New Musicals in progress, developed by TBC:

December 18:
El Dia de los Muertos

January 28:
Heloise and Abelard

Feb. 27 - March 13:
Freddy, the Flat-Faced School Bus

March 18:
Amelia

April 21:
iGhost

May 27:
Whirlybirds

Workshopper Joanne Koch wins Nantucket Short Play Competition

Joanne Koch, a member of our alumni workshop, recently received first place in the Nantucket Short Play Competition for her play Stardust. Joanne also wrote the book for American Klezmer, which played in the 2005 Stages Festival of New Works. Congratulations Joanne!

7PM, November 27
Workshop Writers’ Showcase
(fundraiser to finance Author-Produced Readings)

Come join us for a delightful evening of musical entertainment written by various members TBC's Musical Theatre Workshop. Top it off with delicious food, wine and the magic that inspires the world of musical theatre.

(Additional Donations are welcome!)

The proceeds from the Benefit help the authors in the workshop present their material in informal script in hand readings for audience feedback – an important step in the development of a new musical.

A conversation with Barry Ivan, incoming Artistic Director at the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA (5PM, Nov. 18)

“North Shore Music Theatre’s reputation for supporting new writers, directors, and actors is legendary, and I was especially impressed with their enthusiasm for producing our new musical.”
--Joe DiPietro, author and lyricist of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change; Memphis; and All Shook Up

Guest speaker Barry Ivan, the newly appointed and incoming Artistic Director and Executive Producer of North Shore Music Theatre, will be at Theatre Building Chicago on November 18, 2007. The North Shore Music Theatre in Beverley, Massachusetts, currently houses workshops of three new musicals every year, and has developed such shows as The Three Musketeers, Honk!, and I Sent a Letter to My Love (which Chicago audiences may remember from Stages 2000). Past seasons have also included TBC musical theatre writers workshop shows Emma and Company, Cashel Byron, and The Legend of Tom Dooley.

Mr. Ivan is a noted director and choreographer with experience in film, theatre, and television. In his career he has staged over twenty musicals at North Shore Music Theatre, guest directed at Yale University, and been nominated four times for the IRNE Award (Independent Reviewers of New England). Some of his directing and choreography credits include West Side Story (German State Opera), Company (starring Malcolm Gets), Anything Goes (starring Carolee Carmello) and several productions of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music (starring Dee Hoty and Tony-winner Beth Leavel), He has also worked extensively in the development of new musicals, including directing Tales of Tinsel Town for the Director’s Company in New York City and staging Tony-winner Maury Yeston’s new musical In the Beginning. Mr. Ivan’s writer’s workshop symposium will address the developmental process used by North Shore Music Theatre to explore and launch new musicals.

This special event is available to alumni & intermediate workshop members only.

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED: call 773.929.7367 x224

The program will begin at 5:00 PM at Theatre Building Chicago.
(located at 1225 W Belmont Ave. - Racine/Belmont)

To learn about upcoming special events, bookmark this page for updates!

October 17, 2007--Roxane of Bergerac, a new musical in progress will have a concert reading, presented by the authors (Marie Yuen, Book & Lyrics; Dave Flippo, Music) at 7PM on Monday - October 22. Stage director John Hildreth & Music Director Gary Powell helm the cast. (FREE - no ticket reservations required)

October 8, 2007-- Theatre Building Chicago continues its 30th anniversary season with the first of six new musicals-in-progress this season: OPENING DAY (Book by Steve Delchamps & Doug Voegtle; Lyrics by Steve Delchamps; Music by Doug Voegtle), premiering 7PM, October 29, 2007. Stephen Metcalfe’s 1982 play, STRANGE SNOW, is re-imagined in this new musical that centers on the dramatic tale of two young Vietnam veterans and their harrowing readjustment to civilian life. (read more about it)

James Morgan of the York Theatre Company to speak at the
Theatre Building Chicago Writers Workshop
(7PM, Oct. 15)

OCTOBER 1, 2007: On Monday, October 15, Theatre Building Chicago is excited to present guest speaker James Morgan, the Producing Artistic Director of the York Theatre Company in New York City. The York Theatre Company is dedicated to the development of new works in musical theatre, and has housed developmental productions of such shows as Sweeney Todd, Avenue Q, Pacific Overtures, Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), Lost in the Stars, and Merrily We Roll Along since its foundation in 1969. In addition, the York has worked with Theatre Building Chicago to bring productions from the Stages Festival to New York audiences, including The Showgirl of 52nd Street, Rex, and Vanishing Point.

Accommodating over 200 performances each year, including over 40 new musicals in their Developmental Reading Series, it is not surprising that the York received a special Drama Desk Award for “vital contributions to theatre by developing and producing new musicals.” Many of their shows have received the prestigious Richard Rodgers Development Award (dedicated to recognizing and funding new works), including Dust and Dreams: Celebrating Sandburg (formerly known as Bringers) by TBC writers Paul Libman and Dave Hudson. Past juries for the award have included Stephen Sondheim, Sheldon Harnick, and Lynn Ahrens.

James Morgan has been involved extensively with the York, and he will be talking with TBC workshop writers about the developmental process for new works at the York. He will follow a musical’s journey from submission to production and address the similarities and differences between the York and Theatre Building Chicago’s new works program, including how writers can get involved in the York series of new musicals.

The program will begin at 7:00 PM at Theatre Building Chicago.
(located at 1225 W Belmont Ave. - Racine/Belmont)

TICKETS: $5 (non-members)
free to all members of TBC's musical theatre writers workshop
No reservations required - tickets will be sold at door.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

7PM, November 27
Workshop Writers’ Showcase
(fundraiser to finance Author-Produced Readings)