See Chicago Dance (SCD), celebrating 20 years as the most comprehensive resource for dance information in Chicago and one of the largest websites in the United States dedicated to the art form, is proud to announce the launch of its new website, SeeChicagoDance.com, Monday, March 10 at 12 p.m., in partnership with Photon Software. 

The new website includes a completely updated design; smoother access to a more comprehensive calendar of events; customized search; and future-facing analytic capacity,” said Photon’s Mario Vallejo. “With a smart, lightning-fast search engine, visitors can now find exactly what they’re looking for in an instant—whether it’s the latest dance performances, classes, auditions, or reviews,” Additional information on the site is available here. 

“See Chicago Dance, the organization, has grown from what was first a website, SeeChicagoDance.com, 20 years ago into who we are today,” said Executive Director Julia Mayer. “The new site shows our growth and also the increasing demand for Chicago dance offerings. We look forward to audiences using the site for all of their dance inquiries, including performances, classes, resources, our new podcast, Hear Chicago Dance, and so much more.”

The site launch will also feature a completely redesigned logo, capturing the spirit of the Chicago dance community with a sleek dancing flame icon. The designer and thought partner behind the redesign of the logo, Frank EE Grubich of CX & Violins, Inc. shares, "Like the eclectic community that they support, SCD's reach has expanded and evolved dramatically since their initial brand was introduced. It was my intent to capture that movement—that energy—so that it can be applied to all the new ways SCD intends to connect with Chicago's dancers and benefactors. It was an honor and a joy to be a part of SCD's next great act."

Check out this brand new web experience on Monday, March 10th at 12 p.m. by visiting SeeChicagoDance.com–the same URL with a much better interface!

COMING UP FROM SEE CHICAGO DANCE

Chicago Dance Month 2025

May 31 - June 30*

Various Locations

Now in its 12th year, Chicago Dance Month returns, providing a month packed with performances, classes, and more, all of them free of charge, highlighting artists, companies, and genres at locations throughout Chicago. 

A final list of programming partners and full schedule for Chicago Dance Month will be available this April.

Applications to perform in Chicago Dance Month are open now, apply at SeeChicagoDance.com/chicago-dance-month. 

*Date(s) subject to change. Check SeeChicagoDance.com for the most up-to-date details.

Gala Community Celebration & Awards Presentation

Tuesday, Sept. 30

Venue West, 221 N. Paulina

The 2025 Gala Community Celebration & Awards Presentation, will be held at Venue West, 221 N. Paulina. The annual special event gathers members of the community, supporters, donors, and artists to celebrate the dynamic Chicago dance community. 

ABOUT JULIA MAYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SEE CHICAGO DANCE

Julia Mayer has been involved in and influencing Chicago’s cultural scene in a variety of capacities for more than 25 years, having worked at 3Arts Inc., The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Chicago Humanities Festival, Morrison-Shearer Foundation, and Museums In the Park. In addition, she has chaired and served on numerous committees from Links Hall to Chicago Dancemakers Forum to the Chicago Park District. Mayer has been a choreographer, teacher or consultant at Columbia College, University of Chicago and in Indiana at Valparaiso University and Saint Mary’s College. She has a master of fine arts degree in dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Chicago.

ABOUT SEE CHICAGO DANCE

See Chicago Dance is a nonprofit service organization with the mission to advocate for the dance field and strengthen a diverse range of dance organizations and artists through services and programs that build and engage audiences. Its vision is to fearlessly inspire an ever-growing inclusive community to share in and spread the power of dance in Chicago.

See Chicago Dance is the source for all things dance with the city’s most comprehensive resource for dance information and one of the largest websites in the United States dedicated to the art form. Its two-pronged approach focuses on building audiences while developing a more cohesive dance community.

For audience members, See Chicago Dance offers a dynamic calendar of dance performances and experiences, Hot Deal ticket discounts, professionally written reviews and previews, and listings for more than 200 dance organizations.

For dance artists and organizations, See Chicago Dance provides a full range of Programs and Industry Resources to help build audiences, improve skills, and foster appreciation of dance in all its forms.

Get ready, Chicago! AKW Productions and Broadway In Chicago are thrilled to announce that the 13-time Tony Award® nominated Broadway sensation, HELL’S KITCHEN, is set to bring the heat to the Windy City when it arrives for a limited three-week engagement at the Nederlander Theatre (24 W. Randolph St.) from November 11 to November 30. This highly anticipated multi-year North American tour brings a high-energy, coming-of-age story set to iconic songs from Alicia Keys’ legendary catalog. HELL’S KITCHEN delivers a theatrical experience unlike any other—one that Chicago theatergoers won’t want to miss—and will be part of the next Broadway In Chicago season package, on sale this April. Groups (10+) are available now by calling (312) 977-1710 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more details, visit BroadwayInChicago.com.

“Seeing HELL’S KITCHEN on a Broadway marquee has fulfilled one of my earliest and most influential dreams as an artist and a New Yorker,” said Alicia Keys. “I’m overjoyed by the impact it has already had with audiences that truly mirror the  world around us in New York and I am ecstatic that we can bring the show to so many incredible cities across the country. Let’s Gooooo!!!!!”

Ali is a 17-year-old girl full of fire – searching for freedom, passion and her place in the world.  How she finds them is a New York City coming-of-age story you've never felt before – HELL’S KITCHEN, a new musical from 17-time Grammy® Award—winner Alicia Keys, whose new songs and greatest hits about growing up in NY inspire a story made for Broadway.

Rebellious and stifled by an overprotective single mother, Ali is lost until she meets her mentor: a neighbor who opens her heart and mind to the power of the piano. Set to the rhythm of the 90s, HELL'S KITCHEN is a love story between a mother and daughter. It's about finding yourself, your purpose, and the community that lifts you. Come remember where dreams begin.

Hailed as a New York Times Critic’s Pick that is, “thrilling from beginning to end – a rare must-see!" HELL’S KITCHEN is directed by four-time Tony Award® nominee Michael Greif, with choreography by four-time Tony Award® nominee Camille A. Brown, a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award® nominee Kristoffer Diaz, and the music of 17-time Grammy® Award—winner Alicia Keys.

The creative team for HELL’S KITCHEN includes Tony Award® nominee Robert Brill (Scenic Design), Tony Award® winner Dede Ayite (Costume Design), Tony Award® winner Natasha Katz (Lighting Design), Tony Award® winner Gareth Owen (Sound Design), Tony Award® nominee Peter Nigrini (Projection Design), Mia Neal (Hair and Wig Design), Michael Clifton (Makeup Design), Heidi Griffiths and Kate Murray (Casting), and Foresight Theatrical (General Management).

The music team of HELL’S KITCHEN includes orchestrations by Tony Award® winner Tom Kitt and Tony Award® nominee Adam Blackstone, arrangements by Alicia Keys and Adam Blackstone, music consulting by Tom Kitt.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of HELL’S KITCHEN won the 2025 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album and is available via Alicia Keys Records/Interscope Records on all streaming and digital platforms worldwide. It is also available for purchase on vinyl and CD.

Through the ongoing partnership between Broadway’s HELL’S KITCHEN and the Alicia Keys co-founded organization KEEP A CHILD ALIVE (KCA), a landmark donation has recently been made of $1,000,000 to date. The partnership remains ongoing throughout the Broadway run of the show with a $1 donation being made for every ticket sold. More information about Keep a Child Alive (KCA) is available at  www.keepachildalive.org.

HELL’S KITCHEN began performances on Broadway on Thursday, March 28, 2024, and opened on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the famed Shubert Theatre where it continues to play to sold-out audiences. Prior to opening on Broadway, HELL’S KITCHEN had its world premiere at The Public Theater on October 24, 2023, and had a five-week extension before closing its limited run on January 14, 2024.

