A Showcase of New Musicals and Composers: Victory Gardens
By: Steve Leary Oct. 25, 2008
Victory Gardens Theater Fresh Squeezed Series in association with
Chicago Public Radio Presents...
CABARET! CABARET! - A RARE SHOWCASE OF NEW MUSICALS AND EMERGING COMPOSERS - NOVEMBER 7 AND 9 AT THE VICTORY GARDENS BIOGRAPH THEATER
Come enjoy a special evening featuring emerging composers and excerpts of new musicals presented by Chicago theater companies this season, including Annoyance Productions, Bare Boned Theatre, Bohemian Ensemble Theatre, Theatre Building Chicago Musical Theater Workshop, a special first look at American Theater Company's Yeast Nation, Victory Gardens' own The Snow Queen, and more.
Cabaret! Cabaret! will be presented two times only - a late night show on Friday, November 7 at 10:30 pm, and a Sunday evening performance, November 9 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are only $15, with a 20% discount for Chicago Public Radio members. For tickets and information, go to http://www.victorygardens.org/freshsqueezed or call the Victory Gardens box office, 773-871-3000.Annoyance Productions' Love is Dead: A Necromantic Musical Comedy Annoyance Productions' Love Is Dead: A NecRomantic Musical Comedy is a rock'n'roll musical and romantic comedy about Orin, a necrophile mortician, who falls in love with his first live girl. As he tries to start a new life, he finds himself in a race against time to bury his past (literally) when a Forensic Geneticist arrives to solve a series of serial murders plaguing his small hometown. Love is Dead - book and lyrics by James Asmus and Andrew Hobgood, music by Julie Nichols, directed by Andrew Hobgood - was a Hot Seat Selection in the Chicago Sun-Times, twice a Don't Miss event in TimeOut Chicago, Highly Recommended by the Chicago Reader, winner for Outstanding Music and Lyrics at FringeNYC 2008, and an After Dark Award winner for Outstanding Original Song Score. Information: http://www.annoyanceproductions.com/loveisdead
This stirring musical by Michael John LaChiusa (The Wild Party, Marie Christine, and See What I Wanna) based on Federico García Lorca's 1936 play The House of Bernarda Alba, tells the story of a controlling, newly-widowed mother who is challenged by her five rebellious daughters. "Highly Recommended.. this is a truly outstanding cast with excellent work offered by all" (Gay Chicago Magazine). BoHo's production of Bernarda Alba is directed by Elizabeth Margolius, with musical direction by Andra Velis Simon. It is being performed now through November 16 at BoHo Theatre at Heartland Studio, 7016 N. Glenwood Avenue, Chicago. Information: http://www.bohotheatre.com Theatre Building Chicago's Musical Theatre Writers Workshop Celebrating its 31st season, Theatre Building Chicago is the incubator for emerging theatre companies, the touchstone for exciting new works and the birthplace of great new musicals. TBC's unique musical development program features new musicals by talented writers from Chicago and across the country. Each year, Theatre Building Chicago provides space and services to over a thousand artists in more than 15 presentations and 300 special events. For more information, go to http://www.theatrebuildingchicago.org
Victory Gardens Theater's The Snow Queen "The nicest present we've gotten for the holidays" (Time Out Chicago), The Snow Queen - adapted by Chicago folk legend Michael Smith, Tony Award winning director Frank Galati, and master puppeteer Blair Thomas - is gathering momentum for her third year as Chicago's #1 alternative to traditional holiday family fare. A spine-tingling swirl of snowflakes, eye-popping puppetry, warm storytelling, and Michael Smith's chillingly beautiful score combine for a wild ride into Hans Christian Andersen's beloved winter tale. Reprising their roles this year are award-winning actress Cheryl Lynn Bruce as The Storyteller, and Blair Robertson as Gerda. New to the cast as Kai is Patrick Andrews, who starred in House Theatre's The Sparrow and played Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The Snow Queen returns November 28-December 28 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. For tickets and information, call 773-871-3000 or visit http://www.victorygardens.org
