'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for August 5th, 2009

THE LATEST IN UNAUTHORIZED GOSSIP AND BUZZ

FROM THE HEART OF CHICAGO'S SHOWTUNE VIDEO BARS

by Paul W. Thompson

 

Overheard last weekend under the

Sidetrack and Cattle Call showtune video screens:

Welcome to the first in a weekly series of articles about what people in Chicago are talking about!

You know who you are, and what's on your mind.......

All of Chicago is excitedly awaiting tonight's premiere of the national tour of "Spring Awakening" at the Oriental Theater, Ford Center for the Performing Arts.  The Broadway in Chicago presentation of 2007's Best Musical Tony winner runs for only two weeks, and Melchior, Wendla and company should prove a hot ticket for aficionados and theater professionals alike. The buzz in the main bar at Sidetrack last night was "Be there or be square," until August 16th only, and we all will be comparing notes in the coming days. It's about time, right? We've been "Totally ****ed" long enough!

http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/shows_dyn.php?cmd=display_current&display_showtag=spring09

The rumors about ticket availability for "The Addams Family"'s pre-Broadway tryout is building, too. Following SA into the Oriental in November, Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth are no doubt looking to duplicate the success of "The Producers" and "Spamalot" in heading from our very own Randoph Street Loop Theater District to Tony success on the Great White Way: many showtune regulars are planning to catch it early in the performance process. Some hinted at repeat visits, and then trips to New York to verify the similarities and differences. How much fun is that?

http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/shows_dyn.php?cmd=display_current&display_showtag=addamsfamily

Now into its run at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire is the first local staging of "The Light in the Piazza" since the Goodman Theatre was part of its intial development. The show received generally good notices, and for those who didn't see it at the Goodman or in its national tour incarnation at the Auditorium Theatre, the Marriott production is a high priority. And what a beautiful score by Adam Guettel, who we met when he was here during the Goodman staging.

http://www.marriotttheatre.com/show.aspx?show=9

The musical spoof "Bombs Away!" is being remounted by Bailiwick Repertory Theatre in the Hoover-Leppen Theatre at the Center on Halsted in East Lakeview, after its successful run at Mary's Attic in Andersonville. The show will run weekends from August 7-23, and sources tell me that it is hilarious for those "in the know."

http://www.bailiwick.org/calendar/show_detail.php?ID=309

And last but not least, that teaser video for the film version of "Nine" has everybody all a-twitter, doesn't it?  Sophia Loren is getting the most talk over rum and vodka drinks, followed closely by Fergie and Daniel Day-Lewis.  November 25th can't come soon enough, can it?  Will lightning strike Rob Marshall again??? Can't wait!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0875034/

For my friends, colleagues, acquaintances and sources, log onto BroadwayWorld every week to see what you and your likeminded fellow travelers are talking about and eager to see.  Talk about this stuff on the Chicago message board (located to your right). And let me know what I should mention in the next week's column!  Until then, I'll see you under the video screens.....--PWT

 

 

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