8-31-07
Rogue on the Move
The Rogue Theatre Company has given up its storefront space at 5123 N. Clark Street in Andersonville, previously occupied by Red Hen Productions (also producing as the Chicago Jewish Theatre), and before that by Steven Ivcich. Rogue vacated following the run of Shaw’s Major Barbara, which closed July 8. A “For Rent” sign went up in the window almost immediately. The sign still is there, but the owner’s assistant says a sale of the entire building might be in the works to a large commercial chain store that not only would wipe out the 1,600 square foot storefront theatre, but also at least two other locally-owned street-level businesses. But, hey, that’s not PerformInk’s lookout, right?
Of more concern is that Rogue Theatre appeared to be in suspended animation as several phone messages left by PerformInk on the troupe’s administrative phone number were not returned, while the box office extension hasn’t been updated since early May. Rogue’s Web site also hasn’t been updated in several months. It announces that the troupe will be leaving Andersonville at the end of the run of Major Barbara, but provides no later information.
Finally, as PerformInk approached deadline, our e-mails (if not our prayers) were answered by Dan Foss, artistic director of Rascal Children’s Theatre, the rug rat unit of Rogue. He explained that the troupe is on hiatus because a) he has just started a new job, and b) Rogue founding artistic director Nate Allen and his wife, Lisa, are expecting their first child in October. Hey, it’s always something, right?
Foss explained, as everyone kind-of figured, that the move out of Andersonville was “entirely a matter of expense.” Rogue occupied the space for 14 months at $3200/month, but renewal of their lease would have jumped the rent to $3500, and when you only have 35 seats that makes it tough. The landlord said they could stay at a reduced rent until he either sold the building or found a new tenant, but with their season over and a baby on the way, the Rogues and Rascals decided to move.
Rascal Children’s Theatre is coming up roses as the resident children’s theatre of The Side Project, which will share the cost of producing an October-March season of four shows, opening Oct. 13 with Guess Who, Gum Shoe? by Lucinda Z. Alipio and Antonio P. Dowd. The adult Rogues will remain on hiatus until next spring when they will produce Twelfth Night at the Lincoln Square Theatre, directed by Kerstin Broockmann. Foss said Rogue may produce a second show in the fall, possibly a J. M. Barrie play or another Shaw.
Neither red ink nor black ink, but invisible ink. That pretty much describes the Fiscal 2008 appropriation for the Illinois Arts Council, and every other agency of the state, as hostilities between Governor Blago and the General Assembly hold everyone and everything hostage. Be that as it may, the guv proposed funding at $20.6 million for the Illinois Arts Council (IAC), which would be exactly the same as last year. However, the budget bill passed by the General Assembly and sent to the governor’s desk proposed an additional $3.6 million for the IAC, for a total of just over $24 million. As of press deadline, the guv still had not decided whether he would sign or veto the budget bill, but his decision certainly will not be based on the IAC line item. If approved, the IAC for the first time would be funded at $2 per capita of the state population; a “magic” minimum number long advocated by the Illinois Arts Alliance.
Theatre critic Kris Vire has become a Looper. In July, the freelance contributor to Time Out Chicago—which has its offices on State Street in The Loop—became the weekly book’s third full-time theatre staff writer. He steps half-way into the shoes of Novid Parsi, who has assumed some higher editorial responsibilities, although he will continue to contribute to the theatre section as well. As ever, Christopher Piatt sits tall in the saddle as theatre editor and critic.
Cathy Taylor says she didn’t realize how busy she was until she read our last column. After reading how much she’s doing, she decided that it’s probably time to hire a second publicist for her independent operation, but, she says, “I certainly didn’t want to hire someone unless I knew that I had enough business and could pay them.” You do, Cathy; you can.
More Than Just Football Department: the University of Notre Dame has a professional theatre in residence—who knew?—called Summer Shakespeare, and its artistic producing director is a familiar Chicago talent, Jay Paul Skelton. The troupe’s 2007 production is Love’s Labor’s Lost, directed by Skelton and featuring Monet Butler, Bethany Caputo, Bradley Mott, Mike Nussbaum and Joseph Wycoff among the cast. Performance dates are Aug. 21-Sept. 2. Summer Shakespeare is now in its eighth season offering one mainstage show a year, plus a student company and various special attractions that have brought the Guthrie Theatre to South Bend, as well as artists such as Brian Bedford, Clare Bloom and Michael York. Skelton is an assistant professor in Notre Dame’s Department of Film, TV and Theatre.
Bailiwick Repertory has invited four diverse theatre troupes to stay a while as resident companies for the 2007-2008 season. The four are: sketch comedy outfit Johnny’s Regret; the family audience troupe Hogwash and its ongoing An Improvised Tall Tale performances; the Time of Your Life Players, featuring actors 50 years of age and older who present a senior perspective through original plays and musicals; and Hell in a Handbag Productions, a company appealing to camp and gay sensibilities with its original parodies of popular film and theatrical styles.
Johnny’s Regret is the first resident troupe out of the gate, having just completed a summer run of Lazy Susan at Bailiwick, while Hogwash’s An Improvised Tall Tale debuted at Bailiwick Aug. 18, and continues with Saturday matinees through Nov. 17. Time of Your Life Players will premiere a new musical, Bud’s Cafe, Oct. 5-Nov. 9 and then make room for Hell in a Handbag Production’s annual Xmas show, Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, Nov. 30-Dec. 30.
Call it cosi fan tutti: if that ain’t something for everyone, we don’t know what is.