16th Street, The New Colony, Theatre Seven, Theater Wit and Theo Ubique are Emerging Theater Award finalists

The League of Chicago Theatres has announced the five finalists for the fifth annual Broadway in Chicago Emerging Theater Award, and once again it's an impressive bunch. 16th Street Theater, The New Colony, Theatre Seven of Chicago, Theater Wit and Theo Ubique will vie for the prize, which is sponsored by Broadway in Chicago and includes $5,000 and a marketing consultation package including advertising support from TOC and the Tribune. The previous recipients are the House Theatre of Chicago, Silk Road Theater Project, the side project and Steep Theatre. Theatre Seven was a finalist last year as well.

A nominating committee reviewed applications received from League member companies that are at least three and no more than ten years old to choose the finalists; the winner will be decided by a vote of League members, and the award will be presented at the League's annual gala May 16. This is the final year of Broadway in Chicago's five-year support pledge to underwrite the award; it's unclear if the org will renew its support or if a new sponsor could sign on. I wrote about the New Colony's new show The Warriors in this week's issue; it begins previews tonight. Theatre Wit's production of This is running now, as is 16th Street's remount of Laura Jacqmin's Dental Society Midwinter Meeting. Theo Ubique opened the Rodgers and Hammerstein revue Some Enchanted Evening on Monday; our review will be in next week's issue. Next up for Theatre Seven is the Landmark Project, opening in June at the Greenhouse Theater Center.