Changes at Victory Gardens (again)

Chris Jones was reporting it : Jan Kallish will leave VG at the end of the november. He was the first one.

A slightly different view has Hedy Weiss from the "Sun-Times":

Jan Kallish exiting Victory Gardens Theater

By Hedy Weiss

Theater Critic/hweiss@suntimes.com

Last Modified: Oct 26, 2012 11:14AM

Jan Kallish, who has served as executive director of the Victory Gardens Theater since 2009, and helped oversee a major period of transition at the organization, will be leaving her position at the end of November. General manager Chris Mannelli will assume her duties while the board conducts a search for her successor.

“It is just time for me to think about the next 20 years of my career,” said Kallish, who, before arriving at Victory Gardens held many major posts. She served as executive director of Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre (1997-2003), where she oversaw a major renovation of the landmark building, created a home for the Joffrey Ballet and an international roster of dance companies, and launched the Ovations! Concert Celebrations of Great American Musicals series. Kallish also has credits as a theatrical producer (“The Color Purple,” both on Broadway and in its first North American tour, and “A Catered Affair,” also on Broadway). She also served as a consultant to Matthew Bourne’s NewAdventures (U.S. tours of “Edward Scissorhands” and “Car Man”), and, from 2006 to 2007, was CEO of the Nederlander Broadway venture in Beijing, where she oversaw operations for the first licensed performing arts joint venture in China, and oversaw renovations plans for Shanghai Majestic Theatre.

At Victory Gardens (where Kallish acknowledged things were sometimes “bumpy” during the transition), she welcomed a new artistic director, Chay Yew (who took over following the retirement of Dennis Zacek), opened and dedicated the Richard Christiansen Studio Theater at the company’s home in The Biograph, and produced the world premiere of “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity,” a Pulitzer Prize finalist play that grew out of Sandy Shinner’s Ignition series, and eventually moved to New York.

Under Kallish’s leadership, Victory Gardens acquired significant new funding and increased corporate, foundation and individual giving, and it built many new initiatives to attract young and diverse audiences to the theater.

“I don’t have any specific ‘next job’ yet,” said Kallish. “But I know that whatever I do will be both creative and entrepeneurial. That’s what I like to do; grow things. And as that line in ‘The Color Purple’ puts it: ‘When one door closes another opens’.”

---

Copyright © 2012 — Sun-Times Media, LLC

Chicago - 2008

THEATER REVIEW: "Eurydice" (★★★) runs through Nov. 9 at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave.; Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes; Tickets: $20-$48 at 773-871-3000 and www.victorygardens.org. Lee Stark is Eurydice, left, and Jamie Abelson is Orpheus.

If you are getting married any time soon, you might want to take in Sarah Ruhl’s “Eurydice” at the Victory Gardens Theater. And not just for its heroine’s shrewd observation that a wedding is just for a father and a daughter, and will inevitably leave all other parties adrift and afraid.

This beguiling little play manages, all at once, to be a love story, a reckoning of the tough choices love always demands, and a primer on how to deal with the loss of someone you loved so terribly much—be they lover, parent or child.

Unlike some other updated dramatic takes on classical mythology, this 90-minute retelling of the Orpheus myth obeys its own quirky rules, keeps its metaphors manageable and effects a very delightful simplicity. The sourcing myth helps.

Imagine that someone close to you has died. Imagine further that someone has offered to return that person to you, on the condition that you do not look back as you walk away from the afterlife from which you’re pulling her. Would you be able to stop yourself from checking she is there? Doesn’t the very existence of your love require you make sure she’s safe?

Ah, the paradoxes of antiquity. They still give you shivers.

“Eurydice,” the object of a series of rapturous, career-making, East Coast reviews in 2006 following a production at Yale Rep, was seen very early in its life at Piven Theatre, on the then-unknown playwright’s native North Shore. I damned it with faint praise. And while I have various excuses for that review, I surely missed the nascent power of the play. I figured that out a couple of years ago, but the new production at Victory Gardens convinced me again of this play’s honest beauty.

