Rod Thomas News

On April 18, 2015 at 9:30PM, vocalist, songwriter and actress Bridget Barkan shines a light on the community of strangers that inspires her music and art with her new alt-cabaret variety show Dear Stranger, I Love You at Joe's Pub at The Public (425 Lafayette, NYC).

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. BIC's fall season schedule, plus Theo's 'JCS,' Woodstock's 'Chaperone,' Kokandy's 'Full Monty' and the Paramount's 'Les Mis.' Also four recent contemporary operas, early and late Sondheim comparisons, this month's 'Option Up,!' and Linda Eder and Jessie Mueller hit the suburbs!

You're not dreaming a dream. Aurora's Paramount Theatre, wower of audiences and critics this season with consecutive smash hits CATS, Mary Poppins and The Who's Tommy, is closing its 2014-15 Broadway Series with Les Miserables, one of the greatest musicals of all time, March 18-April 26, 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. The 'Last Five Years' movie, and three local shows for Valentine's Day about young folks in New York. Plus two new shows based on Jane Austen, Lippa's 'Wild Party,' Sondheim's 'Sondheim,' Aurora's 'Les Miserables and Annaleigh Ashford's return, plus some critical thinking about the late Andrew Patner.

The romantic and richly textured tale of East versus West, THE KING AND I, is now playing at The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL., where it opened on October 29, and will run through January 4, 2015. Nick Bowling (Juno and The Normal Heart at Timeline Theatre) makes his Marriott Theatre directorial debut with a fresh take on this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, merging history and romance with today's social and political issues. THE KING AND I takes audiences on an uplifting journey of the power of education as characters transform from instructor to students themselves, learning from one another in the process. In consultation with the Thai Cultural and Fine Arts Institute of Chicago, Bowling and Choreographer Tommy Rapley will explore ancient Siamese customs, dance and traditions, and bring them to life on stage.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Major productions of 'The King And I' and 'Camelot,' two versions of 'Titanic,' season announcements from Light Opera Works and The Music Theatre Company, JRB in Skokie, three G&S shows in rep, the new musicals 'Frederick' and 'The Guide To Being Single,' and more!

The romantic and richly textured tale of East versus West, THE KING AND I, comes to The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL., opening tonight, October 29, and running through January 4, 2015. Nick Bowling (Juno and The Normal Heart at Timeline Theatre) makes his Marriott Theatre directorial debut with a fresh take on this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, merging history and romance with today's social and political issues. THE KING AND I takes audiences on an uplifting journey of the power of education as characters transform from instructor to students themselves, learning from one another in the process. In consultation with the Thai Cultural and Fine Arts Institute of Chicago, Bowling and Choreographer Tommy Rapley will explore ancient Siamese customs, dance and traditions, and bring them to life on stage.

The romantic and richly textured tale of East versus West, THE KING AND I, comes to The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL., opening tomorrow October 29, and running through January 4, 2015.

The romantic and richly textured tale of East versus West, THE KING AND I, comes to The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL., previewing tonight, October 22, opening October 29, and running through January 4, 2015.

The romantic and richly textured tale of East versus West, THE KING AND I, comes to The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL., previewing tonight, October 22, opening October 29, and running through January 4, 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. All the scoop from the amazing FWD Theatre Project gala, and 'The Last Unicorn' gets some big backers. Plus concerts by Chita Rivera, Felicia P. Fields, Sierra Boggess and Donna McKechnie, 'Sweeney Todd' on PBS and 'From Here To Eternity' on movie screens, plus the Marriott announces two casts!

