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 our annual Regional Summer Musical Theater Guide, featuring the best summer theaters in Illinois, Wisconsin, western Michigan and northern Indiana, plus the Muny in St. Louis! Timber Lake, American Folklore, Mason Street, Wagon Wheel, Little Theatre On The Square and more!

BroadwayWorld's top summer theater picks in the Salt Lake City area are 1. MARY POPPINS, 2. THE PRODUCERS, 3. A CHORUS LINE, 4: AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, and 5. SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS.

Wisconsin theater moves to the magnificent outdoors this summer with diverse venues presenting great classical and original productions throughout the state. In Spring Green, Wisconsin, American Players Theatre (APT) has been performing legendary playwrights under the stars for more than 30 years. At the Up the Hill Theatre, Shakespeare's comedy that spars witty conversations between the sexes Much Ado About Nothing features acclaimed actors Colleen Madden and David Daniel in the beloved roles of Beatrice and Benedict. In the company's new indoor Touchstone Theatre, Brenda DeVita directs her first production as APT's new Artistic Director. Sarah Day plays Joan Didion in the adaptation from Didion's award winning memory in her play The Year of Magical Thinking. APT extended their season in 2014 with five Up the Hill Play and now four productions instead of three in the Touchstone that runs through November.

While it seems like it has been summer in Orlando since February, officially summer begins in June. As the temperature continues to rise, consider beating the heat by visiting one of our local theaters. Here are my picks for Orlando's coolest summer productions:

It's that time of year again and thank goodness the Northeast winter has finally given way to a glorious spring into summer with plenty to see on our stages. Whether you are a center city baby enjoying all the cultural the city has to offer or a rural explorer heading south, this is the summer of musicals from Philly to Cape May.

Musical and lots of Shakespeare

There are only two seasons in the Philippines: the dry season and the wet season. Technically, it's the wet season in the country from June to August; nevertheless, the local theater scene remains bustling with activities during these 'bring your umbrella' months.

Summer in New York is traditionally a quiet time for Broadway, although the now-previewing Tupac Shakur musical, Holler If Ya Hear Me is certainly creating quite a buzz. Perennials like Shakespeare In The Park and the New York International Fringe Festival always draw mobs of playgoers looking for a great time, but everywhere you turn in this arts-crazy city there's somebody putting on a show.

With so much to choose from in Michigan theatre this summer, BWW's Cassandra Sandros lists her top picks

Texas is known for its summer heat, but something else is heating up the area: the talent. If you're looking for something fun to do in the air conditioning, you've come to the right place. We've found the 5 hottest shows around the area.

A lot of exciting theatre is happening this summer in the DC area. Here are some things to check out!

Rhode Island's ever-growing arts scene shows no signs of slowing down over the summer months. With ambitious theatrical productions planned from Providence to South County, and internationally-renowned musicians bringing sizzling concert performances to the Ocean State, summer 2014 is shaping up to be a most memorable season of stories and songs.

This Summer, Orange County, CA---which includes Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Santa Ana, Irvine, and even cities just a hop over the county line like La Mirada and Long Beach---is so chock-full of hot stage goodies, that you may have to earmark a lot more time in the next three months to properly satisfy all your theatrical cravings. Here's our Top 5 Summer Must-See picks, plus a few other noteworthy shows to check out around the area, too!

Summer is already in full swing in the South. Back yard cookouts and swimming pools, summer camps and vacations are happening everywhere you look. I often find theatre slightly more difficult to find during the summer, so I've done a little research to help you find a good show when you need one. Cause after all, sometimes a nice air conditioned theatre is just the place to be on a humid summer day in Tennessee.

Below are some of the highlights of another fantastic theatrical summer season in Colorado…

Ghost, Pantages Theatre/June 27 -July13/www.hollywoodpantages.com/ The musical stage adaptation of the 1990 runaway hit film of the same title that starred Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Oscar-winning Whoopi Goldberg. Despite its mixed reviews, the show, which originated on the West End, received 3 Tony nominations for its Broadway engagement. With book/lyrics by Bruce Joel and music/lyrics by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard, Ghost's musical score includes the ever-popular 'Unchained Melody' and is bound to be an audience grabber.

New Jersey features wonderful theater and music for the summer season. We have selected some of our favorites to share with BWW readers.

As in previous years, BWW Toronto is participating in 'Summer Stages' which attempts to pick five of the most anticipated productions hitting our city of the summer. It was harder than ever to narrow the list down, but we hope you enjoy these pics for summer theatrical entertainment:

Here are Summer Stages Picks from Broadwayworld's Ellen Dostal for what to see in Los Angeles and San Diego.

The Berkshire Mountains provide an idyllic setting for the Boston Symphony's 2014 Tanglewood season

As the summer days near, BroadwayWorld rounded up our worldwide community - from Australia to Spain, California and beyond! - to bring you our top picks for the best of summer theater in each of our main markets! Looking for the best of the summer venue and production offerings in your area? Let's hear from a sampling of the BroadwayWorld experts!

BroadwayWorld.com Chicago picks the top summer shows in and around the city.

As the summer months heat up, so do the Columbus stages. Check out BWW's top 5 picks that the whole family can enjoy without breaking the bank this summer:

The performing arts come alive in Vermont during the summer months, and this year's season promises to be an exciting one. Vermont's summer theater venues are as varied as its productions. Both Unadilla Theater (Marshfield, VT) and QuarryWorks (Adamant, VT) offer an intimate theater-going experience in a picturesque setting where pre-show picnicking is encouraged. For live theater in one of Vermont's beautiful historic spaces, try Stowe Theatre Guild (Town Hall Theatre; Stowe, VT) or Lamoille County Players (Hyde Park Opera House; Hyde Park, VT). Lost Nation Theater (Montpelier, VT), Saint Michael's Playhouse (Colchester, VT), and Weston Playhouse (Weston, VT) routinely bring in top-notch professional performers from across the country. Each of these theaters has a full summer/fall season:

No rural area has as many summer stages as the Berkshires of Massachusetts whose offerings overflow its borders.