'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for May 19th, 2010
By: Paul W. Thompson May. 19, 2010
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:
The Chicago theater community is still trying to come to terms with the too-soon death of actor Guy Adkins a week ago, May 12th, after a year-long bout with colon cancer. He was just 41. Winner of three Joseph Jefferson Awards in ten nominations from the years 1994-2008 (for "Oklahoma!," "Floyd Collins" and "Misalliance"), Adkins died at his West Andersonville home, with his partner of 13 years, actor Sean Allan Krill ("Forever Plaid," "Mamma Mia!"), at this side. He left behind his extended family on both sides, and many colleagues and friends in Chicago, New York and, no doubt, around the world.
Born in Michigan and raised in Wisconsin, this child of the Midwest was equally at home in musicals and plays. After moving to Chicago soon after graduation from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, he worked at every major theater here, appearing in leading and supporting roles in notable productions like "Windy City" and the recent "The Producers" at the Marriott Theatre, "Floyd Collins" and "The Visit" at the Goodman Theatre, "The Time of Your Life" at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, "The Secret Garden" at Apple Tree Theatre, and at Writers' Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Northlight Theatre and the Drury Lane Theatre, among others. The picture here is of Guy Adkins as "Hamlet" at the Court Theatre in 2002.
Guy Adkins and Sean Krill moved east in the mid 2000s, where they found work on New York area stages, on film and television and in national tours. Guy was a favorite of director Tina Landau, and most recently worked with her at Connecticut's Long Wharf Theatre in 2008. He appeared as Oscar in the national tour of "Sweet Charity" in 2006, opposite Molly Ringwald (or did she appear opposite Guy Adkins?). See if you can find that amazing video footage of the elevator scene.
Many younger actors and theatergoers in Chicago don't quite remember him, which speaks to the ephemeral nature of theater as well as to the fleeting nature of life itself. But Chicago was apparently his home--the couple moved back to Chicago to handle Guy's illness, and in a revealing series of blog postings on his website, Adkins continues to touch us even after his passing. Tributes to him have already appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and on Playbill.com. There will be others.
Well played, Guy Adkins, in all the stages of your life. We had come to expect nothing less, and you did not disappoint. Good night, sweet prince, indeed.
And theater does go on. The Drury Lane Theatre out in Oakbrook Terrace has announced casting for its upcoming production of "Sugar," the Jule Styne/Bob Merrill musical based on the film "Some Like It Hot," starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. The boys will be played here by Rod Thomas (recently Scar in the Las Vegas production of "The Lion King") and by actor/composer Alan Schmuckler. Jennifer Knox essays Monroe's role of Sugar Kane. Directed by Jim Corti, the production will play June 3 through August 1, 2010.
Drury Lane Oakbrook Presents SUGAR
Some new and noteworthy musical productions have recently opened, among them "The Absolute Best Friggin' Time Of Your Life" at The Second City e.t.c., now in an apparent open run. The musical direction of Jesse Case has been singled out in the reviews of this topical, satirical improv/revue, as has the singing of the cast. Good to hear!
The Absolute Best Friggin' Time of Your Life
The Mosh Pit is also glad to know of the great new jukebox musical about the early days of the Rolling Stones, "Aftermath," now through June 6th only at the Raven Theatre on North Clark Street. Written and directed by Ronan Marra for Signal Ensemble Theatre and starring Aaron Snook as the ill-fated Brian Jones, it's apparently quite something. Has anyone caught it yet?
There's also a new musical in town called "The Regulars," now open at the Apollo Theater's studio space under the auspices of Hobo Junction Productions. Written by Josh Zagoren and Dan Krall and directed by Zagoren, a cast of eight portray the frazzled employees of a very busy steakhouse. It's been dubbed an "epic rock musical comedy about waiters." Come on, now. Surely, somebody we know has seen this! This is so close to home, right? Actors playing waiters............hmm.......
This Sunday, May 23, Bailiwick Chicago's revue "Show Us Your Love" makes a one-night-only surprise reappearance! But it won't be back at Mary's Attic. Nope, the mult-musical revue from the late winter is now a gala suburban benefit, with three added songs from the company's upcoming July production of Elton John's "Aida." The show (now with 14 performers in all) is being revived at the Skokie Theatre ($25 in advance, $30 at the door), so if you missed it in Andersonville, hie thee up to Skokie on Sunday.
Show Us Your Love Benefit Performance
And Christopher Pazdernik's revue, "It's An Art: The Songs of Stephen Schwartz" has been given new life as well--two more performances have just been added at Davenport's Piano Bar and Cabaret, on June 6 and 14. Charissa Armon, Courtney Freed and Ryan Lanning are holding down the proverbial singers' stools, and musical direction is by Aaron Benham, a member of the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus.
In addition to this weekend's performances of the opera "The Ghosts of Versailles," part of its John Corigliano festival, Northwestern University in Evanston is also looking forward to its Summer Musical Theatre Festival 2010, which, oddly enough, includes a Stephen Schwartz evening as well! On Saturday, August 7, Schwartz himself will be on hand to hear his songs sung by Craig Carnelia, Andrew Lippa, Shoshana Bean, Lari White and others. Among other events, the Festival includes late summer runs of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" and a new musical by the authors of "The Story Of My Life," Neil Bartram and Brian Hill, called "Not Wanted On The Voyage." Interesting.
Summer Music Theatre Festival 2010
Looking a little further ahead, all of Chicago, or at least the Mosh Pit community, is looking forward to the fall of 2011, when the musical "Fela!" will apparently open its U.S. national tour in Chicago. I can't find any specific dates mentioned anywhere, but we are the first city listed in a long, non-alphabetized list of locations to host this Tony-favorite show about the late Nigerian musician and activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. And of course, that only makes a tremendous amount of sense. I'm just sayin'. We hope it's a long stay here.
And speaking of tours, there is a pretty prominent one making a two-night stop at the Rosemont Theatre next week (Tuesday and Wednesday). That would be a little TV show called "Glee," whose mini-tour of live cast performances does indeed include us! The show's young cast members are only performing in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York (not counting the preview shows in Phoenix, and I'm not!) and good luck at getting tickets, we think! I wonder if they will make any unscheduled appearances anywhere, in between their concerts? I have no idea........Truly, I have no idea! I wish I did.......!!! But at any rate, I'm pretty sure that Rosemont will never be the same after the Gleeks of Greater Chicago make their love for Rachel, Finn and the rest of the cast very well known next week. Would that we were all so lucky! And Lady Gaga songs on the show next week!
So, then, that's the Mosh Pit and our musings for the week! I trust everyone is planning for Memorial Day, and for the summer beyond? Summer theater is in sight! And summer everything! Yay. And until that day arrives, I'll see you under the video screens.....-PWT
Photo Credit (Guy Adkins as Hamlet): Michael Brosilow
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