Hookah in the house..."True Blood" star Nelsan Ellis to direct local production

Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette, "True Blood")

Say what you will about this shark-jumping season of "True Blood," but in my humble opinion one of the only reasons I have continued to tune in is for Nelsan Ellis' layered performance of medium and short order cook Lafayette. Keeping Lafayette alive (spoiler: he dies in the first book) was one of the best decisions show-runner Alan Ball ever did.

Ellis is now bringing his talent back to the Windy City. He will be directing the Chicago premiere of  "HooDoo Love" by Olivier Award-winning playwright Katori Hall. It's also the inaugural Chicago production for The Collective Theatre, for which Ellis is a co-founder --along with Francois Battiste, Veronda Carey, Le’Mil Eiland,  Metra Gilliard and Jasond Jones.




Ellis, in his non-Lafayette garb.


Set in the 1930s, the show follows a young woman named Toulou who escapes from the Mississippi cotton fields to pursue her dream of singing the blues in Memphis. After she meets a rambling blues man, her dreams are realized in a way she never could have imagined. 

"HooDoo Love" plays September 22 – October 21, 2012 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Avenue in Chicago.  The production features Christophé Abiel, Toni Lynice Fountain, Mark Smith and Lynn Wactor.  Tickets, $32 ($20 students; $27 previews) are currently available online at www.athenaeumtheatre.org or by calling the Athenaeum Theatre Box Office at (773) 935-6875. 

The Doctor is back in the house Sept. 1

"Doctor Who" series seven gets a start date and it's a bit earlier than previously reported. The latest adventures of the Time Lord from Gallifrey will hit U.S. shores on Sept. 1 BBC America reports.

The Doctor (Matt Smith) will once again face off against the Daleks in the first episode of the new series. Lead writer and executive producer Stephen Moffat says it was a bit of a no-brainer to kick off the fall series with one of the Doctor's best-known foes.

"We've been off the air for longer than usual, so it was an easy decision to come back with Doctor Who at its most iconic and that means Daleks. Lots and lots of scary Daleks. There have been many monsters to face the Doctor over the years, but only one that can sum up the whole series just by being there," Moffat said. "Also, it's my first go at writing for them. I LOVE the Daleks, and I've held off till now. But I had what I thought was a good idea, and couldn't resist any longer!!"

Smith could barely contain his glee.

"Asylum of the Daleks is going to be a cracker," Smith said.  "Steven has written an absolute belter and we have made the Daleks scary again, something I am not sure we got right before."

The exclusive BBC America trailer is below. Spoilers follow the embeded trailer.




The cable channel also released synopses of the first three episodes. Though spoiler warning is in effect, there's nothing in the blurbs that I haven't seen floating around the web. Still, proceed at your own accord

SYNOPSES**SPOILER WARNING**

POSSIBLE SPOILERS 

Asylum of the Daleks – Episode 1
Kidnapped by his oldest foe, the Doctor (Matt Smith) is forced on an impossible mission - to a place even the Daleks are too terrified to enter.... the Asylum. A planetary prison confining the most terrifying and insane of their kind, the Doctor and the Ponds must find an escape route. But with Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory’s (Arthur Darvill) relationship in meltdown, and an army of mad Daleks closing in, it is up to the Doctor to save their lives, as well as the Pond’s marriage. Asylum of the Daleks premieres Saturday, September 1, 9:00pm ET.


Dinosaurs on a Spaceship – Episode 2
An unmanned spaceship hurtles towards certain destruction - unless the Doctor can save it, and its impossible cargo...... of dinosaurs. By his side a ragtag gang of adventurers; a big game hunter (guest star Rupert Graves), an Egyptian Queen (guest star Rianna Steele) and a surprised member of the Pond family (Mark Williams). But little does the Doctor know there is someone else onboard who will stop at nothing to keep hold of his precious, prehistoric cargo. Dinosaurs on a Spaceship premieres Saturday, September 8, 9:00pm ET.

A Town Called Mercy – Episode 3
The Doctor gets a Stetson (and a gun), and finds himself the reluctant Sheriff of a Western town under siege by a relentless cyborg, who goes by the name of, the Gunslinger. But who is he and what does he want? The answer seems to lie with the mysterious, Kahler-Jex, an alien doctor (yes another one) whose initial appearance is hiding a dark secret. Look for Scifi fan favorite Ben Browder ("Farscape" and "Stargate SG1") as a gun slinger. A Town Called Mercy premieres Saturday, September 15, 9:00pm ET.

