Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Stage 773 Open House

Stage 773 staff has taken their hard hats off and ear plugs out. Construction has finished and Stage 773 is reopened with a full slate of shows (every night night the week!) in our newly renovated theaters!

We are very excited and want to invite you, our theater friends and family, to see what we've been up to the last three months! Please join us in celebrating the new Stage 773.

Tuesday, September 20, 5 -8 P.M.
Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont
Light refreshments served
Please rsvp to Jack Short jack@stage773.com by September 17th to reserve a spot at our open house.

Submission Opportunity: Raven Theatre 2012 New Play Workshop

Raven Theatre is now accepting submissions for its New Play Workshop that explore the Chicago immigration experience. The selected play will receive a fully-rehearsed three-performance presentation in June 2012. Below are submission guidelines. For more information about Raven Theatre, go to its website -- www.raventheatre.com.

1. Plays must address the Chicago immigration experience - current or historical - in a significant way.
2. Playwrights must be available to attend rehearsals at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL.
3. Unproduced plays only; however previous readings and developmental workshops are acceptable.
4. Include a 10-page sample only, plus a synopsis and character breakdown. We will contact you if we would like to see the full script.
5. Please email your submissions and contact information to susan@raventheatre.com by October 1, 2011.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Industry Ticket Offers

Mourning Becomes Electra directed by new Artistic Director Timothy Douglas. - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln, is offering $15 industry ticketsavailable every Friday at 7:30 p.m. from September 23 through October 21. Use code INDUSTRY. Choose your seats 24 hours a day at http://www.remybumppo.org/ or call 773-404-7336.

Moby-Dick - The Building Stage, 412 N. Carpenter, is offering $12 industry tickets for all Friday, Saturday, and Sunday performances 9/15 (Thursday Preview) through 10/23. Use code 'DRUMTASTIC'! Tickets at 312-491-1369 and buildingstage.com.

Hero with music and lyrics by Michael Mahler, book by Aaron Thielen - American Music Theatre Project at Northwestern University in the Hal and Martha Hyer Wallis Theater, 1949 Campus Drive, Evanston, is presenting a free workshop presentation Friday, September 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, September 18 at 7:30 p.m. Parking is free. To rsvp to either date, email h-schmucker@northwestern.edu.

Brand - Red Tape Theatre, 621 W. Belmont is offering $10 industry tickets to preview performances 9/29-10/1 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online using code: AGNES. Enter code and click, "Show Discount Prices." Tickets also available at the door. Visit http://www.redtapetheatre.org/ for more info. Contact myah.shein@redtapetheatre.org for questions.

Violet - Bailiwick Chicago at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Ave. is offering a limited number of $10 industry tickets for previews, Sept. 17th at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Sept. 18th at 3:00 p.m. To reserve, use the code "FOBC" by phone at 773-325-1700. The code may also be used at the door if industry tickets are still available.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Industry Ticket Offer

Hallelujah Broadway – Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Pkwy, Chicago, is offering 50% off tickets for Saturday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets at ticketmaster.com/auditorium. Use code LEAGUE. Available on price levels 2 & 3 only. Restrictions apply. Visit www.auditoriumtheatre.org for more information.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

DCA Theater Accepting Proposals for Fall 2012 Production Slots

DCA Theater is pleased to announce that they are now accepting proposal submissions for our Fall 2012 production slots in the Storefront Theater AND for our INCUBATOR series in the Studio Theater. All Chicago-based, itinerant theater companies are encouraged to apply. Selected Storefront companies receive FREE performance space in downtown Chicago, full box office, online ticketing, house management services, and more. Selected INCUBATOR companies receive FREE space to develop an original script or new work and share their process with the public during a single-night showcase.

The deadline for proposal submissions is Saturday, October 15, 2011.

ALL proposal submissions are 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.

Uh-Oh

My 15 year old niece was on the TODAY show last week talking about “teens and technology,” and I spent some time with her and her 17 year old sister last week. On the TODAY show they mainly talked about cyber-bullying and text messages. I forgot the name of it but apparently there is a social networking site that makes cyber bullying easy. Why anyone would choose to go to such a place is a complete mystery to me but that really brings me to my point. These teenagers are kind of a mystery to me, as I think teenagers always are to a generation older than them. These two are smart, sophisticated kids, if I do say so – they live in New York and go to NYC public schools. The 15 year old said on the TODAY show that she sometimes has 300 messages waiting for her – she later admitted that that was not actually the truth, she was exaggerating for effect.

But here’s the real point…the 17 year old (she’s a senior in high school) told me that the kids on Facebook are changing their Facebook names so that college admissions offices can’t find their profiles, she also said “what adults don’t realize is that everything on Facebook is a joke,” she does not use Twitter – ever. OK – now here’s the real point, ready? She graduates from college in five years and she will be joining us here in our world and right now we don’t have any idea whatsoever about how we will talk to her about theatre or sell her a theatre ticket, but I can tell you we won’t be doing it on Facebook or Twitter. It’s worth thinking about, right? I actually believe that there is going to be a shift back to smaller scale, more personal interactions. Maybe it’s more a hope than a belief but I think in our work we can try to make that change happen. I only have a couple hundred friends on Facebook, what can I say, I’m old and I don’t try very hard, but still I get loads of invitations to loads of stuff and I pay attention to exactly none of it. I always thought it was because I’m old, but turns out the 17 year olds are with me.

I’m not saying we should abandon our social networking efforts just when we are getting the hang of it but I’m saying we should branch out and try to figure out in what ways the audiences of the future will want to engage with what we do. I’m never in favor of abandoning anything that works, reaching all kinds of people requires all kinds of effort, but I think we are always behind the eight ball, catching up instead of looking ahead.

