Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Director/Dramatist Exchange at Steppenwolf Theatre

Monday, December 8, 2014 - 7 PM to 9 PM
Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Administrative Offices
758 W. North Avenue, 3rd Floor

The event will be co-hosted by Cheryl Coons (Chicago Regional Rep, Dramatists Guild of America) and Daren Leonard (Associate Artistic Director, DirectorsLabChicago).This two-hour networking session will introduce directors to dramatists who are working on new plays and/or new musicals in the Chicago area. After a brief introduction, dramatists and directors may mingle and talk further.

If you would like to attend, please e-mail us at: info@directorslabchicago.com no later than Monday, December 1, 2014.

The first 15 directors who respond will receive a reservation to the event. In order to secure a reservation, you must submit a statement with your initial e-mail. Please include this statement in the body of your email. This one-page statement should consist of three things: (1) your contact information, (2) your professional biography (one paragraph only, written in the third person) and (3) a brief directorial statement describing your aesthetic and the kind of work that excites you. After we receive these materials, your reservation will be confirmed. Then, prior to the event, you will receive statements from all the dramatists as well as statements from the other attending directors.

There is no fee to attend this event. Drinks will be served!!

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

A Celebration of Sheldon Patinkin on January 26

A CELEBRATION OF SHELDON PATINKIN Set for Jan. 26, 2015
Columbia College Theatre Department, Second City, and Steppenwolf Partner to Salute Beloved Director and Teacher

A celebration of the life of director-teacher Sheldon Patinkin will take place MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, located at 9501 Skokie Blvd. in the suburb of Skokie north of Chicago. The free event starts at 7:30 PM, with guest speakers reflecting on Mr. Patinkin's enormous impact on Chicago theatre. A reception with cash bar will follow the presentation. RSVPs are encouraged. For reservations, please call 312-369-6333 to leave a message or respond via eventbrite.

The event is presented jointly by the Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and The Second City -- three organizations with which Mr. Patinkin had close professional and personal ties for decades.

Sheldon Patinkin was Chair of the Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department from 1980 to 2009, when he assumed the title of Chair Emeritus, continuing to teach and direct at the College until his death. He was an Artistic Consultant at Steppenwolf Theatre and co-founder of The School at Steppenwolf, and taught at The School for 17 years. And he was an original member of Second City from the company's beginnings -- when it was founded in 1959 by Bernard Sahlins, Paul Sills, and Howard Alk. He served as Sills' assistant director and then succeeded Sills as artistic director of the groundbreaking comedy theatre, eventually becoming an Artistic Consultant there.

Born in Chicago on August 27, 1935, Mr. Patinkin died September 21, 2014, following a heart attack. He was an integral figure in the development of a professional, grassroots Chicago theatre scene starting in the 1950s, when he was part of the talented young group of artists who created the Playwrights Theatre Club, Compass Players, and The Second City. He directed some of Chicago theatre's most memorable productions, including the commercial Chicago premieres of several Off-Broadway hits as well as productions at Steppenwolf, The Second City, Gift Theatre, City Lit Theater, National Jewish Theatre, and other Chicago-area companies. During his tenure as Chair, the Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department educated hundreds of students who have gone on to distinguished careers in theatre, film, and television; he also mentored alumni who went on to start their own theatre companies. His books include Second City: Backstage at the World's Greatest Comedy Theater (Sourcebooks, 2000) and "No Legs, No Jokes, No Chance": A History of the American Musical Theater (Northwestern University Press, 2008). In that book, he wrote:

"We live in a time when, more and more, the response to trouble is violence; when too many individual communities have become too insular for the good of the larger community; when too much beyond one's immediate world seems to exist either to be feared to taken advantage of; when too many people try not to feel deeply or try to disguise their feelings with catch phrases, crudeness, inarticulateness, and sentimentality. It is one of the most important functions of both art and entertainment to help us transcend such times, sometimes by helping us to think things through, sometimes by helping us not to think at all."

"Sheldon was an artist, a scholar and a dear friend. He was a mentor to multiple generations and a productive and prolific leader of the Chicago theatre community until his final days. We look forward to celebrating his extraordinary life and career," said Andrew Alexander, CEO and Executive Producer of The Second City, Inc.

“Sheldon has been a part of the Steppenwolf family from the earliest days of our existence," said Martha Lavey, Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. "He was an artist, a teacher, a mentor, and a friend. The School at Steppenwolf will always be a part of Sheldon’s legacy. His influence lives on in the work of several generations of theatre artists.”

"At Columbia College we encourage our students to 'live what you love,' and Sheldon personified that ideal every day -- in every aspect of his teaching, directing, and mentorship," said John Green, Mr. Patinkin's successor as Chair of the Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department. "Like George in Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park With George, he awoke students to the many possibilities of their lives as theatre artists, and the extension of those lives out into the community he loved and served so well."

