Sarah Haye

Kokandy Productions is pleased to continue its 5th anniversary season with the Chicago premiere of BONNIE & CLYDE, the musical story of two small-town nobodies searching for meaning at the height of the Great Depression from the creative team of Frank Wildhorn, Ivan Menchell and Don Black. Directed by Spencer Neiman, with music direction by John Cockerill and choreography by Aubrey Adams, BONNIE & CLYDE will play August 27 - October 15, 2017 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.kokandyproductions.com, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office. 

Kokandy Productions has announced casting for its Chicago premiere of BONNIE & CLYDE, the musical story of two small-town nobodies searching for meaning at the height of the Great Depression from the creative team of Frank Wildhorn, Ivan Menchell and Don Black. 

With a brilliantly imagined final scene, Charlotte Ballet choreographer Sasha Janes captures the emotions, manias, and passions of WUTHERING HEIGHTS with surprising success.

Little Theatre of Manchester closes its 2016 with one of the most beloved and iconic musicals of all time, Rodgers & Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA! OKLAHOMA! runs November 4-6, 11-13, and 18-20, 2016, at Cheney Hall, 177 Hartford Rd, Manchester. 

Little Theatre of Manchester closes its 2016 with one of the most beloved and iconic musicals of all time, OKLAHOMA!

"The Hairy Ape"- Eugene O'Neill's expressionist play presented in a stark, brutal and imaginative setting; "Byhalia, Mississippi"- a new work of southern love and forgiveness, and "Rent"- the musical update of "La Boheme" performed in a small storefront theatre, took home the most honors on Monday, June 6, at Park West during the 43rd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony recognizing excellence in non-union Chicago theatre. 

THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES is a mixed bag of tone and theme. It is comedy, tragedy, drama, slapstick and farce and then ends in a dark, dark place. Its themes -- The American Dream, mental illness, religion, loneliness, violence and betrayal -- are played out to varying levels of hysteria, which makes for a bewildering night at the theater.

The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 121 nominations in 24 categories for the 43rd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016. The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff judges attended opening nights of 148 productions offered by 67 Non-Equity producing organizations. The Jeff Committee recommended 65 of those shows (or 44%), making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Of the 65 Jeff Recommended productions, a record 53 (or 82%) received nominations, representing 32 theatre companies.

?Jeff Award-nominee and HIV+ director/producer Christopher Pazdernik returns with the second annual Chris' Birthday Belt-Fest, a benefit concert for Howard Brown Health on Monday, May 16, 8:00 PM at Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway, Chicago. Featuring award-winning musical theater performers from across Chicago, the evening will be co-music directed by Dustin Struhall and Jeff Award-winner Aaron Benham. Tickets are $20 and are available by calling 773-867-1946 or visiting uptownunderground.net.

JoAnn Montemurro, co-Artistic Director of Raven Theatre, has announced casting for the company's upcoming production of THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES by John Guare. The play will run on the company's East Stage from April 20 through June 18, 2016 under Montemurro's direction.

Porchlight Music Theatre announces the return of its multi award-winning hit AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', now thorugh December 20, music by Thomas 'Fats' Waller, book by Murray Horowitz and Richard Maltby Jr., direction and choreography by multi Jeff-Award winner and Artistic Associate Brenda Didier with music direction by Jeff-Award winning Porchlight Artistic Associate Austin Cook at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The BWW Chicago Awards are taking submissions! Plus there's a CST cast album, a new 'Gypsy,' 'Show Boat' on TV, and the 'My Fair Lady' film in theaters. Davenport's has interesting shows, a new project gives us an unknown musical, CCT premieres one, Cult Camp stages an obscure one, and Broadway In Chicago announces its 2016 subscription series!

 Kokandy Productions is pleased to continue its 2015 season with LOVING REPEATING, a musical tribute to the life and loves of celebrated American author Gertrude Stein. Using Stein's own works as lyrics, LOVING REPEATING is adapted by Frank Galati (The Grapes of Wrath, The Accidental Tourist), with music by Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once on This Island, Seussical) direction by Co-Artistic Director Allison Hendrix, music direction by Resident Music Director Kory Danielson and choreography by Andrea Louise Soule.  LOVING REPEATING will play July 18 - August 30, 2015 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.kokandyproductions.com, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office.  The press opening is Monday, July 20 at 7:30 pm.

Kokandy Productions will continue its 2015 season with LOVING REPEATING, a musical tribute to the life and loves of celebrated American author Gertrude Stein. Using Stein's own works as lyrics, LOVING REPEATING is adapted by Frank Galati (The Grapes of Wrath, The Accidental Tourist), with music by Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once on This Island, Seussical) direction by Co-Artistic Director Allison Hendrix, music direction by Resident Music Director Kory Danielson and choreography by Andrea Louise Soule. 

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The Tonys and the Jeffs bring honor and fun, and 'On Your Feet' and 'Beaches' aim for the future. Bette will be in town, Spike Lee films, 'Les Mis' and 'All Shook Up' play our southern environs, and 'The Secret Garden' and 'The Pied Piper' bring children's classics to life. Next week: Regional Summer Theaters!

June 8, 2015 - Chicago, IL. "The Wild Party," a dark, sensual, wanton musical, and "Men Should Weep," a tale of a disordered Scottish tenement household, took home top honors Monday, June 8, at Park West during the 42nd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony recognizing excellence in non-union Chicago theatre. Bailiwick Chicago's musical of Michael LaChiusa's "The Wild Party" led all musical nominees with eight awards, and Griffin Theatre's "Men Should Weep" led play nominees with three awards.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Once' and 'On Your Feet!' arrive, Kooman and Dimond try one out, 'Loving Repeating' returns, 'The Fantasticks' grows its orchestra, local 'Spider Woman' and 'Idiot' productions, two new works about the deaths of pop musicians, and the real-life death of PJ Paparelli.

Kokandy Productions is pleased to announce casting for LOVING REPEATING, a musical tribute to the life and loves of celebrated American author Gertrude Stein. Using Stein's own works as lyrics, LOVING REPEATING is adapted by Frank Galati (The Grapes of Wrath, The Accidental Tourist), with music by Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once on This Island, Seussical) direction by Co-Artistic Director Allison Hendrix, music direction by Resident Music Director Kory Danielson and choreography by Andrea Louise Soule. LOVING REPEATING will play July 18 - August 30, 2015 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.kokandyproductions.com, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office. The press opening is Monday, July 20 at 7:30 pm.

The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 118 nominations in 24 categories for the 42nd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2015. The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff judges attended opening nights of 133 productions offered by 56 Non-Equity producing organizations. The Jeff Committee recommended 62 of those shows, making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Of the 62 Jeff Recommended productions, 46 received nominations, representing 23 theatre companies.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, announces the extension of THE ADDAMS FAMILY - THE MUSICAL. The freakishly funny new musical comedy will now be laid to rest on April 12th. The production has been praised for its significant revisions following its Chicago debut in 2010. The production has been Jeff Recommended and is led by Jeff Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Direction), and Brenda Didier (Choreography).