All stories by Doug George on BroadwayStars

Friday, May 12, 2023

Columbia College Chicago awards honorary degree to Tribune theater critic Chris Jones by Doug George

The Chicago college will present the degree as part of commencement ceremonies this weekend.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:55PM
Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Northlight Theatre’s 2023-24 season includes BJ Jones directing a new John Patrick Shanley play by Doug George

The upcoming slate will be performed at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:00PM
Monday, March 6, 2023

Joffrey Ballet’s 2023-24 season: From ‘Frankenstein’ to a return for ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by Doug George

The Chicago company’s 68th season also includes, of course, a holiday return for "The Nutcracker."

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:00AM
Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Updated ‘Hamilton’ timeline: From Miranda’s ‘joke’ to Obama’s White House to Broadway to Chicago and back by Doug George

Timeline of the musical "Hamilton," from creator Lin-Manuel Miranda reading Ron Chernow's 2004 book to the recording-breaking Broadway musical. It comes full circle in Chicago in 2019, where…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:30AM
Monday, February 13, 2023

Milwaukee Rep’s 70th anniversary season includes new musical by Violent Femmes singer by Doug George

The 2023-24 season includes a world premiere musical with music and lyrics by Gordon Gano of the Violent Femmes.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:15PM
Thursday, December 8, 2022

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ is back in Chicago, with a Chicago actor as Evan. It’s as grueling a role as they say it is. by Doug George

Chicago's Anthony Norman leads the musical on tour. He once told his agent he didn’t feel right for the role, but in the audition, "something just clicked."

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:02AM
Friday, December 2, 2022

Joffrey Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’ opens this weekend by Doug George

The annual production of the Chicago favorite opens Saturday at the Lyric Opera House and runs through late December.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:17PM
Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Chicago Latino Theater Alliance appoints Jorge Valdivia as new executive director by Doug George

Valdivia comes to CLATA from the National Museum of Mexican Art, where he served as the director of performing arts.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:21PM
Wednesday, October 26, 2022

iO Theater is reopening in Chicago next week by Doug George

The famed improv comedy institution iO Theater is reopening Nov. 3, according to an announcement Wednesday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:02PM
Friday, October 21, 2022

Mercury Theater’s 2023 season runs from ‘Lady Day’ to ‘Young Frankenstein’ by Doug George

Other musical titles for the upcoming year include the Huckleberry Finn adventure “Big River” and the '80s bash “Rock of Ages."

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:52PM
Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Comedy for fall 2022: In our top 10, Maria Bamford back at the Den and Chris Rock live in the Loop by Doug George

Live stand-up shows can be found most anywhere and everywhere in the Chicago area, we boiled fall down to these 10.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:15AM
Friday, August 19, 2022

Madison Square Garden Entertainment considers spinning off theaters, including Chicago Theatre by Doug George

MSG announced Thursday that it is considering spinning off its theaters and live entertainment business to create a separately-traded company.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:26PM
Sunday, June 26, 2022

Isn’t this loverly? ‘My Fair Lady’ arrives at last in Chicago by Doug George

The tour features Shereen Ahmed as Eliza Doolittle and Laird Mackintosh as Professor Henry Higgins.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:00AM
Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Writers Theatre’s 2022-23 season includes ‘Once’ and ‘Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol’ by Doug George

Writers Theatre in Glencoe has announced a four-title 2022-23 season, including productions of Manual Cinema’s “Christmas Carol” and the musical “Once.”

