Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) and Executive Director David McDermott today announced programming for its 2024/25 season, Season 47. This year, the company ushers in a new era with prestigious collaborations, including the company's Steppenwolf Theatre Company debut. HSDC's 47th Season will also inaugurate a partnership with The Verdon Fosse® Legacy, making Hubbard Street Dance Chicago the only company in the world to be granted approval to add a Bob Fosse® work in its repertoire.

Blending timeless choreography with contemporary flair, the Season 47: Fall Series (Nov. 15-24) will mark Hubbard Street's first engagement at Chicago's landmark Steppenwolf Theatre Company (1650 N. Halsted St.). The program is set to feature the Company Premiere of Sweet Gwen Suite choreographed by American dance legend Bob Fosse with his longtime muse Gwen Verdon through a milestone collaboration with The Verdon Fosse® Legacy. Verdon's admiration for HSDC began in the 1980s when she sought to adapt Fosse's works for concert dance, which included staging Fosse's Percussion 4 for the company during Fisher-Harrell's tenure as a HSDC dancer.

"Gwen Verdon adored the Hubbard Street dancers for their diversity and abilities to authentically embody a wide variety of styles," said Nicole Fosse, founder and artistic director of The Verdon Fosse® Legacy. "The current company's limitless abilities, under Artistic Direction of Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, continue to hold true today." Nicole Fosse, daughter of Verdon and Fosse and Allen Fields (Director of Creative Development of The Verdon Fosse® Legacy) continue the mission of bringing the genius of Bob Fosse® to world-wide audiences.

The Fall Series will also feature the tour de force solo piece Show Pony by Kyle Abraham and the intimate Prelude to a Kiss by Lar Lubovitch. Two pieces by Resident Artist Aszure Barton, now in her second year of residency with HSDC, will round out the program; the contemplative return to patience and the breathtaking hit BUSK. The Chicago Tribune raved, "BUSK and return to patience make crystal clear why Barton and Hubbard Street are so good for each other. Both are works Hubbard Street can do better than just about anyone else."

"Steppenwolf is thrilled to welcome Hubbard Street Dance to our artistic home this year," said E. Brooke Flanagan, Executive Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. "We invite audiences to buckle-up for this exhilarating ride of a program and celebration of a globally recognized Chicago-based dance company that shares our theater's commitment to ground-breaking innovation and thought-provoking work."

In February 2025, Hubbard Street returns to its Chicago home at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph St.) for Winter Series (Feb. 13-16). Featuring Johan Inger's fantastical adventure IMPASSE, hailed by See Chicago Dance as "immensely entertaining" and a World Premiere by the dynamic, genre-defying choreographer James Gregg, Winter Series will also include additional works to be announced.

HSDC caps Season 47 with Spring Series at the Harris (May 16-18) which will feature a World Premiere by the Interim Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Matthew Rushing. Sweet Gwen Suite by Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon will light up the Harris stage, in addition to the Company Premiere of Resident Artist Aszure Barton's spectacular choreographic collage Blue Soup.

HSDC Artistic Director Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell said about Season 47, "The 2024/25 Season line-up perfectly demonstrates our values of artistry, belonging and curiosity - and how thrilling it is to work toward our mission of awakening the human spirit through contemporary dance with our incredible new partners at The Verdon Fosse Legacy and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Not only do we get to continue our collaboration with Resident Artist Aszure Barton, but what better way to harken back to our jazz roots than with Fosse? When Gwen Verdon came to HSDC in the early 90s to stage Percussion 4 on the Company, it was just magical, and I am honored that Nicole and The Verdon Fosse Legacy are entrusting us with this delicious work. With Steppenwolf, I have admired how Glenn, Audrey, and Brooke are reimagining what the Company means to Chicago and the greater arts community, so to be welcomed in by them so warmly is a tremendous gift. We are so looking forward to reaching even more new audiences with our 47th season."

Subscriptions for Season 47 will be available starting in July 2024, with subscription prices beginning at $104 plus a $12 handling fee, based on price zones selected. HSDC is also proud to once again offer Young Professionals Subscription packages for just $60 plus a handling fee, which includes one Section 3 ticket per series. Visit hubbardstreetdance.com/subscribe to learn more.

Hubbard Street is grateful to our Season 47 Partners Athletico Physical Therapy and the Illinois Arts Council for their continued support.

The Season 47 performance schedule is as follows:

FALL SERIES

Friday, November 15 – Sunday, November 24, 2024

At Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Downstairs Theater

Friday, November 15 at 7pm

Saturday, November 16 at 7pm

Sunday, November 17 at 2:30pm

Thursday, November 21 at 7pm

Friday, November 22 at 7pm

Saturday, November 23 at 7pm

Sunday, November 24 at 2:30pm

Featuring:

return to patience by Aszure Barton

Show Pony by Kyle Abraham

Prelude to a Kiss by Lar Lubovitch

Sweet Gwen Suite by Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon

BUSK by Aszure Barton

WINTER SERIES

Thursday, February 13 – Sunday, February 16, 2025

At the Harris Theater for Music & Dance

Thursday, February 13 at 7:30pm

Friday, February 14 at 7:30pm

Saturday, February 15 at 7:30pm

Sunday, February 16 at 3pm

Featuring:

IMPASSE by Johan Inger

A World Premiere by James Gregg

And more to be announced.

SPRING SERIES

Friday, May 16 – Sunday, May 18, 2025

At the Harris Theater for Music & Dance

Friday, May 16 at 7:30pm

Saturday, May 17 at 7:30pm

Sunday, May 18 at 3pm

Featuring:

A World Premiere by Matthew Rushing

Sweet Gwen Suite by Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon

Blue Soup by Aszure Barton

Choreographer Bios can be found here.

About Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's mission is to awaken the human spirit through contemporary dance, envisioning a dance landscape that is relevant and accessible to all.

For 47 years, Hubbard Street has been one of the most original forces in contemporary dance – bringing top choreographers and works to Chicago and beyond. Hubbard Street's ever-evolving repertory, created by today's leading choreographic voices, makes them a company that dancers aspire to join and performance venues all over the world are eager to host. To date, the main company has performed globally in 19 countries and 44 U.S. states.

At home in Chicago, Hubbard Street performs 20 times a year and delivers renowned education programs in 50 classrooms across 17 Chicagoland schools. HSDC Education utilizes the choreographic process to teach essential problem-solving skills, creativity, and collaboration - expanding our reach beyond traditional concert dance audiences, ensuring that everyone has access to world-class dance and instruction.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago grew out of the Lou Conte Dance Studio in 1977, and Conte served as Artistic Director for 23 years. Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell began her tenure at the company in March 2021. In January 2022, HSDC moved to their new home in Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue and acclaimed choreographer Aszure Barton was named Resident Artist in January 2023. Visit www.hubbardstreetdance.com for more information.

