The Black Ensemble will open an original one-woman musical show entitled
”PlaySong” Feb. 27, starring and written by Jackie Taylor, the troupe`s artistic director.
Taylor`s piece, a revised and updated version of the evening of monologues and songs she introduced in 1975, will run in repertory with
”Muddy Waters: The Hoochie Coochie Man,” a musical biography of the late blues great that has been enjoying a successful run at the Jane Addams Center, 3212 N. Broadway, since early November.
”PlaySong” will play at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, 11:15 p.m. Fridays and 3 p.m. Sundays; ”Waters” will continue at 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays and 7:30 and 10 p.m. Saturdays.
The ensemble recently signed a one-year lease for the Addams Center theater, the troupe`s first permanent home since 1977.
— Dianna Marks, who has been serving as acting executive director for the Chicago City Ballet for the last three months, has been named permanently to the post.
She replaces Alton Miller, who resigned in September, citing irreconcilable differences with the company.
Meanwhile, the premiere of ”Wilderness Suite,” a work by artistic director Paul Mejia set to music by Richard Adler, will not be included in the company`s upcoming spring season as previously announced. Marks said that the company`s change in venues from the Auditorium Theatre to the Weinstein Center for the Performing Arts in Evanston forced the postponement.
”The work was conceived for a larger performing space and will be mounted once we return to one,” she said.
Financial difficulties have forced the company to hold its reduced March 21-23 spring program at the center, 2840 Sheridan Rd. For more information, call 988-4232.
— Things are looking up for Northlight Theatre in Evanston. The November production of Simon Gray`s ”Quartermaine`s Terms” broke every box-office record in the theater`s 10-year history.
Also, American Hospital Supply Corp. Foundation has awarded the theater a $50,000 challenge grant, one of the largest gifts ever bestowed by the Evanston-based foundation outside the health field. Northlight will have to come up with $150,000 in new donations over the next three years to obtain the funds.
And Northlight is Evanston`s 1984 recipient of the Mayor`s Award for the Arts.
— Swedish director Jan Troell, best known for his epics ”The Emigrants” and ”The New Land,” will be on hand during a retrospective of his work Feb. 15-17 at Facets Multimedia Center, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave.
In the Cinema I screening room, ”Eeny Meeny Miney Moe” will be shown at 7 p.m. and ”Bang!” at 9 p.m. Feb. 15. ”Here`s Your Life” (shown uncut for the first time in the U.S.) will be screened at 4 p.m. and ”Flight of the Eagle” at 7 p.m. Feb. 16, followed by Troell`s appearance for a discussion of his work.
In Cinema II, ”The Emigrants” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 and 4 p.m. Feb. 16 and 17 and ”The New Land” at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 and 17. For more information: 281-4114.
