Stockyards Theatre Project

04/24/2024

The new musical I've been working on and writing lyrics for is going to debut at the Writer's Bloc New Play Festival on May 19. Hope that my Chicago friends will be able to attend.

MERRY WIDOWS, the MUSICAL is a r***e in the 2024 Chicago Writers' Bloc New Play Festival. With book by Joanne Koch and Dianne Dorsey, lyrics by Francesca Peppiatt, and music by Ilya Levinson, “Merry Widows, The Musical,” focuses on women and men who gather together to help each other grieve. Only our grief group doesn't just talk about their profound losses. They use the magic of music to work through their sorrow and bring themselves to face life as single people. With 14 million widows and widowers in the U.S. today, and thousands of these grief groups, the creative team thought it was about time to offer something more than a fluffy operetta. MERRY WIDOWS performs one night only on Sunday May 19 at 7:30PM at Theater Wit at 1229 West Belmont in Chicago. Tickets are $20 at :

https://www.theaterwit.org/tickets/productions/520/performances

03/05/2024

Here is a little snippet in Playbill about the musical I've been working on. This was from a concert that was produced in December 2023

A contemporary reimagining of Rumpelstiltskin , the musical follows 19-year-old Alexa as she tries to save her kingdom and reconcile the grief of her past.

02/19/2024

You're just one step away from becoming an industry icon.

Grab your ticket to the ICONMAKER Summit before it's too late!

When you join us TODAY you'll uncover the secrets to:
▶️ Innovative technologies and leadership;
▶️ Positioning yourself as an authority;
▶️ Leveraging AI technology for efficiency;
▶️ Podcasting and list building.

And I'm speaking on Tuesday but there are a bunch of amazing speakers so join us now!

If you'd like the link please messsage me ... it's free.

04/21/2021

On this date Efrem Zimbalist, Sr. was born to Jewish parents in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. He entered the St. Petersburg Conservatory at the age of 12, and by the age of 21, was considered one of the greatest violinists in the world. He first performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in November 1911, a concert the Glessners attended. Having settled permanently in the United States, he returned to Chicago several times, including an appearance in 1918, when he presented the Glessners with an autographed photo (shown above).

He began teaching at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia in 1928 and served as its director from 1941 to 1968. Many of his students went on to distinguished careers including Oscar Shumsky, Norman Carol, and Joseph Silverstein.

Zimbalist was married to the famous American soprano Alma Gluck (who also provided her autographed photo to the Glessners in 1918). Their son Efrem Jr. and granddaughter Stephanie both became popular actors.

Click here to enjoy an early moving picture of 1926 with Zimbalist performing Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata. The accompanist, Harold Bauer, had also been a guest of the Glessners in their home.

10/06/2020

It’s a 4-peat! 🥇🥇🥇🥇 Chicago has been voted Best Big City in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler readers – for the 4th year in a row! Share to show your love for Chicago ❤️

The places that stayed with you this year—and can be the inspiration for your next trip.

02/12/2020

Long time Stockyards supporter, writer and actor, Elana Elyce, has directed a new show with her company:
Interrobang Theatre Project Presents

HERE LIES HENRY
By Daniel MacIvor
Directed by Artistic Producer Elana Elyce
Featuring Scott Sawa
February 28 – March 28, 2020 at Rivendell Theatre

Comments Director Elana Elyce, “Daniel McIvor’s brand of meta-theatrical theatre has the power to transform the lives of audiences, who come into dark rooms with their minds and their hearts open, who are filled with questions, and who find a moment of peace in the presence of something innately familiar. The play hopefully can touch people, and open people to thinking about their own humanity and their purpose in life.”

Tickets are currently available at interrobangtheatreproject.org or by calling (312) 219-4140. The press opening is Sunday, March 1 at 8 pm.

12/06/2019

A Stockyards Theatre Project production was honored tonight at the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce Holiday Mixer - with a Chicago Year of Theater People's Choice Award.

11/01/2019

During the summer my Glessner House co-workers went to the Hamilton Exhibit while it was still open. During that time we had on display at Glessner the Alexander Hamilton fire grate (over which Eliza most likely burned his letters). Also on exhibit at the House was a two volume limited edition of an Aaron Butt journal presented to Mr. Glessner. I wrote to Lin Manuel Miranda to thank him for sharing his talents, that we loved the exhibit (and show) and if he wouldn't mind letting his many followers know that we had these amazing artifacts on display at Glessner House (ended by saying that it must be weird getting a letter from a non profit and I'm not even asking for money). So here's proof that writing actual letters is sometimes a good thing.

10/11/2019

Stockyards Theatre Project participated in the Glessner House Jazz Age Party.

10/11/2019

October 10, 2019

09/24/2019

Producing Artistic Director, Francesca Peppiatt's play, "Life and Times of a Hopeful Romantic" was nominated for this award.

Edgewater People's Choice Award! Voting is now open to the public, so help us drive votes and get Edgewater residents excited using your social media and marketing channels.

Here is the link to the voting form:

PICK YOUR FAVORITE 2019 EGDEWATER | ANDERSONVILLE PLAY OR PERFORMANCE FROM THE LIST BELOW. The Edgewater Chamber is celebrating the Year of Chicago Theatre (YOCT) with a People’s Choice Award given out to the play in the 2019 season that receives the highest votes from voters like you! Voting ends...