Lisa Fulton, recently the marketing director at the Tony Award-winning Intiman Theatre in Seattle, is the new executive director of Next Theatre in Evanston. Fulton, who succeeds John Collins, begins work on Tuesday. … A Red Orchid Theatre has added four ensemble members — directors Dado and Karen Kessler, actor Steve Haggard and designer Karen Kawa. … Stephanie J. Block, recently the star of “The Pirate Queen” in Chicago, has joined the New York cast of “Wicked” … This year’s slate of Jeff Award nominations will be released on Thursday … Improv comedian Nicole Parker (of MADtv fame) is doing a special, one-night-only gig at the Second City e.t.c. space on Wednesday. Entitled “Suitcase Full of Lies,” Parker’s self-penned one-woman show is a spoof of the solo confessional genre. … The League of Chicago Theatres reports that its Hot Tix online box office, new in February, has contributed to record sales this summer, an average of $45,000 per week.