The Joffrey Ballet announces the programming for the Joffrey for All free performance, which will feature a mixed repertory program in Millennium Park by Joffrey Company Artists and students from the Joffrey Academy of Dance Community Engagement programs. The program is comprised of a series of powerful performances by the most pioneering choreographers from around the globe, including Cathy Marston, Justin Peck, Yuri Possokhov, Christopher Wheeldon, and 2024 Winning Works Choreographer Manoela Gonçalves. The Joffrey Ballet for All free performance kicks off with family-friendly movement classes featuring partner organizations, including the Poetry Foundation and Ensemble Español, starting at 4:15pm on the lawn, followed by the mixed rep program at 5:30pm on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE says, "The Joffrey for All free performance is truly a gift to the people of Chicago, offering the opportunity to see works by powerhouse choreographers, in addition to pieces illustrating the breadth of our Academy and Community Engagement programs. I am especially delighted to share an excerpt from Carousel: A Dance by Christopher Wheeldon, which will be the final performance by retiring artist Christine Rocas, who celebrates 20 illustrious years at the Joffrey. Audiences will also see works from our upcoming 2024-2025 season: Yuri Possokhov's Andante and Cathy Marston's Heimat (a preview of the beauty to come in our season opener, Atonement)."

Joffrey President and CEO Greg Cameron says, "The first-ever Joffrey for All free performance took place in June 2023, opening our arms to over 7,500 Chicagoans in the heart of the city. This year, with gratitude to our Producing Sponsor, Gallagher, we are planning an even larger celebration by partnering with community organizations for free dance workshops to allow everyone to experience the joy of dance. The Joffrey for All free performance reflects the collaborative spirit of the city of Chicago and the power of the arts to bring people together."

The Joffrey for All free performance features world-class works that are captivating for audiences of all ages. Highlights include Yuri Possokhov's Andante, a pas de trois set to Shostakovich's Piano Concerto #2; Cathy Marston's Heimat, which paints a halcyon picture of a family in the Swiss countryside; an excerpt from Carousel: A Dance by Christopher Wheeldon, the internationally renowned choreographer of the Joffrey's perennial favorite, The Nutcracker; and The Times Are Racing, a modern piece by West Side Story and Illinoise choreographer Justin Peck, set to the last four tracks of Dan Deacon's expansive 2012 album, America.

The program also features a moving new solo by 2024 Winning Works choreographer Manoela Gonçalves, Benteveo (saudade), set to a score by Nina Simone. Benteveo, named after the famous Latin American bird known for its singing, is Gonçalves's tribute to her late father, who she describes as "the inspiration for this piece. His freedom could only be represented by a bird following the melody of its own song."

The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for the support of the Joffrey for All free performance Producing Sponsor Gallagher, and Presenting Sponsors The Chicago Free for All Fund through the Chicago Community Trust, Anne L. Kaplan, The Negaunee Foundation, The Women's Board of The Joffrey Ballet, and Zell Family Foundation.

Co-Chairs: AARP Illinois, Abbott, Crain's Chicago Business, Brendan Fernandes, Sonja and Conrad Fischer, ITW, Kovler Family Foundation, Willie and Nichelle Mayberry, and Sarah Wills.

About Joffrey for All

The Joffrey Ballet's Joffrey for All free performance commemorates the Joffrey's mission to create a Joffrey for All. In the last decade, Joffrey has launched several initiatives to welcome dancers of all backgrounds into the Chicago dance community. These include offering more than $500,000 in scholarships and financial aid annually to increase access to professional and educational opportunities regardless of financial barriers, and a state-of-the-art studio space at 1920 S. Wabash to expand the Company's access to students from Chicago's south and west sides.

The Joffrey for All strategic plan forms pathways for every person to experience the joy of dance. Launched in summer 2023, Dancing with Parkinson's, offered by the Joffrey Ballet's Community Engagement division in partnership with Northwestern Medicine, is a supportive space to explore dance for people with Parkinson's and their caregivers. The Joffrey Academy of Dance also offers Adaptive Dance programs for neurodivergent students and students with diverse movement abilities to improve their mind and body awareness while engaging in creative expression. 

About The Joffrey Ballet­­

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

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

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

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

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

Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre's 2024 season of four productions will open with the original musical 1619: THE JOURNEY OF A PEOPLE by Chicago writer and performer Ted Williams III. The musical commemorates the arrival of the first 20 Africans on the shores of Point Comfort, Virginia on August 20, 1619. In it, three modern characters lead audience members on a journey through multiple performance pieces, leaving viewers both inspired and challenged about the progress of America's African sons and daughters. This production uses various musical forms including hip-hop, jazz, and blues, to commemorate the struggle for survival and equality and to celebrate the stories and journeys of America's African sons and daughters. FJT is partnering with Evanston Public Library and Northwestern University for this production. 1619: THE JOURNEY OF A PEOPLE will play Saturdays and Sundays from June 15-30, 2024, with the press opening on Sunday, June 16 at 3 pm.
 
Performances will be Saturdays at 7:00 pm and Sundays at 3:00 pm, at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre in the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. Tickets are $30.00 and are on sale now at www.fjtheatre.com. Additionally, 2024 Premium Gold Member Cards, good for all three 2024 summer and fall play productions and A MOODY EXPERIENCE: MUSIC BEYOND THE MARGINS, are now on sale for a very limited time for only $90 - a nearly 30 percent discount off of the regular season ticket prices.
 
LISTING INFORMATION
 
1619: THE JOURNEY OF A PEOPLE
A Musical by Ted Williams III
Directed by Tim Rhoze and Ted Williams III
This is a co-production with Evanston Public Library and Northwestern University
June 15-30, 2024
Saturdays at 7 pm, Sundays at 3 pm
Press opening Sunday, June 16 at 3 pm
Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre in the Noyes Cultural Arts Center
927 Noyes St., Evanston
Tickets $32.00, on sale now at www.fjtheatre.com
Phone 847-866-5914
 
From the beginning of American slavery to Reconstruction, the Great Migration, the Civil Rights Era, and modern movements for justice, 1619 packs generations of history into an amazing musical theater experience that traces the African American journey toward freedom and equality.

The Gift Theatre is pleased to announce its 2024-25 season featuring Suzan-Lori Parks' masterpiece Topdog/Underdog directed by Shanésia Davis and the world premiere of Cygnus by Susan Soon He Stanton, directed by Co-Artistic Director Brittany Burch. These mainstage productions will be followed by the annual 10-minute performance festival, TEN. In addition, there will be three In The Works staged readings of plays in development and three live lit performances with GiftLit. All productions will be presented at Filament Theatre (4041 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 6064).

The Gift's 2024-25 Season includes:

TOPDOG/UNDERDOG

by Suzan-Lori Parks

Directed by Shanésia Davis

Featuring Ensemble Members Martel Manning and Gregory Fenner

September 12- October 20, 2024

This darkly comic fable of brotherly love and family identity tells the story of two brothers, Lincoln (Manning) and Booth (Fenner), names given to them as a joke by their father. Haunted by the past and their obsession with the street con game, three-card monte, the brothers come to learn the true nature of their history.

