MIKE MOTHER Leaves Open Wounds in Its Wake
In the spirit of non-illusory theater (The Neo-futurists pioneered this genre in 1988), I’d like to submit a meta-assessment. MIKE MOTHER weaves in and out of the present moment and current reality, leaving in its wake open wounds, left gaping so they can be pointed at and acknowledged that they gape on purpose by their poetic author, all of it charged by the electricity coming off of a very energetic opening night crowd. The Neos’ community knows best about the strength and vulnerability required for their brand of immediacy.
Ireon Roach Takes First Place at National August Wilson Monologue Competition
Chicago Public School student Ireon Roach was awarded first place in the National August Wilson Monologue Competition, which was held May 2 at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway in New York City. A student of Nicholas Senn High School, Roach also won first place in the Chicago competition, which included a $500 scholarship and expenses paid for the final competition in New York.
Steppenwolf Adds Sandra Marquez and Caroline Neff to Ensemble
Caroline Neff. Photo by Chris Popio. Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced the addition of Sandra Marquez and Caroline Neff to its world-renowned ensemble. Both have performed in multiple shows with the company and can currently be seen on Steppenwolf’s stages in Mary Page Marlowe and The Flick respectively. Marquez and Neff are...
DRY LAND is Expertly Crafted at Rivendell
This play begs for education, support and advocacy for young women. I’ve been hoping for a play like this for a long time and I didn’t want it to end.
Strawdog Adds THE NIGHT SEASON to ’16 – ’17 Slate.
Strawdog Theatre Company Artistic Director Hank Boland announced the final production in Strawdog’s 2016 – 2017 season–British playwright Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s THE NIGHT SEASON, which tells the story of an Irish family and their attempts to find love–running May 11 – June 24, 2017. Strawdog’s 29th season will be produced in its itinerant home at the new Factory Theater in Rogers Park, 1621 W. Howard St. on the Chicago-Evanston border in the historic Howard Theatre building.“Over the last several seasons Strawdog has pushed ourselves and our audiences into new artistic territory; now the time has come to explore new geographic territory. We are excited to have found a temporary home with The Factory Theater. We are thrilled to be bringing our work to Howard Street.” said Boland. The space is a newly created 70 seat three-quarters thrust two blocks from CTA’s Howard Red Line terminal. Season subscriptions are on sale at Strawdog.org.
Porchlight Revisits CHESS Can Handily Declare Checkmate
For musical theater die-hards (like myself), Porchlight Music Theatre’s concert reading of CHESS—a three-night-only engagement as part of the Porchlight Revisits series—is simply delightful.