Another former Chicagoan who also played the Stage Manager in that New York Our Town production will take over at Barrow Street: Michael Shannon reprises his stellar performance in Craig Wright’s Mistakes Were Made, which premiered last fall with A Red Orchid Theatre , where Shannon is an ensemble member. Shannon’s fellow Red Orchider, Mierka Girten, also returns to the show, which will once again be directed by Dexter Bullard. The run is slated to start November 5. (And I agree with blogger and frequent “Theater Loop” commenter Rob Kozlowski: Isn’t it about time to rename the Barrow Street “Chicago East” or something, in recognition of how many productions from here make the jump there?)

Congrats are also due to A Red Orchid for being named best theatre company by Chicago Magazine. Other honorees include Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble member Francis Guinan as best actor, Mary Beth Fisher as best actress, Tanya Saracho as best new playwright, Rachel Rockwell as best director, and Larry Adams as best singer.

Meantime, Cromer’s production of Kirk Lynn’s Cherrywood has extended again at Mary Arrchie Theatre and now goes through August 28. Other extensions: Bailiwick Chicago runs Joe DiPietro’s Fucking Men through August 29 at Stage 773 , and Lookingglass Theatre keeps Lookingglass Alice on view through September 12.

Steppenwolf Theatre ’s historic production of Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County opens with most of the original cast intact at Sydney Theatre Company next Friday, running through September 25. Director Anna D. Shapiro has also been named as the recipient of this year’s Princess Grace Statue Award, which recognizes the achievements of a past Princess Grace Award winner. The prize comes with a $25,000 cash gift. The Princess Grace Awards are dedicated to “identifying and assisting emerging talent in theatre, dance, and film by awarding grants in the form of scholarships, apprenticeships, and fellowships.” The ceremony will be held in Manhattan on November 10.

The Magpies take their production of The Great Galvani, created by Shawn Reddy and performed by H.B. Ward, to the New York International Fringe Festival. It runs for six performances, August 18-29, at the Players Loft, 115 MacDougall Street (and rumor has it “Ludmilla the Bearded Lady,”—a.k.a.  Diana Slickman—will make a guest appearance at some point.) Other Chicago-based companies making the trek to the NY Fringe include The New Colony with Hearts Full of Blood, a remount of the show formerly known as Calls to Blood, written by James Asmus and running at HERE August 21-29; Dean Evans of The Neo-Futurists with his clown solo Magical Exploding Boy at the 4th Street Theatre, August 13-27; and Brooke Allen’s Ruby Wilder with Not Waiting Productions at the Robert Moss Theatre, August 13-18.

Choreographer Jacqueline Stewart won The A.W.A.R.D. Show! 2010: Chicago top prize of $10,000 to put toward the creation of new work. A.W.A.R.D (which stands for “Artists With Audiences Responding to Dance”) is a joint project of the Joyce Theater Foundation and the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago. Stewart is a member of Thodos Dance Chicago. The finalists, who each received $1,000, were Michel Rodriguez of Hedwig Dances and Joanna Rosenthal of Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre.

In other dance news, the Dance COLEctive, headed by Margi Cole, announces its 15th anniversary season. On September 10 and 11, TDC partners with Friends of the Chicago River and the Chicago Park District at the McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum (southwest tower of the Michigan Avenue Bridge) for a performance held outside the museum (which is the city’s smallest). The company will move south on Michigan for its next performance on September 25 in 1306–Ten Years Later, celebrating the Dance Center’s 10 years at its current address, 1306 S. Michigan, and celebrates its 15th anniversary with a concert series January 20-22 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Finally, they will perform COLEctive Notions June 3-5 at Links Hall .

Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago presents three world premieres, created by Karen Mareck Grundy and Autumn Eckman, along with encore presentations of works by Rennie Harris, Ron DeJesus, and Brock Clawson at the Harris Theater October 22 and 23.

Some suburban theatre season announcements: Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook’s 2011 line-up includes Aida (which was just produced by Bailiwick Chicago ); Broadway Bound (a rare straight play at the musicals-oriented house); Sweeney Todd; The Sound of Music; and Gypsy. The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University in University Park also announces its schedule, mostly short runs heavy on music and family fare.

Chicago’s Fifth House Ensemble announces its season, The Weaver’s Tales, which encompasses three world premieres of interdisciplinary performances, all based on Grimm fairytales and incorporating music from Beethoven, Elliot Carter, and local composer Mason Bates of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Massachusetts-based Oliver Caplan, the winner of Fifth House’s 2010 Young Composer’s Competition, will also be represented in one of the pieces. The performance dates are November 16, February 15, and May 3 at the Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center and November 17, February 16, and May 4 at SPACE in Evanston.