That’s not to say that this is a perfect production. This is one of those shows that need a whimsical environment and the kind of fluid staging that Lookingglass Theatre or the Goodman are known for. There’s certainly the attempt here, in a production team-directed by Sandy Shinner and Jessica Thebus and designed by Dan Ostling. Some of the time it works beautifully. Other times it feels like you’re watching the work of two directors who aren’t quite on the same page. And while I’m generally a huge fan of Ostling’s designs, the appeal of the ugly, brown, pock-marked walls eluded me.

On opening, the show seemed overly jittery and jumpy. Even after a year at the Biograph, Victory Gardens still doesn’t look comfortable from a production management standpoint. That needs fixing, pronto.

But the best scenes here are very powerful. The most emotionally reachable performance comes from the terrific Joe D. Lauck, who plays Eurydice’s father and whose love for his daughter seems to flow out into the theater in great waves. Once she settles down after an overly cutesy first scene, Lee Stark is very appealing in the title role—and has a quirky, Ruhl-like quality that helps when you’re starring in a Ruhl play. Jamie Abelson is an honest, likable Orpheus, albeit one needing a bit more fight. And character actors like Beau O’Reilly and William J. Norris are in fine fettle.

Clearly, everybody in the production understands the play. They just need to settle down and unlock the raw emotions of the text. I’d give it a week or two before you go, but if you’ve not seen “Eurydice,” I wouldn’t miss the chance.

Posted at 10:15:25 AM in Victory Gardens

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http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2008/10/ponder-the-impo.html

OFFBEAT: Shakespeare Theater's 'Madness of King George' a spectacular spiral of intrigue

My favorite play in Chicago. No doubt about it.

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There are times when the audience winces or even feels the temptation to want to look away during the compelling unfolding of events in Chicago Shakepeare Theater's riveting production of "The Madness of George III."
These natural temptations serve as further proof of the sheer brilliance of the performance by three-time Tony Award nominee actor Harry Groener in the title role of a monarch on the verge of mental collapse at a time when medical science had little to offer the treatment of physical ailments, let alone, abnormalities of the intellect and reasoning.
Masterfully written by Alan Bennett, the Laurence Olivier and Tony Award-winning playwright of "The History Boys," this three-hour, one intermission dramatic masterpiece is directed by Penny Metropulos and runs through June 12 at the Courtyard Theater at Navy Pier.
Edge of the seat intrigue and amazingly ideal production values result in a story that quickly seems to swirl about as the audience is on the edge of their seats feeling compassion, confusion, sympathy and even moments of humor while absorbing this fascinating time of history.
"The Madness of George III" explores one of the most politically charged periods of Great Britain's history into a surprisingly heartfelt human story about loss-of mind, body and power.
The 13 Colonies of the "New America" have just been lost as King George III descends into madness and is forced to submit to his doctors' myriad 18th-century medical treatments, his personal and political affiliations are threatened.
Watching the descent of his father are his two sons, the thoroughly entertaining Richard Baird as the Prince of Wales and impish actor Alex Weisman as his brother the Duke of York.
But at the core of this story of royal intrigue are the King's relationships with his devoted Queen Charlotte, played by the ever-amazing Ora Jones and his closest advisers, who endure uncertainty as England's ruler struggles to remain in control of his own person and his government.
Readers might recall Bennett also received an Academy Award nomination for his 1994 cinematic adaptation of "The Madness of George III," which won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction, and starred the late Nigel Hawthorne as King George III and Helen Mirren as Queen Charlotte.
Actor William Pitt is a strong and encaptivating stage force playing the prime minister torn between serving the people, his government and a ruler who has left a lasting impact on himself and many others.
Other members of this incredible, capable cast include Kevin Gudahl as Captain Fitzroy, David Lively as Thurlow, Brad Armacost as Dr. Baker, Patrick Clear as Dr. Warren, William Dick as Dr. Pepys, James Newcomb as Dr. Willis, Steven Pringle as Papandiek and Patrice Egleston as Lady Pembroke.
And look for South Holland native and actor Kevin Cox, delivering an amusing and carefully balanced performance as Braun, one of the king's footmen.
Scenic Designer William Bloodgood provides a perfect, transforming set for the story to emerge, while the costume design by Susan E. Mickey is stunning.

