Lanise Antoine Shelley News

The House Theatre of Chicago will launch its 20th Anniversary Season with an all-new wintertime tradition, a boldly reimagined staging of Hans Christian Anderson’s beloved fable, The Snow Queen, November 17-January 2 at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago.

The Drama League Directors Project is the paramount mentoring and career development program for early-career stage directors. Since its founding in 1984, the Drama League's Directors Project has over 300 alumni working in all facets of entertainment ranging from Broadway to television.

The House Theatre of Chicago announces its 20th Anniversary Season, “The House Reimagined” with live productions taking place at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St, and all new digital content being presented online.

After such a long wait, it’s particularly magical to see this uproariously funny but also tender play that puts young Black women right at its center.

Biting and buoyant, School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play earned critical and popular acclaim in its Off-Broadway extended run. As the reigning queen bee at Ghana's most exclusive boarding school sets her sights on the Miss Universe pageant, a new student unexpectedly changes the game, forcing her to defend her reputation—and status. 

The Drama League has announced the recipients of the 2021-2022 Drama League Directing Fellowship and Residencies, part of the umbrella of programs known as the Directors Project. Each recipient will receive financial and career development support, skill-honing workshops, and production opportunities at theaters across the country.

The play lineup has been announced for the Rites of Spring, Rising Sun Performance Company's upcoming Virtual Theatre Festival. These talents come from Indie, Regional, and Off-Broadway theatre, and the plays will be presented as LIVE virtual performances on Saturday, March 13th at 8 PM and Sunday, March 14th at 5 PM.

Founding Artistic Director Akia Squitieri announced the Creative Teams for Rising Sun Performance Company's 'The Rites of Spring' Virtual Theatre Festival today. 'Rites of Spring' was co-conceived by the staff and creatives of Rising Sun Performance Company, featuring the talents of 60 Artists.

The House Theatre of Chicago today announced the appointment of its new Artistic Director, Lanise Antoine Shelley. Shelley is a multi-hyphenate Haitian artist, director, playwright, educator, visual artist and accomplished actress who has performed with some of the country's most prestigious companies.

Streaming Live exactly one year after theaters have been closed, this virtual play festival will offer eight original plays focused on spring’s renewal, hope, and various traditions. Through Rites of Spring, we continue our exploration of this ever-changing and growing new medium, and expand on how we foster theatrical creativity. 

Aurora’s Paramount Theatre will present a free virtual reading of Pretended, a new play about a Haitian adoptee in search of truth and identity, written and directed by Chicago actor, playwright and director Lanise Antoine Shelley, Thursday, January 14, at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets are free but reservations are required.

Paramount Theatre in Aurora will launch next month The Inception Project, a new play development initiative designed to create artist driven, courageous, thought provoking new work in a radically inclusive environment. 

Theatre venues in Chicago and across the world remain closed due to the COVID 19 pandemic while the industry in Chicago has developed creative ways to connect with audiences.

16th Street Theater announces the audio play of Lisa Langford's RASTUS AND HATTIE directed by Lanise Antoine Shelley showing remotely on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights September 24 a?" October 24, 2020 with a press opening of Thursday September 24 at 7:00 PM.

On the heels of a limited online run, Jocelyn Bioh's School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls directed by Lili-Anne Brown, is now extended and available for streaming through May 31.

Today, Goodman Theatre makes available for online streaming its production of Jocelyn Bioh's School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play directed by Lili-Anne Brown, while performances are suspended to mitigate spread of COVID-19.

Goodman Theatre continues its 2019/2020 Season with the Chicago premiere of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play. This a?oeuproarious comedy that also pulls at the heartstringsa?? (The Hollywood Reporter), written by Jocelyn Bioh, arrives on the heels of a critically acclaimed, extended run Off-Broadway at MCC Theater. Chicago favorite Lili-Anne Brown returns to the Goodman to direct, after last season's celebrated production of Lottery Day. Full casting is below.

Akvavit Theatre is to launch its 10th anniversary season with the return of its Nordic Spirit Festival, featuring five staged readings of plays from each of the Nordic countries, presented in partnership with the Swedish American Museum.

Goodman Theatre has announced casting for two upcoming Chicago premiere productions in its 2019/2020 Season. Jocelyn Bioh's School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play comes to the Goodman following its acclaimed off-Broadway engagement in a new production directed by Lili-Anne Brown (Lottery Day); and American Mariachi, directed by Goodman Resident Artistic Associate Henry Godinez in a co-production with Dallas Theater Center, featuring live mariachi music on stage. School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play appears March 7 - April 12, 2020; tickets ($20-$70) are on sale now. American Mariachi appears April 25 - May 31; tickets ($20-$70) go on sale February 28 at 10am. Both productions appear in the 856-seat Albert Theatre. For tickets, visit GoodmanTheatre.org, call 312.443.3800 or purchase at the Goodman Theatre box office (170 N. Dearborn).

Victory Gardens Theater announces the 2019/20 Season Directors Inclusion Initiative Assistant Directors including Alexander (Lex) Turner (Tiny Beautiful Things), Lanise Antoine Shelley (The First Deep Breath), Christina Casano (How To Defend Yourself),  Jeremy Ohringer (Dhaba On Devon Ave) and Aliza Feder (The Right To Be Forgotten).