Chicago Theatre News and Events February 8, 2010

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Chicago Theatre News and Events February 8, 2010

All for One...

The Theatre School at DePaul University's New Directors Series presents "The Three Musketeers" by Alexandre Dumas, adapted by Ken Ludwig, and directed by Stephen James Anderson, as the final installment of the 2009-2010 New Directors Series. The production opens February 12 and runs through February 21, 2010, at the Greenhouse Theater Center. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. Previews are on February 10 and February 11 at 7:30 PM. Admission is Free but reservations are recommended. Call the Box Office at (312) 922-1999. The Greenhouse Theater Center is located at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., in Chicago. The theatre is accessible via public transportation, and street parking is available.

This unhinged new version of the classic swashbuckler follows the renowned adventures of D'Artagnan and his three musketeer-mentors, as they fight with courage for king and country while distracted by spirits, sex, and song. Anderson's direction of this extraordinary quest will be sure to have audiences shouting "All for one, and one for all!" New Directors Series productions are directed in partial fulfillment of the Master of Fine Arts degree in Directing at The Theatre School. "The Three Musketeers" serves as Stephen James Anderson's MFA thesis project, after three years of production practice and training in order to fulfill his degree requirements. To learn more about Anderson's past projects, The New Directors Series, or the MFA Directing curriculum, please visit http://theatreschool.depaul.edu.

TimeLine Announces 'Frost/Nixon'

TimeLine Theatre Company announces that it will present the internationally acclaimed play "Frost/Nixon" by Peter Morgan in its Chicago premiere. Directed by TimeLine Associate Artist Louis Contey, "Frost/Nixon" is currently slated to launch TimeLine’s 2010-11 season in August 2010, with a specific schedule to be determined. Casting and additional productions for next season are still to be announced. "Frost/Nixon" premiered at London’s Donmar Theatre Warehouse in August 2006, starring Frank Langella as Richard Nixon and Michael Sheen as David Frost. Upon rave reviews, it transferred to the West End and later played on Broadway for 137 performances in 2007. "Frost/Nixon" was made into a feature film in 2008 directed by Ron Howard and featuring Langella and Sheen reprising the title roles they played on stage.

Peter Morgan’s acclaimed play takes audiences inside the real-life 1977 television interviews between journalist David Frost and former president Richard Nixon. It has been three years since Nixon resigned from office in disgrace. The Watergate scandal is still on the minds of many, but the former commander-in-chief has yet to break his silence about his role in those events. Now Nixon has agreed to be interviewed by the up-and-coming British broadcaster David Frost. Behind-the-scenes it’s a battle of egos for the upper hand in controlling history, but as the cameras roll, the world is riveted by a remarkably honest exchange between one man who has lost everything and another with everything to gain.

“TimeLine is thrilled to be able to bring Peter Morgan’s dynamic play to Chicago audiences for the first time,” said TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers. “This play is an ideal fit for our mission of examining the past to better understand the present. And similar to other high profile Chicago premieres like The History Boys and our upcoming production of The Farnsworth Invention, TimeLine is able to provide a much more intimate experience than a Broadway production. Our flexible theatre will bring audiences up close to this provocative story.” Now playing at TimeLine Theatre is "Master Harold...and the Boys" by Athol Fugard, which will be followed by the Chicago premiere of "The Farnsworth Invention" by Aaron Sorkin, directed by Nick Bowling, April 17-June 13, 2010 (previews April 14-16).

'Stomp' Returns to Chicago

Broadway In Chicago is proud to announce the international sensation "Stomp" will be making its triumphant return for a limited one-week engagement at Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre (18 W. Monroe) April 27-May 2, 2010. The return of the percussive hit also brings some new surprises, with some sections of the show now updated and restructured and the addition of two new full-scale routines, utilizing props like tractor tire tubes and paint cans. Individual tickets for "Stomp" will go on sale at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 26, 2010. For more information on "Stomp", visit www.stomponline.com or www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

“After creating new routines for Stomp Out Loud in Vegas, [co-creator] Luke Cresswell and I decided it was time to rework elements of our main production, Stomp,” said co-creator Steve McNicholas. “Stomp has evolved a great deal ever since its first incarnation at the Edinburgh Festival. Every reworking has involved losing some pieces and gaining new ones, but has always stayed true to the original premise of the show: to create rhythmic music with instantly recognizable objects, and do it with an eccentric sense of character and humor.”

