'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for February 2nd, 2011

THE LATEST IN UNAUTHORIZED GOSSIP AND BUZZ

FROM THE HEART OF CHICAGO'S SHOWTUNE VIDEO BARS,

AND MUSICAL THEATER NEWS FROM CHICAGO TO BROADWAY

by Paul W. Thompson

Overheard last weekend under the showtune

video screens at Sidetrack and The Call: 

Two big tours have hit town this week, just in time for the biggest snowstorm in 12 years and counting. I don't know how many brave and hearty souls will be venturing to theaters the middle of this week, but for those who make it to Chicago's Loop, the reimagined production of one of the biggest musical theater hits of all time, Cameron Mackintosh's new production of "Les Miserables," landed in the Blizzard City on Tuesday for four weeks at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. Many Mosh Pit peeps cannot WAIT to see this show, to see whether (and how) the show holds up on the strength of its writing and its performances. They're hoping that it's not the turntable and the supertitles and the Shakespeare-meets-Dickens-meets-Middle-America vibe of the legendary 1980s staging, but the story, the music, the sweep and scope of Boublil and Schoenberg's masterpiece. We'll all have a great chance to find out, once the winds die down and the snow gets piled up. 

Oh, and "Burn The Floor," the Australian ballroom dance musical (by way of reality television) is here too, at the Bank Of America Theatre for two weeks. It played Broadway for five months in the summer and fall of 2009, but I don't know. I'm sure they all dance rings around me, but nobody's talking about this one.... 

Broadway in Chicago Show Information and Tickets 

We ARE talking about a tour that will be here in the fall. It was announced last week that "Memphis," the multi-Tony Award-winning musical from last season, will play Chicago as part of its national tour, November 22-December 4, 2011. No casting has been announced yet. Choreographer Sergio Trujillo has worked in Chicago a lot lately, it seems ("Jersey Boys" and the upcoming "White Noise," to name two), so two weeks is better than one, but I was hoping for more. I mean, this show won the Tony for Best Musical. Three weeks would have been nice. I wonder how these decisions get made. Anybody know? 

Chicago Memphis 2011 

Looking a little further ahead, and a little further down the Mississippi River, I think an announcement was made last week about a remarkable-sounding production to debut on a prominent local stage a year from now, in February and March of 2012. I'm just not sure when the announcement was made. But it's official now, and we're thrilled. Jerome Kern's masterpiece, "Showboat," the granddaddy of the musical play (book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II), will be presented by Lyric Opera Of Chicago in a new production, to be directed by opera house and Broadway director Francesca Zambello, choreographed by Michele Lynch. International opera star Nathan Gunn is set to star as Gaylord Ravenal, though the Magnolia is not yet announced. Note that this is a full season production, not a post-season add-on like the "Oklahoma!" that was announced when Renee Fleming's involvement with the company was announced. And this is undoubtedly the biggest "Showboat" hereabouts since the national tour of Hal Prince's revival of the piece rehearsed at the Germania Place building in the mid-90s and opened at the Auditorium Theatre, starring Mark Jacoby and Elaine Stritch. The Act Two opening takes place at the Chicago 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, you remember. "Showboat," next year. Be there. 

Show Boat - Lyric Opera of Chicago 

But we don't need to look that far ahead for thrills, do we? This coming week will bring us not one but TWO new episodes of "Glee!" Yes, the FOX-TV megahit about the goings on at a high school with a pretty good show choir will have the coveted spot immediately after the Super Bowl on Sunday (apparently this is a good thing....). And then, two nights later, another new episode will debut in the show's regular Tuesday night time slot (7:00 pm Central). Seems to be a football episode, followed by a Valentine's Day episode. You know.  Michael Jackson's music, Katy Perry's music, Katie Couric's acting. Like I've said before, you either love it or you hate it. Gleeeeeeeee. 

Glee TV Show 

A brand-new musical will debut in February at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre inside the Center On Halsted. It's "Starship," and it's the brainchild of Team StarKid, the bunch of students from the University of Michigan who were an internet sensation a year ago with "A Very Potter Musical" and "Me And My Dick." Even though the Hollywood press loved their work, they chose to settle in Chicago. Except for one very prominent member of their creative forces. It seems that "Starship," which will be presented February 11-23, 2011, has songs written by a certain Darren Criss, the same Darren Criss who has caused such a stir on "Glee" this season! Are we getting a sneak preview of something that is about to be very, very big?  I don't know, but it's possible. Perez Hilton loves these guys. Why not Halsted Street? 

StarKid Productions | STARSHIP Info! 

Speaking of twos, Stage 773 on Belmont Avenue will be presenting the Chicago premiere of two musicals with out-of-town pedigrees soon. First up is "Meet John Doe," an award-winning show developed in New York and first seen as a full production in Washington, D.C. The music is by Andrew Gerle, who teaches musical theater writing at Yale University, and the book and lyrics are by our very own Eddie Sugarman, artistic director at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center in Cicero (they collaborated on the book). The show is based on the classic film of the same name, and runs March 4-April 17, under the aegis of Porchlight Music Theatre. 

Opening at the end of March and running through May 1 at Stage 773 is the musical "From Generation To Generation," directed by our own David Zak. Written by Karen Sokolof Javitch and Elaine Jabenis, it's been seen in Omaha, St. Louis and Los Angeles. 

Stage 773 

There are those of you who love the songs of Jason Robert Brown. Those who do are rabid in their love, looking as they are toward the premiere of a new work of his a year from now. The Brownheads might be interested to know that his first successful work, the revue "Songs For A New World," is being presented by music students at Elmhurst College next weekend (February 12 and 13), directed by alumnus Christopher Pazdernik. The cast consists of Seth Durbin, Sarah Marker, Rachel Peterson and Andrew Sickel, and the show will be performed in the Buick Recital Hall, 190 Prospect Avenue in west suburban Elmhurst. 

Elmhurst College: Calendar of Events 

Speaking of colleges: at the other end of the musical spectrum, historically speaking anyway, is the writing team of W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, the twin Sirs of Victorian comic opera. Their late success, "The Gondoliers," will be produced by DePaul Opera Theatre at the Merle Reskin Theatre on Balbo Street in the Loop (March 11-13). This just weeks after both "The Mikado" and "The Pirates Of Penzance" closed in other ChicaGo Productions. Are we seeing yet another G&S renaissance? Could be. Who knows? 

DePaul University School of Music 

And Petterino's, the home of "Monday Night Live" and arguably Chicago's premiere theater dining spot (it's in the Goodman Theatre's building at the corner of Randolph and Dearborn, and there are drawings on the walls, a la Sardi's) is celebrating its 10th anniversary in style on Friday, February 11th. The Beckie Menzie Trio will perform during the four-course dinner, and a full cabaret show will take place afterwards, with Tom Michael, Nan Mason and many other local favorites. Many showtunes will be sung, and later on there'll be a dance, as well. For those inclined, it's sure to be a great evening in a premiere nightspot, one that holds all things showtune near and dear to its classy, snazzy heart. 

Petterinos - Home 

And so, with a shovel in one hand and a train pass in the other, we'll all muddle through (whatever we do) until we dig out and move on from the crazy big Groundhog Day blizzard of 2011. Sounds like a plan. Until that day arrives, stay safe, and as soon as we all venture out once again, I'll see you under the video screens.....--PWT

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