Jim DeSelm News

Voting is now underway for the Chicago Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings 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. Two national tours land here simultaneously, 'Pippin' goes to India, plus openings at Court Theatre, Marriott Theatre and Drury Lane Theatre, Theo Ubique goes rep again, and more, including the 'Mormon' cast!

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!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Nominations end October 26 for the BWW Chicago Awards, Erich Bergen and the Marriott bring Cole Porter and Gershwin, plus 'The Dead,' Harold's crayon, three different 'Rocky Horror' shows and 'Nashville:' Is it a musical?

Court Theatre Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Stephen J. Albert present James Joyce's "The Dead," with book by Richard Nelson, music by Shaun Davey, lyrics conceived and adapted by Richard Nelson and Shaun Davey, and directed by Charles Newell with musical direction by Doug Peck. "The Dead" will run November 8 - December 9, 2012 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. The press opening is Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

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 new musicals 'Eastland' and 'Hero,' new and newish shows based on hats, songbooks, TV shows and recordings, 'Floyd Collins' and Ashley Brown, and more!

Chicago's non-Equity Bohemian Theatre Ensemble has undertaken Adam Guettel and Tina Landau's 1996 off-Broadway masterpiece (or close to it) and put it on at Theater Wit on West Belmont Avenue for the next month (through July 25, 2012). If you have imagination enough to meet the company halfway, somewhere between the hardscrabble Kentucky soil and the cave beneath it where the real Floyd Collins met his doom in 1925, you will come away with a musical and theatrical experience you are unlikely to repeat anytime soon, anywhere else.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Three shows make a PR appearance at Sidetrack, ATC plans a 'Hair' re-do, 'Camelot,' 'Floyd Collins,' three new mainstage musicals, a reading, a benefit and more!

Nominations for the Chicago-based Non-Equity Jeff Awards were announced today; Theo Ubique leads with 14 nominations

The Jeff Awards today announced 124 nominations in 25 categories for Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2011, and March 31, 2012. The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff Awards judges covered opening nights of 154 productions offered by 71 Non-Equity producing organizations. The judges recommended 64 of those shows, making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Thirty-two theatre companies received nominations.

Porchlight Music Theatre, American Musicals. Chicago Style, presents the Chicago premiere of John Bucchino and Harvey Fierstein's A Catered Affair, directed by Nick Bowling with music direction by Doug Peck, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. The performance schedule is Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Single tickets are $38 with group and student discounts available. All tickets are available at stage773.com, porchlightmusictheatre.org or by phone at 773.327.5252.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'A Catered Affair,' 'Barnum,' new musicals by Mark Messing and Leo Schwartz, 'Little Shop...' and a fall 'Assassins,' plus more!!!

Porchlight Music Theatre will present the Chicago premiere of John Bucchino and Harvey Fierstein's A Catered Affair, directed by Nick Bowling with music direction by Doug Peck, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

Porchlight Music Theatre, American Musicals. Chicago Style, presents the Chicago premiere of John Bucchino and Harvey Fierstein's A Catered Affair, directed by Nick Bowling with music direction by Doug Peck, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

Porchlight Music Theatre will present the Chicago premiere of John Bucchino and Harvey Fierstein's A Catered Affair, directed by Nick Bowling with music direction by Doug Peck, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to New York. 'A Christmas Carol,' House Theater's 'Nutcracker,' 'Striking 12,' 'Pump Boys' at Theo Ubique, our first local 'Avenue Q,' 'My Fair Lady' in Sarasota, Florida and more....

Today, BroadwayWorld.com is announcing the nominees for the 2011 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards! Representatives of 67 different theater productions, which played at 40 different Chicagoland theaters, are nominated in the 25 categories for the second annual Awards. As these are the only Theater Fan Choice Awards for the internationally known Chicago theater scene, the nominees rightly come from both Equity and Non-Equity theater companies, and from the worlds of plays, musicals, revues and touring shows.

Porchlight Music Theatre, American Musicals. Chicago Style, presents the Chicago premiere of John Bucchino and Harvey Fierstein's A Catered Affair, directed by Nick Bowling with music direction by Doug Peck, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

Bailiwick Chicago's upcoming production of the award-winning off-Broadway hit 'Violet,' a powerful and heartwarming story of a vulnerable young woman's challenges, loves and emotional journey, will now be staged September 16 - October 16 at the Mercury Theater, 3745 North Southport Avenue. With a score by Jeanine Tesori ('Caroline or Change' 'Thoroughly Modern Millie') and book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, 'Violet' is directed by Bailiwick Artistic Advisor Elizabeth Margolius. The press night is Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

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 Book Of Mormon' heads for a Chicago sit-down, two big season announcements, my top five fall productions, a Sondheim rarity, a new work for Mary's Attic and more...