ShowBiz Chicago

Steppenwolf's 'The Tempest' Directed by Tina Landau Begins March 26th

2009-01-05T17:27:53Z

Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2008-2009 season, an exploration of the imagination, with The Tempest by William Shakespeare, directed by ensemble member Tina Landau – playing March 26 – May 31, 2009 in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. The Tempest features ensemble members Alana Arenas, K. Todd Freeman, Frank Galati, Jon Michael Hill, Tim Hopper, James Vincent Meredith, Yasen Peyankov, Lois Smith and Alan Wilder with Eric James Casady, Miles Fletcher, Stephen Louis Grush, Emma Rosenthal and Craig Spidle.

In Shakespeare’s final work, Prospero is exiled to an enchanted island where he harnesses the powers of magic and masters the spirits that dwell there. His desire for revenge drives him to conjure a mighty storm, trapping his enemies on the island. In our first-ever Shakespeare production, Steppenwolf ensemble member Tina Landau re-imagines this magical tale of art, freedom and the transformative power of forgiveness.

Ensemble member Tina Landau most recently directed Steppenwolf’s 2008 production of Superior Donuts by ensemble member Tracy Letts. Other Steppenwolf directing credits include The Diary of Anne Frank, Cherry Orchard, The Time of Your Life (also Seattle Rep, A.C.T.), Theatrical Essays, Maria Arndt, The Ballad of Little Jo, The Berlin Circle, Time to Burn, and her own play, Space (also NY’s Public Theater, Mark Taper Forum).

The design team for The Tempest includes: Takeshi Kata (set), James Schuette (costumes), Jane Cox (lights) and Josh Schmidt (sound). Malcolm Ewen is the Stage Manager and Christine D. Freeburg is the Assistant Stage Manager.

$20 tickets are available at Audience Services beginning at 11:00 a.m. on the day of each performance (1:00 p.m. for Sunday performances). Half-price rush tickets are available one hour before each show. Student discounts available. Steppenwolf is located at 1650 N. Halsted, or call; 312-335-1650. Online ticketing available at www.steppenwolf.org

The Tempest Wine Tasting Night: Enjoy wine and food pairings from Vinci Restaurant while our DJ spins tunes in our newly-renovated lobby: Wednesday, April 15 at 6:00 p.m. Tasting and performance cost $60 per person. For tickets and additional information, contact Audience Services.

The Tempest MaTEENée performance for high school students will be held on Saturday, May 16 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets cost $15 and include: a ticket to the performance, lunch and a post-show discussion with actors featured in the production – hosted by Steppenwolf’s Young Adults Council.

WICKED POSTS CHICAGO THEATER RECORD WITH $1,764,428 GROSS

2009-01-05T14:44:11Z

For the week ending January 4, the Chicago company of WICKED flew into 2009 with a record breaking gross of $1,764,428. This weekly gross breaks all previous records in Chicago theater history. With only 24 performances remaining, the Chicago company of WICKED continues to break all records, changing Chicago for good. WICKED will leave its mark on Chicago as the largest and most consistently top grossing show that the city has seen in decades.

WICKED has helped Broadway In Chicago stand as the fifth most popular tourist attraction in the City of Chicago and has spurred interest in theatre both locally and nationally. When surveyed, over 70 percent of the WICKED theatre patrons said that they had plans to see another show in Chicago within the year.

Called “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” by The New York Times and “a cultural phenomenon” by Variety, WICKED continues to cast a spell on all of Chicagoland and its many visitors – over 2.9 million people have attended WICKED in Chicago with audience members representing all 50 U.S. states and all seven continents. WICKED is now the longest running Broadway musical in Chicago’s theater history. The Chicago company of WICKED took the stage on June 24, 2005 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre.

WICKED is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. Directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento, WICKED is currently presented in Chicago; a US National Tour; on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre; in Stuttgart, Germany; Melbourne, Australia; Tokyo, Japan; and in London at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. WICKED will be opening in San Francisco on January 27, 2009 at the Orpheum Theatre.

WICKED is now playing through January 25, 2009 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph St.). Tickets are $42 to $105 and are on sale at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St. and 18 W. Monroe St.); the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (312) 902-1400; all Ticketmaster retail locations (including select Carson Pirie Scott stores, Hot Tix, select Coconuts and fye stores); and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Tickets are available to groups of 20 or more by calling (312) 977-1710. For more information, visit www.WickedTheMusical.com/Chicago or www.BroadwayInChicago.com

'Wicked' Cast Hosts Benefit Cabaret At Park West 'Defying Inequality' Monday, January 12th

2009-01-05T14:34:38Z

On Monday, January 12, 2009 at 8 p.m., the Chicago Company of WICKED will host DEFYING INEQUALITY, a special evening of benefit cabaret performances promoting equality and civil rights. Held at Park West (322 W. Armitage, Chicago) and featuring cast members from WICKED as well as special guest performers, this unique one-night only event will benefit Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality California, Garden State Equality and Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force, four non-profit charitable organizations working to legislate equality and protect civil rights for the gay and lesbian community. All proceeds will be distributed evenly among the four organizations.

Produced by company members of WICKED, the event will feature cast members of the Chicago companies of WICKED and Jersey Boys, cast members from the National Tour of Grease, members of Second City, the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus and other special guests. A silent and live auction will consist of memorabilia from Broadway musicals and Broadway In Chicago shows, gift certificates to area bars and restaurants and other one-of-a-kind items. For more information on DEFYING INEQUALITY, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com/defyinginequality.

DEFYING INEQUALITY will include different musical performances that support WICKED's theme of acceptance and illuminate the musical’s message that people should not be judged on first impressions. Performing on their night off from the musical hit, the WICKED cast members and musicians from the Chicago Company, with fellow performers, recognize that in these divisive times we must come together to support one another’s rights throughout the country and around the world.

Doors for DEFYING INEQUALITY will open at 7 p.m. General admission is $30. Tickets for premium seating near the stage are available for $50. Tickets may be purchased by calling (312) 559-1212 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. To make an online contribution, visit www.prideagenda.org/pride/donate and donate to the Empire State Pride Agenda; donors should note DEFYING INEQUALITY in the “Comment” section to ensure that their donation is distributed to DEFYING INEQUALITY.