HELL’S KITCHEN on Broadway is produced by AKW Productions. Aaron Lustbader serves as Executive Producer. Roc Nation, DML Productions, Mandy Hackett, Julie Yorn, The Jacobs Family, The Sunshine Group, Front Row Productions, Sharpton Swindal Productions, The Jaime Family, John Gore Organization, Terria Joseph, Andy Nahas, James L. Nederlander, Candy Spelling, Clara Wu Tsai, Universal Music Publishing, Grove Entertainment, Independent Presenters Network, Della Pietra Spark Theatricals and Score 3 Partners serve as co-producers.

For more information visit: HellsKitchen.com
@HellsKitchenBway

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

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

Under the continuing leadership of Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, with interim artistic leadership from Senior Artistic Producer Gabrielle Randle-Bent and Senior Managing Producer Heidi Thompson Saunders, Court Theatre is thrilled to present the world premiere of Berlin, Mickle Maher's exhilarating adaptation of Jason Lutes's celebrated graphic novel, directed by Charles Newell. This production will run April 19 – May 11, 2025 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. The press opening is Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 7:30pm.

The cast of Berlin includes Terry Bell (Kid Hogan/Ensemble); Kate Collins (Margarethe von Falkensee/Ensemble); Tim Decker (Kurt Severing); Jack Doherty (David Schwartz/Ensemble); Ellie Duffey (Silvia Braun/Ensemble); Molly Hernández (Pola Mosse/Ensemble); Elizabeth Laidlaw (Gudrun Braun/Adolf Hitler/Ensemble); Brandon Ruiter (Theo Müller/Ensemble); Mo Shipley (Anna Lenke/Ensemble); Guy Van Swearingen (Otto Schmidt/Ensemble); HB Ward (Otto Braun/Ensemble); and Raven Whitley (Marthe Müller).

The creative team includes John Culbert (Scenic Designer); Jacqueline Firkins (Costume Designer); Keith Parham (Lighting Designer); Mark Messing (Sound Designer and Composer), with Associate Sound Designer Josh McCammon; David Levin (Production Dramaturg and Development); Julia Rhoads (Movement Director); Becca McCracken, CSA (Director of Casting and Artist Cultivation), with Associate Casting Director Celeste M. Cooper; Kate Ocker (Production Stage Manager); and Katie Moshier (Assistant Stage Manager).

Berlin is an unforgettable mosaic of intersecting narratives set amidst the decline of Weimar Germany. This original commission brings Jason Lutes's exhilarating and acclaimed graphic novel to life. Fascism is taking hold; revolutionaries are organizing; creatives are trying to capture the ineffable nature of their changing city; and – as everything falls apart – everyone is faced with a choice: abandon Berlin or fight to survive.

Charles Newell (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead) directs Mickle Maher's propulsive adaptation, an ever-shifting kaleidoscope of everyday people trying to survive one of the most remarkable moments in history. Set almost one hundred years ago, Berlin speaks to our current moment, and our future, with undeniable urgency.

Accompanying this production of Berlin is a suite of public programs, including:

• A Curated Tour of Potential Energy: Chicago Puppets Up Closeand BUDDY at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 East Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602), in partnership with the Public Media Institute.
• An Agora conversation at Co-Prosperity (3219 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60608), presented in partnership with Co-Prosperity and the Public Media Institute.
• A Communal Activation at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum (800 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607), presented in partnership with the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum.
• A screening of Cabaretat the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts (915 E 60th St, Chicago, IL 60637), presented in partnership with the University of Chicago's Film Studies Center.

Tickets to Berlin are available now and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (773) 753-4472 or online at CourtTheatre.org. Information about the public programming offerings will be available online at CourtTheatre.org.

Berlin is sponsored by Lorna Ferguson and the Morey Family.

Fact Sheet / Berlin (World Premiere)

Title:                Berlin

Adapted by:     Mickle Maher, based on the graphic novel by Jason Lutes

Directed by:     Charles Newell

Featuring: Terry Bell (Kid Hogan/Ensemble); Kate Collins (Margarethe von Falkensee/Ensemble); Tim Decker (Kurt Severing); Jack Doherty (David Schwartz/Ensemble); Ellie Duffey (Silvia Braun/Ensemble); Molly Hernández (Pola Mosse/Ensemble); Elizabeth Laidlaw (Gudrun Braun/Adolf Hitler/Ensemble); Brandon Ruiter (Theo Müller/Ensemble); Mo Shipley (Anna Lenke/Ensemble); Guy Van Swearingen (Otto Schmidt/Ensemble); HB Ward (Otto Braun/Ensemble); and Raven Whitley (Marthe Müller).

Creatives: John Culbert (Scenic Designer); Jacqueline Firkins (Costume Designer); Keith Parham (Lighting Designer); Mark Messing (Sound Designer and Composer), with Associate Sound Designer Josh McCammon; David Levin (Production Dramaturg and Development); Julia Rhoads (Movement Director); Becca McCracken, CSA (Director of Casting and Artist Cultivation), with Associate Casting Director Celeste M. Cooper; Kate Ocker (Production Stage Manager); and Katie Moshier (Assistant Stage Manager).

Dates:             

Previews:                   April 19 – April 25, 2025

Press Opening:          April 26, 2025 at 7:30pm

Regular Run:              April 27 – May 11, 2025

Schedule:        

Wed/Thurs/Fri:           7:30 p.m.

Sat/Sun:                     2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Accessible Performances:      

Touch Tour on May 10, 2025 at 12:30pm

ASL Interpretation and Audio Description on May 10, 2025 at 2:00pm

Open Captioning on May 11, 2025 at 2:00pm

Location:         Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.

Tickets:           

$42.00 – $72.00 Previews

$58.00 – $90.00 Regular Run

Student, group, and military discounts available

Box Office:      Located at 5535 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago; (773) 753-4472 or www.CourtTheatre.org.

Court Theatre reimagines classic theatre to illuminate our current times. In residence at the University of Chicago and on Chicago's historic South Side, we engage our audiences with intimate and provocative experiences that inspire deeper exploration of the enduring questions that confront humanity and connect us as people.

Ashley Wheater MBE, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, today announces the Joffrey's 2025-2026 season at Lyric Opera House, featuring U.S. and Chicago premieres by Liam Scarlett and Yuri Possokhov, and a celebration of dance legends Martha Graham, Glen Tetley, and The Joffrey Ballet co-founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino. The 2025-2026 season marks three historic milestones: The Joffrey Ballet's 70th anniversary as one of the world's premier dance companies, 30 years of calling Chicago home, and 10 years of Christopher Wheeldon's The Nutcracker.

The Joffrey Ballet begins its 70th season with the U.S. premiere of Liam Scarlett's Carmen, September 18 – 28, 2025, a tale of love, betrayal, and defiance set within the gritty confines of a cigarette factory in 1930s Spain. From the choreographer of the critically acclaimed Frankenstein, Scarlett infuses new depth into the timeless story of a woman who dares to live on her own terms. Soon after, the Joffrey celebrates 10 magical years of Christopher Wheeldon's The Nutcracker, December 5 – 28, 2025, followed by American Icons, February 19 – March 1, 2026, a program of ballets by four trailblazing artists of the 20th century, including Martha Graham, Glen Tetley, and The Joffrey Ballet co-founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, featuring iconic works that have shaped the history of American dance. Closing out the season is the Chicago premiere of Yuri Possokhov's Eugene Onegin, a co-production with San Francisco Ballet. This new full-length ballet from the acclaimed creative team behind Anna Karenina will be a richly layered and deeply human exploration of love, loss, and redemption, June 4 – 14, 2026.

"Our 70th anniversary celebrates the Joffrey's extraordinary legacy, a place where past and future seamlessly intertwine," says The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE. "This milestone season commemorates 70 years of innovation, 30 years of calling Chicago home, and a decade of Christopher Wheeldon's reimagined Nutcracker. From the intensity of Liam Scarlett's Carmen to iconic works by Robert Joffrey, Gerald Arpino, Glen Tetley, and Martha Graham in American Icons, this season reflects our bold and revolutionary spirit." Wheater continues, "Bringing ambitious new works to the stage is at the heart of the company, and this year is no exception. We'll conclude the season with the Chicago premiere of Yuri Possokhov's Eugene Onegin, a performance sure to leave audiences breathless. It will be a season like no other — a defining moment to experience the Joffrey at its best, more electrifying than ever."

