Spotlight: Northlight, Lookingglass theaters host virtual benefits

Northlight benefit

Northlight Theatre is among select theaters around the country invited to participate in a livestream concert featuring "Hamilton" co-star Christopher Jackson, who originated the role of George Washington in the Broadway production. "Christopher Jackson: Live From the West Side" consists of Jackson performing pop standards, musical favorites and his own compositions. Tickets include access to the livestream performance plus an additional 72 hours of on-demand viewing of a video of the livestream. Proceeds from tickets purchased through Northlight's website benefit the theater.

"Nonprofit arts presenters are the lifeblood of the performing arts industry and a pipeline for young talent. Without them there is no Broadway," said Jackson in a prepared statement. "While everything is shut down during this terrible pandemic, I am delighted to be able to help spread some joy and help raise some much-needed support for these deserving organizations."

7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. $40 per household. Tickets are available at northlight.org/events/christopher-jackson.

First Folio film

Years ago, First Folio Theatre artistic associate and physical comedian extraordinaire Kevin McKillip made a silent film as a personal gift for co-founders David Rice and his late wife and artistic director Alison C. Vesely. Now, McKillip and Rice are making the movie available to First Folio supporters in exchange for a donation to the Oak Brook ensemble. Those who donate by Aug. 31 will receive a link and password for the film's world premiere.

This offer is "one more way we can help provide the laughs (subscribers and supporters) need to make it through ... until we can all return to Mayslake Hall," said Rice in a prepared statement. See firstfolio.org and click on "support us" and "donate" to access the link.

New plays online

Kane Repertory Theatre, a St. Charles ensemble comprised of Northern Illinois University graduates, announced the third cycle of the company's virtual New Play Lab. Readings will take place on YouTube according to the following schedule: Wednesday, Aug. 19, "The Humanities" by Zayd Dohrn; Aug. 26, "Be Mean to Me" by Sofya Levitsky-Weitz; Sept. 2, "Moreno" by Praven Wilkins; Sept. 9, "The Broken Hearts of a Corrupted White House" by Matthew Paul Olmos.

The free readings begin at 7:30 p.m. on YouTube. A $20 donation is recommended. See kanerepertorytheatre.com for a link.

Lookingglass benefit

Lookingglass Theatre Company announced the next production in its Chicago Stories initiative will be a video recording of the 2012 premiere of "Eastland: A New Musical," a meditation on mortality by writer/lyricist Andrew White and composers Andre Pluess and Ben Sussman. The virtual watch party fundraiser is dedicated to the late singer/songwriter Michael Smith, who played Captain Pedersen in Lookingglass' production recounting the tragedy of the SS Eastland. The Chicago ship capsized on July 24, 1915, near its mooring on the Chicago River, killing more than 840 people, most of them Western Electric Company employees and their families on their way to a daylong picnic.

"Everyone knows about The Titanic, but comparatively few know of the Eastland disaster," said White in a prepared statement. "One reason may be that the Eastland passengers were working-class, first-generation immigrants who, like today, kept the country going but were too easily overlooked, discarded, and forgotten."

7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at lookingglasstheatre.org/event/eastland-watch-party. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Proceeds benefit the theater.

In other news

• Steel Beam Theatre presents the fourth installment of its ongoing "Short Takes" YouTube series featuring videotaped performances by actors, supporters and volunteers who've worked with the St. Charles company. The performances are part of the theater's efforts to raise funds and stay connected to subscribers during the theater shutdown. To access the video, type "Steel Beam Theatre short takes" on youtube.com.

• "The Magic Parlour at Home" has been extended. Magician Dennis Watkins' virtual magic show will run online at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 29. Tickets are $65. They're available at themagicparlourchicago.com.

• "Messages of Hope," a collaboration between the Cook County Forest Preserve's Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Preserve and Cabinet of Curiosity - an ensemble comprised of theater, visual arts, dance and music professionals - continues through Sept. 30. The work consists of decorated boxes affixed to trees in the preserve, which is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Virtual tours will take place Wednesday, Aug. 19, and Sept. 16. Tickets are $10. To reserve a spot, email cabinetchicago@gmail.com or see cocechicago.com.

• American Blues Theater kicked off its new virtual play reading series titled "The Room" earlier this month with "A Shot: #A Love Story Inspired by Black Lives Matter." Audiences may view the in-development works via Zoom. Each reading is followed by a discussion. There's a suggested donation of $10. To register, see americanbluestheater.com. Upcoming works include: "Yes, My Name is ... Lucy" by Wandachristine (featuring Tony Award winner Deanna Dunagan) in September; "Alma" by Benjamin Benne in October; "Days of Decision - The Music of Phil Ochs" written and performed by Zachary Stevenson in November and "Red Bike" by Caridad Svich in December.

• Strawdog Theatre Company announced artistic director Leda Hoffmann is stepping down to take over as artistic director of CATCO in Columbus, Ohio. "I am so grateful for my time as artistic director at Strawdog," Hoffmann said in a prepared statement. "While I am thrilled about this new position and the opportunities it provides, I am sad to be leaving Strawdog and this theater community. I look forward to returning to direct 'Welcome to Keene, New Hampshire.'" That production has been rescheduled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. No new performance dates have been set. Taking over as interim artistic director is actor/musician/writer Kamille Dawkins, an ensemble member since 2017.

• The Annoyance Theatre and Bar hosts "Storytelling for Beginners," an online workshop on Saturday, Aug. 15. That day also marks the start of Dave Maher's "Unlock the Artist Within" tutorial. On Tuesday, Aug. 18, puppeteer and prop builder Sam Locke teaches a free seminar on building no-budget props for stage and screen. See theannoyance.com/classes.

• Collaboraction Theater announced its 24th season, titled "Transcendence," will consist of virtual performances beginning Aug. 22 with The Light Youth Festival. The festival features 10 short works created by young people and examining racism and social justice in the times of the Black Lives Matter movement and the global pandemic. That's followed by the fifth annual Peacebook Festival (Oct. 2 and 3) consisting of short films "illuminating artistic visions of peace." The season continues in December with the second annual youth show "All I Want for Chicago ..." (date to be determined). The season concludes in spring 2021 with the postponed premiere of "Red Island," Carla Stillwell and Anthony Moseley's musical satire about the United State's history of colonialism, classism and racism. See collaboraction.org.