BTD Skyped in with Teenage Dick director Brian Balcom to talk about what it took just to get the play produced, why the story is personal to him, and how streaming options helped give the show a run that almost [...]
The Spring is usually a busy time for most theater companies as they’re usually mounting and running shows and holding fundraisers. But when Broadway went dark on March 12 this year due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in New York, [...]
Amidst recent suspension of group gatherings and, thus, live performances, many Belmont District Theaters have opted into providing digital, remote and streaming programming for patrons to enjoy from the comfort of their own homes. Some virtual programming is also accessible [...]
This fall, Thornton Wilder's classic play OUR TOWN gets a fresh interpretation with the Saint Sebastian Players. Director Jim Masini shared why he felt drawn to retelling this foundational script right now. BTD: What has kept this classic play relevant [...]
Splatter is a staple of the Chicago Halloween season. I got the 4-11 from Annoyance's Managing Director Charley Carroll who told me all about the fascinating, messy history of this shocker of a show. BTD: Tell us the history of [...]
We're well into #OctoberMonthOfTheater, and Otherworld Theatre couldn't be more in their element. I caught up with resident playwright Nick Izzo on his adaption Countess Dracula to learn more about how he updated the classic vampire tale for modern audiences. [...]
Can a play show what it feels like to have a medical condition take over your mind? BE HERE NOW, Shattered Globe's season opener, tackles this daunting question. I spoke with lead actress and company member Rebecca Jordan to learn [...]
For the first time, TimeLine Theatre takes the stage in the Loop. With a Tony-winning play and a Chicago premiere on the horizon, I asked Associate Artistic Director and director of OSLO Nick Bowling what he's looking forward to this [...]
A theater that once served as a staple in Chicago comedy gets a fresh start, thanks to Program Director Megan Hartmann and the team behind the Newport Theater. This week on the blog, Megan shares her thoughts on working to [...]
As anyone working in the industry knows, theater people often juggle more than one show at once. Kokandy's new Producing Artistic Director Derek Van Barham is doing just that. This summer, he split his time between the larger-than-life HEAD OVER [...]
While we try to make the summer last as long as possible, we are already excited about the treasure trove of shows lined up in BTD's 19/20 season. Below are just a sample of the productions coming our way very [...]
Summer vacation in Chicago means it's time for camp! Emerald City Theatre continues their support of Chicago's young artists through their summer theatre camp program, running now. I caught up with Education Coordinator Jessica Smoot and Summer Camp Coordinator Tyra [...]
Editor's note: On occasion, BTD shifts their blog's attention to the self produced companies, DIY projects, and emerging artists that make up the next generation of theatre. This month, we focus on The Syndicate, an ensemble theater company that produces [...]
Behind every great performance on stage, there is a huge team of support. Part of that team for Remy Bumppo's current run of Steven Dietz's Bloomsday is actress Margaret Kellas who took on the challenge of understudying the role of Caithleen. [...]
Things are heating up in the Belmont Theater District! From storytelling to improv to musicals and more, here are just five of many BTD shows to fill your summer nights. For a complete listing of shows playing now and coming [...]
From the moment the audience enters TimeLine Theatre to see Jiréh Breon Holder's Too Heavy For Your Pocket, they are in two worlds at once. They walk softly over grass that slopes up a small hill and right into a kitchen. [...]
Classic myths often find their way onto the contemporary stage. Two Chicago companies are in the midst of examining the story of Medusa through new work. Otherworld Theatre closes a double-header of Bella Poynton’s Medusa Undone and Elizabeth Ann Michaela [...]
Our world moves at an alarming rate in the 21st century. With so much happening every minute, it can be hard to argue for looking back. With its current production of Kate Fodor's Hannah and Martin, Shattered Globe Theatre is doing [...]
How do you put the internet on stage? For as long as our emotional lives have existed online, playwrights have answered the call to explore what that means. In Walt McGough's Non-Player Character, directed by Beth Wolf for Red Theater [...]
The new home for the BTD is BTDChicago.com, which now proudly serves as a one-stop-shop for Lakeview theatergoers, showcasing the latest news, show listings, and things to do.