Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Industry Ticket Offers

A Perfect Ganesh - Eclipse Theatre Company at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport is offering $15 industry tickets for all remaining Thursday and Friday performances at 7:30pm through August 21st. Mention code INDUSTRY at the Athenaeum Box Office. For tickets and info, visit eclipsetheatre.com or call 773-935-6875.

The Diary of Anne Frank – Writers Theatre – 664 Vernon Ave, Glencoe (easily accessible by Metra or CTA & Pace) is offering $20 industry tickets to performances on 8/1 at 8pm or 8/2 at 2pm or 6pm. Purchase online using promo code POTATO at writerstheatre.org or call our Box Office at 847-242-6000 and mentioning the code. Please bring a headshot, resume, or business card as proof of your involvement in the industry. Tickets subject to availability

Grand Concourse - Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. is offering $30 Tickets to all Tues-Fri and Sun evening performances through August 16 Use code “21627” online at steppenwolf.org or call Audience Services at 312-335-1650. Tickets must be reserved at least one hour before performance. Subject to availability.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Grand Stage Hosts Grand-est Garage Sale Ever

Grand Stage is pleased to announce that after almost 50 years on Lake Street, they are moving into two new locations to better serve their customers. Beginning late this summer, their main operations, including rentals, fabrication, and sewing shops will be located in an expanded warehouse at 3418 N Knox Ave. Chicago, IL 60641. And, a new sales specific storefront specializing in gel, paint, tape, gobo, and makeup will be located at 1319 W Grand Ave. Chicago, IL 60642. Grand Stage will continue to maintain the largest Chicago based selection of in-stock consumable products from such brands as Apollo, Altman, City Theatrical, Chauvet, Elation, Philips Entertainment, and Rosco. But now with two convenient locations.

As part of the relocation process they will be hosting the Grand-est Garage Sale Ever. In an effort to sell it - not move it - Grand Stage will be offering for sale used, demo and overstock equipment in addition to deep discounts on paint, make-up and gel. Items included in the garage sale include: conventional and moving lights, cut fabrics, draperies, ropes and handlines, rigging equipment, parts and fixture accessories.

The Grand-est Garage Sale Ever will take place at their current location, 630 W Lake Street Chicago, IL 60661 beginning on Thursday August 13th at 10:00 AM and running during normal business hours through 1:00 PM on Saturday August 15th. League members are invited for a special first look on Wednesday August 12th from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A portion of all sales at the Grand-est Garage Sale Ever will be donated to PLASA’s Behind the Scene’s Foundation which provides assistance to those in need within the entertainment industry and their families. Additional information, direction and operating hours can be found at www.grandstage.com.

Grand Stage Lighting is a full service theatrical dealer serving clients in the Theatrical, Film, Event, Production, Photography and Studio environments. Founded in 1947, Grand Stage is committed to providing quality advice, products and service along with technical expertise to their customers in the creative industries. If you would like additional information please contact Greg Becker at grbecker@grandstage.com or (312) 332-5611.

Playwright Opportunity - Artemisia's 2016 Fall Festival

Artemisia produces an exciting lineup of feminist plays each and every fall. From open submissions six plays are staged as readings by Chicago's outstanding pool of professional talent. Playwrights get a great opportunity to further develop their work, and have their play considered for full production during an upcoming theatre season. Artemisia's Fall Festival audience chose Jaki McCarrick's Belfast Girls for full production in 2015.

The submission window is now open and will close December 15, 2015, or until 500 submissions are received. To submit your play and for full submission guidelines visit artemisiatheatre.org

A one-time $10 administrative fee is required to submit your play.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Rehearsal Space Available at About Face

About Face Theatre's new facility at 5252 N Broadway features three distinct (and distinctive!) rehearsal rooms available for rent at great low rates. Since moving into our new space, we are proud to have welcomed dozens of small theatre companies to share our space for rehearsals, auditions, classes, planning meetings and more!

