Welcome!
Welcome to the website of Ed Rutherford, a Chicago-based theater artist!
LATEST NEWS:
2026-05-14: Rave reviews are pouring in for the now-open world premiere of Scaramouche at City Lit Theater! Catch Ed playing Harlequin and Chapelier, through June 14!
The Chicago Reader- “City Lit Theater’s new musical set during the French Revolution bursts with romance, adventure, and comedy…we’re spoiled right now with small-scale musicals.”
New City Stage- “A swashbuckling good time…the cast is strong overall, with good voices and ensemble work.”
Around the Town Chicago- “One of the most promising shows this year…wonderfully refreshing and fun throughout!”
Chicago Theater and Arts- “Highly Recommended…The vocal performances of the company were all excellent.”
Third Coast Review- “Director Wolf brings a cast with an impressive range of music and comedic talent…The moments where the entire ensemble sings together highlight the strengths of harmonies and commedia slapstick in the performance.”
Splash Magazine- “A triumph of the directors’ arts and actors’ domain and should be headed straight for Broadway. Well-deserved praise to the cast.”
Buzz Center Stage- “It’s a lively, sharply drawn staging that reintroduces a classic hero to modern audiences with style and verve…The vocal work is strong, expressive, character‑driven, and emotionally grounded, the kind of singing that makes the musical form feel not only justified but essential… Ed Rutherford makes Chapelier delightfully sharp‑edged, grounding the satire with controlled delivery.”
Talkin Broadway- “There's a lot of fun to be had in the rollicking story and very good production…The cast is very good across the board….Rushil Byatnal and Ed Rutherford have a variety of minor roles, but both inject distinct character into each and lend their excellent voices to fill out the ensemble numbers.”
BroadwayWorld- “This world premiere musical feels like a dash of Pirates of Penzance mixed with themes from The Count of Monte Cristo combined with a parodic flourish reminiscent of Urinetown. With a suave lead, strong ensemble, swords galore, and solid source material adapted with eloquence and levity, Scaramouche is certainly a swashbuckling musical that will entertain.”
2026-05-02: Ed wrapped filming for a supporting role in the short indie film I See, Therefore…, directed by Natalie Rizkalla!
2026-05-01: Ed be appearing in the site-specific theater event The Black Book, a benefit performance in Chicago organized by The Beautiful City Project, on Monday May 18.
2026-04-25: The world premiere musical Scaramouche at City Lit Theater starts previews next weekend. Ed is originating the dual role of Chapelier / Harlequin. Tickets are on sale now! Performances run through June 14.
2026-03-26: Ed is pleased to announce that he is now represented as an actor by the Chicago office of BMG Talent Group!
2026-03-23: Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter won a Jeff Award for the sound design of collaborating artist Joe Griffin! Congratulations Joe!
2026-02-04: Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter has been nominated for five non-equity Jeff Awards, including Best Ensemble in a Play. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew, including Ruby Lowe (nominated for Scenic Design), Joe Griffin (Sound Design), DJ Douglass (Projection Design), and Jeremiah Barr (Puppet Design)!
2025-10-24: The co-production between Black Button Eyes and City Lit Theater, Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter, is now open and runs through November 23, 2025! The show is Jeff Recommended, and has received great reviews. Tickets on sale now at this link!
2025-07-21: One last rave review for Ed’s performance as Pseudolus! Splash Magazine: “Ed Rutherford who plays Pseudolus delivered the role with impeccable timing and wink-at-the-audience charm, channeling his inner Zero Mostel with a modern twist.” Don’t miss the show! Performances are through August 3.
2025-07-19: More critical love has come in for Ed’s performance as Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Skokie Theater! Chicago Theater and Arts: “Reminiscent of wisecracking actor comedians like Mel Brooks or Zero Mostel, Rutherford as Pseudolous acts as ringmaster of ceremonies to this circus absurdum. On stage ninety percent of the time, he breaks the fourth wall describing the action and he is central in the plot and much of the cornball humor. Rutherford though, brings his own winsome personality and unique comedic sensibility to the role.” Stage and Cinema: “As Pseudolous, Ed Rutherford gives a fine performance as the smartest character on stage. His scenes with Andrew Buel as Hysterium and Daniel Leahy as Marcus Lycus, the dealer in Courtesans, are the funniest and sharpest scenes of the night.”
2025-07-14: Reviews are starting to come in for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and the critics are raving. Buzz Center Stage: “Ed Rutherford is a standout as Pseudolus, delivering rapid-fire humor and showcasing sharp comedic instincts that keep the audience laughing throughout.” Around the Town Chicago: “At the center of the mayhem is Pseudolus, the scheming slave brilliantly played by Ed Rutherford…With razor-sharp comedic timing and effortless charm,… Get your tickets now!
2025-07-11 : A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is now open at Skokie Theater, with Ed playing Pseudolus. Ticket are available here, with performances through August 3!
2025-05-31: Ed wrapped filming a supporting role in student film “Whackers” with DePaul University!
2025-05-11: Tickets are now on sale for the Skokie Theater’s production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, with Ed playing Pseudolus! Ticket link here!
2025-05-10: Ed heads in to the studio to record voices for characters in the 4th season of the Hoofbeats in My Heart musical podcast!
2025-04-13: Ed just wrapped a student film shoot, playing a principal role in student film “Fine” with School of the Art Institute of Chicago!
2025-04-11: It’s official! Ed’s next stage acting project will be playing Pseudolus in the beloved Sondheim comedy musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum with MadKap Productions at the Skokie Theater this summer! Tickets on sale later this spring.
2025-04-05: Ed just wrapped a student film shoot, playing a principal role in student film “Cicada” with Columbia College!