Shortly before his death, Mr. Patinkin established the Sheldon Patinkin Endowed Award at Columbia College Chicago, which will give an outstanding graduating Theatre student a cash stipend to aid in his/her journey toward a professional career. For more information or to make a donation, go to www.colum.edu/sheldonpatinkin.

FACTS:
Celebration of the life of Sheldon Patinkin
MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015, 7:30 PM
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie
RSVP: call 312-369-6333 or respond via eventbrite:

Monday, November 24, 2014

Industry Ticket Offers

Women at War - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 North Ridge Avenue, is offering a limited number of $15 industry tickets valid for performances on Friday 11/28 and Saturday 11/29 at 8PM. Please mention the code INDUSTRY by phone or at the box office. Proof of industry (headshot, business card, etc.) required when picking up tickets. Call 773-334-7728 or visit www.rivendelltheatre.org for tickets or more information.

Porgy and Bess - Lyric Opera of Chicago invites members of Chicago's cultural community to use the promo code INDUSTRY for $25 tickets to the Tuesday, December 2 performance at 7:30pm. Buy tickets.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Chicago Artists Health Care Town Hall

Learn about Affordable Care Act and get a free Flu Shot
Friday, December 5, 4–8pm
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., 5th Floor

Free Admission. Click here to make an appointment with an Insurance Navigator.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events invite you to the 2014 Chicago Artists Health Care Town Hall on Friday, December 5, 4–8pm at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. The town hall event is part of Mayor Emanuel’s Enroll Chicago! initiative to provide uninsured Chicago residents with information and resources that will enable them to take full advantage of new options available to them under the Affordable Care Act.

“Too many artists are uninsured. This event is a terrific opportunity to learn how to obtain health insurance with full benefits at a reasonable cost,” said Mayor Emanuel.

At this free event, people can learn about the Affordable Care Act, meet with a state-certified Enrollment Navigator to sign up for insurance, get a free flu shot and connect with a range of health organizations and services including Health and Disability Advocates, MusiCares, and more.

James Brown, Director of National Health Services at The Actors Fund, and founder of AHIRC (Artists Health Insurance Resouce), will present on the basics of insurance and explain how the Affordable Care Act works.

While the event is free, reservations for a Navigator Appointment are requested by December 1. Click here to RSVP. Navigator Appointment / Wait List confirmation and instructions will be emailed prior to the event.

If you plan to sign up for health insurance, be sure to bring the following documents:

A valid social security number (or document number for legal residents) Employer and income verification for household (W-2, pay-stubs, etc.) Policy numbers for any current health insurance plans. The 2014 Chicago Artists Health Care Town Hall is presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health, The Actors Fund, MusiCares, Enroll America | Get Covered America, and the Hearst Foundations.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Industry Ticket Offers

Mud, River, Stone - Eclipse Theatre at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport is offering $10 industry tickets for all Thursday and Friday performances at 7:30pm through December 12th. Mention code word INDUSTRY at the box office. For more information, call 773-935-6875 or visit eclipsetheatre.com.

Iphigenia in Aulis - Court Theatre, 5535 S Ellis Ave, is offering $10 rush tickets starting one hour before performances to industry professionals to all performances through Dec 7th. Offer is subject to rush ticket availability and is limited to one per industry member with proof of industry. Best availability for this Friday 11/21 and Thanksgiving Weekend!

Living the History – 125 Years of the Auditorium Theatre - 50 E. Congress Parkway, is offering $25 industry tickets on December 9, 2014 with Patti LuPone, John Mahoney, singers from the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Apollo Chorus, dancers from The Joffrey Ballet and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and an All-Star Rock Band made up of legendary Chicago musicians, including Jim Peterik, lead singer of Survivor.Buy tickets online here: http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/hfkr4c or in person at 50 E Congress Parkway (save on fees!).

Matt & Ben - First Floor Theater at Collaboraction, 1579 N Milwaukee Ave, is offering $12 industry tickets for any performance through Dec 13. Please enter the code THEMAPPLES when reserving tickets online at www.firstfloortheater.com/mattandben.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Space Availability at Collaboraction

Collaboraction's new cabaret space, The Salon, is open. There is currently availability from January 2015 onwards. The space is a unique, intimate space that is perfect for comedy, improv and solo shows. Contact jo@collaboraction.org for more information and to arrange a viewing.

2014 Eclipse Theatre Corona Award


Thursday, November 13, 2014

DCASE 2015 Individual Artists Program Grant Application Now Open!

The DCASE Cultural Grants team is excited to announce that the applications for both Tracks of the 2015 Individual Artists Program (IAP) are now open. IAP aims to discover and nurture Chicago's practicing artists and creative professionals through project-based grants.

• The Creative Projects Track of IAP seeks to encourage the development of experimental, risk-taking projects that advance artists' careers and expose them to new audiences. This program is partially supported by a Grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. The application deadline is Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at 5pm CST.
• The Professional Development Track of IAP provides support for artists to develop or deepen artistic, administrative or organizational skills to become more competitive in the creative marketplace. The application deadline is Wednesday, December 3, 2014, at 5pm CST.

