Janet Ulrich Brooks News

Tonight, before a gathering of theatre artists and patrons, theatreWashington announced the winners of the 2016 Helen Hayes Awards, drawn from 202 eligible productions presented in the 2015 calendar year. Scroll down for the full list of nominees and winners!

 TimeLine Theatre Company, recipient of the prestigious 2016 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions and acclaimed for presenting plays inspired by history that connect to today's social and political issues, announces its 2016-17 season.

Audience enthusiasm for 2666 continues, prompting the Goodman to add a fifth performance in the production's extension week.

Robert Falls' and Seth Bockley's world premiere adaptation of Roberto Bolaño's famed novel, 2666, which has received extraordinary audience enthusiasm during previews, officially opens tonight, February 16, 2016.

Robert Falls' and Seth Bockley's world premiere adaptation of Roberto Bolaño's famed novel, 2666-which has received extraordinary audience enthusiasm during previews and officially opens tomorrow, February 16-has been extended. Four additional performances include March 17, 18 and 19 at 6:30pm and March 20 at 1pm. The 15-member all-Chicago ensemble cast remains unchanged during the added performances.

TimeLine Theatre Company announces that Chicago artists Behzad Dabu and Ron OJ Parson have been named Company Members at the theater, effective immediately.

Tonight, before a gathering of theatre artists and patrons, theatreWashington announced the nominees for the 2016 Helen Hayes Awards, drawn from 202 eligible productions presented in the 2015 calendar year. Scroll down for the full list of nominees!

An epic global portrait of the modern world and the artist's role within it, 2666 by the late Chilean author/poet Roberto Bolaño appears in a world premiere stage adaptation at Goodman Theatre, by its Tony Award-winning Artistic Director Robert Falls and Playwright-in-Residence Seth Bockley.

The Other Theatre Company (TOTC) and Artistic Director Carin Silkaitis are proud to present the next show in the company's 2015-2016 season Other Letters, written by Bryan Renaud and Carin Silkaitis, and directed by Artistic Director Carin Silkaitis, February 7 - 29, with opening night Sunday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. at Side Project, 1439 W Jarvis Ave. The regular run schedule is Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. $25 tickets. Tickets may be purchased at www.buzzonstage.com/theatres/other-theatre-company. For more information, please visit theothertheatrecompany.com. 

Casting is complete and rehearsals begin December 16 for 2666, a new stage adaptation of acclaimed Chilean author Roberto Bolaño's famed novel, adapted and directed by Tony Award-winning Artistic Director Robert Falls and Playwright-in-Residence Seth Bockley at Goodman Theatre.

Lettuce and laughter were being tossed in abundance at last night's opening, and world premiere, of playwright Sheila Callaghan's new play, WOMEN LAUGHING ALONE WITH SALAD, the inaugural production of Woolly Mammoth's 36th season. The play is among the more than fifty works by women being featured in DC theaters during the Women's Voices Theater Festival this fall. Woolly Mammoth has a well-earned reputation for presenting bold works that challenge audiences, and push the boundaries of how stories are being told on stage. WOMEN LAUGHING is a perfect fit for Woolly Mammoth, and for the cast and creative team who have crafted this piece.

Chicago stage, TV and film star Michael Shannon did the honor of announcing the nominees for the 2014-2015 Equity Jeff Awards. A video of the presentation is available at www.JeffAwards.org.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company announces its first production of Season 36, the world premiere of Women Laughing Alone with Salad by playwright Sheila Callaghan, directed by Kip Fagan. Women Laughing Alone with Salad will run from September 7 to October 4 as part of the inaugural Women's Voices Theater Festival.

Siblings Vanya (Ross Lehman) and Sonia (Janet Ulrich Brooks) have spent their adult years trapped in mundane lives at their family's cottage, caring for their ailing parents. Meanwhile, their self-involved sister Masha (Mary Beth Fisher), a glamorous movie star, has traveled the world in decadent style. After their soothsayer/cleaning woman Cassandra (E. Faye Butler) warns Vanya and Sonia of impending doom, Masha arrives unannounced, accompanied by her hunky young lover Spike (Jordan Brown), who sparks a friendship with the beautiful girl next door Nina (Rebecca Buller) much to Masha's dismay. When Masha reveals plans that will upend the family, long-repressed resentments bubble over in a weekend full of wild costume parties, voodoo dolls and surprise romance. The creative team includes Charlie Corcoran (sets), Amy Clark (costumes), Robert Perry (lights) andRichard Woodbury (sound). Alden Vasquez is the production stage manager and Neena Arndt is the dramaturg. 

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Washington, DC, Chicago, St. Louis, Vancouver, and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include DEAR EVAN HANSEN in DC, VANYA AND SONIA in Chicago, and The Muny's HOLIDAY INN, just to name a few.

Siblings Vanya (Ross Lehman) and Sonia (Janet Ulrich Brooks) have spent their adult years trapped in mundane lives at their family's cottage, caring for their ailing parents. Meanwhile, their self-involved sister Masha (Mary Beth Fisher), a glamorous movie star, has traveled the world in decadent style. After their soothsayer/cleaning woman Cassandra (E. Faye Butler) warns Vanya and Sonia of impending doom, Masha arrives unannounced, accompanied by her hunky young lover Spike (Jordan Brown), who sparks a friendship with the beautiful girl next door Nina (Rebecca Buller) much to Masha's dismay. When Masha reveals plans that will upend the family, long-repressed resentments bubble over in a weekend full of wild costume parties, voodoo dolls and surprise romance. The creative team includes Charlie Corcoran (sets), Amy Clark (costumes), Robert Perry (lights) and Richard Woodbury (sound). Alden Vasquez is the production stage manager and Neena Arndt is the dramaturg. 

Laughs abound in the Goodman's production of the 2013 Tony award-winning play by Christopher Durang

TimeLine Theatre Company continues its 2014-15 season with a special production featuring two of Tony Award winner Richard Nelson's acclaimed Apple Family Plays: THAT HOPEY CHANGEY THING and SORRY, directed by TimeLine Associate Artist Louis Contey, presented on an alternating schedule January 24 - April 19, 2015 (previews January 13 - 23), at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago. Press opening is a 'marathon' double feature of both plays on Sunday, January 25 at 2 p.m. (THAT HOPEY CHANGEY THING) and 6 p.m. (SORRY).

TimeLine Theatre Company continues its 2013-14 season with The How and the Why, a smart and provocative new play about science, family and survival of the fittest by Sarah Treem, the acclaimed writer/producer for Netflix's House of Cards and HBO's In Treatment. The How and the Why will run at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Avenue in Chicago, February 6 - April 6, 2014 (previews January 28 - February 5). Press opening is Thursday, February 6 at 7:30 pm.

The Chicago Commercial Collective has announced that TO MASTER THE ART has recouped its full production capitalization in just 5 weeks. Commissioned by TimeLine Theatre in 2008, the play, about the adventure and romance of Julia and Paul Child's journey of discovery to Paris during the 1950s, has had a successful run at the Broadway In Chicago's Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E Chestnut) and will continue through October 20.