"Seventy years ago, Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino embarked on a bold journey, fueled by their belief in the positive, transformative power of dance," says President and CEO Greg Cameron. "Thirty years ago, thanks to dedicated advocates and supporters, the Joffrey found its permanent home in Chicago. Today, under the leadership of the Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE, the third Artistic Director in the company's history, the Joffrey continues to shape the future of dance; from reimagining The Nutcracker within Chicago's 1893 World's Fair to commissioning world premieres. Our anniversary season honors our past while fearlessly embracing what's next."

All season performances take place at the Lyric Opera House in downtown Chicago at 20 North Upper Wacker Drive. All programs throughout the season feature live music performed by the Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Scott Speck, Music Director of The Joffrey Ballet.   

About the 2025-2026 Season 

Carmen | September 18 – 28, 2025  

Choreographer: Liam Scarlett | Music: Georges Bizet  

From the choreographer of the critically acclaimed Frankenstein, the Joffrey presents Scarlett's Carmen, a tale of love, betrayal, and defiance set within the gritty confines of a cigarette factory in 1930s Spain. Amid the chaos of a nation on the brink of civil war, the uncompromising and seductive Carmen, who insists on loving whom she chooses, meets Don José, whose consuming devotion ignites a blaze of passion and peril.  

In this adaptation of Bizet's opera, Scarlett brings new intensity to a performance that pulsates with life—and ends in tragedy. With striking designs by Jon Bausor and Scarlett's signature focus on evocative storytelling, Carmen commands the stage into a tempest of desire and destruction, revealing the timeless story of a woman who dares to live on her own terms.  

U.S. Premiere 

Learn more about Liam Scarlett here.

With gratitude to Carmen Production Sponsor Holly Palmer Foundation.

The Nutcracker | December 5 – 28, 2025 

Choreography: ©Christopher Wheeldon | Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky  

This holiday season, enter the spellbinding world where history and dreams intertwine. Join Marie and her Nutcracker prince on a fantastical adventure in Tony Award®-winning Christopher Wheeldon's kaleidoscopic reimagining of The Nutcracker, set amidst the spectacle of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.  

On a magical Christmas Eve, after awakening to an epic battle between Toy Soldiers and the Rat King, a flurry of snowflakes sweeps Marie away on a whirlwind journey to the dreamlike fairgrounds of the World's Columbian Exposition. Set to Tchaikovsky's classic score, experience sprawling attractions representing countries from around the globe: the dazzling Golden Statue, the mystique of an Arabian enchantress, vibrant Venetian masked dancers, Chinese dragons, and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.  

Learn more about Christopher Wheeldon here.  

With gratitude to The Nutcracker Presenting Sponsor Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company.

American Icons | February 19 – March 1, 2026 

Witness the daring and enduring spirit that defines the Joffrey's maverick legacy. American Icons celebrates a program of dynamic works by four trailblazing artists of the 20^th century: The Joffrey Ballet co-founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, founding Joffrey Company member Glen Tetley, and prolific dance pioneer Martha Graham. 

The full program is as follows: 

Kettentanz  

Choreography: Gerald Arpino | Music: Johann Strauss Sr., Johann Mayer 

Inspired by classical Viennese balls and gardens, Kettentanz is highly regarded as one of Arpino's signature works. Described in the New York Post as a "youthful zest that belongs to all time" and as "his loveliest ballet...a suite of tender miniatures" by Dance Magazine, Kettentanz showcases the diversity of this Joffrey legend's technique in nine sections. 

Learn more about Gerald Arpino here.

Secular Games  

Choreography: Martha Graham | Music: Robert Starer  

Secular Games presents a playful exploration of human nature and the lengths to which we go to impress one another. Hailed as the "Dancer of the Century" by Time, Graham's choreography pushed the boundaries of technique, challenging dancers with bold, powerful movements. Premiered in 1962, Secular Games is a testament to Graham's ingenuity, forever transforming the athleticism and endurance of the art form. 

Learn more about Martha Graham here.  

Remembrances 

Choreography: Robert Joffrey | Music: Richard Wagner 

In this intimate duet by Robert Joffrey, visionary founder of The Joffrey Ballet, a woman sings of past love, while another overlooks the memory in a dance re-enactment. 

Inspired by love and loss, Remembrances reflects Joffrey's childhood, his parents, and the women who shaped his life. Poignant and timeless, Joffrey's window into the past is a display of the founder's artistic genius for turning lived experiences into universal art. 

Voluntaries 

Choreography: Glen Tetley | Music: Francis Poulenc  

Voluntaries invites audiences to experience dance that transcends the stage, embodying the beauty of flight, rebirth, freedom, and desire. A masterpiece of emotional depth and soaring movement set to Poulenc's Concerto in G Minor for Organ, Strings, and Timpani, Tetley's Voluntaries, created in 1973 as a heartfelt tribute to the late John Cranko, celebrates the resilience of the human spirit. 

Learn more about Glen Tetley here.  

Eugene Onegin | June 4 – 14, 2026  

Choreographer: Yuri Possokhov | Music: Ilya Demutsky  

Following the incredibly favored Anna Karenina, choreographer Possokhov and composer Demutsky have teamed up again for the Chicago premiere of Eugene Onegin, a full-length production inspired by Alexander Pushkin's poetic novel.  

A tragic duel, a devastating loss, and a chance reunion force Eugene Onegin to confront the weight of his choices. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Russian society, this cautionary tale follows the enigmatic and aloof aristocrat after his fateful encounter with the earnest Tatiana. Richly layered and deeply human, Eugene Onegin explores the fragility of the human heart and how unspoken words can shape destinies.  

Eugene Onegin is a co-production between The Joffrey Ballet and San Francisco Ballet.  

Learn more about Yuri Possokhov here.  

With gratitude to Eugene Onegin Commissioning Sponsors, Presenting Sponsors Lorna Ferguson and Terry Clark, Anne L. Kaplan, Lynda Sue Lane, M.D.; Major Sponsors Mary Jo and Doug Basler; Production Sponsor Holly Palmer Foundation; and Commissioned Score Sponsor, The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music.

Other Engagements 

The Joffrey + Ballet in the U.S., Wrightwood 659 | October 3, 2025 – January 31, 2026

Opening October 3, 2025, The Joffrey + Ballet in the U.S. is a large-scale exhibition celebrating the rich history of The Joffrey Ballet. The exhibition first debuted at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center in 2024, marking the first major retrospective of the company. Drawing from the Joffrey archive, acquired by the Jerome Robbins Dance Division in 2017 as the library's largest acquisition in a decade, the exhibition offers an in-depth look at the Joffrey's contributions to American ballet. Now, in the city the Joffrey has called home for 30 years, Wrightwood 659 will host this landmark exhibition, further honoring the company's cultural impact.

ART on THE MART | November 2 – December 28, 2025  

ART on THE MART celebrates the 10th anniversary of The Joffrey Ballet's The Nutcracker. Figures from Christopher Wheeldon's re-imagined Chicago World's Fair-themed production will dance across the imposing facade of THE MART.   

The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet: Winning Works | March 2026  

The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet presents five world premieres in the culmination of Joffrey's national call for ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American) artists. Winning Works will be presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago's Edlis Neeson Theater.  

With gratitude to Winning Works Sponsor Pritzker Foundation.

Tickets and Subscriptions for the Joffrey's 2025–2026 Season Performances  

Three-program subscriptions for the fall, winter, and spring season productions, which do not include The Nutcracker, start at $135. Subscriptions are available for purchase online at joffrey.org, by mail (Joffrey Ballet Subscriptions, The Joffrey Ballet, Joffrey Tower, 10 East Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601), by telephone at 312.386.8905, by fax at 312.739.0119 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Single tickets for the September, February, and June performances, as well as The Nutcracker, will be available starting this summer. Single tickets are available by telephone at 312.386.8905 or online at joffrey.org. Please visit our website for updates.  

