Fight Evil!

I taught ten 3-hour classes over 5 weeks to 4 juniors in high school (all 17 years of age).  Unlike other years, they all were interested in theatre, but didn’t have a developed passion regarding what about theatre they love or liked.  I found this surprising since usually I have over-the-top students who can’t get [...]

We are, indeed, the champions, my friends.
Or something like that. Rose and the Rime took home some Jeff Awards! Joshua Horvath received a citation for Sound Design and Kevin O’Donnell received one for Original Incidental Music.  Congratulations, Josh and Kevin!
Now, I couldn’t attend the Jeffs because I was “studying” for my economics final. It’s a bummer, because [...]

I recently read some survey results from a third-party ticket retailer that indicated that 83.8% of people were more likely to trust user reviews than theater critics.  Can  you believe that — 83.8%?  Personally, I think this is good news.  Because we get way more user reviews (on Yelp, on Goldstar, on blog comments) than [...]

A couple of weeks ago at Rose and The Rime I found myself utterly distracted on stage in the second scene of the play. Try as I might to be professional and listen to my scene partner Chris Mathews, I could not help but notice four cell phones in the front rows in constant motion. [...]

Rose and the Rime has been nominated for seven — count ‘em — seven (non-equity) Jeff Awards.
They are:
Production – Play
Director – Play
Nathan Allen
Costume Design
Debbie Baer
Lighting Design
Lee Keenan
Sound Design
Joshua Horvath
Choreography
Tommy Rapley
Original Incidental Music
Kevin O’Donnell (playing at Martyrs tonight, by the way)
Since there is no award for being a theater administrator, I was not nominated.  But I [...]

Hello, Please.
Chris Mathews here.

I'm just…blogging…about the fact that Saturday, April 11th, I go into the extension run of Rose and the Rime.  As I type this, that's less than 24 hours away, and I won't lie, my stomach flutters a little bit with the nerves.  

So what's the scoop?  
As you've probably heard, thanks to the [...]

It's official — Rose and the Rime has extended until May 9th.  We've added an extra 8 shows to our run, starting this Sunday, April 12th.
Come see it once, or come see it again!
And, um, if you think seeing a play twice because you really like it is a little "over the top," check out [...]

Holy Crap.
Holy Holy 
Sweet Mother of Pearl
Crap.

The Chopin Theater, current performance home to The House Theatre of Chicago,
just got 
its liquor license.  

!!!

Thank You.

We're all very excited….

Well, so okay.
I was at The Chopin on Sunday night and they had JUST received the license the day before, so their fridge was stocked with only one kind of beer. [...]

Some bunny loves us!
You. Must. See. This. Show.  — Loyola University Arts blog
"Rose and the Rime delivers. It is Aesopic in its morale, and Tolkien-[esque] in its epic journey."– Lauren Stacks, Book Ends
"Infectiously joyous…"  — Julienne Bilker, Chicagoist
"… happily rekindled the 'event' feeling that was so much a part of the ensemble's performances at its [...]

Carolyn Defrin received this note after a performance of Rose and the Rime recently:
"Had a such a good time at the show last night. Got snowed on, crawled on and mustard on my pants. Now, THAT's theater! Loved the show.  The House always makes me happy. Thank you."
-Josh Bell, audience member