Producers Scott Rudin and Barry Diller announced Monday that playwright Samuel D. Hunter's "Little Bear Ridge Road" will premiere on Broadway for a limited 18-week run this fall starring Laurie Metcalf and Micah Stock, reprising their acclaimed performances from the play's world premiere at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, with direction by Joe Mantello. Preview performances will begin on Oct. 7, ahead of an Oct. 30 opening night at the Booth Theatre in New York. Notably, this will not be billed as a Steppenwolf production.

I was so saddened by the death this holiday weekend of the playwright Richard Greenberg, a writer with a profound influence on Chicago theater, especially in the first decade of this century. His body of work is remarkable: "Three Days of Rain," "Take Me Out, "Eastern Standard," "The Violet Hour" and many others — including "The Well-Appointed Room," which premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre in 2006. I thought of him over the weekend in tandem with the late, great Martha Lavey, who loved his work and produced it whenever she could. Richard has created a new adaptation of Philip Barry's "Holiday," which Robert Falls is directing in the next season at the Goodman Theatre. So we will be the first to see what I believe is his final work.

On July 20, I'm slated to interview Tony Kushner for the first time in a long time following the performance of "Perestroika" at Invictus Theatre. More details on that in next Monday's newsletter.

Lifeline Theatre (6912 N. Glenwood Ave.) has announced its 2025-26 season: 43 years in Rogers Park! Shows for its MainStage and KidSeries include a world premiere of "Rabbits in Their Pockets" by Kimberly Dixon-Mays, directed by Christopher Wayland (Sept. 5 to Oct. 5); a revival of "Click, Clack, BOO! A Tricky Treat," adapted by James E. Grote from the book by Doreen Cronin, with music and lyrics by George Howe, directed by Amanda Link (Oct. 4 to Nov. 2); and Phil Timberlake in "Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol" by Tom Mula (Nov. 28 to Dec. 21). Then, in partnership with the Kerfuffle company, "The Conductors" will be a production for young children co-created with The Connecting Routes Project, directed by Ashley Laverty (Dec. 6 to 21). Spring of 2026 sees the world premiere of "Kitty and the Beanstalk" by Jess Wright Buha in collaboration with Miles and Molly Buha, with music by John Szymanski, directed by Calvin Adams (Feb. 14 to March 22, 2026). The big season ends with the world premiere rock musical "LOKI — The End of the World Tour," with music and lyrics by George Howe, book by Christina Calvit, developed with and directed by Heather Currie (April 24 to June 13, 2026).

On July 14, actor Gary Sinise and his Gary Sinise Foundation are donating a concert by his Lt. Dan Band in Milwaukee as a benefit for Skylight Music Theatre, where old friend Michael Unger now serves as artistic director.

Sunday, alas, is the end of the Broadway Playhouse run of "Titanique" (catch it this week), as well as the Broadway run of "Boop! The Musical." Boo. But a tour is planned. And a new tour of "Beauty and the Beast" arrives downtown on Wednesday.

I was at the O'Neill Theater Center in Connecticut this past week, where Adam Rapp was developing a stunning new work set in Chicago. I hope it makes it here.

Finally, check out our review of "The Color Purple" at the Goodman.

See you at the theater.

— Chris Jones, chief theater critic

Our current list of Chris Jones Recommended shows: “Titanique” through July 13 at Broadway Playhouse; "Always ... Patsy Cline" through Aug. 3 at Drury Lane Theatre; "You Will Get Sick" through July 20 at Steppenwolf Theatre; “Always Something There ...” through Aug. 10 at Marriott Theatre; “Dhaba on Devon Avenue” through July 27 at Writers Theatre; "The Color Purple" through Aug. 3 at Goodman Theatre.

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