Chicago Theatre Intern Networking Event

Monday, February 22, 2016, 6 - 8PM
Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn
The Chicago Theatre Intern Networking Event is the only event of its kind to help interns and apprentices make new professional connections and learn from the experience of artists and administrators who are working in the city.Learn what makes Chicago unique from other theatre communities and how can you thrive here and succeed. Breakout groups include: Artistic/Casting, Development/Special Events, Education/Outreach, Literary Management/Dramaturgy, Marketing/PR, Production Management, Stage Management, Theatre Management and Technical/Design. Refreshments will be provided.
This event is FREE but space is limited! Click here to RSVP. Please pass on to your company's interns.

Arts and Business Council Moving Sale

The Arts & Business Council, Audience Architects, and Chicago Cultural Alliance will be moving to a new office, and will be holding a Two-Day Sale

Friday, February 5, 9:30am - 4:30pm & 
Saturday, February 6, 10:00am - 4:00pm 

70 E Lake St, 12th Floor
 Chicago, IL 60601

Items must go!
Desks
Chairs
Filing cabinets
Storage units
 Party/gala supplies
Office supplies
 Kitchen supplies
Coffee makers
Mid-size refrigerator
and MORE!

Stock your office or kitchen at bargain prices! All forms of payment will be accepted. Items must be picked up by Feb 20.

American Blues Theater 2016 Ripped: the Living Newspaper Festival – Call for Submissions

The 2016 Ripped Festival seeks original, short play & performance submissions ripped from today’s headlines. Plays (including monologues, musical numbers, dance, mime, & variety acts) should run between 5-8 minutes.
DEADLINE: February 5, 2016
SUBMIT TO: ElyseD@AmericanBluesTheater.com
Save the date: May 17, 2016 @ 7:00 pm
Proceeds from the 2016 Ripped Festival benefit our arts education program.
There is no pay; all rights remain with the playwright.

ABOUT THE RIPPED: THE LIVING NEWSPAPER SERIES
Since 2009, we’ve produced 115 short plays. Based on the 1930’s WPA era program that brought Orson Welles, Arthur Miller, Richard Wright, and Clifford Odets into public attention, playwrights use inspiration ripped from today’s headlines to create stories performed live on stage.

Industry Ticket Offers

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

Mutt - Red Tape Theatre & Stage Left Theatre at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. is offering $13 tickets on Thursdays, 1/28 and 2/4 at 8 pm.. Call and use code FIREBALL at 773.975.8150 or buy online at theaterwit.org or stop at the box office to purchase your ticket. For more information go to redtapetheatre.org or stagelefttheatre.com.

Looking Over the President's Shoulder - American Blues Theater at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln, is offering a limited number of $10 industry tickets for preview performances Feb 5 - 10. Discounted tickets are available using promo code ACTOR online at AmericanBluesTheater.com or by calling 773-404-7336.

Mai Dang Lao - Sideshow Theatre at Victory Garden's Richard Christiansen Theatre, 2433 N Lincoln Ave, is offering $5 off tickets ($15-$20 tickets) to any performance between March 12th and April 10th with the code INDUSTRY.

La Voix Humaine/Gianni Schicchi - Chicago Opera Theater at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph, is offering 40% off industry tickets for performances February 6th at 7:30pm and February 14th at 3:00pm. Use code INDUSTRY to receive 40% off either online or by calling our box office at 312.704.8414. Please note that this is not a public offer so we ask that you do not share publicly on social media.

Domesticated - Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted, is offering $35 tickets to the last week of performances: Jan.31-Feb.6.  In honor of Super Bowl 50, 2-for-$50 Tickets to closing performance (that’s $25 per ticket!): Feb.7 3pm.  Use code 23496 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.

The Glass Menagerie - The Hypocrites present at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. is offering $10 industry tickets to any preview performance Feb 3 through Feb 6 when you use code 'industry10'. Buy online at www.the-hypocrites.com.

Cocked - Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. is offering $15 industry tickets to any preview performance Feb 12 through Feb 18 when you use the code INDUSTRY. Buy online at http://www.victorygardens.org.

Theater Seats For Sale

Forty four movie theater seats in good condition (some upholstery damage) recently used in a local theater production of The Flick. They are assembled into eight rows of four, two rows of three and two rows of two but they are relatively easy to disconnect and connect to make different row configurations. Each row is attached to a plywood base for stability and makes them easier to move. They currently have wooden armrests but there are cup holder armrests that come with them as well. They will be available no sooner than February 14th for pick up in Madison, WI. $800 obo. If interested contact Monica Butler at mbutler@forwardtheater.com.

