Tuesday, March 29, 2022

OPENING: The Aragon Company of SIX at Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre March 29 through July 3rd, 2022

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

The Aragon Company of SIX

Launches in Chicago, March 29th

By Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss

Directed by Lucy Moss & Jamie Armitage

Choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille 

In May of 2019 it was my great pleasure to catch opening night of the North American Premiere of SIX at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre just before they went on to huge success on Broadway despite the pandemic. I loved this high energy, femalecentric reclaiming of "herstory" then, and can't wait to see the North American tour of SIX, launching right here in sweet home Chicago, once again. It's one of the first musicals I recommend to folks looking for family friendly theatre fun that's likely to be a major hit with tweens, teens, and young adults. Don't miss this! I'll be out for the press opening April 12th, so check back shortly after for my full review.

Producers Kenny Wax, Wendy & Andy Barnes, George Stiles, and Kevin McCollum are proud to launch the Aragon Company of SIX, the new musical by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, in Chicago. The Aragon Company, a North American tour of SIX, will play at Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe Street, March 29 through July 3. Tickets for the first tour stop are on sale now at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.


“SIX TOTALLY RULES!”

The New York Times


The Aragon cast features Khaila Wilcoxon as Catherine of Aragon, Storm Lever as Anne Boleyn, Jasmine Forsberg as Jane Seymour, Olivia Donalson as Anna of Cleves, Didi Romero as Katherine Howard, and Gabriela Carrillo as Catherine Parr. The cast also includes Erin Ramirez, Cassie Silva, Kelsee Sweigard and Kelly Denice Taylor.

From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an exuberant celebration of 21st century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over.  The New York Times says SIX “Totally rules!” (Critic’s Pick) and The Washington Post hails SIX as “Exactly the kind of energizing, inspirational illumination this town aches for! The Broadway season just got supercharged!” 


“A TOTAL BLAST!”

Chicago Tribune


CREATIVE TEAM

SIX is co-directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage and features choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille. The design team includes Emma Bailey (Scenic Design), Gabriella Slade (Costume Design), Tim Deiling (Lighting Design), and Paul Gatehouse (Sound Design). The score features orchestrations by Tom Curran with music supervision and vocal arrangements by Joe Beighton and U.S. Music Supervision by Roberta Duchak. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting / Peter Van Dam, CSA with original US casting by Bob Mason. Theater Matters is General Manager, Sam Levy is Associate Producer and Lucas McMahon is U.S. Executive Producer.


  “ALL HAIL!”

VOGUE



CAST

KHAILA WILCOXON (Catherine of Aragon) is excited to be joining the Queendom!  Broadway: Ruben & Clay’s Christmas Spectacular, Hadestown. First, Thank You God! Thank you tribe & family, I Love Ya’ll! To my agents Marc & Dustin, thanks for always believing in me! Thank you to the entire SIX team! Lastly, young Black artists, if the sun doesn’t ask permission to shine neither should you! @thekhailawilcoxon

STORM LEVER (Anne Boleyn). Broadway: Duckling Donna in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. Off-Broadway: Dorothy in The Wringer (City Center). Regional: Sheila in Hair and Polexia in Almost Famous (The Old Globe); Wendy in Fly (La Jolla); Savanah in Freaky Friday (Signature Theater); Emotional Creature (Berkeley Rep). TV/Film: No One Called Ahead. Love to my chosen family, OG family, B.F.A.mily University of Michigan and BRS/Gage. @stormlever

JASMINE FORSBERG (Jane Seymour) is overjoyed to be making her North American Tour debut! Off Broadway: Broadway Bounty Hunter. Regional: Love in Hate Nation (Two River Theater), A Grand Night for Singing (Goodspeed), Wild Fire (Denver Center). TV: “One December Night” (Hallmark). BFA from Penn State. Love and thanks to the Queendom, A3, Tara Rubin Casting, and all my loved ones for their endless support. www.jasmineforsberg.com @jasmine_forsberg

OLIVIA DONALSON (Anna of Cleves) is thrilled to make her principal debut with SIX! She was last seen in Aladdin the Musical on Broadway and the First National Tour. A huge thank you to the SIX team, Tara Rubin Casting and Headline Talent Agency for this ferocious opportunity! Love you, Mother! And thank you, friends and family, for the endless support. Instagram: @oliviadonalson

DIDI ROMERO (Katherine Howard). Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Didi Romero graduated from AMDA and promptly started working in "In The Heights" as Nina (WCP, BROADWAY SACRAMENTO, COLISEUM OF PUERTO RICO) "Broadway Rising Stars" "Mixtape The Movie" "Gina Yei" and now excited to be joining “Queendom” in SIX. She's been a social media influencer for 5 years trying to be an example for her #DIDIOKREZ. @didiromero_8\


GABRIELA CARRILLO (Catherine Parr) is overjoyed to be making "herstory" in SIX! Gabriela is a first-generation Mexican-American raised in Chicago, and a graduate of Berklee College of Music. She is also a YouTuber/vlogger, and has released original music under the name 'Gabriela Francesca'. Endless love and gratitude to Mama & Papa, and special thanks to Ashley and Mark at KMR. IG/TikTok @officialgabrielacarrillo 

ERIN RAMIREZ (Alternate). Tour: Les Misérables (u/s Éponine). NYC Workshop: Romy & Michele. Regional: Spamilton (PCLO), Jersey Boys (Ogunquit Playhouse), Hairspray (Amber, KC Starlight), Mamma Mia (ACT of Connecticut). International: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. BFA in MT, Emerson College. Gratitude to Daniel Hoff Agency, Tara Rubin Casting and the entire SIX team. Love to my endlessly supportive husband and family. To God be the glory. @erinpalmerramirez

CASSIE SILVA (Alternate, Dance Captain). Joining the SIX Queendom is a dream come true! Favorite credits include: Rock of Ages Broadway, Matilda (Broadway & 1st National). TV/Film: “Hairspray,” “Walk Hard,” “Happy Texas,” “The Wayward Guide,” “Dexter,” “Legally Blonde: The Search…” Special thanks to the incredible Creatives, Crew, Tara Rubin Casting, Daniel Hoff Agency, loved ones & the other 9 "badass monarchs.” God is good! @CassieMSilva 