All performances are subject to change.  

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 70 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 2025–2026 70^th Anniversary Season Sponsors: The Abbott Fund, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, The Florian Fund, Anne L. Kaplan, and Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation.

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

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

Broadway In Chicago is excited to announce individual tickets for RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION will go on sale on Friday, February 21. RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION will play Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) for a limited one-week engagement, April 22 - 27.

RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION production photos here. RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION Sizzle Reels here.

ABOUT RIVERDANCE 30 - THE NEW GENERATION
RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION rejuvenates the much-loved original show with new innovative choreography and costumes and state of the art lighting, projection and motion graphics. And for the first time, RIVERDANCE will welcome “The New Generation” of performers, all of whom were not born when the show began 30 years ago.

John McColgan, Director of RIVERDANCE, said “It is both a privilege and a delight to celebrate 30 years of RIVERDANCE and the unique journey it has taken us on. In those 30 years the show has transformed from a spectacle into a global cultural phenomenon – continuously evolving yet remaining true to its Irish roots. On this upcoming tour we look forward to welcoming ‘The New Generation’ of artists while paying tribute to the talented performers, creators, dedicated crew, and the millions of fans who have made RIVERDANCE a worldwide celebration of music and dance.”

Audiences will enjoy a unique and memorable performance which blends the traditional and the contemporary, showcasing the skill and passion of the world-class dancers, musicians and singers in the RIVERDANCE ensemble.

For the complete RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION 2025 North American Tour schedule and updates, please visit www.riverdance.com.

Since RIVERDANCE first emerged onto the world stage, its fusion of Irish and international dance and music has captured the hearts of millions worldwide. The Grammy award-winning music and the infectious energy of its mesmerizing choreography and breathtaking performances has left audiences in awe and established RIVERDANCE as a global cultural sensation.

RIVERDANCE began its journey as the interval act in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, produced for television by Moya Doherty. This electrifying and innovative seven-minute dance piece was then developed into a full-length stage show by Producer Moya Doherty, Composer Bill Whelan and Director John McColgan . With its fusion of Irish and international music and dance, the show broke all box office records during its world première run in Dublin in early 1995. When the show transferred to London the reaction was unprecedented. There followed a hugely successful tour starting in New York in March 1996, where eight sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall heralded the start of more than two decades of touring by RIVERDANCE companies throughout North America. Since its inception, RIVERDANCE has packed theatres throughout North America, Oceania, Asia, Europe, South Africa and South America.

RIVERDANCE 30 - THE NEW GENERATION is designed by lead designer Peter Canning, featuring sets by Alan Farquharson, lighting by Andrew Voller and video by Cosmo AV along with costumes by Joan Bergin and sound by Michael O’Gorman.

For more information, please visit:
Website: www.riverdance.com
Facebook: @Riverdance
X: @Riverdance
Instagram: @Riverdance
TikTok: @Riverdance

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Tuesday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 26 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 27 at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets for RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION will go on sale to the public on Friday, February 21 and range from $35.00 - $95.00 with a select number of premium tickets available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more  information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

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

For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● TikTok @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago's only women-centered Equity storefront theatre, ushers in its 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of No Such Thing by Rivendell Ensemble Member Lisa Dillman and directed by Malkia Stampley. No Such Thing runs March 22 – April 27, 2025, with a press opening on Tuesday, April 1 at 7pm.

Tickets are now available at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago, (773) 334-7728 or www.RivendellTheatre.org.

Ren was once a sought-after screenwriter. Now in late middle age, her career foundering, she finds her-self at a crossroads of social and professional invisibility. Seeking the intimacy that's been missing from her friendly but sexless marriage without capsizing the rest of her life, she begins an intricately construct-ed affair that blends sex and storytelling. Fact and fiction collide.

No Such Thing looks at the question of what makes a life story and charts the unpredictable changes to that story in a society that tends to downsize women out of some of their most productive years.

The cast of No Such Thing includes RTE member Jessica Ervin (Olivia) with Susan Gosdick (Ren), Matt DeCaro (Ted), Cheryl Hamada (Marilyn) and Josh Odor (Fallon).

The creative team includes: Lauren Nichols (Scenic Design), Evelyn Danner (Costume Design), Madeleine Reid (Lighting Design), Ethan Korvne (Sound Design), Lonnae Hickman (Props Designer), Shan-non Golden (Production Manager), Kristi Martens* (Stage Manager) and Autumn Dancy (Assistant Stage Manager).

"When I was younger, I had a bird's-eye view of my mother's experience as she transitioned into and be-yond middle age. It seemed as if a societal curtain had dropped—she gradually became invisible. What she experienced as she got older, I've since learned firsthand, is all too common for women in this country. When I experienced it myself, I admit it became a bit of an obsession," comments Lisa Dillman. "In writing No Such Thing, I set out to create a portrait of one woman's struggle to step over the societal boundary lines that so many women encounter as they age past society's view of who is relevant, attractive, and acceptable in our world. And I couldn't be more thrilled that this play is going to premiere at my longtime artistic home, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, whose mission it is to elevate the lives of all women through the power of theatre."

Artistic Director Tara Mallen comments, "No Such Thing is the absolute embodiment of Rivendell's 30 years of excellence – a new play developed through our Fresh Produce developmental series, featuring contributions from a cadre of genius artists, with a resonant story told from an all too often invisible perspective – a woman over sixty. We are delighted to offer Chicago yet another provocative and surprising work penned by our longtime ensemble member Lisa Dillman, and cannot imagine a better way to kick off our 30th anniversary season!"

The Production Sponsor is Michael Litt.

About the Artists

Lisa Dillman (playwright) is a longtime ensemble member of Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, where her plays American Wee Pie, The Walls, and Chiaroscuro all premiered. Her work includes Ground, Rock Shore, American Wee-Pie, Half of Plenty, The Walls, and Just Cause (co-written with Todd Logan), among others. In addition to Rivendell, her plays have been produced by Steppenwolf Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville (Humana Festival), American Theatre Company, Seattle Public Theatre, Rogue Ma-chine, Station Theatre, Tipping Point Theatre, and other companies as well as at universities across the country. Dillman has received commissions from Steppenwolf, Goodman, Northlight, Baltimore Center-stage, Rivendell, and the Chicago Humanities Festival and has developed work at the O'Neill, PlayPenn, Goodman's Playwrights Unit, Chicago Dramatists (where she is a Resident Alum), ACT Theatre/ Hedgebrook Women Playwrights Festival, and others. Dillman's work is published by Samuel French/Concord Theatricals, and Dramatic Publishing, as well as anthologized in collections from Heinemann, Playscripts Inc., Smith and Kraus, and New Issues Press.

Malkia Stampley (director) is a director, actor and Goodman Theatre's BOLD Artistic Producer. Select directing credits: Primary Trust and In My Granny's Garden (Goodman Theatre); Nunsense and Nina Simone: Four Women (Milwaukee Rep), The October Storm (Raven, Jeff-nominated, Best Director), Boulevard of Bold Dreams (TimeLine), STEW (Shattered Globe), Black Nativity (Black Arts MKE), The Gift of the Magi (American Players), Five Guys Named Moe (Skylight Music), Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill (Farmers Alley), Exit Strategy (Northwestern). She is a Milwaukee native, Ensemble Member of Congo Square Theatre and co-founder of Bronzeville Arts Ensemble and Milwaukee Black Theater Festival.

Matt DeCaro (Ted) has most recently appeared as Winston Churchill in The Audience at Drury Lane Theatre where he also appeared as Big Daddy in A Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, for which he received a Joseph Jefferson Award. His recent credits include The Cherry Orchard at Goodman Theatre and Kansas City Rep's premiere of Flood. He was a company member for several seasons at Sarasota's Asolo Repertory Theater. Roles there include: LBJ in The Great Society, Oscar Hubbard in The Little Foxes, Gene in Frank Galati's Rhinoceros and Stan in Sweat. Matt has been fortunate to play in theaters across the country including Lincoln Center, Manhattan Theatre Club, Goodman Theatre, Guthrie Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, The Old Globe Theatre, San Francisco's A.C.T., and internationally in Dublin, Toronto and China. Some favorite roles include the Judge in David Mamet's Romance, Dave Moss in Glengarry Glen Ross, Boss Mangan in Heartbreak House, Boolie in Driving Miss Daisy, and Fa Hai in Mary Zimmerman's The White Snake. His TV and film credits include The Wise Kids, Eagle Eye, "House," "The Office," "Prison Break," and "Curb Your Enthusiasm," among many others.

Jessica Ervin (Olivia) is an ensemble member at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble where she originated the role of Annie in Rivendell's Jeff Award-winning production of Motherhouse. Other credits with Rivendell include: Dry Land (Jeff Nomination - Actress in a Principal Role), I Wanna F*cking Tear You Apart; The Firebirds Take the Field; and understudying Scientific Method, Alias Grace, and the tour of Women at War. Ervin's other theatrical work includes roles with Goodman Theatre, Minetta Lane Theatre, Strawdog Theatre Company, A Red Orchid Theatre, American Blues Theater, Walkabout Theater Company, Route 66 Theatre Company, Kalliope and Co., and Prop Thtr. On-screen, she has appeared on Chicago Fire (NBC), and in the films Princess Cyd, Provo, Teacher, Lucid, and Late Bloomer, in addition to other shorts and a commercial for CDW NetApp. Ervin is a graduate of The School at Steppenwolf and Ball State University.

Susan Gosdick (Ren) Recent performances include: My Fair Lady (Paramount Theatre); A Christmas Story (Theatre at the Center); Women Who Steal, Indian Blood, Our Town (Artists' Ensemble Theatre); Musical Comedy Murders 1940 (Drury Lane Oakbrook); Trial By Jury, Cox and Box (Transgressive Theatre-Opera); Nathan the Wise (Chicago Festival of the Arts); Henry V, Richard II, The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare Project), The Old Globe Theatre, Lincoln Center Institute, and Ma-Yi Theatre. As a dialect coach, she has worked with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Paramount Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Chicago Opera Theater, Pulse Theatre Chicago, Invictus Theatre Company, Music Theater Works, Shattered Globe, Artistic Home, and teaches voice / dialects at Columbia College Chicago and Roosevelt University.

Cheryl Hamada (Marilyn) recently appeared in Token Theatre's premiere production of Zac Efron. Other stage work includes Chimerica (TimeLine Theatre), Washer/Dryer (Rasaka Theatre), Yohen and Golden Child (Silk Road Rising), Race (Lookingglass Theatre Company), A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre), ER: Emergency Room (Organic Theatre) and Innocent Thoughts, Harmless Intentions (Next Theatre-Jeff Citation). Her TV/Film credits include her work for the WTTW and national PBS pledge drives, hosting 4 seasons of the HGTV series Extreme Homes, one season of WTTW's Your Chicago Kitchen and film roles in About Schmidt, The Dilemma, Nothing Like the Holidays, Above the Law, Chain Reaction, Chicago Hope, Boss, Unsolved Mysteries and the indie film Relative. She also appeared recently in episodes of Chicago Med and the limited series Emperor of Ocean Park.

Josh Odor (Fallon) is excited to be back working with Rivendell where he previously performed in Scientific Method, The Firebirds Take the Field and I Wanna F*cking Tear You Apart. Most recently he was in Facility's Right Now (Jeff Award for Best Ensemble), No Man's Land at Steppenwolf Theatre and Origin Story in Cincinnati at Playhouse in the Park. Odor has worked with the Goodman Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre Company, TimeLine Theatre, Steep Theater, Jackalope Theatre Company and the The Artistic Home Theater, among others over the past 20 years. TV/Film credits: The Chi, Chicago Med/PD/Fire, Boss, Betrayal, Janie Jones and The Express. He is represented by DDO Chicago and is a proud member of SAG/AFTRA.

Fact Sheet

Title:      No Such Thing

Written by: RTE member Lisa Dillman±

Directed by: Malkia Stampley

Featuring: RTE member Jessica Ervin (Olivia) with Susan Gosdick* (Ren), Matt DeCaro* (Ted), Cheryl Hamada* (Marilyn) and Josh Odor (Fallon).

Creative Team: Lauren Nichols (Scenic Design), Evelyn Danner (Costume Design), Madeleine Reid (Lighting Design), Ethan Korvne (Sound Design), Lonnae Hickman (Props Designer), Shannon Golden (Production Manager), Kristi Martens* (Stage Manager) and Autumn Dancy (Assistant Stage Manager)

Production Sponsor: Michael Litt

*= Member of Actors Equity Association

± = RTE Member

Dates: March 22 – April 27, 2025

Previews: March 22 – 29, 2025

Gala Opening: Sunday, March 30 at 6pm

Press Opening: Tuesday, April 1 at 7:00pm

Regular Run: April 3 – April 27, 2025

Schedule: Thursdays at 8:00pm

Fridays at 8:00pm

Saturdays at 4:00pm and 8:00pm

Masks Required performances: 

Saturday, April 5 at 4pm

Sunday, April 13 at 3pm

Special added performances include: 

Sunday, April 13 at 3:00pm

Monday, April 21 at 8:00pm (Industry Night) 

Sunday, April 27 at 3:00pm (Closing)

Performance with Post-Show Town Hall:

Saturday, April 12 immediately following the 4pm performance

Tickets: $39 General Admission

$17 Student, Educators, Military/Veterans, Industry (Limited quantity, first-come, first-served)

$28 Seniors 

$49 Sponsor Admission (to help us pay artists fair wages by covering the full cost of a seat at the performance)

$94 Angel Admission (1 Basic Admission, plus helping to cover discounted or free tickets to people who need them)

Membership / Subscription

RIV Pass: $95 (see Rivendell productions and other events as often as desired)

Box Office: (773) 334-7728 or www.RivendellTheatre.org

Parking and Transportation: There is limited paid and free street parking in the area. The theatre is easily accessible via the Clark (#22) or Broadway (#36) bus and is a short walk from the Bryn Mawr Red Line L station.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble: 30 Years of Transformative Impact

After three decades firmly in the cultural landscape of Chicago, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble has learned one very important thing: even in a small space you can tell big stories.

And telling big, impactful stories in an intimate environment is what Rivendell does best.

Serving as a narrative of change, Rivendell's 30th Anniversary Season continues to make a tangible difference in the world by giving voice to women through artistic recognition of their lives with the support of an award-winning ensemble of artists, combating the inequities experienced by women in the theater landscape through gender parity at all levels of theatrical production, and by creating a meaningful and rewarding experience for audiences and community by being a catalyst for conversation through relevant, insightful stories and outreach. 

Artistic Director Tara Mallen founded Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE) in 1994 with a group of like-minded artists who understood that stories must be shared to open minds. And since its inception, Rivendell has grown to uniquely fill an important role in the Chicago and national theatre community as Chicago's premier women-focused storefront theatre. In its 30-year history, Rivendell has earned 12 Joseph Jefferson Awards and nearly four dozen nominations. It is recognized as a national force in new play development and as a home for women theatre artists, engaging over 200 artists and 3,000+ audience members each year through its mainstage season, new work development, and outreach.

For more information about Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, visit http://rivendelltheatre.org. Follow Rivendell on Facebook at Facebook.com/rivendelltheatre and on Instagram at @rivendelltheatre.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble is supported by generous grants from: SIF Fund at The Chicago Community Trust; TERRA Foundation for American Art, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Shubert Foundation; Illinois Arts Council Agency; The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; Sarah and the 2 C Dogs and Amazing Edibles.

 Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to announce full casting for the Chicago premiere of The Book of Grace, an incendiary family portrait by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks (Topdog/Underdog), directed by Steve H. Broadnax III. 

The Book of Grace will feature ensemble member Namir Smallwood (Steppenwolf: Bug, True West–also Galway Festival, Seagull. Broadway/Off-Broadway: Pass Over. TV: American Rust) with Jerome Preston Bates (Broadway: Seven Guitars, Stick Fly, Jitney. TV: All My Children) and Zainab Jah (Broadway: Eclipsed. Off-Broadway: School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play. TV: Only Murders in the Building).