Equity Jeff Award Nominees

Looking over this year's Equity Jeff Award nominees, you may find yourself asking what I did: just what or who didn't get nominated?

Was last season really this good? There are nine nominees in both the large and midsize play categories. Nine!

Not to take anything away from the nominees, but having seen most of the nominations, it would appear the Jeff Awards are on the verge of descending into what one normally sees on the little league circuit: everyone gets an award just for participating.

Where there snubs? You betcha. Two that come immediately to mind: Nathan Lane ("The Iceman Cometh") and Susan Moniz ("Follies"). Given how generous the nomination committee seemed to be this year, these two omissions are particularly glaring. Lane managed to breath life into a show that most theatergoers are already familiar with.

Nathan Lane (right) in the Goodman's production of "The Iceman Cometh"

In Moniz's case, this was truly a role she was born to play and her performance was riveting.

Susan Moniz in "Follies"

Here's hoping the committee hires a speed reader to announce the nominees at the awards show on Oct. 15. Otherwise, it's going to be a long night.

2012 EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES

PRODUCTION – PLAY – LARGE

"Angels in America"

“Angels in America, Parts One and Two” - Court Theatre
“Clybourne Park” - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
“The Convert” - Goodman Theatre in association with Center Theatre Group and
    McCarter Theatre Center
“Elizabeth Rex” - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
“The Iceman Cometh” - Goodman Theatre
“In the Next Room or the vibrator play” – Victory Gardens Theater
“Invisible Man” - Court Theatre in association with Christopher McElroen
    Productions
“Mr. Rickey Calls A Meeting” - Lookingglass Theatre Company
“Oedipus el Rey” - Victory Gardens Theater

"Death and Harry Houdini"

PRODUCTION – PLAY – MIDSIZE
“Blizzard ‘67” - Chicago Dramatists
“Chesapeake” - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
“Death and Harry Houdini” - The House Theatre of Chicago
“Disgraced” - American Theater Company in special arrangement with The Araca
    Group
“Enron” - TimeLine Theatre Company
“Fish Men” - Goodman Theatre presents the Teatro Vista production
“Freud’s Last Session” - Carolyn Rossi Copeland, Robert Stillman, and Jack Thomas
    present the Barrington Stage Production
“Immediate Family” - Paul Boskind, Ruth Hendel and Stephen Hendel by special
    arrangement with Goodman Theatre, and in association with About Face
    Theatre Company
“The Pitmen Painters” - TimeLine Theatre Company

"Eastland: A New Musical"

PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – LARGE
“Eastland: A New Musical” - Lookingglass Theatre Company
“Follies” - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
“Hairspray” - Drury Lane Productions
“A Little Night Music” - Writers’ Theatre
“The Pirates of Penzance” - Marriott Theatre
“The Sound of Music” - Drury Lane Productions
“Sweeney Todd” - Drury Lane Productions

"The Doyle & Debbie Show"

PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – MIDSIZE
“A Catered Affair” - Porchlight Music Theatre
“The Christmas Schooner A Musical” - The Mercury Theater
“The Doyle & Debbie Show” - lonesome road productions in association with Jim
    Jensen and Lisselan Productions
“Rent” - American Theater Company and About Face Theatre

PRODUCTION – REVUE
“Stephen Sondheim’s Putting it Together” - Porchlight Music Theatre
“We’re All in This Room Together” - The Second City e.t.c.

DIRECTOR – PLAY
Nathan Allen - “Death and Harry Houdini” - The House Theatre of Chicago
J. Nicole Brooks - “Mr. Rickey Calls A Meeting” - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Robert Falls - “The Iceman Cometh” - Goodman Theatre
BJ Jones - “The Pitmen Painters” - TimeLine Theatre Company
Christopher McElroen - Invisible Man - Court Theatre in association with
   Christopher McElroen Productions
Amy Morton - “Clybourne Park” - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Charles Newell - “An Iliad” - Court Theatre
Ron OJ Parson - “The Caretaker” - Writers’ Theatre
Sandy Shinner - “In the Next Room or the vibrator play” - Victory Gardens Theater
Chay Yew - “Oedipus el Rey” - Victory Gardens Theater

