Happy New Year!

Wishing all of you a very safe and happy New Year! Thanks for a great 2009 and we look forward to an exciting 2010.

Ghost Light Yoga

Broadway In Chicago is sponsoring a month of free Yoga Classes to all League Members.
Every Monday in February, 6:15 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.
Yoga on stage at the Bank of America Theatre with a certified instructor in the shadow of the ghost light. 18 W. Monroe, Chicago
The first 50 people to RSVP to the League will be registered into the date or dates that they request – the only requirement is to bring your own mat! The goal is for all of us to meet people we haven’t met before in an environment of health, happiness and peace.
Sign up for one or all classes (while spots are still available). RSVP to ben@chicagoplays.com with the date(s) you'd like to participate in the subject line. (February 1, 8, 15, and 22)

AND, if you are a theater that wants to continue this opportunity for community building email Deb Clapp (deb@chicagoplays.com) about sponsoring Ghost Light Yoga for March!

Outrageous Fortune

Theatre Development Fund has just released their new book, Outrageous Fortune, The Life and Times of the New American Play. TDF is convening discussions in nine cities across the country to discuss the findings of this book. The League is working with TDF on the Chicago convening.

The meeting will be on January 11 from 10AM – 1PM at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W Chicago. Managing leaders, artistic leaders, playwrights and funders are invited to participate. There will be a presentation of the findings from the book, break-out discussions and a re-assembling of the group to talk about the results of the break-out discussions.

Space is limited. Please RSVP to info@chicagoplays.com.

Industry Ticket Offer

Chicago Young Playwrights Festival - Pegasus Players is offering $5 tickets to previews and $10 tickets to all regular performances. Tickets may be purchased online or by telephone with the codeword "preview" for performances from January 7-10 and with code word"industry" for performances between January 15-31. Visit www.pegasusplayers.org or call (773) 878-9761, ext 17 to purchase tickets.

Industry Ticket Offer

Miracle on 34th Street - Porchlight Music Theatre at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., is offering $15 tickets to all industry/League members Saturday, January 2nd, at 2:30 and 8 p.m., and Sunday, January 3rd, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling 773-327-5252 and use the code "ACTOR", with proof of industry status.

Happy Holidays!

We wish you all peace, cheer, and safe travels this holiday season, and we look forward to a Happy New Year with many great things to come in 2010!

Industry Ticket Offer

Sleeping Beauty - Moscow Festival Ballet at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd.,Glen Ellyn. is offering $36 industry tickets for the Sunday, Jan. 10, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. performances. Tickets are available with a copy of this notice. Subject to availability. For more information call (630) 942-4000.

Performance Rental Space Available

Rent a space at Gorilla Tango Theatre in Chicago (Bucktown); easily accessible by “L” or bus, ample street parking available. Basic marketing, box-office services (online and phone), and rehearsal space is included (FREE) for all weekday and weekend timeslots. GTT runs shows 7 days per week, multiple shows per day; greatest potential for profit and greatest protection from loss for any self-producing company or individual. Mainstage space has 80-seat capacity – for pictures and more information visit http://www.gorillatango.com and click on “Producers Wanted” page, or contact Bryan Cohen at 215-407-8753 or bryan@gorillatango.com.

Rehearsal and Performance Space Available

Chicago Center for the Performing Arts has rehearsal and performance space available immediately. Call Joe Ford at 312-733-6000.

WORDS

Well, I’ve asked before, but I’m going to do it again – is there a sentence that describes who we are and what we do – are there specific words you would use? How about these?

Where drama lives
World-class theatre with Midwestern soul
Storefront to internationally renowned
A community on fire
Sophisticated and loud

I don’t know if I like any of these, but I like all of the ideas here. What do you think?

Deb

Chicago Theater Intern Networking Event

Monday, February 1, 2010, 6 - 8 p.m.
Yondorf Hall at the Steppenwolf Admin Building, 758 W. North Ave. 2nd Fl.
FREE
Meet and network with interns at other Chicago theater companies. Take part in breakout groups by job discipline led by established and emerging leaders in the Chicago theater community. Don't miss this unique opportunity to make connections and learn from the experience of leaders in the theatre community.

RSVP to ben@chicagoplays.com before Friday, January 29 to attend.

Mission Paradox: Marketing and Technology Workshop

Saturday, January 9, 2010, 1 - 4 p.m.
Hyde Park Arts Center, 5020 S. Cornell

You've heard a lot about the impact technology has had on Marketing. You know the importance of a good email marketing campaign and a well designed website. You've tried out Twitter. Played around with LinkedIn. But, despite your best efforts, you are not getting the results you are looking for.
It's time to change that.In this workshop you will learn how to:- Select the tools that are right for the work you do.- Understand the limitations of those tools and set proper expectations for how much they can impact your work.- Combine those tools with traditional marketing tactics to create an effective, comprehensive, marketing strategy.
And much more!
For more details visit www.squidoo.com/paradoxworkshop
Cost: $75, $65 for League members.
The workshop is only for 15 participants and seats are going fast.

Announcing 2nd Round of NEA New Play Development Program

To advance the American nonprofit theater's ability to provide meaningful support for new work, the program will provide financial support for playwrights and institutions developing outstanding new American plays, advance the field's ability to support the development process for new work, and disseminate information on effective models for developing outstanding new American plays.

Download the application and guidelines at
http://www.arenastage.org/npdp >

Participate on the New Play Development Program Blog andsign up for email updates at http://npdp.arenastage.org >

TIMELINE:
December 18, 2009: Your Intent to Apply is due.
January 29, 2010: Your postmarked Application is due.

Industry Ticket Offers

A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant – A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells St. is offering a pay what you can industry performance TONIGHT, December 14 at 8 p.m. For tickets call 312-943-8722.

The Pirates of Penzance - Light Opera Works at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson in Evanston, is offering half-price industry tickets on December 26 at 2 and 8 p.m., December 28 and 30 at 2 p.m. and January 2 at 8 p.m. For tickets call 847-869-6300 or visit www.LightOperaWorks.com and use code "Paradox." Tickets must be purchased in advance. No door sales.

UPDATE: Sketchbook Now Accepting Submissions

(UPDATE: Deadline extended to January 15, 2010.) Collaboraction is accepting all forms short plays, devised work submissions and director applications now through Jan. 15, 2010. For more information and to submit, visit collaboraction.org. SKETCHBOOK X is scheduled to run June 5 – 27 at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division Ave.

SKETCHBOOK is Collaboraction at its best: breaking down the walls that divide theater, music, visual art, video and the Internet. Selected from hundreds of submissions via the Internet, SKETCHBOOK once again brings together the collective talents of more than 200 pioneering directors, designers, actors, musicians and artists from Chicago and around the country for a jaw-dropping evening of creativity, experimentation and celebration.

A Template for Future Collaboration

I am very excited about the launch of fugardchicago2010.org. This website, created by Remy Bumppo, Court Theatre and TimeLine and sponsored by the League was the brainchild of the three theatres that discovered they were all doing Fugard shows this season. It is a superb example of ways in which we can collaborate. Check it out here

The best thing about this website is that we can use the basic site for other collaborations, so…if you and a couple other theatres want to do something like this or if there is some other way in which you feel your patrons would benefit from seeing a number of different shows in a season, you can use this site to promote that. If you would like to sell collaborative subscriptions, you can use the site to do that. All kinds of good stuff can happen.

The original three theatres will be using the site this season, but if you have something for the summer or for next season that you think would work well, let us know.

Deb

Industry Ticket Offer

It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play - American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron, is offering $10 industry rush tickets for the Thursday, December 10th performance at 8 p.m. Industry Rush tickets go on sale at the Box Office at 7:15 p.m. Please present head-shot, resume or equity card.

The Saints Now Accepting Grant Applications

The Saints, Volunteers for the Performing Arts, are now accepting applications from not-for-profit Chicago-area performing arts organizations for grants. To see qualifications and to download an application, go to www.saintschicago.org. Applications must be submitted by Jan. 30. If you have any questions or want more information, contact Dale Kuypers, Grants Chair, at grants4saints@sbcglobal.net.

Yale Institute for Music Theatre Now Accepting Applications

Now in its second year, the Yale Institute for Music Theatre, a collaboration between Yale School of Drama and Yale School of Music, endeavors to bridge the gap between graduate school and the professional world for gifted, emerging composers and playwrights. Developed as a laboratory for the creation of music theatre works, YIMT runs from June 13 to 27, 2010. Three works will be selected for workshop. The Institute is process-oriented. The selected composers and writers will be matched with directors, music directors, actors, and singers from New York and Yale to workshop the selected scripts/scores. The final week will culminate in public open rehearsals of each work. The writers will each receive a stipend of $1,000 plus travel and housing accommodations in New Haven. Submissions must be received by January 11, 2010. The three selections will be announced by March 1, 2009. Book musicals, opera, and other imaginative music-theatre projects are welcome. Only composers, playwrights, lyricists, or librettists who are current graduate students, as well as those who have graduated from an accredited degree granting institution (undergraduate or graduate) within the past five years, or are current Yale students, are eligible to apply.

