2017 Michael Merritt Awards And Design Exposition

The 24th Annual Merritt Awards for Excellence in Design and Collaboration will take place on Monday, May 15th, 2017 at Loyola University Chicago. 5:00pm-10:00pm

Legendary Broadway and Film Costume Designer Ann Roth (The Nance, The Book of Mormon, The English Patient, Midnight Cowboy) will receive the 2017 Merritt Award. Set Designer Courtney O'Neil, Charge Scenic Artist CoCo Ree Lemery, and Production Stage Manager Narda E. Alcorn will receive major awards in addition to student and exhibition prizes.

The Michael Merritt Awards and Endowment Fund honors the memory of a brilliant designer and inspirational teacher. This national award, unique in its emphasis on excellence in both design and collaboration, has been presented annually since 1994 to outstanding professional theatrical designers. The Endowment Fund recognizes and encourages the work of young professionals and students through a national design exposition and prizes to promising theatrical design students.

The Merritt Awards thanks the theatre community for its ongoing support and Loyola University Department of Fine and Performing Arts for hosting. We hope the theatre professionals, students and the public will join us for this exciting celebration of our collaborative art form.

Tickets
Student - $ 5.00
General Admission - $ 20.00
Book tickets online at merrittawards.com
General Public is welcome.
Food, wine and beer are included in the ticket price. Funds go to support the awards endowment fund.

Schedule:
THEATRE DESIGN EXPOSITION
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Showcasing the works of Chicago-area emerging theatrical designers and graduating design students from Chicago's best theatrical design programs and attended by many of Chicago's artistic directors, production managers, and industry professionals.

DIALOGUE WITH THE DESIGNERS
7:00-8:00 p.m.
A panel discussion featuring the award recipients exploring current issues of interest to theatre professionals and students.

AWARDS PRESENTATION AND CELEBRATION
8:15-8:45 p.m.
Presentation of prizes for best student and professional exhibits, four academic prizes, The Emerging Technical Collaborator Award, The Michael Maggio Emerging Designer Award, The Robert Christen Award for Excellence in Technical Collaboration, and The Michael Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration.

Food, wine, beer and fellowship until 10:00 p.m.

Industry Ticket Offers

The Firebirds Take the Field - Rivendell Theatre, 5779 North Ridge Ave. is offering a limited number of $20 Industry Tickets at all 8PM performances Thursday April 27 through Saturday May 6th. Must provide proof of industry when picking up tickets. Limit 2 tickets per Industry ID (self + guest). Subject to availability. Call 773.334.7728 or vist Rivendelltheatre.org & use box-office code: INDUSTRY.

Force Continuum - Eclipse Theatre at Athenaeum, 2936 N. Southport is offering $15 industry tickets for all performances through May 21st. Performances are Thurs, Fri, Sat at 7:30pm; Sun at 2pm. Use Code INDUSTRY at the Box Office. For tickets and info, call 773-935-6875 or visit eclipsetheatre.com.

Rehearsal Space Availability with The Hypocrites

The Hypocrites have rehearsal space availability starting now through the summer. Discounted rates of $10 per hour are available for your rehearsal, workshop, or classes. Please e-mail pat@the-hypocrites.com for more information.

Underscore Theatre Company Accepting Submissions for the 4th annual Chicago Musical Theatre Festival

Underscore Theatre Company is currently accepting submissions for its 4th annual CHICAGO MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL, set for February 2018 (venue to be announced). Applications can be submitted through May 15, 2017 at www.cmtf.org.

CMFT 4 will include a number of new development opportunities for participants, including feedback from a panel of local playwrights, composers and judges, as well as networking events with theatre professionals from across the country. The Festival will also coincide with Chicago’s popular Chicago Theatre Week, allowing more audiences to enjoy the line-up of new works.

Since its inception in 2014, the CHICAGO MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL has brought 35 new musical to Chicago stages. The festival provides much-needed artistic resources for emerging composer/lyricist teams to have their work supported, explored and most importantly – performed!

