Theatre

Theatre

Theatre is thriving in Evanston!

To learn more about theatre performances, please call the City of Evanston Cultural Arts Division at 847-448-8260 or visit evanstonartsbuzz.com.
 

Thumbnail image for Mississippi final image web.jpgFleetwood-Jourdain Theatre (FJT) is a municipally-supported theatre program. FJT features productions highlighting the Black experience. Most performances take place at the Theatre at Noyes Cultural Arts Center.

The Theatre produces four main stage shows in the summer, a play for young audiences, a free dramatic reading series and musical events in late summer. Click here for performing arts classes offered by Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre.

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Evanston Children’s Theatre (ECT): presents fall and spring productions. Performers are local youth age 8 through eighth grade, who are joined on stage with members of the Levy Senior Center on occasion.

Children are invited to audition for a special summer play/workshop of The Bourgeois Gentleman. Auditions will be held from 4-6pm on Tuesday, June 18 at the Levy Center, 300 Dodge Ave. Please arrive no later than 5:30pm. A fee is charged to those cast. Rehearsals will be held at the Levy Center from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays starting June 25. There will be one performance of The Bourgeois Gentleman the evening of Fri., July 26, at the Levy Senior Center. It will take place in the round and the audience will be seated onstage.

Auditions for ECT's fall production of The Neverending Story will take place from 4-6pm on Tues., Sept. 3 and Thurs., Sept. 5 (please arrive by 5:45pm) at the Levy Center, 300 Dodge Ave. A fee is charged to those cast. The Neverending Story will be performed November 22-24, 2013, at the Levy Center. Told with all the thrills of a classic adventure, the story begins with Bastian, a lonely boy, who stumbles into a curious bookshop where he discovers a curious book—The Neverending Story. Come along on his many adventures. Shows are Friday at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday at 3:00 and 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. For more information, please call the Levy Center at 847-448-8250.

Muse of Fire Theatre Company: Muse of Fire Theatre Company will present The Taming of the Shrew from August 3 through September 8, 2013. Each year, Muse of Fire presents a free outdoor summer production in Ingraham Park on Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Performances are free and open to public; no performances will take place Aug. 24-25. Ingraham Park is located behind the Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Avenue.

Noyes Cultural Arts Center: The Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes Street, is home to the renowned Piven Theatre Workshop. Piven Theatre has provided classes from beginning children (4th grade and higher) to professional adults for over 30 years. Many famous actors have been through the Piven program, including the entire Cusak family. For information on workshops, please call 847-866-6597. The Piven Theatre puts on performances each year at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center. For more information about upcoming performances, visit or call the box office at 847-866-8049. There are also performances and classes at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center by Next Theatre, Art Encounter, and  The Actors Gymnasium. For more information, please call the Noyes Cultural Arts Center at 847-448-8260.

Northwestern: The City of Evanston is also home to numerous student productions thanks to Northwestern University. Northwestern’s critically acclaimed theatre program provides performing arts opportunities every week. Their program produces more than eight main stage shows a year, along with countless student productions.

The school also puts on a Summer Theatre Festival. One of Northwestern’s most famous productions is called the Dolphin Show, which is the nation’s largest student-produced musical. Famous alumni of the show include David Schwimmer, Ann Margret, Tony Randall and Warren Beatty.

Savoyaires: The 2013 production will be “The Mikado,” presented the weekends of Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 18-20. Tickets will be available in early September. For additional info., go to www.savoyaires.org, call 847-563-0155 or e-mail info@savoyaires.org.

Founded in 1964 by Frank Miller and Lilias Circle, the Savoyaires soon became the first U.S. company to produce all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. Since 1994, the company’s annual production has been presented in Evanston’s Chute Auditorium, marking a renewed dedication to bringing G&S to the community and cultivating young audiences.

Although a community theater group, the company draws its artistic staff and many of its leads from the ranks of Chicago-area theater and music professionals. New participants are always welcome, from actor-singers and orchestral musicians to backstage crew and administrative support.

book theatre with a spine.jpgB.O.O.K.: Theatre With a Spine!: The Bodacious Oracles of Knowledge, or B.O.O.K., is an all teen theatre troupe open to interested Evanston teens between the ages of 12-18 (or, 6th grade to 12th grade). We perform original, ensemble-based stage adaptations of young adult literature, original stories written by teens, and plays depicting the young adult experience. Young actors, musicians, budding sound, lighting, scenic and costume designers, writers and directors are invited to join us as we take artistic risks, explore live storytelling on our feet, and have fun. For more information, e-mail Jarrett Dapier at jdapier@cityofevanston.org.