'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for November 10th, 2009

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

Sidetrack and Cattle Call showtune video screens:

 

HOLIDAY MUSICAL ROUND-UP: PART TWO

As promised last week, here is your holiday guide to musical theater going (if you're interested in shows that actually do relate to the holidays!). We'll call these "Holiday Musicals for the Holidays." Sounds crazy, no?

Any such list must begin with "A Christmas Carol." Now, here's the weird thing: Though this is regularly the most-produced title in American theater, year after year, there is no one standard script of the show! Many theaters have written, commissioned or decided upon their own version of Charles Dickens' beloved short novel over the years, based on the strengths of the available actors, the technical capabilities of their stages, and the tastes of their artistic directors as to how much music to include.

On top of that, there are "mainstage" versions and "theater for young audiences" (TYA) versions (i.e. children's theater acted by adults in the daytime) to sort through. Nothing wrong with that, it's just a lot of information! And this tale of a cold heart made warm again is probably immortal-it can certainly stand up to repeated telling!

In a year which is seeing the release of the Walt Disney/Robert Zemeckis/Jim Carrey film of the same name (with music too), there are at least five musical versions of "A Christmas Carol" being produced by local theaters. On the boards from November 13-January 2 at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire is a TYA version of the Alan Menken-scored musical version that played underneath Madison Square Garden in New York for about a decade. Popular actors Gene Weygandt (Scrooge) and George Andrew Wolff (Bob Cratchit) star, heading a cast of familiar local names all directed by Marriott's Lead Artistic Director, Aaron Thielen. 

http://www.marriotttheatre.com/show.aspx?show=33

Not to be outdone, the Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace offers its own TYA version of "A Christmas Carol" from November 18-December 21, with William Dick as Scrooge, Andy Lupp and Paula Scrofano as Mr. and Mrs. Cratchit, and David Perkovich and Sharon Sachs as Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig, directed by Scott Calcagno. I believe this is a play with music, but I can't locate the name of the playwright! Anybody know? 

http://www.drurylaneoakbrook.com/live_theatre/childrens_theatre.shtml

On the mainstage side of things, Chicago's gold standard for staged Dickens has for many years been the Goodman Theatre's version, now adapted by Tom Creamer and directed by ex-Scrooge William Brown. Again not really a musical (but with plenty of music), the show stars Larry Yando as Scrooge for the third year, with Andrew Truschinski as his younger self, Jessie Mueller as his young love, Belle, the remarkable Matthew Gold as the Turkey Boy and Ron Rains as Cratchit, all onstage downtown from November 20-December 21.

http://www.explorethegoodman.org/a-christmas-carol/ 

Also beginning performances November 20 (through December 20) is a full mounting of that Alan Menken musical version of the novel (the script and lyrics are the work of Mike Ockrent and Lynn Ahrens), way out west at the Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois. I adore the original cast album (used to play it every year while I put up my tree). Mosh Pit residents might be urged to take the trek west, to see what a good choIce The powers that be at Steel Beam have made in selecting this particular adaptation! 

http://www.steelbeamtheatre.com/09_carol.htm 

And not to be left out, the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights is presenting "A Christmas Carol," as adapted by Krista Scott and with musical arrangements by George Maurer, from November 27-December 24. Like I said, so much to choose from! 

http://www.metropolisarts.com/index.php/fuseaction/show.details/showid/166/a-christmas-carol 

In non-Dickens holiday theater, there is a second holiday title, much newer and with a script and score by Kyle Jarrow, receiving two area productions this year. It is "A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant," winner of the 2004 Obie Award for Outstanding Musical off-Broadway. It's being presented November 14-January 3 by A Red Orchid Theatre in Old Town, in its second year of presenting this satiric tale of L. Ron Hubbard, Dianetics and all. 

http://aredorchidtheatre.org/

And Next Theatre Company in Evanston is presenting the same show December 5-January 3. It's a script written to be performed entirely by children, but it's apparently a mainstage type of thing, hilarity and all!