Co-Artistic Director Jennifer Glasse commets, "While envisioning our upcoming season we wanted to choose a blend of stories that would be both personal and challenging to the artists involved. Topdog/Underdog has been a dream project with roles Ensemble Members Martel Manning and Gregory Fenner have wanted to play for years. We are thrilled to reunite them with the vision and direction of the incomparable Shanésia Davis. They are all deeply connected to this story and I am over the moon for Chicago to see their dreams come to fruition."

The world premiere of

Cygnus

by Susan Soon He Stanton

Directed by Co-Artistic Director Brittany Burch

February 6 - March 16, 2025

Cydney believes an angel rescued her from an ineffable trauma, and the truth may prove stranger than she imagines. In this mythic, hilarious, and poetic new play, a burnt feather may illuminate the possibility of a divine intervention.

Co-Artistic Director Brittany Burch states, "Cygnus is a modern-day fairytale that weaves fantasy into a very honest story of trauma and recovery. I immediately resonated with its themes of escapism as a defense mechanism and codependent, mother-daughter relationships but I fell in love with Stanton's use of dark humor, absurdism, and Greek mythology to guide her richly layered characters through their search for meaning in life's adversities."

TEN

A 10-minute performance festival of new work written, directed, and performed by various local artists.

May 8 - 19, 2025

IN THE WORKS

The Fires by Jennifer Rumberger

Monday, June 10, 2024

Jennifer Rumberger (The Locusts) is returning to The Gift for a one-time reading of her latest play, The Fires.

Two men sit outside a 7/11 in downtown Los Angeles, watching a wildfire come closer and closer, the latest in a series of natural catastrophes that have caused massive casualties all over the United States. Other than a traveling newsman bringing stories of the fates of other Americans, they are the last people alive. As the fire gets closer, they are forced to contend with the end of not only their relationship, but their lives as well.

Two additional IN THE WORKS readings are scheduled for October and December, 2024. Titles and additional information are TBA. 

Artist Biographies

Shanésia Davis (Director, Topdog/Underdog) is a veteran Chicagoan who has graced the stages of theaters in Chicago and regionally and is honored to direct at The Gift Theatre. Some of her credits include works at Steppenwolf, Northlight, Porchlight Music Theatre Goodman, Congo Square, Mark Taper Forum, Cleveland Playhouse, CenterStage Baltimore, The Gift Theatre, Kansas City Rep and The Court theatre to name a few. This actress has several Jeff Award nominations included the recent Fences. Ms. Davis is a multi–NAACP Image Award nominee and is a Black Theatre Alliance Award recipient and Excellence in The Arts Award recipient. Film credits include Chicago Stories: Ida B. Wells, The Thing about Harry, Working Man, BLUEPRINT, External Rivals, Consumed, Damaged Goods, Cleveland Abduction, Morning Due, The Weatherman, Uncle Nino, Life Sentence, Chicago Cab among others. Television credits include Emmy nominated LOVECRAFT COUNTRY(HBO), Proven Innocent (FOX), Empire (FOX), Chicago Fire (NBC), CRISIS (ABC), Detroit 187 (ABC), and series regular on Early Edition (CBS). Her directing credits include Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill. Shanésia is Program Director of Acting at Roosevelt University CCPA where she directed a very successful production of Indecent. Other directing includes Spunk, Mother Courage and Her Children. Other university directing includes Our Lady of 121st Street, good night, Desdemona good morning, Juliette as well as several workshops and readings with Congo Square Theatre. She is a published writer of "Nine questions every actor of color should consider when tokenism is not enough," (Routledge, Taylor & Fracis publishing).

Suzan-Lori Parks (Playwright, Topdog/Underdog) 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 both the 2023 Tony Award, (Best Revival of a Play) and the Outer Critics Circle Award. Just last year, in 2023, Parks also had three new works which all received world premieres: at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Sally & Tom (Steinberg New Play Award finalist) 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), and, at the Public Theatre, Parks world-premiered a musical adaptation of the 1972 film The Harder They Come (winner: Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical.)

Brittany Burch (Director, Cygnus) is a co-artistic director and ensemble member with the Gift Theatre where she was last seen in The Locusts. Other credits with the Gift include: The Lonesome West, Northwest Highway, Absolute Hell, Oh The Humanity, Thinner Than Water, Othello, Royal Society of Antarctica, Good For Otto, Unseen, and Pilgrims. Additional Chicago credits include A Red Orchid, Steppenwolf, Wildclaw, Lakeside Shakespeare, The Goodman, and Redtwist. Regionally, Brittany has worked with Artists Repertory Theatre and Profile Theatre in Portland, OR; Perseverance Theatre in Juneau, AK; Chautauqua Theatre Company in NY; and The New Theatre in Kansas City. She has a BA from Willamette University and studied with the British American Drama Academy, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre, as well as the School at Steppenwolf.

Susan Soon He Stanton (Playwright, Cygnus) is a playwright, television writer, and screenwriter originally from 'Aiea, Hawai'i, and now living in New York and London. Her plays have been produced internationally and regionally across the United States: WE, THE INVISIBLES (Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival); TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY (Page 73, Yale Repertory Theatre); BOTH YOUR HOUSES (ACT New Strands/ Crowded Fire); TAKARAZUKA!!! (Clubbed Thumb, East West Players, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Workshop); CYGNUS (WP Theater Pipeline, Kilroys List); SOLSTICE PARTY! (Live Source); THE THINGS ARE AGAINST US (Washington Ensemble Theatre); MOANA, JR (book) for Disney Theatrical Group, among others. Her reimagined TURANDOT, music by Puccini and Christopher Tin, will be produced by Washington National Opera in 2024.

Susan worked on all four seasons of HBO's SUCCESSION as a writer/producer, for which she has received Emmy, Writers Guild of America, and Peabody Awards.

Jennifer Rumberger (Playwright, The Fires) is a playwright and essayist. Her notable productions include The Locusts at The Gift Theatre Company and Night in Alachua County with Wildclaw Theater in Chicago and Open Blue Sky at Tisch School of the Arts in New York. She is a two-time selectee and finalist for Seven Devils, a semi-finalist for the Princess Grace Award, a semifinalist for the P73 Fellowship, and a 2022 Tennessee Williams Scholar at the Sewanee Writers Conference. She's published her nonfiction in The Deadlands and performed her essays and poetry live with 2nd Story, You're Being Ridiculous, and Brooklyn Poets. She is an Associate Artist with Second Site in Chicago and has an MFA in dramatic writing from Northwestern University.

Season Subscription Information

To purchase subscriptions, contact the box office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-283-7071.

Preview-Only Subscriptions: $90

Perfect for those who want the full Gift experience at the best discount offered. Includes a ticket to Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks and the world premiere of Cygnus by Susan Soon He Stanton, as well as 3 readings from the In the Works program.

GiftFlex Subscriptions: $120

Includes a ticket to any performance of Topdog/Underdog, Cygnus, TEN, and three staged readings from the In The Works program.