Deb

On the Move

Auditorium Theatre is pleased to announce two new team members this month: Heather Heslup, Education Project Manager and Joelle Weber, Marketing Associate. Heather holds a B.A. from Howard University and M.A. from Columbia College Chicago and comes to the theatre after stints at Chicago's Grant Park Music Festival, Public Broadcast Service and Columbia College's Center for Community Arts Partnerships. Joelle Weber, a member of an up-and-coming storefront company, The Island Theatre Company, joins the Auditorium from Victory Gardens Theater, after her time at Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

Red Tape Theatre would like to announce the addition of two new staff members. John Rooney joins the company as Associate Artistic Director. John was the A/I Company Intern at Actors Theatre of Louisville. In Chicago, he has worked at such companies as About Face Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, American Theatre Company, and Collaboraction. He is also a proud company member of Dog and Pony Theatre. Molly Mullen joins the company as our Literary Manager. Molly served as the casting intern at Steppenwolf Theater Company. She has also interned at Jean Doumanian Productions, The Goodman, Victory Gardens and Redmoon, in the literary and artistic departments.

Polarity Ensemble Theatre announces the additions of John Olsen as their new Marketing Manager and Aoife Carolan as their new box office manager.

Jim Davis, production manager at Next Theatre Company since 2006, has recently joined the staff at the Theatre and Interpretation Center at Northwestern University. Jim started his position as Lab Theatre Coordinator this week. Next is currently conducting a search for his replacement.

Caffeine Theatre announced that founding company member Jason Beck has been named Producing Artistic Director, after having served as Managing Director for the last two seasons. Beck replaces Jennifer Shook, who left Caffeine last fall to pursue a PhD at the University of Iowa; and who remains in a consulting role as Founding Artistic Director for the company.

Industry Ticket Offer

Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris - Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted, is offering $10 industry tickets for performances Thursday, September 8th through Sunday, September 11th in the Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre. To redeem $10 tickets call Audience Services directly at 312.335.1650 and use code “9005.” Tickets must be reserved at least one hour before performance. Subject to availability.

Snapshots, music & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz - Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd. is offering $10 tickets for theatre industry professionals to all performances September 16-25 (excluding Opening Night 9/23). Offer available by phone or walk-up, must mention the code INDUSTRY to reserve. Proof of industry (headshot, business card, etc.) requested upon ticket pickup. Box Office: 847.673.6300

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Industry Ticket Offers

North America Now - Bailiwick Chicago at Instituto Cervantes, 31 W. Ohio St. is offering $10 industry tickets on Wednesday, September 7 at 7 p.m. to an evening of art, performance and conversation to explore the border relations between Canada, the United States and Mexico on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Includes cocktail hour. Only available at the door; cash only. Just mention the industry rate. For more information, visit http://www.bailiwickchicago.com/.

Farragut North by Beau Willimon - Stage Left Theatre at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont, is offering $12 industry tickets on Thursday, September 15, 22 and 29 at 8 p.m. Use code word "Morris". Call 773-975-8150 or purchase online here: https://www.theaterwit.org/tickets/productions/69/performances#top

Bonhoeffer's Cost - Provision Theater Company, 1001 West Roosevelt Road, is offering $10 industry tickets for any performance September 17-October 30. Present a headshot and resume when picking up tickets. Includes free parking. Visit http://www.provisiontheater.org/ for more information.

Chicago Dramatists' Fall 2011 Classes start Saturday October 1st

As the national leader in playwright training, Chicago Dramatists offers a variety of professional playwriting classes designed for both beginning and experienced playwrights. Classes are focused on building practical skills and stage worthy scripts, and are conducted in a supportive, positive manner. Most classes include a mix of lecture, discussion, writing assignments, and reading and critiquing participants’ work. Beginning playwrights enroll in classes to learn the basics and write their first plays. Working playwrights enroll in classes to review basic skills, attack a specific problem, and explore new or specialized techniques.

Have questions about a particular class or which would be best for you? Read the full class descriptions on our website at www.chicagodramatists.org/classes or call 312-633-0630.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

League and SDC Coffee Clatch

Please join us for a Coffee Clatch hosted by the League and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society on Monday, September 19 at the League office, 228 S. Wabash, Suite 200.
 
As Theatre Managers, you work every day to bring quality theatre to your communities.  How do you find the right Director or Choreographer for a project?  What do you look for, and where do you look?  Do you hire from within the deep pool of talent offered by Chicago’s theatre community, or do you look for what an outside perspective might offer?  Do you look to build long-term artistic relationships, or do you like to mix things up?  And does a Director or Choreographer’s affiliation with a union factor in to your decision?  It shouldn’t – any Theatre Manager should be able to hire the right person for the project, regardless of Union membership.
 
Please come to the League offices for a little coffee and conversation on the above topics with your colleagues and with Renee Lasher, SDC Business Representative. If you’d like to take to opportunity to learn about how you can hire an SDC member – no tricks, no traps, no (or at least few) complications – Renee will answer any and all questions.  There will be two sessions; one at 2:30pm and one at 5:30pm. Please RSVP to nancy@chicagoplays.com and indicate which time slot you’d like  to attend.

Space Availability at The Second Stage

Profiles Theatre has performance space available to rent beginning in early February at The Second Stage (former Stage Left Theatre space) at 3408 N. Sheffield. The fifty seat theatre is a very affordable space for young, emerging or established itinerant companies in a great location. If you would like to find out more information about rentals for your future productions, they are booking immediately for prime time, late and off night productions, classes and rehearsals. Please call 773-549-1815 or email profilestheatre@gmail.com.