KELSEE SWEIGARD (Alternate) is royally stoked to join the Queendom! National Tours: RENT (Maureen), Pretty Woman 1st National Tour (u/s Kit de Luca, u/s Violetta), Kinky Boots (Pat). NYC Workshops: Ragtime Ellis Island, Agent 355 (Anna Strong). BFA Shenandoah Conservatory. Endless thanks to CLA, TRC, all the SIX team members, and Mom. To all women, everywhere: may your stories be forever celebrated. www.kelseesweigard.com @kelseesweigard

KELLY DENICE TAYLOR (Alternate) is a member of The Recording Academy and best known for her role in Walt Disney Records' a cappella singing sensation 'DCappella'. International: Disney Cruise Line, Universal Studios Japan. Kelly has made a variety of TV appearances on Disney+, Disney Channel, and ABC. Kelly extends special thanks to her team at Morrison Rothman, her friends, and Tara Rubin casting for the love and support! @kellydenicetaylor

SIX is currently on-stage at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 W. 47th St) on Broadway in New York City, the Vaudeville Theatre in London’s West End and on a UK tour.

For more information about the show, visit www.SixOnBroadway.com

Follow SIX on Facebook ● Twitter  ● Instagram  ●@SIXUSTour

 

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for SIX are now on sale and range from $39.00-$119.00 with a select number of premium tickets available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

 

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 21 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining more than 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

 


COVID-19  PROTOCOL

Our audiences are required to wear masks and show proof of vaccine. For details or further requirements (that can change without notice) visit broadwayinchicago.com/covid19.

 


For more information & performance schedule, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago


Friday, March 25, 2022

ON SALE: First National Tour of AIN’T TOO PROUD – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS MAY 24 – June 5, 2022

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar  

NOW ON SALE

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S 

CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT - MAY 24 – June 5, 2022 

“Pretty close to perfection!” 

The New York Times, Critics’ Pick

Broadway In Chicago announced today that individual tickets for the First National Tour of AIN’T TOO PROUD – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS, the new Broadway smash hit musical are now on sale. Ticket prices range from $29.50 - $116.00 with a select number of premium tickets available. AIN’T TOO PROUD will play sixteen performances at Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) from May 24 through June 5, 2022. Individual tickets are available at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com.

Featuring the Grammy® winning songs and Tony® winning moves, AIN’T TOO PROUD is the electrifying new musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. With their signature dance moves and unmistakable harmonies, they rose to the top of the charts creating an amazing 42 Top Ten Hits with 14 reaching number one and being voted the greatest R&B group of all time by Billboard Magazine in 2017. The rest is history — how they met, the groundbreaking heights they hit, and how personal and political conflicts threatened to tear the group apart as the United States fell into civil unrest. This thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal is set to the beat of the group’s treasured hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” and so many more.

After breaking house records at Berkeley Rep, The Kennedy Center, CTG’s Ahmanson Theatre, and Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre, AIN'T TOO PROUD opened on Broadway in March 2019, where it continued to play sold-out audiences and broke the Imperial Theatre’s box office record. Written by Kennedy Prize-winning and three-time Obie Award winning playwright Dominique Morisseau, directed by two-time Tony Award® winner Des McAnuff, and featuring the Tony Award winning choreography of Sergio Trujillo, this dazzling production now brings the untold story of the legendary quintet to audiences across the country on their first national tour.

The creative team also includes Tony Award nominee Robert Brill(scenic design), Tony Award winner Paul Tazewell (costume design), Tony Award winner Howell Binkley (lighting design), Tony Award winner Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Drama Desk Award winner Peter Nigrini (projection design), Drama Desk Award winner Charles G. LaPointe (hair and wig design), Steve Rankin (fight direction), Brian Harlan Brooks (tour resident director), Edgar Godineaux (associate choreographer), John Miller (music coordinator), Molly Meg Legal (production supervisor), and Larry Smiglewski (production stage manager). Orchestrations are by Tony Award recipient Harold Wheeler, with music supervision and arrangements by Kenny Seymour. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting, Merri Sugarman, C.S.A.

The national tour of AIN’T TOO PROUD is produced by Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce, in association with Work Light Productions.


PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Tuesday, May 24 at 7:30 pm

Wednesday, May 25 at 7:30 pm

Thursday, May 26 at 7:30 pm

Friday, May 27 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, May 28 at 2 pm & 8:00 pm

Sunday, May 29 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm

Tuesday, May 31 at 7:30 pm

Wednesday, June 1 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm

Thursday, June 2 at 7:30 pm

Friday, June 3 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, June 4 at 2 pm and 8 pm

Sunday, June 5 at 2 pm

 

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 22 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country.  A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theatre District entertaining more than 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre.




 

COVID-19  PROTOCOL

Our audiences are required to wear masks and show proof of vaccine. For details or further requirements (that can change without notice) visit broadwayinchicago.com/covid19.


For more information about the show, visit www.AintTooProudMusical.com

Follow AIN’T TOO PROUD on: facebook.com/AintTooProudMusical ● twitter.com/AintTooProud ● instagram.com/AintTooProudMusical

 

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com

Follow Broadway In Chicago on: Facebook/@BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter/@broadwaychicago ● Instagram/@BroadwayInChicago ● #broadwayinchicago

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore Opening in North America on April 15, 2022

ChiIL Mama’s ChiIL Picks List:

What We're Watching

Warner Bros. Pictures’ 

“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” 

is the newest adventure in the Wizarding World™ created by J.K. Rowling.


Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers. But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?

The film features an ensemble cast, including Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”), two-time Oscar nominee Jude Law (“Cold Mountain,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley”), Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, William Nadylam, Callum Turner, Jessica Williams, Victoria Yeates, Poppy Corby-Tuech, Fiona Glascott, Katherine Waterston, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Richard Coyle, Oliver Masucci, Valerie Pachner, and Mads Mikkelsen.

“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” was directed by David Yates, from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling & Steve Kloves, based upon a screenplay by J.K. Rowling. The film was produced by David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves, Lionel Wigram and Tim Lewis. Neil Blair, Danny Cohen, Josh Berger, Courtenay Valenti and Michael Sharp served as executive producers.

