Alene Robertson

City Lit Theater announced its lineup for the 2022-23 season. The season will begin in October with the world premiere of THE MARK OF KANE, by Mark Pracht, and conclude in late spring with the world premiere of Kingsley Day and Philip LaZebnik’s musical AZTEC HUMAN SACRIFICE.

I thought throwing out my Annie CDs would be easy--I thought I only had one! Obviously that would be the indispensable Original Broadway Cast Recording with Dorothy Loudon and Andrea McArdle. How wrong I was! I knew that, as a kid, I had the tape of the 1982 movie soundtrack with Carol Burnett and Aileen Quinn (and an all-star supporting cast!), but I didn't remember buying it on CD. And when the hell did I get the CD of the 1999 TV version (with Kathy Bates and an all-star cast)? And, oh yeah... I forgot about this studio album from the 90s with studio cast queen Kim Criswell--I think I bought back in the day somehow convincing myself Ruthie Henshall was playing Annie. (Spoiler alert: She plays Grace.) Oh, and I do remember this '30thAnniversary' deluxe production with Chicago area diva (and original star of the sequel, Annie Warbucks) Alene Robertson as Miss Hannigan plus a lot of bonus material. To add insult to injury, I also have a Blu-Ray of the recent Hollywood remake with Cameron Diaz. I don't even have a Blu-Ray player! This thing is definitely going into the trash along with all the audio, but I will listen to a few tracks online for my edification.

Six world premiere plays and four new adaptations seen first by Chicago audiences were among those receiving nominations by The Jeff Awards Committee. 178 nominations in 32 categories honor Chicago Equity theatrical productions that opened between August 1, 2015 and July 31, 2016.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Holiday musicals are at 100% in our big suburban theaters! Plus two of our annual 'Christmas Carol' offerings, a new show called 'Tinsel!,' 'Gypsy' and 'Oliver!' for those not yet ready to celebrate things, and the return of 'Christmas Dearest' from Hell In A Handbag at Mary's Attic. Happy Holidaze!

'The holidays are a special time here at Drury Lane, and this year will be no exception with our production of White Christmas, featuring Irving Berlin's classic songs that audiences know and love, combined with spirited choreography by Matthew Crowle,' said Osetek. 'Together with this talented cast and creative team, we hope to transport our audiences with this timeless holiday tale.'

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Gentleman's Guide' reaches our shore, and 'Gotta Dance' and 'SpongeBob' plan the same. Madonna battles the French Revolution, dueling 'American Idiot's and 'Blood Brothers' debut, 'White Christmas' lasts nine weeks and 'Rent' returns for one night only. Plus 'Empire' conquers TV, and 'Hamilton' conquers everyone.

'The holidays are a special time here at Drury Lane, and this year will be no exception with our production of White Christmas, featuring Irving Berlin's classic songs that audiences know and love, combined with spirited choreography by Matthew Crowle,' said Osetek. 'Together with this talented cast and creative team, we hope to transport our audiences with this timeless holiday tale.'

It's Saturday, and that means it's time for BroadwayWorld's 'Saturday Intermission Pics' roundup! Do you ever wonder what your favorite Broadway, Off-Broadway, National Tour and regional stars are doing during intermission? Thanks to Andrew Keenan-Bolger? (@KeenanBlogger) and Max von Essen (@MaxizPad), dedicated performers and excited fans, now you can see for yourself. Three years ago, Keenan-Bolger, then in Mary Poppins, and von Essen, then in Xanadu, started the trend.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, continues its landmark 30th anniversary season with the winner of "Best Play" at the 2012 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Awards, THE GAME'S AFOOT. The show opened last night, September 4 at 8 p.m., and runs through October 19, 2014. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivites below!

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, continues its landmark 30th anniversary season with the winner of "Best Play" at the 2012 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Awards, THE GAME'S AFOOT, opening tonight, Thursday, September 4 at 8 p.m., and running through October 19, 2014. The cast is led by Derek Hasenstab (Broadway National Tour of The Lion King; The Foreigner and I Hate Hamlet at Drury Lane Theatre; Oedipus Complex at the Goodman Theatre; and Sunday in the Park with George at Chicago Shakespeare Theater) as "William Gillette" and nine-time Jeff Award-winner Alene Robertson (National Tour of Annie,Mame at Drury Lane Theatre, and The Full Monty and Hello, Dolly! at Marriott Theatre) as "Martha Gillette." THE GAME'S AFOOT is written by Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor, The Fox on the Fairway, Crazy for You, and Moon Over Buffalo) and directed by Drury Lane Theatre Artistic Director William Osetek (Young Frankenstein and next to normal at Drury Lane Theatre).

