Porchlight Music Theatre Names Michael Weber New Artistic Director

Porchlight Music Theatre announces today that Michael Weber has been named the organization's new Artistic Director. Weber has won two Jeff Awards and has been nominated for seven. He directed the past five Joseph Jefferson Awards and previously served as Artistic Director for the inaugural season of Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place (2005) and Theatre at the Center (1998-2004). He has also been a successful actor at venues including Ravinia, Chicago Shakespeare and Marriott Theatre.

"I am extremely honored to accept this position with Porchlight Music Theatre," said Weber. "I have long admired Porchlight's innovative approach to musical theater and I look forward to continuing their tradition of excellence starting with the 2011-2012 season." According to Porchlight Music Theatre Board President Jeannie Lukow, "We are excited to have Michael Weber join us in this capacity. With his passion for theater and vast experience both as a director and actor, we trust that he is the ideal new leader for Porchlight Music Theatre."

Weber's directing credits include Fifth of July and Talley's Folly at the Oak Park Festival Theatre,The Petrified Forest at Theatre at the Center, Over the River and Through the Woods at The Mercury Theater, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Pheasant Run Theatre, and Cirque du Symphony at Sears Center Arena. His productions of Assassins at Porchlight Music Theatre, Grand Hotel at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place and She Loves Me at Theatre at the Center were each nominated for a Jeff Award for Best Production-Musical. Weber's regional acting credits include Annie Get Your Gun and Gypsy (starring Patti LuPone) at Ravinia, Disney's My Son Pinocchio at First Stage Milwaukee, Around the World in 80 Days at Cleveland Play House, The Winter's Tale and Henry V at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, It Had To Be You (starring Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka) at Little Theatre on the Square, Angel Street at First Folio Shakespeare, and The Gifts of the Magi at Indiana Repertory. Weber is author of the new play, WAR of the WELLeS. He is currently appearing as "Bert Barry" in 42nd Street at Marriott Theatre.

Porchlight Music Theatre, nationally recognized for developing innovative new works, reimagining classic productions, and showcasing musical theater's rising stars, recently announced its 2011-2012 season featuring legendary composer Stephen Sondheim's musical revue Putting it Together (September 2 to October 16, 2011), followed by the Chicago premiere of multi-Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein's A Catered Affair (February 17 to April 1, 2012), and concluding with tick, tick... BOOM! (April 27 to June 10, 2012), an internationally acclaimed musical by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Jonathan Larson. Putting it Together will play at Theater Wit, 1229 W Belmont Ave. The remainder of the season will play at Stage773, 1225 W Belmont Ave. Season subscriptions are available for just $99 each through the Porchlight Music Theatre website, www.porchlighttheatre.com.

About Porchlight Music Theatre
Porchlight Music Theatre is Chicago's music theater leader; producing award-winning interpretations of classic musicals and cutting-edge new works on intimate stages. The company is recognized for providing nurture and challenge for stars-in-the-making as well as veteran performers. Porchlight Music Theatre has staged 49 shows including five world premieres, among them, The Teapot Scandals, its first work developed through Off the Porch, Porchlight's new works program, as well as seven Chicago premieres. An Equity theater since 2004, the company has already received a total of 34 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations resulting in 11 Jeff Awards.

The company is partially supported by generous contributions from the A.R.T League, the Arts Work Fund at the Chicago Community Trust, a City Arts Program 2 Grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, the Shen Family Foundation, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency), the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the National Association of Realtors, Peoples Energy and The Saints. For more information, visit www.porchlighttheatre.com.

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