CST's - The Madness of George III

Like I said - go to the chicago Shalespeare Theatre and see George III from Alan Bennett.
Harry Groener plays the King George and he is great.
Here is an article about the actor.

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Published on WBEZ (http://www.wbez.org)

The method in Harry Groener's madness

Laura Molzahn May 18, 2011

Harry Groener is passionate about being analytical. To prepare for his role as the king in CST's The Madness of George III, he read seven books—including one focused on the king’s 15 children. Or was it 16? Either way, he says, “If you look at the dates, that’s almost one a year!”

Alan Bennett’s 1991 play hews to the historical record, right down to the three bumpers of spa water George III drinks at Cheltenham, Groener says, in an effort to cure what ails him—probably porphyria, a disease discovered a century later. Cycling through all the character’s inexplicable, excoriating physical and mental afflictions, this Tony-nominated veteran of Broadway, television, and film manages to establish the character’s bedrock decency.

“George III has been demonized,” Groener says, “made into the crazy king who happened to be crazy during the American Revolution. But no, this was way after that, in the winter of 1788, 1789. The fact that they lost the colonies was something he could not bear till the day he died. Parliament was what he had trouble with. He wasn’t the one who said about the colonies, ‘Oh, they’re just misbehaving, treat them like children and give them a spanking and let’s not hear anymore about it.’ There are references to him saying, ‘Is there any way that we can resolve some of the grievances?’”

The so-called mad king, Groener says, “wanted to set an example to the country—a moral example, a religious example: be good, be honest, be honorable. Be true to your wife, monogamous—and he was.” Groener describes the king’s relationship with the German-born Queen Charlotte (a wonderfully warm Ora Jones) as “sweet, because it isn’t the norm, right? You get married, you don’t necessarily love the person, but your duty is to marry and have children to continue the line. Once you’ve done that, and have a few sons, you’re more or less done.” Not George III, apparently.

Nattering on about his favorite subject, Groener says: “He was very well educated, of course, but he also educated himself. He loved going to talk to the farmers, he loved talking about agriculture, of course he loved pigs—he loved pigs! He could exhaust you because he was so energetic and could just talk and talk and talk about ANY subject. This was before he was ill. When he was ill he would talk for hours and hours and hours. Some of it was nonsense, some of it wasn’t. And he was aware of the fact that something was going terribly wrong. He did hallucinate. The physical symptoms started first, and then they went to affect his mind.”

“We can all sympathize with the pain this person is going through,” says Groener. “And I think we can all relate to the caretaking theme. Penny Metropulos, our director—both of us were very, very well aware. She’s going through it now with her husband and her mother-in-law, and my wife and I’ve just gone through years of it, with friends and with our parents. I’m sure that at least 25 percent of the audience, if not more, on any given night are going through that at this very moment. The dealing with this person who’s becoming incontinent, and no one was equipped to deal with that—certainly not Charlotte, certainly not the sons. It was left to the doctors, the equerries, to deal with this man and his condition.”

“I loved reading about this, it really is fascinating,” says Groener. “A lot of it, you just have it in the background, it’s peripheral—you can’t play it, but you just have it back there, and it grounds you, so that when you look at these people you have a little bit more information about who that actor represents. For me it just gives it more weight, it colors it more, it fills in the blanks.”

if you are

in chicago right now go and watch the madness of george third from aln bennett. great play, great acting in the shakespeare at navy pier.

i also liked ratoun and die at victory gardens.

what else is on ?
mandrake at red orchid - funny and originell

the hot l baltimore at steppenwolf. strange play. i dont get why they did it.sorry.

the gospel according toj james at victory gardens. good but too long. they should cut one story but they wont.

the main actor andre .. is very interesting in person. we were at the premiere and today ont the symposium.
more later.

Chicago

Published on WBEZ (http://www.wbez.org)

Chicago: Theater capital of America - past, present and future?