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:00PM
Friday, May 20, 2022

NEA gives more than $2 million to Illinois and Chicago arts organizations by Doug George

The National Endowment for the Arts has announced 52 grants to Chicago and Illinois organizations, totaling $2,172,510, as part of nationwide grant-making this week.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:15PM
Thursday, May 12, 2022

Dance for Life’s star-filled lineup at Auditorium Theatre announced for summer 2022 by Doug George

Chicago Dancers United has announced the lineup for this summer’s Dance for Life, coming to this August to the Auditorium Theatre.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:00AM
Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Mike Birbiglia, currently doing a show at Steppenwolf, will fill in as guest host on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ by Doug George

Mike Birbiglia has some schedule juggling to do — he’s filling in as guest host on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” this week after Kimmel announced Monday he has COVID-19.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:45AM
Tuesday, April 26, 2022

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ and ‘Anastasia’ are returning to Chicago later this year by Doug George

The fan-favorite musicals “Dear Evan Hansen” and ”Anastasia” are returning to Chicago in 2022, says Broadway in Chicago.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:55PM
Friday, April 22, 2022

Chicago Shakes announces upcoming slate of shows including ‘The Notebook,’ the final season with Barbara Gaines as artistic director by Doug George

Upcoming titles include a world premiere musical based on “It Came from Outer Space,” the long-anticipated “The Notebook” and Barbara Gaines leading her final show.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:01PM
Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Northlight Theatre announces 2022-23 season, including ‘The Porch’ with Appalachian music and a new holiday ‘Pemberley’ play by Doug George

Northlight Theatre's coming season kicks off with a blue collar comedy and also includes "Andy Warhol in Iran."

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:00PM
Wednesday, March 23, 2022

‘Where We Belong’ will be final show of Goodman Theatre season by Doug George

In the solo play, Mohegan theater-maker Madeline Sayet travels to England in 2015 to pursue a Ph.D. and finds a country on the eve of the Brexit vote.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:40PM
Wednesday, March 2, 2022

‘Hadestown’ opens in Chicago at last. What is this show? by Doug George

This will be the first time this musical has played in Chicago and you have less than two weeks to catch it — what exactly is this show again?

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:20AM
Tuesday, March 1, 2022

TimeLine play ‘Relentless’ gets a new run at the Goodman Theatre; ‘Swing State’ postpones by Doug George

TimeLine Theatre Company’s recent, sold-out production of “Relentless” will get a new downtown run.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:25PM
Friday, February 11, 2022

Playmakers Laboratory isn’t dead yet: GoFundMe raises $26,000 so far by Doug George

The company, known for its long-running production “That’s Weird, Grandma” that used professional actors and crew to celebrate the creative writing of students in Chicago Public School…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:52PM
Monday, January 31, 2022

Musical ‘Hairspray’ is back in Chicago by Doug George

The touring Broadway musical “Hairspray” arrives in Chicago for a two-week run at the CIBC Theatre in the Loop this week.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:05PM
Thursday, January 20, 2022

BoHo Theatre announces Elizabeth Swanson as new artistic director by Doug George

BoHo Theatre Company on Thursday announced that Elizabeth Swanson will be its new artistic director.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:52PM
Thursday, January 13, 2022

Black Ensemble Theater announces new shows for 2022 by Doug George

Chicago’s Black Ensemble Theater on Thursday announced a new season of shows for 2022, with the first beginning in just a few weeks.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:03PM

Joffrey Ballet, Court Theatre in the latest COVID postponements for live shows by Doug George

As Illinois reaches what might be peak omicron, Chicago theaters and performance companies have announced a new round of postponements and schedule changes.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:30PM
Thursday, January 6, 2022

With Porchlight and ‘Moulin Rouge,’ new COVID postponements for Chicago theater: Updating list by Doug George

The recent rise in COVID-19 brought more announcements of changes and postponements in Chicago theater. This list will update.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:24PM

‘Moulin Rouge’ musical tour will open in Chicago later in March due to COVID concerns by Doug George

“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” has postponed its Chicago opening by about a month, according to an announcement Thursday from presenter Broadway in Chicago.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:30PM
Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Chicago Shakespeare joins other theaters in postponing ‘The Notebook’ by Doug George

Wednesday brought a rush of show cancellations, postponements and changes in the upcoming season for the world of Chicago theater and performing arts, all tied to concerns over public health…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:43PM

All that Chat

2022-2023 BROADWAY SEASON
Nov 27, 2022: KPOP - Circle In The Square