Cabaret! Cabaret! will also feature performances of new work by emerging composers, including: Mike Descoteaux, head of the Music Program at The Second City and resident music director of the ETC stage; Joe Kinosian, a New York-based composer, performer and pianist; and the songwriting team Jeff Thomson and Jordan Mann. Music Director for Cabaret! Cabaret! is Jeffrey Bouthiette. Cabaret! Cabaret! is produced and staged by William S. Rogers. Next up in Victory Gardens' Fresh Squeezed series, an exciting line-up for its new 2008/09 Fresh Squeezed Series of late night and offbeat performance based events targeting younger audiences: Last year's late night smash holiday hit Drinking & Writing Vol. IV: The 12 Steps of Xmas, starring Neo-Futurists Steve Mosqueda and Phil Ridarelli, Friday nights at 10:30 pm, November 28 through December 19 in the Victory Gardens Biograph Lobby Bar. Arlene Malinowski's solo show What Does the Sun Sound Like?, about her experiences as a hearing daughter growing up in a deaf family and culture, presented in association with the Victory Gardens Access Project, February 15 and 16 at 7:30 pm. Literally Sexy II: Because It Feels Good, a late night variety show featuring Chicago's most exciting ensembles turning their attention to sex, back for its second year Friday, April 3 and 10, 2009 at 10:30 pm; Storyteller Margot Bordelon's highly anticipated one-woman travelogue You Are Here: The Margot Bordelon Project, about her experiences traveling the U.S. in this politicallycharged time, Sunday, April 19 and Monday, April 20 at 7:30 pm. Victory Gardens' 2008-2009 Fresh Squeezed series is presented as part of the New Audiences for New Plays initiative funded by a Wallace Foundation Excellence Award. All performances are at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. For information, to purchase tickets and to inquire about Fresh Squeezed member discounts, visit http://www.victorygardens.org/freshsqueezed or call the box office at 773-871-3000. Check out the Fresh Squeezed blog - http://www.vgfreshsqueezed.wordpress.com - to tap the juice and interact with Victory Gardens throughout the season, pulp lovers and non-pulp lovers alike. The Victory Gardens Biograph Theater is located 1/2 block north of Fullerton in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Street and metered parking is available. Discounted parking is located one block south at Children's Memorial Hospital. By CTA train, take the Red, Purple and Brown lines to Fullerton. Walk east on Fullerton, then north on Lincoln 1/2 block. The #8 Halsted, #11 Lincoln, #37 Sedgwick/Ogden, and #74 Fullerton CTA buses all stop at Fullerton and Halsted, 1/2 block south of the theater. See http://www.transitchicago.com for times and routes.About Victory Gardens Theater One of Chicago's most respected Off-Loop theaters, Victory Gardens is primarily devoted to new work, and has presented more world premiere mainstage productions than any other Chicago theater. Currently celebrating its 35th season, Victory Gardens emphasizes the work of Chicago writers and its own 14-member Playwrights Ensemble, a relationship that helped the company receive the 2001 Tony Award for Regional Theatre. Victory Gardens' $11.8 million renovation of Chicago's historic Biograph Theater has successfully expanded the company's flexibility to meet the desires of its resident playwrights, and enhanced the theater's ability to welcome and honor patrons old and new. Originally built in 1914, the Biograph is best known as the site where FBI agents killed gangster John Dillinger in 1934. Today, the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater façade and marquee have been faithfully restored, a state-of-the-art, 299-seat mainstage has been retrofitted inside, and an inviting, contemporary interior design with a beautiful lobby and fully stocked lobby bar has relaunched the Biograph as one of Lincoln Park's most popular destinations for arts and culture. For more information, visit
http://www.victorygardens.orgAbout Chicago Public Radio Presents Cabaret! Cabaret! is a co-production with Chicago Public Radio Presents, the station's monthly public event series. Now entering its first full season, Chicago Public Radio Presents brings public radio fans together to treat the senses to a variety of engaging, entertaining performances. From graffiti artists to global activism, Chicago Public Radio Presents has an event that is sure to suit your tastes. The September, October, November, January and June events will take place at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater. Individual tickets for each event are $15, with a 20% discount for Chicago Public Radio members and Victory Gardens season subscribers. For more information, visit http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/events.
On the Cover: Blair Robertson, who will return as Gerda in Victory Gardens' hit holiday musical The Snow Queen this holiday season, will emcee Cabaret! Cabaret!, November 7 and 9 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater. Her Cabaret! Cabaret! co-host will be House Theater's Patrick Andrews, who steps into the role of Gerda's lost friend Kai in Victory Gardens' upcoming remount of The Snow Queen.
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