Kelly Kleiman March 14, 2011

It’s easier to look back on an historical moment than to realize that you’re living in one. What if the past fifty years of Chicago theater have been not just fun and exciting but actually constitute the equivalent of Elizabethan England or post-Civil War New York–that is, an instance of the ultimate flowering of the art form?

That’s precisely the theory behind Columbia College Chicago’s decision to host a scholarly symposium on what we’re all right in the middle of. “Chicago: Theatre Capital of America–Past, Present, Future,” scheduled for May 18-21, will bring together scholars from across the country to debate how the Chicago theater renaissance got its start in the late 1950s, what factors caused it to flourish, how influential Chicago theater has been on the art as practiced around the world, and what will be necessary to keep it alive and well and living in our back yard.

The scholars–from Harvard, the University of British Columbia and the Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance in London, among many others–will share panels with Chicago theater practitioners.

The presenters’ roster is a who’s who of Chicago theater, from Martha Lavey of Steppenwolf to Terry McCabe of City Lit to Paul Barosse and other members of the late lamented Practical Theatre Company, which dissolved when its players were swept en masse onto Saturday Night Live.

Panels will address the question whether Chicago’s legacy of African-American theater actually outstrips that of the Harlem Renaissance; the role of various training entities, from Second City to Hull House; the varying experiences of playwrights, directors, performers and critics; and on and on.

Says planning committee chair Albert Williams, a Columbia College faculty member and long-time chief theater critic of the Reader, “There will be discussions of the economics of the industry–Valuing the Art, People First, with [Writers Theatre Artistic Director] Michael Halberstam, [is] also known as Pay Your Actors a Decent Wage. And [there’s] another panel called Patron Experience, because you’re not just doing [theater] for yourselves but for people who paid money to be there.”

Williams stresses that the symposium is open to the public. “Presuming that people love theater as fans, they will learn a whole lot more about Chicago theater. They will get to rub elbows with leading theater practitioners in Chicago, and also former Chicago theater professionals who may be coming back.”

The conference is awaiting confirmation of participation by Chicago veterans such as Joe Mantegna, Regina Taylor and Terry Kinney. “[Mantegna] said he’d love to do it if it works with his schedule,” said Williams.

Further details to come.

More Olivier Awards

Hallo, sorry for the lack of my post. RL - you know.

Here is the fb site from the Awards. Check out more photos.

http://www.facebook.com/OlivierAwards

I will go to chicago later this months to a conference. So it should be possible to post more than.

The Taming of the Screw

Langsam haben wir alle wichtigen Stücke hier gesehen. inzwischen suchen wir allerdings bei hottix, also die halben preise. no billy elliott. jeder sagt, dass wir gehen sollen, aber es ist einfach zu teuer.
shakespeare theater Navy Pier. schönes theater. gutes stück.
wir gehen jetzt mit carol mexikanisch essen. ein experiment.
hatte ich schon erwähnt, dass carol einen hund hat ? nein. sie hat einen. niedlich, klein. name rockie.

Wir waren dort

Funny. Wir waren im Restaurant gegenüber und haben uns gefragt was die Autos und die lichter bedeuten. schließlich waren wir fertig mit dem essen und sind zur bushaltestelle gegangen. inzwischen standen 2 oder 3 busse dort. Allerdings haben wir keine schauspieler gesehen. falls die story stimmt.:)


Actors to rescue: The 'CSI' guy
Comments
April 17, 2010
BY MICHAEL SNEED Sun-Times Columnist
A tale of two great actors, the human factor, and a humdinger twist.

Case in point: An incident at Trattoria Gianni in Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre district Wednesday night involving actors William "CSI" Petersen and John Malkovich.

• The scene: A young woman in a red hat quietly walks into the Trattoria bar for a nightcap and spots a table occupied by Petersen, who's appearing in Steppenwolf's "Endgame," and Malkovich, a Petersen pal who is a leading member of the august Steppenwolf ensemble.

• The script: The petite blond walks over to the table and tells the men, "I am a huge fan," thanks them for chatting with her, says good night, leaves the restaurant, crosses the street, where a cab hailed by her husband is waiting, and gets hit by a car.

