The Chicago theater community is preparing to say ‘Goodbye and good luck’ to one of its most dedicated members, Page Hearn, longtime managing director of City Lit Theatre Company. After 10 years with City Lit, and longer than that in the local theater industry, Hearn is moving to New York City in February to stretch his wings. Under his leadership, City Lit has survived and flourished, building a solid subscriber base, critical honors and finding a permanent home in the Edgewater neighborhood. Chicago audiences will remember Hearn best for his many appearances as Jeeves, the clever and cool-as-a-cucumber butler created by P. G. Wodehouse, whose stories were adapted for the stage by City Lit as an annual Christmas season treat for many years. Jonny joins Page Hearn’s many friends in saying thanks for your many contributions and hard work, and best of everything in the future.

Many critics were none too happy with the November production of The Importance of Being Earnest at Court Theatre. In particular, reviewers for the Chicago GLBT rags (including Windy City Times) took Court to task for turning Oscar Wilde’s not-quite-gay comedy of manners into an unfunny and forced farce. Well, Wilde fanciers—or at least those who fancy Earnest—will have the opportunity of judging another interpretation of the comedy gem at First Folio Shakespeare Festival, Feb. 17-March 20. Two things make this upcoming production notable. For one, it will be the inaugural indoor production for First Folio, which heretofore has been an outdoor summertime Shakespeare festival. For another, the play’s overbearing grande dame, Lady Bracknell, will be played in drag by Tony Dobrowolski. Jonny should note that this isn’t a first; Bracknell has been done in drag before, but it remains a good idea (if well executed). This Earnest should be far more traditional than the Court Theatre version, especially since First Folio will perform it in the formal library of Tudor Revival mansion, Mayslake Hall at the Peabody Estate in Oak Brook.

Playwright Claudia Allen was on hand Dec. 14 to wield a symbolic shovel at the groundbreaking for the new Victory Gardens (VG) Theater complex at the Biograph Theater on Lincoln Avenue. Allen is a member of VG’s Playwrights Ensemble, and author of the Tony Award-winning company’s most recent show, Hanging Fire. Victory Gardens will turn the Biograph into a two-playhouse complex, considerably larger and more versatile than the troupe’s current home two blocks south on Lincoln Avenue. But VG will retain ownership of the old space, too, so it will have five stages at its disposal for its own shows, or to rent to other companies. Good news from the VG management types is that the theater already has $8.1 million in pledges towards the total $9 million cost of buying and remodeling the Biograph. That sum includes $1.5 million from the State of Illinois and $2.5 million from the City of Chicago, so the new VG represents your tax dollars at work. Doors for the new complex are scheduled to open next fall. [See photo in this issue.]

Jonny reminds all gracious readers that this is the final week to catch the lovely ladies of Diva Diaries in that hit musical at the Lakeshore Theatre. The long run (by Off-Loop standards) success closes Jan. 2. Perhaps you would care to share New Year’s Eve with Alexandra Billings, Honey West and their cohorts? Diva Diaries features classic songs of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s as well as original music.

Jonny wishes all gracious readers a very Happy New Year. Remember, please, to pace yourselves because you’re not through yet: in the United States, the holidays run from Halloween through the Superbowl!