The film’s behind-the-scenes creative team included director of photography George Richmond (“Rocketman,” “Kingsman: The Golden Circle”), three-time Oscar-winning production designer Stuart Craig (“The English Patient,” “Dangerous Liaisons,” “Gandhi,” the “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” films) and production designer Neil Lamont (“Solo: A Star Wars Story,” “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”), Yates’ longtime editor Mark Day (“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” the last four “Harry Potter” films), Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor Christian Mänz (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1,” the “Fantastic Beasts” films), and four-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (“Chicago,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”). The music is by nine-time Oscar nominee James Newton Howard (“News of the World,” “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” “Defiance,” “Michael Clayton,” “The Hunger Games” films).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films Production, a David Yates film, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” in theaters internationally beginning 7 April 2022 and in North America on April 15, 2022. The film will be distributed worldwide in select theatres and IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures.

IMAX Official Channels:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/IMAX
Instagram: www.instagram.com/IMAX
Twitter: www.twitter.com/IMAX
YouTube: www.youtube.com/IMAXmovies

FANTASTIC BEASTS: SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE Official Channels:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fantasticbeastsmovie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fantasticbeastsmovie/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FantasticBeasts
#SecretsOfDumbledore

 Check out the official trailer HERE




Thursday, March 24, 2022

FREE With RSVP Goodman Theatre's Future Labs reading: Cephianne’s Reflection March 26 at 7pm

CEPHIANNE’S REFLECTION BY MALLORY RAVEN-ELLEN BACKSTROM, DIRECTED BY WARDELL JULIUS CLARK, APPEARS AS THE NEXT FUTURE LABS READING ON MARCH 26; FREE TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE

Goodman Theatre announces its next Future Labs reading: Cephianne’s Reflection by Mallory Raven-Ellen Backstrom, directed by Wardell Julius Clark. The second offering (of six workshops and presentations anticipated) of Future Labs’ second season, Backstrom’s new play is penned in homage to an American dialect and colorful culture found on the Sea Islands off the coast of Georgia—where the descendants of slaves learned how to turn pain into power. Future Labs develops works authored and directed by Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander), SWANA (Southwest Asian/North African) and other artists of color; the series is curated by Associate Director of Education & Engagement Quenna L. Barrett, Director of New Works Jonathan L. Green, Video Producer Alberto Mendoza, Producer Malkia Stampley and a cross-departmental team of Goodman staff holding intersectional identities. The reading of Cephianne’s Reflection takes place on March 26 at 7pm at Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn). Tickets are free, but registration is required; visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Reflection.

The Goodman is grateful for the generosity of its New Work sponsors, including: Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation and the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Major Support of New Work; Ruth D. and Ken M. Davee New Works Fund, Major Support of New Play Development; The Glasser and Rosenthal Family, Mayer Brown LLP, and Shaw Family Supporting Organization, Support of New Work.

In Cephianne’s Reflection, no one has left the invisible island of Ma Isle in over three hundred years; both a blessing and a curse. Endowed with divine power, ruler Queen Aimee sends all her subjects into the wilderness in their twenty-second year to be gifted with incredible abilities. So it has been for generations, as the world has turned without any of them in mind—until Queen Aimee's youngest child emerges from the woods, seemingly unchanged, and stumbles upon an ancient man in her mirror.

The Future Labs development series is the latest effort among the Goodman ’s programs that support living writers and develop new plays—including New Stages, Playwrights Unit and more than two dozen individual artist commissions. Designed primarily for Chicago-based writers who have not had a play produced at the Goodman, Future Labs projects receive rehearsal time, artistic, dramaturgical and casting support and an optional free public reading. In its inaugural season, Future Labs workshopped and developed seven plays. Two of those plays, Martin Yousif Zebari’s Layalina and Max Yu’s Nightwatch, went on to debut as developmental productions in Goodman’s 17th annual New Stages Festival—an annual celebration of innovative new work by some of the country's most singular and ambitious playwrights. Now in its second season, Future Labs welcomes project proposals on an ongoing basis, exclusively seeking bold, imaginative works from Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI, SWANA and other playwrights of color for development and public presentation. Visit GoodmanTheatre.org/FutureLabs for submission details.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Mallory Raven-Ellen Backstrom is a mixed-media artist, writer and intuitive healer who creates Fairy Tales for Sun-Kissed Women, a whimsical anthology of short stories and immersive audiobooks. She is a member of The Goodman Theatre Playwrights Unit and the recipient of the Chicago Dramatists Tutterow Fellowship. Mallory’s play, Cephianne’s Reflection, was a finalist for the National Playwrights Conference. A Laying on of Hands was featured in The Story Theatre’s New Play Festival. Her witchy fable, Once in a Bleu Moon, was showcased by Sideshow Theatre in the House Party series and by The Athena Project as a part of the Read and Rant series. The Bright Light of the Soul was workshopped by The New Coordinates Theatre. Mallory is a contributing playwright to The Refracted Theatre Company’s podcast, The Swell. She is an artistic associate of Sideshow Theatre. Mallory was hailed as a “craftsman of the English language” by Windy City Reviews for her debut novel, Reasons for Being. She has guest lectured at the University of California-Davis and Illinois Humanities. Her artwork has been exhibited at The Freedom and Movement Gallery and The Breathing Room. For more information about this multifaceted artist visit her at www.MalloryBackstrom.com or @FairyTalesForSunKissedWomen.

Wardell Julius Clark is an award-winning actor, director, producer and activist who hails from Fairfield, Alabama but now calls Chicago home. He earned his BFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University. Wardell is a company member with TimeLine Theatre and an ensemble member at Sideshow Theatre. Wardell recently returned from Williamstown Theatre Festival where he directed the world premieres of "Black Moon Lilith"; "A Ghost in Satin" and "don’t get got" as part of the Solo Play Festival Celebrating the Black Radical Imagination. Select Chicago directing credits include Michael Jackson and the Devil's Book; Whitney Houston and the Devil's Book (Jackalope Theatre Company); Kill Move Paradise (TimeLine Theatre, 2020 Jeff Award winner for direction); Sheepdog (Shattered Globe); His Shadow (16th Street); The Shipment (Red Tape) and Dutch Masters (Jackalope). Select acting credits include The Whisperer's Apprentice; Once in a Bleu Moon (Sideshow Theatre); Flyin’ West (American Blues); Suddenly Last Summer (Raven); Silent Sky (First Folio); Othello (Theater at Monmouth) and The Gospel According to James (Victory Gardens). His television and film credits include Proven Innocent; Shameless and Chicago Fire Seasons 1 & 4. wardelljuliusclark.com.



