MMMM...Donuts...

Newly minted Tony Award-winning playwright Tracy Letts' new show, "Superior Donuts," previews tonight at Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St at 7:30 p.m..

From the Steppenwolf site, the play is about :

"Arthur Pryzbyszewski owns a decrepit donut shop in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Franco Wicks, a black teenager who is his only employee, wants to change the shop for the better."

Can Letts snag another Tony? Perhaps if "Donuts" proves superior.

Here is a press release about the show.

"Gutenberg! The Musical!" Comes to Chicago

"Gutenberg! The Musical" will make its Chicago premiere at the Royal George Theatre on June 25th until July 27th.

Before you get too excited, this show is not about Steve Guttenberg of "Cocoon," "Police Academy," and "3 Men and a Baby" fame. If Jerry Springer can have his own musical, why not his fellow "Dancing With The Stars" alum, right?

This show, however, is about the Gutenberg with one "t"; the one who invented the printing press. And it may not be as boring as it sounds.

The acclaimed two-man musical comedy was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical in 2007. Similar to "The Producers," "Gutenberg" is a show within a show. It is about a pair of playwrights who perform a backers' audition for a "a big, splashy musical about printing press inventor Johannes Gutenberg." The two actors play more than 30 roles, including an evil monk and a beautiful girl named Helvetica.

For more information about the show, read Broadway World's article. For information on show times and to purchase tickets, please click here.

Click here for a Youtube trailer of the show

Chicago's Turn to Shine at 2008 Tony Awards

Chicago's own Steppenwolf Theatre found itself in the spotlight as its Broadway production of Tracy Lett's "August: Osage County" took top honors during the 62nd Annual Tony Awards on Sunday night. "August" winners included:

Tracy Letts - Best Play

Anna D. Shapiro - Best Director of a Play

Deanna Dunagan - Best Leading Actress of a Play

Rondi Reed - Best Featured Actress of a Play

Todd Rosenthal - Best Scenic Design

The Chicago theatre community was again recognized as Artistic Director, Barbara Gaines and Executive Director, Criss Henderson accepted the 2008 Regional Theatre Tony Award for the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. According to the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's web site, the coveted award, " honors a nonprofit professional regional theatre company in the United States that has displayed a continuous level of artistic achievement contributing to the growth of theatre nationally."

In her acceptance speech Gaines gave recognition to the city of Chicago, " This moment runs a close second to the day twenty years ago when we produced Henry V on the roof of an English pub overlooking Chicago’s Lincoln Park. Without that risky moment, this celebratory moment would not have come to pass, and we only could have taken that risk in Chicago, a world class city, a place where the arts are cherished and where theater is celebrated with generosity and passion.”

For a detailed recap of the 2008 Tony Awards, read Chicago Tribune Theatre Critic Chris Jones' article.