Chris Jones News

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis will produce the Indiana premiere of Theresa Rebeck's mystery drama Mauritius in its Frank & Katrina Basile Theatre March 5 through April 4, 2009. Rebeck has had numerous productions of plays such as Spike Heels, Bad Dates, and The Family of Mann Off-Broadway, but Mauritius was her first play to be produced on Broadway (by Manhattan Theatre Club, in 2007.) Rebeck has worked as a television writer and producer as well, giving her ample experience in plot twists that must be resolved in a short span of time. Rebeck was looking casually on the Internet one day ('Sometimes I avoid work by just typing things in and seeing what comes up') and discovered photos of rare stamps from a 19th century wealthy man's collection. They were to be auctioned off, and among them were two rare stamps from the tiny island of Mauritius. Rebeck delved deeper into philately - stamp collecting - and loved the idea of the frailty and great value of tiny pieces of paper. Out of her research came a play that explores how flaws, in stamps and in people, can lead to complex human dynamics.

The Screwtape Letters, the entertaining and provocative theatrical adaptation of the best selling novel by C.S. Lewis about spiritual warfare from a demon's point of view, has extended its run at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, through February 15th. The play also enjoyed sold-out runs Off-Broadway in New York and in Washington, D.C.

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, the acclaimed drama presented by Fellowship for the Performing Arts at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, will celebrate Valentine's Day on Saturday, February 14 after the 8 p.m. performance with complimentary cake and champagne for all audience members. Set in an office in hell, THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS will heat up this Valentine's Day by offering a complimentary box of Red Hots? candy to each audience member attending the performance. Tickets are $48.50 and may be purchased by calling the Mercury Theater Box Office at 773.325.1700. THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, which recently made its Chicago premiere, runs through March 1. Adapted for the stage by Jeffrey Fiske and Max McLean, THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, which runs 90 minutes without intermission, is set in an office in hell. The engaging play follows a senior devil, Screwtape, and his secretary, Toadpipe, as they train an apprentice demon, Wormwood, on how to 'undermine faith and prevent the formation of virtues' in a young man who has just converted to Christianity. As Screwtape ridicules Wormwood and devilishly dictates his letters to Toadpipe, the fantastical creature transforms into laughingly recognizable figures with whimsical movement and wordless wit. Critics have raved that the show is 'Very smart...richly rewarding...exuberant theatricality!,' (Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune), 'Phenomenal! Sizzling entertainment...wonderfully clever. Sensational!,' (Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times), 'A first rate production...Terribly entertaining... Screwtape boils over with wit' (Jayne Blanchard, The Washington Times), a 'Hell of a good time...imaginative theatricality...wonderful performances' (Frank Scheck, New York Post), 'Sly, funny, handsomely produced' (Celia Wren, Washington Post) and 'A thought-provoking, engaging, entertaining, intelligent, bitingly satirical and funny exploration of profound issues of right and wrong,' (Daniel Kelley, NYTheatre.com.)

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, the acclaimed drama presented by Fellowship for the Performing Arts at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, will feature Free Dinner Thursdays and Talk-Back Fridays through February 12. THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, which recently made its Chicago premiere, runs through February 15.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Tuesday, February 10, 2009.

The Manhattan Theatre Club's (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) and Goodman Theatre's (Robert Falls, Artistic Director; Roche Schulfer, Executive Director) acclaimed co-production of RUINED, written by Lynn Nottage and directed by Kate Whoriskey begins previews tonight at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street). The limited engagement will open Tuesday, February 10. RUINED features Quincy Tyler Bernstine (The Misanthrope at NYTW), Cherise Boothe (King Hedley II at Signature), Chris Chalk (MTC's Defiance), Saidah Arrika Ekulona (Well, Nottage's Fabulation) William Jackson Harper (Queens Boulevard), Chik? Johnson (The Crucible at Steppenwolf), Russell Gebert Jones (Our Lady of 121st Street), Simon Shabantu Kashama (Ruined at the Goodman), two-time Emmy? Award winner Kevin Mambo ('The Guiding Light'), Tom Mardirosian (Wonderful Town, HBO's 'Oz'), Ron McBee (The Colored Museum) and Condola Rashad (Pearl at The Kennedy Center). RUINED played an extended engagement at the Goodman's Owen Theatre where it opened to rave reviews for Nottage's play, the ensemble cast, and director Kate Whoriskey.

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, the acclaimed drama presented by Fellowship for the Performing Arts at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, will celebrate Valentine's Day on Saturday, February 14 after the 8 p.m. performance with complimentary cake and champagne for all audience members. Set in an office in hell, THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS will heat up this Valentine's Day by offering a complimentary box of Red Hots? candy to each audience member attending the performance. Tickets are $48.50 and may be purchased by calling the Mercury Theater Box Office at 773.325.1700. THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, which recently made its Chicago premiere, runs through March 1. Adapted for the stage by Jeffrey Fiske and Max McLean, THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, which runs 90 minutes without intermission, is set in an office in hell. The engaging play follows a senior devil, Screwtape, and his secretary, Toadpipe, as they train an apprentice demon, Wormwood, on how to 'undermine faith and prevent the formation of virtues' in a young man who has just converted to Christianity. As Screwtape ridicules Wormwood and devilishly dictates his letters to Toadpipe, the fantastical creature transforms into laughingly recognizable figures with whimsical movement and wordless wit. Critics have raved that the show is 'Very smart...richly rewarding...exuberant theatricality!,' (Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune), 'Phenomenal! Sizzling entertainment...wonderfully clever. Sensational!,' (Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times), 'A first rate production...Terribly entertaining... Screwtape boils over with wit' (Jayne Blanchard, The Washington Times), a 'Hell of a good time...imaginative theatricality...wonderful performances' (Frank Scheck, New York Post), 'Sly, funny, handsomely produced' (Celia Wren, Washington Post) and 'A thought-provoking, engaging, entertaining, intelligent, bitingly satirical and funny exploration of profound issues of right and wrong,' (Daniel Kelley, NYTheatre.com.)