Please note: In compliance with the City of Chicago vaccine requirement, proof of vaccination with an FDA or WHO-authorized vaccine is required for all guests. Masks are required at all times in the theater and patrons under 5 are not permitted. Learn more GoodmanTheatre.org/Protocols.


ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE

Chicago ’s theater since 1925, Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit arts and community organization in the heart of the Loop, distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and community engagement.

Led by Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics. Artists and productions have earner two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and more than 160 Jeff Awards, among other accolades. The Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” Its longtime annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, now in its fifth decade, has created a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production and program partner with national and international companies and Chicago’s Off-Loop theaters.

Using the tools of the theatrical profession, the Goodman’s Education and Engagement programs aim to develop generations of citizens who understand the cultures and stories of diverse voices. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of these programs, which are offered free of charge for Chicago youth—85% of whom come from underserved communities—schools and life-long learners.

As a cultural and community organization invested in quality, diversity and community, Goodman Theatre is committed to using the art of theater for a better Chicago. Goodman Theatre’s Action Plan for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism and Access (IDEAA) was born out of the belief that progress means action, which includes building on the decades-long commitment to using art, assets and resources to contribute to a more just, equitable and anti-racist society.

Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation on the new Goodman center in 2000.

Today, Goodman Theatre leadership also includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Rebecca Gilman, Dael Orlandersmith, Henry Godinez, Steve Scott, Kimberly Senior, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor and Mary Zimmerman. Jeff Hesse is Chairman of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Fran Del Boca is Women’s Board President and Craig McCaw is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.


Wednesday, March 23, 2022

HELP OUT: Benefit Ukraine at Gourmet Expos’ 5th Annual West Loop Festival of Spirits & Wine and Mouthwatering Treats March 26 & 27

Foodie Fun On Our Radar

Visit dozens of wineries and distilleries under one roof

A portion of ticket sales benefits Ukrainian relief efforts

 

WHO: Thousands of Chicagoans

WHAT: …gather to eat, drink, and listen to live music at Gourmet Expos’ 5th annual West Loop Festival of Spirits & Wine and Mouthwatering Treats.

Attendees will get the unique experience of visiting a wide variety of wineries and distilleries all under one roof—with tastings, bottles available for purchase and one-on-one conversations with brand representatives on site. Meet dozens of local, national, and international producers of fine spirits and wines including Copper Fiddle, Fino Tequila, and wines from Italy, Australia and California.

Also, indulge in complementary artisanal chocolates and specialty treats. Plus, hear live music all weekend from Big Dog Mercer Blues Band.

Due to the current situation, Gourmet Expos will donate $5 for every ticket purchased with Promo Code HELPUKRAINE for The West Loop Festival of Spirits & Wine and Mouthwatering Treats to UNICEF Helping Ukrainian Children.  

WHEN:  THIS WEEKEND

Saturday March 26 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday March 27 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

WHERE:  Stephen M. Bailey Auditorium at Plumbers Hall, 1340 W. Washington Blvd.

Ticket packages start at $45 with access to free on-site parking. Gourmet Expos will donate $5 for every ticket purchased with Promo Code HELPUKRAINE to UNISEF Helping Ukrainian Children. To purchase tickets, visit gourmetexpos.com.

MORE: This year, in addition to benefiting local nonprofit Voice of Care, attendees can choose to donate $5 from each ticket purchased to benefit Ukrainian refugee relief through UNISEF Helping Ukrainian Children.

 

Ticket information

Several ticket packages are available, and every ticket includes access to free onsite parking.


The Starter ($45.00)

- 10 tasting tickets

- One Gift Basket Raffle ticket

- Artisan chocolate & specialty food samples

- Live entertainment

 

The Premiere ($55.00)

- 15 tasting tickets

- One Gift Basket Raffle ticket

- A commemorative wine glass

- Admission to all talks and pairing demos

- Artisan chocolate & specialty food samples

- Live entertainment

 

The VIP ($75.00)

- 20 tasting tickets

- 4 Gift Basket Raffle tickets

- A commemorative wine glass

- A swag bag

- Admission to all talks and pairing demos

- Artisan chocolate & specialty food samples

- Live entertainment

 

Participating vendors:

Wine

Banshee Wines - Healdsburg, CA

Boisset Wine Living - St. Helena, CA

Buena Vista Winery - Sonoma, CA

Chalk Hill Estate - Healdsburg, CA

Chateau Lassegue - France

Deloach Vineyards - Santa Rosa, CA

Foley Family Wines - Santa Rosa, CA

Freemark Abbey - St. Helena, CA

Gamble Family Vineyards - Napa Valley, CA

Gran Moraine - Yamhill, OR

Hickinbotham Wines - Australia

JCB Wines - St. Helena, CA 

MATERRA | Cunat Family Vineyards - Napa, CA

Opolo - Pasa Robles, CA

PRP Wine International, Inc. - Naperville, IL

Raymond Vineyards - St. Helena, CA

Santa Margherita - Italy

Wattle Creek - San Francisco, CA

WillaKenzie Estates - Yamhill, OR

 

Spirits

Apologue Liqueurs - Chicago, IL

Big Machine Vodka - Nashville, TN

Blackened Whisky - Shoreham, VT

Candid Cocktails - Denver, CO

Copper Fiddle - Lake Zurich, IL

Crook and Marker - Hamilton Township, NJ

Duncan Taylor - Scotland

Fino Tequila - Chicago, IL

Koloa Rum - Kaui, HI

Lustau - Spain

Mozart Chocolate Liqueur - Salzburg, Austria

NG Distillery - Thornton, IL

Puerto de Indias - Spain

Star Union - Peru, IL

Thornton Distilling - Thornton, IL

Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey - Shelbyville, TN

Virtue Cider - Fennville, MI

 

Non-alcoholic artisanal treats

Boxed Water

Cheryl's Nut Butters

Cinnaholoic

Dip'n Good Dips

Elle's Marshmallows

Fill My Jar

Gindos Hot Sauce

Goufrais Chocolate

Indulgence by Zasha

Kernels Gourmet Popcorn

Master of Mixes

Prevail Jerky

Slide Potato Chip

Tuanis Chocolate

Wanderlust Sea Salt LLC

Whisk by Morgan

Zoes Sauces

*Subject to Change


Gourmet Expos has been bringing premier festivals to Chicago for five years, partnering with established area nonprofits to support the community. For more information, visit gourmetexpos.com.

