Austin Cook News

Due to overwhelming demand, American Blues Theater has again extended Little Shop of Horrors, the comedic rock musical with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, directed by Jonathan Berry, and music direction by Ensemble member Austin Cook. Little Shop of Horrors now runs through July 31, 2016 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Tickets to Little Shop of Horrors extension (July 1-31) are on sale Monday, May 31 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased by phone at 773-404-7336 or online at www.americanbluestheater.com.  Tickets for the regular run are on sale now.

American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity Ensemble, under the continued leadership of Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, hosts 2016 Ripped: The Living Newspaper Festival on Tuesday, May 17, 2016.

American Blues Theater presents an extended run of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, the comedic rock musical with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, directed by Jonathan Berry, and music direction by Ensemble member Austin Cook. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS runs now through June 26, 2016 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. The official press opening is this Today, May 6 at 7:30 pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

American Blues Theater presents an extended run of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, the comedic rock musical with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, directed by Jonathan Berry, and music direction by Ensemble member Austin Cook. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS runs now through June 26, 2016 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. The official press opening is this Friday, May 6 at 7:30 pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Due to early ticket demand, American Blues Theater announces the extension of Little Shop of Horrors, the comedic rock musical with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, directed by Jonathan Berry, and music direction by Ensemble member Austin Cook. Little Shop of Horrors now runs April 29 - June 26, 2016 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.

NightBlue Performing Arts Company is pleased to present the Chicago Non-Equity premiere of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's MARY POPPINS, a musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film, with original music and lyrics by the Academy Award-winning team of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, book by Julian Fellowes, new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe and co-created by Cameron Mackintosh. MARY POPPINS will play February 28 - March 27, 2016 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. The press opening is Wednesday, March 2 at 8 pm.

American Blues Theater continues its 30th Anniversary Season - "Seeing is Believing" - with the comedic rock musical Little Shop of Horrors, with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, directed by Jonathan Berry, and music direction by Ensemble member Austin Cook. Little Shop of Horrors runs April 29 - May 29, 2016 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. 

Michael Weber, artistic director of Porchlight Music Theatre, has announced Porchlight Music Theatre's 2016 - 2017 mainstage season which includes In The Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda's first big hit and winner of four Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Score, September 9 - October 16, 2016; End of the Rainbow, the Chicago premiere of the Judy Garland bio musical play, a recent smash hit in London and New York, November 4 - December 4, 2016; The Scottsboro Boys, the long-awaited Chicago premiere of the final collaboration of Kander and Ebb concerning one of the most infamous events in American history, February 3 - March 12, 2017; Marry Me a Little, Jeff Award-winning Porchlight Artistic Associate Austin Cook stars in this rarely seen Stephen Sondheim production, April 14 - May 21, 2017.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity Ensemble celebrating 30 years of presenting visceral theatrical works while engaging its audience in missions of local service agencies, are proud to announce the Chicago premiere of LOOKING OVER THE PRESIDENT'S SHOULDER, by Artistic Affiliate James Still and directed by Timothy Douglas, February 5 - March 6, 2016 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the lineup for its 2016 - 2017 Season, "Define Yourself."

NightBlue Performing Arts Company is pleased to announce casting for the Chicago Non-Equity premiere of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's MARY POPPINS, a musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film, with original music and lyrics by 

Porchlight Music Theatre welcomes the return of its multi award-winning hit AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', now through December 20. This week's Chicago Tribune Showcase features cast members Robin Da Silva, Sharriese Hamilton, Donterrio Johnson, Lorenzo Rush Jr. and Lina Wass singing 'Black and Blue' with accompaniment by Austin Cook. Check it out below!

Audiences looking for a jazzy and celebratory way to get into a holiday mood should look no further than Porchlight Music Theatre's AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'. This Fats Waller musical revue provides plenty of joy and entertainment but remains distinct among the city's holiday offerings because the show's content does not explicitly pertain to the holiday season. Aside from a few sprinklings of holiday tinsel in Jeffery D. Kmiec's set design, AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' revels primarily in its joyful celebration of Thomas 'Fats' Waller's song catalog--and will have audiences toe-tapping along to the music.

American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, is proud to announce the return of the critically acclaimed IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO!, on the main stage of the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., now through December 27. The opening night performance is tonight, Nov. 25 at 7:30p.m. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action below!

American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, is proud to announce the return of the critically acclaimed IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO!, on the main stage of the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., now through December 27. The opening night performance is this Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7:30p.m. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Porchlight Music Theatre announces the return of its multi award-winning hit AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', now thorugh December 20, music by Thomas 'Fats' Waller, book by Murray Horowitz and Richard Maltby Jr., direction and choreography by multi Jeff-Award winner and Artistic Associate Brenda Didier with music direction by Jeff-Award winning Porchlight Artistic Associate Austin Cook at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The Goodman Theatre makes two big announcements, and two theaters produce 'It's A Wonderful Life.' Chicago originals 'Kokandy Christmas,' 'Barney The Elf' and 'Santaland Nut-Cracking...' open soon, and 'Ain't Misbehavin',' 'Rent' and 'Gypsy' bring the holiday alternatives. And Chicagoans on Broadway, Part ???!

Porchlight Music Theatre stages the return of AIN'T MISBEHAVIN,' beginning tonight, where it will run through December 20, 2015 at Stage 773,1225 West Belmont Avenue. Check out photos below!

Porchlight Music Theatre announces the return of its multi award-winning hit AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', tonight, November 14 - December 20, music by Thomas 'Fats' Waller, book by Murray Horowitz and Richard Maltby Jr., direction and choreography by multi Jeff-Award winner and Artistic Associate Brenda Didier with music direction by Jeff-Award winning Porchlight Artistic Associate Austin Cook at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. 

It's the 2015 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award Nominations! [TITLE OF SHOW] and DIRECT FROM DEATH ROW... Lead the Field of 180 Nominees. 86 productions from 55 theaters receive nominations in 36 categories. Voting open through New Year's Eve!