All stories by Doug George on BroadwayStars

Friday, January 8, 2021

How 5 Chicago standup comics learned to stop worrying and love the Zoom by Doug George

"Love" may be too strong, but Abi Sanchez, Calvin Evans, Jeanie Doogan, Alex Kumin and Pat McGann share what they've learned, and changed, in doing livestreamed shows online during the pande…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:00AM
Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Inception Project plays about a Haitian adoptee and a Mexican American home from prison will both be firsts at the Paramount Theatre by Doug George

The Paramount Theatre in Aurora is know for its Broadway musicals. Now it is trying something different, putting new plays and marginalized voices on the stage, first via Zoom.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:24PM
Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Chicago’s Steep Theatre adds 13 members to its growing ensemble by Doug George

The Chicago theater on the move has added director Laura Alcalá Baker, actor Debo Balogun and others to its growing ensemble.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:54PM
Monday, December 14, 2020

Chicago’s Theatre Y plans a bold move: A campus in North Lawndale with members of the ensemble moving with the theater by Doug George

The North Side theater known for European plays has taken the first steps of a radical transformation, with plans for both theater and theater artists to relocate to the West Side.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:14PM
Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Chicago playwright Derek McPhatter wins arts award of up to $50,000 to create new work by Doug George

He was one of three artists from Chicago to win 2021 Creative Capital Awards given to support the creation of new artworks.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:00PM
Monday, October 26, 2020

Zanies in Rosemont is closed by stricter COVID rules by Doug George

Zanies in Rosemont must close, shows by psychic/comedian Karen Rontowski Oct. 29-31 at Zanies in Rosemont have been canceled.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:18PM
Friday, October 9, 2020

7 Chicago theater shows for Halloween, starting with a 'War of the Worlds’ designed for the dark by Doug George

Halloween has gone shut-in-and-be-scared for 2020 ... these virtual shows from Chicago theater, from H.G. Wells to Edgar Allen Poe, are designed to play on your fears in the best kind of way.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 09:05AM
Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Goodman Theatre announces remaining performances for ’Fannie Lou Hamer, Speak On It!’ by Doug George

The theater announced the remaining fall performances for “Fannie Lou Hamer, Speak On It!,” including those that were rescheduled due to COVID-19 concerns, and adding an encore appearanc…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:30PM
Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Will Chicago theaters redesign seating for the COVID-19 era? Not likely. by Doug George

When audiences return, will COVID redesigns make Chicago's theaters look different? What is Steppenwolf doing with its new theater-in-the-round? Theaters big and small have some answers.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:00AM
Friday, July 10, 2020

Drury Lane and Marriott Theatre make joint decision to postpone seasons by Doug George

The suburban musical houses will postpone their 2020-21 subscription seasons to spring 2021.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:55PM
Thursday, July 2, 2020

‘Statesville Voices’ goes ahead with virtual Goodman premiere Friday by Doug George

The Goodman Theatre series “Statesville Voices,” shut down in April, is back with three online performances July 3.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 07:00PM

Zanies comedy clubs are reopening in Chicago, Rosemont by Doug George

The Chicago-area Zanies comedy clubs have announced they will reopen in July, with Vince Carone in Chicago and Pat McGann in Rosemont.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:31PM
Thursday, June 18, 2020

iO Theater Chicago by Doug George

The longtime iO Theater Chicago is shutting down and the building it moved to in 2014 will be sold. Photos from the past decade.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:22PM

2020 Non-Equity Jeff Awards will be streamed Monday by Doug George

Chicago’s theater awards for the community’s non-union theaters have been rescheduled for June 22 in a free, live-streaming ceremony.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:04PM

Chicago’s iO Theater is shutting down permanently by Doug George

Chicago’s long-lived iO Theater will shut down and the theater building at 1501 N. Kingsbury St. will be put up for sale.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:00PM
Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Steep Theatre Co. is losing its longtime Edgewater home by Doug George