Click here for this year's guidelines and application materials.
Questions? Contact: YIMT@yale.edu.

Chicago Fringe Festival Now Accepting Applications

The Chicago Fringe Festival (CFF) invites emerging and established performing artists from Chicago, the U.S. and beyond to showcase their work and add to the dialogue of theatrical art. The Festival also seeks to enhance the perception of Chicago as a major hub for theatre. CFF encourages performers to take bold risks by providing an avenue for affordable productions. It also seeks to bring in non-traditional theater-goers through a commitment to low ticket prices and outreach into communities not commonly represented. In this fashion, The Chicago Fringe Festival provides an avenue for diverse artists and audience members to connect in a singular and immediate way.

For more information and to apply: http://www.chicagofringe.org/perform.html

Request for Proposals: Shakespeare in American Communities

Shakespeare for a New Generation, part of the NEA’s Shakespeare in American Communities initiative, provides grants to professional theater companies to introduce middle and high school students to the power of live theater and William Shakespeare. Theater companies selected present productions of Shakespeare plays with accompanying educational activities to students from at least 10 schools in their communities.

The program period is June 1, 2010-May 31, 2011. Approximately 40 theater companies will be selected. The standard grant award is $25,000. Grants must be matched 1:1 with nonfederal funds. Deadline: January 20, 2010.

Visit http://www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.org/ to download the Request for Proposals and to connect to Arts Midwest's eGRANT. Proposals must be completed through eGRANT.

Questions? Contact Christy Dickinson, program director at Arts Midwest at shakespeare@artsmidwest.org.

Attn: Drama and Improv Instructors

Do you work with a hilarious group of teen improvisors, sketch-writers, or stand-up commedians? The 2010 TEEN COMEDY FEST is now accepting submissions for individuals and groups of students between the ages of 13 and 19 to participate in our fourth annual festival. The Teen Comedy Fest is produced by the Chicago Improv Festival and features a variety of styles of teen comedy performance from across the country. Participants take part in workshops, performances, and inter-group jam sessions in this full-day event. For more information or an application, email festival director Emily Dugan at directordugan@gmail.com. Application deadline Jan 15, 2010.

Upcoming Events

There are a few community events coming up in the next couple weeks that we'd like to remind everyone about and encourage your attendance. Each event provides a fantastic opportunity for networking, conversation and to share a little holiday cheer. We hope to see you at one or all of them! Just follow the links below for more information and to RSVP.

Chicago Storefront Summit II - Sunday, December 6, 7 - 9 p.m. at DANK Haus, 4740 N. Western Ave. Click here for more information.

'Tis the Season Holiday Party with Season of Concern - Monday, December 7, 6:30 p.m. at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division. Click here for more information.

Executive/Managing Director Roundtable - Monday, December 14, 6 - 8 p.m. at ComedySportz Theatre, 929 W. Belmont Ave. Click here for more information.

Arts Midwest Performing Arts Fund Grants

This fund supports the inter-state touring of professional performing artists throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Grants are applied for and made directly to presenting organizations, and engagements must feature a professional performing artist or ensemble from anywhere outside the applicant’s state. The review of applications will begin on March 24, 2010 and continue until funds are depleted. Visit the Arts Midwest website for application guidelines and materials.

2010 CAAP Grants Application and Deadline

The Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) is an annual grant opportunity open to new, emerging and mid-career artists and nonprofit arts organizations. Applicants can request a maximum of $1,000 for projects that address specific professional and artistic development needs. Applications are available in mid-December and are due on January 25. The Department of Cultural Affairs is offering a series of Application Assistance Workshops to those interested in applying. More

Industry Ticket Offers

The Snow Queen - Victory Gardens Theater at the Biograph, 2433 N. Lincoln, is offering $10 industry tickets Thursday, Dec. 3rd to Thursday, Dec. 10th . Available online, by phone or in person. Subject to availability. For tickets call 773-871-3000 or go to www.victorygardens.org and use promo code "INDUSTRY"

Holiday Divas - Theatre and Intepretation Center at Northwestern University is offering $5 off tickets to the two-night-only cabaret event featuring Ross Lehman, Susan Moniz and Hollis Resnik performing favorite and festive holiday classics. Performances take place December 7-8 at 8 p.m. Tickets: (847) 491-7282 or www.tic.northwestern.edu. Mention promo code: SING.

Industry Ticket Offers

It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play - American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron Street, is offering $10 industry rush tickets for the Thursday, December 3rd performance at 8 p.m. Industry Rush tickets go on sale at the Box Office 45 minutes prior to the performance. Please present a head-shot, resume or equity card at time of purchase.

Democracy - Eclipse Theatre Co. at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., is offering $10 industry tickets for the Thursday, December 3rd at 8 p.m., and Saturday, December 5th at 3 p.m. performances. Call the box office at 773-404-7336 and mention "industry discount". Visit www.eclipsetheatre.com for more details.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a very happy and relaxing Thanksgiving weekend. We are immensely thankful to work with and support all of you in this amazing community. Your tireless efforts to produce exceptional and inspiring art on stage make our city great. We look forward to a busy holiday season and another successful year of Chicago theater to come in 2010!

Chicago Theatre Storefront Summit II

Sunday, December 6, 7-9 p.m.
DANK haus, 4740 N. Western Ave.

Continuing with the conversations that began at the first Summit, this event will be geared towards open conversation, sharing experience and insight, and connecting individuals to collaborate on efforts to help the community.

Click here to RSVP and join the discussion online.

Executive/Managing Director Roundtable

Monday, December 14, 6 - 8 p.m.
hosted by ComedySportz, 929 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to meet Executive/Managing Directors at other Chicago area theaters and discuss current issues and best practices. RSVP to ben@chicagoplays.com.

Industry Ticket Offers

Democracy – Eclipse Theatre at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln is offering $10 industry tickets Friday, November 27 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, November 28 at 3 p.m. For tickets call 773-404-7336 and mention this industry discount. Visit http://www.eclipsetheatre.com/ for more details.

It’s a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph! – American Blues Theater at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. is offering $10 industry tickets to the following performances: November 27 and 28 at 8 p.m. and November 29 at 2:30 p.m. For tickets call 773-871-3000 and mention this industry offer.

Young Frankenstein – Broadway In Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre is offering $35 tickets to any Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday performance through December 13. Click here and use promo code LEAGUE. Tickets also available by calling 800-775-2000 and at any Broadway In Chicago box office or Ticketmaster retail location. Not available with any other offer or on previously purchased tickets. Normal ticketing fees and other restrictions apply. Subject to availability. Discount valid on lower balcony locations to Tue-Thu performances only. Offer expires at 11:59 PM CST on 12/10/09.

Click here to see a full list of industry ticket offers at Chicago area theaters.

Industry Ticket Offers

G.I.F.T. – Collaboraction, 459 ½ N. Wolcott is offering pay what you can industry tickets Monday, November 23 at 7 p.m. and Friday, November 27 at 8 p.m. Must present headshot or resume. www.collaboraction.org.

Thodos Dance Chicago – Fall Concert featuring Fosse Trilogy, reconstructed for the company by Ann Reinking. Harris Theater, Saturday, November 28 at 8 pm. $15 industry tickets available. Use the promo code “LIZA” at http://www.harristheaterchicago.org/ or call 312.334.7777. More information at ThodosDanceChicago.org.

Fugard Collaboration

Court Theatre, Remy Bumppo and TimeLine Theatre have been hard at work the last few months collaborating on a project called Fugard Chicago 2010. Each company is coincidently producing a play by the playwright Athol Fugard this season and so they began having conversations about how they could work together. They just launched the website this week at http://www.fugardchicago2010.org/. In addition to providing some information on Fugard and each of their plays, they are offering a three play pass to see all of their shows. The League provided some support for the website so that it can be available as a template for future collaborations. Check it out and if you and some other companies are interested in working together in a similar way please contact us for more details. We hope that this model can help foster valuable conversations and partnerships, and help you reach new audiences and create greater awareness of your work.

'Tis the Season

Season of Concern and The League of Chicago Theatres invite you to eat, drink and be merry. Industry Holiday Party. Awards Presentation. Mad, Hot Sing-off.
Monday, December 7, 2009
6:30 p.m. at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division St.
Suggested donation benefits Season of Concern
The 2009 Larry Sloan Awards honor Jonathan Abarbanel, Rondi Reed, and the Actor’s Fund.

Cultural Exchange Opportunity

Russian Modern Theater is looking for a partner theater in USA that may be interested in a cultural exchange. In 1990, Russian Modern Theater visited the USA, touring in Chicago and Los Angeles. Plays had a great success and wide press coverage. In recent years, the theater has been touring in Europe, visiting Germany, France, Poland, Finland, and other countries. In 2007, artistic director of the Theater, Svetlana Vragova, received a Hall of Fame honor in Chicago as a "woman who makes a difference" for her impact on culture. For more information on the Theater, please visit (www.modern-theatre.ru) or contact the Theater’s producer, Elena Beier, at eshaposhnikova@hotmail.com.