Monday, March 21, 2022

MJ, Broadway Smash-Hit Musical North American Tour to Premiere at Broadway In Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre July 15, 2023

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar :

Save the Dates

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR ANNOUNCED

BROADWAY’S MOST ELECTRIFYING NEW MUSICAL 

SET TO PREMIERE IN CHICAGO

JAMES M. NEDERLANDER THEATRE

PERFORMANCES BEGIN JULY 15, 2023

Book by two-time Pulitzer Prize® winner Lynn Nottage

Directed and Choreographed by Tony® winner Christopher Wheeldon

Producers Lia Vollack Productions, The Michael Jackson Estate and Broadway in Chicago are thrilled to announce that MJ, the smash-hit musical of the Broadway season, will run technical rehearsals and premiere at Broadway In Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre (24 W. Randolph).  One of the greatest entertainers of all time, Michael Jackson’s unique and unparalleled artistry is finally coming to Chicago from July 15 – September 10, 2023.

MJ will be part of the 2022 Fall Season on sale later this year. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. Individual tickets for MJ will go on sale at a later date. For more details, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

The musical’s producer, Lia Vollack, commented about today’s announcement, “We are thrilled by the Broadway response to MJ, and that we are already deep in preparations to bring this exhilarating show to Chicago and across the United States. Chicago is a premier theater and music destination, and we are excited to be able to begin this journey in one of the Nederlander Organization’s most beautiful venues.”

President of Broadway In Chicago, Lou Raizin, stated, “Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to be able to bring MJ to our City first, following their successful launch on Broadway.”

Centered around the making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour, and created by Tony Award®-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Jackson into legendary status. Turn it up— MJ is on tour!

Tour Casting will be announced at a later date.


 “BRILLIANTLY CHOREOGRAPHED

AND MAGNIFICENTLY EVOCATIVE!”

Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune


ABOUT MJ

MJ features a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize®winner Lynn Nottage and a score made up of some of the best-loved, top-selling songs in recording history. Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon will direct and choreograph the tour.

The creative team will feature Scenic Design by Tony and two-time Emmy Award winner Derek McLane, Lighting Design by six-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz, Costume Design by Tony and Emmy Award winner Paul Tazewell, Sound Design by two-time Tony Award nominee Gareth Owen, Projection Design by two-time Tony Award nominee Peter Nigrini, and Hair & Wig Design by two-time Emmy Award nominee Charles LaPointe.

MJ is produced on Broadway and tour by Lia Vollack Productions and The Estate of Michael Jackson.For more information worldwide, visit: www.mjthemusical.com  ● Facebook ● Twitter ● Instagram.


ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 22 years, has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining more than 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop, including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com 

Follow Broadway In Chicago: Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ●Twitter @broadwaychicago 

● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

Thursday, March 17, 2022

OPENING: THE SOUND OF MUSIC at The Marriott Theatre April 13-June 5, 2022

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

Terry James, Executive Producer 

Aaron Thielen, Artistic Director 

Peter Blair, Associate Producer      

Peter Marston Sullivan, Associate Artistic Director 

  Presents 

  


One of the most beloved musicals of all time!  

The Marriott Theatre, located at 10 Marriott Dr. Lincolnshire, welcomes spring with THE SOUND OF MUSIC, previewing Wednesday, April 13, opening April 20 at 7:30 p.m., and closing June 5, 2022. THE SOUND OF MUSIC features the Tony, Grammy, and Academy Award-winning Best Score composed by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II, including "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "Edelweiss" and the iconic title song. Experience this classic family favorite directed by Nick Bowling, the recipient of eight Jeff Awards for Outstanding Direction. Musical direction is by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson with choreography by William Carlos Angulo.   

“It’s a pleasure to direct a long-standing favorite such as The Sound of Music, right here at the Marriott Theatre,” said Nick Bowling. “This heartwarming story continues to resonate with so many across the world, and that’s what makes this musical truly stand the test of time and something I am truly honored to be a part of.”  

THE SOUND OF MUSIC tells the tale of young nun-turned-governess Maria Rainer, whose free spirit has trouble fitting into the rules and regulations of the monastery. Commissioned by the Mother Abbess to serve as the governess for seven motherless children, Maria transforms the Von Trapp family home from a place of stern obedience to one filled with joy, laughter and music. Based on the true story of the Von Trapp Family Singers, this play captures a personal tale of growth and hope amidst the horrors of World War II.  

THE SOUND OF MUSIC first appeared on Broadway in 1959, starring Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel. After winning five Tony Awards including Best Musical, the film adaptation was released in 1965 starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plumber, and would go on to win five Academy Awards including Best Picture. This musical was the final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein, and was destined to become the world’s most beloved musical.  

