The ShawChicago Theater Blog

SHAWCHICAGO 2007 - 2008 SEASON

2007-05-21T08:21:00.000-06:00

ShawChicago's mission is to present the plays of George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries. During the past thirteen seasons we have produced all of Shaw's major plays except SAINT JOAN, and that masterpiece is on our schedule for the near future. Since we are so near the completion of Shaw's canon, I feel it is time to put the spotlight on the work of some of his contemporaries, particularly playwrights that he greatly admired.

The theme of our 2007 - 2008 season is GETTING MARRIED: Before, During and After. To "hold the mirror up to nature", so to speak, regarding that great institution, I have chosen three plays that explore the consequences of decision to tie the matrimonial knot.

We open the season in November with Bernard Shaw's 1908 comedy, GETTING MARRIED, in which the action takes place on the fateful day, when second thoughts are most rampant.

In January, 2008, we explore the 'before' aspect of marriage with St. John (pronounced "Sinjin") Hankin's 1905 play, THE CASSILIS ENGAGEMENT.
And then in April we conclude this trio of matrimonial entanglements with James Barrie's delightful WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS (1908).the 'after' segment.We hope you'll join us in this matrimonial romp with Bernard Shaw and two of his most admired and respected contemporaries.

For performance dates and times please visit http://www.shawchicago.org/performances.html

Robert Scogin
Artistic Director
ShawChicago Theater Company

Shaw Comedy "Widower's Houses" at the Timeline

2007-05-08T15:44:00.000-06:00

The Timeline Theatre is presently performing WIDOWERS' HOUSES, directed by ShawChicago veteran actor Kevin Fox. For more information, go to: http://www.timelinetheatre.com/widowers_houses/index.htm

Blog by Telephone

2007-05-08T13:39:00.000-06:00

For those of you that are better talkers than typers we offer the ShawChicago Theater Company Blogger hotline. If you have a comment or message that you wish to post on the ShawChicago blog, you can do it over the telephone. Call (312) 205-0999 and leave your name and your message. Your message will be available in an audio format on the blog a day later.

Enjoy!

Article on Lois Weisberg

2007-05-08T13:34:00.000-06:00

An excellent article on ShawChicago Theater Founder and Chicago Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Lois Weisberg is at the Tribune's website:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0705040683may04,1,1719989.story

Shaw Exhibit at the Newberry Library

2007-05-04T21:35:00.000-06:00

It is our pleasure to invite you all to visit the Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St. (312) 943-9090 [www.newberry.org] to view George Bernard Shaw: Master of All Trades, a display of some very special volumes of the works of Shaw and the collected letters of Shaw & Mrs. Patrick (Stella) Campbell, as well as My Chicago by Anna Morgan, the woman who staged the world premiere of Shaw's Caesar & Cleopatra at the Fine Arts Building, in 1901. The display includes rare works like the bi-alphabetic edition of Androcles and The Lion, thought provoking works- like The Crime of Imprisonment , timely works- like Common Sense About The War, and humorous works- like American Boobs, there's something for everybody with an interest in Shaw.
"George Bernard Shaw: Master of All Trades" is a collaboration of the Newberry Library and ShawChicago, organized by William Locke, Robert Scogin and Michael McAlister, with Susan Hanf, Assistant Curator & Project Manager for the Newberry Library.
The display is free & open to the public on the 1st floor, 8:15am-5:30pm Monday, Friday & Saturday and 8:15am-7:30pm Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday. The display will remain until June 2nd.

Travels with Bob Scogin "Arms and The Man" in Turkey

2007-05-03T09:49:00.000-06:00

In February and March of 2007, ShawChicago Artistic Director Robert Scogin traveled to Konya, Turkey to stage a Turkish language production of Bernard Shaw's anti-romantic comedy, Arms and the Man.
The production was an entry in the Selcuk University Second International Theater Festival. Shaw's play, titled in Turkish Silahar Ve Kahraman, was a production of the Turkish State Theater Conservatory which is situated on the campus of Selcuk University, the largest university in Turkey, with more than 75,000 students.
The director was given invaluable assistance by his translator in the enterprise, Nezhi Onur, professor of English at Selcuk University and an instructor in the State Theater Conservatory.
The production and Mr. Scogin's stay in Turkey was generously supported by Professor Dr. Kursat Turgut, Vice Rector of Selcuk University. Other participants in the Second International Theater Festival came from Poland, Ukraine, Crimea-Tatar, and the Anadolu University Turkish State Theater Conservatory in Eskishihir.

