Welcome to my first column for ReelChicago. I’m happy to have this space for reporting on comings, goings, and general doings in Chicago’s theater community.
AND SPEAKING OF SPACE, it’s always a hot topic for theater companies. Chris Jones reported on Aug. 25 in the Chicago Tribune that the three-venue Chicago Center for the Performing Arts at Chicago and Halsted is being taken over by City Church Chicago.
That left some companies with fall rentals at CCPA scrambling for new spaces. Bailiwick Chicago moved their production of Violet to the Mercury Theater on Southport, and Urban Theater Company will now open their production of Nilo Cruz’s The Beauty of the Father at the Wicker Park Art Center at St. Paul’s Church on North Avenue.
Meantime, The Building Formerly Known as Theatre Building Chicago has finished its grand renovation project. Stage 773, now run under the auspices of Lukaba Productions, celebrates on Oct. 16 and shows off what is now a four-venue space, including a new black box and a cabaret room, along with revamped lobby and bathroom facilities.
One of the new resident companies is The Artistic Home, which gave up their space in the old Live Bait venue in Wrigleyville and will be opening Eugene O’Neill’s A Touch of the Poet on Belmont on October 2.
The big theater construction news is that Black Ensemble Theater is on track to open their new $19 million arts center at 4450 N. Clark on Nov. 18, with a revival of their biggest hit, The Jackie Wilson Story.
The Athenaeum Theatre celebrates its 100th anniversary Oct. 10 at 7 p.m., with a free party featuring performances from many theater and dance companies. The venerable rental venue is now under the leadership of artistic and program director Joan Mazzonelli, former executive director for Theatre Building Chicago.
CONGRATS to Chicago Shakespeare Theater, which won the 2011 British Consul General Award in recognition of its World’s Stage series and the many artists from over the pond that CST has welcomed over the years.
SPEAKING OF WORLD THEATER: two Chicagoans are among the delegates selected by the Theatre Communications Group/International Theatre Institute-US (TCG/ITI-US) to attend the 33rd World Congress, now running through September 24 in Xiamen, China.
PLAYWRIGHT/ACTOR J. Nicole Brooks of Lookingglass Theatre Company and freelance director Julieanne Ehre, former artistic director for now-defunct Greasy Joan and Co. and a former TCG fellow at the Goodman Theatre join 300 delegates from 70 countries in workshops and dialogue aimed at fostering cross-cultural collaborations.
MORE CROSS-CULTURAL COLLABORATION is on tap Oct. 9, 7 p.m. at Victory Gardens in WBEZ’s Off-Air Series program, “The Art of the Political: Can the Stage Be More Than Entertainment?” The evening includes work by three playwrights of color addressing race and class in America followed by a discussion. Click here for tickets – $15.
PERSONNEL NEWS: Strawdog Theatre Company names Patrick Rybarczyk, formerly of Urban Gateways, as the new managing director. He replaces Hank Boland, who is now pursuing an MFA in playwriting and teaching. Boland continues as an ensemble member.
And Jon Arndt takes the reins as managing director for Evanston’s Next Theatre, after working on the business end with Chicago Children’s Theatre and Circle Theatre.
IT’S ALWAYS THE RIGHT SEASON to support Season of Concern. If you’d like to participate orsponsor someone on the SOC team for the October 1 AIDS Walk, sign up here.
FINALLY, CONDOLENCES to the family and friends of costume designer Vicky Strei, who lost her battle with ALS on Sept. 17 at age 42. She had been an artistic associate with Oak Brook’s First Folio Theatre and also a staff member of Dominican University.
Dominican hosts an “Alumni Comedy Show” to help raise funds for the medical bills Strei’s family must still pay. It’s on Friday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. Admission is free but donations are requested. More information is available at 708/488-5000.
Stay well, and send tips and tirades to kerryreid@comcast.net.
