Sawyer Smith News

The Devil Wears Prada, The Musical hosted a welcome press event at Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre ahead of the musical’s world premiere. Check out photos of the cast meeting the press, get a first look at the cast in rehearsal, and listen to Elton John preview songs from the show!

Get your first listen to the score of the hotly anticipated musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada with composer Elton John!

All new rehearsal photos have been released for the pre-Broadway run of The Devil Wears Prada, the Musical, premiereing in Chicago in July. Plus, complete casting has been announced for the Chicago run.

Chicago's favorite evening of big voices for a big cause, returns with the 7th annual Belting for Life. For one night only on May 16 at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre.

As literary events converge with National Poetry Month in April and World Book Day and William Shakespeare's Birthday on April 23, Chicago Shakespeare Theater is celebrating with productions and programs onstage, online, and in classrooms across the country.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced its return to live performance with its 27th season that includes the 2021 – 2022 Mainstage, Porchlight Revisits and New Faces Sing Broadway seasons. 

Jeff Award-winning director and HIV+ activist Christopher Pazdernik presents the 6th annual Belting for Life (formerly known as Chris’ Birthday Belt Fest), an annual benefit concert for Howard Brown Health, one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ organizations. 

Jeff Award-winning director and HIV+ activist Christopher Pazdernik presents the 6th annual Belting for Life (formerly known as Chris' Birthday Belt Fest), an annual benefit concert for Howard Brown Health, one of the nation's largest LGBTQ organizations.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced a line up including more than 50 Chicago artists performing, greetings and well wishes from Broadway stars including E. Faye Butler, Sean Allan Krill, Telly Leung, LaChanze, Susan Moniz and Kathy Voyto, a new raffle prize for a weekend in the home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and more as a part of its annual Chicago Sings fundraising concert.

Each year, Porchlight Music Theatre celebrates an individual who has made an exceptional and lasting contribution to the state of the art of Chicago music theatre with the prestigious Guy Adkins Award. This year, Felicia P. Fields is the recipient.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced Chicago Sings Rock & Roll Broadway, premiering Saturday, March 20 at 7 p.m. CDT.

The holiday experience, Winter Wondergram, is back to help you celebrate Valentine’s Day!  After raising $10,000 that was divided up amongst different arts organizations and artists, Winter Wondergram is now focusing its fundraising efforts on the National Endowment for the Arts.

On Friday, November 27 at 3 PM Central, Jacob Cohen and Holly Weis of Highland Park Players will be the guests on It's Showtime with Rikki Lee – a weekly half hour informational radio show focused on the entertainment industry that airs on suburban Chicago station 101.5 FM. Those outside the broadcast area can stream the show for free by going to www.HuntleyRadio.com and clicking on the “Listen Live” icon.

What happens when a bunch of performing artists are stuck at home because of a pandemic? They get creative! This holiday season, Highland Park Players, Big Noise Theatre, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS have teamed up to bring you Winter Wondergram: The Ultimate Holiday Card Experience.

Featuring nearly twenty Christmas songs and holiday fun, the TLP cast of singers and musicians present an unforgettable virtual holiday experience with TLP's flair for production. This show is perfect for the whole family and every audience.

Do you miss live theater? So do four suburban Chicago theater companies! The Highland Park Players, Big Noise Theatre, Big Deal Productions, and Music on Stage have decided to band together and create their own virtual stage to cope with these strange times.  Starting on July 5th at 7pm CST, you can enjoy the fruits of their labors, and even participate in the fun by voting for which songs contestants will sing!  

L. Walter Stearns, Executive Director of Mercury Theater Chicago, announced today an ongoing lineup of three video series featuring past and present Mercury talent, to include actors, musicians and members of several creative teams.

Drury Lane Theatre presents the beautifully captivating Gershwin musical An American in Paris. See photos from opening night!

Drury Lane Theatre presents the Regional Premiere of the beautifully captivating Gershwin musical An American in Paris.

Drury Lane Theatre has announced casting for the final show in its 2019/2020 season, the Regional Premiere of the beautifully captivating Gershwin musical An American in Paris. Leading the cast are Josh Drake as American GI Jerry Mulligan and Leigh-Ann Esty as Lise Dassin. Drake can currently be seen on Broadway in Disney's Aladdin, and Esty returns to An American in Paris after playing the role of Lise on the show's national tour. This Tony Award-winning musical features music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin with book by Craig Lucas and is directed and choreographed by Lynne Kurdziel-Formato. An American in Paris runs January 31 a?" March 29, 2020, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, February 6, 2020, at 8:00 p.m.