The Book of Grace will play March 27 – May 18, 2025 in Steppenwolf's Ensemble Theater in Honor of Helen Zell, 1646 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. Single tickets starting at $20 are now on sale at steppenwolf.org or the Box Office at (312) 335-1650. The press opening is Sunday, April 6, 2025 at 6 pm.

About the Production:

Grace looks for the good in everything: in her husband's rules, in the border he patrols, in the return of his estranged son. But a want for goodness cannot unwind the past, as this taut family reunion explodes in all directions. Witness this startling reminder that the search for common ground can be bloody and brutal, leaving casualties on every side of the divide.

Steppenwolf is thrilled that the Chicago premiere of The Book of Grace offers playwright Suzan-Lori Parks an opportunity to revisit this "companion" to Topdog/Underdog, deepening and expanding the world of her play for the present day.

The creative team includes Arnel Sancianco (Scenic Design), Raquel Adorno (Costume Design), Jason Lynch (Lighting Design), Curtis Craig (Sound Design & Original Music), Rasean Davonté Johnson (Projection Design) Kate DeVore (Vocal Coach), Jonathan L. Green (Dramaturg), Patrick Zakem (Creative Producer), Elise Hausken (Production Manager), JC Clementz, CSA (Casting), Michelle Medvin (Production Stage Manager) and Jaclynn Joslin (Assistant Stage Manager). For cast and creative team bios, click here.

Production Details:

Title: The Book of Grace
Playwright: Suzan-Lori Parks
Director: Steve H. Broadnax III
Cast: Ensemble member Namir Smallwood (Buddy) with Jerome Preston Bates (Vet) and Zainab Jah (Grace),

Location: Steppenwolf's Ensemble Theater in Honor of Helen Zell, 1646 N. Halsted St., Chicago

Dates: Previews: Thursday, March 27 – Saturday, April 5, 2025
Press performance/Opening: Sunday, April 6, 2025 at 6 pm
Regular run: Thursday, April 10 – Sunday, May 18, 2025
Curtain Times: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays at 3 pm & 7:30 pm; and Sundays at 3 pm. Please note: there will not be performances on Tuesday, April 1 at 7:30 pm, Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 pm, Wednesday, April 9 at 7:30 pm, Tuesday, April 22 at 7:30 pm, Wednesday, April 23 at 7:30 pm, Wednesday, May 7 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, May 10 at 3 pm or 7:30 pm; Sunday, May 11 at 3 pm or Tuesday, May 13 at 7:30 pm; there will be an added matinee performance on Wednesday, May 7 at 2 pm.

Tickets: Single tickets for The Book of Grace ($20 - $102) are now on sale at steppenwolf.org and the Box Office at (312) 335-1650. Steppenwolf Flex Memberships are also currently on sale: Black Card Memberships with six tickets for use any time for any production and RED Card Memberships for theatergoers under 30.

Accessible Performance Dates:

Audio-described and Touch Tour: Sunday, May 4 at 3 pm (1:30 pm touch tour)
Open-Captioned: Saturday, May 3 at 3 pm & Thursday, May 8 at 7:30 pm
ASL-Interpreted: Friday, May 16 at 7:30 pm

Education and Engagement:

Throughout the 2024/25 season, Steppenwolf continues its commitment to the next generation of theatre learners, makers and appreciators with robust education and engagement programming. Programming includes dedicated student matinee performances during four of the five Membership Series productions including Noises Off, Leroy and Lucy, Fool for Love and The Book of Grace, in-school residencies in partnership with Chicago Public schools, workshops, panels and events specifically geared towards teens, as well as professional development trainings and resources for educators. Additionally, Steppenwolf is reimagining their community engagement and will pilot new public programming, continue accessibility programming and offer opportunities for deeper explorations for audiences throughout the season. For additional information about Steppenwolf's Education and Engagement programming and to register your school for a field trip, visit steppenwolf.org/education-and-engagement/steppenwolf-field-trip-series.

Artist Biographies:

Jerome Preston Bates (Vet) Broadway: Seven Guitars, Stick Fly, Jitney, American Son, Death of a Salesman. Off Broadway: The Refuge Plays (Roundabout Theatre Company), The Public, Beckett Theatre, Abingdon Theatre, Circle Rep, Playwrights Horizon, New Federal Theatre, Negro Ensemble Company. Regional: Seven Guitars (opposite Viola Davis, world premiere, Goodman Theatre), Yale Repertory, The Kennedy Center, Hartford Stage, Baltimore Center Stage, Arena Stage, Oregon Shakespeare Festival (Comedy of Errors, King Richard III), Old Globe (Macbeth), Folgers (King Lear in association with Classical Theatre of Harlem), Wilma Theater, Arden Theatre, Philadelphia Drama Guild, among others. Director: The Man in Room 304 (Luna Stage), Seven Guitars (Triad Stage), A Raisin in The Sun (Livingstone College), all 10 of the American Century Cycle at Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. Writer: Electric Lady, Augusta Brown, Mr. Unemployed, Jimi Hendrix (screenplay). Film: Shaft (with Samuel L. Jackson), PEEPLES, Musical Chairs, Tio Papi, The Out of Towners. Television: All My Children, Oz, Law and Order, SVU, New York Undercover, Sesame Street, Lights Out, Notes from the Field with Anna DeVere Smith. Awards: seven time AUDELCO winner. Education/Training: LAMDA/London, University of Tennessee, Knoxville College, The New School, Professional Positions: Teaching Staff at Stella Adler School of Acting NY.

Zainab Jah (Grace) Broadway: Eclipsed, Venus, Boesman and Lena. Off Broadway: School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play (MCC); The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (Atlantic Theater Company). Regional: Hamlet (Wilma Theater); The Convert (LATC). Film: Reunion, Farewell Amor, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, False Positive. Television: The Continental, The Blacklist, Only Murders in the Building, The Good Lord Bird, Deep State, Instinct, Blindspot, Elementary, Homeland.

Namir Smallwood (Buddy) joined the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble in 2017. Steppenwolf: Seagull, Bug, True West, BLKS, Monster, Man In Love, The Hot L Baltimore, Last Night and the Night Before. Broadway: Pass Over. Off Broadway: Pipeline, Pass Over (Lincoln Center). Chicago: Primary Trust (Goodman); Charm (Northlight Theatre); The Grapes of Wrath (The Gift Theatre); East Texas Hot Links (Writers Theatre). Regional: Marin Theatre Company, Pillsbury House Theatre, Ten Thousand Things, Guthrie Theater. International: True West (Galway International Arts Festival). Television: Chicago Fire, Betrayal, Elementary, American Rust (Showtime/FreeVee); Power Book IV: Force (STARZ). Film: Rounding, About Time, Bailey's Blues.

Suzan-Lori Parks (Playwright) is a multi-award-winning American writer/musician and the first African-American woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Topdog/Underdog which recently enjoyed its twentieth anniversary Broadway revival. The production won the 2023 Tony Award, (Best Revival Of A Play). Last season she had new works which received world premieres, notably, at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Sally & Tom and, at Joe's Pub in New York City, Plays for the Plague Year (winner of The Drama Desk Award for Best Music in a Play). As a college student, Parks studied creative writing with James Baldwin, who encouraged her to begin writing for the theatre.

Steve H. Broadnax III (Director) Broadway: Thoughts of a Colored Man. Additional: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins's Appropriate at the Old Globe, Suzan-Lori Parks's Sally and Tom at the Public Theatre/ Guthrie Theatre (World Premiere), Katori Hall's Pulitzer Prize Premiere The Hot Wing King at Signature Theatre, Lee Edward Colston's The First Deep Breath, Geffen Theatre (Jeff Awards Best New Work), Dominique Morisseau's Sunset Baby at Signature Theatre and Blood at the Root at the National Black Theatre (Winner of Kennedy Center's Hip Hop Theater Creator Award) and William Jackson Harper's Premiere Travisville Ensemble Studio. Ensemble Studio Theatre member, Associate Artistic Director at People's Light Theatre, Professor of Theatre at Penn State University, and Head of MFA Directing.

