We're Moving!

We are currently redesigning our industry website https://leagueofchicagotheatres.org/ to better serve the Chicago theatre community. As part of the new website redesign we are integrating our blog content within the website and will no longer be using this blogspot address. The new blog can be found at: https://leagueofchicagotheatres.org/blog/.

Participate in the 2019 5th Annual Remembrance Readings

Remembrance Play Readings is an annual event utilizing the power of theatrical readings of Holocaust plays you or your organization select from the National Jewish Theater Foundation - Holocaust Theater International Initiative Catalog (http://htc.miami.edu). We would appreciate your participation to coincide with either International Holocaust Memorial Day (1/27), Yom HaShoah-Holocaust Remembrance Day (5/1 & 5/2) or Kristallnacht-Night of Broken Glass (10/9 & 10/10).

Register here (https://www.njtfoundation.org/participate-readings) for the National Jewish Theater Foundation - Holocaust Theater International Initiative (NJTF HTII) Readings and share this invitation with your constituents to ensure that we increase our outreach and keep the memory of the Holocaust and its lessons alive forever.

Launched in 2015 to honor Yom HaShoah, Remembrance Readings has expanded to include the use of theater presentations to recognize all major Holocaust Remembrance Days.

 For more information about Remembrance Readings contact Justine Shayman Outreach Director: Justine@njtfoundation.org.

Industry Ticket Offers

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder - Porchlight Music Theatre, located at 1016 N. Dearborn St., is offering select $20 industry tickets for A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder on Monday, January 28th at 7:30PM. Use code INDUSTRY when purchasing tickets in-person at the box office or over the phone at 773-777-9884. When picking up tickets, please present proof of industry. Limit of 1 per person, not valid on previously purchased tickets.

Space Availability at Victory Gardens Theater

Space available at Victory Gardens Theater in the Richard Christiansen Theater (RCT) for 6 weeks in August/September 2019 and potentially either April / May 2020 or May/June 2020. The RCT rental package includes a fully ADA Compliant House – 109 seats, 20 are flexible; Stage – 37’2″W x 20’0″D x 13’3″H; 14″ deck height; small light package including standard light inventory, light board, cabling; small sound package including microphones, amps, speakers and playback devices; 2 dressing rooms (each seats four); 2 private restrooms; and a house manager. Please email rentals@victorygardens.org to discuss rates and availability.

Space Availability at the Royal George Theatre Center

The Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted, has 2019 slots available for the 50 seat Gallery Theatre, prime time 3 – 6 week rentals. Great price and location, right across the street from Steppenwolf. Ticketing, house staff and bartender included. Also some availability in 190 seat Cabaret for one night events, stand-up comedy, workshops, corporate meetings and more. For further information or viewing appointment, contact Joe at 312-988-9105.

Industry Ticket Offers

All Childish Things - First Folio Theatre at Mayslake Hall, Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W 31st St, Oak Brook, are offering $15 industry tickets Weds. evenings at 8 PM and Thursday matinees at 3 PM through February 24. Tickets are on an "as available" basis and may be purchased online at www.firstfolio.org with the code INDACT. 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 professionals and up to one guest each. Tickets may also be purchased by calling 630-986-8067.

Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah — Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E Ida B Wells Dr, is offering select $25 industry tickets for Too Hot to Handel Saturday, January 19 @ 7:30PM and Sunday, January 20 @ 3PM. Use promo code INDUSTRY online at AuditoriumTheatre.org or by call 312.341.2300. Limit 2 tickets; subject to availability. Not valid on previously purchased tickets.

Trinity Irish Dance Company Young Professional’s Party — $45 tickets are available to young professionals for Trinity Irish Dance Company on Saturday, February 2 @ 7:30PM. The price includes a seat to the performance + post-show party, which includes two drink tickets and light bites at Kitty O’Shea’s. Click here to purchase! (use promo YOUNGPRO if not automatically applied).

Merritt Awards seeking recommendations for 2019 Awards

Dear Theatre Professional:

Who are the award worthy-designers and technicians you have been collaborating with recently?

Click here to make a recommendation today! http://merrittawards.com/recommendations/

We need your help to recognize the work of the most talented designers and technical collaborators in our industry! We are now accepting recommendations for the 26th Anniversary Michael Merritt Awards.

