Sarah Hay News

"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. 

To celebrate Samuel Beckett's work, Print Room at the Coronet and the international, award-winning company and unparalleled Beckett champions, Gare St Lazare Ireland, will present a three-week festival exploring Samuel Beckett's prose across the disciplines of theatre, music and visual art from 17 May - 5 June 2016.

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, presents THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES by John Guare. The play begins on the company's East Stage from today, April 20 through June 18, 2016 under Montemurro's direction.

Pittsburgh native Whitney Hayes plays a business executive with brain fog in Dutch Apple's MENOPAUSE. It's a part she's made her own.

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.

Tonight's the night! As of this evening, the 2016 awards season officially begins with the Golden Globes, honoring excellence in film and television.

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!

Starz today announced that “Flesh and Bone,” the eight-hour limited series created by Emmy® award-winning 'Breaking Bad' Writer and Executive Producer Moira Walley-Beckett, will premiere tonight, November 8, 2015.

The sampling of the first episode will begin on November 2, nearly one week prior to the season premiere on Sunday, November 8 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on STARZ.

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!

Super Channel, Canada's only national English pay television network, is very pleased to announce a recent extension and broadening of its agreement with Starz Worldwide Distribution

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Tours of 'Persuasion,' 'Pippin' and '42nd Street,' dueling productions of 'American Idiot,' Michael Kingston and Jane Lynch solo out, 'Bette' adds a date, Theo Ubique announced 'Blood Brothers,' Porchlight sets the season, and 'The Wiz Live!' gets movin' down the road!

Starz Chief Executive Officer Chris Albrecht announced at today's Starz Television Critics Association (TCA) presentation at the Beverly Hilton that all episodes of the third and final season of “Da Vinci's Demons”

 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. LOVING REPEATING will play tonight, July 18, through August 30, 2015 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.

In its on-going effort to share the joy of dance with a wider audience, the 2015 Summer Intensive Program at American Repertory Ballet's Princeton Ballet School is pleased to announce that its Master Classes will be open to observers. Leading Master Classes will be Broadway dancer Michael Mindlin, New York City Ballet dancer Unity Phelan, and Sarah Hay, a soloist with Semperoper Dresden Ballet. All three received their early training at Princeton Ballet School.