Accessibility:

As a commitment to make the Steppenwolf experience accessible to everyone, performances featuring American Sign Language Interpretation, Open Captioning and Audio Description are offered during the run of each STC production (see dates above). Assistive listening devices and large-print programs are available for every performance and all our spaces are equipped with an induction hearing loop. Our building features wheelchair accessible seating and restrooms, push-button entrances, a courtesy wheelchair and all-gender restrooms, with accessible counter and table spaces at our bars. For additional information regarding accessibility, visit steppenwolf.org/access or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sponsor Information:

United Airlines is the Official and Exclusive Airline of Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf is also grateful for the significant season support from lead sponsors Allstate Insurance Company, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, Caroline and Keating Crown, Good Chaos, Joyce Foundation, Lefkofsky Family Foundation, Ron and Paula Mallicoat, Northern Trust, Anne and Don Phillips, John Hart and Carol Prins, Robert Rivkin and Cindy Moelis, Shubert Foundation, Inc, Walder Foundation, and Zell Family Foundation. Steppenwolf also acknowledges generous support from premier sponsors Anonymous, ArentFox Schiff, Andrew and Amy Bluhm, Michael and Cathy Brennan, Ann and Richard Carr, Chicago Community Trust, Conagra Brands Foundation, Steven and Nancy Crown, CRC Group, Rich and Margery Feitler, Julius Frankel Foundation, FROST CHICAGO, Goldman Sachs, Shmaila Tahir and Asheesh Goel, Bob and Amy Greenebaum, Kirkland & Ellis, Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Christopher and Eileen Murphy, The Orlebeke Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, Bryan Traubert and Penny Pritzker, Sacks Family Foundation, Smart Family Foundation of Illinois, Gary Sinise Foundation, Elliot A. Stultz, and Vinci Restaurant. Steppenwolf also acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. This project is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company:

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation's premier Ensemble Theater with 49 members who are among the top actors, playwrights and directors in the field. Thrilling, powerful, groundbreaking productions — from Balm in Gilead and Grapes of Wrath to August: Osage County, Downstate and The Brother/Sister Plays — have made this theatre legendary. Founded in 1976, Steppenwolf started as a group of teens performing in the basement of a church. Today, the company's artistic force remains rooted in the original vision of its founders: an artist-driven theatre, whose vitality is defined by its appetite for bold and innovative work. Every aspect of Steppenwolf is rooted in its Ensemble ethos, from the intergenerational artistic programming to the multi-genre performance series LookOut, to the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf Education and Engagement which serves nearly 15,000 teens annually. While grounded in the Chicago community, more than 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Steppenwolf also holds accolades that include the National Medal of Arts, 12 Tony Awards, and more. Led by Artistic Directors Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis, Executive Director Brooke Flanagan and Board of Trustees Chair, Keating Crown — Steppenwolf continually redefines the landscape of acting and performance.

Steppenwolf's Mission: Steppenwolf strives to create thrilling, courageous and provocative art in a thoughtful and inclusive environment. We succeed when we disrupt your routine with experiences that spark curiosity, empathy and joy. We invite you to join our ensemble as we navigate, together, our complex world. steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre, twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr and instagram.com/steppenwolfthtr.

The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet celebrates the 15^th Anniversary of its choreographic competition, Winning Works, with five world premieres over two weekends in March. This year's competition winners—Karley Childress, Roderick George (Recipient of the Zach Lazar Winning Works Fellowship), Shota Miyoshi, Alejandro Perez, and Keelan Whitmore—each will present an original work created for the Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet Conservatory, Trainees, and Joffrey Studio Company. With an added performance due to popular demand, Winning Works will be presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago's Edlis Neeson Theater (220 E. Chicago Avenue) in nine performances over two weekends, Friday-Sunday, March 14-16, and Thursday-Sunday, March 20-23, 2025. Tickets for Winning Works are $35 and are currently on sale at joffrey.org/winningworks.

The 2025 world premieres mark the culmination of Joffrey's national call for ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American) artists to submit applications for the competition. Now celebrating 15 years, former winners of the Winning Works competition include Jeffrey Cirio (2016), current Lead Principal Dancer with Boston Ballet; Chanel DaSilva (2020), who choreographed a critically acclaimed world premiere for Joffrey's 2022-23 season opener, Beyond Borders; Houston Thomas (2024), who returned to the Grainger Academy to choreograph For Mr. Ramsey Lewis, presented at Ravinia Festival; Amy Hall Garner (2011), the choreographer of the free touring work for families, Rita Finds Home, co-produced by The Joffrey Ballet and Miami City Ballet; and Stephanie Martinez (2015), a featured choreographer on the Joffrey's winter program, The Times Are Racing.

"Winning Works has always been about propelling artists into the next phase of their professional dance journeys," says Abbott Academy Director Suzanne Lopez. "For this special anniversary, we have selected artists who exemplify the innovative spirit of the Winning Works program. Karley, Roderick, Shota, Alejandro, and Keelan offer fresh perspectives and boundless creativity. Their world premieres, crafted in collaboration with the Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet Conservatory, Trainees, and Joffrey Studio Company, promise to captivate audiences with exceptional artistry in this landmark year."

"Reflecting on the profound impact of Winning Works, it's remarkable to see how it has shaped the careers of emerging artists globally," shares The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE. "This program has built a reputation for nurturing the next wave of talent, empowering dancers to take charge of their careers—from the rehearsal studio to the spotlight and into leadership roles. Suzanne has curated an impressive lineup this year, featuring artists ready to push boundaries and challenge our students to explore new, creative approaches to dance. The distinctive viewpoints of these choreographers will undoubtedly drive this program forward, solidifying its role as a catalyst for innovation in dance."

"Our commitment to creating opportunities for artists from diverse backgrounds has truly enriched our institutions and our city," adds Joffrey Ballet President and CEO Greg Cameron. "This milestone achievement is a testament to the invaluable partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art and the unforgettable moments shared with audiences at the Edlis Neeson Theater. Our shared vision of nurturing the next generation of artists has never been stronger, and we look forward to continuing this vital work together."

About The Winners

Karley Childress, originally from Memphis, Tennessee, began her dance journey at Dance Dynamics, studying various styles under So You Think You Can Dance finalist Natalie Fotopoulos. In 2014, she expanded her ballet training at Collage Dance Collective with Kevin Thomas. She attended several summer intensives, including CPYB's five-week program in 2015. Childress then trained exclusively with Ballet Memphis, studying under Janet Parke and the Rameys, performing in showcases and the production of Steve McMahon's Romeo and Juliet. She also choreographed four works for the school, including Human First (2018), Hometown Glory (2018), There Will Be Time (2018), and Tweet Tweet, Tick-Tock, AHHH (2019). Childress attended intensives with Sonya Tayeh and Milwaukee Ballet, and in 2020, joined the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, learning diverse techniques and performing various works. Graduating with a BFA in contemporary dance in May 2024, Childress aims to join a professional company and further explore choreography.

Roderick George (Recipient of the Zach Lazar Winning Works Fellowship), born and raised in Houston, Texas, began his dance training at Ben Stevenson's Houston Ballet Academy. He furthered his skills at The Alvin Ailey School, Miami City Ballet, and The LINES Ballet Professional Program while attending the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA). George won bronze at the Youth American Grand Prix in 2005 and was a YoungArts Winner and Presidential Scholar of the Arts in 2003. He has danced with Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Basel Ballet, GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, and The Forsythe Company. George has collaborated with choreographers like Marie Chouinard, Jorma Elo, and William Forsythe. He showcased his choreography at Cedar Lake, Ballett Basel, and GöteborgsOperans Danskompani. George founded kNoname Artist in 2015, blending various dance forms to create unique, thought-provoking performances. His company has performed at numerous festivals, including Jacob's Pillow and Fall for Dance. Recently, George received the YoungArts Fellow Winner for 2021-2022, the Mertz Gilmore Dancer Award 2023-2026, the 2024 NPC Creation & Development Fund Award, and the inaugural Fitzpatrick Award from Jacob's Pillow.

