Christopher Rhoton News

Audiences are taken on a journey through Kander and Ebb's virtual hit parade of songs including showstoppers “Cabaret,” “New York, New York,” “All That Jazz,” and “Maybe This Time.” The revue also covers numbers from Chicago, Funny Lady, Kiss of The Spider Woman, Woman of The Year and more.  

Nearly 16 months after dimming its famous marquee due to COVID-19, Aurora's Paramount Theatre has started rehearsals for its 10th Anniversary Broadway Series season opener, Kinky Boots, marking a pivotal moment for the second largest subscription house in the nation as it returns to live performances next month.

The 2019 production of POSEIDON! An Upside-Down Musical was recorded by Peter Neville* in HD with stereo sound at Chicago's Edge Theater. POSEIDON! features book and lyrics by Handbag Artistic Director David Cerda*, music by David Cerda* with Scott Lamberty, direction by Derek Van Barham, music direction by Andrew Milliken and choreography by Breon Arzell.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) will present its critically acclaimed production of Nina Simone: Four Women, first staged last spring with Northlight Theatre in Chicago, to Lowell from February 12 to March 8 only at the Nancy L. Donahue Theatre, according to Executive Director Bonnie J. Butkas and Interim Artistic Director Terry Berliner.

Metropolis presents Cole Porter's classic musical Anything Goes through November 2, 2019. A high-seas romp showcasing one of Cole Porter's most magical scores. Music, dance, and romance are set to the age old tale of boy meets girl in this breezy classic.

Eleven world premiere plays and musicals seen first by Chicago audiences were among those receiving nominations by the Jeff Awards, announced today. A total of 192 nominations were made in 34 categories that honor Chicago Equity theatrical productions that opened between August 1, 2018 and July 31, 2019. During the 2018-19 season, Jeff Awards judges attended opening nights of 132 Equity productions offered by 43 producing organizations and from these openings, 112 productions were a?oeJeff Recommendeda?? and eligible for award nominations.

Composing team Douglas Lyons (Beautiful) and Ethan D. Pakchar's latest musical, Beau, opened on August 3rd at The Adirondack Theatre Festival; now running through August 9th. Directed by Michael Wilson (A Trip to Bountiful) the ATF company stars Matt Rodin and Jeb Brown (Beautiful), featuring Amelia Cormack (Kinky Boots Tour), Marlene Ginader (Once Tour), Olivia Griffin, Max Sangerman (Smokey Joe's Cafe), and Jeremy Sevelovitz (Chasing The Song).

Adirondack Theatre Festival Producing Artistic Director, Chad Rabinovitz, announces the fourth and final show of the season, Beau, by Douglas Lyons & Ethan D. Pakchar. The show runs August 3 - 9, 2019 at the Charles R. Wood Theater in Downtown Glens Falls, NY. The leading professional theatre in the Capital Region, ATF wraps up a successful 25th season with Beau at the Charles R. Wood Theater.

Composing team Douglas Lyons (Beautiful) and Ethan D. Pakchar's latest musical, Beau, will bow at The Adirondack Theatre Festival August 3-9th.

Music Theater Works presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING at Cahn Auditorium in Evanston, June 8 through June 16, 2019.

Chicago's geriatric "Fab Four" return in Hell in a Handbag Productions' THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes - Vol. 3! Join Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, Sophia and their whacky friends and relatives for all new adventures. Written by Artistic Director David Cerda and ensemble member David Lipschutz*, and directed by Miles Brindley, the latest installment of Handbag's hit sitcom parody will play April 25 - August 31, 2019 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Tickets are currently available at www.handbagproductions.org or by calling or by calling (800) 838-3006. The press opening is Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 pm.

Chicago's geriatric "Fab Four" return in Hell in a Handbag Productions' THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes - Vol. 3! Join Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, Sophia and their whacky friends and relatives for all new adventures.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to launch its 2019 season with a revival of the musical that started it all: POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical, a musical parody and a loving homage to the classic 1972 film, The Poseidon Adventure, the grandmother of all disaster films. Handbag's very first show will return March 15 - April 28, 2019 at a venue befitting of an ocean liner: The Edge Theater, 5451 N. Broadway in Chicago.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to announce three added weeks of performances of its hit parody THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes - The Valentine Edition, extending through March 30, 2019 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets for all performances are currently available at www.handbagproductions.org or www.stage773.com, or by calling (773) 327-5252.

Hell in a Handbag Productions launches its 2019 season with a revival of the musical that started it all: POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical, a musical parody and a loving homage to the classic 1972 film, The Poseidon Adventure, the grandmother of all disaster films. Handbag's very first show will return March 15 - April 28, 2019 at a venue befitting of an ocean liner: The Edge Theater, 5451 N. Broadway in Chicago.

Chicago's favorite drag seniors start 2019 with LOVE in Hell in a Handbag Productions' beloved parody THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes - The Valentine Edition, written by Artistic Director David Cerda and directed by Jon Martinez.

Chicago's favorite drag seniors start 2019 with LOVE in Hell in a Handbag Productions' beloved parody THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes - The Valentine Edition, written by Artistic Director David Cerda and directed by Jon Martinez. Dorothy, Blanche, Sophia and Rose return February 8 - March 10, 2019 at Stage 773,

Hell in a Handbag Productions announces casting for its revival of the musical that started it all: POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical, a musical parody and loving homage to the classic 1972 film, The Poseidon Adventure, the grandmother of all disaster films.

Chicago's favorite drag seniors start 2019 with LOVE in Hell in a Handbag Productions' beloved parody THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes - The Valentine Edition, written by Artistic Director David Cerda and directed by Jon Martinez. Dorothy, Blanche, Sophia and Rose return February 8 - March 10, 2019 at Stage 773,

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2018-19 season with Nina Simone: Four Women, written by Christina Ham and directed by Kenneth L. Roberson.Nina Simone: Four Women runs January 24 - March 2, 2019 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. The press opening is scheduled for Friday, February 1, 2019 at 8pm.