If you know me at all you’ve probably heard me rave about Theo Ubique Theatre Co.’s work, specifically Fred Anzevino: the director of most shows and the Artistic Director of the company. Theo Ubique is housed in the tiny No Exit Cafe in Roger’s Park. Their shows are minimal, but incredibly rich. Fred never puts more on stage then what NEEDS to be there to tell the story.

Their current critically-acclaimed show, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita, just garnered 7 jeff nominations and starts it’s theatrical extension this weekend! 

Maggie Portman acts the living crap out of the title role. She is phenomenal, both glamorous and earthy at the same time.

(Yes I DID just say the living crap.)

Chris Damiano is fantastic as the revolutionary Che Guevara. His voice is gorgeous  and he certainly has charm to spare. This guy is oozing with talent.

Jeremy Trager plays Juan Peron with such enviable strength, but it was his lovely and nuanced tender moments that kept me riveted.

Additionally, Michael Wheelwright is hilarious and spot on as Augustin Magaldi and you can’t take your eyes off of Jenny Lamb, whether she’s carrying a prop onstage or delivering the heart-wrenching “Another Suitcase in Another Hall” as the Mistress. 

Fred’s direction is superb, the choreography (Brenda Didier!) is genius, and the music sounds sensational. The other 5 ensemble members play everything from soldiers to aristocrats. They are outstanding and their voices are so full that you don’t miss the huge chorus that this show usually employs.

Have I convinced you yet? Can I stop gushing now?

Go see it!

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Tim Rice

Directed by Fred Anzevino
Music Direction by Ryan Brewster
Choreography by Brenda Didier
Costumes by Jill Van Brussel
Set Design by Nate Crawford
Light Design by David Heimann

EXTENSION: Performances run May 1 through May 31, 2009 - Friday through Saturdays at 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 7:00 pm. Each ticket is $30 (Does not include dinner or beverages)

DINNER PACKAGE: Pre-Show dinner of Argentine cuisine available and recommended for the full theater experience. Total price of each ticket is $54 (Includes service charge, dinner, tax, and show, but not beverages) 

GET TICKETS ONLINE: http://www.theoubique.org/index.html

BOX OFFICE: 773.347.1109

CONGRATS TO ALL MY INSANELY TALENTED FRIENDS!!!

 
Published: Today 

The Jeff Awards committee today announced 114 nominations in 24 categories for the non-Equity Jeff Awards. The awards honor excellence in Chicago’s non-union theaters for productions that opened between April 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009.

The Jeff Awards judged the opening nights of 130 productions offered by 57 non-Equity producing organizations and recommended 54 of them as eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations in all categories.

Top-nominated productions include Theo Ubique’s “Evita,” Lifeline Theatre’s world premiere adaptation of “Mariette in Ecstasy” and the House Theatre of Chicago’s “Rose and the Rime.”

The awards will be presented June 9 at a ceremony at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage. Tickets, $35 in advance, $40 at the door, include a cash bar and light buffet. Purchase tickets online at www.jeffawards.org. For more information, e-mail: nonequitywing@jeffawards.org.

Here is the complete list of this season’s nominees:

PRODUCTION — PLAY

“Enchanted April,” Circle Theatre

“In Arabia We’d All Be Kings,” Steep Theatre Company

“Mariette in Ecstasy,” Lifeline Theatre

“The Mark of Zorro,” Lifeline Theatre

“Our Town,” the Hypocrites

“Rose and the Rime,” House Theatre of Chicago

PRODUCTION — MUSICAL OR REVUE

“The Christmas Schooner,” Bailiwick Repertory Theatre

“Evita,” Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James

“Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night,” Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James

“The Robber Bridegroom,” Griffin Theatre Company

“Woody Guthrie’s American Song,” Blindfaith Theatre

DIRECTOR — PLAY

Nathan Allen, “Rose and the Rime” (House Theatre of Chicago)

David Cromer, “Our Town” (the Hypocrites)

Elise Kauzlaric, “Mariette in Ecstasy” (Lifeline Theatre)

Joanie Schultz , “In Arabia We’d All Be Kings” (Steep Theatre Company)

