We WON!

Posted by DCA Theater on June 7, 2011 in Other

Wow, what a night for us and our associate companies at the non-equity Jeff Awards!

DCA Theater received SIXTEEN nominations (our highest ever) and our associated productions walked away with FIVE JEFF AWARDS for non-equity productions!

PRODUCTION - MUSICAL : “Cabaret” - The Hypocrites and DCA Theater
DIRECTOR - MUSICAL: Matt Hawkins - “Cabaret” - The Hypocrites and DCA Theater
ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE - MUSICAL: Jessie Fisher (The Emcee) - “Cabaret” - The Hypocrites and DCA Theater
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE: Kate Harris (Fräulein Schneider) - “Cabaret” - The Hypocrites and DCA Theater
COSTUME DESIGN: Alison Siple - “Cabaret” - The Hypocrites and DCA Theater

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AFTRA/SAG performs two radio plays to a packed house

Posted by DCA Theater on October 8, 2009 in Other, AFTRA/SAG Senior Radio Players

Last night the AFTRA/SAG Senior Radio Players performed two great radio dramas, On a Country Road (originally broadcast November 16, 1950 on the CBS Radio Network as part of “Suspense") and Halloween (originally broadcast November 1, 1946 on NBC as party of “The Baby Snooks Show") to a full house in the Claudia Cassidy Theater.

The cast of On a Country Road included: Parker Gronwold, Pat Vern-Harris, Rick Dianovsky, Robert Maher, Roger May, Don Stroup, George Elliot, Caitlin Hart and Robert Weiss. It was directed by Martin Halacy and produced by Don Stroup.

The cast of Halloween included: Maureen Steindler, Darwin Apel, Ami Silvestre, Connie Foster, Herb Lichtenstein, Darryl Warren, Bob Baron and Don Stroup. It was directed by Dan Frick and produced by Mercita DeMonk.

The evening’s sound effects were provided by Koni Shaughnessy, Rick Johnston and Karen Lockwood.

Join us for the next performance by AFTRA/SAG Senior Radio Players on Thursday, December 10 at 7:00PM. They will perform the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Acis and Galatea becomes the FIRST fully-staged opera to appear on the Jay Prtizker Pavilion

Posted by DCA Theater on August 4, 2009 in Other, Summer Opera

Submitted by Stephen Raskauskas, Production Dramaturge
Photos by Kathleen Donovan Warren

Galatea (Amy Conn) has used her divine powers to transform Acis (John Zuckerman) into a flowing river.

John Zuckerman and Amy Conn (center) end “Happy We” with a kiss, as the chorus—Brian Hoffman, Brad Jungwirth, Scott Brunscheen, Susan Nelson, and Caitlin McKechney (from left to right)—congratulates the newly wedded lovers.

The Summer Opera production of Acis and Galatea in the Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park was a huge success.

Luckily, the morning rain cleared up just in time for the cast and crew to begin set up.  In fact, the weather was fantastic, and over 4,000 people arrived to experience some beautiful music, clever staging, and a bit of Chicago history; Acis and Galatea was the first ever fully-staged opera on the Pavilion! 

Susan Nelson, Brad Jungwirth, Caitlin McKechney, Scott Brunscheen, and Brian Hoffman (from left to right), end the opera just the way it starts; a dazzling, five-part chorus.

Acis (John Zuckerman, left) and Polypheme (Wilbur Pauley, right) prepare to fight for Galatea’s affection.

The intimate production translated remarkably well onto the gigantic stage after some slight alterations, and amplification allowed everyone in the park to experience the glory of Handel’s music.  (Before August 3rd, some of the singers, like most opera singers, had never sung with microphones! )

Audience members enjoy the opera from the comfort of the Great Lawn

If you didn’t get a chance to see Acis and Galatea, be sure to catch next year’s performance, as well as the many free and fantastic offerings at the Chicago Cultural Center and in Millennium Park.

Directors on Directing

Posted by DCA Theater on July 30, 2009 in Other, DirectorsLab Chicago

We had a fantastic turnout for Monday night’s panel discussion presented in association with DirectorsLabChicago. The event kicked off a week of workshops and presentations for directors from around the globe, but we were pleased that not only directors came out to hear the discussion. Over 150 theater-goers and general arts patrons were also interested to hear some of the city’s most prominent directors share stories of their professional lives.

Some provocative questions came from the moderator, Mark Sutton, and the directors (Ron OJ Parsons, Mick Napier, Henry Godinez, John Sparks, and Charlie Newell) offered insightful comments and moving anecdotes.

Mark Sutton, Ron OJ Parson and Mick Napier
Photo by Anita Evans

Henry Godinez, John Sparks and Charlie Newell
Photo by Anita Evans

Questions ranged from “How do you prepare to start a new project, do you have any rituals?” “Is it more difficult to take on an established script [like “Our Town"] or to put up a completely new work?” “How are you affected by the notion of authority?” “Do you lay ground rules down at the start of a rehearsal process?” “What kind of work excites you right now?” and finally, “Name one memorable movement from your experience as a theater-goer.”

The answers ranged from poignant (Henry Godinez recounted his incredible experience directing Luiz Valdez’s “Zoot Suit” at the Goodman with Valdez’s brother in a lead role) to humorous (Mick Napier admitted he goes into rehearsals with a carefully conceived methodology, but then makes it appear as though he’s made it up on the spot for the benefit of the improv actors with whom he works). Overall, the night was very engaging and we look forward to hosting another free public program in association with DirectorsLabChicago 2010.

Opening Night!

Posted by DCA Theater on July 29, 2009 in Other, Summer Opera

Submitted by Helen Vasey, Acis & Galatea Producer

All of our planning finally came to fruition last night in a wonderful first performance. It was so exciting to feel the energy of the crowd and I know that the cast were eagerly anticipating the chance to share all their hard work with an audience (and here they all are, minutes before “curtain”).

We were well supported by many friends, family and colleagues who came out in force to see the show. Here, the show’s tenor cover, Drew Duncan, is accompanied by our ever-glamorous colleague Alex Subbarao from Chicago Opera Theater.

And of course, here’s a taster of some production shots from the performance:

Photo by Nadia Oussenko

Here, Amy Conn, our Galatea, reads on, oblivious to Acis’ (John Zuckerman) attempts to pluck up the courage to approach her!
I’m sure I’m not giving too much of the story away in a sneak peek of how successful his advances prove…..

Photo by Nadia Oussenko

Our mischievous 5-part chorus play a central role in moving along the action. In this scene they persuade their “boss” Polypheme to join in the fun.

(From left to right: Scott Brunscheen, Brian Hoffman, Wilbur Pauley, Susan Nelson, Brad Jungwirth, Caitlin McKechney)
Photo by Nadia Oussenko

The one little sticking point of the evening was the member of the public who somehow managed to get backstage as our stage manager gave the performers their final call, and take one of our props. The musicians among you may have noticed our play on words with the pitch “pipe” brandished by our Polypheme in place of the stolen tobacco pipe!

As we’d managed to fit in a few extra chairs we were able to accommodate everyone who walked up on the day. So, if you didn’t manage to snag advance tickets and want to come to one of our Cultural Center shows, there are still a few tickets available for Thursday and Saturday – come and join us.