All spaces offer individually controlled heat and air and use of our tables and chairs as available. We are also located right above a newly renovated coffee shop and near several other restaurants and grocery stores for snack and dinner breaks.

Call at 773.784.8565 or send an email to Greg Strasser (greg@aboutfacetheatre.org) to learn more!

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Chicago Theater Memorial Bike Ride - Registration deadline extended to 9/12

Chicago Theater Memorial Bike Ride Commemorates 26 Fallen Theater Artists on September 19, 2015
12-Mile Lakeshore Event Benefits The Actor’s Fund

WHAT: The Chicago Theater Memorial Bike Ride: Love Hard will wholly benefit The Actor’s Fund, a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment (www.actorsfund.org), and will celebrate the lives and contributions of Megan Betti, Daryl Blalock, Mark Bolan, Woody Bolar, Molly Campbell, Jason Chin, William Clifford, Eric Eatherly, Molly Glynn, Matthew Gunnels, Joel Lambie, Roy Leonard, Margaret Lewis, Frank Mahon, Erin Myers, Trinity Murdock, Julia Neary, PJ Paparelli, Sheldon Patinkin, Andrew Patner, Nana Shineflug, Russ Tutterow, John Walski, Sati Word, Brenton Wright, and Bernie Yvon.

The ride was initiated and named by actor Joe Foust, husband of actor Molly Glynn, who died as a result of a bicycle accident on September 6, 2014. Since Molly’s passing, the Chicagoland theater community has lost many more artists and writers so colleagues were compelled to take action.

Foust got the idea for the bike ride at Molly’s memorial service, where he said, “We in the theater, we love hard. We love each other fully, and, as we like to say in show business, ‘If you’re not going to need me, can I leave early?’ I don’t know who told Molly she could leave early because I still desperately need her, but we’ll make the show work somehow.”

WHEN: Saturday, September 19, 2015, starts at 10 a.m., will conclude around 2 p.m.

WHERE: The 12-mile bike ride will start at Chicago’s Rainbow Beach Park at 2873 E. 75th Street and Lake Michigan, and will continue up the Lakeshore Bike Path to the southern tip of Burnham Park, where riders will turn around and ride back to the starting point.

REGISTER: http://chicagotheatermemorialbikeride.weebly.com

 DONATE: Registration deadline is September 12; suggested minimum donation is $25.                          Donations are encouraged even if not participating in bike ride

PARTNER: RESCU: Renaissance Entertainers Services Crafters United http://rescufoundation.org The RESCU Foundation offers financial assistance and medical advocacy to performers and participants in Themed Events throughout the country.

CMTE Karin Anglin, Kate Buddeke, Adrianne Cury, James Leaming, Kathy Lunsky,
DIRS: Karin McKie, Heather Meyers, Janice Pytel, Barbara Robertson, Carmen Roman, Sarah Ross, Keta Roth, David Turrentine, Vance Smith, and Shifra Werch.

INFO: Using the CTA with a bike: http://www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/brochures/13sw005_Bike_and_Ride_Brochure_July_29.pdf

Monday, July 13, 2015

Public Memorial for American Theater Co's PJ Paparelli on July 28

American Theater Company (ATC) will hold a public memorial on Tuesday, July 28 for its late Artistic Director PJ Paparelli, who passed away in May from injuries due to a car accident in Scotland.

The memorial will be at the Athenaeum Theatre (2936 N. Southport Avenue), with doors opening at 7 p.m. and a memorial service from 8-9:30 p.m. ATC artists, staff and others who were close to Paparelli will speak about his impact on the theater community, vision and dedication to developing new works in Chicago. There will also be performances from ATC’s Youth Ensemble and cast members from past productions.

