Daniel Spagnuolo News

I hardly know where to begin with this review of the Bohemian Theatre Ensemble's gutsy, stripped-down and yet somehow epic production of “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” the musical by John Kander, Fred Ebb and Terrence McNally that is running at Theatre Wit through June 30, 2013. There, I guess I just began. I'm a jumble of thoughts and feeling right now. Come to think of it, so are the three principal characters.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents Pal Joey, book by John O'Hara, music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, April 20 - May 26, at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. Directed by Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director, Michael Weber with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck (reuniting with Weber for the first time since their collaboration on Porchlight's triumphant production of Assassins) and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier, Pal Joey stars Adrian Aguliar, 'Joey Evans,' Susie McMonagle, 'Vera Simpson,' Laura Savage, 'Linda English,' Matt Orlando, 'Ludlow Lowell' and Sharriese Hamilton, 'Gladys Bumps.'

Porchlight Music Theatre presents Pal Joey, book by John O'Hara, music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, April 20 - May 26, at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights from the show below!

Porchlight Music Theatre presents Pal Joey, book by John O'Hara, music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, tonight, April 20 - May 26, at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. Directed by Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director, Michael Weber with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck (reuniting with Weber for the first time since their collaboration on Porchlight's triumphant production of Assassins) and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier, Pal Joey stars Adrian Aguliar, 'Joey Evans,' Susie McMonagle, 'Vera Simpson,' Laura Savage, 'Linda English,' Matt Orlando, 'Ludlow Lowell' and Sharriese Hamilton, 'Gladys Bumps.'

Porchlight Music Theatre presents Pal Joey, book by John O'Hara, music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, April 20 - May 26, at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. Directed by Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director, Michael Weber with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck (reuniting with Weber for the first time since their collaboration on Porchlight's triumphant production of Assassins) and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier, Pal Joey stars Adrian Aguliar, 'Joey Evans,' Susie McMonagle, 'Vera Simpson,' Laura Savage, 'Linda English,' Matt Orlando, 'Ludlow Lowell' and Sharriese Hamilton, 'Gladys Bumps.'

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'South Pacific' at the Marriott, two shows with Gene Kelly's vibe, cabarets from Porchlight, Brown Paper Box and Darrian Ford, 2014 premieres from Marc Blitzstein and Alan Schmuckler, lots of Doug Peck and more!

The Brown Paper Box Co. presents CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: A Miscast Cabaret on Saturday, March 23 at 8pm. This one-night cabaret will feature appearances from The Brown Paper Box Co. artistic associates and former cast members performing as characters they would never play due to age, gender, voice type, race, etc. CHARACTER BREAKDOWN will be presented at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret, 1383 N. Milwaukee Avenue.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents Pal Joey, book by John O'Hara, music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, April 20 - May 26, at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. Directed by Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director, Michael Weber with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck (reuniting with Weber for the first time since their collaboration on Porchlight's triumphant production of Assassins) and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier, Pal Joey stars Adrian Aguilar, 'Joey Evans,' Susie McMonagle, 'Vera Simpson,' Laura Savage, 'Linda English,' Matt Orlando, 'Ludlow Lowell' and Sharriese Hamilton, 'Gladys Bumps.' Meet the cast in the photos below!

The Brown Paper Box Co. presents CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: A Miscast Cabaret on Saturday, March 23 at 8pm. This one-night cabaret will feature appearances from The Brown Paper Box Co. artistic associates and former cast members performing as characters they would never play due to age, gender, voice type, race, etc. CHARACTER BREAKDOWN will be presented at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret, 1383 N. Milwaukee Avenue.

Midwest New Musicals continues Words and Music, its concert reading series of original musicals, with WANTING MISS JULIE, book by John Sparks, lyrics by Patricia Zehentmayr and music by Jake Anthony, tonight, November 19, at 7:30 PM at the Light Opera Works Second Stage at 1420 Maple (at Lake) in Evanston. Tickets are $15, available at Light Opera Works box office: (847) 920-5360 or at the door.

