Harriet Jacobs News

Greenhouse Theater Center is pleased to present USE IT OR LOSE IT: An Evening of Short Plays About Your Rights, original works inspired by contemporary and historic legal battles the ACLU has fought on behalf of Americans' rights and freedoms

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, presents the Chicago Premiere of The Legend of Georgia McBride, written by Matthew Lopez, directed by Lauren Shouse. The Legend of Georgia McBride runs September 14-October 22at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. The press performance is Friday, September 22 at 8:00pm.

Kitchen Theatre Company launches its 2017-2018 Season with Smart People, a sharp and provocative new comedy by Lydia R. Diamond. Summer L. Williams, Associate Artistic Director of Company One Theatre (Boston, MA), directs. Performances of Smart People begin at the Kitchen Theatre Company in The Percy Browning Theatre on September 3.

On Today, August 1 at 5 pm, the Williamstown Theatre Festival will host a WAM Theatre Fresh Takes Play Reading of Smart People by Lydia R. Diamond at the Clark Art Institute.  The reading will be directed by WAM's Artistic Director, Kristen van Ginhoven. Tickets are free but reservations are recommended.

Greenhouse Theater Center (GTC) and Artistic Director Jacob Harvey are pleased to announce the formation of the new MC-10 Playwrights Ensemble, a collection of ten of the country's most sought-after established and mid-career Chicago playwrights and theatre-makers. The ensemble will be in residence at the Greenhouse Theater Center and will create new works for its stages. Beginning with the 2018-19 season, the Greenhouse will present one play per season by MC-10 member playwrights, eventually expanding to two MC-10 productions per season. These world and regional premieres aim to expand the scope, diversity and visibility of work happening at the Greenhouse and underscore the institution's commitment to creating new vital works for the American theatrical canon.

WAM Theatre Artistic Director Kristen van Ginhoven has announced casting for the Fresh Takes Play Reading of Smart People by Lydia R. Diamond, hosted by the Williamstown Theatre Festival on Tuesday, August 1 at 5 pm. Van Ginhoven will direct this reading. Tickets are free but reservations are recommended. The reading will take place at the Clark Art Institute.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere production of Hir, a subversive comedy by celebrated playwright, actor, singer-songwriter and performance artist Taylor Mac. Directed by Steppenwolf Artistic Producer Hallie Gordon, the cast features ensemble members Francis Guinan (Arnold) and Amy Morton (Paige) with Em Grosland (Max) and Michael Holding (Isaac).

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces the complete cast for Hir, a Chicago premiere by celebrated playwright, actor, singer-songwriter and performance artist Taylor Mac.

On Tuesday, August 1 at 5 pm, the Williamstown Theatre Festival will host a WAM Theatre Fresh Takes Play Reading of Smart People by Lydia R. Diamond at the Clark Art Institute.  The reading will be directed by WAM's Artistic Director, Kristen van Ginhoven. Tickets are free but reservations are recommended.

Dynamic. Aggressive. Funny. Warm. The Ohana sisters force you into their world. With a deep sense of urgency, these four women gather to figure out where and why their mother is missing. Differences of religious beliefs, professions and class clash. And the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) approaches. Experience these four powerful women at their most vulnerable, struggling to reconnect, forgive and forget.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere production of Hir, a subversive comedy by celebrated playwright, actor, singer-songwriter and performance artist Taylor Mac. Directed by Steppenwolf Artistic Producer Hallie Gordon, the cast features ensemble members Francis Guinan (Arnold) and Amy Morton (Paige) with Em Grosland (Max) and Michael Holding (Isaac).

Due to popular demand, Shattered Globe Theatre's hit Chicago premiere of Sarah Ruhl's FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70th BIRTHDAY will add one additional week of performances, extending through May 27, 2017 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.  Directed by Jessica Thebus, the imaginative and moving drama was written for Ruhl's mother, Kathleen Ruhl, who stars in the Shattered Globe production. Tickets for all performances are currently available at www.theaterwit.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box Office or by calling (773) 975-8150.

Dynamic. Aggressive. Funny. Warm. The Ohana sisters force you into their world. With a deep sense of urgency, these four women gather to figure out where and why their mother is missing. Differences of religious beliefs, professions and class clash.

Four intellectuals-a doctor, an actress, a psychologist and a neurobiologist studying the human brain's response to race-search for love, acceptance and identity in Lydia R. Diamond's comedy-drama Smart People, which makes its D.C. debut at Arena Stage. Set against the backdrop of Obama's 2008 election, Diamond's fiercely funny play explores the unavoidable nature of cultural bias. Deputy Artistic Director Seema Sueko makes her Arena Stage directorial debut with this "sexy, serious and very, very funny modern-day comedy of manners" (Variety). Smart People runs April 14-May 21, 2017 in the Kreeger Theater.

New Repertory Theatre presents The Gift Horse, April 22-May 14, 2017 in the MainStage Theater at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA.

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston has announced its cast and creative team for Barbecue by Robert O'Hara, directed by Summer L. Williams and running April 7 - May 7, 2017.

Four intellectuals - a doctor, an actress, a psychologist and a neurobiologist studying the human brain's response to race - search for love, acceptance and identity in Lydia R. Diamond's comedy-drama Smart People, which makes its D.C. debut at Arena Stage.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) announces the complete cast for Monster by Walter Dean Myers, adapted by Aaron Carter and directed by Hallie Gordon.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces the complete cast for Hir, a Chicago premiere by celebrated playwright, actor, singer-songwriter and performance artist Taylor Mac.

JAG Productions is pleased to announce JAGFest, an annual festival that showcases and celebrates new plays by emerging playwrights of color. Presented February 24 - 27 at various venues in Woodstock & Pomfret, VT, the weekend-long festival of play readings and lectures celebrates and explores diverse, new voices in American theater. JAGFest will include four staged readings over the course of four days, each featuring a post-show conversation with the playwrights, actors, and directors.