Nathan Gardner News

In celebration of their 30th Anniversary, Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, will present the legendary musical Les Miserables, previewing March 29, 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 of Les 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).

NightBlue Performing Arts Company proudly presents Jason Robert Brown's 'Songs for a New World' March 7 through March 30 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont. 'Songs for a New World' was Brown's first produced show and features 16 songs connected by the common theme 'the moment of transition'. NightBlue's Artistic Director David Walters directs 'Songs for a New World'.

NightBlue Performing Arts Company presents Jason Robert Brown's 'Songs for a New World' March 7 through March 30 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont. 'Songs for a New World' was Brown's first produced show and features 16 songs connected by the common theme 'the moment of transition'. NightBlue's Artistic Director David Walters directs 'Songs for a New World'. Previews are March 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 to $35. For tickets and information visit www.NightBlueTheater.com.

NightBlue Performing Arts Company (RENT, AVENUE Q, Monty Python's SPAMALOT!) is excited to announce it's upcoming production of Jason Robert Brown's 'Songs for a New World'

Kokandy Productions' premiere all-musical season kicks off with the Marvin Hamlisch/Craig Carnelia/John Guare noir SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, running now through February 2, 2014 at Theater Wit. BroadwayWorld has a look at the opening night festivities 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 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award winners will be announced tonight! Plus 'Ghost' and 'Phantom' haunt the Loop, 'Wicked' casts Tim Kazurinsky, productions like 'Sweet Smell' and 'Nunsense,' The Midtown Men, news out of Circle Theatre and more!

The Music Theatre Company (TMTC), Highland Park's critically-acclaimed Equity theatre, is pleased to announce the full casting for Triumph of Love, the first Chamber Musical of their 2013-14 Season. Triumph of Love runs today, December 6 - 15, 2013.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's a non-holiday edition! With 'The Mikado,' 'Triumph Of Love,' 'Sweet Smell Of Success,' 'Cabaret' at the Marriott, 'Ain't Misbehavin',' CST's 'Gypsy' and more, plus Streisand and Sondheim on TV, and 'The Sound Of Music' at Sidetrack!

The Music Theatre Company (TMTC), Highland Park's critically-acclaimed Equity theatre, is pleased to announce the full casting for Triumph of Love, the first Chamber Musical of their 2013-14 Season. Triumph of Love runs December 6 - 15, 2013.

Bailiwick Chicago has announced casting for its 2013-14 Season, which features two stunning musicals in their Chicago premieres. Leading the cast of the stirring musical drama DESSA ROSE are Sydney Charles as Dessa Rose (The Color Purple, The Mercury Theatre; Smokey Joe's Cafe, Theo Ubique) and Collective Member Harmony France as Ruth (Violet, Bailiwick Chicago-Jeff nomination; Tell Me on A Sunday, Bailiwick Repertory) with special guest artist Jayson "JC" Brooks as Nathan (Passing Strange, Bailiwick Chicago). The 2012 Off-Broadway revival version of the infamous 1988 musical CARRIE will star Callie Johnson (Pal Joey, Porchlight Music Theatre-Jeff Award; Next to Normal, Drury Lane Oak Brook) as Carrie and Katherine L. Condit as Margaret White (Chess, Original Broadway Company; Joseph and A Chorus Line, National Tours).

With the debut of their all-musical 2014 season, Kokandy Productions announces itself as Chicago's newest non-Equity musical theater company, dedicated to producing high-stakes musical theater pieces that authentically mine the emotional truth of the human experience and explore complex, challenging themes.

In the below installment, Natalie breaks down riffs with old friend Nathan Gardner.

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 release of the Equity wing Jeff Award nominations, 'Double Trouble' and 'Hank Williams' open, '50 Shades' and 'Frog And Toad' return, plus 'Heartbeat Of Home,' 'Sweet Smell Of Success,' a new musical theater magazine and more!

The producers of FACING EAST, a new musical based on the moving play by Carol Lynn Pearson, are thrilled to announce that the show will play the Uptown Theatre in Grand Prairie, TX for a one night only concert tonight, August 27, 2013.

The producers of FACING EAST, a new musical based on the moving play by Carol Lynn Pearson, are thrilled to announce that the show will play the Uptown Theatre in Grand Prairie, TX for a one night only concert on August 27, 2013. Executive Producer Nathan Gardner says "In the Dallas-Fort Worth region I see a wonderful arts community to work within, and in tandem with, to continue to grow our show. I see a city busting at the seams with things to offer. And I also see, on the other end of the spectrum, an audience that could benefit from seeing the story our show portrays."

Philip Glass' The Fall of the House of Usher, a gothic horror story which blurs the line between the real world and the supernatural, opens Chicago Opera Theater's 2013 Season, titled "Power of Love, Love of Power."