DIRECTOR – MUSICAL
William Brown - “A Little Night Music” - Writers’ Theatre
Amanda Dehnert - Eastland: A New Musical - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Gary Griffin - “Follies” - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Tammy Mader - “Hairspray” - Drury Lane Productions
Dominic Missimi - “The Pirates of Penzance” - Marriott Theatre
Rachel Rockwell - “The Sound of Music” - Drury Lane Productions
Rachel Rockwell - “Sweeney Todd” - Drury Lane Productions

"Clybourne Park"

ENSEMBLE
“Ameriville by Universes” - Victory Gardens Theater
“Clybourne Park” - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
“The Iceman Cometh” - Goodman Theatre
“Mr. Rickey Calls A Meeting” - Lookingglass Theatre Company
“The Pitmen Painters” - TimeLine Theatre Company

Martin Rayner (left) as Sigmund Freud with Mark H. Dold as C.S. Lewis in "Freud's Last Session."

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Usman Ally (Amir) - “Disgraced” - American Theater Company in special
    arrangement with The Araca Group
Teagle F. Bougere (Invisible Man) - “Invisible Man” - Court Theatre in association
    with Christopher McElroen Productions
William J. Norris (Davies) - “The Caretaker” - Writers’ Theatre
Martin Rayner (Sigmund Freud) - “Freud’s Last Session” - Carolyn Rossi Copeland,
    Robert Stillman, and Jack Thomas present the Barrington Stage Production
Steven Sutcliffe (Ned Lowenscroft) - “Elizabeth Rex” - Chicago Shakespeare
    Theater
Larry Yando (Roy M. Cohen) - “Angels in America, Parts One and Two” - Court
    Theatre

Adrian Aguilar (Jon) in "tick...tick...BOOM!"

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Adrian Aguilar (Jon) - “tick…tick… BOOM!” - Porchlight Music Theatre
Bruce Arntson (Doyle Mayfield) - “The Doyle & Debbie Show” - lonesome road
    productions in association with Jim Jensen and Lisselan Productions
Clarke Hallum (Ralphie) - “A Christmas Story, The Musical” - Gerald Goehring, Roy
    Miller, Michael F. Mitri, Pat Flicker Addiss, Peter Billingsley, Mariano Tolentino,
    Louise H. Beard, Michael Filerman, Scott Hart, Timothy Laczynski,
    Bartner/Jenkins Entertainment, Angela Milonas and Bradford W. Smith
Andrew Lupp (Phil Davis) - “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Musical” - Marriott
    Theatre
Kelvin Roston, Jr. (Jackie Wilson) - “The Jackie Wilson Story (My Heart is Crying,
    Crying)” - Black Ensemble Theater
Rashawn Thompson (Marvin Gaye) - “The Marvin Gaye Story (Don’t Talk About My
    Father Because God is My Friend)” - Black Ensemble Theater

Diane D'Aquila as Queen Elizabeth I in "Elizabeth Rex"

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Pascale Armand (Jekesai/Ester) - “The Convert” - Goodman Theatre in association
    with Center Theatre Group and McCarter Theatre Center
Janet Ulrich Brooks (Anya Botvinnik) - “A Walk in the Woods” - TimeLine Theatre
    Company
Kate Buddeke (Tanya) - “The North Plan” - Theater Wit
Diane D’Aquila (Queen Elizabeth I) - “Elizabeth Rex” - Chicago Shakespeare
    Theater
Kate Fry (Catherine Givings) - “In the Next Room or the vibrator play” - Victory
    Gardens Theater
Lia Mortensen (Lynn Fontanne) - “Ten Chimneys” - Northlight Theatre
Kelli Simpkins (Darcy) - “The Kid Thing” - Chicago Dramatists and About Face
    Theatre

Liz McCartney as Mrs. Lovett in "Sweeney Todd"

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Jennifer Blood (Maria Rainer) - “The Sound of Music” - Drury Lane Productions
Lillian Castillo (Tracy Turnblad) - “Hairspray” - Drury Lane Productions
Shannon Cochran (Desirée Armfeldt) - “A Little Night Music” - Writers’ Theatre
Rebecca Finnegan (Aggie Hurley) - “A Catered Affair” - Porchlight Music Theatre
Jenny Littleton (Debbie) - “The Doyle & Debbie Show” - lonesome road productions
    in association with Jim Jensen and Lisselan Productions
Liz McCartney (Mrs. Lovett) - “Sweeney Todd” - Drury Lane Productions
Caroline O’Connor (Phyllis Rogers Stone) - “Follies” - Chicago Shakespeare Theater