The changes that can now be seen in the tour of "Stomp" are the biggest since the late 1990’s. A new piece “Paint Cans” evolved out of the “Boxes” routine in the Las Vegas show and “Donuts” is a piece that implements huge tractor tire inner tubes, worn around the waist on a bungee cord. For many years, the creators had looked for a "Stomp" equivalent of the Latin percussion instrument the guiro, a gourd-shaped open-ended instrument with ridges along the side that are rubbed by a wooden stick to create its sound. The climactic trashcan sequence “Bins” has been restructured to include a guiro-like new found instrument: strip-lighting recycling containers.

From its beginnings as a street performance in the UK, "Stomp" has grown into an international sensation over the past fourteen years, having performed in over 350 cities in 36 countries worldwide. "Stomp" continues its phenomenal run with the ongoing sell-out Off-Broadway production at New York's Orpheum Theatre, a North American tour, and two productions overseas - a London company and a European tour. The young performers “make a rhythm out of anything we can get our hands on that makes a sound,” says co-creator/director Luke Cresswell. Stiff-bristle brooms become a sweeping orchestra; Zippo lighters flip open and closed to create a fiery fugue; wooden poles thump and clack in a rhythmic explosion. "Stomp" uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – trashcans, tea chests, plastic bags, plungers, boots, and hubcaps – to fill the stage with compelling and infectious rhythms.

Brother to Brother at BET

The Black Ensemble Theater opens its 2010 Season and continues its Five Play Season of Excellence Dedicated to the Music with the World Premiere production of “My Brother’s Keeper (The Story of the Nicholas Brothers).” Written by Rueben Echoles and produced and directed by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and Executive Director Jackie Taylor with Assistant Director Daryl Brooks, “My Brother’s Keeper (The Story of the Nicholas Brothers)” vibrantly tells the story behind the greatest tap dancers that ever lived. Preview performances begin March 13 at the Black Ensemble Theater, 4520 N. Beacon Street, with the official press opening on Sunday, March 21 at 3:00pm. Performances run through May 16. Tickets range from $40 for previews to $45 for regular tickets. Discounts are available for students, seniors, and groups. Tickets, including group tickets, are available by calling the Black Ensemble Theater Box Office at 773-769-4451, or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. For more information on the Black Ensemble Theater Company, please visit www.BlackEnsembleTheater.org or call 773-769-4451.

Having danced for nine U.S. presidents, headlined shows all over the world, and appeared in every major television show, nightclub, and theater in America, the Nicholas brothers danced their way into the hearts of millions with successful careers spanning sixty years. Appearing at segregated clubs in the 1930s and in music videos in the 1990s, Fayard and Harold Nicholas dismantled racial barriers and became the most famous dance team of the twentieth century. Starring Rueben Echoles and RaShawn Thompson as the famous Nicholas Brothers, “My Brother’s Keeper (The Story of the Nicholas Brothers)” will showcase the power and excitement of these two dazzling men and share a joyous story with the audience.

“The Nicholas brothers were an extraordinary duo that helped ease the racial tensions in our country when it was at its worst. They touched the hearts of people far and wide and in ‘My Brother’s Keeper (The Story of the Nicholas Brothers)’ we plan to bring their unique spirit to the audience. In true Black Ensemble fashion we expect each and every patron to be toe-tapping their way out of the theater and into the next week,” said Taylor. Supporting Echoles and Thompson as the remarkable Nicholas Brothers are Dawn Mitchell, Donald Barnes, Melanie McCullough and Kylah Frye, with Allison McCorkle, Carrie, Christopher Kudlacz, Cory Wright, Daryl Brooks, Jessica Moore, Michael Bartlet, Rhonda Preston, and Shakila Grigler.

The Black Ensemble Theater Company was founded in 1976 by Jackie Taylor, who has written and directed more than 100 productions for the company. In addition to its main stage productions, the Black Ensemble Theater Company produces ‘Plays with a Purpose,’ a series of original youth-oriented musicals, designed to teach students positive life lessons and values, as well as several community-based programs that use theater arts to enhance and enrich the lives of countless youth, students and families. Black Ensemble Theater is in the final stages of its capital campaign to build a new home for the company, the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center. Of the $15 million needed for the project $13 million has been raised to date. The Black Ensemble Theater expects to break ground and begin construction this summer. The mission of the Black Ensemble Theater Company is to eradicate racism and its devastating effects upon society through the theater arts.

