Six companies to share one theater

Six theater companies have joined forces to create UnitedStages, a joint theater venture at the Theatre Building, 1225 W.Belmont.

Absolute Theatre Company, American Blues Theatre, ChicagoShakespeare Company, the Commons Theatre, the Immediate TheatreCompany and Touchstone Theatre will share two stages at the TheatreBuilding.

Although the move requires a complicated scheduling process, thecollective arrangement frees the six companies from concerns aboutfinding affordable theater space.

Touchstone Theatre, formerly based in Lake Forest, will lead offthe United Stages season with "The Sea Gull" from Sept. 5 to Oct. 22."The Sea Gull" will run in repertory …