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Monday, June 22, 2020

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ leads winners of the 2020 Non-Equity Jeff Awards by Chris Jones

2020 Non-Equity Jeff Awards

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:55PM

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Chicago’s iO Theater is hit by accusations of racism and a petition demanding change by Chris Jones

A petition posted on change.org has charged the Chicago comedy venue iO Theater with racism. Co-founder and owner Charna Halpern has responded.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:25PM

Netflix and other streaming services are making millions. Should they come to the aid of the reeling American theater? by Chris Jones

Netflix pocketed $709 million in early 2020, this as theater from Chicago storefronts to Broadway have gone dark. Time for streaming services to pay?

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:30AM

Monday, June 8, 2020

Following protests, Erica Daniels to exit Victory Gardens Theater by Chris Jones

The executive director of Chicago’s Victory Gardens Theater said Monday that she was leaving after protests about her also assuming the artistic director role.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:10PM

Open letter to Second City calls for investigation of racial discrimination, sexual assault by Chris Jones

Open letter to Second City calls for investigation of discrimination

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:06PM

With streaming version of 'Infinite Wrench,’ the nimble Neo-Futurists respond fast to a week like no other by Chris Jones

A review of this week's streaming show "The Infinite Wrench Goes Viral," a rapid response with a handful of plays responding to George Floyd events.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:57PM

Sunday, June 7, 2020

Anthony LeBlanc named interim executive producer at Second City by Chris Jones

Anthony LeBlanc named interim executive producer at Second City

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:45PM

At Victory Gardens, boarded up windows turned into billboards for a theater artists’ protest by Chris Jones

At Victory Gardens, boarded up windows turned into billboards for a theater artists’ protest

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:32PM

Friday, June 5, 2020

Second City owner Andrew Alexander to exit after accusations of institutionalized racism leveled at theater by Chris Jones

Second City owner quits

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:11PM

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Column: America’s great cities like Chicago are reeling. What must they do to assure their future? by Chris Jones

Peer into the near future and there is reason to fear for America’s great cities.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:41AM

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Jeff Awards committee postpones Non-Equity ceremony by Chris Jones

Jeff Awards committee postpones ceremony

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:39AM

Monday, June 1, 2020

In a cascade of online statements, Chicago theaters say they stand in solidarity with protesters by Chris Jones

Chicago theaters say they stand in solidarity with protesters

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:06PM

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Writers Theatre has big plans for 2020-21 season, including a return for David Cromer. Will they all happen, and when? by Chris Jones

No one knows if the next theater season will happen at all. For a good reason, Writers Theatre in Glencoe is announcing theirs anyway.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:00PM

Friday, May 22, 2020

At Steppenwolf, a change in executive directors in the midst of building its new theater by Chris Jones

Brooke Flanagan will become the new executive director of Steppenwolf Theatre in mid-July.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:50PM

Victory Gardens’ playwrights ensemble resigns in protest by Chris Jones

The move appears to stem from the decision of the theater not to hire a new artistic director.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:49AM

Thursday, May 21, 2020

‘Smash, A New Musical’ is headed to Broadway, based on the NBC series by Chris Jones

The short-lived NBC series was about a Broadway musical in-the-making about Marilyn Monroe. No dates or theater has been announced for the Broadway opening.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:00AM

Evanston scholar Riad Ismat dies from COVID-19 — mourned by the Arab world as the brave former culture minister of Syria by Chris Jones

Mohammad Riad Hussain Ismat, 72, had a new life teaching at Northwestern and other Chicago-area universities. He is remembered as the former minister of culture of Syria.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:30AM

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Will Chicago be the out-of-town tryout for all of post-COVID Broadway? by Chris Jones

Will the lively pop-diva musical “Six” play at the Broadway Playhouse in November and be the test case for how touring stage musicals return?

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:29AM

Monday, May 18, 2020

Zoom has turned us all into David Letterman, tapping on the screen by Chris Jones

Richard Nelson’s “The Apple Family: What Do We Need to Talk About?" on Zoom by New York's Public Theater really captures our moment.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:10PM

Broadway’s reopening date is just a guess at this point by Chris Jones

Broadway shows are officially off until Sept. 7, but it's likely the reopening will come much later.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:30PM

Friday, May 15, 2020

Thanks to the drag of COVID-19, ‘Some Like It Hot’ musical will not now premiere in Chicago by Chris Jones

A high-profile Chicago tryout of "Some Like it Hot" falls victim to COVID-19.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:55AM

Thursday, May 14, 2020

‘Frozen’ closes on Broadway, a popular show iced by COVID-19 by Chris Jones

The Disney musical's last performance was March 11, before the Broadway shutdown. Tour plans will continue.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:37PM

Goodman Theatre cancels remainder of 2019-20 season, including ‘The Outsiders’ by Chris Jones

Canceled shows include “School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play” by Jocelyn Bioh; “Molly Sweeney” by Brian Friel; “American Mariachi” by José Cruz González; and a pre-Bro…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:10PM

How to bring back Chicago arts and entertainment faster: Take it outside by Chris Jones

As the weather warms, evidence mounts that outside can be safer than in during the pandemic. Maybe there's a way to put on outdoor shows.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:30AM

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

July 4 will be an all-American, COVID-19 battleground this year. ‘Hamilton’ will be at the center of the fight. by Chris Jones

Public fireworks on July 4, or streaming "Hamilton" from July 3? The symbolism and debate will be too rich to resist.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:45PM

Monday, May 11, 2020

Column: Why can’t we just pause? We could perhaps get rid of coronavirus if we all went on lockdown, but our society isn’t built to do that by Chris Jones

Neither total isolation or totally restarting the economy can work. What's needed now is an honest and open debate.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:25PM

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Guthrie Theatre of Minneapolis slashes budget and cancels shows through March 2021 by Chris Jones

One of the biggest arts institutions in the Midwest has slashed its 2020-21 season, a jolt for the arts.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:04PM

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Column: Pritzker’s reopening phases could doom live entertainment. Here are 7 ways to improve them. by Chris Jones

Large theaters are closed until Phase 5 of the new Illinois reopening plan. Many won't survive. Here's some alternatives.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:00AM

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

How Steppenwolf changed Australian theater and why Alec Baldwin and Rose Byrne can be seen on the Red Line by Chris Jones

In 2010, Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre brought “August: Osage County" to Sydney Theatre Company. The actor Andrew Henry had his life changed, and so did Australian theater.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:00AM

Tuesday, May 5, 2020