http://www.nexttheatre.org/plays.htm 

Already in performances at Circle Theatre in Forest Park is a "play with music," based on a year in the life of the March sisters (from Christmas to Christmas), and called, of course, "Little Women." Not the recent Broadway musical of the same name, but adapted from the Louisa May Alcott novel and directed by Circle's Producing Director, Bob Knuth, the show runs November 6-December 19.

http://www.circle-theatre.org/ 

Beginning performances this week way out west, in that theatrical hotbed of St. Charles, is "Plaid Tidings," the holiday sequel to "Forever Plaid" that brings Jinx, Frankie, Sparky and Smudge back from heaven once more to sing holiday hits in their close-harmony style. The show runs November 11-December 27, presented by Noble Fool Theatricals. Brad Simanski, Sean Effinger-Dean, Robert Deason and David Meadows are the stylin' guys in plaid this time around, staged by Bob Kiser. 

http://www.noblefool.org/a_show_pages/2009plaidtidings/index.html 

A Chicago show that began in 1995 in Lakeview has made is as far as Munster, Indiana, this Christmas-"The Christmas Schooner," the real-life story of Peter Stossel, the nineteenth-century ship captain who brought Christmas trees to Chicago's German-American families through dangerous Lake Michigan weather. Starring Brandon Dahlquist and Cory Goodrich this time out, this musical by John Reeger and Julie Shannon was an annual staple at Bailiwick Repertory for years, and has been produced across the country. What a success story it has been! It starts this week, and plays at Theater at the Center in Munster from November 12 to December 20.

http://www.theatreatthecenter.org/on_stage.asp#christmas 

Porchlight Music Theatre is presenting the premiere of a new adaptation of the classic 1947 film "Miracle on 34th Street" from November 20-January 3.  Adapted by Patricia DiBenedetto Snyder, Sill Severin and John Vreeke, and featuring holiday musical arrangements by Chicago composer Jon Steinhagen, the show stars Jim Sherman as Kris Kringle/Santa Claus and Karl Hamilton as Fred. It's directed by Porchlight Artistic Director L. Walter Stearns, with choreography by Brenda Didier and musical direction by Eugene Dizon. They may be hoping for a holiday perennial with this one. 

http://www.porchlighttheatre.com/current.htm#miracle 

We're not sure what it is, but Redmoon Theater is presentings it's 2009 "Winter Pageant" from November 14-December 27 at Redmoon Central, 1463 W. Hubbard Street. This annual "long-running spectacle" may or may not be a "musical," but we bet it's fascinating, anyway! Have you checked out their website? 

http://redmoon.org/ 

"The Snow Queen" returns in all her glory for the fourth holiday season. This musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Anderson story by Michael Smith, Frank Galati and Blair Thomas is being directed by Jim Corti at the Victory Gardens Theater. The production stars Leslie Ann Sheppard, Andrew Keltz and Cheryl Lynn Bruce, and runs November 27-December 27 on the Zacek McVay Mainstage at Victory Gardens' Biograph Theater on Lincoln Avenue. Just lovely! 

http://victorygardens.org/content/node/1245 

And, last but not least, the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus presents its "Christmas Follies" at the Athenaeum Theatre, December 11-12. Is it a musical, a concert, or something halfway in between? The Mosh Pit doesn't know, but there are 150 voices, and what is billed as "Chicago's longest kickline." You probably don't want to miss it. 

http://www.cgmc.org/tickets 

And, while it's not a holiday event per se, I will leave you with an event that does involve showtunes! The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus warms up its collective pipes this coming Saturday night, November 14, as special guests of the Lakeside Pride Symphonic Band in its "Broadway!" presentation, 7:00 pm at Evanston Township High School. A whole lot of Mosh Pit residents and friends will be there, and yes, Virginia, it is in Cook County. 

http://www.lakesidepride.org/ 

Next week-back to gossip!  Until then, I hope you are making your holiday musical plans, and I'll see you there!  I will also see you under the video screens.....--PWT