'Wiggerlover' Paints Shades of Grey

JAZ, in association with Chicago DCA Theater, presents the world premiere of "Wiggerlover [white boy + black dad = grey areas]". The autobiographical production by James Anthony Zoccoli comes to Chicago DCA Theater’s Studio Theater in the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Street, from February 5-22, 2010. Performances are Friday, Saturday, and Monday evenings at 7:30 pm and Sunday afternoons at 3 pm. There are no performances on Friday, February 12, or Monday, February 15, due to the Presidents weekend holidays. A post-show discussion with James Anthony Zoccoli will follow each performance.

Tickets for "Wiggerlover [white boy + black dad = grey areas]" are $20 for general admission and $15 for seniors and students. Discounts are available for Chicago Cultural Center Mosaic Members, theater industry affiliates, military personnel, ADA companions, and large groups. All tickets are available by calling 312.742.TIXS (8497), visiting www.dcatheater.org, or stopping by the box office, open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 pm; Sundays, noon to 4 pm; and one hour prior to each performance.

Part memoir, part editorial, all comedy, this is the totally too-good-to-be-true story of an interracial family in Chicago, 1979. Actor/writer James Anthony Zoccoli gives a retrospective account of his life as little Jimmy: a half-Italian, half-Polish kid who thinks he’s all Black when his White mother remarries an African-American man. A version of "Wiggerlover [white boy + black dad = grey areas]" was first presented at the “Abbie Hoffman Died for Our Sins” Festival at Mary-Archie Theatre in August, 2008. The play was revised and presented for workshop productions in 2009.

James Anthony Zoccoli was born on the South side, raised on the North side, and has lived everywhere in between – Rogers Park, Hyde Park, Logan Square, Lincoln Square, here there, everywhere. Zoccoli is a member of Strawdog Theatre Company and has performed with Live Bait, Noble Fool, Chicago Children's Theatre, Adventure Stage, and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, including the recent production of "Richard III". He authored "The Proper Papers", under the auspices of "The Hit Factory" and is currently a writer & announcer for the perpetually popular "Game Show Show...& Stuff!” "Wiggerlover [white boy + black dad = grey areas]" is his first play, but he has been writing this show since age seven.

Murder Mystery Examines Voyeurism and Violence

Theatre Seven of Chicago begins its 2010 season with the Chicago Premiere of "Mimesophobia," Carlos Murillo’s murder-mystery about voyeurism and the American obsession with violence. "Mimesophobia" runs February 28-April 4, 2010 at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave. Ticket prices range from $12-$24. To find a complete listing of show times and to purchase tickets, patrons should visit www.theatreseven.org or call 773-853-3158.

"Mimesophobia" dodges between Hollywood and Hyde Park to track one family’s private tragedy as it becomes absorbed by the public eye. While Cassy, the devastated daughter, reconstructs her murdered sister’s diary, two screenwriters desperately try to spin the tragedy into cinematic gold. Meanwhile, a deranged academic meditates on the American obsession with violence. In the middle of the dark and savagely funny collage lies the question: what compels us to open doors we know are better left unopened?

“Carlos has given us a confounding and troubling play, one whose reach spans from intimate violence between lovers to a broad critique of the reckless American need-to-know,” says Artistic Director Brian Golden. “And he’s made it funny, theatrical and immediate.” A pair of narrators (Brian Golden and Jessica Thigpen, playing themselves) introduce the audience to two struggling screenwriters (Michael Salinas and Brian Stojak) toiling away at a true-crime potboiler about a murder-suicide involving the sister of Cassy (Cassy Sanders). Away at a California artists’ colony, the writers encounter Shawn (Cyd Blakewell), an academic with ties to the murder, who stands on the precipice of madness while trying to finish her masterpiece on the American obsession with real violence.