• The upshot: Petersen, dressed in capri pants and sandals, runs to her side, gets down on his knees, puts her little red hat under her head to comfort her and whispers to her until paramedics arrive. Malkovich, who has been watching streetside with the rest of the cast, gets in the ambulance to comfort her. "He felt this could have been his daughter, who is about the young woman's age," said a Sneed source.

• The backshot: The woman, Courtney Boho Marincsin, suffered a leg injury and was rushed to Illinois Masonic Hospital. "The driver of the car stopped and got out to help, but it was Petersen who dashed headlong into the street to really help and calm her," the source said. "One of her red heels was smashed on the street."

• More backshot: "She was darling and very respectful and really sweet," said Trattoria owner Gianni Delisi. "She wasn't a total stranger to us. But we didn't know her name. It was so sad because she had been so excited to meet [Petersen and Malkovich], who are great guys. And then she heads outside and quickly gets hit by a car."

• The kicker: Marincsin is a personal injury attorney who works for the prestigious Clifford Law Firm, run by legal eagle Robert A. Clifford.

Killer Joe

Da wir nun schon in chicago sind, haben wir uns "Killer Joe" von Tracy Letts angesehen. die warnungen - nudity, violence, sexual abuse - stimmen diesmal wirklich.
Ich war überrascht vom plötzlichen ende, man weiß nicht genau was es bedeuten soll.
die schauspieler waren hervorragend. ein gelungener abend.

jetzt wohnen wir also bei Carol und Hund rockey. sie hat ein schönes und großes haus, wir haben das basement (2 Zimmer, bad, dusche) für uns. aber es ist trotzdem nicht so toll. die meisten sachen sind zerknautscht im koffer gelandet und jetzt noch etwas waschen ...
ich werde wohl meinen Koffer neu packen und sehen. zum glück habe ich im hotel gewaschen und bin etwas flexibel.
kerstin

Letzter Tag Chicago

Letzte Endgame-Vorstellung :(
Diesmal mit John Malkovich im Publikum. Tolle Gesellschaft, oder ?
Ansonsten haben wir einen Roadtrip zum Starved Rock unternommen. Super. Tolles Wetter und eine schöne Gegend !
Jetzt heißt es packen.

Ricas Blog

Wir waren gestern nacht viel unterwegs und Rica hat etwas darüber geschrieben.

We sat around and caught up on things, and then left about noon or so to go eat at Ann Sather. Good food! I had a two-egg breakfast with bacon, hash browns, toast and THE best cinnamon rolls, besides Cinnabon, of course. :)


Piddled around a bit at the hotel until time to head to the theater. Enjoyed Endgame very much. It’s awkward at times, yet full of humor and despair. Mattie Hawkinson, Billy’s co-star in Blackbird, was in the audience.

After the play, we went to The Black Dog (I think that’s the name; I’ll check and edit if necessary). Had a couple Amaretto sours and some appetizers.

After leaving there, we decided to take a chance and go to The Second City to see The Absolute Best Friggin' Time of Your Life. Mind you the show started at 11:00 PM and I’d been up since 3:30 AM with only 3 hours of sleep. But we enjoyed the show immensely. It was ‘friggin’ hilarious!

Got back to the hotel about 1:30 AM and crashed almost immediately.
Ich auch :)

Stücke in Chicago

Hier mal ein kleiner Überblick was ich bisher gesehen habe.
Lost boys of sudan

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2010/03/lost-boys-of-sudan-at-vg-boys-tell-a-truthful-story-north-dakota-fanciful-poetry-and-all.html

the illusion

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2010/03/the-illusion-at-court-theatre-life-is-a-dream-is-a-dream-is-a-dream.html


uncle Vanja

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2010/03/uncle-vanya-on-navy-pier-is-an-intimate-3-hours-of-chekhov-in-the-original-russian-.html

Chicago 2010

So, da sind wir wieder - Chicago 2010.
Unsere Theaterreise begann am Mittowch in Victory Gardens mit THe lost boys of sudan. einen stück über 2 jungen und einem mädchen, dass dem bürgerkrieg in afrika entkommt und nun in den usa ist. ich fand es interessant und wirklich gut gespielt. obwohl wir erst am nachmittag angekommen waren und mein zeitgefühl nicht so gut ist. aber ich konnte wach bleiben. wir haben mit scott geredet, der uns vom letzten jahr erkannt hatte.
genauso wie die kellerin im hotel-Restaurant. dort haben wir morgens ein schönes Frühstück, jedenfalls ist es am anfang so. nach einer weile wir es vielleicht eintönig, aber jetzt geht es noch.

