Theatre News Wire

Three of Chicago's most respected, high-profile movers and shakers - society scribe Candace Jordan, Chicago Public Radio (WBEZ) radio host Peter Sagal, and Second City co-founder Bernie Sahlins - can now add "celebrity playwright" to their already impressive resumes.   

Victory Gardens Theater, Chicago's #1 producer of new plays, announced today that Jordan, Sagal and Sahlins have been tapped to pen original plays, to be performed one-night-only at Victory Gardens Theater's 20th annual Chicago Stories benefit, Friday, April 16, starting at 6 pm at the Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Drive, Chicago. 

As many as 500 VIPs and supporters are expected to cheer on Victory Gardens' celebrity playwrights on their first-ever Chicago Stories opening - and closing - night.  Artistic Director Dennis Zacek will cast each 10-minute play with professional actors from Victory Gardens' stages, then direct each theatrical vignette - one by Sagal, host of the WBEZ's popular current events quiz show Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me; another by Sahlins, the former Second City producer and director; and the third by Jordan, a former model, actress and Playboy bunny. 

Always the city's most dramatic spring gala, guests at Chicago Stories also will enjoy a pre-show reception with silent auction, jewelry raffle and stage door key contest, a delicious dinner, followed by dessert and a live auction, with items up for bid including four 2010 season tickets to the Chicago Bears.   

Then, the evening's centerpiece will be live performances of the three plays by this year's celebrity playwrights, which will be reviewed on site by celebrated former Chicago Tribune theater critic Richard Christiansen. 

Proceeds from Victory Gardens' Chicago Stories benefit will help underwrite the cost of producing world premiere plays, providing education programs for Chicago Public Schools, offering assistive devices and services to persons with disabilities, and making theater available to underserved audiences.

Tickets to Chicago Stories are $300 each.   Suggested table sponsorships start at $5,000.  Chicago Stories begins at 6 pm at the Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Drive, Chicago.   To purchase a table or for more information, call 773-328-2146.