Molly Brennan News

In putting together American Theater Company's current production of William Inge's classic play PICNIC, Artistic Director Will Davis said he wanted his cast "to reflect the playwright and the powerful forces in his own psyche that kept him from happiness and fulfillment." Indeed, the actors Davis has cast certainly unlock a great deal of humanity in PICNIC's characters. As outsider Hal, Molly Brennan delivers a particularly inspired performance and bestows an immense depth of feeling into her role. While this is the first time I've seen a staging of PICNIC, I imagine that Hal is often played more broadly and more stereotypically typecast as a "macho" man-aggressive and assertive. In Brennan's Hal, however, there is a beautiful earnestness and genuine desire for acceptance and belonging. This also makes Hal's desire for Madge (Malic White) a more powerful longing for human connection. Alongside Brennan, White's Madge also has a similar desire for understanding-though the role could be played more desperate still. White's self-assured take on the character does not allow Madge to emit as much desperation as she might.

The Actors Gymnasium has announced the world premiere of Quest, an original circus-theater production adapted and directed by Leslie Buxbaum Danzig, featuring original music by Kevin O'Donnell and loosely based on Leo Tolstoy's short story 'The Three Questions.' Quest, part of Actors Gymnasium's Annual Winter Circus, runs Today, Feb. 11 - Sunday, March 19 at Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St. Press opening is Sunday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. with an opening night party Today Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m.

American Theater Company (ATC) continues its Season 32 with William Inge's Pulitzer Prize-winning Picnic.

The House Theatre of Chicago is proud to announce the addition of seven new artists to the critically-acclaimed and award-winning company.  The new Company Members include Kara Davidson, Elana Elyce, Ben Hertel, Derek Matson, Matthew Muñiz, Ericka Ratcliff and Vanessa Stalling.

The Actors Gymnasium has announced the world premiere of Quest, an original circus-theater production adapted and directed by Leslie Buxbaum Danzig, featuring original music by Kevin O'Donnell and loosely based on Leo Tolstoy's short story 'The Three Questions.' Quest, part of Actors Gymnasium's Annual Winter Circus, runs Saturday, Feb. 11 - Sunday, March 19 at Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St. Press opening is Sunday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. with an opening night party Saturday Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Chicago writer and actress Fawzia Mirza takes the stage in her one-woman comedy ME, MY MOM & SHARMILA, directed by Meghan Beals, presented as part of Steppenwolf Theatre's LookOut Series.

Chicago writer and actress Fawzia Mirza takes the stage in her one-woman comedy ME, MY MOM & SHARMILA, directed by Meghan Beals, presented as part of Steppenwolf Theatre's LookOut Series.

Lookingglass Theatre Company continues its 28th Season with Thaddeus and Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure, written by Ensemble Member Kevin Douglas, and co-directed by Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks and Krissy Vanderwarker. Thaddeus and Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure runs June 1 - August 14, 2016 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.  

Lookingglass Theatre Company continues its 28th Season with Thaddeus and Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure, written by Ensemble Member Kevin Douglas, and co-directed by Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks and Krissy Vanderwarker. Thaddeus and Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure runs June 1 - August 14, 2016 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Lookingglass Theatre Company continues its 28th Season with Thaddeus and Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure, written by Ensemble Member Kevin Douglas, and directed by Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks and Krissy Vanderwarker. Thaddeus and Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure runs June 1 - August 14, 2016 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.  

Due to popular demand, The Neo-Futurists' current prime time show Pop Waits is extending until March 19. Regular performance dates are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm until March 12. Extension dates are:

Who are you? What are we? Do I repeat the chorus or hit the bridge? Explore these questions and more at The Neo-Futurists' upcoming show, POP WAITS. The show opens Monday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m. at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland. Audiences can tap their inner rock stars by enrolling in Malic and Molly's special class, 'We Could Be Heroes': A Neo-Futurist and Monsterclown Devising Workshop.

 Pivot Arts is pleased to present THE SADNESS SHOW: AN ALTERNATIVE VALENTINE'S CELEBRATION, its latest installment of PIVOT@63 - a once-a-month line-up of unique performances at Bar 63, 6341 N. Broadway Ave. in Chicago. 

Who are you? What are we? Do I repeat the chorus or hit the bridge? Explore these questions and more at The Neo-Futurists' upcoming show, POP WAITS. The show opens Monday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m. at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland. Audiences can tap their inner rock stars by enrolling in Malic and Molly's special class, 'We Could Be Heroes': A Neo-Futurist and Monsterclown Devising Workshop.

Lookingglass Theatre Company announces casting for the remainder of its 2015-2016 season, which includes Federico Garcia Lorca's Blood Wedding, directed by Ensemble Member Daniel Ostling, and the World Premiere of Thaddeus and Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure, written by Ensemble member Kevin Douglas and co-directed by Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks and Krissy Vanderwarker. Blood Wedding runs March 2 - April 24, 2016 with tickets on sale to the general public starting January 13, 2016. Thaddeus and Slocum runs June 1 - August 7, 2016 with tickets on sale to the general public starting April 6, 2016. Lookingglass Theatre Company is located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.

The Inconvenience returns to the underbelly of The Chopin Theatre to present nine intimate performances in the 6th installment of the acclaimed Fly Honey Show. 

The Inconvenience returns to the underbelly of The Chopin Theatre to present nine intimate performances in the 6th installment of the acclaimed Fly Honey Show. 

Gyring and Gimbling in the Wabe

The Neo-Futurists announce their 2015-16 season alongside a slate of new artistic initiatives which explore devised theater and new works. The season includes two prime time productions: POP WAITS created by Malic White and Molly Brennan, and Mike Mother created and written by Jessica Anne. In addition, the company launches a series of year-round developmental presentations including a quarterly experimental performance workshop The Arrow created by Kurt Chiang and Lily Mooney as well as a new works residency Neo-Lab with an inaugural workshop of Saturn Returns created by Tif Harrison. The Neo-Futurists document this year of devised work exploration through Go! A Podcast about Creativity and continue another great year of the smash hit Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. All season events are held at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland (at Foster) in Andersonville.