Platforms For Sale from Red Tape Theatre

Red Tape Theatre has 8 4x8 plywood platforms for sale as well as a few additional platforms of misc. sizes. Asking $25 per platform OBO-cash and carry. For more information, contact Josh Johnson, Managing Director at josh.johnson@redtapetheatre.org.

NET National Listening Tour Chicago Visit on 2/2

Tuesday, February 2, 5:30 - 9:30 PM
Steep Theatre, 1115 W. Berwyn

WHAT: Continuing on the NET National Listening Tour, Executive Director Alisha Tonsic, will meet in Chicago with ensemble practitioners and collaborative creators. Each stop on the Listening Tour will provide an opportunity for attendees to co-create the future of ensemble performance through learning about NET’s current programs and services, sharing their own needs and practices, and participating in collaborative vision conversations about how to propel ensemble practice to the forefront of our culture. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet old friends and new colleagues committed to ensemble practice and collaborative creation. This event is co-hosted by NET members Halcyon Theatre, Steep Theatre Company, and Walkabout Theater Company.

WHO: Anyone who is interested in ensemble performance and collaborative creation: current NET members (and not), ensemble theatres, dance collectives, music ensembles, circus or puppet or burlesque troupes, comedy improv groups, cultural or community organizers, educators, students, individual artists and practitioners, faith communities, local legislators, community non-profits and associations, co-ops, the ensemble curious, and more! If you think you should be in the room, please come!

WHY: Because NET has a vision of a world where ensemble practice and collaborative creation are at the forefront of our culture, and we need YOU to make that vision a reality!

BONUS: Get more information about NET's upcoming national symposium event, Intersection: Ensembles+Universities, happening in Chicago May 20-22, 2106 in partnership with Columbia College Chicago and the League of Chicago Theatres!

This Listening Tour is made possible in part by the EmcArts Innovation Lab for Arts Development Agencies.

For more information about NET visit www.ensembletheaters.net.

Click here for the Facebook Event.

Now Accepting Applications for the 2016 Broadway In Chicago Emerging Theater Award

The League of Chicago Theatres is now accepting applications for the 2016 Broadway In Chicago Emerging Theater Award. The recipient of the award receives $5,000, a consultation and marketing support package that includes advertising support. The award was created in 2007 to encourage, support and promote young theatres in Chicago that have demonstrated great ability and promise, artistic excellence and fiscal responsibility in business practices. The deadline for applications is Monday, March 7, 2016 at 5 p.m. For complete information and an application: http://chicagoplays.com/images/2016etaapp.pdf.

Space Rental Availability at the side project

THE SIDE PROJECT, a 40-seat blackbox in Rogers Park, has June/July rental availability. $750/weekend (Th-Sat eves, Sun matinee or eve) includes load-in/tech prior to opening, use of standard sound/light equipment, and lobby walls/windows for display purposes. For information, contact Adam at info@thesideproject.net.

Industry Ticket Offers

Mothers and Sons - Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd. is offering $15 Industry Tickets. Available in person only starting 2 hours before performances 1/22-2/27. Must provide proof of industry. Limit 2 tickets per Industry ID (self + guest). Subject to availability. Excludes Premium seats and opening night 1/29.

The Old Friends – Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark Street, is offering $15 tickets to theatre industry professionals for any Thursday evening performance thru March 26. Additional Industry performances Wednesday 1/27, Thursday 1/28 and Monday 2/1. Offer available by phone or walk-up, must mention the code INDUSTRY to reserve. Proof of industry (headshot, business card, etc.) required upon ticket pickup.

A Loss of Roses – Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark Street, is offering $15 tickets to theatre industry professionals for any Thursday evening performance February 17 thru April 2. Offer available by phone or walk-up, must mention the code INDUSTRY to reserve. Proof of industry (headshot, business card, etc.) required upon ticket pickup.

Far From Heaven - Porchlight Music Theatre at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. is offering $15 tickets on Monday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 pm.. Call and mention PMTINDUSTRY at 773.327.5252 or stop at the box office to purchase your ticket. For more information go to porchlightmusictheatre.org.

Animals Out of Paper - Shattered Globe Theatre at Theater Wit, 1229 W Belmont, is offering $15 Industry Tickets for performances Thursday, January 21st through Sunday, January 24th. As well as ALL THURSDAYS throughout the run (January 28th-February 27th). Use code INDUSTRY at the Theater Wit Box Office: in person, via the phone at (773)975-8150, or online at www.theaterwit.org. More info about the show can be found here: www.shatteredglobeseason.org.