Greenhouse Theater Center Accepting Submissions for The Trellis Residency Initiative

Greenhouse Theater Center is pleased to announce THE TRELLIS RESIDENCY INITIATIVE, a new professional development program for young Chicago-area playwrights, devisors and creators to cultivate and present new works. Six candidates under 30 will be chosen through an open submission process to participate in a comprehensive one-month residency, culminating in a public showing at the Greenhouse. Artists will be paired with professional mentors, including some of Chicago’s most celebrated mid-career directors, playwrights and dramaturgs. They will also receive access to writing and rehearsal space, production resources, and staffing for their final presentation.

THE TRELLIS RESIDENCY INITIATIVE submissions for the 2017-18 season are currently being accepted through Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at greenhousetheatre.org/trellis. Residencies and performances will begin in September 2017.

Space Availability at Theater Wit

Theater Wit has special discount primetime rates available for June-August 2017 as low as $1400. Contact jeremy@theaterwit.org for details.

Theater Wit is taking applications for 2017/18 season slots. Limited Fall, spring slots still available. Visit https://www.theaterwit.org/space for details

Industry Ticket Offers

That's Weird, Grandma: I Still Know What You Did Last Spring - Barrel of Monkeys at The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N Ashland Ave. is offering $6 tickets for performances (Mondays at 8pm, April 24 - May 22) with code INDUSTRY. More show information and tickets at barrelofmonkeys.org.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead - Saint Sebastian Players at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey (enter on Marshfield) is offering $7 industry tickets with headshot and resume on Friday and Saturday, April 28 and 29 at 8 p.m., For information visit saintsebastianplayers.org.

Impact/React: Inclusion Strategies in Chicago Theatres

Monday, May 1, 6:45 - 9PM
Merle Reskin Rehearsal Space, 1624 N. Halsted
IMPACT/REACT is a symposium in which leaders from various Chicago theatres and theatre service organizations will engage in conversations about inclusion strategies through a series of speakers, group discussions, and tabling organizations.

Participating collectives include The Yard, ALTA (The Alliance of Latinx Theater Artists), League of Chicago Theaters, YEPP (Youth Empowerment Performance Project) and more!

This event is free and open to the public. There will be a networking mixer with food and drinks during the final hour.

Presented by the 2016-17 Steppenwolf Multicultural Fellows: Gabe Alaniz, Fatima Sowe, Lucas Garcia, and Ligia Sandoval.

Click here to RSVP on the Facebook event.

Available Rental Space at The Factory Theater

Theater Space:
The stage is a ¾ thrust with a house of 72 seats. The space’s amenities also include: a well-furnished dressing room, two back stage bathrooms, sizable booth, excellent AC/Heat, rentable parking lot, Bauhaus-decorated lobby, and its steps off of the Red Line. We’ve hosted full productions, burlesque performances, summer camps, late nights, and parties. There are still a few free dates in 2017 open for rent, and we are also looking ahead to 2018.

Rehearsal Space:
The Substation is an adjoining store front space that is minimally furnished to comfortably accommodate rehearsals, workshops, classes, parties, meetings, or any other purpose for an open space. This space is newly available for Bookings, and we are excited to see how we can evolve it to better accommodate our renters and their events. Rentals are available immediately.

For more details you can look us up on Chicago Space Finder at http://chicagospaces.fracturedatlas.org/spaces/13545?from_search=1
If you are interested in either space, please contact the Booking Manager at rentals@thefactorytheater.com.

Industry Ticket Offers

Circle Mirror Transformation - Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, is offering offering prepaid guaranteed industry tickets for $15 on Sun Apr 16, Thu Apr 20, Fri Apr 21, Sat Apr 22, Sun Apr 23 with the online code industryCMT. You can order online at www.redtwist.org.

Pinocchio - Chicago Children's Theatre at The Station, 100 S. Racine. Use Promo Code INDUSTRY and SAVE 50% on tickets to the following performances: Friday, April 21 at 7PM and Saturday, April 22 at 6PM. Buy tickets online.

Marry Me a Little - Porchlight Music Theatre at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. is offering a limited number of $15 tickets on Monday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Stage 773. Call and mention PMTINDUSTRY at 773.327.5252 or stop at the box office to purchase your ticket. Proof of theatre industry affiliation required at box office when claiming tickets. For more information go to porchlightmusictheatre.org.