ACTOR OR ACTRESS IN A REVUE
Edgar Blackmon (Ensemble) - “Who Do We Think We Are?” - The Second City
McKinley Carter (Woman #1) - “Stephen Sondheim’s Putting it Together” -
    Porchlight Music Theatre
Mike Kosinski (Ensemble) - “We’re All in This Room Together” -
    The Second City e.t.c.
Adam Pelty (Man #1) - “Stephen Sondheim’s Putting it Together” -
    Porchlight Music Theatre

SOLO PERFORMANCE
Greg Matthew Anderson (Kerr) - “Chesapeake” - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Timothy Edward Kane (Poet) - “An Iliad” - Court Theatre
Deborah Staples (Performer) - “The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful
    Redhead” - Writers’ Theatre

Ron Orbach (right) with Tracy Michelle Arnold in "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Brad Armacost (Phil Hogan) - “A Moon for the Misbegotten” - Seanachaí Theatre
    Company
Ian Barford (Arly Wilcox)  - “The March” - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Brian Dennehy (Larry Slade) - “The Iceman Cometh” - Goodman Theatre
Alex Goodrich (Ellard Simms) - “The Foreigner” - Provision Theater
Harry Groener (General William Tecumseh Sherman) - “The March” - Steppenwolf
    Theatre Company
Ron Orbach (Nick Bottom) - “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” - Chicago Shakespeare
    Theater
Dan Waller (Oliver Kilbourn) - “The Pitmen Painters”- TimeLine Theatre Company
Howard Witt (Adam Kirchbaum AKA Ninety-Two) - “Fish Men” - Goodman Theatre
    presents the Teatro Vista production

Rod Thomas (right) with Jonathan Lee Cunningham in "Little Shop of Horrors"

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Brandon Dahlquist (Count Carl-Magnus & Lieder Singer) - “A Little Night Music” -
    Writers’ Theatre
Alex Goodrich (Kirk) - “HERO the Musical” - Marriott Theatre
Kevin Earley (Pirate King) - “The Pirates of Penzance” - Marriott Theatre
Ross Lehman (Major-General) - “The Pirates of Penzance” - Marriott Theatre
Michael Aaron Lindner (Edna Turnblad) - “Hairspray” - Drury Lane Productions
Rod Thomas (Orin Scrivello, Derelict, Customer, Radio Announcer, Bernstein,
    Mrs. Luce, Skip Snip, and Patrick Martin) - “Little Shop of Horrors” - Theatre
    at the Center

Natalie West in "The Butcher of Baraboo"

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Cheryl Lynn Bruce (Mai Tamba) - “The Convert” - Goodman Theatre in association
    with Center Theatre Group and McCarter Theatre Center
Hannah Gomez (Maribel) - “Crooked” - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Mary Cross and
    Sharon Furiya
Patrese D. McClain (The Folk) -”Spunk” - Court Theatre
Polly Noonan (Sabrina Daldry) - “In the Next Room or the vibrator play” - Victory
    Gardens Theater
MaryAnn Thebus, (Vera) - “After the Revolution” - Next Theatre Company
Kristina Valada-Viars (Mandy Bloom) - “Time Stands Still” - Steppenwolf Theatre
    Company
Natalie West (Gail) - “The Butcher of Baraboo” - A Red Orchid Theatre

Christinie Sherrill (left) with Chelsea Packard in "Legally Blonde: The Musical"

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Dara Cameron (Susan Schmitty) - “HERO the Musical” - Marriott Theatre
Patti Cohenour (The Mother Abbess) - “The Sound of Music” - Drury Lane
    Productions
Hollis Resnik (Carlotta Campion) - “Follies” - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Alene Robertson (Martha Watson) - “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Musical” -
    Marriott Theatre
Christine Sherrill (Paulette) - “Legally Blonde The Musical” - Marriott Theatre

Jon Steinhagen's "Blizzard '67"

NEW WORK – PLAY OR MUSICAL
Ayad Akhtar - “Disgraced” - American Theater Company in special arrangement
    with The Araca Group
John Conroy  - “My Kind of Town” - TimeLine Theatre Company
Sarah Gubbins  - “The Kid Thing” - Chicago Dramatists and About Face Theatre
Andrew Hinderaker - “I Am Going to Change the World” - Chicago Dramatists
Jon Steinhagen - “Blizzard ‘67” - Chicago Dramatists
Aaron Thielen and Michael Mahler - “HERO the Musical” - Marriott Theatre
Andrew White, Andre Pluess and Ben Sussman - “Eastland: A New Musical” -
    Lookingglass Theatre Company