The romantic and richly textured tale of East versus West, THE KING AND I, comes to The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL., previewing October 22, opening October 29, and running through January 4, 2015. Nick Bowling (Juno and The Normal Heart at Timeline Theatre) makes his Marriott Theatre directorial debut with a fresh take on this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, merging history and romance with today's social and political issues. THE KING AND I takes audiences on an uplifting journey of the power of education as characters transform from instructor to students themselves, learning from one another in the process. In consultation with the Thai Cultural and Fine Arts Institute of Chicago, Bowling and Choreographer Tommy Rapley will explore ancient Siamese customs, dance and traditions, and bring them to life on stage.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, continues its landmark 30th anniversary season with the winner of "Best Play" at the 2012 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Awards, THE GAME'S AFOOT. The show opened last night, September 4 at 8 p.m., and runs through October 19, 2014. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivites below!

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, continues its landmark 30th anniversary season with the winner of "Best Play" at the 2012 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Awards, THE GAME'S AFOOT, opening tonight, Thursday, September 4 at 8 p.m., and running through October 19, 2014. The cast is led by Derek Hasenstab (Broadway National Tour of The Lion King; The Foreigner and I Hate Hamlet at Drury Lane Theatre; Oedipus Complex at the Goodman Theatre; and Sunday in the Park with George at Chicago Shakespeare Theater) as "William Gillette" and nine-time Jeff Award-winner Alene Robertson (National Tour of Annie,Mame at Drury Lane Theatre, and The Full Monty and Hello, Dolly! at Marriott Theatre) as "Martha Gillette." THE GAME'S AFOOT is written by Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor, The Fox on the Fairway, Crazy for You, and Moon Over Buffalo) and directed by Drury Lane Theatre Artistic Director William Osetek (Young Frankenstein and next to normal at Drury Lane Theatre).

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, continues its landmark 30th anniversary season with the winner of 'Best Play' at the 2012 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Awards, THE GAME'S AFOOT, previewing tonight, August 28, opening Thursday, September 4 at 8 p.m., and running through October 19, 2014.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, continues its landmark 30th anniversary season with the winner of 'Best Play' at the 2012 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Awards, THE GAME'S AFOOT, previewing August 28, opening Thursday, September 4 at 8 p.m., and running through October 19, 2014. The cast is led by Derek Hasenstab (Broadway National Tour of The Lion King; The Foreigner and I Hate Hamlet at Drury Lane Theatre; Oedipus Complex at the Goodman Theatre; and Sunday in the Park with George at Chicago Shakespeare Theater) as 'William Gillette' and nine-time Jeff Award-winner Alene Robertson (National Tour of Annie, Mame at Drury Lane Theatre, and The Full Monty and Hello, Dolly! at Marriott Theatre) as 'Martha Gillette.' THE GAME'S AFOOT is written by Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor, The Fox on the Fairway, Crazy for You, and Moon Over Buffalo) and directed by Drury Lane Theatre Artistic Director William Osetek (Young Frankenstein and next to normal at Drury Lane Theatre).

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. All the latest on the Goodman's 'Brigadoon,' cast announcements of major titles from Light Opera Works, the Paramount and Porchlight, see Team Starkid and 'Ball At The Savoy' at Stage 773, local premieres of 'Suds' and 'Big Fish,' plus the #1 high school actor in America and more!

Goodman Theatre's production of Lerner and Loewe's 1947 musical Brigadoon lovingly pays homage to the tradition of classic American musical theatre while also retaining a sense of exuberance and delight. Helmed by director and choreographer Rachel Rockwell, this production does not shy away from spectacle and largely has the talent to back it up. The show preserves Lerner and Loewe's lush music and lyrics with an updated book by Brian Hill that provides an even sense of pacing and storyline.

Goodman Theatre presents Brigadoon. Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's legendary musical of Broadway's Golden Age, under director/choreographer Rachel Rockwell, tells the enchanting tale of an 18th century Scottish village that appears every century for one day only -- and the complications that arise when it's discovered by two 20th century Americans. Book writer Brian Hill revisits the libretto for this production, while music director Roberta Duchak and an orchestra of 13 use new orchestrations to enhance Loewe's lilting score. Brigadoon runs June 27 to August 10 in the Albert Theatre. Check below for photos from the production!