The building on Berwyn Street has been sold and Steep Theatre Co. must move out in September. But the change was not caused by the current shutdown.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:15PM
Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Mercury Theater Chicago is closing down, felled by pandemic shutdown by Doug George

The Mercury Theater Chicago in the Southport Corridor, known for musicals such as “Avenue Q” and “Spamalot,” announced Tuesday it is closing at the end of June.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:46PM
Thursday, June 11, 2020

Timeline Theatre has 4 new playwrights for its Collective by Doug George

Chicago’s TimeLine Theatre Company on Thursday announced four new playwrights have joined its Playwrights Collective, the company’s new-play incubator.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:25PM
Thursday, May 28, 2020

'Phased & Confused’: Second City will partner with the city to guide Chicago’s opening by Doug George

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has partnered with Second City for a weekly video series, titled “The Second City’s Phased & Confused."

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:43PM
Wednesday, May 13, 2020

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ is canceled for Chicago this summer, will return in 2022 by Doug George

The touring Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen” has been put off to 2022, presenter Broadway in Chicago announced Wednesday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:49AM
Friday, May 8, 2020

Oak Parker stages Zoom plays as COVID-19 benefits, casting Florence Pugh and more young Hollywood actors by Doug George

Florence Pugh, Brandon Flynn and Margaret Qualley part of Brando Crawford's Acting for a Cause livestream plays

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:20AM
Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Pivot Arts Fest has online schedule for June 5-11 fest by Doug George

Chicago’s Pivot Arts Festival announces June 5-11 schedule, as the North Side performance fest pivots to online for summer 2020.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:00AM
Friday, April 24, 2020

What’s streaming in Chicago theater and dance: 38 new this weekend by Doug George

Get your Chicago theater fix online: Our updating list of play videos, interactive classes, concerts and more.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:15PM
Thursday, June 6, 2019

Chicago theater openings for June 7-13 by Doug George

FRIDAY "Sweet Texas Reckoning": Kate comes home to Texas with her African American wife. Artemisia Theatre at the Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave.; www. artemisiatheatre.org SATURDAY "Get…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:00AM
Wednesday, May 29, 2019

House Theatre of Chicago announces 2019-20 season by Doug George

The House Theatre of Chicago has announced its 2019-20 season, the 18th for the Chicago company. All mainstage shows will be performed in the Chopin Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division St.; s…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:25PM
Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Chicago theater openings May 31 to June 6 by Doug George

MONDAY "Ms. Blakk For President": Steppenwolf ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney stars in this play based on the true story of Joan Jett Blakk, the radical drag persona of Terence Smith w…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:00PM
Thursday, May 23, 2019

Chicago theater openings for May 24-30 by Doug George

SUNDAY "For Services Rendered": Unearthing W. Somerset Maugham’s 1933 play about the aftermath of war and its effect on survivors. Griffin Theatre Company at the Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwa…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:00AM
Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago announces 2019-20 season by Doug George

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago on Wednesday announced its 2019-20 season, including world premieres by Kyle Abraham and Robyn Mineko Williams and a return of "Decadance." Subscriptions to the …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:48PM
Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Comedian Patton Oswalt is coming to the Den, tickets on sale now by Doug George

Comedian Patton Oswalt is coming to the Den Theatre in Wicker Park for three performances Aug. 15-16. According to the announcement Tuesday, tickets ($35 general admission, $55 VIP table sea…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:20PM

Chicagoans fill Broadway cast of Tracy Letts' 'Linda Vista' by Doug George

The New York cast has been announced for Tracy Letts' "Linda Vista," and it's a lot of Chicago faces. The Broadway production of the play, which premiered at Letts’ home stage at Steppenwo…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:00PM
Thursday, May 16, 2019

Mercury Theater Chicago will stage 'Spamalot' this fall by Doug George

Newly announced for the Mercury Theater Chicago on Southport, the musical “Spamalot,” coming this fall to the theater’s mainstage from Aug. 30 to Nov. 3, 2019. ‘Tis but a scratch. Th…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:00PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards