Danni Smith News

From the picturesque covered bridges of 1965 Winterset, Iowa, comes the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, continuing Marriott Theatre's spectacular 2017 Season, running June 21 through August 13, 2017 with a press opening on Wednesday, June 28 at 8 p.m. at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire.

Firebrand Theatre, the first musical theatre company committed to employing and empowering women by expanding opportunities on and off the stage, is pleased to announce casting for its inaugural production, the Chicago premiere of LIZZIE, the rock musical based on the true-life story of accused axe-murderess Lizzie Borden. LIZZIE will play November 11 - December 17, 2017 at The Den Theatre's Bookspan Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Single tickets for LIZZIE are currently on sale at firebrandtheatre.org. Season subscriptions (including 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL) are currently available. 

Cabaret, one of the great Broadway musicals of all time, opened to a packed house at Theatre at the Center (TATC) in Munster on opening night on May 7. The show continues through June 4. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening festivities below!

Cabaret, one of the great Broadway musicals of all time, begins previews at Theatre at the Center (TATC) in Munster on May 4 and opens on May 7 for a run that continues through June 4.

Prior to its official opening, the Marriott Theatre announces an additional 2 weeks of Mamma Mia! Due to high demand, the show will now run through April 16th.

The global phenomenon seen by over 60 million people all around the world and one of Broadway's longest running hits, MAMMA MIA!, kicks off Marriott Theatre's 2017 Season, running February 8 through April 2, 2017 with a press opening on February 15 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire.

Firebrand Theatre, the first musical theatre company committed to employing and empowering women by expanding opportunities on and off the stage, is pleased to announce its inaugural season, featuring two fully-produced musicals. Firebrand's 2017-18 season kicks off this fall with the Chicago premiere of LIZZIE, a rock musical based on the true-life story of accused axe-murdereress Lizzie Borden. Directed by Victoria Bussert with music direction by Andra Velis-Simon, LIZZIE feature music by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Alan Stevens Hewitt, lyrics by Cheslik-deMeyer and Tim Maner and book by Tim Maner.

The global phenomenon seen by over 60 million people all around the world and one of Broadway's longest running hits, MAMMA MIA!, kicks off Marriott Theatre's 2017 Season, running February 8 through April 2, 2017 with a press opening on February 15 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire.

???????Start your Halloween off right and join the coven! Due to popular demand, Firebrand Theatre presents the return of its hauntingly popular witch-themed cabaret NO ONE HERE BUT US WITCHES on Monday, October 31 at 7 pm at Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway in Chicago.

More than 60 million people in 40 countries on six different continents have reveled in Mamma Mia!, the iconic musical about love and friendship, of lost dreams and that last chance to make it right, all set to the music of ABBA, one of the most popular bands in the world. 

From the haunting opening notes to the robust finale, there's not a wrong note in Marriott Theatre's latest musical, MAN OF LA MANCHA.

Deemed one of the greatest musicals of all time and winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, MAN OF LA MANCHA rides into The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, running through August 14 with a press opening last night, June 29. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening festivities below!

Deemed one of the greatest musicals of all time and winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, MAN OF LA MANCHA rides into The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, running through August 14 with a press opening tomorrow, June 29 at 8 p.m. Click below to watch highlights from the show!

Deemed one of the greatest musicals of all time and winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, MAN OF LA MANCHA rides into The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, running through August 14 with a press opening tonight, June 29 at 8 p.m. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Deemed one of the greatest musicals of all time and winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, MAN OF LA MANCHA rides into The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, running through August 14 with a press opening on Wednesday, June 29 at 8 p.m. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Deemed one of the greatest musicals of all time and winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, MAN OF LA MANCHA rides into The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, previewing June 22, running through August 14 with a press opening on Wednesday, June 29 at 8 p.m. With book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion, and an exuberant score by Mitch Leigh, the breathtaking musical tells the rich story of chivalry, romance, idealism and dreaming "The Impossible Dream." Complemented by Musical Director Ryan T. Nelson, six-time Jeff Award Winner Nick Bowling (The King and I at The Marriott Theatre, The History Boys and Fiorello! at TimeLine Theatre) presents a unique production of the classic tale, bringing to life the parallels between the struggles of 16th Century Spain with the challenges of modern day society. 

? Firebrand Theatre is pleased to present P!NK: SUNG BY HER!, a tribute to celebrated music artist P!nk featuring some of Chicago's best female talent on Monday, May 30 at 7:30 pm (Memorial Day) at Underground Lounge, 952 W. Newport in Chicago. P!NK: SUNG BY HER is conceived by Firebrand Co-Artistic Directors Danni Smith and Harmony France, directed by Danni Smith with music direction by Christopher Logan.

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the final production in the third smash season of Chicago's 'lost' musicals in staged concert series, Porchlight Revisits Chess, music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, lyrics by Tim Rice and Bjorn Ulvaeus and book by Tim Rice, with direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber, choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music direction by Jimmy Morehead. Porchlight Revisits Chess is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, May 3 through Thursday, May 5 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's Dreamgirls (previews begin April 8) on nights when there are no performances at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets for Chess are $30 in advance and $35 at the door the night of the performance. All tickets include access to the popular pre-performance event, Behind the Show Backstory, a multi-media presentation, created and hosted by Weber, that discusses that evening's production including the show's creative history, juicy backstage gossip and more. Single tickets to Chess are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Stage 773 box office, 773.327.5252.

CHESS, Porchlight Musical Theatre's final staged reading in the third season of its 'lost' musicals-as- staged-concert series manages to present the show's glorious, pop opera score in all its glory and nearly succeeds in covering up the fault lines that run through the book.