Rick Snyder, “Men of Tortuga” (Profiles Theatre)

DIRECTOR — MUSICAL OR REVUE

Fred Anzevino, “Evita” (Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James)

Fred Anzevino, “Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night” (Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James)

Mary Beidler Gearen, “The Christmas Schooner” (Bailiwick Repertory Theatre)

Paul S. Holmquist, “The Robber Bridegroom” (Griffin Theatre Company)

Nicolas Minas, “Woody Guthrie’s American Song” (Blindfaith Theatre)

ENSEMBLE

“Evita,” Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James)

“In Arabia We’d All Be Kings,” Steep Theatre Company

“Mariette in Ecstasy,” Lifeline Theatre

“Men of Tortuga,” Profiles Theatre

“Our Bad Magnet,” Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company

“Woody Guthrie’s American Song,” Blindfaith Theatre

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE — PLAY

Don Bender, “Old Times” (City Lit Theater Company)

Esteban Andres Cruz, “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” (Raven Theatre)

James Elly, “The Mark of Zorro” (Lifeline Theatre)

Ryan Jarosch, “Torch Song Trilogy” (Hubris Productions)

Brian Parry, “Shadowlands” (Redtwist Theatre)

Brian Plocharczyk, “After Ashley” (Stage Left Theatre)

Bradford Stevens, “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” (Raven Theatre)

ACTOR IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE — MUSICAL

Courtney Crouse, “Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical” (Bohemian Theatre Ensemble)

Chris Damiano, “Evita” (Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James)

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE — PLAY

Brenda Barrie, “Mariette in Ecstasy” (Lifeline Theatre)

Laura Coover, “Blue Surge” (Eclipse Theatre Company)

Cameron Feagin, “Private Lives” (City Lit Theater Company)

Nancy Freidrich, “The Dastardly Ficus and Other Comedic Tales of Woe and Misery” (The Strange Tree Group)

Betsy Zajko, “Beholder” (Trap Door Theatre)

ACTRESS IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE — MUSICAL

Laura McClain, “The Christmas Schooner” (Bailiwick Repertory Theatre)

Maggie Portman, “Evita” (Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James)

Rachel Quinn, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (Circle Theatre)

Bethany Thomas, “Belle Barth: If I Embarrass You Tell Your Friends” (Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James)

SOLO PERFORMANCE

Janet Ulrich Brooks, “Golda’s Balcony” (Pegasus Players)

Alice Wedoff , “The Shape of a Girl” (Pegasus Players)

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE — PLAY

Paul S. Holmquist, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” (Lifeline Theatre)

Matthew Sherbach, “The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler” (Dog & Pony Theatre Company)

Kevin V. Smith, “Our Bad Magnet” (Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company)

Madrid St. Angelo, “A Passage to India” (Premiere Theatre & Performance in association withVitalist Theatre)

Jon Steinhagen, “Plaza Suite” (Eclipse Theatre Company)

Nathaniel Swift, “Blue Surge” (Eclipse Theatre Company)

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE — MUSICAL

Chris Damiano, “Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night” (Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James)

Chris Froseth, “Woody Guthrie’s American Song” (Blindfaith Theatre)

Jim Sherman, “The Christmas Schooner” (Bailiwick Repertory Theatre)

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE — PLAY

Susan Veronika Adler, “Torch Song Trilogy” (Hubris Productions)

Jeannette Blackwell, “The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler” (Dog & Pony Theatre Company)

Nora Fiffer, “The Autumn Garden” (Eclipse Theatre Company)

Mary Hollis Inboden, “Torch Song Trilogy” (Hubris Productions)

Elise Kauzlaric, “On the Shore of the Wide World” (Griffin Theatre Company)

Lily Mojekwu, “Greensboro: A Requiem” (Steep Theatre Company)

Rinska Prestinary, “In Arabia We’d All Be Kings” (Steep Theatre Company)

Mary Redmon, “Enchanted April” (Circle Theatre)

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE — MUSICAL OR REVUE

Amanda Hartley, “The Robber Bridegroom” (Griffin Theatre Company)

NEW WORK

Tony Fiorentino, “All My Love” (Diamante Productions)