Gestern abend haben wir 3 Stücke aus der Brothers/Sisters Serie gesehen.
das erste stück hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Im zweiten hätte man sachen kürzen können. manche auftritte waren doppelt, irgendwie überflüssig. zumal es sehr lang war.

wir hatten das "Glück" mit einer Schulklasse dort so zusein. Einer farbigen und es war recht unruhig. plus die leute haben an manchen stellen sehr laut reagiert.
die schauspieler hatten sich nach dem stück die zeit genommen mit dem Publikum zu reden. sie waren echt sauer und haben es auch gesagt. wahrscheinlich haben die schüler auch sms geschrieben und man sah das von der bühne. keine gute idee die schüler zu zwingen, aber auf der anderen seite eine chance wenigstens ein paar zu erreichen.
heute am freitag wollen wir nach Skokie. Hey, da kommt doch nancy lee grahn her. wie auch immer, dort gibt es eine große mal mit 140 läden und einem theater. mal sehen wie das wird.

Sonntag

No Billy in Da Vinci oder Harry Caray :)
Natürlich leben wir in einer großen Stadt.
Trotzdem eine kleine Info.
Billys Haar ist dunkler als in Cannes. Er hat es wohl getönt. Ich finde, dass er gut aussieht.
im Stück wird er wohl in normalen Hosen, Hemde und Kravatte auftreten. Aber wie gesagt, dass sind so Sachen die man in Gespräch erfährt.

Blackbird - TV- Spot

Samstag in Chicago

Der dritte Tag hier. Superwetter. Perfekte Tage.
Wie versprochen ein enig mehr über Blackbird.
Die Proben finden 5 Mal in der Woche statt. Jeweils 5 Stunden. Das ist unheimlich viel, wie ich finde. Dennis Z. der regisseuur wurde gefragt, ob er den Autor gesprochn hat. Nein, aber er hat andere Inszenierungen gesehen. Und sie verlassen sich ganz auf Billy und Matties Schauspielkunst. Keine Effekte.
Es wird auf jeden Fall eine Liebesgeschichte erzählt. Zum Glück, weil ich das Buch so gelesen habe.
Mir fallen vielleicht noch mehr Einzelheiten ein, aber hier erstmal Bilder.

Sarah Siddons Awards Gala

On June1, 2009, the Sarah Siddons Society held an Awards Gala at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Water Tower Place in Chicago. The evening honored two remarkable actors for their distinguished achievements. William Petersen was honored with the 2008-09 Sarah Siddons Award as Chicago's Actor for All Seasons. Hollis Resnik was the recipient of a Chicago's Leading Lady Award for her performance in Northlight Theatre's production of Grey Gardens.

Chicago likes to think of him as one of its own, but William Petersen has received world-wide fame for his riveting performances and character portrayals. From his early days in Chicago theatre to his award-winning performances on stage and in television and movies, Petersen has received great critical acclaim, along with a legion of adoring fans. For nine seasons, Petersen starred as Dr. Gil Grissom in the CBS hit show, "CSI, Crime Scene Investigation." Recently, he left the show to return to the stage. It was Chicago's good fortune to see him in the Steppenwolf producton of A Dublin Carol. This summer of 2009, Petersen will return to Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater, the theater where he earned his first Equity card, to star in the play, Blackbird, directed by his friend, Dennis Zacek. The Sarah Siddons Society is proud to honor the distinguished William Petersen with the Sarah Siddons Award.

Auf nach Chicago

Ich werde am Donnertstag in Chicago landen. Wenn alles gut klappt. Und ich werde dann auch gern darüber berichten.