Ian Paul Custer

Cast Set for IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO! at American Blues
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 3, 2025

American Blues Theater will present its 24th Annual Production of It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! from Frank Capra’s film and directed by Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside.

Video: Alexandra Silber and More in DIAL M FOR MURDER at Drury Lane Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 17, 2025

Drury Lane Theatre is continuing its 2025/26 season with the modern thriller Dial M for Murder, in a new adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher from the original by Frederick Knott. See photos here!

Cast Set for DIAL M FOR MURDER at Drury Lane Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 10, 2025

Drury Lane Theatre is continuing its 2025/26 season with the modern thriller Dial M for Murder, in a new adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher from the original by Frederick Knott. Learn more!

Review: WAITRESS at Paramount Theatre Aurora, IL
by Tina St. Angelo Wetzel - Feb 23, 2025

The current production at the Paramount Theatre is the musical Waitress based upon the motion picture. When it opened, it was the first all-female production team on Broadway. Director and choreographer Katie Spelman gives the audience an evening of laughter, some tears and love. Sarah Bareilles’ music played by the Paramount Orchestra under the direction of Celia Villacres, fills the theater with the beauty of the different styles.

American Blues Theater to Present 23rd Production IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 28, 2024

American Blues Theater will present the 23rd annual production of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO!, a holiday classic reimagined as a 1940s radio broadcast. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Video: Get A First Look At BEAUTIFUL THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at Paramount Theatre in Aurora
by Joshua Wright - May 8, 2024

Get a first look at Paramount Theatre’s production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.  Before she was the Carole King we know today, she was a young songwriter from Brooklyn trying to make a name for herself. Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of her remarkable rise to stardom with her husband and songwriting partner, Gerry Goffin, and how she went on to become one of the most successful singers, songwriters and musicians in contemporary music history. 

Review: BEAUTIFUL THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at Paramount Theatre Aurora, IL
by Tina St. Angelo Wetzel - May 6, 2024

The earth moved. The current production at the Paramount Theatre is Beautiful, the Carole King Musical. This is more than a jukebox musical. It tells the amazing story of one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century and how her story evolved.

Photos: First Look At BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL At Paramount Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - May 4, 2024

Not so far away is Paramount Theatre’s 2023-24 season finale, the Broadway smash hit Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Nominated for seven Tony Awards, with two wins, plus a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album, Paramount will pull out all the stops in this season-finale jukebox musical celebration of one our most beloved music icons ever. See photos from the production!

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL Comes to Aurora's Paramount Theatre in April
by Stephi Wild - Feb 21, 2024

Paramount Theatre will present its 2023-24 season finale, the Broadway smash hit Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Performances are April 24-June 16.

American Blues Theater Launches The Commons Series With UHURU
by Stephi Wild - Jan 16, 2024

American Blues Theater launches The Commons, a new, monthly community event initiative, with a reading of Gloria Majule’s Uhuru, directed by Ensemble Member Manny Buckley. 

American Blues Theater Will Open New Home With IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIFE IN CHICAGO!
by Stephi Wild - Oct 26, 2023

American Blues Theater announces its 22nd Annual Production of It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! from Frank Capra’s film and directed by Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside with musical direction by Ensemble Member Michael Mahler.

The Beautiful City Project's 90s SUMMER BLOCK PARTY To Raise Funds For Guitars Over Guns Chicago
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 30, 2023

The Beautiful City Project has announced the cast of 90s SUMMER BLOCK PARTY, with proceeds to benefit Guitars Over Guns Chicago, a charity that believes that music, combined with strong, consistent mentorship, can reshape the trajectory of a student's life from our vulnerable communities.

BALL NIGHT, Featuring Cubs Anthem Singer John Vincent and More, Will Raise Funds And Awareness For Special Olympics Illinois
by Stephi Wild - Jul 14, 2022

The Beautiful City Project announces the cast of its August fundraising cabaret BALL NIGHT, with proceeds to benefit Special Olympics Illinois, an organization that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

American Blues Theater to Present Reading of 17 MINUTES by Scott Organ
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 21, 2022

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, will present a live, online reading of 17 MINUTES by Scott Organ, directed by Michael Cotey as part of “The Room” series. The reading will be live on Monday, June 27 at 7pm.

Photos: PUMP BOYS & DINETTES Opens at Porchlight Music Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 6, 2021

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre returns to live performances and the launch of its 27th Mainstage season with Pump Boys & Dinettes, now playing through December 12 at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N.

BWW Review: PUMP BOYS & DINETTES at Porchlight Music Theatre
by Rachel Weinberg - Nov 5, 2021

After the long pandemic hiatus, Porchlight Music Theatre returns to in-person productions with a feel-good staging of PUMP BOYS & DINETTES. It’s clear that Artistic Director Michael Weber knew that audiences would be craving some classic, lighthearted musical theater sentiment after such a long time away. He was wise to program director Daryl Brooks’s production of this 1983 show as a welcome back.

Photo Flash: Porchlight Music Theatre's PUMP BOYS & DINETTES Opens Tomorrow
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 3, 2021

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre returns to live performances and the launch of its 27th Mainstage season with Pump Boys & Dinettes, now playing through December 12 at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St.

American Blues Announces Live May Virtual Events
by A.A. Cristi - May 11, 2021

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, presents a live, online reading of There's A Clown in My Bubble, written and performed by Ensemble Member Philip Earl Johnson on May 14 at 7pm Central, as part of “The Room” series. Ensemble Member Ian Paul Custer will perform Piano Man, celebrating 50 years of the music of Billy Joel, on Friday, May 21 at 7pm Central as part of “The Garage” series.

American Blues Theater Continues Monthly Reading Series With SANCTUARY CITY
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 23, 2021

American Blues Theater presents a live, online reading of Sanctuary City, created and directed by Ensemble Member Ian Paul Custer and written by Shannon Prichard as part of “The Room” series. The reading will be live on Friday, March 26 at 7pm. The reading will be followed by a group discussion.

American Blues Theater Presents VALENTUNES This Friday
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 9, 2021

American Blues Theater has announced Valentunes, a benefit event as part of its ongoing music series, “The Garage.” The online event on Friday February 12 at 7pm Central will feature favorite love songs of the American Blues Ensemble and Artistic Affiliates, sung by Dawn Bach, Audrey Billings, Matthew Brumlow, Dara Cameron, Austin Cook and more.