Jeannie Lukow News

Porchlight Music Theatre has revealed the departure of its first executive director Jeannie Lukow at the end of the 2023-2024 season this August.

 Porchlight Music Theatre has announced that tickets go on sale Thursday, Feb. 15 for Chicago Sings Broadway Pop II, the return of its annual fundraising concert, Monday, April 15, at the House of Blues Chicago.

Here’s some excerpts from my conversation with Porchlight Music Theatre Executive Director Jeannie Lukow about what audiences can expect from this year’s ICONS event, what’s coming up next season for Porchlight, and her hopes for the company’s future.

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre announces Porchlight ICONS: Celebrating Ben Vereen, Friday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Athenaeum Center, 2936 N. Southport Ave.

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre announced last night at Chicago Sings Broadway Pop that the 2023 ICONS Gala, Porchlight’s signature fundraising event, will be held Friday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton Chicago at Water Tower Place, 160 E. Pearson St.

Porchlight Music Theatre was joined by nearly 200 people to launch its 28th season, honor the 2022 ICON Award recipient, one of Broadway’s foremost singing and dancing leading ladies, Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie,  present The Luminary Award to Dan Ratner and The Genevieve and Daniel Ratner Foundation and raise funds for its artistic and educational programs. Check out photos!

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre has announced this year’s recipient of the ICON Award is one of Broadway’s foremost singing and dancing leading ladies, Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie.

Porchlight Music Theatre’s annual fundraising concert Chicago Sings celebrated the American theatre titan Stephen Sondheim at Chicago Sings Stephen Sondheim, held Monday, May 23 at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Check out photos from the event here!

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced Chicago Sings Stephen Sondheim, its annual fundraising concert,  Monday, May 23, 2022 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. 

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre celebrated 26 years as the center for music theatre in Chicago, honored actor, singer, dancer Chita Rivera with The ICON Award, Rick and Deann Bayless and the Bayless Family Foundation with the Luminary Award and Latino business and civic leaders as 2021 Scene Changers at its 2021 ICONS Gala.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced that actor, singer, dancer Chita Rivera will be honored with The ICON Award and Rick and Deann Bayless and the Bayless Family Foundation will be presented with the Luminary Award at the 2021 ICONS Gala celebrating 26 years of Porchlight as the center for music theatre in Chicago.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced that Carmen J. Gonzalez has joined the Porchlight staff as development director. In this role Gonzalez will refine a structure for effective fundraising and relationship-building to help meet the organization’s current and future contributed needs in a sustainable and engaging way. 

Porchlight Music Theatre held PorchlightPalooza, a three-day virtual festival Friday, Aug. 21 - Sunday, Aug. 23,  in lieu of its cancelled March 23 ICONS GALA.

Porchlight Music Theatre announced today that its 2020 - 2021 season has been postponed to 2021 - 2022. Due to the unknowns that currently exist concerning the pandemic and reopening guidelines, Porchlight will be moving its scheduled 2020 - 2021 season productions to the 2021 - 2022 season. 

Porchlight Music Theatre announced today that its 25th Anniversary ICONS Gala honoring Broadway legend Joel Grey scheduled for Monday, March 23, at the Ritz-Carlton, 160 E. Pearson St. has been postponed.

Porchlight Music Theatre announced today that its 25th Anniversary ICONS Gala honoring Broadway legend Joel Grey scheduled for Monday, March 23, at the Ritz-Carlton, 160 E. Pearson St. has been postponed. 

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre has announced that Arlen and Elaine Cohen Rubin will be honored with The Luminary Award at the ICONS Gala celebrating 25 years of Porchlight as the center for music theatre in Chicago, Monday, March 23, at the Ritz-Carlton, 160 E. Pearson St. The Chicago-based couple will join Broadway legend Joel Grey who will be in attendance to receive the ICON Award at the 2020 ICONS Gala with proceeds benefiting Porchlight's artistic and youth education programs.

Porchlight Music Theatre is pleased to announce the appointment of Rebeccah Singer as the company's first full-time education director. Singer begins immediately overseeing Porchlight's education, intern and outreach programs. These programs offer an educational and personal growth environment where youth, professionals and fans from across Chicago may create, practice, perform and appreciate the unique music theatre art form. 

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced that actor, singer, dancer, director and photographer Joel Grey will be honored at the 2020 ICONS Gala celebrating 25 years of Porchlight as the center for music theatre in Chicago, Monday, March 23, at the Ritz-Carlton, 160 E. Pearson St. The ICONS Gala's 25th Anniversary co-chairs are Rick and Deann Bayless and Bill Kurtis and Donna La Pietra.

Porchlight Music Theatre's 25th anniversary season began with the 14th Annual Chicago Sings concert: Chicago Sings 25 Years of Porchlight, Monday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m., at The Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave, directed by Christopher Pazdernik and Artistic Director Michael Weber with music direction by David Fiorello and a band featuring Kelsey Boltz, Cara Hartz, John McCreary, Greg Strauss, Celeste Park and Jake Saleh.