This production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC is led by Addie Morales as “Maria Rainer” (Marriott Theatre debut! Regional: Maria in West Side Story, and Susan in Tick, Tick… Boom!, Maria Elena in The Buddy Holly Story, and Eva in Evita), Erik Hellman as “Captain Georg von Trapp” (Marriott Theatre debut! Regional: Lindiwe, Familiar, and The Burn at Steppenwolf; Othello, Mousetrap, One Man Two Gov’nors, The Misanthrope, Proof and The Mystery of Irma at Court Theatre; Miss Bennet, Shining Lives, and Lost in Yonkers at Northlight Theatre), Daniella Dalli as “The Mother Abbess” (Marriott Theatre debut! National tour: The Phantom of The Opera, The Sound of Music), Heidi Kettenring as “Elsa Schraeder” (23 shows at Marriott Theatre! Nessa in Broadway in Chicago’s Wicked; National Tours: Disney’s Beauty and The Beast), Rob Lindley as “Max Detweiler” (Marriott Theatre mainstage debut; Monsieur André in Phantom of the Opera National Tour), Laura T. Fisher as “Frau Schmidt,” Mark Ulrich as “Franz,” Susan Moniz as “Sister Berthe,” Lydia Burke as “Sister Margaretta,” Ana Silva as “Sister Sophia,” and Emmet Smith as “Rolf Gruber.” The von Trapp children are played by Campbell Krausen, Brody Tyner, Milla Liss, Archer Geye, Omi Lichtenstein, Olivia O’Sullivan, and Reese Bella; with Brandon Dahlquist, Terry Hamilton, Elaine Cotter, Mitchell J. Fain, Nancy Voigts, Joe Capstick, Tafadzwa Diener, Dan Gold, Maya McQueen, Amanda Walker, Isabella Andrews, Corey Atkinson, Audrey Edwards, Asha Dale Hopman, Aaron M. Nixon, Tommy Thurston and Clare Wols. 

The artistic team, led by Associate Artistic Director Peter Marston Sullivan, includes set design by Collette Pollard, costume design by Sally Dolembo, lighting design by Jesse Klug, sound design by Michael Daly, wig design by Miguel A. Armstrong, projection and media design by Anthony Churchill, properties design by Sally Zack, alongside artistic associate Christopher Chase Carter, assistant director Emily Marso, stage manager Jessica Banaszak, intimacy coordinator Kristina Fluty, and musical supervisor Patti Garwood.  



Marriott Theatre is committed to providing healthy and safe facilities for audiences, performers, and staff. Please check MarriottTheatre.com prior to your visit for the most recent COVID-19 protocols.  


THE SOUND OF MUSIC is scheduled for performances at 7:30pm Wednesday and Thursday, 8pm Friday, 4pm and 8pm Saturday, 1pm and 5pm Sundays, with select 1pm shows on Thursdays. Ticket prices range between $50 and $60, excluding tax and handling fees. Call for student, senior, and military discounts. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings there are a limited number of dinner-theatre packages available for purchase through the Marriott Theatre Box Office. To make a restaurant reservation, please call 847.634.0100. Reservations strongly recommended. Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets, please call The Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or go to www.ticketmaster.com. Visit www.MarriottTheatre.com for more information.  

  




REVIEW: World Premiere of King James at Steppenwolf Theatre Through April 10, 2022

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

Steppenwolf Theatre Company opens world premiere of

King James

By ensemble member Rajiv Joseph

Directed by Tony and Obie Award winner Kenny Leon

Starring ensemble member and Artistic Director Glenn Davis and Chris Perfetti


Now playing through April 10, 2022

Running Time: runs approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, including one intermission. 


REVIEW:

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

Ensemble member and Artistic Director Glenn Davis and Chris Perfetti in King James. All Production Photos by Michael Brosilow.

It's such a joy to be back at Steppenwolf after a longer pandemic induced break than I ever imagined possible. Their new facility is a marvel, and with two new full-service bars, socializing before and after shows is better than ever. We're thrilled to see what the coming years bring for their expanded education facilities and new theatre in the round space. 

When I heard that Steppenwolf was reopening with a basketball themed world premiere, I was a bit skeptical as well as intrigued. Most diehard basketball fans don't overlap with the thespian crowd, and vice versa. Still, despite never having seen LeBron James play in my life, I can highly recommend this LeBron James play. It's a heartwarming buddy bonanza, that begins with a chance encounter and blooms into a lifelong friendship that changes the trajectory of two young men's lives. The acting is A-list, as this production spans years of interconnection between Shawn (Glenn Davis) and Matt (Chris Perfetti). Through alternating career highs and lows, loves and losses, family business and extended family bonding, this endearing ode to friendship and fandom is a win.

There's actually little about Lebron's life, so basketball knowledge isn't a prerequisite to understand or enjoy this show. Rather, King James is a deep dive into the psychology of super fans, and the connection and emotional release valve that sports affords men, in a world where our toxic masculinity culture permits few other acceptable outlets for either. 

My husband is a location sound engineer who has met LeBron James numerous times over the years, on shoots for ESPN, but I couldn't pick the guy out on the street or answer a single trivia questions about his illustrious career. Despite my b-ball ignorance, I still found this production to be fantastic and highly recommend King James. 

Pictured below: LeBron James, my husband-Doug Mara, 
and Rachel Nichols, ESPN Sports Broadcaster
Photos via Dug Production Sound, Inc. 


ESPN feature on LeBron James Family Foundation, where he reads stories, takes kids to Cedar Point Amusement Park near Cleveland, and funds higher education opportunities.

Steppenwolf's King James curiosity shop and wine bar sets by Todd Rosenthal are truly fantastic eye candy, with a stunning level of attention to detail. Again, the acting is fantastic, and the script is utterly unique, and a welcome addition to the modern theatrical canon. Don't miss this. 


*Want more from playwright, Rajiv Joseph? Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo opens April 22 at Northwestern University's Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts and runs through May 1: https://wirtz.northwestern.edu/bengal-tiger-at-the-baghdad-zoo/  (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo is suitable for audiences aged 18 and upwards.)

King James is the latest play from Cleveland native Rajiv Joseph, who burst onto the American theatre scene with Pulitzer Prize finalist Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, which had its world premiere at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in 2009 before going on to Broadway in 2011—where Glenn Davis starred in the production alongside Robin Williams. Joseph and Davis formed a strong friendship and working partnership that grew from that production.

Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theatre critic, photographer, videographer, actress, artist and Mama. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly). 



