Stephanie Douglas

Award-winning Brooklyn ensemble the TEAM will present PRIMER FOR A FAILED SUPERPOWER, a two-night-only concert event featuring a multigenerational band of teenagers, TEAM performers, and Baby Boomers, directed by the TEAM's Artistic Director and Tony Award nominee Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812).

Award-winning Brooklyn ensemble the TEAM will present PRIMER FOR A FAILED SUPERPOWER, a two-night-only concert event featuring a multigenerational band of teenagers, TEAM performers, and Baby Boomers, directed by the TEAM's Artistic Director and Tony Award nominee Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812).

Descended from the Old English sele, or 'hall', the word SALON has come to mean a gathering designed to entertain and enlighten (from BUST magazine). The events reached their 'apogee' during the 17th and 18th centuries in French aristocratic homes. There were rich and plenteous foods, there were games and glamour, music to engage in and these events were of course also 'binges of bon mots, banter and verbal and artistic prowess, intellectual orgies.' Salons were incubators of ideas that started with conversations.

The award-winning Brooklyn-based ensemble the TEAM has announced the release of two new published works, as part of their 10th anniversary: an anthology titled Five Plays By The TEAM, and the script for RoosevElvis, both published by Oberon Books. They'll be celebrating the release of both with a book launch event that includes performances and a book signing on Saturday, January 31 at BookCourt (163 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201).

The award-winning Brooklyn-based ensemble the TEAM (Artistic Director Rachel Chavkin, Producing Director Manda Martin) celebrate their 10th anniversary this January, with the return of their acclaimed play, RoosevElvis, co-presented with Vineyard Theatre and Performance Space 122's COIL 2015 Festival; the debut of a brand new work, The Holler Sessions, in Seattle; and the release of two new published works on January 8: an anthology titled Five Plays By The TEAM, and the script for RoosevElvis, both published by Oberon Books.

Chicago Slam Works puts the spotlight on storytelling with 'The LitMash' - an action-packed slam competition that combines the art forms of poetry, comedy, storytelling, music and creative non-fiction. 'The LitMash' on Monday, April 7 features 'The Moth Story Slam' Chicago host Brian Babylon among others. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the door. 'The LitMash' is at the Haymarket Pub and Brewery, 737 W. Randolph Street. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the performance starts at 8 p.m. For more information visit www.ChicagoSlamWorks.com.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's final show, The Sound of Music, has always had a reputation for being overly sentimental and unbearably sweet. Yet, as originally written, the show has much more of an edge. The Civic Light Opera Company has gone back to the original script by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse and it is very effective when done with straight-forward sincerity, as it is here. * * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)

Chicago Slam Works (CSW) has announced its 2012-13 season packed with innovative collaborations and dynamic performances at a new location, Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St. The season, directed by Artistic Director J.W. Basilo, features poets and storytellers facing off in 'Two Sides', October 10, 17 and 24, 2012, deceased poets challenging the living in 'Dead or Alive' December 5, 12 and 19, 2012, dancers and poets collaborate for 'In Motion', March 13, 20 and 27, 2013 and the season concludes when top German poets join Chicago poets in 'In Any Tongue', August 2 and 3, 2013. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. at the Raven Theatre. Tickets are $14 and free parking is available. For tickets or information visit www.chicagoslamworks.com or call 847-556-8679.

The Civic Light Opera Company's Toronto premiere production of A Class Act affords a chance to get to know some of Ed Kleban's catalogue. It is a catalogue filled with eloquent songs, and production that is exceptionally well acted and sung. * * * * * (OUT OF 5)

As their 30th Anniversary production, The Civic Light-Opera Company, Toronto's premiere Musical Theatre, brings you another Toronto 'first-run' Broadway musical.

As the final production of their 30th Anniversary season, The Civic Light-Opera Company, Toronto's premiere Musical Theatre, offers another Toronto premiere, A Class Act running May 27 to June 14 at Fairview Library Theatre.

As their 30th Anniversary production, The Civic Light-Opera Company, Toronto's premiere Musical Theatre, brings you another Toronto 'first-run' Broadway musical.

The Civic Light Opera Company once again offers Toronto theatre lovers a chance to see a rarely staged hit from Broadway's 'golden era.'

The Civic Light Opera Company revives its 1998 musical version of A Christmas Carol at Fairview Library Theatre. Production runs thru December 21.

Civic Light Opera wraps up their season with a production of KISMET that is fast, funny and beautifully sung. * * * * * (OUT OF 5)

Toronto's Civic Light opera Company offers Canadian premiere of Irving Berlin & Moss Hart's depression era revue. * * * * (OUT OF 5) (Reviewed September 7, 2007)

The Civic Light Operea Company's celebration of the life and songs of Jerry herman provides a toe-tapping evening of show tunes. * * * * (out of 5)

The musical ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER - last seen in Toronto when a touring production played here in 1967 - will be staged by North York's Civic Light Opera Company.