Photo Flash: Porchlight Music Theatre Celebrates SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM Opening

Porchlight Music Theatre presents the second production in its 20th Anniversary Season of Sondheim, the Chicago premiere of Sondheim on Sondheim, running now through March 15, 2015, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, conceived by James Lapine, direction by Nick Bowling and music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Austin Cook at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

The accolades and honors continue to be given to Stephen Sondheim more than 50 years into his celebrated and legendary career. Recently, he received the first-ever ASCAP Centennial Award as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, and the Walt Disney feature of Into the Woods is slated for a Christmas debut. Porchlight Music Theatre is honored to present the first-ever Chicago production of the complete catalogue of the master's career.

"The words "intellectual" and "Broadway musical" were seldom mentioned in the same breath until the era of Stephen Sondheim," said The New York Times. Sondheim on Sondheim delves into this era and is the final say on this unparalleled body of work with an intimate portrait of the famed songwriter in his own words and music. Featuring new arrangements of more than two-dozen Sondheim songs, ranging from the beloved to the obscure, interspersed with filmed commentary by the composer himself, Sondheim on Sondheim reveals fascinating details about his life and his art.

The Chicago company of Sondheim on Sondheim includes Porchlight Artistic Associate and audience favorite Rebecca Finnegan, who most recently received critical acclaim as "Mrs. Lovett" in Porchlight's sold-out production of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Finnegan, a the three-time Jeff Award-recipient, has been seen on Broadway in Summer and Smoke and, locally, at Court Theatre, The Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, Drury Lane, Marriott and TimeLine, among others; Jeff Award-nominee, James Earl Jones II, recently returned to Chicago from the first national tour of Porgy and Bess, has been seen in Shrek at Chicago Shakespeare, Sweet Charity at Writers' Theatre and Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting at Lookingglass; Emily Berman, most recently seen in Days Like Today at Writers' Theatre and King Lear at Chicago Shakespeare, where she will soon appear in the world-premiere musical, Sense and Sensibility; Matthew Keffer, recently of The Wild Party at Bailiwick Chicago and Juno at TimeLine Theatre made his Porchlight debut in the Porchlight Revisits... production of the classic musical, Golden Boy; Adrienne Walker, Jeff Award-nominated this year for her work in The Color Purple at The Mercury Theatre who was also seen in Dreamgirls at Marriott Theatre and Porgy and Bess at Court Theatre; Stephen Rader, last seen in The Normal Heart at TimeLine Theatre and Boojum at Chicago Opera Vanguard; Amelia Hefferon recently starred as the title role of The Little Prince at Lookingglass Theatre; and newcomer Yando Lopez, an audience favorite from Porchlight Revisits... production of the musical comedy classic Bells Are Ringing and recently seen in One Hit Wonders with the Black Ensemble and In the Heights at The Paramount Theatre.

The artistic/production staff includes Porchlight Artistic Associate Jeffrey Kmiec (scenic design), Sally Dolembo (costume design), Chris LaPorte (sound design), Porchlight Artistic Associate Nick Belley (lighting design), Mike Tutaj (video design), Emily Ariel Rogers (choreography), Porchlight Artistic Associate Aaron Shapiro (production management), Dylan Pickus (assistant director), Alex Weisman (dramaturg) and Jessica Forella (stage management).

Tickets are $39 for Thursday performances and $45 for all other performances. Subscriptions or single tickets are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling 773.777.9884.