The latest Cirque du Soleil touring show, KOOZA, proudly presented by iShares, will premiere under the Grand Chapiteau in New York at Randall's Island Park on Thursday, April 16, 2009 for a limited engagement. KOOZA is the 10th big top show from Cirque du Soleil to perform in New York since 1988. KOOZA, which premiered in Montreal, Cirque du Soleil's home base, in April of 2007, has been touring North America since, having played engagements in such cities as San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto and Philadelphia to rave reviews and sold-out big tops. Robert Hurwitt in The San Francisco Chronicle called KOOZA 'breath-taking and heart-stopping,' adding. 'KOOZA is Cirque du Soleil at the top of its form.' Chris Jones in The Chicago Tribune raved 'KOOZA exemplifies the best of the Cirque du Soleil tradition. KOOZA shows how Cirque knows how to always do something totally fresh and different without compromising its color or its quality. It's a flawlessly executed, hard-edged, hard-driving, ambitiously contemporary affair.

The latest Cirque du Soleil touring show, KOOZA, proudly presented by iShares, will premiere under the Grand Chapiteau in New York at Randall's Island Park on Thursday, April 16, 2009 for a limited engagement. KOOZA is the 10th big top show from Cirque du Soleil to perform in New York since 1988. KOOZA, which premiered in Montreal, Cirque du Soleil's home base, in April of 2007, has been touring North America since, having played engagements in such cities as San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto and Philadelphia to rave reviews and sold-out big tops. Robert Hurwitt in The San Francisco Chronicle called KOOZA 'breath-taking and heart-stopping,' adding. 'KOOZA is Cirque du Soleil at the top of its form.' Chris Jones in The Chicago Tribune raved 'KOOZA exemplifies the best of the Cirque du Soleil tradition. KOOZA shows how Cirque knows how to always do something totally fresh and different without compromising its color or its quality. It's a flawlessly executed, hard-edged, hard-driving, ambitiously contemporary affair.

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, the acclaimed drama presented by Fellowship for the Performing Arts at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, will feature Free Dinner Thursdays and Talk-Back Fridays through February 12. THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, which recently made its Chicago premiere, runs through February 15.

The Screwtape Letters, the entertaining and provocative theatrical adaptation of the best selling novel by C.S. Lewis about spiritual warfare from a demon's point of view, has extended its run at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, through February 15th. The play also enjoyed sold-out runs Off-Broadway in New York and in Washington, D.C.

Due to overwhelming ticket demand and critical acclaim, Goodman Theatre extends its world premiere of Ruined by Lynn Nottage through Sunday, December 14; tickets are $10 - $43. Added performances include: Wednesday, December 10 at 7:30pm; Thursday, December 11 at 7:30pm; Friday, December 12 at 8pm; Saturday, December 13 at 8pm; Sunday, December 14 at 7:30pm. Directed by Kate Whoriskey, Ruined is the captivating story of Mama Nadi, the owner of a canteen who serves up everything from a cold beer and a warm meal-to the company of a woman.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that David Cromer's hit Chicago production of Thornton Wilder's 'Our Town' looks headed for Off-Broadway in a few weeks.

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, the hit drama based on C.S. Lewis' classic novel, now playing at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, will host a birthday celebration in honor of C.S. Lewis' 110th birthday on Thursday, December 4.

Due to overwhelming ticket demand and critical acclaim, Goodman Theatre extends its world premiere of Ruined by Lynn Nottage through Sunday, December 14; tickets are $10 - $43. Added performances include: Wednesday, December 10 at 7:30pm; Thursday, December 11 at 7:30pm; Friday, December 12 at 8pm; Saturday, December 13 at 8pm; Sunday, December 14 at 7:30pm. Directed by Kate Whoriskey, Ruined is the captivating story of Mama Nadi, the owner of a canteen who serves up everything from a cold beer and a warm meal-to the company of a woman.

Here it is - the year end 'holiday roundup' of books, which, by the way, make for a perfect gift...and an affordable one, that will last much longer than flowers, cookies or fruitcake (that no one wants anyway).

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, the hit drama presented by Fellowship for the Performing Arts at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, will feature special Wednesday night talk-backs with Max McLean (co-creator and star) and Jeffrey Fiske (co-creator and director) from November 5 through December 10 (there is no show on November 26.) The production, which had sold-out runs in New York and Washington, D.C., recently made its Chicago premiere and runs through January 4. During the talk-backs, McLean and Fiske will foster audience discussions about the show?s provocative themes and answer questions about how they adapted C.S. Lewis? classic novel into a hit stage production. The talk-backs schedule may be subject to change.

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, the hit drama presented by Fellowship for the Performing Arts at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, will feature special Wednesday night talk-backs with Max McLean (co-creator and star) and Jeffrey Fiske (co-creator and director) from November 5 through December 10 (there is no show on November 26.) The production, which had sold-out runs in New York and Washington, D.C., recently made its Chicago premiere and runs through January 4. During the talk-backs, McLean and Fiske will foster audience discussions about the show?s provocative themes and answer questions about how they adapted C.S. Lewis? classic novel into a hit stage production. The talk-backs schedule may be subject to change.

The charming musical classic Meet Me in St. Louis has been brought back by popular demand to Drury Lane in perfect time for the holidays.

Ever dream of being Elvis for the day? From November 1 through December 6, The Marriott Theatre invites all Chicagoans to show their love for the King of Rock 'n Roll by wearing their Blue Suede Shoes, sequins and leisure suits to the hit musical ALL SHOOK UP.