Robert Koon, “Odin’s Horse” (Infamous Commonwealth Theatre)

Frank Maugeri & Seth Bockley, “Boneyard Prayer” (Redmoon Theater)

Andrew Park, “The People’s History of the United States” (Quest Theatre Ensemble)

Ken Prestininzi, “Beholder” (Trap Door Theatre)

NEW ADAPTATION

Fred Anzevino, Arnold Johnston & Joshua Stephen Karte, “Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night” (Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James)

Cristina Calvit, “Mariette in Ecstasy” (Lifeline Theatre)

Robert Kauzlaric, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” (Lifeline Theatre)

William Massolia, “Be More Chill” (Griffin Theatre Company)

Terry McCabe, “Scoundrel Time” — City Lit Theater Company

Katie McLean — “The Mark of Zorro” — Lifeline Theatre

CHOREOGRAPHY

Kevin Bellie — “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” — Circle Theatre

Brenda Didier — “Evita” — Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association withMichael James

Tommy Rapley — “Rose and the Rime” — House Theatre of Chicago

ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL

MUSIC

Lara Golan, “Dr. Egg and the Man With No Ear” (Redmoon Theater)

Charles Kim & Seth Bockley, “Boneyard Prayer” (Redmoon Theater)

Kevin O’Donnell, “Rose and the Rime” (The House Theatre of Chicago)

MUSIC DIRECTION

Ryan Brewster, “Evita” (Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James)

Mark Elliott, “The Robber Bridegroom” (Griffin Theatre Company)

Joshua Stephen Kartes, “Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night” (Theo Ubique Theatre Company in association with Michael James)

Jeremy Ramey, “The Christmas Schooner” (Bailiwick Repertory Theatre)

Shaun Whitley, “Woody Guthrie’s American Song” (Blindfaith Theatre)

SCENIC DESIGN

Alan Donahue, “Mariette in Ecstasy” (Lifeline Theatre)

Anders Jacobson, “Red Angel” (LiveWire Chicago Theatre)

Bob Knuth, “Enchanted April” (Circle Theatre)

Bob Knuth, “Hay Fever” (Circle Theatre)

Richard & Jacqueline Penrod, “The Shape of a Girl” (Pegasus Players)

Emily Schwartz & Kate Nawrocki, “The Dastardly Ficus and Other Comedic Tales of Woe and Misery” (The Strange Tree Group)

LIGHTING DESIGN

John Horan, “Dr. Egg and the Man With No Ear” (Redmoon Theater)

Denise Karczewski, “Golda’s Balcony” (Pegasus Players)

Lee Keenan, “Rose and the Rime” (House Theatre of Chicago)

Jared B. Moore, “Touch” (New Leaf Theatre)

COSTUME DESIGN

Debbie Baer, “Rose and the Rime” (House Theatre of Chicago)

Michelle Julazadeh, “Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical” (Bohemian Theatre Ensemble)

Suzanne Mann, “Hay Fever” (Circle Theatre)

Suzanne Mann, “Enchanted April” (Circle Theatre)

John Nasca, “Die! Mommie Die!” (Hell in a Handbag Productions)

Jesus Perez, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (Circle Theatre)

SOUND DESIGN

Victoria DeIorio, “The Mark of Zorro” (Lifeline Theatre)

Mikhail Fiksel, “Winter Pageant Redux” (Redmoon Theater)

Tim Hill, “Mariette in Ecstasy” (Lifeline Theatre)

Joshua Horvath, “Rose and the Rime” (House Theatre of Chicago)

Nick Keenan, “Touch” (New Leaf Theatre)

Stephen Ptacek, “God’s Ear” (Dog & Pony Theatre Company)

ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION

Mask Design — Amanda Church, “The People’s History of the United States” (Quest Theatre Ensemble)

Animation — Jamie Clennett, “Dr. Egg and the Man with No Ear” (Redmoon Theater)

Fight Choreography — Geoff Coates, “The Mark of Zorro” (Lifeline Theatre)

Puppets– Graeme Davis, “Dr. Egg and the Man with No Ear” (Redmoon Theater)

Puppets — Jesse Mooney Bullock, (”Boneyard Prayer”) Redmoon Theater