Category: Personnel Changes
Think Fast: Michael McKean, Jonas Brothers, CSO and ‘Peter Pan the Musical’
|
|
|
|
|
Polly Carl – Steppenwolf’s first DAD (Director of Artistic Development)
Polly Carl, Producing Artistic Director of the Playwrights’ Center of Minneapolis, will join the Steppenwolf staff in the newly-created position of Director of Artistic Development:
“We are delighted to have Polly Carl join the artistic team at Steppenwolf Theatre,” comments Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey. “In her newly-created position, Polly will be overseeing our new play development efforts and spearheading our work on the artistic initiatives facilitated through our grants from the Duke and Mellon Foundations. These initiatives, dedicated to cultivating a new generation of artists and audiences and creating transparency in the process of new play development, will continue our engagement with audiences in the public square of Steppenwolf . We are honored to be able to welcome a leader of Polly’s acumen and experience to Steppenwolf and look forward to the contribution she will make to Steppenwolf and to Chicago ,” adds Lavey.
Polly K. Carl Ph.D. is one of the nation’s foremost experts in the field of new play development. She has served for eleven years at the Playwrights’ Center – the last seven as Artistic Director. Under her leadership, the Center has grown from a local playwrights’ service organization to a national hub for playwrights, theater artists and theater companies that write, develop and produce new work. Carl has sat on numerous boards, panels and committees including the Steinberg Advisory Committee to select their distinguished playwright award-the Mimi, the NEA Theater panel, the MAP Fund panel, and the board of Ten Thousand Things Theatre. Her Ph.D. in Comparative Studies in Discourse and Society with an emphasis on performance theory is from the University of Minnesota .
Best of luck to Ms. Carl!
Lifeline welcomes Allison Cain as new Managing Director
Allison Cain Joins Lifeline Theatre as Managing Director
Lifeline Theatre welcomed Allison Cain as their new Managing Director starting March 24, 2009. In this fulltime, on-site position, Cain will be responsible for all the theatre’s non-artistic functions, including operations, finance, marketing and strategic planning, and hsave oversight of all development and fundraising. Together with Artistic Director Dorothy Milne, Cain will continue to work on the ensemble’s 26th anniversary, 2008-2009 season, which will feature the “Mystery3” (or “Mystery Cubed”) benefit with Sara Paretsky on April 16 at the Chicago Cultural Center, and concludes with the world premiere adaptation of Dorothy L. Sayers’ “Busman’s Honeymoon,” running May 1–June 21, 2009. Lifeline Theatre is also a member of the community partnership that will present this summer’s Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest (August 22–23, GlenwoodAve.org). The non-profit’s 2009–2010 season begins with two world premiere stage adaptations – the MainStage production “Treasure Island” (running September 11–November 1, 2009) , and the KidSeries musical “Dooby Dooby Moo” (running October 17–December 6, 2009).
From 2001-2008, Cain was Factory Theater’s Executive Director (where she remains an ensemble member), and was Artistic Director of Studio 108 from 1991–1998. She received her training at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, and at Chicago’s Columbia College, and, since 1990, has worked almost exclusively on new work in Los Angeles, Connecticut, and Scotland, in addition to Chicago. Lifeline audiences will recognize Cain from her work as an actor in the MainStage productions of “Johnny Tremain,” “Crossing California,” “The Mark of Zorro,” and “Mariette in Ecstasy,” as well as in numerous productions over the past 17 years with Factory and other Chicagoland theaters. Cain had been concurrently working in the corporate world for the past 25 years, and for 13 of them as a Human Resources professional. She said, “I am thrilled to make the full-time transition to the not-for-profit theater world, and remain committed to the development and production of new works.”
