David Cerda News

This fall, Hell in a Handbag Productions is thrilled to explore THE ARTIFICIAL JUNGLE, the final play by the legendary master of camp, Charles Ludlam. Who better to direct this criminal tale of lust and murder than Hell in a Handbag's longtime partner in crime, Shade Murray of A Red Orchid Theatre. 

It's not Halloween without a Handbag show, so Hell in a Handbag Productions' Artistic Director David Cerda is conjuring up a special treat: THE GOLDEN GIRLS: Bea Afraid! - The Halloween Edition.

This summer, Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to bring back Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia for THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes, Vol. 2. Following last year's sold-out, seven-month run, Handbag's parody of the beloved TV sitcom returns with all new adventures written by Artistic Director David Cerda* and directed by Becca Holloway. THE GOLDEN GIRLS will play June 19 - September 7, 2018 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Tickets are now on sale brownpapertickets.com or by calling (800) 838-3006. 

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to announce casting for THE ARTIFICIAL JUNGLE, the final play by the legendary master of camp, Charles Ludlam.

The CHICAGO ONE-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL (#1MPF) returns for its ninth year! The marathon evening of one-minute plays by 70 of Chicago's established and emerging playwrights and directors plays two nights only, Tuesday, June 26 and Wednesday, June 27 at 8 pm at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

Red Theater Chicago is thrilled to announce its 2018-19 season of three productions, each keeping with Red Theater's mission to ask dangerous questions theatrically.

This summer, Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to bring back Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia for THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes, Vol. 2. Following last year's sold-out, seven-month run, Handbag's parody of the beloved TV sitcom returns with all new adventures written by Artistic Director David Cerda* and directed by Becca Holloway.

Red Theater Chicago is thrilled to announce its 2018-19 season of three productions, each keeping with Red Theater's mission to ask dangerous questions theatrically.

The Jeff Awards announced today a total of 115 nominations in 19 categories for the 45th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to kick off its 2018 Season with a revival of its 2013 hit L'IMITATION OF LIFE, a dead on parody of the 1959 film Imitation of Life about race, mothers and daughters - and looking fabulous! Adapted by Ricky Graham and Running with Scissors and directed by ensemble member Stevie Love*, L'IMITATION OF LIFE will play March 31 - May 6, 2018 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently on sale at www.handbagproductions.org (through Stage 773) or by calling (773) 327-5252. 

This summer, Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to bring back Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia for THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes, Vol. 2. Following last year's sold-out, seven-month run, Handbag's parody of the beloved TV sitcom returns with all new adventures written by Artistic Director David Cerda* and directed by Becca Holloway.

Pride Films and Plays' Chicago premiere production of Daniel MacIvor's HIS GREATNESS - inspired by a 'potentially true story' during the declining days of Tennessee Williams - will be performed at the 15th Annual International Dublin Gay Play Festival, to be held May 7-20, 2018 in Dublin, Ireland. The entire original cast of last fall's production will travel to Dublin and will perform the play from May 14 - 19, with two performances on May 19th. In MacIvor's play, a great American playwright, his trusted and loyal assistant, and a young Canadian street hustler find themselves together for two days in a hotel room in Vancouver as the playwright is about to premiere a new play that he hopes will reinvigorate his career. The ensuing battle for power, love and loyalty is frequently funny, engagingly dark and ultimately moving.  Danne W. Taylor will repeat his role as "The Playwright," Andrew Kain Miller will return as "The Assistant" and Whitman Johnson will again play "The Young Man." Pride Films and Plays' Executive Director David Zak is again directing the play for this remount. 

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to announce its 2018 season, kicking off this spring with a revival of its 2013 hit L'IMITATION OF LIFE, a dead on parody of the 1959 film Imitation of Life about race, mothers and daughters - and looking fabulous! Adapted by Ricky Graham and Running with Scissors and directed by ensemble member Stevie Love, ensemble member Ed Jones and Robert Williams reprise their roles as Lana Turner and Annie Johnson.

Hell in a Handbag Productions concludes its 15th Anniversary Season with its most popular show ever: the holiday hit RUDOLPH THE RED-HOSED REINDEER 2017 by David Cerda*, co-directed by Becca Holloway and AJ Wright*. Handbag's irreverent parody of the 1967 Rankin Bass children's television special plays now through December 30, 2017 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. The press opening is Today, December 1. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Hell in a Handbag Productions concludes its 15th Anniversary Season with its most popular show ever: the holiday hit RUDOLPH THE RED-HOSED REINDEER 2017 by David Cerda*, co-directed by Becca Holloway and AJ Wright*. Handbag's irreverent parody of the 1967 Rankin Bass children's television special plays now through December 30, 2017 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. The press opening is Friday, December 1. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Hell in a Handbag Productions will conclude its 15th Anniversary Season with its most popular show ever: the holiday hit RUDOLPH THE RED-HOSED REINDEER 2017 by David Cerda, directed by AJ Wright. Handbag's irreverent parody of the 1967 Rankin Bass children's television special will play November 25 - December 30, 2017 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. The press opening is Friday, December 1 at 7:30 pm. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the show below!

Break out the cheesecake and eggnog Chicago's favorite gals are headed back to Andersonville for the holidays, where it all began! Following an 18-week sell-out run, including six-weeks at Lakeview's Stage 773, Hell in a Handbag Productions' campy world premiere parody THE GOLDEN GIRLS THE LOST EPISODES will return to Mary's Attic (5400 N. Clark St., Chicago) for six additional performances from December 6, 2017 January 10, 2018. Written by David Cerda and directed by Shade Murray, AJ Wright and David Lipschutz, the campy parody of one of TV's most beloved sitcoms will feature the best of the original run plus a new holiday-themed episode! THE GOLDEN GIRLS will run in conjunction with the return of Handbag's holiday favorite RUDOLPH THE RED-HOSED REINDEER. Tickets for both productions are currently available at www.handbagproductions.org or by calling (800) 838-3006.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to conclude its 15th Anniversary Season with its most popular show ever: the holiday hit RUDOLPH THE RED-HOSED REINDEER 2017 by David Cerda*, co-directed by Becca Holloway and AJ Wright*.

American Theater Company (ATC) announces complete casting for Season 33 productions: Janine Nabers' world premiere of Welcome to Jesus, directed by Artistic Director Will Davis, October 26-December 3, 2017; Basil Kreimendahl's Chicago premiere of We're Gonna Be Okay, January 25-March 4, 2018, directed by Davis; and Carlos Murillo's world premiere of Diagram of a Paper Airplane, May 3-June 10, 2018, directed by Bonnie Metzgar.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to announce casting for the return of its holiday hit RUDOLPH THE RED-HOSED REINDEER 2017 by David Cerda*, co-directed by Becca Holloway and AJ Wright*.