The Michael Merritt Awards recognize and celebrate excellence in design and collaboration in an annual design exhibition and ceremony on May 13, 2018 at Columbia College Chicago’s newly renovated Getz Theatre Center.

Award categories include:
- THE MICHAEL MERRITT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AND COLLABORATION
- THE MICHAEL MAGGIO EMERGING DESIGNER AWARD
- THE ROBERT CHRISTEN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TECHNICAL COLLABORATION
- THE EMERGING TECHNICAL COLLABORATOR AWARD

Recommendations take just a moment to complete online.
Click here to make a recommendation today! http://merrittawards.com/recommendations/

Don't delay, recommendations are accepted through Tuesday January 15th!

Thank you for helping support excellence in theatrical design and collaboration.

Sincerely,
The Merritt Awards Steering Committee

The Saints Announce 2019 Grants Program

The Saints invite and encourage theater, dance, and music organizations to apply for grant assistance to be used for artistic development or production-related purposes. Saints Grant applicants can request funding for but are not limited to: costumes, the commissioning or licensing of works, improvements to applicant-owned premises, community engagement and enrichment projects, or computer and technical items such as sound or lighting needs.

 Budget requests up to $5,000 will be considered for projects covering the performance year from June 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020. Requesting organizations must be 501(c)(3) and have been established for a minimum of two years.

 The live Saints Grant application will be available February 1 at saintschicago.org. Applications will be accepted through March 18, 2019.

 The Grants Guideline & FAQs and Preview Application are now available for your review.

 Direct inquiries to the Saints Grants Commission. Grants@saintschicago.org.

Industry Ticket Offers

It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! - American Blues Theater at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. is offering $15 industry tickets with the code LIGHT on Monday, December 31 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets call 773.654.3103 or visit www.americanbluestheater.com.

Evil Dead the Musical- Black Button Eyes Productions at The Broadway at Pride Arts Center, 4139 N Broadway Ave, Chicago, IL, is offering a VERY LIMITED number of $15 Industry tickets (General Admission, non-Splatter Zone) to the following performances: previews on Friday, January 11 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, January 12 at 7:30 pm, Sunday, January 13 at 2 pm, and Thursday, January 17 at 7:30 pm. Discounted tickets are available online with code “DEADITE” until the allocated tickets are gone; please bring proof of industry affiliation to the box office when picking up tickets. https://evildeadchicago.brownpapertickets.com.

That's Weird, Grandma: Star-Studded Stories - Barrel of Monkeys, performing at The Neo-Futurists Theatre (5153 N Ashland), has $12 industry tickets available for all regular performances. Sundays at 3 p.m., January 27-February 17. Purchase tickets at www.barrelofmonkeys.org/shows using the code INDUSTRY.

URTA hosts Women + Theatre Forum in Chicago

URTA will host the Women+ Theatre Forum, bringing together women+ theatre artists for discussion and advice. The event will galvanize the community by offering support and encouragement in a safe environment, surrounded by peers and veteran artists.

URTA’s President, Holly Poe Durbin with UC, Irvine colleague Jane Page, will host the Forum on January 26th from 8pm-9pm at the Palmer House in Chicago, during the URTA Auditions & Interviews (“The URTAs”). While URTA regularly offers continuing education programs for candidates at the URTA Audition & Interviews, this Forum will be inclusive and not restricted to attendees of the URTAs.

“We hope many theatre artists will join us in celebrating 50 years of URTA professional development, and add their voices to the community at the Women+ Theatre Forum,” said Christy Hamilton, URTA’s Managing Director.

Free admission + appetizers being generously sponsored by the Palmer House. Wine and beer available for purchase.

For more information about the URTAs email theurtas@urta.com.

The University Resident Theatre Association was founded in 1969 with the mission of supporting excellence in professional training of theatre artists, ensuring the continued renewal of the American theatre. Whether it’s maintaining the highest quality standards for our member universities, helping to match potential students with the MFA program best suited to their needs, facilitating engagement of professional artists at universities, or expanding our offering of continuing education programming to students, faculty and professional artists, URTA is setting the stage for emerging theatre artists, superior theatre training, and professional advancement.

