19 Mercury Theater permanently closing
Executive Director L. Walter Stearns and partner, business manager Eugene Dizon, announced the permanent closure of Mercury Theater Chicago after 10 years and 25 productions, due to the loss of revenue following the COVID-19 shutdown. "A ...
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The Last Sunday in June online live reading June 28
Chicago, IL - Jonathan Tolins' look at gay life in the 1990s - THE LAST SUNDAY IN JUNE — will be performed via Zoom by a cast of socially-distanced actors on the actual last Sunday of June 2020 — the day ...
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'Christmas Bingo: Summer Edition' online through July
Christmas Bingo: Summer Edition—written by Vicki Quade, one of the creators of the hit comedy Late Nite Catechism—is streaming through Friday, July 31. A portion of every ticket sold will go to help the Daughters of ...
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Music Box, Kino Lorber hosting film 'Proud' starting June 19
To honor Pride Month, the Music Box Theatre and Kino Lorber are presenting Philippe Faucon's three-part episodic cinema event Proud as a Virtual Cinema presentation, beginning Friday, June 19. The Virtual Cinema experience was created to ...
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Sideshow streaming 'Tilikum' June 19 for #LetUsBreathe Collective
Sideshow Theatre Company will present a one-night-only streaming revival of its 2018 hit Tilikum on Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m. CT. It will be a benefit for the #LetUsBreathe Collective in honor of Juneteenth and ...
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Out professor named NU school dean
E. Patrick Johnson has been named dean of Northwestern University's School of Communication, Interim Provost Kathleen Hagerty announced. Johnson—the Carlos Montezuma Professor of African American Studies and Performance Studies at ...
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'Come from Away' switched to 2021
In response to COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Broadway In Chicago announced that the upcoming engagement of Come from Away, originally scheduled for Aug. 25-Sept. 6, 2020, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, will now play April 21-May 2, ...
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