“Mimesophobia will pull from a lot of influences to challenge our audience,” says Golden. “There’s some Brecht in there, a little Pirandello and a touch of Harry Houdini. It’s a melting pot of dynamic forces, and that makes it very theatrical and very compelling.” The production marks the first of Theatre Seven of Chicago’s 4th season, and its 10th production ever. The season will continue with a to-be-announced production at the Greenhouse Theater Center, where Theatre Seven will begin a residency in fall 2010, and includes a monthly reading series at the Greenhouse beginning in March. Theatre Seven of Chicago produces new and original work that speaks directly to the diverse Chicago community with imagination and clarity. Since 2007, the company has produced nine standout offerings, including seven Chicago premieres.

'tim&micah' CONTINUE with laughs

"the tim&micah project," the critically-acclaimed avant-garde sketch comedy duo, has announced their return to Donny's Skybox Theatre with their third revue, "the tim&micah project: CONTINUE". "the tim&micah project: CONTINUE" performs Fridays at 10:30 pm, February 12 through March 5 at Donny's Skybox Theatre, 1608 N Wells St, Chicago. (4th floor of Piper's Alley). Tickets are $12, $10 for students. Tickets are available at secondcity.com or by calling 312.337.3992.

Far beyond a typical sketch comedy show, "the tim&micah project: CONTINUE" takes you on a roller coaster of emotions and immerses you in a mind-bending non-stop theatrical experience. Writer/performer duo Tim Soszko and Micah Philbrook once again present an intelligent, original and meticulously-planned revue full of silliness, physical feats of wonder, and surprisingly real moments. Doing away with the structural conventions of sketch comedy, their scenes morph into each other through dance and performance art transitions. You never quite know what's real, or what to expect as "the tim&micah project" continues to defy convention and push the boundaries of sketch comedy.

"From the first day of planning, Tim and I decided to create a show that would elicit a varied range of emotional reactions from the audience," explains Micah Philbrook. "The concept was built into the entire show from day one. We melded our sketch ideas with the thought of fitting them into the unspoken emotional arc of the piece." Describing audiences' reaction to their work, Tim Soszko says, "People definitely have fun, and they laugh, but they also chuckle awkwardly, or stare in confusion, or hold their breath in anticipation, or applaud with wonder, and some just get mad." Tim Soszko and Micah Philbrook have worked side by side improvising, writing, and teaching for many years and at many different places, including 6 years working as co-producers of the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. Out of their desire to bring inventive and distinct work to the sketch comedy scene, they created "the tim&micah project". Learn more at timandmicahproject.com.

Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre Celebrates 'Jubilation'

Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre will present its annual “Jubilation” on February 27, 2010 at 8:00 PM at the DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E 56th Pl, Chicago. The performance will mark the first of many collaborations between CRDT and renowned Ragtime pianist Reginald Robinson, as well as the premiere of Four Negro Spirituals, a new work choreographed by Wilfredo Rivera. Other featured pieces include “Corner Sketches - A Tribute to Miles Davis,” which blends different periods and styles of Davis's music to honor his major influences on American music. Stones of Hope: “Caged Bird, Million Man March, Still I Rise” is a public and personal depiction of the Civil Rights Movement, featuring the profound and brilliant work of the legendary Maya Angelou.

Reginald R. Robinson, born and raised in Chicago, is America's leading Ragtime composer, as confirmed by his 2004 MacArthur Genius Grant for his innovation in the genre. Between recording, performing and composing, Reginald is at work on his most ambitious project, a documentary film about the history and development of ragtime music. Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre uniquely fuses contemporary dance, live music and visual art with programs that express the stories of American diversity, creating work both thought-provoking and accessible. General Tickets are $30, Senior/Student Tickets are $25 Please contact the DuSable Museum for ticket orders at 773.947.0600.

'Jessica' and 'Ginger' on Tap at Gorilla Tango

"Jessica Presents...Yet Again," a fast-paced, lo-fi ride of a show through the seemingly mundane, but often riotous moments of life, performs Saturdays at 10pm, February 6-27, 2010 at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago 60647. Tickets are $10; to purchase tickets call 773-598-4549 or visit www.gorillatango.com.

True to Jessica's roots, the sketches in "Jessica Presents...Yet Again" highlight the absurdity of being, feature songs about love and monologues about the 24-hour news cycle (maybe not that last one). The show's unique, frenetic energy is due in large part to the fact that the members of Jessica are both the cast and the crew of the show, incorporating light and sound cues into the very framework of the piece and making the edits as artful as the scenes themselves.

