Jay Espa News Today

It started in January 2022, when Filipino-American actor Van Ferro won 2  BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, the first time an actor in Chicago had 2 acting  BroadwayWorld Chicago awards in the same season. The next year,

The sudden floodgates of nominations for Filipino-American artists this year at the BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards had lead the community to call this year as

Jay Españo is PrideArts’s artistic director. In this interview, Maroon Arts Reporter Toby Chan sits down with Jay Españo to talk about his latest musical, Aztec Human Sacrifice, which ran from May 5 to June 18 at City Lit Theater. The following interview has been lightly edited for clarity. Chicago Maroon (CM): Hi Jay, thanks for...

On May 14, I took the Metra up north to City Lit Theater in Edgewater to watch the premiere of City Lit’s 144th show, the musical Aztec Human Sacrifice. Directed by Jay Españo and written by Kingsley Day and Philip LaZebnik, the musical features a ritual human sacrifice that prompts its discussion of love and...

In the new musical

Actress Sophie Murk, of Crystal Lake, and composer Ryan Korell, of Winfield, discuss PrideArts Chicago-area premiere of "Gay Card," a musical by Korell and writer/lyricist Jonathan Keebler about identity and belonging.

Marriott Theatre revives audience favorite "Gypsy," Steppenwolf extends its acclaimed production of "No Mans Land" and City Lit premieres a new play about the early years of the comic book industry, this week in Chicago-area theater.

Quirky conceit, endearing characters, captivating actors and clever soundtrack — “Girlfriend” is a winning mix.

Casting has been announced for PrideArts season opening production - the Chicago premiere of the musical GIRLFRIEND, by Todd Almond and Matthew Sweet, based on Sweet’s album of the same name. GIRLFRIEND will open to the press on Monday, August 29, 2022, following previews from August 25-28, and will play through September 25th.

PrideArts will conclude its 2021-22 season with the Chicago premiere of TOMMY ON TOP – a comedy that premiered in London’s West End at the Above the Stag Theatre last summer. PrideArts Artistic Director Jay Españo made the announcement today.