Greenhouse Theater Center to Host “Solo Celebration!”

Seven-Month Performance Series to Include Full-Length One-Person Plays, Special Events, Comedians, Musical Performances and More; Submissions Now Being Accepted

Wendy and William Spatz, owners and operators of the Greenhouse Theater Center (2257 N. Lincoln Avenue), today announced that the venue will produce a major new performance series showcasing the talents of solo performers as the inaugural season of the theater’s new producing division. Running June 2016 – January 2017, “Solo Celebration!” will feature more than 50 weeks of programming comprised of one-person, full-length plays, musical and cabaret performances, comedians and special events on all four of the venue’s stages. Submissions are currently being accepted for consideration to be included in the series at greenhousetheater.org.

The programming for “Solo Celebration!” will include as many as 15 full-length plays, which may run for as many as six weeks, as well as a multitude of limited engagements, running from one to three weeks, and special events with one or two performances. Most productions will be produced by Greenhouse Theater Center or co-produced by the venue in partnership with an established theater company. Four performance spaces are available: two 200-seat theaters and two 60-seat black-box studios. All artists will be paid, and all productions will receive box office and house management support, as well as significant marketing support provided by Carol Fox and Associates.

Artists who wish to submit their work for consideration for inclusion in “Solo Celebration!” can apply by visiting greenhousetheater.org. Specific application requirements can be found on the website. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2016 and applicants will be notified of their status on a rolling basis. Programming will be announced at a future date.

Funding for “Solo Celebration!” is provided by the Wendy and William Spatz Charitable Foundation.

2016 Saints Grant Program

The Saints would like to inform theater, dance, and music organizations of the opening of their 2016 Grant Program. The Saints invite and encourage performing arts organizations to apply for this grant assistance to be used for artistic development or production-related purposes. Budget requests up to $7,500 will be considered for projects covering the performance year from June 1, 2016 through May 31, 2017.

The Grant guidelines, application and FAQ page can now be accessed on the Saints website at www.saintschicago.org in the Grants tab on the left. Online applications will be accepted between January 1, 2016 and February 29, 2016. This year, the Saints will award $125,000 in Grants.

Save the Date for the 23rd Annual Michael Merritt Awards

The 23rd Annual Michael Merritt Awards will be held on Monday May 16th from 5pm-10pm in Loyola University Chicago's Newhart Family Theatre. We hope you'll take a moment to put our annual celebration of design on your calendars now.

Submissions Now Being Accepted for Cunningham Commission for Youth Theatre

The Theatre School at DePaul University is pleased to announce that submissions are now being accepted for the Cunningham Commission for Youth Theatre. Playwrights from the Chicago land area and alumni of The Theatre School are eligible to apply, and the winner will be announced in May. The deadline for submissions is March 14, 2016.

The Cunningham Commission for Youth Theatre was established at The Theatre School to honor the memory of the Rev. Donald Cunningham, a Chicago priest, playwright, and lover of theatre. The Cunningham Commission was established by an endowment gift from the Cunningham family and will be presented annually. The purpose of the commission is to encourage the writing of dramatic works for young audiences that affirm the centrality of religion, broadly defined, and the human quest for meaning, truth, and community. The Theatre School intends to produce the plays created through this commission in its award-winning Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences series. Each year, Chicago Playworks produces three productions that are attended by over 30,000 young people and their families. Candidates should submit a resume, one sample of their playwriting work (no more than 20 pages), and a brief statement about their interest in the commission. The submission should NOT include a proposal for a project the playwright would complete if awarded the commission. The writing sample may be from a play of any genre for any audience. The commission timeline is as follows:

• May 2016: Winner announcement and contract signing.
• September 1, 2016: Script treatment due on proposed project. Feedback will be collected from committee and given to playwright within four weeks.
• December 1, 2016: First draft due (payment upon delivery).
• February 1, 2017: Notes from Theatre School committee delivered to playwright.
• April 1, 2017: Second draft due (payment upon delivery).
• May 2017: Reading/Workshop, followed by discussion of draft.
• September 1, 2017: Third draft due (final payment upon delivery). Play will then be considered for the following year’s Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences series.

