Andrea Prestinario News

Toy Box Theatre Company opens its 11th season with Worth House, a new play by company member Ryan Reilly about growing up with a father addicted to two things: alcohol and his family. Set in Chicago's South Side in 1989, this comedic family drama offers up a fresh take on recovery in a style that is equal parts The Glass Menagerie and TV's Roseanne.

Toy Box Theatre Company opens its 11th season with Worth House, a new play by company member Ryan Reilly about growing up with a father addicted to two things: alcohol and his family. Set in Chicago's South Side in 1989, this comedic family drama offers up a fresh take on recovery in a style that is equal parts The Glass Menagerie and TV's Roseanne.

Urban Stages, in association with producer/director/lyricist and Director of Musical Programming Peter Napolitano, today announced that Tony Award Nominee Stephanie D'Abruzzo will join the line-up for their sixth series of musical evenings entitled WINTER RHYTHMS 2014, beginning Tuesday, December 2nd and continuing through Sunday, December 14th at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director), in association with producer/director/lyricist and Director of Musical Programming Peter Napolitano, today announced the line-up for their sixth series of musical evenings entitled WINTER RHYTHMS 2014, beginning Tuesday, December 2nd and continuing through Sunday, December 14th at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

The Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) presents A Night at the Tonys, this year's William and Greta Wiley Flory Concert, an annual cabaret performance, taking place tonight, Nov. 3, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at Francis W. Parker School (2233 North Clark Street) as part of the 25th Anniversary Fall Festival.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Monday night's Jeff Awards at the Drury Lane, and 'Amazing Grace' at the BOAT! Plus 2014's other Broadway In Chicago shows, The Grinch at the Chicago Theatre, local productions of 'Parade,' 'Camelot' and 'Mary Poppins,' the new 'A Christmas Memory,' and the sold-out Humanities Festival tribute to the Tonys!

The Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) announced casting today for A Night at the Tonys, this year's William and Greta Wiley Flory Concert, an annual cabaret performance, taking place on Monday, Nov. 3, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at Francis W. Parker School (2233 North Clark Street) as part of the 25th Anniversary Fall Festival: Journeys, Oct. 25-Nov. 9.

The Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) announced casting today for A Night at the Tonys, this year's William and Greta Wiley Flory Concert, an annual cabaret performance, taking place on Monday, Nov. 3, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at Francis W. Parker School (2233 North Clark Street) as part of the 25th Anniversary Fall Festival: Journeys, Oct. 25-Nov. 9. Created by Rob Lindley and Doug Peck, A Night at the Tonys will take audiences on a chronological journey featuring a song from each Tony Award-winning "Best Musical" production since 1949. The production will feature two-time Tony Award-nominees Andre DeShields (Ain't Misbehavin'; The Wiz; The Full Monty) and Ernestine Jackson (Raisin; Guys and Dolls; Hello Dolly!), Broadway alum Karen Mason (Sunset Boulevard; Mamma Mia!), and Tony Award-winner Jessie Mueller (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical; On a Clear Day You Can See Forever), as well as some of Chicago's top performers. Tickets are SOLD OUT, but patrons can be added to the waitlist by calling the CHF Box Office at (312) 494-9509.

Artistic Director Jim Corti and his team of incredible theater artists close out the company's third Broadway musical series with a daring production of the popular rock musical RENT. Set in the East Village of New York City, RENT is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, RENTis a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates. Check out highlights of the show below!

Performances continue through April 6, 2014. Press opening is Saturday, March 15 at 8 p.m. The Paramount Theatre is located at 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, IL. Show times are Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are only $36.90 to $49.90. To purchase, go to ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or visit the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 2 hours prior to evening performances. Note:RENT is rated R for strong adult language and themes. Not recommended for audiences under 17.

It's already been quite a season at the gorgeous Paramount Theater in downtown Aurora, with audiences flocking to see three consecutive hit productions of In the Heights, Miss Saigon and 42nd Street.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Gypsy' at CST and 'Into The Woods' from The Hypocrites begin, Paula Scrofano honored, Bernadette performs, another out-of-town tryout announced, a Barrel Of Monkeys revue, casting news from the Paramount and the Lyric, the Sarah Siddons Society show and more!

Performances are March 12-April 6, 2014. Press opening is Saturday, March 15 at 8 p.m. The Paramount Theatre is located at 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, IL. Show times are Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are only $36.90 to $49.90. To purchase, go to ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or visit the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 2 hours prior to evening performances. Note: RENT is rated R for strong adult language and themes. Not recommended for audiences under 17.

Yesterday's shots included the first #SIP from the Broadway-Bound BEAUTIFUL: THE Carole King MUSICAL and Ryan Steele and Samantha Sturm's final photo from MATILDA; plus posts from KINKY BOOTS, CINDERELLA, THE JUNGLE BOOK and more!

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) is pleased to offer an open captioned performance ofTony Award-winning director Frank Galati's triumphant new staging of the musical 1776 tonight, October 3 at 8 p.m., at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Special seats have been reserved for hearing-impaired audience members who would like an optimal view of the digital screen. These tickets (located in the Orchestra section) are $40 per person and available by visiting at act-sf.org/1776 (select the 'caption' tab) or by calling A.C.T. at 415.749.2228.

The creators of '1776' held political opinions that strongly disagreed with the ideals of many, like former president Richard Nixon, who ultimately came to enjoy and appreciate the musical. One can easily assume members of both major political parties made up the opening night audience of American Conservatory Theatre's co-production of the show, and surely a conservative or two chuckled at the universal hypocrisy and false pride presented in 'Cool, Cool Considerate Men,' which makes fun at those who lean ever to the right, never to the left. Values and people differ, but like the representatives who signed their names to the Declaration of Independence, we find a common bond in our history and, in the case of Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone's '1776,' in music and drama mixed.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) kicks off its 2013-14 season with passionate (and patriotic) fireworks with the West Coast premiere of Tony Award-winning director Frank Galati's triumphant new staging of the musical 1776. A.C.T.'s production of 1776 runs September 11-October 6, 2013, at The Geary Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Tickets starting at $20, and are on sale now and may be purchased online at act-sf.org or by calling 415.749.2228. Check out a sneak peek below!

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) kicks off its 2013-14 season with passionate (and patriotic) fireworks with the West Coast premiere of Tony Award-winning director Frank Galati's triumphant new staging of the musical 1776. A.C.T.'s production of 1776 runs September 11-October 6, 2013, at The Geary Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Tickets starting at $20, and are on sale now and may be purchased online at act-sf.org or by calling 415.749.2228. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below!

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) kicks off its 2013-14 season with passionate (and patriotic) fireworks with the West Coast premiere of Tony Award-winning director Frank Galati's triumphant new staging of the musical 1776. A.C.T.'s production of 1776 runs tonight, September 11-October 6, 2013, at The Geary Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Tickets starting at $20, and are on sale now and may be purchased online at act-sf.org or by calling 415.749.2228.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) is pleased to offer an open captioned performance ofTony Award-winning director Frank Galati's triumphant new staging of the musical 1776 on Thursday, October 3 at 8 p.m., at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Special seats have been reserved for hearing-impaired audience members who would like an optimal view of the digital screen. These tickets (located in the Orchestra section) are $40 per person and available by visiting at act-sf.org/1776 (select the "caption" tab) or by calling A.C.T. at 415.749.2228.