More About King James


Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation’s premier ensemble theater company, presents its world premiere production of King James by ensemble member Rajiv Joseph, staged by acclaimed Tony and Obie Award-winning director Kenny Leon (Broadway’s A Raisin in the Sun; NBC TV’s “Hairspray Live!”) in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theater, now through April 10, 2022. Featuring ensemble member and Artistic Director Glenn Davis alongside Chris Perfetti (ABC TV’s “Abbott Elementary”) and Khloe Janel, this fast-paced, witty and deeply felt comedy is the story of an unlikely friendship forged by fandom, told through the lens of “King” LeBron James' career and legacy. The two friends’ shared love of basketball and verbal games of one-on-one help them navigate the hopes, desires and fears they have bottled up since childhood. 

Single tickets to King James ($20-$88) are on sale now at steppenwolf.org and 312-335-1650. The production is part of Steppenwolf’s 4-Play Deal for $150 that also includes Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool, ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Choir Boy, and ensemble member Yasen Peyankov’s adaptation of Seagull, which opens Steppenwolf’s new in-the-round Ensemble Theater in Honor of Helen Zell this spring. The 4-Play Deal is available through April 1 at steppenwolf.org/4for150 and 312-335-1650.

King James is co-commissioned and co-produced by Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Center Theatre Group. 

 Artist Bios

Glenn Davis (Shawn) is an actor, tv/film producer, and an Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. He has been a Steppenwolf Ensemble member since 2017, where his credits include Downstate, The Christians, You Got Older, The Brother/Sister Plays and Head of Passes. Broadway credits include Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (also Kirk Douglas Theatre, Mark Taper Forum). Off-Broadway credits include Transfers (MCC Theatre) and Wig Out! (Vineyard Theatre). Other regional credits include Moscow x6 (Williamstown Theatre Festival). International credits include Downstate (National Theatre, UK) Edward II, The Winter’s Tale and As You Like It (Stratford Festival), as well as Othello at The Shakespeare Company. Television credits include Billions, 24, The Unit, Jericho and The Good Wife. Glenn is an artistic associate at the Young Vic in London and at the Vineyard Theatre in New York. In 2021, Glenn founded The Chatham Grove Company, alongside his producing partner Tarell Alvin McCraney, which is currently in an overall deal with Universal Content Productions (UCP). He is also a partner in Cast Iron Entertainment, a collective of artists consisting of Sterling K Brown, Brian Tyree Henry, Jon Michael Hill, Andre Holland, and Tarell Alvin McCraney. Cast Iron is currently in residence at The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. Glenn is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University. He is also the first African-American graduate of The Stratford Festival’s Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre Training. 

Chris Perfetti (Matt) stars as a series regular on ABC’s hilarious new comedy, Abbott Elementary, from creator, executive producer and star Quinta Brunson. His past television credits include recurring roles on HBO's Looking, The CW's In the Dark, HBO's Emmy-winning limited series The Night Of, FOX’s The Resident; series regular on NBC’s Crossbones with John Malkovich and Claire Foy; and guest appearances in FX's What We Do in the Shadows, CBS’s Bull, Netflix's Bonding, and more. Recent films include The Virtuoso opposite Anson Mount and Anthony Hopkins, Minyan, and a starring role in Hulu’s The Surrogate from writer/director Jeremy Hersh. A gifted stage actor, Chris’ extensive theater credits include Broadway revivals of: Six Degrees of Separation opposite Allison Janney and Corey Hawkins; and Picnic with Ellen Burstyn, Sebastian Stan and Mare Winningham. Off-Broadway, he starred in Stephen Karam's Pulitzer Prize-nominated play, Sons of the Prophet, for which Chris won the Theatre World Award for his NY stage debut; and received a Drama Desk, Outer Critics, and Drama League nomination for his work in MCC's Moscow x6 by Halley Feiffer. Additional NY credits include The Low Road at The Public Theater; Brandon Jacob-Jenkins’ Everybody at the Signature Theater, directed by Lila Neugebauer; The Tempest at Shakespeare in the Park; Cloud Nine at Atlantic Theater Company; and The Tutors at Second Stage, directed by Tommy Kail. He is a graduate of the acting conservatory at SUNY Purchase and resides in Brooklyn, New York. Chris makes his Steppenwolf Theatre debut with King James, which will transfer to LA’s Mark Taper Forum in June 2022.

Khloe Janel (DJ) has appeared in Chicago in productions including Hatfield & McCoy (House Theatre), Fly Honey Show (Den Theatre), Haymarket (Underscore Theatre) and Last Stop on Market Street (Chicago Children’s Theatre). Film credits include I Used To Go Here. Television credits include Wizdom, Chicago P.D, Chicago Fire, Easy, Empire and The Chi. They received a B.A. from Columbia College Chicago.

Kenny Leon (Director) is a Tony and Obie Award-winning; Emmy-nominated; Broadway and Television director. Most recently, he directed Lifetime’s Emmy-nominated Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia. Last year, he directed the Tony Award-winning Broadway premiere of Charles Fuller's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, A Soldier's Play, for which he also received a nomination for Best Director.  Currently on Netflix, he has directed episodes of Colin in Black & White and Amend: The Fight for America. He also directed The Underlying Chris at Second Stage Theatre Company and the acclaimed production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Delacorte/Shakespeare in the Park. Broadway: A Soldier’s Play; American Son; Children of a Lesser God; Holler If Ya Hear Me; A Raisin in the Sun (Tony Award; 2014); The Mountaintop; Stick Fly; August Wilson’s Fences, Gem of the Ocean and Radio Golf. Off-Broadway: Everybody’s Ruby, Emergence-See! (The Public); Smart People (Second Stage). Television: Colin in Black & White; 4400; Amend: The Fight for America; American Son (adapted for Netflix); Hairspray Live!; The Wiz Live!; Steel Magnolias; Dynasty; In My Dreams. Author: Take You Wherever You Go. Artistic Director Emeritus, Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company. Senior Resident Director: Roundabout Theatre Company.

Rajiv Joseph’s (Playwright) play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo was a 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Drama and also awarded a grant for Outstanding New American Play by the National Endowment for the Arts. He has twice won the Obie Award for Best New American Play, first in 2016 for Guards at the Taj (also a 2016 Lortel Winner for Best Play) and then, in 2018, for Describe the Night. Other plays include Letters of Suresh, Gruesome Playground Injuries, Animals Out of Paper, The North Pool, The Lake Effect, Archduke and Mr. Wolf. He is a graduate of Cleveland Heights High School in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.  He received his Bachelor’s degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and his MFA from New York University’s Tisch School for the Arts. Rajiv is an ensemble member of Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. He served for three years in the Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa. 