Not for Profit Audits: The Basics

CPAs for the Public Interest
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Registration: 5:00 pm Workshop: 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Receive an overview of the audit process for not-for-profits, including when an audit is needed, choosing an auditor, and preparing for and ensuring a successful audit. Learn how to get the most out of your audit and about your Board's important role in overseeing the audit process. Discuss the effects of recent changes in accounting standards that make audits more challenging for not-for-profits and how you can best prepare your organization to address these challenges.
Presenter: Clifford Shapiro, CPA - Blackman Kallick,
Illinois CPA Society, 550 W. Jackson Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60661
Cost: $40.00 per person per workshop
To register, call 800.993.0393 and refer to Course Code: PI129

Chicago Musical Theatre Director/Dramatist Exchange

Monday, December 7th, 2009, 7-9 PM
Goodman Theatre Club Mezz, 2nd Floor
170 North Dearborn Street, Chicago

This event will be co-hosted by Douglas Post (Chicago Regional Rep, DG), and Elizabeth Margolius (Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of DirectorsLabChicago).

This two-hour networking session will introduce Chicago-area dramatists who are composers, lyricists and librettists to directors who are working in the Chicago area and are interested in new musicals. After a brief introduction to each other, dramatists and directors may mingle and talk further. If you would like to attend, please e-mail Elizabeth Margolius at info@directorslabchicago.com. It is important that we receive your response no later than Wednesday, November 25th. The first 20 directors who respond will receive a reservation to the event. However, in order to secure a reservation, you must submit a statement with your initial e-mail. This statement should consist of three things: (1) your contact information, (2) your professional biography (one paragraph only, written in the third person) and (3) an artistic statement outlining the type of musical stage work which most interests you (one paragraph only). All statements must be included within the body of your email. No attachments please! After we receive these materials, your reservation will be confirmed. Then, prior to the event, you will receive statements from all the dramatists attending as well as statements from the other directors.

Performance Space Availability

Stage Left Theatre has performance space to rent at its 49-seat theatre at 3408 N Sheffield. Primetime weeks, off-nights and late-nights available between December 14th and February 6th at a negotiable discount depending on specific timing and length of run. (usual rates: $850/week for primetime, $250/week for off-night or late-night). Lighting and sound equipment included, must provide your own box office and house manager. Call Laura at 773-883-8830 or email sltchicago@stagelefttheatre.com with questions or to tour space.

Industry Ticket Offers

Aunt Dan and Lemon – BackStage Theatre Company, at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division, is offering $10 industry tickets to every Thursday and Sunday performance through December 20. Use code INDUSTRY on http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/81260, email reservations@backstagetheatrecompany.org, or walk-up - proof of Industry requested at the door.

A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant - A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells is offering $20 discounted tickets to tickets orders before Thanksgiving, November 26th (tickets may be purchased for the entirety of the run, November 15th - January 3rd, 2010). Call the box office at 312-943-8722 and ask for "Xenu" to claim this offer.

How to Act Around Cops – The Artistic Home, 3914 N. Clark St. is offering $10 industry tickets on November 22 at 7 p.m.

An Evening with Charles Busch and Julie Halston – Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. is offering $5 off tickets on December 7 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets must be purchased before Sunday, November 22. For tickets call 773-871-3000 or visit the box office and use code BIOGRAPH.

Support Season of Concern at Pooch on Scrooge

Bark Humbug! Get a picture of your pooch with Scrooge and support Season of Concern.
Saturday, November 14, 9 - 11:30am

Now it's not just the kids who get to star in the family holiday photo! Bring your favorite canine to the Goodman to pose with Scrooge from A Christmas Carol and receive a holiday photo of your pooch on Scrooge. Dogs dressed in holiday attire are entered to win a gift basket from Barker & Meowsky, a paw firm.Your 'quick take' digital portrait will be taken by celebrated photographer David Sutton of Sutton Studios. A $10 recommended donation benefits Season of Concern.

Learn more & RSVP

Mentorships

We are now accepting interested mentees and mentors for our 2010 Mentorship program. We're thrilled to continue this valuable program after a successful first year in 2009. One of our 2009 mentees said this about the mentorship program:

"Awesome program. It has done more for me professionally than anything else I have been involved with in Chicago."

We've already received quite a few inquiries and want to make sure that everyone who would like a mentor is accomodated. If you or someone at your company is interested in having a mentor please email ben@chicagoplays.com, and include:

• one priority you'd like to address with that mentor's guidance (e.g. board development, fundraising, finance management, marketing)
• a list of people that you'd ideally like as a mentor or companies you see as a model.

Mentorships will begin in January 2010 and last for one year. Mentees must be affiliated with a member organization of the League of Chicago Theatres. Contact ben@chicagoplays.com with any questions.

National Opera Week

National Opera Week takes place November 13-22, 2009 and celebrates the vitality of opera in America as a contemporary cultural expression. Chicago Opera Theater (COT), partnering with the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs, are proud to participate in this exciting, week-long celebration with “Pop-up Opera” performances around Chicago, and a young professionals’ night at Rock Bottom Brewery. National Opera Week is organized by OPERA America, the national service organization for opera with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

National Opera Week in Chicago begins with “Pop-up Opera” performances throughout the city. These short “flash” performances of popular opera favorites will be performed by COT Young Artists in unexpected places. Go to ChicagoOperaTheater.org/operaweek for hints on where and when “Pop-up Opera” will be that week!

On Wednesday, November 18, Chicago Opera Theater’s young professional group, Opera Underground, presents “Beers and Baritones” at Rock Bottom Brewery. The evening, aimed at young professionals aged 21 to 45, is only $25 and includes beer, wine, light appetizers, with a short performance by Leila Bowie and Martin Woods, both members of COT’s Young Artists Program.

The National Opera Week celebration will reach from coast to coast with over 90 opera companies from 32 states and will offer a range of programs for the public. Opera Week will demonstrate the allure and accessibility of opera, this most multi-media of the arts, and will be accessible to both opera lovers and newcomers to the art form.

For more information on Chicago Opera Theater Opera Week events, please go to ChicagoOperaTheater.org/operaweek.

For more information on all National Opera Week events around Chicago and the country, please go to OperaAmerica.org/now.

Industry Ticket Offers

Souvenir - Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd. is offering $10 industry tickets to all preview performances November 12 through 21. Offer available by phone or walk-up, Call the Box Office at 847.673.6300 and mention the code "INDUSTRY" to reserve. Proof of industry (headshot, business card, etc.) requested upon ticket pickup. Visit northlight.org for specific performance times.

Becoming Ingrid- Rubicon Theatre Project at Stage Left, 3408 N Sheffield Ave, is offering $10 industry tickets, for all Thursday and Sunday at performances at 7:30 p.m. through December 3rd. Call the box office at (773) 466-1835 and mention this offer when reserving tickets. You can also reserve tickets by emailing at rubicontheatreproject@yahoo.com. Please have proof of industry affiliation to present at the door.

Costume and Prop Sale

Piven Theatre Workshop is getting rid of its storage space! They are offering many great grabs from our costume and props closet for sale.
Tuesday, November 17th & Wednesday, November 18th from 12:00-5:00 p.m.
Noyes Cultural Arts Center
927 Noyes St, Room 103
Evanston, IL 60201
Questions? Call (847) 866-8049.

DCA Storefront Theater Proposal Submissions

Chicago DCA Theater is pleased to announce that we are now accepting proposal submissions for our Fall 2010 production slots in the Storefront Theater. All Chicago-based, itinerant theater companies are encouraged to apply. Selected companies receive FREE performance space in downtown Chicago, full box office, online ticketing, house management services, and more. The deadline for proposal submissions is Thursday, January 7, 2010.

DCA THEATER IS GOING GREEN! ALL proposal submissions are now being accepted electronically via email

To begin the application process, go to www.dcatheater.org/yourshow/ to download all the necessary forms and the checklist for required application materials.

Who Are We?

We’ve been having a lot of conversations lately related to being able to better articulate who we are as a community. Being able to do that has all kinds of implications. I tend to think that there is no value in trying to brand Chicago theatre, our strength is in our diversity. One of the things that attracted me to this job was the fact that Corn Productions and Aguijon and Broadway In Chicago and Light Opera Works all stand together. It is unique and it kind of defies description. But maybe I’m wrong, maybe that’s it “Chicago Theatre, defying description since 1872.”

If we were to make a short video that attempted to say who we are…say 7 minutes, what would it look like? A mighty tall order and I would say I don’t even want to try, except I think it’s necessary. When I talk about it now, I say “Chicago is the best place in the world to make and to see theatre,” I believe that’s true, but it doesn’t say who we are, how we got here and where we are going.

I think we all know it and feel it, what it is, but can we say it in a line, a sentence, a paragraph?

