Wisdom Bridge Theatre will present ”The Richest Dead Man Alive,”
performed by Detroit`s Theatre Grottesco, March 12 through April 11 at 1559 W. Howard St.
The show has been touring the country since 1985 and is described as a farcical production with heavy emphasis on mime and commedia dell`arte, created when the troupe worked in Paris at the educational birthplace of Mummenschanz.
Meanwhile, that Wisdom Bridge is offering an import as part of its subscription series is continuing evidence of hard times for that theater and theaters in general these days. Plans to mount the world premiere of Beth Henley`s ”Signature” have fallen through for now, because of financial shortfall. The same situation caused ”Kabuki Richard III” to be dropped from the schedule earlier in the season.
However, Wisdom Bridge did receive good news in the form of a European trip for Athol Fugard`s ”My Children! My Africa!” the show that replaced
”Richard III.” It will be going in April to the English Theatre Limited in Vienna, as guests of that outfit.
For ticket information on ”The Richest Dead Man Alive,” call 312-743-6000.
– The Organic Theater`s ”Black Beauty,” a new play by Jim Kozicki about a troubled youth and his relationship with a college basketball recruiter, will be unveiled as the second offering in ”Chicago Theatres on the Air,”
the live performance of scripts for radio broadcast held at the Guest Quarters Suite Hotel, 198 E. Delaware St.
”Beauty” will be performed at 8 p.m. Thursday and will feature guest artist Joe Spano (of ”Hill Street Blues”). The performance, as with the others in this 14-part series, will be taped and aired later over WFMT-FM 98.7. For tickets to the live performance: 312-902-1500.
– The Chicago Alliance of Playwrights is hosting a series of talks and discussions with five prominent dramatists. Chicagoans Doug Post, James Sherman and Charles Smith launch the series at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Apollo Theatre, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave.
They will be followed by conversations with Steve Tesich, whose ”On the Open Road” opens at the Goodman Theatre next month, on March 2 at the Theatre Building; and Arthur Kopit (”Wings,” ”Nine,” ”Oh Dad, Poor Dad …”) on March 19, at a location to be announced.
Call 312-929-7287.
– ”Bang the Drum Slowly,” Eric Simonson`s lyrically and richly mounted adaptation of the baseball classic, has been extended again, this time through March 22, at the Next Theatre in Evanston. For tickets: 708-475-1875.
– ”Romance/Romance,” the one-act musical starring John Herrera and Susan Moniz, has been extended through March 22 at Apple Tree Theatre, Highland Park. Tickets: 708-432-4335.