The fee for the Cunningham Commission is $6000, with an additional fee provided if the play is produced as part of the Chicago Playworks series. The selection committee is chaired by Ernie Nolan, and is composed of members of the Cunningham Commission advisory committee and faculty of The Theatre School. Please send all entries to: Cunningham Commission Selection Committee, The Theatre School at DePaul University, 2350 N. Racine Avenue, Chicago, 60614. Questions and entries can also be sent to CunninghamCommission@depaul.edu.

The National Jewish Theater Foundation seeks Participants for Holocaust Remembrance Day Play Readings

The National Jewish Theater Foundation- Holocaust Theater International Initiative welcomes and invites your participation in our 2nd annual Holocaust Remembrance Day Play Readings to be held on 5/2/2016. Monday has been chosen since most theaters do not perform that day. It also avoids conflicts with events held by others on Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) that falls this year on 5/ 5/2016.

Last year our inaugural Monday before event honoring the victims and survivors involved more than a dozen theaters, universities, Jewish organizations and embassies throughout the U.S.A. Each selected their choice of a play to read from our NJTF Holocaust Theater Catalog (htc.miami.edu). All followed their reading with a conversation or panel discussion that included their audiences. These simultaneous events took place in San Diego, New York, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Chicago, cities in Florida, affirming the unique power of theater in Holocaust awareness and education. We are delighted to announce that The Old Globe, San Diego and North Coast Rep, Solana Beach California, instrumental in launching program last year, will once again be participating.

We have set the modest goal of doubling last year’s participants. Please go to njtfoundation.org and find Remembrance Readings. You will be able to read more about this program and find a form to register your organizations information. This project is greater than any one institution and invites collaboration among Artists, Educators, Holocaust Memorial Organizations and all people who collectively wish to use theater as an artistic and moral compass that educates and inspires current and future generations.

Thank You,
Arnold Mittelman
President
National Jewish Theater Foundation (NJTF)

Industry Ticket Offers

A Widow of No Importance - Rasaka Theatre at Victory Gardens, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago is offering $15 industry performances for Friday January 15th at 8pm, Saturday January 16th at 8pm, and Thursday January 21st at 8pm. Please provide proof of industry or mention this offer at the Victory Gardens Box Office. For more information, visit rasakatheatre.com or call 773-871-3000.

God Bless Baseball -Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. - if offering an exclusive MCA Stage offer to LOCT members: $15 industry tickets valid for Thursday and Friday performances, January 28-29. To purchase mention code LOCT and call the MCA box office 312.397.4010 or purchase online.  Limited two tickets per purchase and subject to availability.

The Glass Menagerie - The Hypocrites present at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. is offering $10 industry tickets to any preview performance Jan 22 through Jan 30 when you use code 'industry10'. Buy online at www.the-hypocrites.com.

The Explorers Club- Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W Irving Park Rd, is offering $10 dollar industry tickets to previews from January 27-February 3rd, excluding Saturday. To purchase call the box office at 773.891.8985 and please provide proof of industry upon arrival. For more information visit www.windycityplayhouse.com.

Opening Your Own Venue: How to Navigate City Licensing

Presented by Dylan Rice, Director of Creative Industries-Music, Chicago Dept. of Cultural Affairs & Special Events (DCASE)

Rice gives a primer on what City licensing processes are required to open a venue and provides helpful resources and tips that will save you time and money along the way. Referencing the City’s new Venue Licensing Toolkit, this presentation walks you through the application processes for the City of Chicago’s Public Place of Amusement (PPA) license and Performing Arts Venue (PAV) license.

Two presentations:
 • Tuesday, Feb. 2nd, 5:30pm-6:30pm - Chicago Cultural Center, 1st Floor Garland Room, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago

• Wednesday, Feb. 3rd: 12pm-1pm - City Hall, Room 805, 121 N. LaSalle St., Chicago

In collaboration with the Dept. of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection and the Small Business Center

No RSVP or reservation required. Seating is available on a first come, first serve basis.

To download the Venue Licensing Toolkit, visit www.cityofchicago.org/VenueLicensingToolkit.

Nothing Without a Company and The Living Canvas Seek Submissions by Trans Artists for New Devised Work: [Trans]formation.

The Living Canvas in partnership with Nothing Without a Company (NWaC) is developing a new work of theatre created and devised by trans voices titled [Trans]formation. As such, they are reaching out to the trans community for submissions; stories, paintings, poems, allegories, songs, or any work of art that explores the naked truth of being trans. These works may be happy, heartbreaking, funny, tragic, uplifting, or any other kind of story so long as it is honest and explores transformation. Trans stories told by trans voices. Your story, told by you, at the level of participation you feel most comfortable with. Join as a contributor, an advisor, a performer, or any/all of the above.

