'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for June 22, 2011

THE LATEST IN UNAUTHORIZED GOSSIP AND BUZZ

FROM THE HEART OF CHICAGO'S SHOWTUNE VIDEO BARS,

AND MUSICAL THEATER NEWS FROM CHICAGO TO BROADWAY

by Paul W. Thompson

Overheard last weekend under the showtune

video screens at Sidetrack and The Call:

Just when you thought that "Glee" had faded for the summer, reruns on TV and the tour gone from Rosemont, out comes "The Glee Project!" Part casting documentary, part reality show, part ad for season three of "Glee" itself, it's at 8:00 pm Central Time on the Oxygen network. No, I haven't seen it--my friends are fond of pointing out that I don't have Oxygen on my cable service. But I do have the internet, believe it or not! I may have to use it soon. Many Mosh Pit peeps are following this show with a keen eye, and say they really like it. And "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy has been quoted recently as saying that the original cast of the award-winning, hit FOX show will be "graduating" a year from now. We don't know if that means they will be leaving the show, becoming another spin-off show (like "Saved By The Bell: The College Years," I guess) or what. But please, video bars, a song sung on "The Glee Project" is not automatically a showtune. Please. We're just saying! 

The Glee Project | Oxygen 

This Saturday is it! June 25th at 8:00 pm is "Applause! Applause!: A Celebration Of Charles Strouse" at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall on the Evanston campus of Northwestern University. Northwestern's American Music Theatre Project, along with the Johnny Mercer Foundation, are presenting the concert, starring two-time Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole and composer Charles Strouse himself ("Bye, Bye, Birdie," "Applause," "Annie," "Rags," etc.), along with Craig Carnelia, Marcy Heisler and Lari White. It's all a build-up to the opening of Northwestern's production of... "Godspell" by Stephen Schwartz, directed by the legendary Dominic Missimi (July 7-24). 

Theatre and Interpretation Center - Summer Season 

Opening this weekend for a summer run is a revised version of the musical "Shout!" at the Marriott Theatre up in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Previews began June 15, and the run is through August 14. The show, a celebration of the British female singing stars of the 1960s, stars Tammy Mader, Jessie Mueller, Brooke Jacob, Carey Anderson and Raena White, backed by some of our town's top male and female dancing talent. I'm not sure how many ways the songs of the Baby Boomer era can be sliced, diced and packaged into an evening of theatrical entertainment, but they're trying this one a different way. I'll let you know how it goes. 

Later this summer for the very important Marriott Theatre is the world premiere of a stage musical based on the Better Midler film "For The Boys," and for the holidays, one of the first local stagings of "White Christmas," which played the Loop last year in its touring incarnation. 

Marriott Theatre In Lincolnshire 

News of openings invariable brings news of closings. Two of our very best received (and extended) local productions, with music by classic American Songbook composers, will both by closing July 3, 2011. If you haven't caught "Porgy And Bess" at the Court Theatre on the south side, or "Some Enchanted Evening" at the No Exit Café on the north side, I suggest you do so, stat! Gershwin and Rodgers are always worth celebrating. Always. 

Top Rated Plays In Chicago - Theatre In Chicago 

Speaking of Richard Rodgers, his music will hit a local stage again just four days later, on July 7 (though July 23), when "Carousel" opens at the Starlight Theatre at the Wallace Bowl in Gillson Park in Wilmette, directed by Frank Roberts and directed by Kirsten Markham. This is a show that really must benefit from an outdoor venue, right? If I'm not mistaken, every single scene takes place outdoors (or in heaven!). I think it could be magical! 

Starlight Theatre & Mallinckrodt Concerts | Wilmette Park District 

In the Loop, surely the very last chance to see a touring production of a musical theater game-changer will be arriving for a two-week stint at the Ford Center For The Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre (June 29-August 7). I'm talking about "Beauty And The Beast," now in a scaled-down tour that I'm sure will deliver satisfaction to some, if not all, observers. If you haven't seen it, realize that the younger generation will one day ask you where you were when movie adaptations aimed at Baby Boomer dollars took their place alongside jukebox shows, revivals, rock scores, post-modern musicals and post-Sondheim musicals in the mix of Millennial Broadway. With big corporations, non-profits and off-Broadway houses joining big, private investors at the producer's table. And you better have an answer! (And I just gave away the premise for my long-promised book, which I haven't started yet!) 

Chicago Beauty and the Beast 2011 | Broadway in Chicago 

Speaking of Broadway In Chicago, next Monday evening at 6:00 pm (June 27) is the annual, awkwardly-named "Broadway In Chicago Concert At Taste Of Chicago," at the Petrillo Music Shell in Grant Park. Performances from many upcoming touring shows will be included, and you never know who is performing, because they don't seem to advertise this event very much! Seven shows are listed, if you include the "Blues Brothers" tribute show. Broadway excerpts at the Taste! With what I assume to be cast members from tours and from New York, flown in for the day. Could be stars! Sounds good....... 

Chicago Broadway In Chicago Concert at Taste of Chicago 

Looking a little farther down the road, what we suspected would happen is happening. The Kennedy Center production of Sondheim's "Follies" is indeed transferring from Washington to Broadway (the Marquis Theatre) in August, and if it sells well, there will be two high-profile productions of "Follies" running simultaneously this fall! Sure, one will have Bernadette Peters, Jan Maxwell and a ton of press. But the other one will be here in Chicago, at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, directed by Gary Griffin ("The Color Purple"), and on stage from October 4-November 6. You truly do not want to miss this. I don't know who's in it, but you want to see it. You really do. 

Chicago Shakespeare Theater - Follies 

Speaking of Sondheim, folks really are talking about the "Company" concert from Lonny Price, Paul Gemignani and the New York Philharmonic, the one starring Neil Patrick Harris (in a stretch as a bachelor who can't commit to marriage) and Patti LuPone (in a stretch as a middle-aged, world-wise woman who belts out legendary songs). We love the video clips we've seen, and we love the cast's reunion performance of "Side By Side By Side" on the Tony Awards. And now, news comes that an additional screening of the film of the performances will take place at Century Center Cinema (at Clark and Diversey in Lakeview) tomorrow night, June 23, at 7:30! Oh, do be there.... 

New York Philharmonic: Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY in Movie Theaters 

And lastly, I've heard rumors that the Paramount Theatre in west suburban Aurora has been offering contracts to cast members for its upcoming (first ever) season of Equity musicals in longish runs. Only there haven't been any formal announcements about casting, have there? Are they still in process, or did I miss something? "My Fair Lady" opens the season on September 14th, directed by artistic director Jim Corti. We want to know who's in it! I hope the announcement comes soon. I think I'm impatient! 

The Paramount Theatre - Aurora, IL 

So that's it, peeps! Stay cool this weekend, and wear plenty of sunscreen. Or bring an umbrella, if you need to! When all your revelries, of whatever variety, are over and done, I hope I'll see you under the video screens.....-PWT 

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