Deb

Tony Mack: Contemporary Australian Theatre for Young Audiences

Different needs and cultural circumstances determine the development of TYA in each country. Tony Mack looks at the influences that have shaped Australian TYA and gives snapshots of current practice in areas such as: Tales of contemporary life, Fantasy worlds, Indigenous performance, Theatre for the very young, Dance for young audiences, Emerging companies and new directions.

November 18, 2009
DePaul Student Center Room 380 (Lincoln Park), 5-7:30 PM,
Free & Open to the Public . Reservations Required.
RSVP to theatreschoolpr@depaul.edu or 773-325-7819

About Tony Mack
Tony is an Australia Council Fellow researching theatre for the very young and developing an online Global Youth Arts Portal. After graduating from Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and working professionally as an actor throughout Australia, Tony branched out to work in a variety of roles, as a playwright, director, arts journalist, magazine editor, actor trainer and university lecturer. From 2002–2008 he served as Vice-President of ASSITEJ International. As Chair of the Congress Working Group from 2005–2008, he was responsible for the delivery of the 16th ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival in Adelaide, Australia. He continues to work in the corporate area – presenting, performing and narrating corporate videos and television and radio commercials – and in feature films such as ‘Esther Blueberger’.

New Play Competition

University of California's 4th Round of the Stage International Script Competition

$10,000 Prize to be given for the best new play about science and technology. Submitted plays must explore scientific and/or technological stories, themes, issues or events. Multi-media theatre pieces, non-traditional plays and new forms are encouraged. The winner of the Scientists, Technologists and Artists Generating Exploration (STAGE) Competition will receive a $10,000 USD prize, along with possible opportunities for developing and promoting the winning script.

The deadline is December 15, 2009. For guidelines, an entry form and all details, please visit: www.stage.cnsi.ucsb.edu.

Performance Opportunity

Are you looking for additional spaces in which to perform? In January of 2007, the City of Elgin opened the doors to the Elgin Art Showcase, Elgin’s newest performance and gallery space. Located on the eighth floor of the historic Professional Building at 164 Division Street in the heart of downtown Elgin, The Art Showcase offers an intimate space for artists to exhibit their work and performers to display their talent.

The Elgin Art Showcase is hosting an informational focus group on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. At this meeting, the City of Elgin would like to show the performance space and discuss possible bookings from Chicago and suburban theater groups. The City of Elgin is interested in presenting this performance space to area theater companies in the hopes of drawing Chicago and suburban talent to the Elgin Area. Rent is reasonable and parking is free. The Elgin Art Showcase is located near City Hall parking, downtown restaurants and is handicap accessible. The theater boasts a spectacular view of the City, a grand limestone fireplace and a 100 seat capacity. The gallery space is equipped with picture rails and track lighting.

If you or a representative from your group are interested in attending this gathering, please RSVP by December 4, 2009 to:

Sylvia Grady, Coordinator of the Elgin Art Showcase
847-951-1515, grady_s@cityofelgin.org

Industry Ticket Offers

Yeast Nation (the triumph of life) – American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron is offering $10 industry rush tickets for Thursday, November 5. Industry Rush tickets go on sale at the Box Office 45 minutes prior to the performance. Please present head-shot, resume or equity card.

Joan Osborne, The Holmes Brothers and Paul Thorn – McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn, is offering half price tickets to the concert on Friday, November 6 at 8 p.m. For tickets call 630-942-4000 and use code 5-0 off.” Visit www.AtTheMac.org for details.

The David Bowie Hapzikat Funky Velvet Flarney Solstice Spectacular Live…From Space! David Bowie’s Christmas Special 1977 (network edit) – New Millenium Theatre at National Pastime Theatre, 4139 N. Broadway is offering $10 industry tickets on Friday and Saturday nights at 11 p.m. November 13 – December 19. For reservations call 312-458-9083 and bring a headshot or resume to box office to receive discount. Visit www.nmtchicago.org for more information.

Rental Space Available

Rent a space at Gorilla Tango Theatre in Chicago (Bucktown); easily accessible by “L” or bus, ample street parking available. Basic marketing, box-office services (online and phone), and rehearsal space is included (FREE) for all weekday and weekend timeslots. GTT runs shows 7 days per week, multiple shows per day; greatest potential for profit and greatest protection from loss for any self-producing company or individual. Mainstage space has 80-seat capacity – for pictures and more information visit http://www.gorillatango.com and click on “Producers Wanted” page, or contact Bryan Cohen at 215-407-8753 or bryan@gorillatango.com.

NFP Incorporation and Tax Exemption Workshop

Lawyers for the Creative Arts will present its workshop on Not-for-Profit Incorporation and Tax Exemption on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at its office at 213 W. Institute Place, Ste. 403, 5:30 – 8:45 p.m. The cost is $100 for one person, and $125 for two people. This workshop will discuss whether to start a NFP, how to establish a NFP, as well as certain recurring operating problems. We also cover in detail how to obtain a 501(c) (3) tax exemption and discuss several legal issues regarding maintaining tax exempt status. A full package of documents is included. Although this workshop is intended for artists of all types, it has been very popular with lawyers as well as it provides comprehensive coverage of the subject.

Please call LCA at 312-649-4111 to register.

Industry Ticket Offers

Inner Torments – Fulcrum Point New Music Project at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, is offering $10 industry tickets to the Thursday, November 12 7:30 p.m. performance. To reserve tickets call 312-334-7777 or visit http://www.harristheaterchicago.org/ and use promo code #5587. Visit http://www.fulcrumpoint.org/ for more information.

These Shining Lives- Rivendell Theatre Ensemble at Raven Theatre Complex West Stage, 6157 N. Clark, is offering $15 industry tickets to the following Thursday evening performances at 8:30 p.m. November 5, 12 and 19. To redeem tickets, go to http://www.rivendelltheatre.net/ and use the code INDUSTRY, or call 773-334-7728. Tickets must be purchased at least one hour before the performance. Subject to availability.

Cooperstown – Theatre Seven of Chicago at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. is offering $14 industry tickets for all Thursday evening and Sunday matinee performances November 16 – December 20th. $8 industry tickets are available to previews on November 14 and 15. Tickets are available by calling 773-404-7336 and mentioning this industry offer good for all actors, writers, directors, designers and stage managers. Help us get to know you!

Industry Ticket Offers

The Flowers – About Face Theatre at Stage Left Theatre, 3408 N. Sheffield, is offering $10 industry tickets to their Monday, November 2 performance at 7:30 p.m. To reserve tickets call 773-784-8565 x111 or go online to www.aboutfacetheatre.com and use the discount code INDUSTRY. There are a limited number of discounted seats available. This offer is subject to availability and cannot be used in combination with any other discount.

Book of Days – EverGreen Theatre Ensemble at Naperville Women’s Club, 14 S. Washington St. is offering $10 industry tickets to any performance through November 14th. For tickets call 630-544-9504 and mention this industry offer.

For a complete list of industry ticket offers available click here.

Promotional Opportunity with CAR

The Chicago Artists Resource wants to show off Chicago theatre, one slice at a time! The CAR theater section is seeking to refresh it's collection of banner photos for display at http://www.chicagoartistsresource.org/theater. The banner photos appear at the top of the page, and rotate through the collection on each page refresh.

TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK: Email a 1000x106 pixel jpg (usually a cropped portion of a more standard-sized image), along with your company's name and website URL, the show featured and production year, and (and this is important) the name of the photographer. We recommend that you look at the banners currently posted on our site to get an idea of what kinds of cross-sections look good within these dimensions. We review submissions on an ongoing basis, and will notify you if we use your image. Send images and questions to car.theaterartist@gmail.com.

Industry Ticket Offer

Macabaret - Porchlight Music Theatre is offering discounted $15 tickets for this Saturday and Sunday, 10/31 and 11/1, to see its Halloween cabaret musical. Show times are 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, 6 p.m. on Sunday. Call the Theatre Building Chicago box office at 773-327-5252 and mention "League offer" to receive discount.

Looking Back and Looking Forward

I was very happy to see so many folks at our annual meeting last week. It was actually kind of fun. I am not afraid to admit that public speaking scares me to death but it really isn’t so bad with such a receptive crowd. The half hour or so we spent socializing before the meeting was pretty great as well. I love to see everyone talking and having fun, I sort of hated to interrupt. I gave a short speech about the last year and what’s coming up. If you read this blog regularly you already know everything I talked about. Roche, in his last annual meeting as chairman of the League board introduced all of our new board members, who are listed in the broadcast.

I am looking forward to the next year with great anticipation, I think it is going to be, as the past year was, exciting and challenging. One of my major goals (aside from the goals of the League) is to meet more of you and to see more of your shows.

Only seven people responded to our survey about topics for Theater Dish, so we’re thinking that is not the most popular program. For now, we are not going to schedule any more Theater Dish events unless something comes up that seems like it might have a lot of interest for the community. As always, please feel free to bring something you think would be interesting to us and we will endeavor to make it happen.

