Danni Smith News

The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, presents the six-time Tony Award-winning classic, CITY OF ANGELS, winner of Best Musical, Best Original Score by David Zippel and Cy Coleman, and Best Book by Larry Gelbart, opening tomorrow, June 17th, and running through August 2. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action 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 Tonys and the Jeffs bring honor and fun, and 'On Your Feet' and 'Beaches' aim for the future. Bette will be in town, Spike Lee films, 'Les Mis' and 'All Shook Up' play our southern environs, and 'The Secret Garden' and 'The Pied Piper' bring children's classics to life. Next week: Regional Summer Theaters!

The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, presents the six-time Tony Award-winning classic, CITY OF ANGELS, winner of Best Musical, Best Original Score by David Zippel and Cy Coleman, and Best Book by Larry Gelbart, previewing tonight, June 10, opening June 17th and running through August 2. Five-time Jeff Award-winning Director Nick Bowling brings his exceptional talent to the hilarious and ingenious musical comedy with choreography by Jeff Award-winner Tommy Rapley. Music Director, and Jeff Award-nominee, Ryan T. Nelson enlivens the sensational score, featuring a rich melange of jazz and bebop styles. CITY OF ANGELS is the rarest of musical comedies; one that is not only loaded with music and written in the contemporary jazz idiom, but also filled with sidesplitting comedy, set in the glamorous, seductive Hollywood of the 40?s - the world of film studios and flimsy negligees.

June 8, 2015 - Chicago, IL. "The Wild Party," a dark, sensual, wanton musical, and "Men Should Weep," a tale of a disordered Scottish tenement household, took home top honors Monday, June 8, at Park West during the 42nd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony recognizing excellence in non-union Chicago theatre. Bailiwick Chicago's musical of Michael LaChiusa's "The Wild Party" led all musical nominees with eight awards, and Griffin Theatre's "Men Should Weep" led play nominees with three awards.

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!

NO ONE HERE BUT US WITCHES, a fun, campy and touching witch-themed cabaret conceived by Harmony France, will perform June 22 and June 29, 2015 at 8 pm at Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway in Chicago. Featuring Chicago actresses Missy Aguilar, Harmony France, Amanda Horvath and Danni Smith, the two-night only cabaret is directed by Geoffrey Bleeker with musical direction by Aaron Benham. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. $15 tickets are available for students, military members, and veterans. Tickets are currently available at uptownunderground.net. A cash bar is available and guests must be at least 21 years of age.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Local Tony and Jeff Award events, 'Shining Lives' shines, major productions of 'City Of Angels' and 'The Secret Garden,' original shows at Lifeline and Theo Ubique, two suburban theaters program 'Spamalot,' House updates 'The Bacchae' and New York gets its talent from where?

The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, presents the six-time Tony Award-winning classic, CITY OF ANGELS, winner of Best Musical, Best Original Score by David Zippel and Cy Coleman, and Best Book by Larry Gelbart, previewing June 10, opening June 17th and running through August 2. Five-time Jeff Award-winning Director Nick Bowling brings his exceptional talent to the hilarious and ingenious musical comedy with choreography by Jeff Award-winner Tommy Rapley. Music Director, and Jeff Award-nominee, Ryan T. Nelson enlivens the sensational score, featuring a rich melange of jazz and bebop styles. CITY OF ANGELS is the rarest of musical comedies; one that is not only loaded with music and written in the contemporary jazz idiom, but also filled with sidesplitting comedy, set in the glamorous, seductive Hollywood of the 40?s - the world of film studios and flimsy negligees.

Artists from many of the Jeff Award Nominated musical productions of the 2014-15 Season will be featured at Nominee Night, a showcase at Sidetrack tonight, May 19.

Artists from many of the Jeff Award Nominated musical productions of the 2014-15 Season will be featured at Nominee Night, a showcase at Sidetrack on May 19.

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 Jeff Awards stir things up, 'Louis & Keely' and 'Sounds So Sweet' evoke mid-century entertainment, Waa-Mu takes on the Berlin Olympics, a new Chicago-based revue in Edgewater, 'Chaperone' and 'Music Man' in the suburbs, 'The Boy From Oz' in a local production, 'Matilda' will tour, 'Amazing Grace' sets a Broadway run, and Circle Theatre re-emerges. Whew!

Sean Graney, who recently returned to Chicago to resume his post as Artistic Director of The Hypocrites, informed the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee that he just learned the theater company had been operating under an Equity CAT-N contract for the duration of the 2014-2015 Non-Equity season.  Over the past year, requests for judging its productions were made to the Non-Equity Wing without the committee having knowledge of the company's Equity status. The Jeff Committee was aware that two of the productions had Equity performers (as indicated in the program); however, the committee has now confirmed that these were not guest contracts.  As such, the company's productions are not eligible for consideration in the Non-Equity Wing, and all related Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations have been rescinded.  The productions in question will be shifted to the Equity Wing for awards consideration during its current season, which commenced on August 1, 2014 and will end on July 30, 2015.

The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 118 nominations in 24 categories for the 42nd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2015. The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff judges attended opening nights of 133 productions offered by 56 Non-Equity producing organizations. The Jeff Committee recommended 62 of those shows, making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Of the 62 Jeff Recommended productions, 46 received nominations, representing 23 theatre companies.

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 Sound Of Music,' 'Empire' and 'Glee' stir up this week's TVs, 'First Wives Club,' 'Beauty And The Beast,' 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and 'First Date' claim their respective audiences,' Kokandy has more than 'The Full Monty,' Columbia's 'Oklahoma!,' lots at the Skokie Theatre and my upcoming busy weekend!

Theo Ubique offers up an intimate re-telling of the Webber/Rice rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR that offers up new insights, but you just might find yourself questioning some of the production choices.

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.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. BIC's fall season schedule, plus Theo's 'JCS,' Woodstock's 'Chaperone,' Kokandy's 'Full Monty' and the Paramount's 'Les Mis.' Also four recent contemporary operas, early and late Sondheim comparisons, this month's 'Option Up,!' and Linda Eder and Jessie Mueller hit the suburbs!

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 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards Celebration is tonight! Plus Drury Lane's 'West Side,' Mercury's 'Addams' and Theo's 'JCS,' premieres of 'Next Thing You Know' and 'Plastic Revolution,' a Barrel Of Monkeys musical and a staged reading from FWD, plus TV's 'Galavant' and 'Glee,' and more!

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.