A Celebration of the Life of Robert Scogin

Industry Ticket Offers

The Lightning Thief- Broadway In Chicago at the Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph. is offering a buy one ticket, get one free offer for Tuesday, Wednesday matinee and Wednesday evening performances. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online with offer code INDUSTRY. For tickets or more information visit BroadwayInChicago.com.

SnowGirls- The Musical - Hell in a Handbag Productions is of offering $16 industry rate tickets for with code word 'industry handbag' online or at the door through December 30. https://snowgirl.bpt.me/

Cardboard Piano - TimeLine Theatre Company, 615 W. Wellington Ave. is offering $15 industry tickets every night during previews! See the show early and get $15 tickets with code INDUSTRY15 Wednesday, January 9 - Wednesday, January 16, 2019. Buy online or call the Box Office at 773.281.8463 x6 Offer not valid on previously purchased tickets or in combination with any other offer. Tickets subject to availability.

Space Availability at Rivendell Theatre

Intimate fifty-seat theatre comes with full lighting package and sound equipment, beautiful exposed brick lobby, dressing rooms, air conditioning and heat, WiFi, and wheelchair accessibility. Close to Red line stop at Bryn Mawr and Clark street bus with free parking available at Senn High School.
Location: 5779 North Ridge Avenue in Edgewater
Availability: Beginning May 6 through June 29, 2019
Rent: $1200 per week for mainstage rentals / $250 per day
Contact: Info@Rivendelltheatre.org or call 773-334-7728
For more information, visit Rivendell Theatre on ChicagoPlays.com or visit our website at Rivendelltheatre.org

Industry Ticket Offers

Into the Woods – Music Theater Works (formerly Light Opera Works) at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson in Evanston, is offering half-price industry tickets on December 22, 28 and 31 at 8pm, and December 29 at 2pm. For tickets call 847-920-5360 or visit www.MusicTheaterWorks.com and use coupon code "wolf." Tickets must be purchased in advance. No door sales.

La Ruta - Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1650 N. Halsted, is offering $15 industry tickets to previews December 13-16 and $25 tickets to shows December 21 - January 4. Excludes Zone A seating. Use code LARUTAINDUSTRY online at steppenwolf.org or call Audience Services at 312-355-1650. Tickets must be reserved at least one hour before performance. Subject to availability.

Fiddler on the Roof- Broadway In Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, is offering a buy one ticket, get one free offer for December 18-20, December 23 (evening) and December 26 (matinee + evening) performances. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online with offer code INDUSTRY. For tickets or more information visit BroadwayInChicago.com.

Free reading/workshop space available at The Boxcar at Steep Theatre

The Boxcar will be a home for new plays this winter. We’re opening up the space at no cost to the theatre community on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights for play readings and workshops. Slots are available between December 13 and January 5. For more information, visit steeptheatre.com/boxcar or contact Kate Piatt-Eckert at kate@steeptheatre.com.

The Scogin Method: Speaking the Speech from Shakespeare to Shaw

ShawChicago Theater Company Hosted by Chicago's Goodman Theatre presents The Scogin Method: Speaking the Speech from Shakespeare to Shaw
(Four three-hour working sessions)

The Scogin Method
Through decades as a classical actor in New York, Chicago, around the country; as a Chicago director and for twenty-five years as the Artistic Director of ShawChicago Theater Company; and believing George Bernard Shaw to be the greatest and most important playwright of the English language since Shakespeare; Robert Scogin developed a proven technique (inspired by the Shakespeare First Folio Method) for exploring, dissecting, and performing the plays of Shaw, his modern contemporaries, and other classic playwrights.

Workshop Overview
Students will be introduced to The Scogin Method. With this technique, they will explore and focus on breath support, impeccable diction, intuitive phrasing, and learn to speak Shaw’s texts with unrivaled clarity, depth, and flair. A grasp of the Scogin Method will help to set actors up for successes beyond Shaw and the classics, as this new set of tools will equip them to instinctively analyze dramatic texts and know how to “hear the tune” and “play the notes.”
Instructor: Matt Gall
Fee: $250
Dates: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 10AM–1PM
Sunday, January 13, 2019, 10AM–1PM
Saturday, January 19, 2019, 10AM–1PM
Sunday, January 20, 2019, 10AM–1PM
Location: The Goodman Theatre
170 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60601
Workshop Limit: 15

Register Now! Space is Limited. Please call 312-587-7390

Industry Ticket Offers

Christmas Mubarak - Silk Road Rising at the historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington, is offering $15 industry tickets on December 3, 4, 10, 11 at 7:30p.m. and December 7 at 8 p.m. Industry ticket offers are $15 each and can be purchased online.