Deb

Financial Management Responsibilities of NFP Board Members

Presented by CPAs for the Public Interest
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Registration: 5:00 pm Workshop: 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Board members take on the important responsibility of providing governance for their not-for-profit organization. They may be well versed on the organization's mission, but how much do they know about its finances? Part of the role of a board member, whether or not they have a financial background, is to provide financial oversight and protect the assets of the organization. As a board member, learn the very basics of your financial responsibilities: what you need to know and be aware of to ensure your not-for-profit's financial health.
Presenter: Clifford Shapiro, CPA - Blackman KallickCourse Code: PI128
Location: Illinois CPA Society, 550 W. Jackson Suite 900
$40.00 per person per workshop
To register, call 800.993.0393 and refer to the course code provided. Visit their website for more info.

Industry Ticket Offers

Animal Crackers – Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn is offering complimentary tickets for select performances through October 31 including Wednesday (7:30 p.m.), Thursday (2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.), Friday (8 p.m.) and Saturday (8 p.m.). Please RSVP by calling Goodman Theatre’s Box Office at 312.443.3800 and mentioning this offer. Tickets are limited and offered on a first come/first served basis. They can be picked up at the Box Office one hour before your performance. For information about Animal Crackers, please visit: http://www.explorethegoodman.org/#show1.

You Can't Take It With You - Village Players Performing Arts Center, 1010 Madison Street in Oak Park is offering a limited number of $10 tickets for all performances this weekend through November 1. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Call 866-764-1010 and mention this offer. Visit http://www.village-players.org/ for more information."

Industry Ticket Offers

The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity - Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, is offering a limited number of comp tickets to the Wednesday, October 28, 2 p.m. performance. For tickets call 773-871-3000 and use code LEAGUE. Offer subject to availability, maximum of 2 tickets per order for League members only.

Yeast Nation (the triumph of life) - American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron St. is offering $10 industry rush tickets available for the Thursday, October 29th, 8 p.m. performance. Industry rush tickets go on sale at the Box Office 45 minutes prior to curtain. Please present head-shot, resume or equity card with ticket purchase.

Fake – Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted is offering $10 industry tickets on Saturday, October 31st at 3 and 7:30 p.m. For tickets call 312-335-1650 and mention code 6141. Tickets subject to availability and must be reserved by 2 p.m. on October 31st. For more information visit www.steppenwolf.org.

The Hundred Dresses – Chicago Children’s Theatre at The Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted is offering 2 for 1 tickets on October 31st at 3 p.m. Use the discount code “Treat4” online or over the phone to receive a free ticket with the purchase of a full price adult ticket. Free candy will be available on site and audience members are encouraged to wear costumes. For tickets call 312-988-9000 or order online at www.chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

Space Availability

Raven Theatre announces an opening for a three week, prime-time rental in the West Theatre in the Raven Theatre Complex February 15-March 7, 2010. Rental rates are competitive and include full lighting, sound, and monitoring equipment. For more information, please contact Zena Vaughn, Managing Director at (773) 338-2177 or zena@raventheatre.com.

Raven Theatre is currently booking prime-time and off night rentals for holiday shows during the month of December 2009. Space can also be rented for rehearsal or holiday parties. Rental rates are competitive and include full lighting, sound, and monitoring equipment. These bookings are first come, first served. For more information, please contact Zena Vaughn, Managing Director at (773)338-2177 or zena@raventheatre.com.

Industry Ticket Offers

Days to Come – The Artistic Home, 3914 N. Clark St. is offering $15 industry tickets on October 29 at 7:30 p.m. and November 1st at 3 p.m. at the door with headshot, resume or business card.

Rhymes With Evil – InFusion Theatre at the Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph, is offering $10 industry tickets for Thursdays during the run through November 5. For reservations call 312-742-8497 and just bring your headshot or resume with you to the box office to take advantage of the industry discount. Visit http://www.dcatheater.org/ for more information.

For a complete list of current industry ticket offers click here.

PR Workshop

Do you know how to write a press release? Do you know how to get critics to come to your shows? Do you know how to effectively get audience who don't know you or your friends in the cast to come and see the show? Any budget can make a good marketing plan even a very small budget, if you have the right information. Workshop includes a press list, examples of press releases, hand outs from Marketing Books and your questions answered.

Dates: Thursdays, November 5 & 12 from 6-8 p.m.
Location: 1412 W. Irving Park Rd.(CICs Annex space)
Cost: $60
INSTRUCTOR: Angie McMahon is the Executive Producer and Founder of Chemically Imbalanced Comedy, a 10 year old not for profit Theater Company in Chicago. She is also the former Network Committee Chairman for the Chicago Comedy Association. She has done marketing for such companies as Free Associates Theater Company (B.S., Frodo-a-go-go @ The Royal George), HeadCheese Fatboss (Hipmas Carol), Sweetback Productions (Screw X-Mas), and Bucky's Planet Productions (Big Kids Comedy Hour and Pimprov). Resume and recommendations can be found here: http://www.linkedin.com/in/angiemcmahon
Email angie@cicomedy.com to sign up

Annual Member Meeting

Please come to the annual member meeting on Monday at Victory Gardens. I will be talking about the work of the League over the past year and about what we will be doing over the coming year. It’s an opportunity for members to ask questions and make comments and suggestions. Of course, everyone is welcome to call or email me anytime to talk about the League, but this is also a chance meet the board and staff of the (did you know there are representatives of every budget category on the League board?), have a glass of wine and hang out with your colleagues. It’s only an hour and a half and I’d love to see you all there. 6:00 at Victory Gardens, RSVP to nancy@chicagoplays.com.

The past couple of weeks, I have been out talking to lots and lots of people, meetings and speaking and all kinds of stuff and I really can’t tell you what an honor it is to speak on behalf of the League and Chicago theatre. Last week I helped to organize an Elderhostel tour of Chicago theatre, (Elderhostel is a tour group for seniors that takes tours around the world, this was their first time doing a Chicago theatre tour). I had the opportunity to address them on the first day of their tour and on the last day. They saw shows, had backstage tours, went to workshops and sat in on classes and generally had a great exposure to who we are. At that last day they were absolutely ecstatic about what they had seen, two couples came up to me and said they were going home and asking their theatre communities why they can’t be more like Chicago. Another had been on several theatre tours before (New York and London) and said this was the best. Elderhostel has already scheduled another tour for next year. It was awesome, I was so puffed up with pride. You guys rock!

Deb

TCG Future Collaborations Travel Grants

Theatre Communications Group announces the next round of New Generations: Future Collaborations travel grants. Individual theatre practitioners and theatres may apply.

Winter/Spring deadline: Nov. 16, 2009
Summer/Fall deadline: Feb. 22, 2010

New Generations: Future Collaborations Grants Amount: up to $6,000 per recipient
Geographically unrestricted travel grants of up to $6,000 will be paid to theatres and individual theatre professionals to facilitate international collaboration by way of hosting or traveling abroad.

Visit TCG's website for Guidelines and Application.

The Fundraising Board: A Team Approach

An intensive workshop for individuals – staff and board—responsible for an organization’s fundraising and donor development efforts. Presented by the Arts and Business Council of Chicago.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Baker & McKenzie, One Prudential Plaza
130 E. Randolph Drive, 39th Floor
5:30pm-8:30pm

Click here for more information and to register.

Industry Ticket Offers

Yeast Nation (the triumph of life) - American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron St. is offering $10 industry rush tickets for the Thursday, October 22nd, 8 p.m. performance. Industry rush tickets go on sale at the Box Office 45 minutes prior to curtain. Please present head-shot, resume or equity card with ticket purchase.

Arsenic and Old Lace – Theatre and Interpretation Center at Northwestern University is offering FREE industry tickets on Sunday, October 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets: (847) 491-7282. Mention promo code: Industry. Limit 2 tickets per order. Subject to ticket availability.

Caesarian Section - Teatr Zar, Poland’s Grotowski influenced theatrical troupe, is offering $15 industry tickets to the U.S. premiere on Thursday, November 12 at 7:30 pm. Audiences get to sit on the stage of the enclosed Jay Pritzker Pavilion for this show. For tickets, call 312.742.TIXS (8497) and mention INDUSTRY or visit www.millenniumpark.org.

Industry Offers

Summer People – The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee, is offering $10 preview tickets this weekend through October 25. For tickets call 773-283-7071 and mention code word “Hammond’s Campground.”

City Lit Theater’s 30th Anniversary Party – City Lit Theater at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln is offering $20 industry tickets on Monday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets call 773-293-3682 or email info@citylit.org. Includes readings from B.J. Jones, Terry McCabe, Dorothy Milne, David New, Joyce Piven, Steve Scott, Kathy Scambiatterra, Kristine Thatcher, Dennis Zacek and emceed by Mike Nussbaum!

Mistakes Were Made – A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells, is offering a pay what you can industry night on Monday, October 26 at 8 p.m. For tickets call 312-943-8722 and bring a headshot or resume to pick up your tickets.