2025-03-17: Ed’s company, Black Button Eyes Productions, will present their 2025 show as a coproduction with City Lit Theater Company. Ed will be directing the world premiere of Timothy Griffin’s play Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter, an adaptation of a chapter from Bram Stoker’s Dracula, with performances starting October 10 2025! For more details, see the season announcement at this link. Individual tickets not on sale yet, but season subscriptions can be purchased here!
2024-07-01: Ed’s company, Black Button Eyes Productions, has announced their next show: Ed’s adaptation of the Jessica Cluess fantasy novel A Shadow Bright and Burning, with performances starting in Chicago on August 23, 2024! For more information, visit the Black Button Eyes website!
2024-05-01: The Murder, ReWrote original cast recording has been released on all major digital and streaming platforms! Check it out! For a nifty digital booklet accompanying the album, download the album from iTunes.
2024-02-06: Murder, ReWrote has been nominated for Outstanding New Work for the 2023 season’s Chicago Joseph Jefferson (Jeff) Awards! Here’s a link to one of the articles announcing the nominations.
2024-01-05: Materials for Murder ReWrote are ready for licensing! To inquire about doing a production, please use the “Contact” form in the menu.
2023-11-26: Ed is putting his actor hat back on for the first time in a while, performing as Mr. Dobitch in Blank Theatre Company’s production of the Bacharach musical Promises, Promises throughout December 2023. More information on the show and how to get tickets here!
2023-09-05: Murder, ReWrote has been such a smash hit that it has been extended! You can now get tickets through Monday September 18 (sadly, that’s the absolute longest it can go for now due to venue rental scheduling). If your preferred showtimes were sold out, check out the alternative showtimes! Get your tickets here!
2023-08-19: Reviews from critics who adore Murder, ReWrote just keep piling up this week! Here are links to the latest: Chicago Reader, and Buzz Center Stage!
2023-08-17: Enjoy two more rave reviews of Murder, ReWrote: one from Julia Rath of Around the Town Chicago, and one from Kathy D. Hey with Third Coast Review!
2023-08-15: Rave reviews are starting to come in for Murder, ReWrote in Chicago! Here’s one from Colin Douglas at Chicago Theatre Review!
2023-08-14: The world premiere production of Murder, ReWrote has been Jeff Recommended by the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee!
2023-08-06: Ed Rutherford and the Director of Murder, ReWrote, Anthony Whitaker, participated in a live interview about the show during the Sunday, August 6 episode of Out Chicago, on WCPT 820 AM. Here’s a recording of the interview!
2023-08-03: Check out the recent feature article in the Chicago Reader interviewing both Ed and co-writer George Howe on Murder, ReWrote! Link here.
2023-06-19: Tickets are now on sale for the world premiere production of Ed’s musical “Murder, Re Wrote” with Hell in a Handbag Productions! Aug 10 through Sep 16 2023 at the Den Theater in Chicago! Tickets Link Here.
2023-01-31: Ed’s theatre company, Black Button Eyes Productions, was nominated for four of Chicago’s Jeff Awards for the 2021-2022 season, including for “Best New Work” for his musical adaptation of Mary Rose! Full list of nominees here.
2022-09-18: The Murder, She Wrote parody musical Ed co-wrote with George Howe, “Murder, Re Wrote,” will officially have its world premiere production in Chicago in 2023 with Hell in a Handbag Productions! More details here.
2022-07-01: The original cast recording of Ed’s musical Mary Rose is now available on all major streaming platforms! Download your copy now!
2022-02-15: After a hit live run, Ed’s musical Mary Rose is now available worldwide on-demand via Vimeo through March 31, 2022 only! To stream this show digitally, click here.
2022-01-15: Initial press is in for Mary Rose and the critics are raving! Review round-up for the show (unanimously recommended as of this writing!) available here.
2022-01-10: Mary Rose is open and is Jeff Recommended (recognized for excellence and eligible for Chicago theater awards at the end of the season)!
2021-12-07: Ed’s world premiere musical, Mary Rose, is in rehearsal with Black Button Eyes Productions, with performances beginning January 2021! Tickets are already on sale at this link!
2021-10-17: Dr. Horrible is Jeff Recommended and beloved by critic and fans alike! Here are some recent rave reviews from Chicagoland Musical Theatre and Chicago Theatre Review! The show runs through November 6.
2021-10-04: Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog live on stage in Chicago, the authorized fan production to benefit Season of Concern, starts performances this Friday. Don’t miss out- get your tickets!
2021-07-01: Tickets to Ed’s next directing project, an authorized fan production of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog to benefit Season of Concern, are on sale now!
2021-06-27: This summer Ed will get back to his performing roots by lending his voice to characters in the 3rd season of the Hoofbeats in My Heart podcast!
2021-05-04: Ed’s company Black Button Eyes Productions has announced its 2021-2022 season, including an authorized fan production of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog and Ed’s musical adaptation of the J.M. Barrie play Mary Rose!
2020-06-22: Amanda Raquel Martinez took home the Jeff Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Musical) for her turn in Ed’s production of Ghost Quartet!
2020-04-28: Ed’s production of Ghost Quartet has been nominated for six non-Equity Jeff Awards for the 2019-2020 season, including Best Production-Musical and Best Director-Musical!
2020-04-14: Ed’s latest very short play, The Masque of the Red Coronavirus, has been posted on the Black Button Eyes Productions website as a script-and-video experience! You can read it for free here.
A positive review of the piece appears in the Windy City Times! Link here.
Click here for another review by Picture This Post!
Click here to read a feature on the work in the Daily Herald.