All stories by Kt Hawbaker on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

'The Book of Merman' " as in Ethel Merman " to return to Chicago by Kt Hawbaker

On Wednesday, Flying Elephant Productions announced the return of musical comedy "The Book of Merman," featuring a book by Leo Schwartz and DC Cathro, music and lyrics by Leo Schwartz. Cathr…

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Boho announces cast for '110 in the Shade' by Kt Hawbaker

On Wednesday, Boho Theatre announced casting for the classical musical romance "110 in the Shade," its final show of its 2018 season. In a drought-stricken ranching community during the Depr…

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Uptown Underground suddenly closes, citing issues with landlord by Kt Hawbaker

Uptown Underground abruptly shut its doors yesterday " or, rather, the building's landlord shut the doors on the club, its management and its performers. "Yesterday, I was served with papers…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:29AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Nick Rudall memorial to be held Sept. 17 by Kt Hawbaker

The Court Theatre will host a memorial program for its founding director, Nicholas Rudall, at 6 p.m. on September 17. Rudall passed away in June at the age of 78. "Court Theatre had begun as…

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First Floor Theater casts 'Hooded, or Being Black for Dummies' by Kt Hawbaker

On Tuesday, First Floor Theater announced casting for the Chicago premiere of "Hooded, or Being Black for Dummies" by Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm. The show will feature company member Andrew …

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Rivendell casts world premiere of Jenny Connell Davis' 'Scientific Method' by Kt Hawbaker

On Tuesday, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble announced casting for "Scientific Method" by Jenny Connell Davis, with direction by Devon de Mayo. The cast of Scientific Method includes Ashley Neal (…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:35PM[SHARE]
Monday, September 10, 2018

'Stomp' to return to Chicago just in time for the holidays by Kt Hawbaker

On Monday, Broadway in Chicago announced that "Stomp" will return to Chicago for a special run during the holiday season. A combination of percussion, movement and visual comedy, "Stomp" emp…

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Friday, September 7, 2018

The Second City announces cast for its 107th mainstage revue by Kt Hawbaker

On Friday, the Second City announced the cast for its 107th mainstage revue. Under the direction of Matt Hovde and with music direction by Vinnie Pillarella, the show will feature current ma…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:23PM[SHARE]

With Cassandro headlining, 'MEX Talks' wrestles with Mexican identities and the transformative power of art by Kt Hawbaker

When Jorge Silva, Producing Coordinator at the Goodman Theatre, returned to Chicago after college, he began keeping notes on how the city engaged with Mexican culture. One really good zinger…

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Pride Films and Plays announces cast of 'It's Only a Play' by Kt Hawbaker

On Friday, Pride Films and Plays announced casting for the second show of its 2018-19 season, "It's Only a Play" by Terrence McNally. In the show, it's the opening night on Broadway for a pl…

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Broadway in Chicago announces 'Tootsie' ticket lottery by Kt Hawbaker

On Friday, Broadway In Chicago and Scott Sanders Productions announced that a digital lottery will begin September 10 at 9 a.m. for "Tootsie." Twenty-six tickets will be sold for every perfo…

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With 'Oliver!' and 'Something Rotten!', the Marriott's 2019 season is loaded with song, exclamation points by Kt Hawbaker

On Thursday, the Marriott Theatre announced its 2019 season. First will be "Million Dollar Quartet," beginning Jan.16. The jukebox show chronicles the chance moment when Johnny Cash, Jerry L…

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Thursday, September 6, 2018

Pegasus Theatre to kick off 2018-19 season with Danai Gurira's 'Eclipsed' by Kt Hawbaker

On Thursday, Pegasus Theatre announced its upcoming production of "Eclipsed," the first play to premiere on Broadway with an all female and black cast and creative team. Written by Danai Gur…

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Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Drury Lane announces 2019-2020 season, with plenty of mystery and 'Matilda' to go around by Kt Hawbaker

On Wednesday, Drury Lane Theatre announced its roster of shows for the 2019-20 season, featuring two regional theater premieres and three directors new to its stage. "Matilda," a musical bas…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:52PM[SHARE]

TUTA Theatre casts U.S. premiere of "Radio Culture" by Kt Hawbaker

On Wednesday, TUTA Theatre Chicago announced casting for its U.S. Premiere of "Radio Culture," which follows one day in the life of a young Belorussian. Written by artist Maxim Dosko, with a…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:45AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Jackalope casts season opener "In the Canyon" by Kt Hawbaker

On Tuesday, Jackalope Theatre Company announced casting for the world premiere production of "In the Canyon," its season opener. Written by Calamity West and directed by Elly Green, the show…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:33PM[SHARE]

Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards to open applications Sept. 6 by Kt Hawbaker

On Tuesday, Broadway In Chicago announced open applications for the Eighth Annual Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards, inviting all public and private high schools from across the st…

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Refuge Theatre Project announces a two-musical season for 2018-19 by Kt Hawbaker

On Tuesday, Refuge Theatre Project announced the two-musical lineup for its 2018-19 season, all under the direction of artistic director Christopher Pazdernik. Kicking things off in the fall…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:40AM[SHARE]
Friday, August 31, 2018

About Face casts Chicago premiere of 'This Bitter Earth' by Kt Hawbaker

On Friday, About Face Theatre announced casting for its Chicago premiere of "This Bitter Earth" by Harrison David Rivers, with direction by Mikael Burke. "This Bitter Earth" will feature She…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:24PM[SHARE]
Thursday, August 30, 2018

Steep Theatre to stage an Ike Holter world premiere during 2018-19 season by Kt Hawbaker

On Thursday, Steep Theatre announced programming for its upcoming 2018-19 season, including a world premiere from Chicago playwright Ike Holter. Kicking things off in the Fall will be the Mi…

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Steppenwolf adds Rajiv Joseph and Karen Rodriguez to its ensemble by Kt Hawbaker

On Thursday, Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced their newest ensemble members: Rajiv Joseph and Karen Rodriguez. Joseph, an Obie Award-winner, is behind "Guards at the Taj", a black comed…

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

The Neo-Futurists to stage greatest hits and new work during 30th season by Kt Hawbaker

On Wednesday, the Neo-Futurists announced the lineup for their 30th season, complete with a run of their flagship show, "The Infinite Wrench." Mainstage Neo-Lab commissions will "Tangles and…

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Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Chicago Dramatists announce lineup for 'Monday Night Drama' series, featuring new work from Loy Webb and Isaac Gomez by Kt Hawbaker

On Tuesday, the Chicago Dramatists announced its new "Monday Night Drama" play development series. According to the organization, programming will consist of public readings of plays-in-prog…

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Ken Ludwig's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' to return for the holiday season by Kt Hawbaker

On Tuesday, Broadway in Chicago announced the return of Ken Ludwig's "Twas the Night Before Christmas," under the direction of Emerald City Theatre artistic director Jacqueline Stone. The al…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:25AM[SHARE]
Monday, August 27, 2018

'Heartbreak Hotel' to close Sept. 9 by Kt Hawbaker

"Heartbreak Hotel" will close its Chicago run on September 9. Following the story of Elvis Presley in the early years of his career as he and Sam Phillips worked together, the jukebox show s…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:25PM[SHARE]
Friday, August 24, 2018

Interrobang announces casting for rotating solo show 'White Rabbit Red Rabbit' by Kt Hawbaker

On Friday, Interrobang Theatre Project announced casting for "White Rabbit Red Rabbit," in which a different, individual performer is handed a script for the first time as they hop to the st…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:35PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, August 22, 2018

With 'Flight of the Pigasus,' this crew will reenact the time in '68 a pig was candidate for president by Kt Hawbaker

"Seven leaders of the Youth International Party (Yippies) and their presidential candidate, a pig named Pigasus, were arrested yesterday when they took the pig to the Civic Center plaza," re…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:15PM[SHARE]
Monday, August 20, 2018

The Factory Theater unveils 2018-19 season by Kt Hawbaker

On Monday, the Factory Theater announced the lineup of its 2018-19 season. The Roger Parks-ensemble will mark its 26th anniversary, with recently appointed co-artistic Directors Manny Tamayo…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:15PM[SHARE]
Friday, August 17, 2018

New Colony casts 'Fun Harmless Warmachine' by Kt Hawbaker

On Friday, the New Colony announced casting for its world premiere of "Fun Harmless Warmachine," which plummets into the trenches of online masculinity cults. Under the direction of James Fl…

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First Floor announces the lineup for its 2018-19 season by Kt Hawbaker

On Friday, First Floor Theater announced the lineup for its seventh season, featuring a world premiere and two Chicago premieres. Kicking things off in the fall will be the city's premiere o…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:36PM[SHARE]
Thursday, August 16, 2018

The Gift Theatre brings Jennifer Glasse into ensemble by Kt Hawbaker

On Thursday, the Gift Theatre announced Jennifer Glasse as its newest ensemble member. Glasse has previously appeared in the Gift's world premieres of "Hang Man" and "A Life Extra Ordinary."…

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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