Spoon River Anthology – Saint Sebastian Players at St. Bonaventure Church, 1625 W. Diversey, is offering $10 industry tickets October 23 – 25 with headshot or resume. For more information visit www.saintsebastianplayers.org.

Calls to Blood – The New Colony at the Royal George Theater, 1641 N Halsted, is offering $15 unlimited industry show passes for the duration of the run. Passes allow you to see the show as often as you like at no additional cost. Call the box office and use the code HEART to reserve your industry passes. Visit www.thenewcolony.org/callstoblood or call 312.988.9000 for more information.

Annual Member Meeting...RSVP Today!

RSVP now for the annual membership meeting on Monday, October 26, 2009 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater Studio, 2433 N. Lincoln. Every member company is encouraged to send at least one representative. RSVP to info@chicagoplays.com.

Award Nominations

We are now accepting award nominations for our 2010 Gala.
Artistic Leadership Award (recent recipients - Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Second City, Martha Lavey)
Lifetime Achievement Award (recent recipients - Marcie McVay, Jackie Taylor, Chuck Smith)
Tribute Award - (recent recipients - Janet Davies, Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Chicago Community Trust)
If you have a candidate you'd like to nominate, email info@chicagoplays.com.

Communication...Go

I wrote a while back about communication and how we can better communicate with you. Communication also happens to have been the theme of the recent Storefront Summit, which if you didn’t attend, I would highly encourage you to attend the next one which will be announced soon. Anyway, we have made the broadcast easier to read (we hope), but I am still running into people on a fairly regular basis who are members or who work in member organizations who are unaware of what is going on at the League. So we continue to look for and work on better ways to communicate, to get our message to people who want to hear it. It’s really the same problem as communicating with patrons I think. What is the best way to get the message out? Does the broadcast not work anymore? Is there a better way? If the broadcast is the only way to reach a large number of individuals, what is a good way to get people to read it? It seems kind of silly that we have this problem with so many different types of communications at hand these days, but maybe that’s the problem. Are there too many ways? In the olden days people opened their mail and answered their phones and that was it. Maybe it was harder to ignore. What’s hard to ignore now? I think nothing is hard to ignore because we have so many messages bombarding us. Are there examples of things you never ignore? And I don’t mean phone messages from your mother, your boss, whatever…are there messages that are not personal that you actually enjoy receiving. Hmmm…I actually don’t know the answer to that for myself. I’m going to think about it. In the meantime, any suggestions would, as always, be appreciated.

Deb

Industry Ticket Offers

The Man Who Was Thursday - New Leaf Theatre at the Lincoln Park Cultural Center, 2045 N. Lincoln Park West is pleased to offer $10 industry tickets to all performances through November 21st. Visit www.newleaftheatre.org for more information. Call 773.516.3546 or e-mail tickets@newleaftheatre.org to make a reservation.

Bread and Salt: Selected Chicago Poems of Carl Sandburg - Millennium Park has complimentary tickets to performances on October 22-24 at 7:30 p.m. for a work in progress by Chicago Actors Wordshop. Audiences get to sit on the stage of the enclosed Jay Pritzker Pavilion for this show. For tickets, call 312.742.TIXS (8497) and mention INDUSTRY or visit http://www.millenniumpark.org/.

End Days – Next Theatre Company, 927 Noyes St. in Evanston is offering $10 industry tickets for Friday 10/30 and Friday 11/6 at 8 p.m. For tickets, call 847-475-1875 or go to http://www.nexttheatre.org/ and use code INDUSTRY.

For a complete list of current industry ticket offers, click here.

Free Learning Opportunity

Sign up for the Arts Engagement Exchange Fall Learning Circle today! Using Research to Build Your Arts Audience. Whether your arts organization has a dedicated marketing staff or a multi-tasking staff member, this hands-on workshop will help you create audience research to serve as a foundation for your marketing strategy. You’ll learn how to gain valuable insight into current and potential audience composition and behavior. From identifying the specific types of information you need to the “how-to’s” of data analysis and interpretation, you will leave this workshop with the confidence to organize and conduct audience research to set your marketing priorities.

Workshop facilitators Kelley Lavin and Brenda Magnetti Erickson have created research-based marketing strategies for some of the country’s most successful companies including Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, Wal-Mart, Target, and Anheuser- Busch among many others. Today they bring their set of highly specialized skills to help their non-profit and commercial clients build innovative marketing plans. They show their clients that research does not necessarily need to be expensive or complicated to provide an effective base to a marketing strategy. What is more important is that research is an integrated part of a group’s mission and goals, something that can benefit arts organizations.When: October 27, November 3, and November 13 from 9am-noon (You must attend all three)
Where: Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington

For more information about requirements and registration details, visit www.artsengagementexchange.org!

Attention: Producers, Directors and Playwrights

Gorilla Tango Theatre is having an Open House from 5:30pm - 9:00pm on Wednesday, October 21, 2009. Always been curious about producing at Gorilla Tango? Want to come check out the space? Need to meet with someone face to face to discuss your options? Come to the Gorilla Tango Theatre Open House- 1919 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago IL 60647 - any time from 5:30-9:00pm on Wed., October 21, 2009 to talk with us! Contact Kelly at kelly@gorillatango.com, 773-598-4549, or visit www.gorillatango.com for more information.

Industry Offers

Silk Road Cabaret: Broadway Sings the Silk Road – Silk Road Theatre Project at the Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St., Pierce Hall, is offering $10 industry tickets October 21, 22, and 23 at 8 p.m. - The. Advance purchases on-line only at http://www.srtp.org/ Use coupon code "INDUSTRY.” Day of Performance Door Purchases – Industry Tickets available up to one hour before curtain.

Plans 1 Through 8 From Outer Space - New Millennium Theatre Company at National Pastime Theatre, 4139 N. Broadway in Chicago is offering $10 industry tickets for Friday and Saturday nights at 11 pm through October 31. Call 312-458-9083 for reservations and bring a headshot/resume to the box office to receive the discount. Visit http://www.blogger.com/www.nmtchicago.org for more information.

Frankenstein – The Hypocrites at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. is offering $10 industry tickets on October 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. and October 30 and 31st at 10 p.m. Tickets available on phone orders only by calling 312-397-4010.

When She Danced - TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave. is offering $15 industry tickets to previews Wednesday 11/4 through Friday 11/6 at 8 p.m. Call (773) 281-8463 x24 to order or buy online via www.timelinetheatre.com/when_she_danced.

C’est la vie - Light Opera Works Second Stage, 1420 Maple Avenue in Evanston, is offering half-price (regularly $24, $31 and $39) industry tickets for all Friday 8 p.m. performances through November 13. Call 847-869-6300 or visit http://www.lightoperaworks.com/ and use code "Jersey." Tickets must be purchased in advance. No door sales.

Death of a Salesman - Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark Street is offering $10 industry tickets on Thursdays and Fridays through December 4. Proof of industry is required and reservations are strongly suggested. Call 773-338-2177 to reserve your tickets.

Seeking Your Input

The League of Chicago Theatres is seeking your feedback for event topics for our quarterly Theater Dish event series. Theater Dish events provide an opportunity for members of the Chicago theater community to come together and discuss topics of interest. Events occur in different formats from speakers and presenters to panel discussions depending upon the topic.

Click here to share your thoughts

Winter Space Availability

Chemically Imbalanced Theater has main stage rentals open for Jan-Feb 2010. 50 seat black box Theater. Will rent Fri-Sat $400 per week, Thurs-Sun (three days your choice) $550 per week. or Four days $650 per week. Email angie@cicomedy.com for more details.

Industry Ticket Offers

Spark Plug: an indoor street party to ignite ideas –Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln. is offering $10 industry tickets to Spark Plug, an indoor street party celebrating the hits of Ignition Fest 2009 on Saturday October 10th. The party starts at 10:30 p.m. after the evening performance of THE ELABORATE ENTRACE OF CHAD DEITY. Use the promo code INDUSTRY to get a discounted party ticket when ordering online or over the phone. Or see CHAD DEITY that night and go to the party for only $30!

Mouse In A Jar – Red Tape Theatre, 621 W. Belmont, is offering $10 industry tickets to a special industry performance on Monday, October 12 at 8 p.m. with drinks and snacks following the performance. Tickets are available first come first serve and cash only. http://www.redtapetheatre.org/.

Arsenic and Old Lace – Theatre and Interpretation Center at Northwestern University is offering $10 industry tickets to the Sunday, October 25 performance at 8 p.m. For tickets call 847-491-7282 and mention promo code League. Visit http://www.tic.northwestern.edu/ for more information.

Costume Warehouse Sale

Out with old and in with the new! Northlight is cleaning out their closets just in time for you to be the best dressed person at any Halloween party! Costumes will be drawn from the last 10 years of Northlight productions, ranging from everyday men's white suit shirts to the extraordinary feather costumes of Everything's Ducky. A limited selection of jewelry and shoes will also be available.

Saturday, October 17, Noon - 6pm
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts - 2nd Floor
Prices range from $2-$35 per item
Cash or check only
For more information, email vmartini@northlight.org.