About The Gift Theatre

Since 2001 and with over 70 productions, The Gift Theatre has been dedicated to telling great stories onstage with honesty and simplicity. Our unwavering dedication to accessibility and intimacy as a professional equity theatre has garnered national recognition for both our company and ensemble. We strive to push boundaries, broaden perspectives, and ignite a cultural revolution on Chicago's northwest side. www.thegifttheatre.org

About Filament Theatre

Filament Theatre, on Chicago's Northwest Side, has been creating innovative theater for young audiences since 2007. Filament's mission is to create a more equitable society by celebrating and amplifying the perspectives and experiences of young people through the performing arts. www.filamenttheatre.org

David Williamson, regarded as one of the top magicians in the world today, makes his Rhapsody Theater debut with Ridiculous! Known for his tours with Circus 1903 and The Illusionists on Broadway, Williamson’s Ridiculous! is a brand new solo full-length magic production created for The Rhapsody Theater. Mixing mind-bending illusions, side-splitting comedy, and a dash of anarchy, the show is an uproarious evening of controlled chaos ruminating on the meaning of the word ridiculous. Ridiculous! is performed at The Rhapsody Theater, 1328 W. Morse Ave. in Rogers Park, May 16 - June 30.

“Ridiculous! transcends the boundaries of a mere theatrical performance; it serves as a one-man rebellion against the monotony of a life too often bogged down by seriousness. This show is not just an escape, but a full-on revolt against the mundane, offering a sanctuary of laughter, wonder, and awe. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this unforgettable experience!” said Ricardo Rosenkranz, MD, Rhapsody Theater LLC managing partner and resident performer as the Physician Magician.

More about David Williamson

A born showman and accomplished sleight-of-hand artist, David Williamson dazzles audiences with a blend of heart-stopping magic and sidesplitting hilarity. He has been featured on ABC’s “Champions of Magic,” where he appeared with Princess Stephanie as he performed his miracles at various locations in and around Monaco. Williamson has also co-starred in several top-rated prime-time network specials, including CBS’ “Magicians’ Favorite Magicians,” NBC’s “Houdini: Unlocking His Mysteries” and NBC’s “World’s Greatest Magic III.” He was seen recently on The CW’s “Masters of Illusion” TV series as well as “America’s Got Talent.” Williamson has developed TV shows for Walt Disney Productions and ABC, as well as consulting on TV specials for illusionists David Copperfield and David Blaine. His bestselling magic book, Williamson’s Wonders, has been translated into three languages.

Williamson is also featured as the Ringmaster in the exciting show “Circus 1903” currently touring the world and returning to the UK for a holiday tour and is currently starring with fellow magicians in “The Illusionists” at the acclaimed Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, following its Broadway run. He is also a frequent favorite Guest Entertainer on Disney Cruise Lines. Recently, Williamson was honored with the Performance Fellowship by the Academy of Magical Arts and Sciences at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. In 2017, Williamson was named The Magic Castle’s Magician of the Year. He was also recently awarded Honorary Lifetime Membership by the UK’s Magic Circle, the world’s premier magical society.

Performance schedule & tickets

Ridiculous! with David Williamson will be performed at The Rhapsody Theater May 16 to June 30: Thursdays at 7:30pm; Fridays at 7:30 PM; and Saturdays at 2:00 PM, and 7:30 PM.  There are no performances on May 31 or June 1, instead there are special Sunday matinees on June 2 and June 30 at 2:00 PM. The run time is approximately 90 minutes with one intermission. Tickets starting at $20.00, are now on sale, online at https://rhapsodytheater.thundertix.com/events/218941 or at The Rhapsody Theater box office.

About The Rhapsody Theater

Built in 1912 as the Morse Theater, this destination at 1328 W. Morse Avenue has long-been a source of arts and entertainment (formerly operating as the Co-Ed Theater and the Mayne Stage). Since its reopening in 2022 by Ricardo Rosenkranz, MD, Chicago’s own Physician Magician, The Rhapsody Theater has brought a Vegas-style entertainment experience to Rogers Park. This includes a newly developed, full-service restaurant and three bars throughout providing a welcoming spot for both patrons and community members to enjoy year-round. The multi-faceted theater is perfectly primed for its world-class performances. With state-of-the-art acoustics and versatile seating arrangements, the space allows for enhanced, intimate, and large format experiences. In addition to magic arts talent, The Rhapsody Theater also presents cabaret and other live music concert programming.

The Rhapsody Theater is conveniently located steps away from the Morse Red line ‘El’ station in Rogers Park. Complimentary parking is available in an adjacent lot (subject to availability) in addition to plentiful nearby street parking.

In advance of Ridiculous!, the Mexico City-born Dr. Ricardo Rosenkranz, MD, Chicago’s own Physician Magician, celebrates the festive Cinco de Mayo holiday weekend by performing a feat never before seen on Chicago stages: performing back-to-back magic shows in two different languages, Spanish and English, the weekend of May 4 & 5, 2024.  For more information about The Rhapsody Theater or to purchase tickets, please visit https://rhapsodytheater.com/

Chicago’s National Landmark Auditorium Theatre (50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive) proudly announces its 2024-25 performance season presenting a vibrant mix of contemporary and culturally significant dance companies, and the return of the Auditorium’s powerful Too Hot to Handel concert presentation.  Kicking off the season October 19 is the rousing return of Step Afrika!,  the first professional dance company dedicated to the tradition of stepping, now marking its 30^th Anniversary. Next, back by popular demand, Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah, the lively jazz and gospel spin on Messiah by G.F. Handel, returns after a two-year hiatus for two performances commemorating the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, January 11 & 12, 2025.  Then, fresh off the resounding success of its David Bowie tribute, Star Dust, presented at the Auditorium this past season, Complexions Contemporary Ballet returns to pay homage to another rock icon, the band U2, February 7. March 2025 begins with a full weekend of the stunning and visually opulent history, culture, music, and dance of Mexico with Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez March 1 & 2, followed by one of the most eagerly anticipated cultural events of every Spring - the return of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, March 5-9.  The prominent NYC-based contemporary dance company Parsons Dance makes its full company Auditorium Theatre debut May 3. The season closes with two gems from Chicago’s own robust dance scene: South Chicago Dance Theatre – a contemporary company led by the darling of the Chicago dance world, Kia Smith – May 3- and the genre-bending Hiplet Ballerinas, whose unique combination of classical pointe technique and hip-hop propelled them to fan-favorite status on America’s Got Talent, close the season May 17.

“The Auditorium Theatre’s 2024-25 season is a joyful mix of beloved classics and exciting new productions,” says Auditorium Theatre CEO Rich Regan. “The returns of perennial Auditorium favorites like the newly revamped Too Hot to Handel, the jubilant Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez, and of course the always dynamic Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater are interspersed with debuts by companies like Parsons Dance and the Hiplet Ballerinas. The season is packed with local, national, and international talent showcasing top performers in an incredibly diverse array of styles that befits the Auditorium’s reputation as The Theatre for the People.”