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, continues its landmark 30th anniversary season with the winner of 'Best Play' at the 2012 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Awards, THE GAME'S AFOOT, previewing tonight, August 28, opening Thursday, September 4 at 8 p.m., and running through October 19, 2014.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Special nights at the Marriott and Stage 773 this weekend, plus three shows opening ('Coraline,' 'Reefer Madness' and 'Fiddler') and four shows closing ('Motown,' 'Big Fish,' 'Godspell' and 'Hillbillies'). We'll tell you the three shows that have one additional week, plus a Christmas movie has us all a-buzz!!

A Celebration of Life will be held on August 11, 2014 honoring the life and work of former Marriott Theatre Artistic Director Dyanne Kathleen Earley. The event will be held at Marriott's Lincolnshire Resort, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL from 6:30 to 10 PM. A brief performance featuring Musical Director Kevin Stites, singers Kevin Earley, Dave Earley, Felicia Fields, and Alene Robertson, and speakers from Dyanne's personal and professional life will begin at 7:30 PM.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, continues its landmark 30th anniversary season with the winner of 'Best Play' at the 2012 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Awards, THE GAME'S AFOOT, previewing August 28, opening Thursday, September 4 at 8 p.m., and running through October 19, 2014. The cast is led by Derek Hasenstab (Broadway National Tour of The Lion King; The Foreigner and I Hate Hamlet at Drury Lane Theatre; Oedipus Complex at the Goodman Theatre; and Sunday in the Park with George at Chicago Shakespeare Theater) as 'William Gillette' and nine-time Jeff Award-winner Alene Robertson (National Tour of Annie, Mame at Drury Lane Theatre, and The Full Monty and Hello, Dolly! at Marriott Theatre) as 'Martha Gillette.' THE GAME'S AFOOT is written by Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor, The Fox on the Fairway, Crazy for You, and Moon Over Buffalo) and directed by Drury Lane Theatre Artistic Director William Osetek (Young Frankenstein and next to normal at Drury Lane Theatre).

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Gypsy' at CST and 'Into The Woods' from The Hypocrites begin, Paula Scrofano honored, Bernadette performs, another out-of-town tryout announced, a Barrel Of Monkeys revue, casting news from the Paramount and the Lyric, the Sarah Siddons Society show and more!

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 204TH season with an all-new production of Broadway's five-time Tony Award-winning family musical, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN. Directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, this production will feature Philadelphia's very own Jeffrey Coon and Broadway's Jennifer Hope Wills. THE MUSIC MAN is now running through January 6th on the WST Mainstage. Check out the production shots below!

Walnut Street Theatre is at it again this holiday season with a delightful production of Meredith Willlson's The Music Man jam packed with a stellar cast.

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 204th season with an all-new production of Broadway's five-time Tony Award-winning family musical, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN. Directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, this production will feature Philadelphia's very own Jeffrey Coon and Broadway's Jennifer Hope Wills. The cast also includes a live horse that will pull the Wells Fargo Wagon in the first act. THE MUSIC MAN runs now through January 6th on the WST Mainstage. Check out highlights from the production in the video below!

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 204th season with an all-new production of Broadway's five-time Tony Award-winning family musical, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN. Directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, this production will feature Philadelphia's very own Jeffrey Coon and Broadway's Jennifer Hope Wills. The cast also includes a live horse that will pull the Wells Fargo Wagon in the first act. THE MUSIC MAN opens on November 14th and runs through January 6th on the WST Mainstage. Join Jeffrey Coon (Harold Hill), Jennifer Hope Wills (Marian Paroo) and Vincent Crocilla (Winthrop Paroo) as they prepare for Walnut Street Theatre's production of THE MUSIC MAN during the pre-production photo shoot in the video below!

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 204th season with an all-new production of Broadway's five-time Tony Award-winning family musical, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN. Directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, this production will feature Philadelphia's very own Jeffrey Coon and Broadway's Jennifer Hope Wills. The cast also includes a live horse that will pull the Wells Fargo Wagon in the first act. THE MUSIC MAN opens on November 14th and runs through January 6th on the WST Mainstage. Check out new photos from the production below!