"Jessica Presents...Yet Again" features: Lindsey Finn, Nikhil Gahlawat, Leonardo Garcia and Courtney Hummel. Jessica is an improv troupe entering its third year of existence. Since its inception after a Level 2 course at iO taught by Jet Eveleth, Jessica have performed for whomever wherever they would have them: Gorilla Tango Theatre, The Playground Theater, Mullen's, The Annoyance, iO, The Spot, The Cornservatory, even unusual non-theatre spaces like the Brown Family Life Center at Chicago Children's Memorial Hospital and an actual playground in Palmer Square for The Seasonal Salon experimental lecture series. Onstage, Jessica is four people exploring the tiny connections made from scene to scene, second to second. The members of Jessica have been schooled in Theatre, Dance, Communications, Economics and Electrical Engineering. As such, Jessica often experiments with variations in pace, staging and the conventions of long-from improv to create a fully-improvised organic one-off through rich characters, patient scene work and an acute sense of play. Jessica’s shows are engaging and, above all else, fun (unless the show doesn't call for it).

Cock and Bull Theatre's first production is "The Legend of Ginger Bred; A Story of Sex, Salvation & Baked Goods" March 11-20 at Gorilla Tango Theatre in Bucktown. There are 6 performances only for this late night bizarre comedy, Thursdays at 9:30 PM, Fridays and Saturdays at 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $15. For tickets and information on Gorilla Tango visit www.gorillatango.com and see show schedule, for information on Cock and Bull theatre please visit www.cockandbulltheatre.org.

"The Legend of Ginger Bred..." is the story of rock n' roll ex-food fetish porn star junkie Ginger Bred, a women who resurrects her past on the night of a major electrical storm. Is it God speaking to her? Aliens trying to save her life? A modern day adaptation of the story of The Ginger Bread Man, Ginger and her band take you on a bizarre odyssey from East Texas to Hollywood in this off-beat camp musical roller-coaster ride. "The Legend of Ginger Bred; a Story of Sex, Salvation & Baked Goods" is written and directed by Chris Garcia Peak.

New Book Explains Great Scriptwriting

"Talk the Talk" is a new book that shows you how to write dialogue like Mamet, O'Neill, Stoppard, and other greats. "Dialogue puts conversation in motion. Great dialogue moves like a great athlete; it is nimble, precise, and powerful. It commands attention, yet it feels effortless in its execution...If we want our dialogue to move like an athlete, then we must train like an athlete," says Penny Penniston, author of "Talk the Talk: A Dialogue Workshop for Scriptwriters" (Michael Wiese Productions, March 2010, paperback). Penniston, an award-winning playwright, offers fun and engaging exercises that will help you write dialogue like the greats.

Penny Penniston is a Chicago-area playwright and screenwriter. Her newest play, "Spin" will have its world premiere with Chicago's Theater Wit during the 2009-2010 season. Previous stage plays include "now then again" and "The Roaring Girl". "now then again" had its world premiere in Chicago at the Bailiwick Repertory Theater on February 17, 2000. The show ran for seventeen weeks, received wide critical acclaim, and was awarded Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Citation for "Best New Work." In 2002 "now then again" was published by Broadway Play Publishing.

Penniston coauthored "The Roaring Girl" with her husband, director Jeremy Wechsler. This adaptation of the 1611 comedy by Thomas Middleton and Thomas Dekker had its world premiere in Chicago with Shakespeare's Motley Crew. It received a Joseph Jefferson nomination for "Best Adaptation."   Penniston's screenplays include "Love Is Brilliant" (an adaptation of her stage play "now then again"), "Going Out of the Box," and "Gay Pride & Prejudice". "Love Is Brilliant" received the Sloan Award at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival. Penniston has written short plays for Chicago's Collaboraction Theater Company and Shakespeare's Motley Crew. From 2002-2007, she taught playwriting as an adjunct professor in the Theater Department of Northwestern University. She has also guest lectured at DePaul University. Visit Penniston at www.penninkent.com.