NEW ADAPTATION – PLAY
Calixto Bieito and Marc Rosich - “Camino Real” - Goodman Theatre
Frank Galati - “The March” - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Oren Jacoby - “Invisible Man” - Court Theatre in association with Christopher
    McElroen Productions
Tracy Letts - “Three Sisters” - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Jessica Thebus and Frank Maugeri - “The Feast: an intimate Tempest” - Chicago
    Shakespeare Theater in association with Redmoon

The cast of Drury Lane Productions' "Hairspray"

CHOREOGRAPHY
Tammy Mader - “Hairspray” - Drury Lane Productions
Matt Raftery - “The Pirates of Penzance” - Marriott Theatre
Jessica Redish - “Pippin” - The Music Theatre Company
Marc Robin - “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Musical” - Marriott Theatre
Alex Sanchez - “Follies” - Chicago Shakespeare Theater

ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL MUSIC
Jenny Giering - “Elizabeth Rex” - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Andrew Hansen - “A Walk in the Woods” - TimeLine Theatre Company
Lindsay Jones - “Timon of Athens” - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen - “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” - Chicago
    Shakespeare Theater
Kevin O’Donnell - “Death and Harry Houdini” - The House Theatre of Chicago
David Singer - “Three Sisters” - Steppenwolf Theatre Company

MUSIC DIRECTION
Austin Cook - “Stephen Sondheim’s Putting it Together” - Porchlight Music Theatre
Roberta Duchak - “The Sound of Music” - Drury Lane Productions
Roberta Duchak - “Sweeney Todd” - Drury Lane Productions
Brad Haak - “Follies” - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Valerie Maze - “A Little Night Music” – Writers’ Theatre
Robert Reddrick - “The Marvin Gaye Story (Don’t Talk about My Father Because
    God is My Friend)” - Black Ensemble Theater

SCENIC DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Ira Amyx and Merje Veski - “A Moon for the Misbegotten” - Seanachaí Theatre
    Company
John Iacovelli - “Immediate Family” - Paul Boskind, Ruth Hendel and Stephen
    Hendel by special arrangement with Goodman Theatre, and in association with
    About Face Theatre Company
Jack Magaw - “Disgraced” - American Theater Company in special arrangement
    with The Araca Group
Brian Prather - “Freud’s Last Session” - Carolyn Rossi Copeland, Robert Stillman,
    and Jack Thomas present The Barrington Stage Production
Chelsea M. Warren - “The Kid Thing” - Chicago Dramatists and About Face Theatre

The Goodman Theatre's production of "Red"

SCENIC DESIGN – LARGE
Kevin Depinet - “The Iceman Cometh” - Goodman Theatre
Troy Hourie - “Invisible Man” - Court Theatre in association with
    Christopher McElroen Productions
Jack Magaw - “The Caretaker” - Writers’ Theatre
Jack Magaw - “In the Next Room or the vibrator play” - Victory Gardens Theater
Dan Ostling - “Eastland: A New Musical” - Lookingglass Theatre Company
Todd Rosenthal - “Clybourne Park” - Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Todd Rosenthal - “An Iliad” - Court Theatre
Todd Rosenthal - “Red” - Goodman Theatre in association with Arena Stage at
    the Mead Center for American Theater
Walt Spangler - “Time Stands Still” - Steppenwolf Theatre Company

LIGHTING DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Jesse Klug - “The Amish Project” - American Theater Company
Jesse Klug - “Fish Men” - Goodman Theatre presents the Teatro Vista production
JR Lederle - “Chesapeake” - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Michael McNamara - “The Turn of the Screw” - First Folio Theatre
Ben Wilhelm - “Death and Harry Houdini” - The House Theatre of Chicago

LIGHTING DESIGN – LARGE
John Culbert - “Invisible Man” - Court Theatre in association with Christopher
    McElroen Productions
James F. Ingalls - “Camino Real” - Goodman Theatre
Natasha Katz - “The Iceman Cometh” - Goodman Theatre
Jesse Klug - “Sweeney Todd” - Drury Lane Productions
Keith Parham - “Red” - Goodman Theatre in association with Arena Stage at
    the Mead Center for American Theater

Jay Worthington (front) and Kenny Mihlfried in The Gift Theatre's "Cloud 9"

