Category: Theater

Goodman Theatre suspends A Christmas Carol performance through Dec. 24

December 21, 2021December 21, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Goodman Theatre suspends A Christmas Carol performance through Dec. 24 In unprecedented offering, ticket holders to the impacted performances will receive exclusive access to a new high-quality video stream of the 2021 production. In addition, partnership with Chicago Public Media makes the play available on-air for all WBEZ and Vocalo to broadcast A Christmas Carol…

Chicago, coronavirus, Entertainment, News, Theater

Goodman Theater begins rehearsals for Nightwatch and Layalina

November 24, 2021November 24, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Goodman Theater begins rehearsals for Nightwatch and Layalina Rehearsals have begun for the two centerpiece “developmental productions” featured in Goodman Theatre’s 17th annual New Stages Festival, a free celebration of new works by some of the country’s finest established and emerging playwrights. Cast is listed below. The two plays—Nightwatch by Max Yu, directed by Chay…

Books & Films, Chicago, Cook County, Entertainment, News, Theater

Vancouver Songwriter Haley K. Turner releases Hanukkah song dedicated to comedian Adam Sandler

November 17, 2021November 17, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Vancouver Songwriter Haley K. Turner releases Hanukkah song dedicated to comedian Adam Sandler Canadian singer-songwriter Haley K Turner is releasing the most unanticipated original holiday song in the last 25 years. Inspired by a recent plea from Adam Sandler for “someone out there” to write a new Hanukkah song, Haley created one of the first…

Comedy, Entertainment, Features, National, News, Technology, Television, Theater

Palestinian American standup comedy American style

November 8, 2021December 7, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Palestinian American standup comedy American style Palestinian American standup comedian, author and columnist performs comedy for the anniversary of the Arab American News in Dearborn, Michigan in 2004. A humorous blast from the past video on YouTube. This sampler of Ray Hanania’s comedy touches a little on politics, on post Sept. 11 security concerns, Palestinian-Israeli…

Books & Films, Chicago, Comedy, Entertainment, Features, NewsWire, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater, Videos

Goodman Theater hosts 44th annual A Christmas Carol Nov. 20 – Dec. 31

November 2, 2021November 2, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Goodman Theater hosts 44th annual A Christmas Carol Nov. 20 – Dec. 31 THE GOODMAN’S 44TH ANNUAL A CHRISTMAS CAROL RETURNS TO ITS DOWNTOWN HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH A CAST OF 30 DIRECTED BY JESSICA THEBUS, NOVEMBER 20 – DECEMBER 31. LARRY YANDO STARS AS EBENEZER SCROOGE FOR HIS 14TH YEAR AND FEATURING ALLEN GILMORE…

Chicago, Entertainment, News, Theater

Paramount Theater opens new Iive theater venue in Aurora

October 19, 2021October 19, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Paramount Theater opens new live theater venue in Aurora Paramount Theatre will cut the ribbon on another live theater venue in Aurora’s downtown entertainment district, the newly remodeled Copley Theatre, where it will launch its all-new Bold Series, a four-show subscription series ready to bring a new type of live entertainment to the second largest…

Cook County, Entertainment, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

New book “Dancing with Death” and James Bond “getting his girl”

October 14, 2021October 14, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

New book “Dancing with Death” and James Bond “getting his girl” It was encouraging to hear that No Time to Die – the most recent James Bond 007 movie extravaganza – broke all previous box office records after being postponed several times when the Covid viral epidemic closed thousands of cinemas. The aim of the…

Books & Films, Entertainment, Features, NewsWire, Television, Theater

Robert Falls to step down as Goodman Theatre Artistic Director in Summer 2022

September 15, 2021September 15, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Robert Falls to step down as Goodman Theatre Artistic Director in Summer 2022 ***IN 35 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP, THE TONY-AWARD WINNER HAS BROUGHT INTERNATIONAL PROMINENCE TO THE GOODMAN WITH GROUND-BREAKING PRODUCTIONS; BUILT A STATE-OF-THE-ART THEATER AND EDUCATION COMPLEX; ESTABLISHED ACCLAIMED COMMUNITY PROGRAMS; AND TURNED CHICAGO’S LARGEST NOT-FOR-PROFIT THEATER INTO A VIBRANT CULTURAL HUB*** After more…

Chicago, Cook County, Entertainment, Features, News, Theater

Three Goodman plays in different ways in the week ahead

July 28, 2021July 28, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Three Goodman plays in different ways in the week ahead Experience School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls play (starts Friday, at Goodman Theatre), Memories of Overdevelopment (online, on Saturday) Zulema (in Chicago Parks, starting Aug. 5) In an unprecedented opportunity, audiences can experience Goodman Theatre productions in three ways in just one week—one in-person,…

