Rachel Rockwell News

Porchlight Music Theatre's final production in its 2018 - 2019 'lost' musicals in staged concert series is Porchlight Revisits Minnie's Boys,  with book by Groucho Marx's son Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher, music by Larry Grossman and lyrics by Hal Hackady with direction and choreography by Christopher Pazdernik and musical direction by Christie Chiles Twille.  Porchlight Revisits Minnie's Boys is presented for three performances Wednesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, March 23 at 2 p.m. and  7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street.

Chicago audiences will be the first to see the world premiere of August Rush: The Musical a never-before-seen musical based on the original Oscar-nominated Warner Bros film about a musically gifted orphan and the search for his birth parents.

Porchlight Music Theatre and its Board Member and Artistic Associate Brenda Didier hosted a luncheon at Gibson's Bar and Steakhouse, 1028 N. Rush Street, on International Women's Day, Friday, March 8 celebrating women in theatre and announced the launch of The Rachel Rockwell Memorial Fund supporting fierce women behind the table at Porchlight Music Theatre and the 2019 honorees  of the Fund: Denise Karczewski, Shanna Vanderwerker and Christie Chiles Twillie.

Drury Lane Theatre announces casting for its production of the international megahit Mamma Mia!, with music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bj rn Ulvaeus, some songs with Stig Anderson, and book by Catherine Johnson. Originally conceived by Judy Craymer, Mamma Mia! is directed by Artistic Director William Osetek and choreographed by Jane Lanier with music direction by Roberta Duchak. Mamma Mia! runs February 7 April 14, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, February 21 at 8:00 p.m.

Dear Readers, it has been one crazy year with some amazing theater. You know it's true. We've had dead teens riding a roller coaster, demonic puppets, and an ageless guy with a picture of himself in his attic. And, of course, a hip-hop founding father sweeping through town. But let's not talk about the juggernaut when we have such amazing things right here that blew us all away. At least they blew me away. So, let's talk about what blew me away this past year and what I have chosen to give my BWW 2018 Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (Jay's Picks) to (not to mention all those honorable mentions since often I can't limit myself to just one).

Chicago Shakespeare Theater has just announced that the Theater will stage the critically acclaimed new musical SIX, written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, following its debut in the United Kingdom and celebrated West End run. The six wives of King Henry VIII join forces for an electrifying musical celebration of empowerment-shining a spotlight on women who are so much more than the history books might have us believe. Directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage, the Chicago Shakespeare production will be presented in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, May 14-June 30, 2019. Casting is underway and will be announced at a later date.

Bay Area Children's Theatre (BACT) invites families to tumble into Wonderland with Alice to meet all of Lewis Carroll's irresistible characters in a lively rock & roll musical that re-imagines Carroll's beloved tales. But beware! Everything will get "curi'user and curi'user," as Alice questions who she is and what her destiny will be.

Chicago actor Christine Bunuan stars as Gigi in the national tour of MISS SAIGON, which plays at Broadway in Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre November 14 through December 8. Bunuan recently spoke to BroadwayWorld Chicago about bringing this epic love story on the road.

Bay Area Children's Theatre (BACT) invites families to tumble into Wonderland with Alice to meet all of Lewis Carroll's irresistible characters in a lively rock & roll musical that re-imagines Carroll's beloved tales. But beware! Everything will get "curi'user and curi'user," as Alice questions who she is and what her destiny will be.

Theatre Philadelphia, the region's marketing and leadership organization for theatre, proudly announces the 2018 nominees for the Barrymore Award for Excellence in Theatre. Celebrating the rich, diverse professional theatre scene in the Greater Philadelphia region, the Barrymore Ceremony will be held on Monday, November 5th at 7pm at the Bok Building at 1901 S. 9th Street in South Philadelphia. Guests will continue the festivities with an after-party Celebration at the same location. Tickets for artists, supporters, and the general public are now on sale at www.theatrephiladelphia.org.

The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, will host We Three, A Concert Fundraiser in Memory of Rachel Rockwell on September 17th 7:30 p.m.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: Desperate Measures begins performances off-Broadway and more!

The Chicago Tribune has reported that one of Chicago's leading directors and choreographers over the past twenty years, Rachel Rockwell, has died at age 49.

When Caroline Heffernan leaves Chicago for Los Angeles to share the title role in Amanda Peet's World Premiere, Our Very Own Carlin McClough at the Geffen Playhouse and attend UCLA as a Business Economics major in the fall of 2018, she will likely have spent more hours on Chicago's stages than any other kid in Chicago theatre history. She has starred in leading roles in World Premieres written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning playwrights (Tracy Letts and David Rabe), guest starred on NBC's Chicago Med and played a lead in Lifetime Movie Channel's My Daughter Was Stolen, filmed in Chicago. She was Steppenwolf's only Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, Paramount Theatre's only Annie in Annie and Chicago Lyric's only Young Kim in Showboat.

Check out a song from the new musical, Ride the Cyclone, 'What the World Needs' Check out the cast in action below!

Check out a song from the new musical, Ride the Cyclone, 'This Song Is Awesome' Check out the cast in action below!

Check out a song from the new musical, Ride the Cyclone, 'Waiting for the Drop' Check out the cast in action below!

Ride the Cylcone, this season's dark and hilarious co-production between The 5th Avenue Theatreand ACT - A Contemporary Theatre, is now in preview performances and has its official opening night this Thursday, March 22 at ACT - A Contemporary Theatre. The award-winning director and choreographer Rachel Rockwell has continued to refine and explore the world of Ride the Cyclone with its writers Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond, returning to direct after working on its two previous U.S. productions in Chicago and Off Broadway. This co-production, which is the eighth collaboration between The 5th and ACT, will showcase new developments to the script and score. At least one third of the script has been newly created for this production, which is in addition to countless small but crucial tweaks and refinements. These new developments have continued to define and shape the world that the Saint Cassian High School Chamber Choir inhabits onstage.

Read below for BroadwayWorld's listings of shows in Seattle from Monday, March 26, 2018 to Monday, April 02, 2018 including local shows, regional productions and tours. Looking for a fun, inspiring or moving night at the theatre? Click on a show below for tickets, show information, articles, videos, photos & more... Want to browse all shows in Seattle?

I wish I could write everything I found beautiful or hilarious or imaginative in this show, but there isn't room. You need to jump down that rabbit hole and see for yourself. Yes, it's impossible to be perfect, but as Alice says, 'I believe in the impossible.' I'm already calling this as a nominee for several awards.