Matthew Keffer

 As a way to help address the absence of live theater performances, First Folio Theatre will offer a streaming video recording of the award-winning Cymbeline: A Folk Tale with Music, directed by Michael Goldberg. Adapted from Shakespeare's romance by David Rice with original music and lyrics by Michael Keefe and David Rice, this production was recorded live during a 2013 performance on First Folio's outdoor stage. The show will be streaming on the Vimeo video service June 3 a?" 14. With an original bluegrass/gospel score played by the cast members themselves, Cymbeline is just the tonic folks need in these difficult times.

Porchlight Music Theatre continue its 25th Anniversary Season with its 'lost' musicals in staged concert series Porchlight Revisits. Porchlight Revisits Call Me Madam, with book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and music and lyrics by Irving Berlin stars Donica Lynn as the titular socialite presented for three performances Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 21 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street.

Porchlight Music Theatre continue its 25th Anniversary Season with its a?oelosta?? musicals in staged concert series Porchlight Revisits. Porchlight Revisits Call Me Madam, with book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and music and lyrics by Irving Berlin stars Donica Lynn as the titular socialite presented for three performances Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 21 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street

Drury Lane Theatre presents its first production of its 2018/2019 season, the Tony Award-winning musical South Pacific, with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Josh Logan, and adapted from Tales of the South Pacific by James Michener.

BroadwayWorld has a first look at SOUTH PACIFIC at the Drury Lane Theatre! Check out video of the cast in action below!

Drury Lane Theatre announces casting for the first production of its 2018/2019 season, the Tony Award-winning musical South Pacific, with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Josh Logan, and adapted from Tales of the South Pacific by James Michener. This production is directed by Victor Malana Maog with choreography by Otis Sallid and musical direction by Roberta Duchak. South Pacific runs April 5 - June 17, 2018, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, April 12 at 8:00 p.m.

Drury Lane Theatre announces casting for the first production of its 2018/2019 season, the Tony Award-winning musical South Pacific, with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Josh Logan, and adapted from Tales of the South Pacific by James Michener. This production is directed by Victor Malana Maog with choreography by Otis Sallid and musical direction by Roberta Duchak. South Pacific runs April 5 - June 17, 2018, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, April 12 at 8:00 p.m.

Mercury Theater's revival of the iconic rock musical HAIR infuses some peace, love, and sunshine into this Chicago summer. While Gerome Ragni and James Rado's lyrics still resonant today, this production stays firmly rooted in the late 1960s. Brenda Didier's direction, Robert Kuhn's costumes, and Jeffrey D. Kmiec's set design all have a 'traditional' feel-at least traditional by the show's standards. Certainly HAIR's call for peace and embrace of the Tribe's diverse identities echo the present and remind us of the progress yet to be made, but this staging does not underscore that relevance based on production choices.

The Old Globe presents the West Coast premiere of Paul Gordon's delightfully romantic new musical SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, developed with Rick Boynton and presented in association with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where it was commissioned and had its world premiere in April 2015. CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines returns to the show as director of the Globe production. SENSE AND SENSIBILITY will play now through August 14, 2016 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Old Globe presents the West Coast premiere of Paul Gordon's delightfully romantic new musical SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, developed with Rick Boynton and presented in association withChicago Shakespeare Theater, where it was commissioned and had its world premiere in April 2015. CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines returns to the show as director of the Globe production. SENSE AND SENSIBILITY will play now through August 14, 2016 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Old Globe presents the West Coast premiere of Paul Gordon's delightfully romantic new musical SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, developed with Rick Boynton and presented in association with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where it was commissioned and had its world premiere in April 2015.

The Old Globe presents the West Coast premiere of Paul Gordon's delightfully romantic new musical SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, developed with Rick Boynton and presented in association with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where it was commissioned and had its world premiere in April 2015.

The Old Globe has announced the complete cast and creative team for the West Coast premiere of Paul Gordon's delightfully romantic new musical SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, developed with Rick Boynton and presented in association with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where it was commissioned and had its world premiere in April 2015.

Casting is complete for LaunchingFWD : Season 2, the second annual sneak preview concert of new musicals in development offered by FWD Theatre Project, one of the most-watched new arts organizations in town. Last year's LaunchingFWD event (starring headliner and hometown superstar Jessie Mueller in her first Chicago appearance since winning the Tony Award for Beautiful) sold out the 320 seat main room at City Winery and required overflow seating; FWD hopes this year's event will be even more impressive.

By jove, Mercury Theater cracks the case in adapting a Sherlock Holmes musical!

Mercury Theater Chicago's production THE MAN WHO MURDERED SHERLOCK HOLMES celebrated its opening night performance this week. The production is running from now through March 20th. Check out photos here!

The opening number of the newly revised SIDE SHOW invites audiences to 'Come Look at the Freaks.' In doing so, however, the musical really prepares spectators to look upon the circus attractions in the show with empathy rather than alienation and astonishment. With this intimate production from Porchlight Music Theatre led by Artistic Director Michael Weber, the Chicago premiere of the 2014 revision of SIDE SHOW (seen on Broadway last season) brings the humanity of the show's characters to the forefront. While I enjoyed the Broadway revival of SIDE SHOW at the nearly 2,000 seat St. James Theatre, I also felt that it put me at a distance from the action onstage. The show had a pervading eeriness to it. But with Porchlight's production, audiences are able to come close to the conjoined Hilton sisters - the result is highly entertaining, with a strong dash of pathos and emotional resonance.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents the first production in its 2015 - 2016 season, SIDE SHOW, directed by Porchlight artistic director Michael Weber, music direction by Aaron Benham, choreography by Andrew Waters, music by Henry Krieger, book and lyrics by Bill Russell, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. The show has been extended through Sunday, Oct. 25. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Porchlight Music Theatre's first production of its 2015 - 2016 season will be Side Show, running tonight, September 11, through October 18, directed by Porchlight Music Theatre artistic director Michael Weber, music direction by Aaron Benham, choreography by Andrew Waters, music by Henry Krieger, book and lyrics by Bill Russell, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the stars in costume!