American Theater Company and The Black Ensemble Theater were both named as finalists in the first annual BEAT awards, a theater award based on nominations of Chicago theater critics.
ATC was nominated for Best Equity Ensemble for their production of The Original Grease. “Restored, revised, R-rated and returned to Chicago.” the ATC web site says about the production.
“Restored to something like its original, Chicago-set self, Grease is as lively as a Riverview roller coaster,” Time Out Chicago said.
The production is also being nominated in the Best Director, Equity category for the vision of P J Paperelli.
Jackie Taylor is being nominated for “All In Love Is Fair” in the Best Director, Equity category as well.
For the Black Ensemble Theater production, set in the Southern Illinois town of Love, ”the setting and story matter far less than the music” according to Tribune critic Kerry Reid.
Finally Signal Ensemble received a nomination for Best Ensemble, Non-Equity. The production of Aces was nominated. Nina Metz wrote for the Chicago Tribune Aces was a “terrific little play that deserves to run all summer.”
John Beer wrote in Time Out Chicago “Aces wagers heavily on the charm of its downbeat, anti – Ocean’s Eleven’s mood. It’s payoff is modest, but real.”
Related posts:
- Open call for Harold & Maude
- American Theater Co bridge program serving 150 Amundsen students
- Vid: Jackie Taylor interviewed by Chris Jones for Chicago Live!
- Neo-Futurists Take on Pinocchio (as told by Frankenstein)