“King” LeBron James’s reign in Cleveland brings promise, prosperity and renewal to a city in desperate need of all three. It also brings together two unlikely friends in a bond forged by fandom. Told over 12 years (from LeBron's rookie season to an NBA Championship), King James is an intimate exploration of the place that sports occupy in our lives and relationships.

Ensemble member Rajiv Joseph's clever and fast-paced comedy traces the arcs of two friends whose turbulent relationship is best navigated through their shared love of basketball—and the endless amiable arguments that erupt from that love. All the while, the promise and burden of LeBron's talent and legacy loom large.

Ticket information: Single tickets ($20 - $88) are on sale now. Receive a great deal and get access to all four remaining shows of the season with the new 4-Play Deal for $150 through April 1, which also includes Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool (April 28–May 22), ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Choir Boy (June 16–July 24), and ensemble member Yasen Peyankov’s adaptation of Seagull, which opens Steppenwolf’s new in-the-round Ensemble Theater in Honor of Helen Zell this spring (April 28–June 12).

The 4-Play Deal for $150 and single tickets to King James and the remaining 21/22 shows are on sale now at steppenwolf.org and 312-335-1650.

King James creative team includes Todd Rosenthal (Scenic Design); Samantha C. Jones (Costume Design); Lee Fiskness (Lighting Design); Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen (Sound Design); Sophiyaa Nayar (Associate Director); Polly Hubbard (Dramaturg); Gigi Buffington (Company Voice and Text Coach); Tom Pearl (Director of Production); JC Clementz, CSA (Casting Director); Laura D. Glenn (Production Stage Manager); and Jaclynn Joslin (Assistant Stage Manager). For full cast and creative team bios, visit steppenwolf.org/king-james

The Expanded Steppenwolf Campus

Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s trailblazing new 50,000 square foot theater building and education center, the Liz and Eric Lefkofsky Arts and Education Center, was designed by world-renowned architect Gordon Gill FAIA of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, with construction by Norcon. The centerpiece of the new Arts and Education Center is the new 400-seat in-the-round Ensemble Theater in Honor of Helen Zell—one of its kind in Chicago—with theater design and acoustics by Charcoalblue. The inaugural production in the Ensemble Theater will be ensemble member Yasen Peyankov’s extraordinarily funny and magical adaptation of Seagull, stacked with a cast of ensemble members (April 28–June 12, 2022).

The expanded Steppenwolf campus is a cultural nexus for Chicago, offering bold and ambitious opportunities for creative expression, social exchange, unparalleled accessibility, and arts-driven learning for Chicago youth in The Loft, Steppenwolf’s first-ever dedicated education space. The campus expansion also features bright new lobbies and two new full-service bars for socializing designed by fc STUDIO, inc. The $54 million new building is part of Steppenwolf’s multi-phase $73 million Building on Excellence expansion campaign. Learn more about Steppenwolf’s campus expansion at steppenwolf.org/buildingonexcellence.

A Safe Return

Steppenwolf is part of the growing coalition of more than 70 Chicagoland performing arts venues and producers that have agreed upon COVID-19 vaccination and mask requirements for all audiences, artists and staff. Audience members must provide proof of vaccination in addition to wearing masks. Learn more about Steppenwolf's guidelines at steppenwolf.org/welcomeback.

Steppenwolf has worked over the past year with our operations team, public health advisors and HVAC consultants to prepare its facility to safely welcome patrons back for performances. The addition of the new Liz and Eric Lefkofsky Arts and Education Center has expanded the square footage of the lobbies to nearly twice the previous amount of space offered to guests. Two additional elevators and multiple stairways have also been added to Steppenwolf’s campus for ease of transition between seating levels. The HVAC systems have undergone upgrades to allow for increased filtration and a higher percentage of circulated fresh air across all three theaters.

Accessibility

Steppenwolf offers accessible services to ensure all audience members have access to our work, including American Sign Language interpretation (available for student matinees as scheduled with education staff or per public performances below), Spanish Language captions, wheelchair accessible seating and more. With questions, email access@steppenwolf.org.

Sponsor Information

King James is generously supported in part by PNC and the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation. United Airlines is the Official and Exclusive Airline of Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf is also grateful for the significant season support from the Ralla Klepak Foundation for Education in the Performing Arts, Northern Trust, Allstate Insurance Company, ComEd, JPMorgan Chase, PNC, and Vinci Restaurant.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is a Chicago theater that is home to America’s ensemble. The company began performing in the mid-1970s in the basement of a Highland Park, IL church—today Steppenwolf is the nation’s premier ensemble theater with 49 members who are among the top actors, playwrights and directors in the field. Deeply rooted in its ensemble ethos, the company is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and making the Steppenwolf experience accessible to all. Groundbreaking productions from Balm in Gilead and August: Osage County to Downstate and Pass Over—and accolades that include the National Medal of Arts and 12 Tony® Awards—have made the theatre legendary. Artistic programming includes a main stage season; a Steppenwolf for Young Adults season; LookOut, a multi-genre performance series; and the Steppenwolf NOW virtual stage. The nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf Education engages more than 20,000 participants annually in Chicagoland communities promoting compassion, encouraging curiosity and inspiring action. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, more than 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. 2021 marks the opening of Steppenwolf’s landmark Liz and Eric Lefkofsky Arts & Education Center—deepening the company’s commitment to Chicagoland teens and serving as a cultural nexus for Chicago. Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis are the Artistic Directors and E. Brooke Flanagan is Executive Director. Eric Lefkofsky is Chair of Steppenwolf’s Board of Trustees.

Steppenwolf’s Mission: Steppenwolf strives to create thrilling, courageous and provocative art in a thoughtful and inclusive environment. We succeed when we disrupt your routine with experiences that spark curiosity, empathy and joy. We invite you to join our ensemble as we navigate, together, our complex world. 

steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre, twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr and instagram.com/steppenwolfthtr.      

  

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