The Living Canvas is an exploration of the expressive power of the human form. They make works of theatre actualized by nude performers under projections of photographs, paintings, or beautiful light. Their venture is to highlight the beauty in every body and tell stories that encourage body acceptance and love. For this particular project, they are adjusting our performance model to be better inclusive of trans/intersex/genderqueer performers: the definition of “nude” will be adjusted to prevent potential instances of gender dysphoria. http://www.thelivingcanvas.com. Nothing Without a Company is planting theatre around Chicago with all forms of media to empower self and community through immersive and revolutionary acts of art in site-specific and reclaimed environments. http://www.nothingwithoutacompany.org.

Pieces should not exceed three (3) minutes or five (5) pages in length. If you are submitting a video or song, please do not exceed five (5) minutes in length. Attach written works as a Word Document or PDF, visual art and photography as .jpeg, and for videos please include a link to an Unlisted YouTube video link. If you would like to be considered as a performer, please attach your Headshot and Resume and include “PERFORMER” in the title of your e-mail, along with your name.

Please e-mail your submission or questions to thelivingcanvas.nwac@gmail.com no later than March 31st, 2016. Questions may be addressed to NWaC Literary Manager, Kevin Sparrow at this address, though other members of our selection committee may review and respond to your e-mail.

Although they would love to use every submission, they are only given a limited amount of stage time to perform [Trans]formation. The companies plan to use every submission as a part of the larger discussion that this production will inspire: anything that does not end up on our stage will be included in their dramaturgy/lobby display and/or be featured in our program booklet. If your work is selected as a part of the final production, we will notify you and discuss casting preferences for your piece.

Submissions will be reviewed and selected by Kevin Sparrow (NWaC Literary Manager and Company Member), Gaby Labotka (Director/Deviser, The Living Canvas Company Member, and NWaC Company Member), Ronen Kohn (Lead Deviser, The Living Canvas Company Member), and Romeo Green (Dramaturg, NWaC Company Member).

Industry Ticket Offers

Jeeves at Sea by Margaret Raether - First Folio Theatre at Mayslake Hall, Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W 31st St, Oak Brook. is offering $10 tickets for industry professionals on Weds. evenings at 8 PM on Jan. 27, Feb. 3, Feb. 10, Thurs. evening at 8 PM on Jan. 28, Thursday matinees at 3 PM on Feb. 4, Feb. 11.  Tickets are on an "as available" basis and may be purchased no sooner than 48 hours in advance and must be paid for at the time they are ordered. When picking up tickets, buyer must bring a union card, a headshot/resume, tech resume, or business card indicating employment in the theater business. Price is good for the theater professional only, not guests. Tickets may be purchased by calling 630-986-8067.

Treasure Island – Lookingglass Theatre Company, 821 N. Michigan Ave., is offering $20 industry tickets on Thursday, January 14 at 7:30pm and Friday, January 15 at 7:30 pm. Use discount code INDUSTRY when purchasing tickets. Offer available by phone, walk-up or online. Subject to availability, not valid on previously purchased tickets.

The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes - Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 North Southport Avenue, Chicago, IL 60613, is offering a limited number of $15 Industry tickets on Friday, January 29th at 8pm and Friday, February 5th at 8pm. Discounted tickets are available online with code "INDUSTRY" or by calling 773-325-1700.

Sunset Baby - TimeLine Theatre Company, 615 W. Wellington Ave. is offering $15 industry tickets to all previews January 13 - 19. Use code INDUSTRY15 online or call 773.281.8463. For more information visit www.timelinetheatre.com.

Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah – Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway, is offering $25 industry tickets for performances Jan 16-17 . Use code INDUSTRY. Tickets available online at AuditoriumTheatre.org or at the box office at 50 E Congress Pkwy.

Rehearsal and Office Space Availability at Theater Wit

Theater Wit has added additional dedicated rehearsal space at 1224 W Belmont. 22’ x 40’ clear span construction, wood floors, central heat/light, kitchen, bathrooms, property storage. Pricing starting at $25/hour. Bulk rates available. Email rental@theaterwit.org for booking.

Shared Office Space. Theater Wit has shared office space available at 1224 W Belmont. $350/month includes private office, phone, high speed internet. Shared conference room, copier available. Contact rental@theaterwit.org with interest.