The 2012-13 season in Chicago has been launched, marked by a number of nationally noted artists working in theaters, as these welcome the likes of performers Diane Lane, Jimmy Smits, George Wendt, and Tim Kazurinsky; writers Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein; and directors Gary Griffin, Mary Zimmerman and David Cromer.
Notable productions include: Tennessee Williams’ Sweet Bird of Youth, directed by David Cromer and starring Academy Award nominee Diane Lane from September 14 to October 25 at Goodman Theatre; Metamorphoses, written and directed by Lookingglass ensemble member Mary Zimmerman at the Lookingglass Theatre from September 19 to November 18; Sondheim’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical, Sunday in the Park with George, directed by CST associate artistic director and notable director Gary Griffin, from September 26 to November 4 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater; and Broadway in Chicago’s world premiere of Grammy Award winner Cyndi Lauper and Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein’s new musical Kinky Boots on October 2 to November 4 at the Bank of America Theatre.
There are more than 250 theaters throughout Chicago, which serves five million audience members annually, with its theaters having a combined budget of more than $250 million.