IAP guidelines, eligibility criteria and review processes are available on the DCASE Cultural Grants Program website.

ADA 25 Chicago Partners Network Meeting

Partners Meeting
Monday, November 17, 2014
2:30pm-4:30pm
Access Living
115 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60654

Learn about how you can be part of emerging plans to leverage the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2015, and make metropolitan Chicago work for all of us. Join us to meet colleagues working across disciplines, brainstorm anniversary programs and help shape game-changing regional initiatives.

RSVP to Cathy Bonfield, at cbonfield@cct.org.

Let us know if you need any accommodations to participate in this meeting.

For more information, please visit our website: www.cct.org/ada25chicago.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Industry Ticket Offer

Chicago Jazz Philharmonic’s CJP @ Ten - Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway, is offering $12.50 industry tickets in honor of its 125th Anniversary for the Nov 14 performance. Use code INDUSTRY. Tickets available online at AuditoriumTheatre.org or at the box office at 50 E Congress Pkwy.

Dance Theatre of Harlem - Auditorium Theatre, 50 E Congress Parkway, is offering $25 industry tickets for performances November 21-23. Use code INDUSTRY. Tickets available online at AuditoriumTheatre.org or at the box office at 50 E Congress Pkwy.

The Testament of Mary - Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, is offering $15 industry tickets for the 11/15, 11/18 and 11/19 performances of the 2013 Tony Award nominee for Best Play written by award-winning author Colm Tóibín, directed by Artistic Director Emeritus Dennis Zacek. Use the discount code INDUSTRY to get $15 tickets.

The Cryptogram by David Mamet - Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway, is offering a limited amount of $15 industry tickets for their critically acclaimed production of this Mamet classic, on the following dates: Thursday November 20th, Friday November 21st, Friday December 5th at 8 pm, Sunday November 23 and 30th at 7 pm. Use the discount code INDUSTRY to get $15 tickets by phone at 773-549-1815 or on-line at profilestheatre.org.

Rudolph the Red Hosed Reindeer - Hell in a Handbag Productions at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., is offering a $12 industry night on Monday, Dec. 22, 7:30pm. $12 tickets with code word "industry" online, phone or door with resume.

Filament's 2000sqft blackbox is available for rehearsals/performances/events in 2015

Filament Theater is a 2000sqft Blackbox storefront with 15ft ceilings (no columns), and a 120 maximum occupancy. The space is equipped with a full sprung floor, full grid, seating risers (easily movable), chairs, theatrical black curtains, a sound system and a theatrical lighting system. Other amenities include a large dressing room/green room, kitchenette, lofted tech booth, storage space, a large lobby, and a separate rehearsal room (about 800sqft).

Filament is located at 4041 N Milwaukee in the heart of the Six Corners Shopping District accessible via the Irving Park Blue line/ Irving Park Bus or the Milwaukee Bus. On our block there is a coffee shop, a frozen yogurt shop, a Jimmy Johns, a gastropub directly across the street, and more! Also across the street is the Portage Theater (a 1300 seat movie palace).

Filament Theatre is on the ground floor of a 4 story arts center including the National Veteran's Arts Museum, Jeff Semmerling's Inside Out Art Studio & Mask Shop, and soon the Chicago Ballet Center will be moving in!

In 2015 Filament is available for prime time performance rentals in: February/March/April, June/July/August, November/December Off night performance slots and rehearsal times are available throughout the year. Filament also currently has rehearsal space available. If you are interested please visit our Space Finder Chicago page: http://chicago.spacefinder.org/spaces/7733

To learn more about Filament, we encourage you to visit the About Us page of our website: http://www.filamenttheatre.org/about/.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Industry Ticket Offers

The Mousetrap - Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd. is offering $15 tickets to theatre industry professionals for evening performances November 7-13. Offer available by phone or walk-up, must mention the code INDUSTRY to reserve. Proof of industry (headshot, business card, etc.) required upon ticket pickup.

Mud, River, Stone - Eclipse Theatre at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport is offering $8 industry tickets for all preview performances on November 6th, 7th and 8th at 7:30pm. Also, $10 industry tickets for November 13th and 14th. Mention code word INDUSTRY at the box office. For more information, call 773-935-6875 or visit eclipsetheatre.com.

The Humans - American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron St, is offering $15 industry tickets valid for all Thursday night performances. Please mention the code INDUSTRY by phone or at the box office. Proof of industry (headshot, business card, etc.) required when picking up tickets. Call 773-409-4125 or visit www.atcweb.org for more information.

Devil’s Day Off - Signal Ensemble Theatre, 1802 W Berenice Ave, is offering $15 industry tickets for any Friday performance through November 22. Please mention the code INDUSTRY when reserving tickets by phone or walk-up. Call 773.698.7389 or visit www.SignalEnsemble.com for more information.