Karen Kessler News

The League of Chicago Theatres announces the Theatre Today event line-up for the 2017-2018 Chicago theatre season, featuring one World Premiere per month. The Theatre Today events include works created and performed by a diverse range of playwrights and artists at theatres located in nine Chicago neighborhoods.

The League of Chicago Theatres announces the Theatre Thursday event line-up for the 2017-2018 Chicago theatre season, featuring one World Premiere per month. The Theatre Thursday events include works created and performed by a diverse range of playwrights and artists at theatres located in nine Chicago neighborhoods.

A Red Orchid Theatre announces the appointment of Ensemble Member Shade Murray as the company's Associate Artistic Director. Murray's appointment marks the first Associate Artistic Directorship in the company's history. A Red Orchid also welcomes new Development Director Amanda Runge and Audience Services Manager David Marden.

A Red Orchid Theatre announces its 25th Anniversary Season.

A Red Orchid Theatre hosts a benefit reading of Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches by Tony Kushner. Conceived as a response from Chicago theatre artists to the current political climate, the event's proceeds will benefit A Red Orchid Theatre and the Chicago chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago's only Equity theatre dedicated to producing new work with women at the core, announces the world premiere of Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, adapted for the stage by Jennifer Blackmer, and directed by RTE Co-Founder Karen Kessler.

???????A Red Orchid Theatre concludes its 2016-2017 Season with the Chicago premiere of 3C, written by David Adjmi and directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray. The production runs April 20 - June 4, 2017, at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. The press opening is Monday, April 24 at 7:00 p.m.

Join A Red Orchid Theatre for an Oscar Viewing Party at Rockit Bar and Grill in honor of A Red Orchid Theatre Co-Founder Michael Shannon's Academy Award nomination. This year's Academy Awards take place on Sunday, February 26, 2017. Tickets to the Oscar Viewing Party are $20 and include entry, light bites and a drink ticket. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

A Red Orchid Theatre continues 2016- 2017 Season with the Chicago premiere of The Nether, written by Jennifer Haley,directed by Ensemble Member Karen Kessler. The Nether features Ensemble Members Guy Van Swearingen and Doug Vickers with Maya Hlava, Ashley Neal and Steve Schine. The production runs January 26 - March 12, 2017, at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Press Opening is January 30, 2017 at 7 p.m. 

A Red Orchid Theatre continues 2016- 2017 Season with the Chicago premiere of The Nether, written by Jennifer Haley, directed by Ensemble Member Karen Kessler.

A Red Orchid Theatre continues 2016- 2017 Season with the Chicago premiere of The Nether, written by Jennifer Haley, directed by Ensemble Member Karen Kessler.

A Red Orchid Incubator, a series dedicated to getting to know new and/or up-and-coming theatre artists in Chicago, hosts the Facility Theatre presentation of THE SILENCE THAT FOLLOWS by Elliot Baker infused with original music by beyond this point.

A Red Orchid Incubator, a series dedicated to getting to know new and/or up-and-coming theatre artists in Chicago, hosts the Facility Theatre presentation of THE SILENCE THAT FOLLOWS by Elliot Baker infused with original music by beyond this point.

It's summer 1955. In the middle of a square state ... ln the middle of a square decade ... ln a square little town ... Natalie pumps gas at her father's filling station and dreams of riding off on her motorbike to find the man who will change her life. Who is not Dennis, her best friend and secret admirer. Unable to tell Natalie his true feelings, Dennis heads to Sylvia's Honky-Tonk, where the townsfolk, black and white, gather to lament the grayness of their lives. Suddenly, the sound of a motorcycle cuts through the air, as Chad, a mysterious (Elvis like) stranger, appears on the horizon. When Chad stops in town to get his bike fixed, Natalie is immediately smitten. Sizing up the dreariness of the town, Chad electrifies and transforms a broken-down jukebox with a wave of his bare hands, infecting everyone with the rebellious spirit of rock and roll music. Horrified by the wild celebration, prim and proper Mayor Matilda Hyde arrives on the scene to restore order. Everybody in town is in the grip of something powerful and new. All Shook Up is a musical comedy built around the songs made famous by Elvis Presley. Among the 24 songs featured in the score are classics like 'Heartbreak Hotel,' 'Love Me Tender,' 'Don't Be Cruel,' 'Can't Help Falling in Love,' and of course the title tune. 

It's summer 1955. In the middle of a square state ... ln the middle of a square decade ... ln a square little town ... Natalie pumps gas at her father's filling station and dreams of riding off on her motorbike to find the man who will change her life. Who is not Dennis, her best friend and secret admirer. Unable to tell Natalie his true feelings, Dennis heads to Sylvia's Honky-Tonk, where the townsfolk, black and white, gather to lament the grayness of their lives. Suddenly, the sound of a motorcycle cuts through the air, as Chad, a mysterious (Elvis like) stranger, appears on the horizon. When Chad stops in town to get his bike fixed, Natalie is immediately smitten. Sizing up the dreariness of the town, Chad electrifies and transforms a broken-down jukebox with a wave of his bare hands, infecting everyone with the rebellious spirit of rock and roll music. Horrified by the wild celebration, prim and proper Mayor Matilda Hyde arrives on the scene to restore order. Everybody in town is in the grip of something powerful and new. All Shook Up is a musical comedy built around the songs made famous by Elvis Presley. Among the 24 songs featured in the score are classics like 'Heartbreak Hotel,' 'Love Me Tender,' 'Don't Be Cruel,' 'Can't Help Falling in Love,' and of course the title tune. 

Jennifer Blackmer's adaptation of MARGARET ATWOOD'S novel ALIAS GRACE will begin February 26th at Strother Theatre at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. 

?A Red Orchid Theatre announces its 2015-2016 Season, including the World Premieres of Pilgrims Progress by Ensemble Member Bret Neveu (The Opponent), and Sender by Ike Holter, both directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray (Mud Blue Sky, Accidentally like a Martyr) and The Mutilated by Tennessee Williams, directed by Ensemble Member Dado (Simpatico).

First Floor Theater (FFT) is thrilled to announce its third annual literary festival, KAFKAPALOOZA, a festival of nine world premiere plays, by some of Chicago's most exciting playwrights, inspired by the life and work of Franz Kafka. Over the past two years, the FFT LitFest has brought together some of Chicago's greatest writers, including Seth Bockley, Philip Dawkins, Bonnie Metzgar, Ike Holter, Morgan McNaught, andPaul Oakley Stovall, to respond to literary greats The Brothers Grimm and Mark Twain.

First Floor Theater (FFT) is thrilled to announce its third annual literary festival, KAFKAPALOOZA, a festival of nine world premiere plays, by some of Chicago's most exciting playwrights, inspired by the life and work of Franz Kafka. Over the past two years, the FFT LitFest has brought together some of Chicago's greatest writers, including Seth Bockley, Philip Dawkins, Bonnie Metzgar, Ike Holter, Morgan McNaught, and Paul Oakley Stovall, to respond to literary greats The Brothers Grimm and Mark Twain.

?A Red Orchid Theatre announces its 2015-2016 Season, including the World Premieres of Pilgrims Progress by Ensemble Member Bret Neveu (The Opponent), and Sender by Ike Holter, both directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray (Mud Blue Sky, Accidentally like a Martyr) and The Mutilated by Tennessee Williams, directed by Ensemble Member Dado (Simpatico).