Fall, 2024
Rehearsals have started for A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Babes With Blades Theatre Company. Hayley is thrilled to be on stage this time, playing the role of Oberon/Hippolyta.
Tickets go on sale on September 16th. More info can be found at BabesWithBlades.org
Summer/Fall, 2023
Rehearsals have started for the Hayley-helmed production of The Duchess of Malfi at her home of Babes With Blades Theatre Company.
Tickets go on sale on August 21st. More info can be found at BabesWithBlades.org
Winter, 2023
You can catch Hayley as Eveline in First Folio Theatre’s production of And Neither Have I Wings to Fly. Now through February 26. Come catch me at the last First Folio Theatre show ever.
Tickets and more info can be found at FirstFolio.org
Spring, 2020
More info coming soon. Oh, such updates are coming! Being the Artistic Director at Babes With Blades Theatre Company has taken up a little of my update time!
October, 2017
The Man-Beast at First Folio Theater and directed by moi is now open and garnering some very nice reviews. Don't miss this intense little production of seasonal madness. More information and tickets can be found here.
April, 2017
Silent Sky at First Folio Theatre is now OPEN. Come see me in this beautiful historical drama. The show runs throughout the month of April, and, boy oh boy, will you regret it if you miss it. More details and tickets can be found here.
March 29, 2017
Well ain't this sweet: The "Babes" enjoyed working with me so much, that they went and made me an artistic affiliate. I am so very proud and excited to be officially all a part of them and stuff. And things. YAY!
March 21, 2017
Only two weeks left of the all female Henry V at Babes with Blades. Check out all the nice stuff folks said about us:
Tickets can be purchased here!
March 6, 2017
The Chicago Reader has enthusiastically "Recommended" (backwards R and everything) Henry V at Babes with Blades, saying "Hayley Rice’s bare-bones, low-budget, high-energy staging... captures the juxtaposition of rousing action, rough comedy, and poetic philosophizing that characterizes this great play" and says the show "delivers a smart, stirring rendition".
February, 2017
The Hayley Rice-helmed production of Henry V opens on February 27, with previews February 18-26. Do not miss this steller, all-female cast. Tickets and more information can be found at Babeswithblades.org
October, 2016
Zombie Broads opens October 21st at The Factory Theater. Do not miss Hayley in this hilarious and blood soaked show. Tickets are on sale now, and a little bird told me that folks can get $5 preview tickets* by using the code RICE at check out. You're not going to want to miss this one, folks.
* Discount good for October 14-16 only.
July, 2016The reviews are coming in for A Midsummer Night's Dream, and it seems folks like what they see.
Kerry Reid of the Chicago Tribune says, "Hayley Rice's staging for First Folio Theatre oozes rock-and-roll swagger" and that "...the payoff in the second act delivers in a pretty big way" . They give it three out of four stars.
Edge Media Network thinks "It's clear that Rice and her actors are having tremendous fun with her vision. The blocking is playful and just the right amount of over-the-top to find the sparkling comedy in every line of dialogue."
ChicagoCritic.com proclaims, "Rice's Misummer offers upt he classic humor of magically-influenced lovers' spats and good bad acting in a way that is accessible to newcomers and long-time Shakespeare fans alike."
BuzzNews Chicago says "A fascinating production that has just the right amount of laughs, fantasy, and trickery, First Folio's A Midsummer Night's Dream is a memorable summer even that keenly interprets Shakespeare for today's audience thanks to its outstanding direction and role execution by this talented cast."
We've also been 'recommended' by the Joseph Jefferson Committee.
June, 2016
The Hayley Rice-helmed production of A Midsummer Night's Dream opens July 9th at First Folio Theatre. You can find more information and purchase tickets at this link.
Myrna Petlicki of The Pioneer Press did a lovely write up on our little sketch, which you can read here.
April, 2016
Reviews are coming in for AstonRep's The Women of Lockerbie.
Jack Helbig of The Reader says "Tobin's fine ensemble brings Brevoort's words to life with grace and power," and "the actress portraying the Greek-chorus-like women of Lockerbie (Barbara Button, Lorraine Freund, Morgan Manasa, and Hayley Rice) who are particularly glorious." The show is Reader Recommended
Colin Douglas of Chicago Theatre Review proclaims "This is one of AstonRep's finer productions" and that Hayley "tends to be shrill and strident, often becoming overly melodramatic".
Around the Town Chicago - ****
Spring, 2016
Hayley will be featured in The Women of Lockerbie at Aston Rep starting April 7th through May 8th, 2016. Tickets are on sale now.
Hayley will also be directing First Folio's annual outdoor summer Shakespeare for 2016. Her production of A Midsummer Night's Dream will run July 6 through August 14, 2016. Tickets and more information can be found here.
Someday?
Hayley will be appearing as Isabel in Factory Theater's production of Zombie Broads, opening... someday. Due to unforeseen events, Zombie Broads has been pushed to that fine date of TBA. You can find more information at this link.
UPDATE! "Someday" is Fall, 2016! WOOOO! More information (and a poster with my zombie face on it) can be found here.
October, 2015
Hayley will appear as Truvy in Steel Magnolias directed by Dan Foss at Ignite Theater (in conjunction with the Catalyst Ranch. Details coming soon.
July 14, 2015
Reviews are starting to trickle in for The Winter's Tale at First Folio Theatre, and it appears that folks really dig what we were throwing down.
Chicago Tribune - *** out of ****
The Reader - Highly Recommended
"...staged with the theatrical magic codirectors Alison C. Vesely and her daughter, Hayley Rice, have conjured up for this First Folio Theatre production. Using a script shortened to a two-hour running time by Rice, the directors have tightly packed this hot-blooded, fast-paced show..."
The Daily Herald - *** out of ****
"But adapter and co-director Hayley Rice has smartly edited Shakespeare's text down so "The Winter's Tale" is emotionally concentrated and dramatically on point."
Windy City Times - Critic's Pick
"Co-directors Alison C. Vesely and Hayley Rice smartly condense and edit Shakespeare's "problem play" to keep it dramatically on point in this fine outdoor staging"
Around the Town Chicago - **** out of ****
"This production is sharply directed by Alison C. Vesely and Hayley Rice and moves quickly from scene to scene."
Chicago Stage Standard - **** out of ****
"Rice's adaptation is lucid, comprehensible, and nothing less than fantastic."
ChicagoCritic.com - Highly Reccomended
"The First Folio version delivers all a Shakespeare fan could hope for, and is an excellent opportunity for those unfamiliar with the work to fall in love with it."
July 8, 2015
Check out Hayley's interview on the Chicago theatre podcast We're Here, here. You can hear her run her mouth on Shakespeare, long gone Chicago Theater companies, and other topics.
July 2, 2015
Click here for an interview with Hayley, Co-Director Alison C. Vesely, and the cast of The Winter's Tale at First Folio Theatre, opening July 11, 2015
June-July, 2015
Hayley will be co-directing The Winter's Tale at First Folio Theater. You can find more about this production and purchase tickets here.
April, 2015
Hayley can currently be seen in Love, Loss and What I Wore at First Folio Theatre. You can find more information and purchase tickets here.
February, 2015
Hayley can currently be seen in Laughter on the 23rd Floor at First Folio Theatre. You can find more information and purchase tickets here.
Photo by Steven Townshend/ Distant Era