Today, BroadwayWorld.com is proud to announce the slate of nominees for the third annual BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, the only fan-voted theater awards in the Chicagoland area! Expanded to thirty categories this year, the BCAs (or "Broadies") honor Chicago's theater productions and artists in both Equity and Non-Equity categories, including plays, musicals, revues, Theater for Young Audiences, touring shows and special theatrical events. Productions which opened between November 1, 2011 and October 31, 2012 were eligible for nomination. The BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards are the oldest and most popular of the several dozen regional BroadwayWorld Award competitions now being held in the U.S. And you can join the fun by voting for your favorites, and encouraging your friends to vote as the vote totals pile up!

Midwest New Musicals continues Words and Music, its concert reading series of original musicals, with WANTING MISS JULIE, book by John Sparks, lyrics by Patricia Zehentmayr and music by Jake Anthony, on Monday, November 19, at 7:30 PM at the Light Opera Works Second Stage at 1420 Maple (at Lake) in Evanston. Tickets are $15, available at Light Opera Works box office: (847) 920-5360 or at the door.

The Brown Paper Box Co. presents a one-of-a-kind, modern interpretation of Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak's GODSPELL. Using a cast of 10 actor-musicians, this beloved musical brings the Book of Matthew to life at Collaboraction's intimate Studio space in the Flat Iron Arts Building (1579 North Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, Ill) now through October 7th, 2012. Get a first look at the cast onstage in the photos 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. 'Grease,' 'Godspell,' 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' 'The Rocky Horror Show' and 'Xanadu' bring back the 70s! Plus more, including a big '42nd Street,' two announcements from Light Opera Works, and a weekend with Lonny Price.

Tickets are now on sale for The Brown Paper Box Co.'s one-of-a-kind modern interpretation of Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak's GODSPELL. Using a cast of 10 actor-musicians, this beloved musical brings the Book of Matthew to life atCollaboraction's intimate Studio space in the Flat Iron Arts Building (1579 North Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60622). Tickets can be purchased through www.brownpaperbox.org.

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 2012 Equity Jeff Award nominees, 'Xanadu' at Drury Lane, upcoming shows at Porchlight and Theo Ubique, dueling 'Assassins,' a summer theater surprise and more!

The Brown Paper Box Co. will bring to Chicago a one-of-a-kind modern interpretation of Stephen Schwartz and John Michael Tebelak's GODSPELL. Using actor-musicians, this beloved musical brings the Book of Matthew to life in an intimate space: all performances will take place at Collaboraction Studio 300 in the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 North Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60622. Information can be found at www.brownpaperbox.org. Tickets to go on sale in late August.

The Brown Paper Box Co. presents Reefer Madness! The Musical, the One-Night-Only 4/20 Staged Reading, April 20, 2012 at Stage 773. Based on their four-time BroadwayWorld.com Award-nominated run, The Brown Paper Box Co. presents Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney's award-winning spoof, REEFER MADNESS! THE MUSICAL, as a staged reading. This one-night-only performance is Friday, April 20, 2012 at Stage 773 (1225 West Belmont Ave.) at 11:30pm. Tickets and information can be found at www.brownpaperbox.org.

Based on their four-time BroadwayWorld.com Award-nominated run, The Brown Paper Box Co. presents Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney's award-winning spoof, REEFER MADNESS! THE MUSICAL, as a staged reading. This one-night-only performance is Friday, April 20, 2012 at Stage 773 (1225 West Belmont Ave.) at 11:30pm. Tickets and information can be found at www.brownpaperbox.org.

For the next four weekends (until November 13, 2011), this year's unofficial Chicagoland Stephen Schwartz festival continues at the Theater Wit multiplex facility on Belmont Avenue. That's where the Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, aka Boho Theatre, has mounted a thoroughly relevant and highly riveting production of the first show the lyricist and composer wrote (while he was in college) and the first to make it to Broadway, where it opened in 1972 in a legendary production staged by Bob Fosse at the height of his power.