Aaron Benham News

The Fountain Theatre will present three workshop performances of Unconditional, A Musical Memoir.

Those of us who remember the 60s no doubt were fans of Roller Derby on television. But ever wonder what it was like behind-the-scenes when the rough and tough female skaters let their hair down? The new musical High Heels on Wheels, with lyrics and book by Leslie Sloan and music by Eliza Jane McNamara, is part of this month’s Hollywood Fringe Festival and shares the story of Doris Selander, the best carhop in town, who decides to try out for the open spot of the local derby team in 1965. Her life takes many directions once she makes the decision to follow her dreams to roller derby stardom, despite the roadblocks in her way. I decided to speak with Leslie Sloan about the process of bringing it to the Hollywood Fringe Festival.

Playwright and Your Program Is Your Ticket podcast Creator/Host/Producer Sean Chandler's new musical Running: The Musical co-written with Joseph Jefferson award-winning Chicago Composer Leo Schwartz recorded five music videos from nine different locations and three different states during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to welcome audiences back with UNDER THE STARS WITH HANDBAG: A Drive-In Festival a?' five fun and socially-responsible weekends of Handbag productions on a big outdoor screen! Featuring a different show each week, Handbag's pop-up drive-in festival will play Fridays and Saturday from August 21 a?' September 19, 2020 at The Red Box Workshop, 4242 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. in Chicago, just west of the intersection of Pulaski and Bryn Mawr.

Sunset Boulevard stars Hollis Resnik and is directed by Michael Weber, choreographed by Shanna VanDerwerker and music directed by Aaron Benham.  The regular run performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. with additional performances Wednesday, Nov. 6; Nov. 13 and Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 24, Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 29 at 3:30 p.m. and an added performance Sunday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $39 - $66 and are available at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight Music Theatre box office, 773.777.9884. 

Porchlight Music Theatre presents Sunset Boulevard at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Featuring music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics and books by Don Black and Christopher Hampton, Sunset Boulevard stars Hollis Resnik and is directed by Michael Weber, choreographed by Shanna VanDerwerker and music directed by Aaron Benham.

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce Sunset Boulevard at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street, has been extended through Sunday, Dec. 8.

Porchlight Music Theatre's 25th Anniversary Mainstage season launches with Sunset Boulevard, October 11 - November 24

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce its 25th Anniversary season that includes the 2019 - 2020 Mainstage, Porchlight Revisits and New Faces Sing Broadway productions.. Porchlight's Mainstage and Porchlight Revisits return to the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street.  

THE BOOK OF MERMAN, a new musical comedy featuring music and lyrics by Leo Schwartz and book by Schwartz and DC Cathro, will now play weekends at St. Luke's Theater beginning November 2, 2018. Directed by Joe Langworth, this new Off-Broadway musical officially opened on Sunday, October 21 at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street).

THE BOOK OF MERMAN, a new musical comedy featuring music and lyrics by Leo Schwartz and book by Schwartz and DC Cathro, starts previews this Friday, October 5 at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street). Joe Langworth directs this new Off-Broadway musical, with an opening set for Sunday, October 21.  

THE BOOK OF MERMAN, a new musical comedy featuring music and lyrics by Leo Schwartz and book by Schwartz and DC Cathro, now in previews at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street), releases production photos. Joe Langworth directs this new Off-Broadway musical, with an opening set for Sunday, October 21.  

THE BOOK OF MERMAN, a new musical comedy featuring music and lyrics by Leo Schwartz and book by Schwartz and DC Cathro, starts previews this Friday, October 5 at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street). Joe Langworth directs this new Off-Broadway musical, with an opening set for Sunday, October 21.  

THE BOOK OF MERMAN, a new musical comedy featuring music and lyrics by Leo Schwartz and book by Schwartz and DC Cathro, is set to have its New York premiere in October. Joe Langworth will direct this new Off-Broadway musical, which will begin previews today, October 5 at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street), with opening set for Sunday, October 21. 

THE BOOK OF MERMAN, a new musical comedy featuring music and lyrics by Leo Schwartz and book by Schwartz and DC Cathro, is set to have its New York premiere in October. Joe Langworth will direct this new Off-Broadway musical, which will begin previews on Friday, October 5 at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street), with opening set for Sunday, October 21. 

Kokandy Productions is pleased to present the final production of its fifth anniversary season: the Tony Award-nominated musical GRAND HOTEL, playing April 15 - May 27, 2018 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Featuring a book by Luther Davis, music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest and additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, the Kokandy production will be directed by Artistic Producer John D. Glover, with music direction by Aaron Benham and choreography by Brenda Didier. Single tickets are currently available at www.kokandyproductions.com, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office.

Jeff Award-nominee and HIV+ director/producer Christopher Pazdernik is pleased to announce the 4th annual Chris's Birthday Belt Fest, a benefit concert for Howard Brown Health, Monday, May 14 at 8 p.m. at Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway. Tickets are $30, in advance; $40, at the door on the night of the performance, and are available at uptownunderground.net or by calling 773.867.1946. Uptown Underground is a 21 years old and older venue and advance reservations are strongly recommended.

Kokandy Productions is pleased to present the final production of its fifth anniversary season: the Tony Award-nominated musical GRAND HOTEL, playing April 15 - May 27, 2018 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Featuring a book by Luther Davis, music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest and additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, the Kokandy production will be directed by Artistic Producer John D. Glover, with music direction by Aaron Benham and choreography by Brenda Didier.

Porchlight Music Theatre announces Merrily We Roll Along, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, with direction by Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Director Michael Weber, associate direction and musical staging by Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Associate Christopher Pazdernik and music direction by Aaron Benham has been extended through March 17 at Porchlght's home, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Merrily We Roll Along is based on the play by the same name written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. 

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce the next mainstage production it its 2017 - 2018 season Merrily We Roll Along, January 26 - March 11, 2018, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, with direction by Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Director Michael Weber, associate direction and musical staging by Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Associate Christopher Pazdernik and music direction by Aaron Benham at Porchlght's home, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Merrily We Roll Along is based on the play by the same name written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.