In addition, the popular Auditorium Philms Concert series, a new multi-media experience presenting iconic films brought to life with scores performed in concert by the Chicago Philharmonic, continues its inaugural 2024 season with the North American debut of Bram Stoker’s Dracula November 9; and the pop holiday fan favorite, Love Actually December 7. Single tickets for the Auditorium Philms series are now on sale, plus subscription packages with discounted tickets are available for as few as two films. Find out more information about the series at auditoriumtheatre.org/.

2024-25 SEASON OFFERINGS:

(In chronological order, all programming subject to change)

Step Afrika!
Saturday, October 19, 2024 | 7:30PM

Tickets: $29-$79

Celebrating its 30^th Anniversary season, Step Afrika! is the world’s leading authority on the artform of stepping. Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities; traditional African dances; and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience. Performances are much more than dance shows; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor, and audience participation. The blend of technique, agility, and pure energy makes each performance unique and leaves the audience with their hearts pounding. 

Too Hot to Handel
Saturday, January 11, 2025 | 6PM
Sunday, January 12, 2025 | 3PM

Tickets: $39-$99

Back by popular demand, Too Hot to Handel, the jazz-gospel-rock-funk version of one of the most beloved pieces from the classical music canon, G.F. Handel’s oratorio Messiah, returns to the Auditorium Theatre for the first time since December 2022 to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah reinvents the original musical material from Messiah, using scat, backbeats, jazz and gospel vocals, and instrumental improvisation. New in 2025, George Stelluto, associate conductor of the Ravinia Festival and music director of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, conducts and director Joan Curto returns to create an event that’s more theatrical than ever. A powerhouse 100-voice chorus is joined by a chamber orchestra and jazz combo made up of Chicagoland musicians, and gifted solo vocalists Alfreda Burke, Rodrick Dixon, and Karen-Marie Richardson and pianist Alvin Waddles.

Complexions Contemporary Ballet

Friday, February 7, 2025 | 7:30PM

Tickets: $39-$129

In the 2023-24 season, Complexions Contemporary Ballet brought the Auditorium Theatre house down with Star Dust, the rollicking tribute to rock icon David Bowie. Next season, the New York City-based contemporary dance company known for its unique mixture of methods, styles, and cultures, will return to pay homage to another rock legend, the band U2. Founded in 1994 by Alvin Ailey Dance alumni Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, Complexions Contemporary Ballet celebrates its 30^th anniversary this season.

Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez
Saturday, March 1, 2025 | 7:30PM
Sunday, March 2, 2025 | 3PM

Tickets: $30-$120

For over 70 years, Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez has brought the stunning and visually opulent history, culture, music, and dance of Mexico to audiences across the world. Founded by renowned choreographer, the late Amalia Hernández, Ballet Folklorico de Mexico is one of the most famous dance companies in the world. Performances include traditional Mexican dance, music, and costumes representing the entire history of Mexico from the pre-Columbian era through the Spanish colonial period all the way to modern day.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
March 5-9, 2025 – Wed 7:30PM | Thu 7:30PM | Fri 7:30PM | Sat 1PM | Sat 7:30PM | Sun 3PM

Tickets: $39 - $149

Every year, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s week of performances at the Auditorium Theatre –

the company’s artistic home in Chicago – is one of the can’t-miss cultural events of the Spring season. The 2024-25 performances will mark Alvin Ailey Dance Theater’s 56^th engagement at the Auditorium. In 1958, Alvin Ailey and a small group of young Black modern dancers took the stage in New York City and forever changed the perception of American dance and culture. Its 2023-24 season engagement launches April 17, 2024, featuring a mix of Chicago premieres and beloved classics by Alvin Ailey and current choreographic talent.

Parsons Dance
Saturday, April 12, 2025 | 7:30PM

Tickets: $30-$120

Celebrating 40 years since its founding, Parsons Dance, a contemporary dance company based in New York City, makes its full company Auditorium Theatre debut in 2025. Founded by esteemed choreographer David Parsons, the mission of Parsons Dance is to bring life-affirming performances and joy to audiences worldwide and, through education and outreach programs, to sustain an appreciation for dance. Parsons Dance embraces the power of diversity and inclusion to enhance awareness and empathy, engage with audiences of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, uplift individuals and bring people together.

South Chicago Dance Theatre
Saturday, May 3, 2025 | 7:30PM

Tickets: $39-$89

Chicago’s own South Chicago Dance Theatre is a cutting-edge multi-cultural dance that seamlessly fuses classical and contemporary dance styles while preserving historic dance work. Led by the indomitable Kia Smith, South Chicago Dance Theatre returns to the Auditorium Theatre for the third season in a row after the smash hit Memoirs of Jazz in the Alley – a world premiere work based on Smith’s memories of iconic Chicago jazz history – in the 2022-23 season, and New Horizons

featuring six world premieres from top local, national and international choreographers – this April 27.

Hiplet Ballerinas
Saturday, May 17, 2025 | 7:30PM

Tickets: $39-$89

Created by Artistic Director Homer Hans Bryant, Hiplet, a fusion between classical pointe technique, Hip-Hop and a variety of other dance styles, was specifically designed to make ballet accessible to all people. Based in Chicago, the Hiplet Ballerinas perform all over the world and became fan favorites on the 16^th season of America’s Got Talent. This performance of the genre-bending Hiplet Ballerinas who wowed Auditorium Theatre Audiences at Dance for Life in 2023, will mark the company's first solo evening performance on the Auditorium stage.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Subscriptions for the Auditorium Theatre’s 2024-25 season are on sale now. Subscribers can create their own series by purchasing tickets for any three or more shows in the season and receive 10%-30% discounts on tickets in addition to other subscriber benefits including access to the best seats, exclusive access to added events, reduced fees, free ticket replacement and exchanges, special access to Fireside Chats with guest artists, and more! Subscriptions are now on sale atauditoriumtheatre.org, by calling 312.341.2300, or at the Box Office at 50 E Ida B Wells Drive in Chicago, IL. Click here for phone and in-person hours. Special ticket pricing is available for groups and students; please visit auditoriumtheatre.org for more information.  Single tickets go on sale starting May 15.

Special thanks

The Auditorium Theatre wishes to thank our 2024-25 season sponsors: the MacArthur Foundation, the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency. The official hotel partner for the Auditorium Theatre is the Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel.

About The Auditorium Theatre

The Auditorium Theatre, located at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive in Chicago, is an Illinois not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community, and educational programming to all of Chicago and beyond as The Theatre for the People. The organization also is committed to the continued restoration and preservation of this National Historic Landmark that originally opened in 1889. For more information on the Auditorium Theatre and a complete listing of events at the Auditorium Theatre, please visit AuditoriumTheatre.org.

