Mark David Kaplan News

In an era when stage adaptations of animated films are seemingly a dime a dozen, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has stood the test of time, and for good reason. When the 1991 Disney film was adapted for Broadway in 1994, composer Alan Menken nearly doubled the number of songs, and the additions that he wrote with lyricist Tim Rice are every bit as stunning as the originals (with lyrics by the late Howard Ashman). Further, Linda Woolverton's book for the musical lends depth to characters previously left underdeveloped in her film screenplay, especially the Beast and his household. Drury Lane Theatre's new production honors both the film and Broadway versions, but director Alan Souza and his creative team deliver a refreshingly original vision, giving the talented cast space to breathe new life into familiar characters. The result is a beautifully designed, thoughtfully staged, and strongly acted fairy tale that should delight audiences of all ages.

Drury Lane Theatre announces the cast for Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souza and choreography by Ron De Jesus. Disney's Beauty and the Beast was originally directed by Robert Jess Ross and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Disney's Beauty and the Beast runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m. Check out clips in the video below!

Drury Lane Theatre announces the cast for Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souza and choreography by Ron De Jesus. Disney's Beauty and the Beast was originally directed by Robert Jess Ross and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Disney's Beauty and the Beast runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m.

Drury Lane Theatre presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souza and choreography by Ron De Jesus. Disney's Beauty and the Beast was originally directed by Robert Jess Ross and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Disney's Beauty and the Beast runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m.

Drury Lane Theatre announces the cast for Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souza and choreography by Ron De Jesus. Disney's Beauty and the Beast was originally directed by Robert Jess Ross and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Disney's Beauty and the Beast runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m.

Drury Lane Theatre's Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souza and choreography by Ron De Jesus runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. Get a first look at the cast in rehearsals!

Drury Lane Theatre announces the cast for Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souza and choreography by Ron De Jesus. Disney's Beauty and the Beast was originally directed by Robert Jess Ross and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Disney's Beauty and the Beast runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m.

Porchlight Music Theatre welcomed a sold out crowd at the 13th Annual Chicago Sings concert fundraiser; Chicago Sings The MGM Musicals, held Monday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m., at Second City's UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave, direction by Keely Vasquez, music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Beckie Menzie, stage management by Jake Allen Miller and sound design Robert Hornbostel. Monday's event was the company's most successful Chicago Sings to date. Sales from this one-night-only performance benefit Porchlight Music Theatre's youth educational and community outreach programming raising more than $54,000.

Building on the Blaine County School District's mission of inspiring, engaging, educating and empowering every student, Company of Fools announces the 21st year of Stages of Wonder-an in-school dramatic arts program that has served as the theatre curriculum in local elementary schools since 1997.

In a cramped, secret Amsterdam annex, alongside seven other refugees, a Jewish girl hides from the Nazis. In the midst of this nightmare scenario, Anne Frank channels her lively intelligence into a diary that resonates decades after her death. Wendy Kesselman's adaptation captures the immediacy of Anne's unique voice, and the courage and terror of a life evading Hitler's genocide of the Jews.

Drury Lane Theatre brings romance and warmth to Chicago this winter with the song-and-dance extravaganza Crazy for You, featuring music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and book by Ken Ludwig, directed and choreographed by the Jeff Award-nominated director/choreographer Matt Crowle.

Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman's revival of WONDERFUL TOWN - Leonard Bernstein's classic musical that with lyrics by Betty Comdenand Adolph Green and book by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov, runs now through October 16 at Goodman Theatre's Albert Theatre (Opening Night is September 20). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Due to early ticket demand, American Blues Theater announces the extension of Little Shop of Horrors, the comedic rock musical with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, directed by Jonathan Berry, and music direction by Ensemble member Austin Cook. Little Shop of Horrors now runs April 29 - June 26, 2016 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the nine-time Tony Award-winning musical FIDDLER ON THE ROOF tonight, September 18 through October 3, 2015.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the nine-time Tony Award-winning musical FIDDLER ON THE ROOF September 18 through October 3, 2015.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Beaches,' 'Kinky Boots' and 'Gotta Dance' show how a pre-Broadway tryout is done, while 'Fancy Nancy,' 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Pinocchio' go for a younger demographic. Meanwhile, Ravinia, Grant Park and Three Oaks (MI) do summer concerts, and The Music Theatre Company announces its own surprise demise.

One of musical theater's biggest hits, Anything Goes, the irresistible musical filled with unforgettable music and dazzling dance numbers, continues The Marriott Theatre's spectacular 40th anniversary season. The production opened on April 15 and runs through May 31 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Bubbling with joy and 60s era music and dance, Hairspray is the Tony Award-winning hit Broadway musical piled bouffant high with laughter, romance, and deliriously tuneful songs. Tracy Turnblad is a teen whose life revolves around dancing on the Corny Collins TV show. Who knew that a teenybopper TV show could be a catalyst for integration? You can't stop the beat, and truth be told, you won't want to once the all-singing and dancing cast takes the stage.

In celebration of their 30th Anniversary, Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents the legendary musical Les Miserables, opening Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. and running through June 8, 2014. Directed by multi-Jeff Award winner Rachel Rockwell (Ragtime, The Sound of Music, Sweeney Todd, and Oliver! at Drury Lane Theatre), the cast is led by Ivan Rutherford ("Jean Valjean" in over 2,000 performances of Les Miserables on Broadway, as well as in the 20th anniversary Broadway Revival and The National Tour ofLes Miserables, and Titanic on Broadway); Jeff Award-winner Quentin Earl Darrington as "Javert" (Ragtime on Broadway and at Drury Lane Theatre, Memphis: A New Musical on Broadway and The National Tours of The Lion King, The Color Purple, and Memphis: A New Musical); and Jennie Sophia as "Fantine" (The National Tour of The Lincoln Center's South Pacific and Oliver! and The Sound of Music at Drury Lane Theatre).

About Face Theatre's sparkly, queer holiday hit musical WE THREE LIZAS is back and better than ever - with a new book and expanded score! Featuring book and lyrics by Scott Bradley*, music and additional lyrics by Alan Schmuckler, direction by Scott Ferguson*, music direction by Aaron Benham and choreography by Patrick Andrews*, WE THREE LIZAS plays now through January 5, 2014 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. BroadwayWorld has new production shots below!