Join 'Peter Pan' for Musical Adventure

Emerald City Theatre, dedicated to inspiring early learners through play, invites families to join Peter, Tinkerbell, Wendy and Captain Hook on a magical musical adventure with its latest world premiere adaptation, "Peter Pan". Performing February 20-July 22, 2010 at the Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, this play is best suited for families with children ages 3 to 12. Run time is approximately 60 minutes. Tickets start at $15 (adults), and $12 (kids). For tickets and further information, call the Apollo Theater box office at (773) 935-6100 or visit emeraldcitytheatre.com. Children are invited to meet the actors following each weekend performance. This world premiere musical adventure with a hook is certain to make a believer out of the entire family!

Neverland beckons as Peter Pan and Wendy encounter fairies, mermaids and a ticking crocodile while trying to defeat the nefarious Captain Hook! This musical adaptation by Artistic Associates Alyn Cardarelli and Steve Goers, the team behind Emerald City favorites "How I Became a Pirate" and "Cinderella," will capture the imagination of little pirates and fairies everywhere! "Peter Pan" is a world premiere musical directed by Matthew Gunnels. Cast members include Allison Lind, Michael Kingston, Jamila Turner, Ryotaro Shiegata, Michael Rieman, Caleb Probst and Zev Steinberg.

The first appearance of "Peter Pan" came in The Little White Bird, published in the UK in 1901 and previously published in the United States. "Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up" debuted as a play on December 27, 1904. Barrie not only created one of the most beloved characters in children's literature, but also introduced the world to a name he created, Wendy. After the success of the stage play, Barrie wrote the book "Peter and Wendy" in 1911. Some of Barrie's other successful works include The Twelve Pound Look, Mary Rose, Dear Brutus, What Every Woman Knows and The Boy David.

Peter Pan and the inhabitants of Neverland have appeared in many different adaptations since Barrie's original play. A musical stage adaptation was created for Broadway starring Mary Martin in 1954. Film adaptations include a silent film in 1924, Disney's animated classic released in 1953, Director Steven Speilberg's "Hook" in 1991, and a new live action film of Peter Pan released in 2003. Peter has even inspired video game creators. He has been featured in such games as Peter Pan and the Pirates, Hook and Peter Pan: Return to Neverland. Tinkerbell has inspired her own games as well, Tinkerbell and Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure.

Awarded the 2009 Nickelodeon Parents' Pick Award for Chicago's "Best Theater for Kids", Emerald City Theatre is a leader in theatre for young audiences. Its mission is to produce family theatre experiences that serve as a Child's Gateway to the Arts, inspiring early learners through play. One of Chicago's most attended non-profit theatres, the company serves over 80,000 (35,000 in attendance at its performance home at Apollo Theater, 45,000 on tour).  Emerald City is proud to be the home of twenty-three world premiere productions as well as four Chicago premieres including "A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas," "How I Became a Pirate" and "If You Take a Mouse to School".

Polarity Reaps 'The Good Harvest'

A mother's obsession with one child haunts her surviving children after her death. Polarity Ensemble Theatre brings the winner of the 2008 Dionysos Cup Festival to its world premiere. The harvest at the center of local playwright Lisa Rosenthal’s family drama is not one of wheat or soy, it’s of children conceived using in vitro fertilization. Performances of "The Good Harvest" take place at 1500 N. Bell, Chicago, March 23 through May 2, 2010. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets range from $10-$35. No performance April 4, Easter Sunday. Tickets may be purchased by calling 1-800-838-3006 or visiting www.petheatre.com. Directed by Richard Engling, "The Good Harvest" features Barbara Anderson, Bryan Breau, Leah Morrow, Julie Partyka, Scott Sawa, John Walski and Michael Welles.

Second City Grads Stage New Musical 'Tale'

"The Timeless Tale of New Portsmouth" is a brand new scripted musical created by graduates of the Music Improv Program at The Second City Training Center Donny's Skybox Theatre Piper's Alley, 4th Floor, 1608 N. Wells St. Performances are Fridays at 7:30 P.M. February 12 through March 5, 2010. Tickets are $10 for general public, $8 for students, $5 for students of The Second City Training Center. Reservations by phone: 312.337.3992, Online: http://www.secondcity.com/training/chicago/performances.

"The Timeless Tale of New Portsmouth" is a darkly comic new musical. Set in 1876, this scripted show depicts a New England town clinging to its past while facing the drastic changes of a quickly approaching future. "The Timeless Tale of New Portsmouth" is an ensemble-based musical show that runs approximately 40 minutes long at Donny's Skybox. It includes completely original scenes and songs, such as "Building the Future" (an upbeat variety number in which corporate raiders describe a shiny new future for the town), "Never Look at Me That Way" (an angst-filled love song that captures the complicated relationships of three couples), and "The Forbidden Love Sails On" (a ballad describing Captain Hank's adventures at sea).