A Shayna Maidel - TimeLine Theatre Company, 615 W. Wellington Ave. is offering 50% OFF tickets with Industry Nights for every performance this week through December 9 and on Wednesdays at 7:30pm and Saturday at 8pm with code INDUSTRY50. For tickets or more information visit www.timelinetheatre.com.

Redtwist Mainstage Slot Available

• mainstage slot in late spring, 2019…contact Michael Colucci: michael@redtwist.org
• opening Sat, May 18
 • closing Sun, June 16
 • 18 performances total (Thu, Fri, Sat 7:30pm; Sun 3pm)
• You keep 100% of your box office proceeds
• Your own ticketing system is needed: website for online reservations & a Square for walk-ins

• Rental rates:
o $200 per week for rehearsal weeks (if rehearsal space is needed)
 o $300 for tech week (includes 2 days of tech, 2 dress rehearsals, 3 preview, & 2 opening weekend performances)
o $500 per week for 4 full performance weeks

Industry Ticket Offers

A Shayna Maidel - TimeLine Theatre Company, 615 W. Wellington Ave. is offering 50% OFF tickets with Industry Nights on Wednesdays at 7:30pm and Saturday at 8pm with code INDUSTRY50. For tickets or more information visit www.timelinetheatre.com.

Master Class - TimeLine Theatre Company at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.,is offering 50% OFF tickets with Industry Nights on Friday at 8pm and Saturday at 4pm with code INDUSTRY50. For tickets or more information visit www.timelinetheatre.com.

The Inextinguishable Symphony – The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is offering $10 industry tickets to the December 6-11 performances of Nielsen’s The Inextinguishable Symphony & Strauss’ Four Last Songs. Use promo code SHARE at cso.org or call Patron Services at 312-294-3000.

The Nutcracker – The Joffrey Ballet, 50 East Congress, is offering 30% off industry tickets to December 7, 14, 21 and 28 7pm performances. Use code INDY30 to buy online. Restrictions apply.

Pippin - Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 North Southport Avenue, is offering $20 tickets on Wednesday, December 5th and Wednesday, December 12th at 7:30pm. Members of the theater community are invited to join us for $20 and may reserve tickets in person at the Mercury box office with their resume/headshot. Tickets are subject to availability, discount may not be applied to any previously purchased tickets.

Bayless Family Foundation Grant Announcement

The Bayless Family Foundation will soon be accepting applications for its new "Stepping Stone" grants, which aims to bolster the bottom lines of promising Chicago theater companies.

The grant application can be found here.

Formed in 2017, the Bayless Family Foundation supports established Chicago theater organizations with a vision for institutional and artistic growth. It launched with an initial round of grants totaling $170,000 awarded to 17 theater companies in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune coverage)

The inaugural Stepping Stone grant will award selected Chicago theater companies with up to $150,000 over three years. Foundation executive director Kevin Sullivan says the intent of the grant "is to build the capacity of the awarded organization."

The foundation is accepting grant proposals beginning Nov. 26. The deadline to apply is Dec. 28. It should be noted that these grants are highly competitive, and we expect more qualified applicants than can be supported.

As noted in the applications, here's what we want to know: If you were to receive our grant, how would you use the award money in your yearly budget to remove a barrier and sustain the vitality of the organization?

Answers should be limited to 1000 words — that will help focus your answer and allow us to review all applications in a timely manner. With your submitted application, we will ask a few short questions and ask you to submit a few supporting documents, and those contacted in January will be asked for more information before the award is allocated.

Interested in applying for a Stepping Stone grant? Here's who's eligible:
• Theater companies registered as 501(c)3 organization that present theatre in the Chicago area.
• Theater companies that have produced a season of work for a minimum of five consecutive years.
• Theater companies with an annual budget of at least $250,000.

For those unable to submit online, please contact Executive Director Kevin Sullivan for more information by calling (312) 661-1434 x 125 or emailing BaylessFamilyFoundation(at)gmail(dot)com