Paul W. Thompson - Page 19

Chicago is home to any number of small, hard-working, barely-funded opera and operetta companies, some professional, some all-volunteer, and these for the most part fly entirely under the radar of traditional media and even of the internet itself. Some of these companies have been around in one form or another for years, and others emerge quickly and vanish just as quickly.

Now playing in Chicago is a revised production of the show, directed by its original director, the very capable Richard Maltby, Jr. The original authors, Neil Bartram and Brian Hill have written some new material.... Eagle-eyed readers of BroadwayWorld.com know that what is believed to be the very first non-Equity production of this show anywhere (still in its original version, of course) played in Chicago's far northwest suburbs in September of 2009. One of those two actors....

Now through January 9, 2011, a most miraculous thing is happening onstage at the Marriott Theatre in far north suburban Lincolnshire, Illinois. An entire town is coming to life. Its citizens sing, they dance, they hum, they can't tell where talking starts and singing begins.... It's 'The Music Man.'

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Broadway In Chicago's winter productions, the 'Les Miserables' concert film, 'A Christmas Carol,' 'Robin Hood: The Panto!,' 'Alien Queen,' 'Glee,' more....

Last Sunday night, Bailiwick Chicago celebrated the first anniversary of its reincarnation by presenting the American debut of the musical "Departure Lounge," a very English rumination from the pen of author, lyricist and composer Dougal Irvine on what it means to bridge the gap between youth and adulthood.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Traces,' 'Departure Lounge,' 'The Story Of My Life,' two productions of 'Cats,' Stew in concert, 'Kiss Me, Kate,' more....

There seem to be numerous works of fiction, particularly series of books or stories geared to the child in all of us, which emerged from late 19th and early 20th century England. These works permeated the American psyche then, have yielded many stage and film adaptations in the intervening years, fixed in us an idea of what life in that era was like, and are with us still,...

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 Chicago Theatre Fans' Choice Awards, 'Follies,' 'Departure Lounge,' 'Aftermath,' 'The Music Man,' Light Opera Works, more....

BroadwayWorld, the biggest theater site on the web, today announces nominations for the Chicago Theatre Fans' Choice Awards! The 121 nominees in the 25 categories are all listed below, representing 57 different theater productions in the Chicago area which opened between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010. These productions were mounted by 33 separate theaters or companies.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Jeff Award winners, 'Traces,' 'Finishing The Hat,' 'The Rocky Horror Show,' 'The Sound Of Music,' 'It Gets Better,' more....

The lovely and nostalgic production of a new stage version of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" that opened this week at the Drury Lane Theatre in west suburban Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, very nearly returns the audience to the Broadway of the 1940s and early '50s.

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 Equity Jeff Awards, 'Seven Brides For Seven Brothers,' 'The Music Man,' 'Miracle On 34th Street' twice, 'Billy Elliot,' 'Reefer Madness,' more....

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Porchlight Music Theatre, Stage 773, 'The Rocky Horror Show,' 'Departure Lounge,' 'Cats,' more....

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Rock Of Ages' tour, 'Never Have I Ever,' 'The Gondoliers,' 'By Popular Demand,' 'Follies,' Chicago-style improvised musicals, more....

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 Lion King,' Super September review, Levi Kreis in concert, 'Cats,' David Cromer, Chicagoland Theatre Fans' Choice Awards, more....

BroadwayWorld, the biggest theater site on the web, is announcing that it is launching a new set of theater awards for the Chicago theater community, to be presented in December 2010.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Sutton Foster, the Broadway Playhouse, 'Rock Of Ages,' 'Glee,' 'She Loves Me,' 'Seven Brides For Seven Brothers,' Patti LuPone, more....

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Sondheim shows at Stage 773, 'Evening Primrose,' Northlight Theatre, 'Wicked,' the Actors' Equity Building, Marriott Theatre, more....

The Jedlicka Performing Arts Center proudly presents Ray Bradbury's charming and thoughtful comedy THE WONDERFUL ICE CREAM SUIT at their theatre in Cicero, just outside the Chicago city limits.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Bailiwick Chicago's season, Theatre At The Center's season, 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,' 'A Chorus Line,' 'Big River,' more....