Our new InkBlots series will let you in on the latest news, extensions, promotions, and rumors that didn’t make it into an article in the previous week. We’re dropping them every Saturday morning. Enjoy with brunch!

Steep Opens New Cabaret-Lounge Space

Steep’s new cabaret-lounge space, The Boxcar, is set to open to the public this weekend, expanding the company’s artistic programming and offering a community gathering place Thursday through Monday evenings. Audiences at Steep’s main stage shows can enjoy quiet conversations, post-show receptions with Steep artists and beverages that can be brought into the theatre. The space will also provide a venue for music, storytelling, and other performances on Sunday and Monday evenings. Steep Ensemble Members Thomas Dixon and Sasha Smith will serve as the Artistic Curators for this free performance series. A performance calendar can be found at steeptheatre.com.

Midsommer Flight Produces Shakespeare Album

Midsommer Flight has developed its first stand-alone album of twelve Shakespearean sonnets set to music composed by Midsommer Flight ensemble members Elizabeth Rentfro and Erick Rivera. The album, entitled FOURTEEN LINES in honor of the sonnet structure, features vocal and instrumental performances by ensemble members and guest musicians in songs ranging from pop to blues to rock and roll – and everything in between. FOURTEEN LINES will premier at a launch party Monday, September 17 at Uptown Underground. For more information visit midsommerflight.com.

Northlight Honors Frank Galati and Tom Stringer

Northlight theater will honor two-time Tony Award winner Frank Galati with the Speak Up! Award, and former board chair Tom Stringer with the Leadership Award at its upcoming Gala. The Speak Up! Award is rooted in Northlight’s Speak Up! theatre for social change program — an initiative for middle and high school students throughout the Chicago area. Galati is one of the founders of Northlight and an ensemble member at Steppenwolf. He won two Tony Awards in 1990 for his adaptation and direction of the Steppenwolf production of The Grapes of Wrath on Broadway. In 1989, Galati was nominated for an Academy Award for his screenplay (with Lawrence Kasdan) of The Accidental Tourist. The Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have been champions of Northlight. Tom Stringer, in addition to being the former Northlight board chair, is a designer of glamorous homes. restaurants, and yachts. The Gala, hosted by Michael Ingersoll, will be held at The Evanston Golf Club on November 2. Call 847.324.1616 for more info.

A&A Ballet Holds Children’s auditions for THE ART DECO NUTCRACKER

A&A BALLET (A&A), under the artistic direction of Anna Reznik and Alexei Kremnev, holds open children’s auditions for the second annual production of Alexei Kremnev’s “The Art Deco Nutcracker,” Saturday, September 8 from 3-4:30 p.m. A&A welcomes dancers from ages four and up to audition for various roles, which will be performed at Chicago’s Studebaker Theatre at 410 S. Michigan Ave, November 30-December 2, 2018. Auditions will be held at the American Rhythm Center in the Fine Arts Building at 410 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, on September 8. A pre-registration form may be downloaded at aacenterfordance.org.

The Second City Partners with Theater Development Fund to Produce Open Captioned Performances

The Second City has announced a partnership with the Theater Development Fund (TDF) that will allow the company to produce at least seven open captioned performances during the 2018-19 season, the next of which will be a performance of “Gaslight District” on Thursday, September 13th at 8:00 p.m. During open captioned performances, text is displayed on the side of the stage, showing word-for-word what performers are saying in real time, as well as describing the corresponding music and sound effects. A full-line up can be found at secondcity.com.