Piccolo Theatre Space Availability

Piccolo Theatre has January performance space available and has daytime/evening weekday/weekend rehearsal space available starting November 16th. For rates, space tours and further information, please contact Leeann at 847-424-0089 or leeann@piccolotheatre.com.

Classified

Chicago Shakespeare Theater is looking for a home for a Motorola 6 unit multicharger with power supply. Model number is HTN9067B. Used to charge Motorola Radius Sp50 radios.
If interested contact: Susan Knill, Theater/Facility Manager, 312/595-5655

Industry Ticket Offers

Journey to the Center of the Uterus: Adventures Infertility - Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N Lincoln Ave. is offering FREE industry tickets this Wednesday, October 7th, at 8 p.m. Tickets available in person at the box office with headshot or resume.

C’est la vie - Light Opera Works Second Stage, 1420 Maple Avenue in Evanston, is offering half-price (regularly $21) industry tickets for previews on October 7 and 8 at 8 p.m. Call 847-869-6300 or visit www.LightOperaWorks.com and use code "Jersey." Tickets must be purchased in advance. No door sales.

Yeast Nation (the triumph of life) - American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron Street is offering $10 industry rush tickets for the Thursday, October 8th, 8 p.m. performance. Industry rush tickets go on sale at the Box Office 45 minutes prior to curtain. Please present head-shot, resume or equity card with ticket purchase.

Heroes - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. is offering $10 industry tickets on Friday nights and Wednesday matinees October 14 – November 29. For tickets call the box office at 773-404-7336 and use code “Industry.”

Seeking Old Printing Press

Village Players Theatre needs an older-looking printing press for their production of You Can't Take it With You. If you have this and can lend it from now until November 22nd contact vptmanagement@gmail.com.

Winter Space Availability

Greenhouse Theater Center has studios available for rent! Two winter performance slots are available – one in the Downstairs space, the other in the Upstairs Studio. Rental applications are being accepted for both availabilities. 60 seat theaters with full house staff and box office provided; sound and light package included. Rental includes theater space, back stage area, equipped dressing room and light booth. Theatre now also has liquor license to further the enjoyment of your patrons!

For more information, including rental rates, tech specs, and contract details please contact Jenn Kincaid at jennifer@greenhousetheater.org, or at 773.404.7336 x 200.

On Pins and Needles

Tomorrow is the big day. Olympics or no? Oddsmakers are giving it to Chicago. You can seriously bet on it. My Dad the stockbroker mentioned here before is also a guy who likes to place a wager, so I learned to check odds. It’s amazing, bookies will take a bet on anything. Anyway, I hope we get them…but what if we don’t? Maybe instead we could have a theatre Olympiad, theatres from all over the world come to Chicago for two weeks and we get new venues and lots of publicity and we can dream, can't we?

Related to that, plans for the TCG conference (our own mini-theatre Olympics) continue apace. Please go over to Nick Keenan’s blog and check out his challenge. We need 20 theatres to submit video and we will start to build our showcase site – showcasing a theatre a day. Videos can be anything…introduce yourselves, talk about your work, your space, write a play about you, whatever…if you think you can’t or don’t have the equipment, Nick’s even offering lessons. This is a great way to get your message out to a national audience of theatre professionals, and who knows what else it could become.

Deb

Industry Ticket Offer

Mouse in a Jar – Red Tape Theatre, 621 W. Belmont, is offering industry tickets to all performances through October 31. $5 for previews, $15 for regular performances. Visit http://www.redtapetheatre.org/ and use code word ZOSIA when purchasing. They are also hosting an industry-only performance for $10 on 10/12 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the door first come first serve. Bring a headshot, resume or business card when claiming industry tickets.

Fiddlers 4 - featuring Darol Anger, Michael Doucet, Bruce Molsky and Rushad Eggleston. McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd.,Glen Ellyn is offering $10 tickets for the Sunday, Oct. 11 performance for LOCT members. Subject to availability. Code: Fiddle. For more information call (630) 942-4000.

For a complete listing of industry ticket offers this week click here.

Chicago Now

Chicago Now is trying to make it easier for theater companies to get their info posted on the Off Broadway in Chicago blog. All you need to do to publish your press releases on Chicago Now is email them to: offbroadwayinchicago@chicagonow.com and they will publish them automatically.

Classified

Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, 615 W. Wellington Ave., is looking for a home for three solid oak pews measuring 108" long X 35" high from an 100 year old Arts & Crafts era church available now. (free will donation welcome) call 773-935-0642.

Steppenwolf Event Opportunity

Steppenwolf Theatre Company needs your help to pull off an event in Chicago. People with any kind of movement or dance experience preferred, but if you can catch the beat at the club you can hang with us.
Time commitment: 6-10 pm Monday October 5, 9 am – 5 pm Thursday October 8. Compensation: our undying gratitude, lots of food, tickets to Steppenwolf, and a rad t-shirt. Interested: please email name and phone number to cpeters@steppenwolf.org before Friday, October 2 at 5 p.m. and we’ll be in touch.

Industry Ticket Offers

Animal Crackers – Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, is offering half-price tickets to performances September 30 and October 1 at 7:30 p.m. Please RSVP by calling the box office at 312.443.3800 and mentioning your organization. Tickets are limited and offered on a first come/first served basis. For information on the play, visit: www.explorethegoodman.org/#show1. (Limit 4 tickets.)

C’est la vie - Light Opera Works Second Stage, 1420 Maple Avenue in Evanston, is offering half-price (regularly $21) industry tickets for previews on October 4 at 3 p.m. and October 7 and 8 at 8 p.m. For tickets call 847-869-6300 or visit www.LightOperaWorks.com and use code "Jersey." Tickets must be purchased in advance. No door sales.

Explore the World of “Fake” – Steppenwolf Garage, 1624 N. Halsted is offering tickets to this FREE event on 10/2 at 5:30 p.m. with food, drink, music and more celebrating the ideas and themes of the play. Click here for more details: http://www.steppenwolf.org/calendar/detail.aspx?id=163. RSVP to Steppenwolf Audience Services at 312.335.1650.

Free Tickets for The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later

About Face Theatre is offering 40 free tickets to League of Chicago Theatres members to a one-night only performance of: The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later. About Face Theatre will join forces with Tectonic Theatre and 120 other theaters around the United States to simultaneously present this reading, which will culminate in a live, nationwide Q&A session.

Starring Mary Beth Fisher, Directed by Bonnie Metzgar
Presented at the Goodman Theatre, Benefitting About Face Youth Theatre

October 12, 2009
Doors Open at 6:15 P.M., Performance begins at 6:45 P.M.

Mayor Richard M. Daley, Honorary Chair
Cathy Nathan & Peter Calibraro, Benefit Co-Chairs

More information about the Play:
A decade after the groundbreaking docudrama The Laramie Project, the creators of the play returned to Wyoming to focus on the long-term effects on the people and community most directly impacted by the murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard. Members of the Tectonic Theater Project traveled to Laramie last October to ask: has the town changed as a result of this event? What does life in Laramie tell us about life in America 10 years later? What impact has his murder had on the path of his mother? His murderers? These powerful interviews make up The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later.

If you are interested in these tickets, please email Ben at ben@chicagoplays.com and provide the following information: name, address, phone number, email address, theater affiliation and number of tickets. No more than two tickets per theatre. Tickets can be picked up on the evening of the event, in the Goodman Lobby.

The Inclusive Arts and Culture Project

Open Doors Organization has received a generous grant from the Chicago Community Trust to host the Inclusive Arts and Culture Project for Chicago theatres, museums, and other cultural venues. The objective of the program is to assist our arts community to improve both accessibility and outreach for people with disabilities and older patrons. From October 2009 to January 2010, ODO will be holding 4 free-of-charge workshops at various cultural institutions in downtown Chicago. Program participants must attend at least 3 of the 4 sessions. The workshops are entitled: Attracting and Embracing the Community, Enhancing the Customer Experience, More than Nuts & Bolts, and Victories & Challenges. Betty Siegel of The Kennedy Center and Jay Cardinali of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts will be presenting along with many other knowledgeable guest speakers. For additional information on the Inclusive Arts and Culture Project click here or to RSVP, please contact Program Coordinator Brittany Stern: brittany@opendoorsnfp.org or 773-388-8839.

Space Availability

January/February available at the Viaduct Theater. Recession rates available. Viaduct is trying to keep rental rates down for theater companies by programming music after theater. We are offering 74-seat Studio for $700 per week and 125-seat Mainstage for $900 per week if you can finish each night by 9PM (7 or 7:30 start time is okay) and if your set and lighting are reasonably simple and workable for the music series. Regular arrangement also still available. Viaduct offers full box office services, full-service bar, parking, and new heating and air conditioning system. Contact Whitney: whitney@viaducttheater.com or 773-544-4029 or check website for details: www.viaducttheater.com.

