The old year faded out with an unexpected, last-minute theatrical goose from the Goodman Theatre, and an exciting goose it was, too! Just days before Xmas, Goodman announced that it had acquired rights to develop Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City as a musical. A creative team under the supervision of director David Petrarca will be assembled for the task. Petrarca, best known for shepherding the world premiere of Marvin’s Room, will stage Tales of the City at the Goodman at some future date. Perhaps we may see the residents of Maupin’s 28 Barbary Lane singing and dancing to that old hit of the Roaring Twenties, ‘The Barbary Drag.’ Do you suppose Harvey Fierstein will be available for Mrs. Madrigal?
Speaking of the Goodman Theatre, the company offers a one-night-only reading of the private correspondence of Tennessee Williams Monday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. Letters from Tennessee: A Distant Country Called Youth will feature actor Guy Adkins, and is part of the Goodman Stage Door Series. Tennessee speaks of his family, travels and casual lovers in this adaptation of his letters for the stage. Tickets are $20 ($15 for Goodman subscribers and donors) at the box office or charged-by-phone, (312) 443-3800.
The Mabel Mercer Foundation has announced plans for its second Chicago Cabaret Convention, Feb. 14-17. All programs will be at Park West, except an opening gala at the lovely, luxe Empire Room of the Palmer House. Among the national names scheduled to appear are Julie Wilson, Andrea Marcovicci (solo, all Cole Porter love songs, Valentine’s Day at Park West), Barbara Carroll, Rita Gardner, Sylvia McNair and Phillip Officer and others. Among the familiar locals are Alexandra Billings (at the Empire Room gala, also V-Day), Beckie Menzie, Patty Morabito, Spider Saloff, Nan Mason, Justin Haybord, and Kat’ Taylor.
It’s exciting to have this event returning, slightly scaled back from last year (fewer venues and—so far—no announced affiliated events). But the New York-based Mabel Mercer Foundation persists in making the same mistakes it did last year: they have not reached out (at least not in any public way) to Chicago Cabaret Professionals (the local association of cabaret artists) ; they make tickets difficult to purchase (by mail only, with a Jan. 24 cut-off date and only one acceptable credit card), and ticket prices are high ($40 and $25 at Park West, and $100 at the Empire Room without food or drink) ; they don’t have a Web site; call Foundation executive Donald Smith, (212) 980-3026, or e-mail mmfmabel@earthlink.net.
The tiny-but-mighty Writers’ Theatre of Glencoe has signed an agreement that will more than double its size. Starting next September, the troupe will perform its mainstage shows in a new home at the Women’s Library Club of Glencoe, with which the company has signed a 10-year lease as primary tenant. No more that cramped, little 44-seat house in the back of Books on Vernon; now Writers’ Theatre will have a gigantic, commodious 100-seat playhouse, custom-created by remodeling the existing auditorium. They will continue to produce at Books on Vernon.
Windy City Times critic Rick Reed raved (he IS a raver) about Poseidon! An Upside Down Musical when it opened at Theatre Building Chicago in early December. Based solely on Reed’s rave and the power of this publication, Poseidon! sold-out for its six-week run, the first hit for newly formed Hell in A Handbag Productions. Keeping a good thing going, the musical parody of the film in which Shelly Winters plays an ocean liner, is moving next door for an extended run at the Bailiwick Arts Center, Jan. 15-Feb. 23 (at least).
They’re calling it Out with the Girls, but it sounds like Girls’ Night Out to Jonny. Whatever, it’s a show, a conversation and a pay-your-own dinner for lesbian, bi, trans and queer woman all built around the new drama, Precious Stones, in which an Israeli woman and Palestinian woman fall in love across the lines of the Intifada. Produced by Silk Road Theatre Project, the world premiere by Jamil Khoury opens Jan. 25 at the Chicago Cultural Center Studio Theatre (Randolph Street entrance). Out with the Girls is the next afternoon (Jan. 26), offering discounted $10 tickets for the 2 p.m. show, followed by an exclusive talk with the author, director and actors; www.ticketweb.com.
Jonny is delighted to report that Dyke Mic is returning to the Bailiwick Studio Theatre, beginning this Friday night, Jan. 17, 10:30 p.m., and playing every Friday night through April 4. Lisa Hahn and jt newman continue to host the evenings of comedy, music, writing, movement and performance art performed by and for lesbian, trans and bi women and their friends. Nomy Lamm and Kay Barrett are featured this week in the first post-holiday Dyke Mic, with Samalya Ewing, Katherine Swick and Lucy Pabst on tap for Jan. 24.