Michael Aaron Lindner News

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'The Jungle Book' heats up, 'Oklahoma!' and 'South Pacific,' 'Oliver!' and 'Barnum,' plus 'Stomp,' some interesting student productions and more!

Drury Lane Theatre begins its exciting 2013 season with a grand scale production of the Tony Award-winning musical OLIVER!, currently in previews and opening Thursday, April 11, running through June 2, 2013. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, begins its exciting 2013 season with a grand scale production of the Tony Award-winning musical OLIVER!, previewing April 4, opening Thursday, April 11, and running through June 2, 2013. OLIVER! features an all-star cast of 35, led by Heidi Kettenring as 'Nancy' (National Tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Broadway in Chicago's Wicked, the World Premiere of Hero at Marriott Theatre, and Sweeney Todd at Drury Lane Theatre); Jeff Award winner John Reeger as 'Fagin' (The Iceman Cometh and A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theatre, Amadeus at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Hamlet at Court Theatre, and Chicago at Marriott Theatre); J.D. Rodriguez as the 'Artful Dodger' (National Tour of A Christmas Story) and Brady Tutton as 'Oliver Twist' ('Tiny Tim' in A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Theatre). The production is Directed and Choreographed by multi-Jeff Award winner Rachel Rockwell (Ragtime, The Sound of Music and Sweeney Todd at Drury Lane Theatre). Rockwell will direct both her mother, Glory Kissel, who stars as 'Mrs. Bedwin' (Pericles at the Goodman Theatre and Anyone Can Whistle at Ravinia), and her son, Jake Helm, who plays an orphan. Her husband, Garth Helm, provides Sound Design.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Catch Me' a 'Big Fish' in the Loop, 'Barnum' and 'Sweet Charity' keep Coleman in the spotlight, 'The Pajama Game' up north, 'Oliver! out west, two from Theo Ubique and more!

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, begins its exciting 2013 season with a grand scale production of the Tony Award-winning musical OLIVER!, previewing April 4, opening Thursday, April 11, and running through June 2, 2013.

In the Paramount's production, directed and choregraphed by Rachel Rockwell, the show lives and breathes in the very music that a con man and flim-flam artist, "Professor Harold Hill," uses to sell band instruments, uniforms and instruction booklets to the parents of young boys he knows he cannot really teach. Music is everywhere,...

One of the nation's most prominent of the many productions of "A Christmas Carol" that crop up like greenery this time of year is the one at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. Now in its 35th annual outing, it's a warm, thought-provoking and timeless tale of redemption and good will, humanity and universality that, surprisingly , shares with Jonathan Larson's "Rent" an immediate central theme. "No day but today" might very well be a line from Charles Dickens' short 1843 novel of the same name, as pithy and wise as the novel's, and this show's, ending line: "God bless us, everyone."

Stephen Sondheim's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE is part of Chicago Shakespeare Theater's upcoming season, currently running through November 11, 2012. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

Stephen Sondheim's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE is part of Chicago Shakespeare Theater's upcoming season, currently running through November 4, 2012. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production highlights below.

Stephen Sondheim's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE is part of Chicago Shakespeare Theater's upcoming season, currently running through November 4, 2012. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The eagerly-awaited 'Sunday In The Park...' and 'A Class Act,' two tiny venues a block apart debuting pocket musicals, 'Avenue Q' visits Bailiwick Chicago, a 'Carrie' parody, our beloved 'Christmas Schooner' and more....

Stephen Sondheim's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE is part of Chicago Shakespeare Theater's current season and will be headlined by Jason Danieley (CURTAINS, NEXT TO NORMAL) and Carmen Cusack (WICKED, CARRIE).

The Jeff Awards Committee announced 197 nominations in 34 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions, which opened between August 1, 2011, and July 31, 2012. The Jeff Awards judges attended opening nights of 118 Equity productions offered by 55 producing organizations. From these openings, 96 productions were 'Jeff Recommended,' which made them eligible for award nominations.

The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 197 nominations in 34 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions, which opened between August 1, 2011, and July 31, 2012. The Jeff Awards judges attended opening nights of 118 Equity productions offered by 55 producing organizations. From these openings, 96 productions were 'Jeff Recommended,' which made them eligible for award nominations.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Casting news for ChiShakes' 'Sunday,' TATC's '42nd Street' and Paramount's 'Grease,' plus ALW and the eye-popping Marriott season, Chicago's first 'Q,' Super September along Belmont Avenue and much more!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces casting for the 2012 Fall Season. The Tony Award® and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine will be staged by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin, September 26-November 4, 2012 in CST's Courtyard Theater. The season continues with The School for Lies by David Ives, adapted from Moliere's The Misanthrope and staged by CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines, December 4, 2012-January 20, 2013 in CST's Courtyard Theater.

Stephen Sondheim's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE is part of Chicago Shakespeare Theater's upcoming season, and the Chicago Tribune today revealed casting for the fall production.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Patti LuPone, composer tributes, new musicals in Chicago and New York, 'Beauty And The Beast' and 'The Jungle Book,' yet another 'Reefer Madness' and more....

The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences presents Marc Robin's musical retelling of the Brothers Grimm tale SLEEPING BEAUTY, now through August 18th. With stereotypes shattered, rules broken and quests aplenty, this musical, with direction and choreography by Matt Raftery, is certain to surprise and delight. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!