Chicago, Entertainment, Features, Theater

Terrence Howard Was the Featured Guest for Conversations with Mark Vargas Event

July 10, 2021July 10, 2021 Ray Hanania

Terrence Howard Was the Featured Guest for Conversations with Mark Vargas Event Actor and Entrepreneur Terrence Howard was the featured guest for the second Conversations with Mark Vargas that took place on July 9 at Judson University in Elgin. Judson alumnus Mark Vargas ’04 hosted the discussion with Howard about life, business, and finding inspiration. Before a crowd…

Education, Features, General Topics, News, Regional Midwest, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

Summer Theatre in the Quad Cities

June 23, 2021June 23, 2021 Ray Hanania

Summer Theatre in the Quad Cities Quad Cities Theatre is not to be missed this summer because in-person shows are back. Whether you want a family-friendly afternoon, musical, or an edgy evening, the Quad Cities has it all this summer. Nestled in Prospect Park in Moline, Quad City Music Guild presents “Mamma Mia” on July…

Entertainment, Features, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

Goodman Theater announces cast for Shakuntala by Lavina Jadhwani

June 23, 2021June 23, 2021 Ray Hanania

Goodman Theater announces cast for Shakuntala by Lavina Jadhwani Goodman Theatre announces the cast for the FREE live reading of its newest Future Labs play, SHAKUNTALA by Lavina Jadhwani and directed by Sophiyaa Nayar (see below). The FREE virtual reading of SHAKUNTALA premieres June 26 at 7pm. Registration for this FREE event is required. For more information, visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Shakuntala. The Goodman is grateful for the…

Chicago, Entertainment, Features, NewsWire, Theater

Paramount Theater resumes live performance August 18, 2021

May 17, 2021May 17, 2021 Ray Hanania

Paramount Theater resumes live performance August 18, 2021 First live performance will be the performance “Kiny Boots” Nearly 14 months after dimming its lights, Aurora’s Paramount Theatre announced today it plans to welcome audiences back for live performances in August with Chicago’s first regional production of Kinky Boots. “It’s my great pleasure to say: We…

Cook County, Entertainment, Features, News, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

The Redbox movie experts just released the following insight

February 2, 2021February 2, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

The Redbox movie experts just released the following insight Redbox released their list of favorite romantic comedies over the past two decades. Which is your favorite romantic comedy from the 2000s? 1. Sweet Home Alabama 2. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3. 50 First Dates 4. Crazy Rich Asians 5. Hitch Which is your favorite romantic comedy from…

Books & Films, Entertainment, NewsWire, Theater, Videos

Casting announced for “Future Labs” reading of Layalina at Goodman Theater

January 27, 2021January 27, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Casting announced for “Future Labs” reading of Layalina at Goodman Theater Casting announced for the January 30, “Future Labs” reading of Layalina by Martin Yousif Zebari, directed by Azar Kazemi. The Goodman’s first streaming effort of 2021 is near capacity Goodman Theatre announces the full cast for the FREE live reading of Layalina, January 30…

Cook County, Entertainment, Features, NewsWire, Releases, Theater

Review: I’m Not a Comedian … I’m Lenny Bruce

February 19, 2020February 19, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Review: I’m Not a Comedian … I’m Lenny Bruce Lenny Bruce may be a name many people today don’t know but they should know him because his critical thinking is still very refreshing and relevant to today’s world. He was a satirist and standup comedian who got into trouble over the use of banned swear…

Blogger, Chicago, Comedy, Commentary, Entertainment, Features, Opinion, Review, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

“Unnecessary Farce” to bring laughter to Cicero audiences

February 5, 2020February 5, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

“Unnecessary Farce” to bring laughter to Cicero audiences The comedy “Unnecessary Farce” is one of the first performances in what will be a revitalized arts schedule at Jedlicka Performing Arts Center at Morton College in Cicero, a comedy about nefarious small-town shenanigans “Unnecessary Farce,” a comedy about nefarious small-town shenanigans, will kick off a new…

Books & Films, Comedy, Editors Pick, Entertainment, Features, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

Elitist theatrical performance “Hamilton” finally closes

January 9, 2020January 9, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Elitist theatrical performance “Hamilton” finally closes The theatrical play “Hamilton” has been more about politics than it has about either historical accuracy of even honesty. From the start, it was used as a political weapon against President Donald Trump imposing itself on the American conscience with the biased backing of the mainstream American news media….

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Books & Films, Commentary, Entertainment, Features, General Topics, Government, Opinion, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Theater