It's been awhile since I have blogged. I have been finishing up Twelfth Night in Utah which went extremely well, as this review from the Las Vegas Review-Journal indicates. Working on Shakespeare is an inspiring experience - the language is beautiful, the stories are inspired and insightful, and the opportunity to collaborate with the actors is sublime. It also invites the director to explore his sense of theatricality.

I think we are all gratified by the audience reaction as the play is certainly one of the canon's most delicious comedies. Hmmmm. Should I do it at Northlight?

This weekend I head to NY to cast Underpants for Actor's Theatre of Louisville with Zan Sawyer Daily, their Artistic Associate, who has hooked us up with Harriet Bass, one of the countries finest casting directors. Our conversations on the phone have been great and I can't wait to meet some new actors. I don't often get to cast in New York since we have such a great pool of talented artists here in Chicago, but I like to get opened up by working with folks I don't know.

It's great to be home. As much as I love to be working with new people at different theatres its still a real thrill to walk into Northlight and to appreciate what we have in what has to be the country's hottest theatre community. There is so much here to appreciate and enjoy.

Now that I'm back in Chicago, I am looking forward to seeing Tracy Letts' new play at Steppenwolf August: Osage County, which by all accounts is his finest and most epic work. Tracy did Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie with Mike Nussbaum for us at Northlight and was sublime. I can't wait to see all our friends doing what they do best, in a play which Chris Jones likens to Eugene O'Neil. That is huge praise.

My Artistic Associate Rosie Forrest is finishing her last month at Northlight, but before she goes we are finalizing our choices for next season's Interplay; there are some interesting new works that I think you will be excited by. Last season was such a huge success for us and subscriptions for the program are rolling in so I hope you get on board soon.

Our new Dramaturg and Literary Manager is Meghan McCarthy, whom I worked with at Steppenwolf last summer while directing 100 Saints You Should Know. She is terriffic and will be elemental in the Interplay program as well as assisting us all with the research for every play. Meghan is brilliant and I know all of you will enjoy her talkbacks and chatting with her at the theatre.

I have to run and teach a class right now...my daughter's "After School Matters" program is coming to spend the day at Northlight to learn about professional theatre.

More anon,
BJ