Shota Miyoshi, born in Japan, works across jazz, ballet, tap and hip hop. Miyoshi moved to the U.S. when he was 19 years old and received his BFA in dance from SUNY Purchase College in 2022, where he studied ballet and modern techniques, such as Graham and Cunningham-style improvisation and choreography. He received an Adapt-a-Dancer Scholarship from SUNY Purchase College and joined Hubbard Street Dance as a company artist in 2022. He has performed works by Aszure Barton, Lar Lubovitch, Rena Butler, Rennie Harris, Maria Torres, FLOCK, Alice Klock and Florian Lochner, Johan Inger, Darrell Grand Moultrie, and Amy Hall Garner.

Alejandro Perez is a first-generation Mexican American from Los Angeles, California. Beginning training at the age of 12, Perez joined a street dance crew in which he competed and showcased internationally. Perez's passion continued to unfold as he enrolled at Hamilton Performing Arts High School and later received scholarships from the University of California Los Angeles, Jacob's Pillow Ballet Summer Programs, and Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program. Perez completed a three-week residency in the world-renowned Orsolina28 in Moncalvo, Italy, dancing under the direction of former Winning Works winner Mike Tyus. Perez has been a performer and a collaborator with Sidra Bell Dance NYC, ISHIDA Dance, Dawsondancesf, ZiRu Dance, Mike Tyus & Co., and several other companies throughout the US. Perez has set works on the LINES Ballet Training Program, Summer Program in San Francisco, Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP), California summer school for the arts, AMDA LA, and Santa Monica College.

Keelan Whitmore, a native of Rockford, Illinois, trained at Rockford Dance Company and Joffrey Ballet School/New School University, NY. He graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy and St. Mary's College L.E.A.P. Program with a BA in Dance Performance, receiving the Dean's Professional Student Award. Whitmore danced with the Kansas City Ballet (2001-2006), Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and performed at the Kennedy Center and Edinburgh International Dance Festival. As a choreographer and educator, his work has been featured by Schauspiel Dortmund, TanzTheater Münster, Kansas City Ballet, and others. He co-founded Quixotic Fusion in 2006 and danced with Alonzo King LINES Ballet (2006-2013) and TanzTheater Münster (2014-2021), receiving the Outstanding Artist Award in 2019. For the 2022-2023 season, Whitmore returned to Theater Münster, and joined BalletX as Rehearsal Director and Community Liaison for the 2023-2024 Season.

Ticket Information  

Tickets for Winning Works are $35 and are currently on sale at joffrey.org/winningworks. Performances take place on Friday, March 14 at 7:30 PM, Saturday, March 15 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM, Sunday, March 16 at 2:00 PM, Thursday, March 20 at 7:30 PM, Friday, March 21 at 7:30 PM, Saturday, March 22 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM, and Sunday, March 23 at 2:00 PM.

About the Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet

Founded in 2010 as the Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, the Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet provides students of all ages, levels, and backgrounds with a world-class education built on a foundation of classical ballet.  

Based in the heart of Chicago's theater district, the 20,000-square-foot Exelon Education Center at Joffrey Tower, home to the Academy, boasts four state-of-the-art studios and facilities. In 2021, The Joffrey Ballet acquired two more state-of-the-art studios in the South Loop of Chicago. In addition, the Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet received the Boeing Game Changer Award in recognition of its efforts to make dance accessible to everyone.  

The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet, located in Chicago, Illinois, is the only school that follows the organizational mission, training syllabi, and artistic vision of The Joffrey Ballet. No other program, including those holding the Joffrey name, is sanctioned by The Joffrey Ballet.  

For more information on the Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet and its programs, please visit joffrey.org/academy.

Avalanche Theatre announces its Chicago debut with the world premiere of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue by Chicago playwright Melanie Coffey, May 1–24, 2025 (Press Opening May 4) at Bramble Arts Loft, 5545 N. Clark Street. This is Avalanche’s first full production following several years developing new plays with Chicago playwrights.

Time is a Color and the Color is Blue—which was originally developed in Avalanche’s new play incubator the Next Draft Series in 2023—is a survival drama exploring climate change, grief, forgiveness, and letting go, all within a theater transformed into an ice cave. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit avalanchetheatre.com/time-is-a-color.

"Avalanche has been dedicated to new play development in Chicago for years, and we could not be more excited to bring Melanie Coffey’s play to life,” says Avalanche Theatre’s Artistic Director Alexander Attea, sound designer for the production. "In a world where it feels more relevant than ever to interrogate how our choices impact our environment and the people around us, Time is a Color and the Color is Blue serves as an incredibly powerful call to action. It’s been a joy to see this play evolve from our first workshop, and we’re honored to present its world premiere as our debut production.”

Set in an ice cave, Time is a Color and the Color is Blue follows a glaciologist, Whittaker, who becomes trapped in the cave while searching for the oldest known cave paintings. As her team waits out the storm in their lab, her mind begins to spiral, memories and guilt melding and folding in on each other just like pressurized ice thousands of feet below the surface. Trapped and losing oxygen fast, Whittaker must confront how she can ask forgiveness—from the Earth, from the ice cave, from loved ones she's hurt, and from herself.

“Time is a Color and the Color is Blue weaves a story of guilt and love and ice that breaks the surface and snaps as it comes up for air. It could only have been possible with Avalanche Theatre,” says playwright Melanie Coffey. “They helped take the bones of a play and provided the space and time and resources to meld it into what you see on stage. Going from a four-month development workshop into a production with the same theater team is a true luxury.”

Avalanche Theatre’s world premiere of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue plays May 1–24, 2025, at Bramble Arts Loft, 5545 N. Clark Street in Chicago. Press opening is Sunday, May 4 at 7 p.m. Tickets are now available starting at $15 at avalanchetheatre.com/time-is-a-color. A special edition of the script, published by Avalanche Theatre, will also be available for purchase as a ticket add-on.

The cast of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue features Avalanche Theatre ensemble members Alice Wu, Stephanie Fongheiser, Gabriela Diaz and Martina Logan. The cast also includes Bryan Nicholas Carter, Sabine Wan, Harper McCoy and Mary Mikva. Understudies for the production are Christy Cutts, Michaela Voit, Leslie Huang, Izzi King and Aden Haq.

Time is a Color and the Color is Blue is directed by Avalanche Theatre’s Executive Director Zoe Sjogerman. She is joined by assistant director and dramaturg Maddy Brown, who played a key role in shaping the development of the script during its workshop process. The design team includes scenic designers Ab Rieve and Micaela McCabe, costume designer Martina Logan, lighting designer Nathan Keiller, sound designer Alexander Attea, and stage manager Lois Chermansky. The play features original music by Eva Mattioli.

“I fell in love with this play the moment I read it. Working on this piece—from workshopping an early draft to bringing it to life in a full production—has been an incredibly meaningful and unique experience. Melanie has created a world that is both beautiful and unflinchingly honest in its exploration of intense and complex subjects. Living within this world and these words has truly been an honor,” says Executive Director Zoe Sjogerman, who helms this production after directing the play’s 2023 workshop with Avalanche.

About Avalanche Theatre

Founded in 2019 by Alexander Attea and Zoe Sjogerman, Avalanche Theatre is Chicago’s new home for new play development. With a mission centered on developing new plays by Chicago playwrights, Avalanche has workshopped scripts that have subsequently appeared on stages including the Goodman Theatre, Shattered Globe Theatre, Alleyway Theatre, Silk Road Cultural Center, Renaissance Theatreworks, and others, as well as recognition from the Maxim Mazumdar New Play Award and as Finalists & Semi-Finalists for the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference. Through its script development programs like the Next Draft Series and its monthly Show & Tell events, Avalanche is committed to elevating the voices of Chicago’s emerging playwrights. For more information, visit AvalancheTheatre.com.