Other season announcements: City Lit Theater follows its “Art of Adaptation Festival” next weekend with Brian Friel’s Lovers, opening in previews on August 27. Strangeloop Theatre, which distinguished itself with a sturdy production of Friel’s Living Quarters earlier this year, kicks off its 2010-11 season with the world premiere of The Sound of a Yellow Flower, written by company member Dustin Spence and set in Belarus. The show runs September 10-October 3 at Trap Door Theatre . Piven Theatre has added Sarah Ruhl’s version of The Three Sisters to their season—it is slated to run October 16-November 21. Chicago Shakespeare has dropped Aurelia’s Oratorio by French performer Aurelia Thierree from its World’s Stage series. The show was to have run December 1-12.

Babes With Blades kicks off the world premiere of The Last Daughter of Oedipus, written by Jennifer L. Mickelson, with a variety of special events. The show runs August 15-September 25 at Lincoln Square Theatre. There will be “Meet the Author” events August 29, September 4, and September 23; a “toga night” on September 3; and donations for the National Military Family Association will be collected September 9-12. Iraq War vet Logan Black is a cast member. All that, and baklava after the Friday shows, too! If you want more Greek mythology on stage, you can also check out Quest Theatre Ensemble ’s Drum Circle Pandora, which runs August 13-September 19. The piece is conceived and directed by Andrew Park.

Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre in Evanston hosts a reading series, “Celebrating Women of Color.” From the Mississippi Delta by Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland, directed by Jacqueline Williams, is featured August 7 and 8, and Emily Mann’s Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years, directed by Tim Rhoze, runs August 14 and 15. The casts include Steppenwolf ensemble member Alana Arenas, Cheryl Lynn Bruce, Erika Ratcliff, and Williams herself. Tickets are $5 and all shows are at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes.

American Blues Theater hosts the latest installment of Ripped: The Living Newspaper Project on August 13 at the Reynolds Club-Francis X. Kinahan Theater, 5706 S. University Avenue. Featured artists this time around include playwrights Nambi E. Kelley, Steven Simoncic, David Alex, MEH Lewis, and Conrad Lawrence. The focus is on “modern companion pieces” to scripts from the 1930s-era original “Living Newspaper” project.

Victory Gardens runs the Ignition Festival of new plays by younger playwrights of color August 18-22. Will another Chad Deity be in the bunch? Find out for yourself! There is a “Scene Sampler” on Wednesday, August 18, 7:30 p.m., which includes a Q and A with all the writers and a post-show reception. And on August 19, Kristoffer Diaz, author of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity and his fellow Ignition alum, Michael Golamco (whose Year Zero also went on to New York after its Victory Gardens appearance) will give a keynote address.

Late-summer benefits abound: Bruised Orange Theatre hosts a “family picnic” on August 14, 5 p.m.-2 a.m., at the Montrose Saloon, 2933 W. Montrose. We’re only guessing, but there might be some imbibing at this “picnic” (they promise to unveil a new cocktail named for the company), so be careful with the potato salad. A mere $10 gets you food and DJs—you’re on your own for hooch. Raven Theatre also hosts a benefit on August 14 in a tent in the theatre’s parking lot. “The Big Tent Bash” opens at 6:30, and tickets are $100 apiece, which includes a catered dinner from Zhivago Restaurant and libations from Raven’s neighbor, Champions Saloon, as well as scenes from the upcoming season. And what would August be without fresh corn? Corn Productions hosts its first annual “Corn-e-okee Idol” on August 19 at Cornservatory (4210 N. Lincoln Avenue), beginning at 7 p.m. Contestants can show off their mad karaoke skilz while enjoying an open bar and other non-karaoke entertainment. It’s $25 for teams of four, $20 for teams of five, and $15 for groups of six or more. Tickets can be purchased online.

What might well be the crassest comedy show in town turns 11. ComedySportz celebrates “The Hot Karl” (google it, I’m not about to explain) at the “11th Anniversary Sextacular” on August 21 at midnight. Tickets are $10 and feature returning alums Bill Arnett of iO and Amanda Blake Davis (who won a Jeff Award last year for her work in Second City e.t.c.’s Studs Terkel’s Not Working), along with an after-party featuring drink specials. (No word on whether the performers will wash their mouths out with soap.)

The 48 Hour Film Project comes to Chicago this month. Local filmmakers have—you got it—48 hours to write, shoot, and edit a short film. The competition takes place August 13-15, and the screenings will be August 17-19 at Landmark Century Centre, 2828 N. Clark Street.

Playwright Paul Barile tries something a little different with his current show, Leaving Timmy, on August 14 at 8 p.m. and August 15 at 3 p.m. at Prop Thtr . Instead of “pay what you can,” Barile says patrons can “pay when you leave”—give the box office whatever you think it’s worth on your way out, even if that means bupkes. Hey, you won’t see Ravinia offering that kind of deal anytime soon!

Start a tempest in a teapot—send news and naughty bits to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .