Jennifer Ledesma News

Check out clips from Kokandy Productions' THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at The Chopin Theatre through September 3!

Get a first look at Kokandy Productions' The SpongeBob Musical.

This summer, dive into Bikini Bottom as Kokandy Productions kicks off its 2023 season with Nickelodeon's The SpongeBob Musical, directed by JD Caudill, playing June 22 – September 3, 2023 at The Chopin Studio Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

This summer, dive into Bikini Bottom as Kokandy Productions kicks off its 2023 season with Nickelodeon's The SpongeBob Musical, directed by JD Caudill, playing June 22 – September 3, 2023 at The Chopin Studio Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

Kokandy Productions has announced the cast for The SpongeBob Musical, playing June 22 – August 20, 2023 at The Chopin Theatre.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced a second date added to its Broadway in your Backyard special performance at Ambassador Chicago, a JDV by Hyatt Hotel, 1301 N. State Pkwy, Wednesday, Aug. 10.

Music Theater Works shall present 'DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID' at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) from June 2, 2022 to June 26, 2022 as the second production of the 2022 Season.

Davenport’s Piano Bar & Cabaret, Chicago’s premier location for enjoying music in an intimate setting, announces its roster of April performances in its Cabaret and Piano Bar.

Underscore Theatre Company is offering UNDERSCORE DEVELOPS, a new initiative as part of its readings and workshop development series. While in-person productions are not possible, Underscore continues its mission to support writers by offering new musicals in progress the opportunity to explore the development process virtually.

Following their sold-out run of Come Rain or Come Shine: A Judy Garland Cabaret at Mary's Attic, Brown Paper Box Co., announces the cast, staff, and design team behind Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's Tony Award-nominated musical, If/Then.

Porchlight Music Theatre announces the next production in its 25th Anniversary season: the New Faces Sing Broadway series. New Faces Sing Broadway 1956, hosted by Angela Ingersoll, directed by Brianna Borger and music directed by Chuck Larkin, returns to Evanston at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave. Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. and to The Arts Club of Chicago, 201 E. Ontario Street, Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m.

BoHo Theatre begins its 2019 season with BRIGHT STAR, a new musical by playwright Steve Martin and musician Edie Brickell, directed by Ericka Mac. This production marks the company's first as a resident company at Lincoln Park's Greenhouse Theater Center and also the first under new artistic director Stephen Schellhardt. BRIGHT STAR was nominated for five Tony Awards and called "a shining achievement" by THE NEW YORK TIMES. It received a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music and Outer Critics Circles Awards for Outstanding New Broadway Musical and Outstanding Score.

Haven Theatre presents its fourth DIRECTORS HAVEN, the company's ever-growing initiative annually showcasing the talents of three rising directors. This season, Charlotte Drover directs Madame Rachilde's surreal horror ballet THE CRYSTAL SPIDER, with translation by Daniel Gerould; Airos Sung-En Medill helms Josefina Lopez' heartfelt and healing SIMPLY MARIA, OR THE AMERICAN DREAM; and Dani Wieder directs an imaginative take on William Inge's drama PEOPLE IN THE WIND. The three productions, which will have the support of a full production team, will run back-to-back in one program. DIRECTOR'S HAVEN 2018 will play October 15 - 31, 2018 at Haven Theatre's resident home, The Den Theatre (2A), 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. All performances are pay-what-you-can. Tickets are currently available at haventheatrechicago.com.

Haven Theatre is pleased to announce casting for its fourth DIRECTORS HAVEN, the company's ever-growing initiative annually showcasing the talents of three rising directors. The 2018 productions are helmed by Charlotte Drover, Airos Sung-En Medill and Dani Wieder.

Complete cast and crew were announced today for Circle's Chicago premiere production of THE VIEW UPSTAIRS, a musical by Max Vernon, whose musical KPOP last week won Best Musical honors in off-Broadway's Lortel Awards and is also nominated for seven Drama Desk awards. THE VIEW UPSTAIRS, which opened off-Broadway in February 2017, is inspired by real life events of the 1973 arson attack at the UpStairs Lounge, a vibrant gay bar in New Orleans. Now accepted as a targeted anti-gay attack, the arson resulted in the deaths of 32 people and was, until the 2016 Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting, the deadliest assault on a gay club in U.S. history. The show is inspired by and pays tributes to many of the patrons that frequented the venue.

Kokandy Productions is pleased to present the final production of its fifth anniversary season: the Tony Award-nominated musical GRAND HOTEL, playing April 15 - May 27, 2018 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Featuring a book by Luther Davis, music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest and additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, the Kokandy production will be directed by Artistic Producer John D. Glover, with music direction by Aaron Benham and choreography by Brenda Didier. Single tickets are currently available at www.kokandyproductions.com, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office.

Kokandy Productions is pleased to present the final production of its fifth anniversary season: the Tony Award-nominated musical GRAND HOTEL, playing April 15 - May 27, 2018 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Featuring a book by Luther Davis, music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest and additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, the Kokandy production will be directed by Artistic Producer John D. Glover, with music direction by Aaron Benham and choreography by Brenda Didier.

Your Program Is Your Ticket (YPIYT), the popular theatre podcast that interviews regional and international theatre artists was at the sold-out opening night of We The People: The Anti-Trump Musical at Stage 773 in Chicago.

Award-winning playwright, Sean Chandler, interviews the cast and creative team behind 'We The People: The Anti-Trump Musical'. Chandler, who is also the book writer for the musical, takes you behind the scenes of the Chicago production on his hit theatre podcast, Your Program Is Your Ticket.

Kokandy Productions is pleased to announce casting for the final production of its fifth anniversary season: the Tony Award-nominated musical GRAND HOTEL, playing April 15 May 27, 2018 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.