All stories by Johnny Oleksinski on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Three Oaks Theater Fest announces six-show season by Johnny Oleksinski

The Three Oaks Theater Festival has announced its 2015 season. The six shows run throughout the summer in Three Oaks, Michigan, a popular getaway about 90 minutes from downtown Chicago by ca…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:52PM[SHARE]

Victory Gardens adds four ensemble playwrights by Johnny Oleksinski

Victory Gardens Theater has expanded its playwrights ensemble by four, a spokeswoman for the theater said on Tuesday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:15PM[SHARE]

Video: Chris Jones reviews Broadway musicals by Johnny Oleksinski

Spring is the busiest time all year on Broadway. An avalanche of shows open leading up to the Tony Awards in June, making it nearly impossible for the average theatergoer to wade through it …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:14AM[SHARE]
Monday, May 11, 2015

Steppenwolf announces 2015-16 young adults season by Johnny Oleksinski

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced two shows on Monday for its Young Adults season, a literary adaptation and a new devised work.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:36PM[SHARE]

Shoshana Bean will lead 'Beaches' at Drury Lane by Johnny Oleksinski

"Beaches, A New Musical" has found the wind beneath its wings. Drury Lane Theatre's summer show that is being billed as a pre-Broadway production announced its cast on Monday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:10AM[SHARE]
Friday, May 8, 2015

Stage Left announces 2015-16 season by Johnny Oleksinski

Stage Left Theatre announced its 2015-16 season on Friday. All three politically charged productions will be performed at Theater Wit in Lakeview.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:16PM[SHARE]
Thursday, May 7, 2015

Lydia R. Diamond's 'Smart People' goes off-Broadway by Johnny Oleksinski

"Smart People," the new play by Lydia R. Diamond, a Chicago Dramatists resident playwright, will run off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre this winter, it was announced Thursday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:02PM[SHARE]

Lydia R. Diamond's 'Smart People' goes off-Broadway by Johnny Oleksinski

"Smart People," the new play by Lydia R. Diamond, a Chicago Dramatists resident playwright, will run off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre in the winter, it was announced Thursday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:02PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Three plays in Sideshow's 2015-16 season by Johnny Oleksinski

Sideshow Theatre Company's new season will comprise three dramas, a spokesman for the company said on Wednesday. They'll all be performed at the Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater,…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:00PM[SHARE]

Three plays in Sideshow's 2015-16 season by Johnny Oleksinski

Sideshow Theatre Company's new season will comprise three dramas, a spokesman for the company said on Wednesday. They'll all be performed at the Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater,…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:00PM[SHARE]
Monday, May 4, 2015

A new executive director for Raven Theatre by Johnny Oleksinski

Raven Theatre has a new executive director. Brian Pastor, who's served as managing director at City Lit Theatre the past nine years, will take over the job at Raven beginning July 1.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:05PM[SHARE]
Thursday, April 30, 2015

Irish Theatre announces 2015-16 season by Johnny Oleksinski

Three local premieres will make up Irish Theatre of Chicago's 2015-16 season. A spokesman for the theatre announced the roster on Thursday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:00PM[SHARE]
Friday, April 24, 2015

Chicago Children's Theatre announces 2015-16 season by Johnny Oleksinski

Chicago Children's Theatre announced its full 2015-16 season on Friday. The lineup, among six other productions, features a new play from the writer Nambi E. Kelley.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:06PM[SHARE]

'Stupid F---ing Bird' will fly again by Johnny Oleksinski

Sideshow Theatre Company's "Stupid F---ing Bird" will return this summer in a commercial production on a bigger stage, a spokeswoman for the show announced Friday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:15PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, April 22, 2015

'Beaches' announces impressive creative team by Johnny Oleksinski

"Beaches, A New Musical" " based on Iris Rainer Dart's novel that also inspired the popular Bette Midler film " playing the Drury Lane Theatre this summer, has announced a formidable creativ…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:00PM[SHARE]

'Beaches' announces creative team by Johnny Oleksinski

"Beaches, A New Musical" " based on Iris Rainer Dart's novel that also inspired the popular Bette Midler film " playing the Drury Lane Theatre this summer, has announced a formidable creativ…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:00PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, April 21, 2015