Those unable to attend may share their thoughts, photos and/or videos by mailing to American Theater Company at 1909 W. Byron St, Chicago, or emailing to legacy@atcweb.org.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Broken Nose Theatre Announces They Are Becoming a Pay-What-You-Can Theatre

As they head into their fourth season, Broken Nose Theatre (BNT) is establishing itself as one of the city’s first exclusively Pay-What-You-Can (PWYC) storefront theatre companies. Beginning in September, all performances of any BNT MainStage production will fall under their new “We Set the Stage, You Set the Price” initiative, placing the reins in the hands of their audience members.

The company’s first fully-PWYC production will be their third annual Bechdel Fest, a festival featuring new ten-minute plays by local writers that both pass the Bechdel Test (which requires that two women speak to one another at some point about something other than a man) and feature all-female casts. This year’s edition, called “Find Your Voice,” sports a playwright lineup that includes Nambi E. Kelley, Bekah Brunstetter, Sarah Rose Graber, Joe Zarrow, Anne Garcia Romero, Corrbette Pasko and Sara Sevigny, Michael Allen Harris, and Spoerlein. Bechdel Fest 3 is slated to premiere September 20-23 at The Den Theatre. The remainder of the theatre’s 2015-16 season lineup is yet to be announced.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Industry Ticket Offers

Dionysos Cup Festival of New Plays - Polarity Ensemble Theatre is offering comp tickets July 9 - 19 to anyone responsible for selecting or recommending scripts for their company's season. Email boxoffice@petheatre.com with your name, company affiliation and dates requested. Visit http://petheatre.com to view the festival schedule.

A Perfect Ganesh - Eclipse Theatre Company at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport is offering $10 industry tickets for all previews July 16th - 18th at 7:30pm in addition to performances on July 23rd and 24th at 7:30pm. Mention code INDUSTRY at the Athenaeum Box Office. For tickets and info, visit eclipsetheatre.com or call 773-935-6875.

The Who & The What - Victory Gardens Theater is offering $20 Bronze Tix for the final week of performances, now-July 12. Use code LASTCHANCE. Subject to availability. More information at www.victorygardens.org or 773.871.3000.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike - The Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, is offering $15 mezzanine tickets to industry members for the following performances: 7/10 @ 8pm, 7/11 @ 8pm, 7/12 @ 2pm, 7/14 @ 7:30pm, and 7/15 @ 7:30pm Visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Vanya and enter promo code PROFESSIONAL to reserve tickets*. *Not valid on Goodman’s mobile site, on premium or partial view seating, previously purchased tickets or in combination with other offers. Expires 7/15/15.

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Chicago Artists Month 2015 Meet and Greets

October 1 - November 15
The 20th annual Chicago Artists Month (CAM) is a program of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events that showcases the work of Chicago artists through independently-produced events taking place throughout Chicago.

2015 Theme 
The City as Studio CAM 2015 will be in dialogue with the inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial. CAM invites Chicago-based artists, performers, designers, writers, arts and community organizations, and other creatives to look at the City as a place for production, investigation, innovation, and experimentation

CAM 2015 Prioritizes:
 Experimental, innovative projects
 New work
 Increased public access to and participation in high-quality arts, especially underrepresented populations
 Collaboration (between neighborhoods, genres, demographically, or other)

Attend a CAM Meet + Greet Info Session
Monday July 6, Washington Park Art Incubator, 5-7pm, 301 E. Garfield Blvd. RSVP
Wednesday July 8, Sulzer Branch Library, 6- 7:30pm, 4455 N. Lincoln Ave. RSVP

How to Participate
Submit your event(s) on chicagoartistsmonth.org between July 13 – 24, 2015. CAM Event categories include
 Art Walk / Tour / Festival
 Exhibition / Installation
 Learning / Making
 Open Studio
 Performance / Screening
Selections will be announced in early August. All CAM programs will be listed online and in a print guide in Newcity distributed city-wide. Featured programs will receive additional mark

Industry Ticket Offers

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash - Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 North Southport Avenue, Chicago, IL 60613, is offering a limited number of $15 Industry tickets on Saturday, July 4th at 3pm. Discounted tickets are available online with code "INDUSTRY" or by calling 773-325-1700.