This summer, it's "almost like being in love!" Goodman Theatre produces the first large-scale, professional revival of Brigadoon -- Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick's Loewe's legendary musical of Broadway's Golden Age -- in more than three decades. Under director/choreographer Rachel Rockwell, a company of 28 actors, dancers and singers breathe new life into the enchanting tale of an 18th century Scottish village that appears every century for one day only -- and the complications that arise when it's discovered by two 20th century Americans. With adapter Brian Hill, Rockwell revisits the libretto for this production, while music director Roberta Duchak and an orchestra of 13 use new orchestrations to enhance Loewe's lilting score.
Local playwright and actor Jason Lindner tells the story of a deteriorating former Manhattan Project physicist who has discovered that radioactive material can be extruded from his memory. Visits from his colorful colleagues and lost love will determine his fate and perhaps the fate of us all. The Half-Life of Memory, produced by Cold Basement Dramatics in association with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and directed by Co-Artistic Director Sophie Blumberg, will run from June 4 through June 29 at the Storefront Theater (66 E Randolph St) in The Loop.
Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the Chicago premiere of Grounded, by George Brant and directed by Lisa Portes, today, June 6 - July 13 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chance Theater will present the third show of its 16th Anniversary Season -- the groundbreaking 21st century musical, In The Heights. Written by Pulitzer Finalists Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegria Hudes, with direction by Chance Artistic Director Oanh Nguyen, choreography by resident artist Kelly Todd and music direction by Robyn Wallace. In The Heights will preview from July 3 through 10, regular performances will begin July 11 and continue through August 3 at Chance Theater at Bette Aitken theater arts Center.
Cori Thomas's warm-hearted and funny play about the many flavors of desire, When January Feels Like Summer, will receive its New York premiere in a co-production of Ensemble Studio Theatre and Page 73 Productions directed by Daniella Topol.
Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, will continue its 30th anniversary season with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, previewing June 19, opening Thursday, June 26 at 8 p.m., and running through August 17, 2014. Scott Calcagno (Legally Blonde at The Civic Theatre, Grease at The Long Lake Theatre as well as the annual production of A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Theatre) will direct.
Route 66 Theatre Company is pleased to present the first of it's 2014 Concert Series events: Michael Mahler and The Lincoln Squares performing The Joshua Tree by U2 along with special musical theater guest performers. Tickets are currently on sale through the Route 66 Theatre Company website: www.route66theatre.org. The concert will be a one night only special event on Sunday, June 15 at 7 pm. Doors open at 6:30PM.
Kathleen Tolan ('Memory House') has granted the side project the world premiere rights to her exploration of memory, history and music, What to Listen For, opening June 3, 2014. The company will also present the Midwest premiere of Washington State-based playwright/performer Kristen Kosmas' Hello Failure, commencing June 15, as it continues its 2013-14 season of repertory plays. Overall, the June Rep, featuring two of America's most fascinating female playwrights, will explore themes of loss and the search for lasting connections.
Route 66 Theatre Company will present the first of it's 2014 Concert Series events: Michael Mahler and The Lincoln Squares performing The Joshua Tree by U2 along with special musical theater guest performers. Tickets are currently on sale through the Route 66 Theatre Company website: www.route66theatre.org. The concert will be a one night only special event on Sunday, June 15 at 7 pm. Doors open at 6:30PM
Ever since 2014 Tony nominee Jessie Mueller burst onto the New York theatre scene in 2011's On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, she has starred in three other Broadway shows- including her current gig, Beautiful. But before taking on Carole King, Mueller established herself as a major part of theatre in Chicago, starring in such shows as Guys & Dolls, Henry IV, She Loves Me, Animal Crackers and more.
Click here to watch a full collection of her Chicago work as compiled by the Chicago Tribune.
District Stage Company will present Broadway Unplugged: World Jam on Friday, May 30 at 8:30 PM and Saturday, May 31 at 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM at South Miami Dade Cultural Arts Center, 10950 SW 211 Street in Cutler Bay, FL. Broadway Unplugged: World Jam is an intimate evening packed with songs from electrifying shows to hit the Great White Way in recent decades with Broadway stars Adam Kantor, Kevin Mambo, Janet Dacal and Andy Señor, Jr., under the musical direction of Greg Brown, with special guests Jeremy Charvet, Carlos Jose Alvarez, Jeanfranco Cardenty and Isabel Signoret.
Rubicon Theatre continues the company's 16th Not Your Typical Season with Collected Stories. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donald Margulies and directed by James O'Neil, Collected Stories is a two-person play featuring Susan Clark (Emmy Winner - 'Babe Zaharias,' 'Webster,' Shaw Festival and the Taper) as a brilliant, direct writing professor and Meghan Andrews (Frost/Nixon and The Grapes of Wrath on Broadway) as her eager-yet-talented student. Opening tonight, May 28th at 7:00 p.m., Collected Stories runs Wednesdays through Sundays until June 21st.
Cori Thomas's warm-hearted and funny play about the many flavors of desire, When January Feels Like Summer, will receive its New York premiere in a co-production of Ensemble Studio Theatre and Page 73 Productions directed by Daniella Topol.
Pivot Arts launches its second annual celebration of innovative performance events, today, May 28 - June 14, throughout Chicago's Uptown, Edgewater and Rogers Park neighborhoods. The PIVOT ARTS FESTIVAL serves to bring audiences together for unique performance events. This year the festival's focus highlights the intersection between the performing arts and science.
Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) has announced its 2014/15 season: George Orwell's Animal Farm, adapted for the stage by Althos Low, directed by SYA Artistic and Educational Director Hallie Gordon; and the world premiere of This Is Modern Art by Kevin Coval and Idris Goodwin, directed by Lisa Portes.
In honor of the legendary actress, comedian, singer and writer Carol Burnett, Center Theatre Group is hosting a special tribute to the star's late daughter Carrie Hamilton with a one-night-only reading of Burnett and Hamilton's Broadway play "Hollywood Arms," at the Mark Taper Forum on Sunday, June 22, 2014 at 7 p.m. Inspired by Burnett's early life in Hollywood, "Hollywood Arms" will be directed by Jason Alexander and will feature a star- studded cast (to be announced).
Tony Yazbeck (Gypsy, A Chorus Line), Jay Armstrong Johnson (New York Philharmonic's Sweeney Todd, Hands On A Hardbody, Hair), and Clyde Alves (Bullets Over Broadway, Nice Work If You Can Get It) will play the roles of 'Gabey,' 'Chip,' and 'Ozzie' - the sailors on 24-hour shore leave who take on the Big Apple in the critically-acclaimed Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN, directed by John Rando (Tony Award for Urinetown) and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse (Emmy Award winner for 'Smash'). Yazbeck, Johnson, and Alves will reprise their performances from last summer's acclaimed Barrington Stage production. Yazbeck first thrilled audiences with his portrayal of 'Gabey' in John Rando's presentation of ON THE TOWN at City Center Encores in 2008.
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 very own Tony Award Viewing Party (you're invited), new takes on 'Hair' and 'Myths And Hymns,' tryouts of 'Amazing Grace' and 'On Your Feet!,' that reading of 'Bedknobs And Broomsticks,' Chicago originals 'Mister Kelly' and 'Caged Dames,' more film news, the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus and more!