Chicago Writers' Bloc has announced the lineup of plays and musicals for its biennial festival of new plays, to be held this year from May 5 to 19 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The 2024 festival will feature five new plays and five new musicals from 14 local Chicago playwrights, lyricists, and composers. This year's roster of writers includes John S. Green (Jeff winner and Pulitzer nominated for THE LIQUID MOON), Chloe Bolan (O'Neill semi-finalist for LOVE IN THE TIME OF DEMENTIA), and Joanne Koch (National Nantucket Short Play Competition winner for STARDUST). The works to be performed as staged readings will cover genres from comedies and dramas to documentary theatre, and subject matter that ranges from history to current events, and fantasy to reality.

The 2024 New Plays Festival will launch on Sunday, May 5 with a 7:30 pm benefit including a reception and an 8:00 pm performance of the musical HEARTS IN THE WOOD, with book by Joanne Koch, and music and lyrics by Jim Lucas. Lively bluegrass tunes and moving country ballads. weave through the story of a once popular West Virginia folk singer who decides to try for a comeback in Chicago when he discovers he has a grown granddaughter. The proceeds from the benefit will go toward continuing Chicago Writers' Bloc's mission to develop and present new plays and musicals from Chicago area writers. Over the past 32 years, the organization has helped launch many new plays and musicals. Many produced works have gone on to win national and international prizes with productions locally and around the country.

In addition to HEARTS IN THE WOOD, the festival will include four additional new musicals including HELL IS CANCELLED (by Wencke Braathen with music by Gerald H. Bailey), DRIVING THE DREAM (by Chloe Bolan with music by Gerald H. Bailey), DREAM CITY (Book and Lyrics by June Finfer, Music and Lyrics by Elizabeth Doyle), and "Merry Widows, The Musical" (Book by Joanne Koch and Diane Dorsey, Lyrics by Francesca Peppiatt, Music by Ilya Levinson).  Plays will include two documentary dramas about Venezuelan refugees by former CHICAGO TRIBUNE feature writer Fran Zell, John S. Green's REMEMBER ME, about a Nigerian American veteran from the war in Afghanistan, Nic Hamel's NO KIND OF HERO (about French philosophy professor Simone Weil pictured here, who fought fascism in the 1930s), and THE DECONSTRUCTION OF A HONKY, written by Blake Levinson.

LISTING INFORMATION
 
CHICAGO WRITERS' BLOC 2024 NEW PLAYS FESTIVAL
May 5 – 19, 2024
Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.
www.theaterwit.org
Sunday – Wednesday, May 5 – 8
Sunday – Tuesday, May 12 – 14
Sunday, May 19
All performances at 7:30 pm
Further Information at https://writersblocfest.org/2024-play-festival
Tickets $25.00 for opening night benefit May 5. $20.00 all other evenings
Tickets available now at https://www.theaterwit.org/tickets/productions/box_office/#coming_soon
 
Staged readings of ten new works by Chicago writers. The festival features five new musicals and five new plays from 14 local Chicago playwrights, lyricists, and composers; including John S. Green (Jeff winner and Pulitzer nominated, THE LIQUID MOON), Chloe Bolan (O'Neill semi-finalist, LOVE IN THE TIME OF DEMENTIA), Joanne Koch (National Nantucket Short Play Competition winner for STARDUST), and former Chicago Tribune feature writer Fran Zell. The works to be performed as staged readings will cover genres from comedies and dramas to documentary theatre, and subject matter that ranges from history to current events, and fantasy to reality.
 
SCHEDULE AND SYNOPSES
May 5 benefit performance at 8:00 pm, all other performances at 7:30 pm
 
Sunday, May 5 HEARTS IN THE WOOD. Book by Joanne Koch, and music and lyrics by Jim Lucas.
 
A West Virginia dulcimer maker and once popular folksinger discovers he has an adult granddaughter and decides to reconnect with life. His newfound granddaughter prompts him to bring his regional music to Chicago. Grandfather and granddaughter find unexpected romances and finally get past their differences, united by bonds of love and their special musical heritage.
 
Monday, May 6. HELL IS CANCELED. Book and Lyrics by Wencke Braathen, Music by Gerald H. Bailey 
 
Archangel Michael lands in Hell and announces to Lucifer that God has decided that this department is defunct and will be liquidated. Michael gets stuck in Hell with Lucifer and a lost soul while Hell disintegrates. Archangel Raphael causes problems from above, and Katie and Kevin save the day by sending new feathers to Lucifer's wings.
 
Tuesday, May 7. DREAM CITY. Book and Lyrics by June Finfer, Music and Lyrics by Elizabeth Doyle
 
The musical story of Chicago in a Gilded Age not unlike today, when immigrants, women, and minorities fight for inclusion in an economy controlled by the wealthy. The 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition World's Fair seemed to offer all Chicagoans opportunities for participation, visibility, and jobs, from the architects who designed it to the workers who built it.

Wednesday, May 8. REMEMBER ME. Written by John S. Green.
 
The story of Jake, a second-generation Nigerian American who joined the army to prove that he was a "real American." When he returns from fighting in Afghanistan, he reaches out to his acting teacher, Earl, seeking comfort, sanity and a chance to rekindle his broken dreams. They work together to conquer their own personal demons and perform Hamlet.
 
Sunday, May 12. DRIVING THE DREAM,  Book and Lyrics by Chloe Bolan, Music by Gerald H. Bailey.
 
A musical bioplay on the life of Bertha Benz, the woman who drove the first motorwagen farther than anyone before her and so introduced the world to the age of the automobile. She might seem like a conservative hausfrau, but her rebellion at three different times in her life testify to her strong instincts, her indomitable courage, and her belief in a dream she and her husband shared. 
 
Monday, May 13. "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Venezuelans" / "My Name is Renny Edward Milano Salgado," both written by Fran Zell.
 
Two timely one-act documentary theatre pieces about asylum seekers will be presented. "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Venezuelans" is based on the playwright's experiences volunteering with asylum seekers in Chicago. "My Name is Renny Edward Milano Salgado" recounts one asylum seeker's journey, a story of loss, grief, mortal danger, and always, hope.
 
Tuesday, May 14. NO KIND OF HERO, written by Nic Hamel.
 
Amidst the growing threat of fascism in the 1930's, the young French philosophy professor Simone Weil struggles against the oppression she witnesses all around her. Caught between practical limitations and an unrelenting idealism, Simone's choices are both absurd and inspiring as she seeks to embody hope and heroism in an increasingly chaotic world.
 
Sunday, May 19 at 7:30 PM. Double-bill of "Merry Widows, the Musical," Book by Joanne Koch and Diane Dorsey, Lyrics by Francesca Peppiatt, Music by Ilya Levinson, Directed by Joan Mazzonelli;  and "The Deconstruction of a Honky" written by Blake Levinson.
 
In "Merry Widows, The Musical," women and men gather together in grief groups to help each other grieve. Only our grief group doesn't just talk about their profound losses. They, along with their empathic leader, use the magic of music and some gentle humor to go beyond their sorrow and bring themselves to reconnect with a new life. With 14 million widows and widowers in the U.S. today, and thousands of these grief groups, the creative team thought it was about time to offer something more than a fluffy operetta. 