'Matilda' tour cast announced by Johnny Oleksinski

Producers of "Matilda the Musical," the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers, announced the cast of the first national tour on Tuesday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:41PM[SHARE]
Monday, April 20, 2015

Shapiro will stage new Tracy Letts play by Johnny Oleksinski

Soon-to-be Steppenwolf artistic director Anna D. Shapiro will direct Tracy Letts' new play "Mary Page Marlowe," the theater announced on Monday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:42PM[SHARE]

Watch Laura Osnes and Steven Pasquale sing 'If I Loved You' by Johnny Oleksinski

This week's Showcase " our longest ever " is Laura Osnes and Steven Pasquale from  Lyric Opera's "Carousel."

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:25PM[SHARE]

Watch Laura Osnes and Steven Pasquale sing 'If I Loved You' by Johnny Oleksinski

This week's Showcase " our longest ever " is Laura Osnes and Steven Pasquale from  Lyric Opera's "Carousel."

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:25PM[SHARE]
Thursday, April 16, 2015

First Folio announces 2015-16 season by Johnny Oleksinski

First Folio Theatre in Oak Brook announced its 2015-16 season on Thursday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:08PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Chicago theaters receive large grant for audience-building by Johnny Oleksinski

The Goodman Theatre, Lyric Opera, Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Victory Gardens Theater are among twenty-six national recipients of a $52 million dollar grant, it was announced on Wednesda…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:21PM[SHARE]

Chicago theaters receive large grant for audience-building by Johnny Oleksinski

The Goodman Theatre, Lyric Opera, Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Victory Gardens Theater are among twenty-six national recipients sharing a single $52 million dollar grant, it was announced…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:21PM[SHARE]

Love and angst in Ireland by Johnny Oleksinski

This week's Theater Loop Showcase is "Outside Mullingar," starring Kate Fry and Mark Montgomery at Northlight Theatre.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:00PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Pivot Arts Festival announces line-up by Johnny Oleksinski

The full schedule for the 3rd annual Pivot Arts Festival was announced on Tuesday. The 10-day festival of performances and other events takes place in the Uptown and Edgewater neighborhoods …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:11PM[SHARE]
Monday, April 13, 2015

Strawdog announces 2015-16 season by Johnny Oleksinski

Strawdog Theatre Company announced its 2015-16 season on Monday. It's a diverse array of shows, from a riff on August Strindberg to one of George S. Kauffman and Moss Hart's largest comedies.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:36PM[SHARE]

Strawdog announces 2015-16 season by Johnny Oleksinski

Strawdog Theatre Company announced its 2015-16 season on Monday. It's a diverse array of shows, from a riff on August Strindberg to one of George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's largest comedies.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:36PM[SHARE]

Latino new play festival coming to Chicago by Johnny Oleksinski

A new Latino theater festival is coming to Chicago this summer, it was announced on Monday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:51PM[SHARE]

Gloria Estefan musical 'On Your Feet' announces cast by Johnny Oleksinski

Producers of the new musical "On Your Feet" announced casting on Monday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:53AM[SHARE]
Friday, April 10, 2015

Haven Theatre announces 2015-16 season by Johnny Oleksinski

Haven Theatre Company announced its 2015-16 season on Friday. 

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:00PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Signal Ensemble announces 2015-16 season by Johnny Oleksinski

Signal Ensemble Theatre announced its 2015-16 season on Wednesday. The season includes three plays, none of which have been seen on a Chicago stage before.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:30PM[SHARE]

All that Chat

2025-2026 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 12, 2025: Call Me Izzy - Studio 54
Sep 16, 2025: Art - Music Box Theatre
Oct 08, 2025: Beetlejuice - Palace Theatre
Nov 13, 2025: Oedipus - Studio 54
Nov 16, 2025: Chess - Imperial Theatre
Mar 23, 2026: Giant - Music Box Theatre
Apr 06, 2026: Becky Shaw - Hayes Theater
Apr 16, 2026: Proof - Booth Theatre
Apr 26, 2026: Drama Desk Cut-Off