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Friday, July 3, 2020

David Zak resigns as executive director of Pride Films and Plays by Chris Jones

Davis Zak resigns

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:05PM

Thursday, July 2, 2020

Column: How do you convince people they’re safe inside? In the 1920s, the Uptown Theatre had some cool ideas. by Chris Jones

How do you convince people they’re safe inside? The Uptown Theatre had some cool ideas

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 07:53AM

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Are the Blue Men ever coming back? Chicago’s commercial theaters are in serious trouble by Chris Jones

Chicago's Mercury Theater and iO are closing. Blue Man Group is in trouble. It's the for-profit theaters that are in the most danger at the moment.

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:56AM

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Review: ‘Hamilton’ on Disney Plus is breathtaking, the best video you’ll ever see of a Broadway show by Chris Jones

This streaming "Hamilton," released July 3, is a filmed production of the full Broadway show in New York — captured by cameras in 2016 and much, much better than most videos of live shows.

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 09:00AM

Thursday, June 25, 2020

10 essential things to know know about ‘Hamilton’ before Disney Plus movie debuts July 3 by Chris Jones

On July 3, the Disney Plus streaming service will release a filmed version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton,” timed for the Independence Day holiday weekend. Here’s what you need to…

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:18AM

Column: ‘Hamilton’ on Disney Plus is dropping into a very different America. How will it land? by Chris Jones

Hamilton on Disney Plus - Will our new political landscape change how people will regard it?

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:17AM

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Porchlight Music Theatre moves entire 2020-21 season back a year by Chris Jones

Porchlight Music Theatre moves entire 2020-21 season back a year

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:37AM

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Commentary: Why did the Mercury Theater — one of Chicago’s great, intimate stages — close? by Chris Jones

Why did the Mercury Theatre -- one of Chicago’s great, intimate stages -- close?

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:18PM

Steppenwolf adjusts season, now plans to resume in December by Chris Jones

Steppenwolf Theatre has rebooted its 2020-21 season, delaying its restart but still wanting to be a "beacon of hope."

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:08PM

Monday, June 22, 2020

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ leads winners of the 2020 Non-Equity Jeff Awards by Chris Jones

2020 Non-Equity Jeff Awards

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:55PM

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Chicago’s iO Theater is hit by accusations of racism and a petition demanding change by Chris Jones

A petition posted on change.org has charged the Chicago comedy venue iO Theater with racism. Co-founder and owner Charna Halpern has responded.

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:25PM

Netflix and other streaming services are making millions. Should they come to the aid of the reeling American theater? by Chris Jones

Netflix pocketed $709 million in early 2020, this as theater from Chicago storefronts to Broadway have gone dark. Time for streaming services to pay?

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:30AM

Monday, June 8, 2020

Following protests, Erica Daniels to exit Victory Gardens Theater by Chris Jones

The executive director of Chicago’s Victory Gardens Theater said Monday that she was leaving after protests about her also assuming the artistic director role.

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:10PM

Open letter to Second City calls for investigation of racial discrimination, sexual assault by Chris Jones

Open letter to Second City calls for investigation of discrimination

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:06PM

With streaming version of 'Infinite Wrench,’ the nimble Neo-Futurists respond fast to a week like no other by Chris Jones

A review of this week's streaming show "The Infinite Wrench Goes Viral," a rapid response with a handful of plays responding to George Floyd events.

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:57PM

Sunday, June 7, 2020

Anthony LeBlanc named interim executive producer at Second City by Chris Jones

Anthony LeBlanc named interim executive producer at Second City

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:45PM

At Victory Gardens, boarded up windows turned into billboards for a theater artists’ protest by Chris Jones

At Victory Gardens, boarded up windows turned into billboards for a theater artists’ protest

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:32PM

Friday, June 5, 2020

Second City owner Andrew Alexander to exit after accusations of institutionalized racism leveled at theater by Chris Jones

Second City owner quits

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:11PM

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Column: America’s great cities like Chicago are reeling. What must they do to assure their future? by Chris Jones

Peer into the near future and there is reason to fear for America’s great cities.

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:41AM

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Jeff Awards committee postpones Non-Equity ceremony by Chris Jones

Jeff Awards committee postpones ceremony

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:39AM

Monday, June 1, 2020

In a cascade of online statements, Chicago theaters say they stand in solidarity with protesters by Chris Jones

Chicago theaters say they stand in solidarity with protesters

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:06PM

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Writers Theatre has big plans for 2020-21 season, including a return for David Cromer. Will they all happen, and when? by Chris Jones

No one knows if the next theater season will happen at all. For a good reason, Writers Theatre in Glencoe is announcing theirs anyway.

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:00PM

Friday, May 22, 2020

At Steppenwolf, a change in executive directors in the midst of building its new theater by Chris Jones

Brooke Flanagan will become the new executive director of Steppenwolf Theatre in mid-July.

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:50PM

Victory Gardens’ playwrights ensemble resigns in protest by Chris Jones

The move appears to stem from the decision of the theater not to hire a new artistic director.

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:49AM

Thursday, May 21, 2020

‘Smash, A New Musical’ is headed to Broadway, based on the NBC series by Chris Jones

The short-lived NBC series was about a Broadway musical in-the-making about Marilyn Monroe. No dates or theater has been announced for the Broadway opening.

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:00AM

Evanston scholar Riad Ismat dies from COVID-19 — mourned by the Arab world as the brave former culture minister of Syria by Chris Jones

Mohammad Riad Hussain Ismat, 72, had a new life teaching at Northwestern and other Chicago-area universities. He is remembered as the former minister of culture of Syria.

Linked From Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:30AM

Wednesday, May 20, 2020