This remount of "The Timeless Tale of New Portsmouth" is back with more songs, more parody, and even more choreography performed by Tom Bambara, Heather Bodie, Luciana Bonifazi, Kate Carson-Groner, Christopher DeRose, Jack Farrell, Matt Gottlieb, Christopher Jablonski, Rebecca Montalvo, Amanda Murphy, Israel Pederson, and Chrissy Swinko. In addition to studying at The Second City Training Center, the ensemble members have studied and performed with Infinite Sundaes (The Second City Musical Improv House Ensemble), iO Chicago, The Annoyance, ComedySportz, and Gorilla Tango Theatre.

"The Timeless Tale of New Portsmouth" was originally created in the spring of 2009 through improvisation by the Music Improv Program's Level 4 Class at The Second City Training Center. The ensemble first came together in the fall of 2008. Since then they have been studying and performing all things musical including musical theater styles, conventions, and clichés. "The Timeless Tale of New Portsmouth" is directed by Spike Kunetz. Mr. Kunetz has been teaching and directing at The Second City Training Center since 1997, and is a veteran performer and playwright. Stephanie McCullough, Psy.D, music directs the show and composed all its music with the ensemble. Ms McCullough is a faculty member and music director at The Second City Training Center.

Overshadowed Tells 'John, His Story'

Overshadowed Theatrical Productions presents "John, His Story" February 19-March 13. Performances are Thursday-Saturday at 7:30pm, with Saturday Matinees on Feb. 27, Mar 6, and Mar 13 at 2:00pm. Tickets are Adult $12, Senior/Student $10. To order tickets, visit OvershadowedProductions.com or call the box office at 630-250-7518. Overshadowed performs in historic downtown Itasca at 210 S. Walnut Street, just south of the Metra station. This production is great for church groups, small groups, school groups, or just a group of friends. Group discounts for fifteen or more are available. Call the box office for more information.

Performed Off-Broadway in 1997, "John, His Story" chronicles the seven great signs performed by Jesus Christ in the Gospel of John. They come alive through people who bore witness to Him - His disciples, beggars, wedding guests, the wealthy, and the ordinary, everyday people. Dynamic and lyrical, the drama of crises and the comedy of celebrations are astutely woven together in a telling tapestry of Christ's works. Witness 27 characters from the book of John come to life by a talented cast of four people! "John, His Story" is a unique theatrical experience you will not want to miss. Come with your imagination and an open heart, and prepare to experience the wonder and excitement of Christ's miracles.

Factory Gets its Groove on with 'Hey! Dancin''

"Hey! Dancin'!" is presented by Factory Theater at Prop Thtr 3502 N. Elston Ave. Chicago. Preview Weekend is March 12-14, Opening Night is March 19, continuing Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 7pm through April 24. Tickets are $15-$20. Opening night Performance/Post-show party $25. Tickets available by calling 866.811.4111 or at www.thefactorytheater.com. The show features Esteban Andres Cruz, Catherine Dughi, Dominique Johnson, Laura Korn, Anderson Lawfer, Aileen May, Melissa Nedell, Jill Oliver, Casey Pilkenton, Seth Remington, Sara Sevigny, Frank R. Sjodin, Noah Simon, Anthony Tournis, and Jacob A. Ware. Produced by Kirk Pynchon and Mike Beyer and Directed by Sarah Rose Graber.

The year is 1986. The hair is big, the fashion is ridiculous, and dancing is king. The hottest dance show in Chicago rules the cable access airwaves -- and its name is Hey! Dancin'! It's the last show of the season, and the station manager is threatening to change the music format because the show has gotten "too black". Our heroine Halle Stanton, with the help of her slutty friend Trisha, finagle their way onto the show. Halle hopes to meet the show's Ray-Ban-wearing star -- Kenny Kaposki, better known as Double K. Will love blossom between the innocent Halle and the dance superstar Double K? Will the show survive the change of music from Cameo to Poison? And will Trisha have sex with the show's older (yet willing) host, Randy Massingill? Find out in "Hey! Dancin'!".