Barry G. Funderburg News

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines…and prepare for a bumpy ride!  The rubber will meet the road as the World Premiere of the hilarious new pop rock musical HELLDRIVERS OF DAYTONA takes the stage, previewing September 8, opening September 12 at 7:30 p.m., and running through October 30 at The Royal George Theatre, 1641 North Halsted Street, Chicago.  With music by Berton Averre (The Knack), lyrics by Rob Meurer (Platinum Records with Christopher Cross), and book by Emmy Award-winner Mark Saltzman (The Tin Pan Alley Rag, The Adventures of Milo and Otis), these award-winning creative minds have put the pedal to the metal in this NASCAR-themed musical full of girls, cars, and rockin' guitars.

Theatre at the Center is announcing its first season under the leadership of new Artistic Director Linda Fortunato.   Theatre at the Center's 2017 season is comprised of a variety of works ranging from Broadway musicals to a Chicagoland premiere play and a holiday classic.  The season opens with My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra, followed by Kander and Ebb's Tony Award winning Cabaret.  Next will be the Chicagoland premiere of The Tin Woman by Sean Grennan, then Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and closing the season is A Wonderful Life: The Musical.  Jeff award-winner Fortunato will direct three of the five productions.   William Underwood will serve as music director for the season.

?Actors Norm Boucher and George Keating will play the leads in Theatre at the Center's cast for the famous comedy classic The Odd Couple, the 1965 Broadway hit by iconic playwright Neil Simon.   Directed by Larry Wyatt, The Odd Couple runs from July 14 to Aug. 14.   

A hit on Broadway and in London's West End, the thrilling comedy, Alfred Hitchcock's THE 39 STEPS kick started Theatre at the Center's 26th season on February 21 and continues through March 20, 2016. This comedic spoof offers non-stop action and features four actors playing more than 150 different characters. The show is filled with an incredible series of lightning fast costume changes that make for a great deal of laughter and excitement. BroadwayWorld has a photo from the opening night festivities below!

A hit on Broadway and in London's West End, the thrilling comedy, Alfred Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps" kick starts Theatre at the Center's 26th season beginning February 18 and continuing through March 20, 2016.  This comedic spoof offers non-stop action and features four actors playing more than 150 different characters.  The show is filled with an incredible series of lightning fast costume changes that make for a great deal of laughter and excitement.

As the grand finale to their spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 Season, Theatre at the Center presents the beloved holiday classic, A CHRISTMAS STORY, running now through December 27, with a press opening this Sunday, November 22 at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

As the grand finale to their spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 Season, Theatre at the Center presents the beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Story, running November 19 through December 27, with a press opening on Sunday, November 22 at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. Based on the award-winning film, the play by Phil Grecian tells the story of Ralphie Parker, who longs for a genuine Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. The source material for the film was the warm and hilarious story collection In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by local Hammond, Indiana native Jean Shepherd. The holiday classic will be directed by Jeff Award-winner Linda Fortunato (Monty Python's Spamalot, A Christmas Carol, 42nd Street at Theatre at the Center).

 A massive hit on Broadway, playing over 1,500 hysterical performances seen by more than two million people, Monty Python's SPAMALOT continues Theatre at the Center's exceptional 25th Anniversary Season. The Monty Python-inspired farce of the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, features a book and lyrics by Eric Idle and a fresh new score created by Eric Idle and John Du Prez. The tale of King Arthur and his band of raunchy knights won the Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, and Best Direction of a Musical, as well as the Grammy Award in 2006 for Best Musical Show Album. Jeff Award-winning Director David Perkovich and Jeff Award-winning Choreographer Linda Fortunato join artistic forces to put their creative spin on the irreverent musical parody, running September 17th through October 18th, with a press opening on Sunday, September 20th at 7 p.m. at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN.

A massive hit on Broadway, playing over 1,500 hysterical performances seen by more than two million people, Monty Python's SPAMALOT continues Theatre at the Center's exceptional 25th Anniversary Season.

Peninsula Players Theatre, America's Oldest Professional Resident Summer Theater and Door County's theatrical icon, continues its 80th season with the hilarious musical comedy 'Nunsense,' with book, music and lyrics by Dan Goggin. The lighthearted musical has a six-week run starting tonight, Sept. 9, through Oct. 18. 'Nunsense' received the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical, Best Book, Best Music and Best Off-Broadway Musical.

Peninsula Players Theatre, America's Oldest Professional Resident Summer Theater and Door County's theatrical icon, continues its 80th season with the hilarious musical comedy "Nunsense," with book, music and lyrics by Dan Goggin.    The lighthearted musical has a six-week run starting Sept. 9 through Oct. 18.  "Nunsense" received the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical, Best Book, Best Music and Best Off-Broadway Musical. 

Milwaukee Repertory Theater launches the Quadracci Powerhouse season with its highly anticipated production of the Tony Award-winning musical DREAMGIRLS.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, presents RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH, now playing an extended run through November 1. The musical tribute has received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and has broken sales records for Mercury Theater Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

A massive hit on Broadway, playing over 1,500 hysterical performances seen by more than two million people, Monty Python's SPAMALOT continues Theatre at the Center's exceptional 25th Anniversary Season.

 Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, is thrilled to announce that RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH has been extended through November 1. The musical tribute has received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and has broken sales records for Mercury Theater Chicago. "A good time with a great American artist!" exclaimed Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune. Hedy Weiss of the Chicago Sun-Times Highly Recommends the production saying it's "A show ablaze with fire and unmitigated fun!"

Overflowing with Rock n' Roll, romance, and mistaken identities, the Elvis fueled Broadway Musical, ALL SHOOK UP, rides into Theatre at the Center, now through August 16th at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN. Jeff Award-winning Artistic Director Bill Pullinsi joins forces with Jeff Award-winning Choreographer Danny Herman to co-direct the well-tuned, hot-rod musical, which continues Theatre at the Center's spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 season. With a book by Tony Award-winning Joe DiPietro, nostalgic songs and sensational dance numbers, the hilarious musical will have audiences of all ages jumpin' out of their blue suede shoes. BroadwayWorld has highlights from the show below!

Overflowing with Rock n' Roll, romance, and mistaken identities, the Elvis fueled Broadway Musical, ALL SHOOK UP, rides into Theatre at the Center, July 16th through August 16th with a press opening on Sunday July 19th at 7 p.m. at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN. Jeff Award-winning Artistic Director Bill Pullinsi joins forces with Jeff Award-winning Choreographer Danny Herman to co-direct the well-tuned, hot-rod musical, which continues Theatre at the Center's spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 season. With a book by Tony Award-winning Joe DiPietro, nostalgic songs and sensational dance numbers, the hilarious musical will have audiences of all ages jumpin' out of their blue suede shoes!

Overflowing with Rock n' Roll, romance, and mistaken identities, the Elvis fueled Broadway Musical, ALL SHOOK UP, rides into Theatre at the Center, now through August 16th with a press opening this Sunday, July 19th at 7 p.m. at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN. Jeff Award-winning Artistic Director Bill Pullinsi joins forces with Jeff Award-winning Choreographer Danny Herman to co-direct the well-tuned, hot-rod musical, which continues Theatre at the Center's spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 season. With a book by Tony Award-winning Joe DiPietro, nostalgic songs and sensational dance numbers, the hilarious musical will have audiences of all ages jumpin' out of their blue suede shoes. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!