In "The Deconstruction of a Honky," emerging white playwright Sam meets with DD, his influential Black director-dramaturg prior to the staged reading of his socially conscious play on racism. Their discussion takes a charged turn when she begins to question the authenticity of his Black characters. Tensions heighten as DD turns the spotlight on Sam's indomitably liberal character and exposes a shocking secret.
 
BIOS
 
Joanne Koch has had many of her eighteen plays and musicals toured to universities and produced in theaters around the country, including SOUL SISTERS, STARDUST, SOPHIE, TOTIE & BELLE and SAFE HARBOR. Joanne and Jim Lucas received an Illinois Arts Council grant for the original development of HEARTS IN THE WOOD. Through her work over the years as president of the Chicago Writers' Bloc, Joanne Koch has helped to bring over one hundred new plays to audiences in Chicago, with many of these new plays going on to other productions and publications.
 
Jim Lucas is a singer-songwriter who is a graduate of Hope College (B.A.), Indiana University (M.M.), and the University of Iowa (D.M.A.). He is Professor Emeritus of Music at Northeastern Illinois University, where he taught music for many years. While HEARTS IN THE WOOD is his only full-length musical, he has written many compositions for vocal and instrumental ensembles.
 
Wencke Braathen writes about relationships across dimensions. You'll find gods, angels, humans and ghosts in her work, and discover how they all influence each other's development. She delivers her controversial viewpoints unabashed, and challenges old dogmas and preconceptions wrapped in humor and entertainment and asks her audience to laugh with her.
 
Gerald H. Bailey In addition to his work on HELL IS CANCELED and DRIVING THE DREAM, Mr. Bailey has written music for COURTING, THE ENCHANTED ISLAND, and THE LEGEND OF KING ARTHUR, among others. Mr. Bailey is a proud member of The Dramatists Guild.
 
June Finfer has written plays and musicals and documentary films. Her plays, THE GLASS HOUSE and COUPLES THERAPY, were produced in New York at the Harold Clurman Theatre. Tonight's musical, DREAM CITY, is a rewrite of BURNHAM'S DREAM: THE WHITE CITY, which was produced at Theatre Wit in 2018 by Lost and Found Productions.
 
Elizabeth Doyle is an award-winning Chicago artist in demand for concerts and events. She is the composer of several theatre musicals, among them FAT TUESDAY, DUO, and BURNHAM'S DREAM, which have been mounted at prestigious locations such as Steppenwolf Theatre and Theater Wit.
 
John S. Green's play, THE LIQUID MOON, won Chicago's Jeff and After Dark Awards for Best New Work. It was subsequently nominated for a Pulitzer and published in New Plays Chicago. His play, TWILIGHT SERENADE, was published by Dramatic Publishing. His short story, "The Me Zone," won the Leon Forrest Prose Award and was published by Chicago Quarterly. 
 
Chloe Bolan recently had her O'Neill semi-finalist play, "Love in the Time of Dementia" stage-read for a Perennial fundraiser August 2023 and in Her Story Theatre's Women's Writers Festival in June 2023. She has received grants from the Illinois Arts Council ("Heart of Chac") and Target ("M. Kiki") besides a fellowship from Dale Wasserman's Midwest Playwrights ("Egg") sponsored by the University of Wisconsin.
 
Fran Zell is an award-winning playwright and fiction writer whose plays have appeared in festivals in Chicago and New York. Her book, THE MARCY STORIES, won the Banta Award for literary achievement from the Wisconsin Library Association. She is a former feature writer for the Chicago Tribune.
 
Nic Hamel is an actor turned playwright and the current artistic director of Chicago Writers' Bloc. A staged reading of his solo documentary play, TURKEY BOYS, was presented by the Writers' Bloc in 2016. In addition to artistic pursuits, Dr. Hamel is a scholar of theatre, performance, and disability studies with a specialty in theatre and intellectual disability.
 
Diane Dorsey is a Chicago actress/writer/director/coach and Meisner teacher who many years ago wrote a solo show called "Kaleidoscope." Today she thanks the creative team of "Merry Widows, The Musical" for inviting her to collaborate on the Book. And dedicates it to her husband Danny Goldring.
 
Francesca Peppiatt is a speaker, teacher, writer and performer. She wrote the book for the new musical "Golden" and book and lyrics for "Treasure Island." Francesca is an actor and Emmy nominated writer with 5 published books plus multiple produced non-musical plays. 
 
Ilya Levinson is Assistant Professor at the Music Department of Columbia College Chicago and Music Director and Co-Founder of the New Budapest Orpheum Society, an ensemble-in-residence at The University of Chicago. Levinson has composed four operas, four musicals, various symphonic and chamber music, film scores and original music for theatre productions.
 
Joan Mazzonelli has produced, directed, and designed for the theater in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City. She has written "Border Crossing," a short play, with Marianne Kallen; the musicals REASONABLE TERMS with Marianne Kallen and Karena Mendoza; BOTTOM'S DREAM with James L. Kurtz, an adaptation of ALL IN THE LAUNDRY by Fred Rogers of MR. ROGERS NEIGHBORHOOD; and the operas HIGH FIDELITY and THE PROPOSAL with Philip Seward.
 
ABOUT CHICAGO WRITERS' BLOC
Chicago Writers' Bloc is a play development group that focuses on presenting new plays developed in monthly sessions and regular new play festivals. Led by Joanne Koch, a widely produced playwright and noted Emeritus Director of the National Louis University Master's in Written Communication Program, the not-for-profit 501 (c ) (3) Writers' Bloc has brought over 250 new plays and musicals to Chicago area audiences, supported in part by grants and by festival attendees and contributors. Many of these plays have gone on to win national and international prizes with productions locally and around the country, including Midwest, East Coast, West Coast, off-Broadway and in publications.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ABOUT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER

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

Artistic Director Braden Abraham and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce Writers Theatre's 2024/25 season. The season launches with the Chicago premiere of the acclaimed musical Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, nominated for 12 Tony Awards, which reunites director/choreographer Katie Spelman and music director Matt Deitchman after their previous collaboration on WT's twice extended sold out run of Once. Kimberly Senior returns to Writers to direct the hilarious and compassionate one-person play Every Brilliant Thing. Acclaimed writer and performer Vanessa Severo will star as both herself and legendary Mexican painter Frida Kahlo in her searing new play Frida...A Self Portrait, directed by Joanie Schultz. Next spring, Braden Abraham brings Brian Friel's touching Irish drama Translations to the Writers stage before the season concludes with the World Premiere of Dhaba on Devon Avenue, directed by Chay Yew, co-produced with TimeLine Theatre Company.

Season Packages are available online at www.writerstheatre.org, and at the Box Office by calling 847-242-6000.

