Bill Morey News

Porchlight Music Theatre announces the return of its multi award-winning hit AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', 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. 

Porchlight Music Theatre launches its 2015-16 season with SIDE SHOW, running September 11 - October 18, directed by Porchlight Music Theatre artistic director Michael Weber with music direction by Aaron Benham, choreography by Andrew Waters, music by Henry Krieger, and book & lyrics by Bill Russell, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Previews will run Friday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 13 at 2 p.m., and Monday, Sept. 14 7:30 p.m. The opening night is Friday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in costume below!

Chicago stage, TV and film star Michael Shannon did the honor of announcing the nominees for the 2014-2015 Equity Jeff Awards. A video of the presentation is available at www.JeffAwards.org.

Porchlight Music Theatre's first production of its 2015 - 2016 season will be Side Show, running September 11 - 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!

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Artistic Director and Co-Founder Fred Anzevino has announced the cast for Blood Brothers, the megahit British musical by Willy Russell that will open the company's 2015-16 season, The musical drama is the story of twin brothers separated at birth - one raised by a rich family, the other by the impoverished birth mother of the boys. In the leading role of the boys' mother, Mrs. Johnstone, will be Kyrie Anderson. Her sons Mickey (the son she kept) and Edward (the son adopted by a wealthy couple) will be played by Charlie Mann and Cody Jolly, respectively. Victoria Oliver and Darren Hill have been cast as Mr. and Mrs. Lyons, the couple who adopt Edward. Dana Anderson will play Linda, the romantic interest of both brothers, and Cullen Rogers will be the criminally inclined Sammy. Jordan Phelps has the role of The Narrator and Whitney Rappana, Ryan Dooley and Ryan Armstrong will comprise the  ensemble.

Exciting news just in to BroadwayWorld!  Michael Weber, artistic director of Porchlight Music Theatre, has announced the casts of the Chicago premiere of the 2014 revision of Side Show, the return of Porchlight's hit Ain't Misbehavin', multi-Jeff Award-winner Summer Naomi Smart starring in the Chicago premiere of Far From Heaven, and Porchlight Music Theatre's 2015 - 2016 artistic leadership for its four Mainstage productions.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Our Tony Awards Viewing Party is Sunday night, and the non-Equity Jeffs are on Monday! Theo Ubique prepares its Marvin Hamlisch revue and announces next season, a whole bunch of new musicals get a hearing, and AMTP teaches songwriting. 'Murder Ballad' gets a reprise, 'Ring Of Fire' gets an extension, and bikinis and witches heat up June!

Theo's summer cabaret will feature favorites and lesser-known gems by the Emmy-Grammy-Oscar-Tony winning composer Theo Ubique's summer cabaret of 2015 will turn to the songs of one of the best-loved composers of the 20th Century's later decades when it showcases the songs of Marvin Hamlisch from tonight, June 4 - July 12, 2015 at the No Exit Cafe, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave. in Rogers Park

Theo Ubique's 2015-16 season will have a decidedly Anglo-American flavor, featuring two of the longest-running musicals from each side of the Atlantic along with cabarets saluting America's all-time favorite crooner and one of England's most successful songwriting teams for theatre and film.

Theo's summer cabaret will feature favorites and lesser-known gems by the Emmy-Grammy-Oscar-Tony winning composer Theo Ubique's summer cabaret of 2015 will turn to the songs of one of the best-loved composers of the 20th Century's later decades when it showcases the songs of Marvin Hamlisch from June 4 - July 12, 2015 at the No Exit Cafe, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave. in Rogers Park. Music Director Aaron Benham (recently honored with three Jeff nominations for the 2014-15 season, including one for last summer's A Musical Tribute to the Andrews Sisters by Theo) is providing new arrangements for a program representing the full body of Hamlisch's work. Benham and a cast of six will perform numbers ranging from standards like 'The Way We Were' and 'Nobody Does It Better' through selections from his Broadway musicals (A Chorus Line, They're Playing Our Song, Sweet Smell of Success, The Goodbye Girl and Smile) and film scores (The Sting, Sophie's Choice). Courtney Crouse (of Theo Ubique's Chess) is the stage director and Chris Logan (of Theo's A Cole Porter Songbook and Bailiwick Chicago's Murder Ballad) is the choreographer. The press opening will be Saturday, June 6 at 8 p.m., following previews Thursday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m., and Friday, June 5 at 8 p.m.

Theo Ubique's production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber - Tim Rice musical Jesus Christ Superstar, which sold out its entire originally planned run of March 6 - April 12 in less than one week after opening night - has been extended to May 17th.

Heralded newcomers to the Theo stage join Danni Smith for unmiked production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical beginning performances tonight, March 6.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents the second production in its 20th Anniversary Season of Sondheim, the Chicago premiere of Sondheim on Sondheim, beginning tonight, February 6, and running through March 15, 2015, featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, conceived by James Lapine, direction by Nick Bowling with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Austin Cook at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Chicago Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

Heralded newcomers to the Theo stage join Danni Smith for unmiked production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical beginning performances March 6.

Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Chicago Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Chicago Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announce dthe second production in its 20th Anniversary Season of Sondheim, the Chicago premiere of Sondheim on Sondheim, February 6 - March 15, 2015, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, conceived by James Lapine, direction by Nick Bowling with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Austin Cook at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre will extend its current hit show, Always... Patsy Cline beyond its originally announced closing date of December 28th with seven extra performances including a New Year's Eve show at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, December 31. The musical by Ted Swindley about country singer Patsy Cline and her unlikely friendship with a Houston fan opened on November 17.