'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for October 27th, 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:

 

As Halloween is almost directly upon us (and will last an extra hour this year!), there is one more significant Halloween show that has not yet made the Mosh Pit. Well, let me rectify that right now! "The Rocky Horror Show" is being presented for one more weekend at the Athenaeum Theatre (Lincoln, Wellington and Southport) with an encore appearance November 1st at the Elbo Room, a little further south on Lincoln. Word is that NightBlue Performing Arts Company's production is a lot of fun, and it's certainly timely! Go and learn not only the audience participation lyrics, but the real lyrics too! 

http://www.nightbluetheater.com/ 

The good news coming from the Goodman Theatre is that the Marx Brothers musical "Animal Crackers" was extended for one week (this one). The bad news for fans of Tony Yazbeck and Mara Davi is that the pair has been replaced by their understudies, Katie Spelman and Patrick Sarb. Do I hear a groundswell of support for Understudy Power?? Yazbeck and Davi must be headed back to New York to prepare for their roles in this year's Broadway run of "White Christmas" at the Marquis Theatre. Well, we had them for a while, didn't we?

http://www.goodmantheatre.org/season/Production.aspx?prod=91

http://whitechristmasbroadway.com/ 

The Mosh Pit is thrilled and intrigued that "Promises, Promises" is headed back to Broadway late this coming spring, for the first time in over forty years! Though there were concert performances in the '90s in Chicago and New York which starred Martin Short, some younger folk have never even heard of this show! (Look it up, people-multiple years, multiple awards....) However, are Sean P. ("Jack") Hayes and Kristin "Galinda/Glee" Chenoweth the right stars for this material? Though he's rumored to be a Mosh Pit alumnus (from his days out at Pheasant Run), romantic comedy may not be his forte. And she's, well,......not young! We hope it will be great, though. They are wonderful talents, and incandescent personalities. Keep your fingers crossed. 

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010414.html?categoryid=15&cs=1

The cleverly named "Five Mos Named Guy" is a musical by Aaron Holland now in rotating rep at the Playground Theater at Halsted and Belmont (on the schedule through November 21st). If you don't know why it's cleverly named, you need to study your textbook on 1990s musicals closer than ever!  (LOL) 

http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=patrick+sarb&init=quick#/event.php?eid=152637992352&index=1

Theo Ubique's pocket-sized "Man of La Mancha," now playing at the No Exit Café, has received a wide array of reviews-all positive, but quite different. Apparently this one must be seen to be appreciated, on an individual basis! Fascinating..... 

http://www.theatreinchicago.com/review.php?playID=3661 

The biggest show looming on the local horizon here is "Thoroughly Modern Millie," opening this week at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace. "Millie" is the most traditional musical to win the Tony Award for Best Musical this decade, so one would think it would be a successful no-brainer for a suburban audience. However, Kyle DeSantis and company have been doing so much top-notch work lately, it makes you wonder if they can keep up the torrid pace. Let's hope so! 

http://www.drurylaneoakbrook.com/live_theatre/now_playing.php 

The River North Drury Lane Water Tower Place has been disconcertingly dark lately, but two solo performers are about to rectify that situation. Hershey Felder, the actor and classical pianist who made such a stir as George Gershwin at the Royal George Theatre a couple of years ago, will revive "George Gershwin Alone" right around Christmas time. His "Beethoven, As I Knew Him" will open November 13th for five weeks, alternating on Sunday and Monday nights with Broadway and television star Peter Gallagher's one-man show, "Don't Give Up On Me." It will all come to a conclusion on New Year's Eve, when Felder hosts his high-priced gala, "The Great American Sing-A-Long." We all wish Drury Lane the best, always! 

http://www.drurylanewatertower.com/now_playing.html 

So, what is "Banana Shpeel," the Mosh Pit wants to know? Apparently from the mind of David Shiner (the contemporary clown a la Bill Irwin, who was the original Cat in the Hat for the Broadway "Seussical"), and from the very deep pocketbook of Cirque de Soleil, it's opening at the Chicago Theatre in November, playing through New Year's, and then moving off-Broadway to the very different vibe of the Beacon Theatre in March. Sound intriguing and fun? Then why haven't you made your plans yet? 

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/banana-shpeel/default.aspx 

While we don't usually have space to mention college productions here, we have noted that a rare production of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Schwartz's "Mass" will be playing at Northwestern University's Cahn Auditorium the weekend of November 12th only, directed by the legendary theater educator Dominic Missimi. If this is your sort of thing, I promise you that you don't want to miss it. As a bonus, it will feature some new lyrics by Schwartz. When will you get another chance to see a production like this?

http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2009/10/theatredancecal.html 

And last but not least, thanks to my friend Mark for pointing out that "Find Your Grail" from "Spamalot" has almost the exact same melody as John Denver's monster hit, "Take Me Home, Country Roads." I guess I wasn't paying attention. You never know what you will learn in the Mosh Pit, do you, now?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_Me_Home,_Country_Roads

And with that, and all the festivities of the weekend looming upon us (what to wear???), I look forward to the next time I'll see you under the video screens.....--PWT