COSTUME DESIGN – MIDSIZE
David Hyman - “Rent” - American Theater Company and About Face Theatre
Branimira Ivanova - “Cloud 9” - The Gift Theatre
Lee Keenan - “Death and Harry Houdini” - The House Theatre of Chicago
Kate Murphy - “Absolute Hell” - The Gift Theatre
Michael Alan Stein - “The Nativity” - Congo Square Theatre Company

Chicago Shakespear Theatre's "Follies"

COSTUME DESIGN – LARGE
Jacqueline Firkins - “In the Next Room or the vibrator play” - Victory Gardens
    Theater
Rachel Anne Healy - “A Little Night Music” - Writers’ Theatre
Virgil C. Johnson - “Follies” - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Nancy Missimi - “The Pirates of Penzance” - Marriott Theatre
Nancy Missimi - “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Musical” - Marriott Theatre

SOUND DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Victoria DeIorio - “Falling: A Wake” - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Mikhail Fiksel - “Fish Men” - Goodman Theatre presents the Teatro Vista
    production
Christopher Kriz - “The Turn of the Screw” - First Folio Theatre
Kevin O’Donnell and Harrison Adams - “Death and Harry Houdini” - The House
    Theatre of Chicago
Rick Sims - “Chesapeake” - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

SOUND DESIGN – LARGE
Mikhail Fiksel - “Oedipus el Rey” - Victory Gardens Theater
Joshua Horvath and Kevin O’Donnell - “Angels in America, Parts One and Two” -
    Court Theatre
Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen - “The 39 Steps” - Drury Lane Productions
Andre Pluess - “An Iliad” - Court Theatre
Josh Schmidt - “The March” - Steppenwolf Theatre Company

PROJECTIONS / MEDIA DESIGN
Maya Ciarrocchi  - “Crowns” - Goodman Theatre
Seth Henrikson & Oddmachine - “Megacosm” - A Red Orchid Theatre
Alex Koch - “Invisible Man” - Court Theatre in association with
    Christopher McElroen Productions
Mike Tutaj - “I Am Going to Change the World” - Chicago Dramatists
Mike Tutaj - “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Mike Tutaj - “A Walk in the Woods” - TimeLine Theatre Company

Samuel Taylor (left) and Adrian Danzig in "The Feast: an intimate Tempest"

ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
Kurt Alger - Wig Design - “Hairspray” - Drury Lane Productions
Jesse Mooney-Bullock - 3D Puppetry Design - “The Feast: an intimate Tempest” -Chicago Shakespeare Theater in association with Redmoon
Melissa Veal - Wig and Make-up Design - “Elizabeth Rex” - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Dennis Watkins - Magic Designer - “Death and Harry Houdini” - The House Theatre of Chicago

The 44th Annual Jeff Awards ceremony honoring excellence in professional theatre produced within the immediate Chicago area will be held on Monday, October 15, at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. Advance purchase tickets, which include the ceremony and buffets, are $75 ($55 for members of Actors' Equity Association, United Scenic Artists, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Stage Managers’ Association, The Dramatists Guild of America, and American Federation of Musicians). The evening is black tie optional and the public is cordially invited to attend.

Dim the lights for the "one"



The late composer Marvin Hamlisch
Photo: Alex J. Berliner/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, via Associated Press

 Iconic Broadway musical composer Marvin Hamlisch died today after a brief illness. He was 68.

He is, of course, best known for "A Chorus Line."


The cast of the 2009 revival as seen on tour in Chicago. Photo by Paul Kolnik.

 His other works never matched the success of that musical, but many were notable in their own right. Other shows include "They're Playing Our Song," "Smile," "The Goodbye Girl" and "Sweet Smell of Success."

His latest musical, an adaptation of the Jerry Lewis classic comedy "The Nutty Professor," recently opened in Tennessee.

A child prodigy, Mr. Hamlisch was accepted into Julliard before he even turned seven. He was an Oscar winner by age 30.

He also was one of a few individuals to have won a quintuple of major awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony and Pulitzer.

My favorites from the Hamlisch songbook (in no particular order):

"What I Did For Love" from "A Chorus Line."



"Smile" from the Broadway flop of the same name:

"I Cannot Hear the City" from "Sweet Smell of Success"

"The Way We Were" from the film of the same name.

"Through the Eyes of Love" from "Ice Castles" (Sorry, no clip)

"Disneyland" from "Smile" (sung by Jodi Benson,who would later voice Ariel in Disney's "The Little Mermaid").