Theater tidbits: Lifeline Theatre, About Face, Mordine
| »» | Lifeline Theatre is welcoming two new members into their creative team – Robert Kauzlaric as marketing director and Lea Pinsky as the new Director of Education. I’m sure they’ll add a lively creative energy to this remarkable theater company. (currently playing at Lifeline: Mariette in Ecstasy) |
| »» | TimeOutChicago is holding a contest for Stupid Kids over at About Face Theater. The theater company has gathered submissions of high school triumphs and tribulations, and now they want you to vote on your favorite “Stupid Kids” moment! Lucky winners will get to present or perform their submissions for Stupid Kids audiences during the final week at Center on Halsted. Click here to vote. See TimeOutChicago’s rave review of Stupid Kids here. |
| »» | The Dance Center of Columbia College presents Mordine & Company Dance Theater this Thursday-Saturday (Feb 26-28, 8pm). In honor of its 40th Anniversary (!), Mordine & Company will perform a program that symbolically acknowledges its history while also looking to its future. As a special offer, receive a 20% discount on your tickets by entering the promotion code “Mordine 20” when ordering tickets here. |
Theater tidbits: Village Players and Beverly Theatre Guild
| »» | Staff change – Liz Johnson has replaced Marketing Manager Christopher Pazdernik at Village Players. “I have very much enjoyed my 14 months working at Village Players — it is a time I cherish highly and will always remember fondly”, says Pazderik, who added “I am very excited to turn this position over to Liz…. “ |
| »» | Opening this Friday (Friday, Feb. 6th), the Beverly Theatre Guild presents “The Full Monty”, by Terrance McNally (book) and David Yazbek (music/lyrics). Directed by Glenn Hering, Full Monty runs through February 8th, performed at Morgan Park Academy’s Baer Theatre. Call 773-BIG-TIXS for info. Click here for tickets. |
Chicago Theater tidbits: Batsheva Dance Company, Village Players, "Don’t Dress for Dinner"
|
l |
A post-performance chat with Batsheva Dance Company Artistic Director Ohad Naharin will be held immediately following the Feb. 7 (opening night) performance at the Auditorium Theatre. Dance critic Lucia Mauro will moderate. Returning to Chicago for the first time in 15 years, Batsheva Dance Company of Israel will present Naharin’s signature work “Deca Dance”. The renowned company will perform for 2 evenings only, Feb 7th and 8th. Tickets: thru Ticketmaster or calling 312.902.1500. (See pics above) |
|
l |
Don’t worry, although I have my YouTube series “Sunday Night Sondheim”, I won’t add “Monday Morning Pope“. |
|
l |
The world-premier musical “Far From Freud”, presented by Oak Park’s Village Players, has added one final performance – Friday, January 30th at 8pm. “Far From Freud” is written by Phil Riegle and directed by Christopher Pazdernik. [Listen to one of the show's songs "How It's Gonna Be" by clicking here.] |
|
l |
On this day in history (January 27th): In 1885 stage and screen composer Jerome Kern was born in New York. And it just so happens that another composer was also born on the 27th: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born in Salzburg in 1756. |
|
l |
Darren Pettie will join the cast of British Stage Company’s screwball comedy “Don’t Dress for Dinner“, by Marc Camoletti and directed by John Tilling. Other members of the ensemble include Mark Harelik (Light In The Piazza) and Patricia Kalember of “thirtysomething” and “Sisters“. Running through February at The Royal George, more info can be found at the show’s website. |
Video Clip from ‘Don’t Dress for Dinner’
After 30 fruitful years, Arlene Credson stepping down from Pegasus Players
After a very fruitful 30-year run as artistic director (and founder) of Pegasus Players, Arlene Crewdson is stepping down (but will never be far away, I’m assuming!). From PerformInk’s interview;
“We’re 30 years old, we don’t have a deficit, there’s money in the bank, and most important of all, I’m going to be a grandma.”
Best of luck Granny!!
New Artistic Director for Barrel of Monkeys
New Artistic Director for BOM
Barrel of Monkeys announces their new, permanent Artistic Director will be long- time company member Luke Hatton, as of the beginning of the eleventh anniversary, 2008-2009 season on September 1st. He started with the ensemble in fall 2000, right after graduating with a BS in Theatre from Northwestern University, and began performing and teaching for many of BOM’s in-school residencies. Hatton then served as a member of the Teacher Corps, a select group of lead teachers within the company, and as a Program Officer. In 2003, he began directing in-school and public performances for BOM, and in 2007, he served as Artistic Associate for the company. Hatton has also worked extensively as a performer in Chicago with Steppenwolf Theatre, The Neo-Futurists, The Hypocrites, The Gift, Lifeline, and with Geva Theatre Center in New York. He has directed acclaimed theatrical productions with Steep Theatre and Phalanx Theaters. As an arts educator, Luke has developed and taught curriculum with After School Matters and Adventure Stage Chicago.
Interim Artistic Director Laura Grey will leave the position to continue to perform with Second City etc’s “Campaign Supernova” (and will also continue to perform in the BOM ensemble), and founding Artistic Director Halena Kays will begin a University of Texas, Austin, MFA, after recently returning to Chicago to direct The Neo-Futurists’ “Fake Lake.”
After three years as Production Stage Manager for BOM’s Monday night show “That’s Weird, Grandma,” Maggie Fullilove-Nugent joins the staff as part-time Company Manager. She is also the Production Manager for The Hypocrites and North Park University Theatre. As a freelance lighting designer and technician, she has worked on over 50 productions with companies including 500 Clown, House, Building Stage, Lifeline and Artistic Home.
Best of luck to Luke!!