Writers Theatre Artistic Director Braden Abraham comments, "This season will take us on a theatrical odyssey traversing landscapes both familiar and foreign, where the echoes of history mingle with the vibrancy of contemporary life. From Russia and Ireland in the early 1800s to mid-20^th century Mexico to the present day in our beloved Chicago, these extraordinary plays are each an invitation to celebrate the human spirit in all its wonder, complexity, and heart. The deliberately intimate setting at Writers, where you are always close to the actors, promises an unforgettable experience that will linger long after the performance ends."

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Frida...A Self Portrait, Translations, and Dhaba on Devon Avenue will be presented in the 255-seat Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre. Every Brilliant Thing will be in the intimate Gillian Theatre. Both spaces are in Writers Theatre's award-winning building at 325 Tudor Court in Glencoe, designed by Studio Gang Architects.

Writers Theatre 2024/25 Season includes:

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Written by Dave Malloy 

Directed & Choreographed by Katie Spelman 

Music Direction by Matt Deitchman 

September 5 – October 27, 2024 

Opening: Friday, September 13, 2024

"There's a war going on somewhere out there, and Andrey isn't here." Young and impulsive, Natasha Rostova arrives in Moscow to await the return of her fiancée from the front lines. But when she falls under the spell of the roguish Anatole, family friend Pierre must push through his existential crisis to help Natasha pick up the pieces of her shattered reputation. Based on a scandalous slice of Leo Tolstoy's epic novel War and Peace, this innovative musical spectacle took Broadway by storm with its "electropop opera" score, earning 12 Tony Award nominations. Katie Spelman and Matt Deitchman, the inspired creative team behind WT's hit production of Once, reunite to bring this modern spin on a literary classic to Chicago for the first time. 

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com 

Every Brilliant Thing 

Written by Duncan Macmillan 

With Jonny Donahoe 

Directed by Kimberly Senior 

October 31, 2024 – January 5, 2025 

Opening: Friday, November 8. 2024

"1. Ice Cream. 2. Water fights. 3. Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV." This is how a six-year-old child begins a list of all the things that make life wonderful. They're making the list for their mother, who suffers from depression. As life goes on, and the challenges faced morph from childhood to adulthood, the list continues to grow and take on a life of its own. By shining a hilarious and compassionate light on life's small abundant joys, this big-hearted play—told in gentle collaboration with the audience—is a loving tribute to resilience and the lengths we will go to for those we love. 

Frida...A Self Portrait 

Written and Performed by Vanessa Severo 

Directed by Joanie Schultz 

January 23 – February 23, 2025 

Opening: Friday, January 31, 2025

Iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo was a woman who lived boldly, loved wildly, and painted prolifically in order to see herself and the world around her more clearly. Witness this extraordinary figure come to life onstage through playwright and performer Vanessa Severo, who brings breathtaking physicality and raw honesty to this stunningly creative production. With music and movement, Vanessa cracks open a powerful portal between herself and Frida, uncovering insights into the painter's physical limitations, complex love life, addictions, and, of course, the beauty in her art. 

Translations

Written by Brian Friel 

Directed by Braden Abraham 

April 3 – May 4, 2025 

Friday, April 11, 2025

Life in County Donegal, Ireland proceeds much the same in 1833 as it's always done. Irish-speaking young people gather at the local hedge school where the long-time and long-winded schoolmaster instructs them in lessons in Latin and Ancient Greek. This bucolic tranquility is shattered when the schoolmaster's son arrives home along with members of the British army on an assignment to map the country, draw new borders, and "standardize" local place names into the King's English. Soon, this quiet corner of the emerald isle is ablaze with political, cultural and personal tension. A powerful classic from one of Ireland's most revered dramatists, Translations is a celebration of the power of language—whether it be to kindle romance, incite violence, or build a bridge to a common understanding. 

Translations is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com 

The World Premiere of 

Dhaba on Devon Avenue 

Written by Madhuri Shekar 

Directed by Chay Yew 

In a co-production with TimeLine Theatre Company

June 19 – July 27, 2025 

Opening: Friday, June 27, 2025

Dhaba Canteen has been a stalwart institution on Chicago's Devon Avenue since the '60s, serving up delicious Sindhi food with the power to transport diners back to the halcyon days of undivided India. Times are changing, however. With the bank threatening foreclosure and Chef Neeraj's health in decline, the restaurant may soon be cooking up its last meal—unless sous chef Rita can convince her father to let her take over the kitchen. Rich with culinary tradition and dramatic twists, Dhaba on Devon Avenue serves up a searing Chicago-set story of family, legacy, and survival at all costs. 

SEASON PACKAGES

This season, Writers Theatre is offering five subscriptions with an option for every theatregoer. Each subscription includes a deeply discounted ticket price for one ticket to the 5-play series, Flex subscriptions, with options for either 4 tickets or 6 tickets, are available.

Subscriptions are now available for the 5-show season and range from $240 - $325. Flex subscriptions are $260 (4-pack) to $360 (6-pack).

Season package subscribers receive exclusive benefits including complimentary ticket exchanges by phone and mail (upgrade fees may apply), access to special play readings and lectures, special "subscriber-rate" prices on additional tickets, discounts at the bar, on Writers Theatre merchandise, event rentals, and more. For a complete list of benefits visit writerstheatre.org.

Season Packages are available online at www.writerstheatre.org, and at the Box Office by calling 847-242-6000.

Singles tickets will go on sale at a later date. Tickets for Every Brilliant Thing, Frida...A Self Portrait, Translations and Dhaba on Devon Avenue are $35 to $95 each. Tickets for Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 are $45 to $110.

AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

Throughout the season, Writers Theatre offers a variety of audience enrichment and special programming. This includes regularly occurring offerings like the Family Matinee Series, The Green Room artist interview series and podcast, and The Final Word Audience Discussion Series. Please visit writerstheatre.org/events for a full listing of upcoming offerings.

WT offers Open Captioning on select dates for each production. Please visit writerstheatre.org/accessibility for more information.

ABOUT WRITERS THEATRE 

Writers Theatre boldly looks to the future as it kicks off its 32^nd season in 2024/25. Having captivated audiences for years with its dedication to creating the most intimate theatrical experience possible, the theatre is now a major Chicagoland cultural destination with a national reputation for excellence, being called "America's finest regional theater company" by The Wall Street Journal.

Since 1992, Writers Theatre has stayed true to its core values: valuing the power of the written word and uplifting the artists who bring that word to life. The company has produced over 120 productions—everything from inventive interpretations of classics to groundbreaking new work. In 2016, Writers Theatre opened a new, state-of-the-art facility designed by the internationally renowned Studio Gang Architects. The new facility has allowed the Theatre to accommodate its growing audience, while maintaining its trademark intimacy.

Writers Theatre now welcomes more than 60,000 patrons each season and has helped establish the North Shore of Chicago as a premier cultural destination. Through its Literary Development Initiative, which has been responsible for the nurturing and premiering of over two dozen world premieres, the theatre has established itself as a major originator of new theatrical works. Serving as an extension of the Writers Theatre mission, WT Education programs engage an average 10,000 students each year with active learning opportunities centered around the written word.