Picnic - American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron Ave. is offering $20 industry tickets to Friday at 8pm and Saturday at 2pm PICNIC performances with code PINK. Tickets can be purchased here!

Global Visionaries – The Joffrey Ballet, 50 East Congress, is offering 50% off industry tickets to April 28, May 4 and 5 performances. Use code IND50 to buy online.

Beyond Caring – Lookingglass theatre Company, 821 N. Michigan Ave., is offering $20 Industry tickets for the following performances: Thursday, April 13 at 2PM, Sunday, April 16 at 7:30PM, Saturday, April 22 at 2PM, Sunday, April 23 at 7:30PM, Thursday, April 27 at 2PM, and Sunday, April 30 at 7:30PM. Use code INDUSTRY online at lookingglasstheatre.org or call the box office at 313.337.0665.

Guest Company Slots Available at Redtwist Theatre

Redtwist Guest Company slots are now available for the 17-18 season. Early bird rates are available before June 1. Contact michael@redtwist.org.
GC DATES FOR 17-18 SEASON
• GC slot #1--Wed, Sep 20 to Sun, Oct 29
• GC slot #2--Wed, Nov 29 to Sun, Jan 14
• GC slot #3--Wed, Feb 14 to Sun, Mar 25
• GC slot #4--Wed, Apr 25 to Sun, Jun 03
• GC slot #5--Wed, Jul 11 to Sun, Aug 19

Space Availability at The Athenaeum Theatre

The Athenaeum Theatre has prime studio performance space available.
Our largest studio theatre – Studio 3 on the third floor is available 5/22 – 7/2 ( for 6 weeks) - Seats 87
Studio One on the lobby level just outside the Curtain Call Club bar is available 7/3 – 8/13 – (for 6 Weeks) – Seats 60
The Athenaeum Theatre is Chicago’s oldest continuously operating off-loop, theatre. We provided competitively priced performance spaces with full box-office support.
Contact Allan Chambers, General Manager – 773-935-6860 ext 301
Allan@Athenaeumtheatre.org to discuss rates.

Business Takes the Stage: Lessons from the Theater Community

Mon, Apr 24 / 6-8pm
Polsky Exchange, Theater, 1452 E 53rd Street
Free; Registration encouraged
As part of the Arts & Innovation Series presented by the Logan Center and the Polsky Exchange, representatives from local non-profit and for-profit Chicago theaters will share their thoughts on their business models. They will discuss arts as a model for collaboration; how to create a space where difficult conversations are had; and the ability to create community and co-create with audiences both inside and outside of the theater. Panelists will include David Schmitz of Steppenwolf Theatre, Kelly Leonard from Second City, and Les Coney, Mesirow Financial and Life Trustee of Goodman Theatre. Frank Sennett, Director of Digital Strategy and Custom Media at Crain's Chicago Business, will serve as moderator.

Industry Ticket Offers

The? Unicorn? Hour? - The Neo-Futurists at The Neo-Futurarium,5153 N. Ashland are offering Half-Price industry tickets April 4/13, 4/14 and 4/16 with pay-what-you-can previews 4/6, 4/7 & 4/8. For tickets call #773-878-4557 or visit www.neofuturists.org and use the code "Industry". Tickets must be purchased in advance. No door sales.

Force Continuum - Eclipse Theatre Company at The Athenaeum (2936 N. Southport Ave. Chicago) is offering $10 industry tickets for all previews on April 13th, 14th and 15th at 7:30pm in addition to Thursday April 20th and Friday the 21st at 7:30pm. Mention Code INDUSTRY at the Box Office. For tickets and info, call 773-935-6875 or visit eclipsetheatre.com.

FREE Contemporary Lacquer Look Display Unit

FREE Contemporary Lacquer look display Unit (would be great in a lobby for head shots or poster of season or upcoming promotional material) Black with red and silver accents Comes in two pieces 8 feet tall, 6’2” wide, 15” deep with added lip (10” wide 40” long and 35” tall) Additional plexiglass insert for display materials Needs two people to move with van or truck Contact Jerry at jwilframe@sbcglobal.net. River North area