Aaron Stone News

Porchlight Music Theatre's production of FAR FROM HEAVEN marks the musical's Chicago premiere--the show debuted Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in 2013 and takes the titular 2002 Todd Haynes-directed film as its source material. And while this musical from composer-lyricist team Scott Frankel and Michael Korie was written three years ago, FAR FROM HEAVEN touches on issues of gender, sexuality, and race in 1957 suburban Connecticut that poignantly resonant with the present moment. At the center of the musical is Cathy Whittaker (the superb and stunning Summer Naomi Smart), a 1950s housewife and mother--decked out in Bill Morey's outstanding period-authentic dresses and residing in Grant Sabin's charming set. At the top of the show, she catches her husband, Frank (Brandon Springman) cheating on her--with a man. Stunned by this secret, Cathy is forced to confront the reality of what happens when her life cannot conform to the societal pressures and ideals coming at her from both the media and friends--a matter which is further complicated when she strikes up an unexpected friendship with her black gardener, Raymond Deagan (Evan Tyrone Martin).

Porchlight presents the critically acclaimed new musical based on the 2002 film hit starring Julianne Moore. In 1957 suburban Connecticut, Cathy Whitaker seems to be the picture-perfect wife and mother. But boiling beneath the surface, secret longings and forbidden desires cause her world to unravel, with incendiary consequences. Featuring a lush score from Tony Award-nominated (Grey Gardens and Finding Neverland) songwriters Frankel and Korie and a book by Tony Award-winner Greenberg (Take Me Out) that is both jazz-inflected and hauntingly lyrical, FAR FROM HEAVEN is a powerful story of romance, betrayal and intolerance, as a woman grapples with her identity in a society on the verge of upheaval.

Porchlight presents the critically acclaimed new musical based on the 2002 film hit starring Julianne Moore. In 1957 suburban Connecticut, Cathy Whitaker seems to be the picture-perfect wife and mother. But boiling beneath the surface, secret longings and forbidden desires cause her world to unravel, with incendiary consequences. Featuring a lush score from Tony Award-nominated (Grey Gardens and Finding Neverland) songwriters Frankel and Korie and a book by Tony Award-winner Greenberg (Take Me Out) that is both jazz-inflected and hauntingly lyrical, FAR FROM HEAVEN is a powerful story of romance, betrayal and intolerance, as a woman grapples with her identity in a society on the verge of upheaval. 

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to present the Chicago premiere of Far From Heaven, book by Richard Greenberg, music by Scott Frankel and lyrics by Michael Korie and starring multi-Jeff Award-winner Summer Naomi Smart with Brandon Springman and Evan Tyrone Martin. The production is directed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Rob Lindley, music directed by Chuck Larkin and choreographed by William Carlos Angulo, February 5 - March 13, 2016. Previews are Friday, Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and opening night is Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. The regular performance times are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., with the exception of no performances February 11 or March 3 and an added performance Thursday, March 3 at 1:30 p.m. Single tickets may be purchased at porchlightmusictheatre.org or 773.327.5252. Groups of ten or more may receive discounts on tickets purchased via Group Theater Tix at 312.423.6612 or grouptheatertix.com.

ABC Family (soon to be called Freeform) has greenlit a fourth season of THE FOSTERS, ahead of the drama series' Season 3 winter premiere on January 25th. 

In 1959 Ethel Merman, the prominent musical theatre actress of her time, and David Merrick were searching for their next project. After reading an excerpt from the memoir by Gypsy Rose Lee, Merrick felt they had said project and GYPSY was born.

ABC Family has cast Kelli Williams (“Detective McLean: Ties That Bind,” “Army Wives”) and Rob Morrow (“Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll,” upcoming “American Crime Story: The People v O.J. Simpson,”) in recurring guest-star roles on the hit drama series “The Fosters.”  Williams will play “Justina,” a well-connected foster-care specialist who proposes a significant investment in Callie's “Fost and Found” website. Morrow is cast as “Will,” a liberal-minded free-spirit who is introduced to the Adams Foster family through Stef's mom, Sharon, played by Annie Potts (“Any Day Now”). “The Fosters” started production on the second half of the third season today in Los Angeles.

A trip to Idyllwild brings long-held feelings to the surface in an all-new episode of “The Fosters,” airing Monday, August 10, 2015 at 8:00PM ET/PT on ABC Family.

In 1959 Ethel Merman, the prominent musical theatre actress of her time, and David Merrick were searching for their next project. After reading an excerpt from the memoir by Gypsy Rose Lee, Merrick felt they had said project and GYPSY was born.

Callie is surprised to find that Rita has a biological daughter in an all-new episode of "The Fosters," airing Monday, August 3, 2015 at 8:00PM ET/PT on ABC Family. Watch a sneak peek below!

In an all-new episode of "The Fosters," airing Monday, July 6, 2015 at 8:00PM ET/PT on ABC Family, Callie convinces Brandon to head out on a mysterious trip that brings them to Mexico.

ABC Family has cast Noah Centineo (“How to Build a Better Boy”) in the role of Jesus Adams Foster in the hit drama series “The Fosters.” It was announced today by the network. Centineo will be a series regular and first be seen in the second half of the third season, airing in 2016.