Classifieds

The Building Stage is currently available to rent for performance from November 2 through the end of December. As these dates are fast approaching, we are open to negotiating steep discounts and length of rental from a single performance to the full seven weeks. If you are in need of space, please contact Blake Montgomery at (312) 933-4858 or blake@buildingstage.com.

Village Players Performing Arts Center is looking for a xylophone for You Can't Take it With You opening in mid-October. Contact vptmanagement@gmail.com.

New Industry Offers

New industry offers posted this week. For a complete list of industry offers click here.

The Darkest Pit - Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston, is offering ½ off tickets ($7.50) for industry professionals and 2 for 1 tickets for anyone on Monday, September 28 at 8 p.m.! For tickets call 773-539-7838 or visit http://www.propthtr.org/.

Fedra: Queen of Haiti –Lookingglass Theatre, 821 N. Michigan Ave. is offering $10 industry tickets for the Wednesday, September 30 performance at 7:30 p.m. For tickets call 312-337-0665 and mention code word “industry.”

A Hampstead Hooligan in King Arthur's Court - Chicago dell'Arte at the BoHo Theatre at Heartland Studios, 7016 N. Glenwood is offering $10 industry tickets with headshot resume for performances through October 3. For tickets call 773-957-4191.

boom - Next Theatre Company, Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St, Evanston is offering $10 industry tickets for Friday 8 p.m. performances through October 2 and Wednesday 1p.m. performances on September 30 and October 7. Call 847-475-1875 x2 or go to http://www.nexttheatre.org/ and use code INDUSTRY.

Treasure Island- Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood, is offering $10 industry tickets for performances on September 24, October 1 & October 8. For tickets, call 773-761-4477 and ask for "Industry Tickets". Subject to availability. For more information, visit http://www.lifelinetheatre.com/.

Village of K___ - Bruised Orange Theater Company at The Sideproject Theater, 1439 W. Jarvis. is offering $12 industry tickets on Thursdays (8pm curtain) through October 11. Call 773.336.2682 for reservations and mention this industry offer. Please present P/R or business card at box office.

The Last Unicorn- Promethean Theatre Ensemble at City Lit, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave, is offering $10 industry tickets, for all Thursday at 8 pm and Sunday at 3 pm performances through November 11, as well as at the show's preview on Friday 10/16 at 8 pm. Call the box office at (773) 305-2897 and mention this offer, or use the discount code "redbull" when purchasing tickets online. Please have proof of industry affiliation to present at the door.

Ten Square - MPAACT and Pegasus Players, 1145 W. Wilson Ave, is offering $10 industry tickets to the following preview performances: September 25 & 26 @ 8 p.m. and September 27 @ 3 p.m., October 2 & 3 at 8 p.m. and October 4 at 3 p.m. This offer is also good for all Thursday performances beginning on October 8 at 8 p.m. and continuing through November 19. Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.pegasusplayers.org/ or by calling the box office at 773.878.9761, ext 17. Use code word: industry.

Broadcast News

In an effort to get more information to more people in a more timely manner, we are going to start redesigning the broadcast a little. We are going to send out four or five bullet points and links to things like industry offers, etc. Turns out some people prefer to get their information in an RSS feed. So, you can have the blog pop up in your feed. Instead of waiting until Thursday to always share everything, it will come out as we receive it and be posted to this blog. So, broadcast emails will be shorter and easier to read. Folks who like all their news at once will still have that through the broadcast, but will have to hit the links to the website for industry offers, jobs, etc. Whaddya think?

Deb

Why We Use Ticketmaster

Everybody hates them. I know it, you know it and Ticketmaster knows it. But here’s the deal, they are the only company that can handle Hot Tix and here’s why:

1) Ticketmaster is the ONLY ticketing company that can handle a big on sale, i.e. on-line, phone and walk-up for a particular event, say Joffrey’s Nutcracker or The Addams Family. That is thousands of people all buying at the same time for the same event via three different sales methods. That is why lots of theatres use them, including some of our smaller venues.
2) It is my understanding, although I am certainly not privy to the contracts people make with Ticketmaster, that Ticketmaster does not allow sales through other ticketing systems. i.e. a Ticketmaster house cannot sell their tickets through other on-line ticket brokers. I don’t see their tickets for sale on other on-line brokers, so I have to assume that is true.
3) We sold over 60% of our Hot Tix last year to Ticketmaster houses. Hot Tix cannot sustain itself without those theatres.
4) Ticketmaster has consistently worked with me over the past year to keep our fees low, and they have sent out e-blasts to their lists promoting Hot Tix.
5) It has come to my attention that some of our fees might be out of whack and I will work to fix that.

Deb

TCG Conference

By now I hope you all know that the Theatre Communications Group conference is happening in Chicago June 17-19, 2010. The League is hosting. What we are most energized about is the opportunity to showcase Chicago theatre, 800 theatre professionals from across the Country will be here and we don’t want anyone to leave without understanding the depth and breadth of our community. We are also looking to have every single theatre in Chicago involved in the conference, there are going to be all kinds of opportunities for that to happen. We have put together a host committee for Chicago that is charged with organizing the “late-night event,” hospitality for attendees, Chicago specific programming, and of course showcasing Chicago theatre. We have had one meeting and the next meeting is Monday, September 14 at 4:00, if you are interested in serving on the committee, please email me at deb@chicagoplays.com.

Deb

Community Database

I want to let you all know about a very exciting new project we are embarking on – a community database, also known as a big list.

What is it?
It is a database into which we all submit our patron data. We will be using eMerge, a web-based data management and mining application designed by Target Resource Group (TRG) for marketers to mazimize efficiency and usability of patron data.

What will it do for me?
If you don’t have a database, this will provide you with one, the list will enable you to exchange lists, merge/purge, perform NCOA, run reports on your patrons and in general enable you to do much more sophisticated and targeted direct mail marketing. You can enter emails and phones into the list and do analysis on those for more targeted marketing, but that information cannot be traded.

How much does it cost?
TRG is providing the service to us for free. The above services will be free for League members, additional services from TRG are available at an extra cost.

How do I find out more?
Email Deb at deb@chicagoplays.com. TRG is offering webinars and we will direct you to one.

When will it launch?
January of 2010.

Goals for Chicago Theatre

Over at The New Colony Blog they have a conversation going on about Goals for Chicago Theatre. I think it’s a very interesting conversation and would love to hear from more people about what you think the goals are or should be for Chicago Theatre. Apparently Time Out New York printed a goals for New York Theatre which started the whole thing. The New Colony is planning a “storefront summit,” which I think is a great idea, we will certainly be there, will you? Someone else suggested to me this week that there be more events where people just get together – a “beer summit,” I wonder if people would be interested in that, just getting together and meeting on a regular basis at a bar or something. The League does host Managing/Executive Director Roundtables, but maybe something more informal and more inclusive of artistic directors. And, on that note, all of you who open this email and are still reading – thanks. Any suggestions on how we could reach more people would be much appreciated. While we feel like we reach a good portion of our community we would like to reach everyone, there are so many of us and we feel like we are underrepresented at so many events. Any ideas?

Service

The following quote was passed along to me by Ian Belknap at Writers' (who gave an awesome talk on grantwriting to our emerging theatres on Monday) and I thought it was so inspiring I wanted to share it with you, unfortunately I can’t find any links to the entire speech.

“Sometimes we choose to serve our country in uniform, in war. Sometimes in elected office. And those are the ways of serving our country that I think we are trained to easily call heroic. It’s also a service to your country, I think, to teach poetry in the prisons, to be an incredibly dedicated student of dance, to fight for funding music and arts education in the schools. A country without an expectation of minimal artistic literacy, without a basic structure by which the artists among us can be awakened and given the choice of following their talents and a way to get to be great at what they do, is a country that is not actually as great as it could be. And a country without the capacity to nurture artistic greatness is not being a great country. It is a service to our country, and sometimes it is heroic service to our country, to fight for the United States of America to have the capacity to nurture artistic greatness.”

--MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, speaking at Jacob’s Pillow

Free Month

We’re going to do Free Month of Theater again this October and the whole point of Free Month is to attract NEW patrons to the theatre. So, what do we do? How do we get to the people who don’t go to theatre but who maybe might try it for free? Where are those people who might be most interested in watching baseball or playing volleyball or shooting skeet but who might also like to try something new? What is a good way to reach them through the internet? Naturally, we can’t afford to do an ad on the White Sox website (if they even sell ads), there must be something we can do to get those folks who might crossover and give us a try. If we can come up with an idea, this might be a breakthrough for all of us. Last year over 6000 tickets were distributed during Free Month, 83% of those people said they had never been to the theatre they attended before and 43% said they bought a ticket after attending. Those are fantastic numbers, but we want to go even better than that. We want to make theatre goers out of non theatre goers. Anybody have any ideas? Are there networking websites we don’t know about? We thought of meetup.com, and some of the others, but there’s always a snag, i.e. linked in doesn’t do ads and all of our connections are arts folks. It needs to be far away from what we usually do – not arts groups, but other groups, sports groups, dog lover groups, that kind of thing.

Any ideas? Lemme know.

Deb