Check out all the great pictures below... Aslihan Gurbuz and Cemal Aldic Erman Koc and Gul Yildirim

Burak Zereyalp, Seda Cavdar, Caner Ozcavus and Cemal Aldic Gul Yildirim, Tugba Yuksel and Evrim Bagci
Aslihan Gurbuz and Cemal AldicCemal Aldic and Tugba Yuksel

Shavings

2007-05-02T20:56:00.000-06:00

Shavings is an online bulletin dedicated to George Bernard Shaw. Click here to view the Shavings home page. Shavings has recently added a Posterwall, where some of ShawChicago's recent poster designs are featured.

Kate Young's new play "Hats"

2007-05-02T13:18:00.000-06:00

One of our fine actors, Kate Young, is performing in a new play that is at the Royal George Theatre. Hats The Musical. Go to the official website http://www.hatsthemusical.com for more information. Click here to read the review by Chris Jones.

Caesar and Cleopatra Review

2007-05-02T11:24:00.000-06:00

Theater: Caesar And Cleopatra
2007-04-25
Playwright: George Bernard Shaw
At: ShawChicago at the Cultural Center,
77 E. Randolph
Runs through: May 7
Phone: 312-742-8497; $15
BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE

Something about the Middle East-perhaps the vast expanses of desert contrasted with the forested clutter of their own regions-seems to spur European artists to grandiose projects. The scenic design for George Bernard Shaw's 1898 historical extravanganza includes a sphinx large enough to seat two; a busy seaport quay and lighthouse surrounded by water suitable for diving; and two palaces equipped with hordes of servants and soldiers. But budgetary concerns are not entirely responsible for the scarcity of Caesar and Cleopatras done in full production. Shaw's observations, however incisive, are inextricably linked to the facts as we know them. The author may have incorporated real-life personalities into his fiction before-General Burgoyne in The Devil's Disciple, to name one-but the meeting of east and west, as embodied in the training of the adolescent queen by the avuncular Roman emperor, was accompanied by mass destruction-the torching of the library at Alexandria, not to mention several armies clashing in bloody battle. Fortunately, chamber readings rely solely on the participants' vocal agility and the audience's imaginations to supply visual ambience. Oh, Tony Dobrowolski might wear a laurel wreath and Sienna Harris a serpent crown in keeping with specific references to such in the text, but one of the delights of ShawChicago's performances is the clever way that physical actions are adapted to stationary players. ( For example, when the teenage Cleopatra is to squabble with her little brother, her scorn is expressed, not in rough-housing, but a derisive Bronx cheer. ) Under Robert Scogin's brisk direction, the results make for dramatic action that gallops along with robust exhilaration, slowing to a trot only in the more solemn second act. Playgoers of scholarly bent will detect a sly reference to Aesthetic Movement-champion Oscar Wilde when Apollodorus the Sicilian declares his motto to be "art for art's sake," and everyone enjoy a chuckle over zingers like "When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty." But what resonates long after Shaw's aphorisms fade from memory is the irony as the avuncular Caesar bids goodbye to a willful Cleopatra, saying "I do not think we shall meet again." We know what awaits him at the forum in Rome, and the mischief in store when Marc Antony arrives in Egypt to assist the colonial monarch in her reign, and our knowledge lends poignancy to the final leave-taking of two world powers undone by cynical times.

Last weekend for Caesar and Cleopatra

2007-05-02T11:14:00.000-06:00

Get your tickets while you can to Caesar and Cleopatra at the Studio Theater of the Chicago Cultural Center. Click here for ticket information. Saturday and Sunday shows are at 2:00pm and the final performance on Monday, May 7 at 7:00pm.

Welcome!

2007-05-02T08:16:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the ShawChicago Theater Company Blog. Come back often to see the latest news on ShawChicago and George Bernard Shaw.