Kevin Barthel News

Porchlight Music Theatre's first production of its 2015 - 2016 season will be Side Show, running September 11 - October 18, directed by Porchlight Music Theatre artistic director Michael Weber, music direction by Aaron Benham, choreography by Andrew Waters, music by Henry Krieger, book and lyrics by Bill Russell, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the stars in costume!

A massive hit on Broadway, playing over 1,500 hysterical performances seen by more than two million people, Monty Python's SPAMALOT continues Theatre at the Center's exceptional 25th Anniversary Season.

Exciting news just in to BroadwayWorld!  Michael Weber, artistic director of Porchlight Music Theatre, has announced the casts of the Chicago premiere of the 2014 revision of Side Show, the return of Porchlight's hit Ain't Misbehavin', multi-Jeff Award-winner Summer Naomi Smart starring in the Chicago premiere of Far From Heaven, and Porchlight Music Theatre's 2015 - 2016 artistic leadership for its four Mainstage productions.

Overflowing with Rock n' Roll, romance, and mistaken identities, the Elvis fueled Broadway Musical, ALL SHOOK UP, rides into Theatre at the Center, now through August 16th at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN. Jeff Award-winning Artistic Director Bill Pullinsi joins forces with Jeff Award-winning Choreographer Danny Herman to co-direct the well-tuned, hot-rod musical, which continues Theatre at the Center's spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 season. With a book by Tony Award-winning Joe DiPietro, nostalgic songs and sensational dance numbers, the hilarious musical will have audiences of all ages jumpin' out of their blue suede shoes. BroadwayWorld has highlights from the show below!

Overflowing with Rock n' Roll, romance, and mistaken identities, the Elvis fueled Broadway Musical, ALL SHOOK UP, rides into Theatre at the Center, July 16th through August 16th with a press opening on Sunday July 19th at 7 p.m. at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN. Jeff Award-winning Artistic Director Bill Pullinsi joins forces with Jeff Award-winning Choreographer Danny Herman to co-direct the well-tuned, hot-rod musical, which continues Theatre at the Center's spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 season. With a book by Tony Award-winning Joe DiPietro, nostalgic songs and sensational dance numbers, the hilarious musical will have audiences of all ages jumpin' out of their blue suede shoes!

Overflowing with Rock n' Roll, romance, and mistaken identities, the Elvis fueled Broadway Musical, ALL SHOOK UP, rides into Theatre at the Center, now through August 16th with a press opening this Sunday, July 19th at 7 p.m. at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN. Jeff Award-winning Artistic Director Bill Pullinsi joins forces with Jeff Award-winning Choreographer Danny Herman to co-direct the well-tuned, hot-rod musical, which continues Theatre at the Center's spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 season. With a book by Tony Award-winning Joe DiPietro, nostalgic songs and sensational dance numbers, the hilarious musical will have audiences of all ages jumpin' out of their blue suede shoes. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Overflowing with Rock n' Roll, romance, and mistaken identities, the Elvis fueled Broadway Musical, ALL SHOOK UP, rides into Theatre at the Center, tonight, July 16th through August 16th with a press opening on Sunday July 19th at 7 p.m. at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN.

Overflowing with Rock n' Roll, romance, and mistaken identities, the Elvis fueled Broadway Musical, ALL SHOOK UP, rides into Theatre at the Center, July 16th through August 16th with a press opening on Sunday July 19th at 7 p.m. at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN. Jeff Award-winning Artistic Director Bill Pullinsi joins forces with Jeff Award-winning Choreographer Danny Herman to co-direct the well-tuned, hot-rod musical, which continues Theatre at the Center's spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 season. With a book by Tony Award-winning Joe DiPietro, nostalgic songs and sensational dance numbers, the hilarious musical will have audiences of all ages jumpin' out of their blue suede shoes!

The deeply moving, enchanting new Broadway musical for all ages BIG FISH continues Theatre at the Center's exceptional 25th anniversary 2015 season. With a book by John August and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, BIG FISH is based on the Columbia Pictures film screenplay of the same name by John August and Daniel Wallace's 1998 novel, Big Fish: A Novel of Mythical Proportions. Artistic Director and multiple Jeff Award-winner William Pullinsi lends his expertise in the first professional locally-produced staging of the beloved musical running through June 7th at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster. Click below to watch scenes from the show!

The deeply moving, enchanting new Broadway musical for all ages BIG FISH continues Theatre at the Center's exceptional 25th anniversary 2015 season. With a book by John August and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, BIG FISH is based on the Columbia Pictures film screenplay of the same name by John August and Daniel Wallace's 1998 novel, Big Fish: A Novel of Mythical Proportions. Artistic Director and multiple Jeff Award-winner William Pullinsi lends his expertise in the first professional locally-produced staging of the beloved musical running now through June 7th at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster. The show opened yesterday, May 10, and BroadwayWorld has photos from the festivities below!

The deeply moving, enchanting new Broadway musical for all ages BIG FISH continues Theatre at the Center's exceptional 25th anniversary 2015 season. With a book by John August and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, BIG FISH is based on the Columbia Pictures film screenplay of the same name by John August and Daniel Wallace's 1998 novel, Big Fish: A Novel of Mythical Proportions. Artistic Director and multiple Jeff Award-winner William Pullinsi lends his expertise in the first professional locally-produced staging of the beloved musical running May 7th through June 7th at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster with press opening on Sunday, May 10 at 7 p.m.

The deeply moving, enchanting new Broadway musical for all ages BIG FISH continues Theatre at the Center's exceptional 25th anniversary 2015 season. With a book by John August and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, BIG FISH is based on the Columbia Pictures film screenplay of the same name by John August and Daniel Wallace's 1998 novel, Big Fish: A Novel of Mythical Proportions. Artistic Director and multiple Jeff Award-winner William Pullinsi lends his expertise in the first professional locally-produced staging of the beloved musical running May 7th through June 7th at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster with press opening on Sunday, May 10 at 7 p.m.

Considered one of the Midwest's leading, professional equity theaters that presents both regional and world premieres featuring the area's finest artists, Theatre at the Center kicks off its 25th Anniversary 2015 season with the beloved classic, Ernest Thompson's ON GOLDEN POND. The touching, funny, and warmly insightful story, which went from a Tony Award-winning play on Broadway to an Oscar winning film starring Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda, runs now through March 29, with a press opening on Sunday, March 1. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Considered one of the Midwest's leading, professional equity theaters that presents both regional and world premieres featuring the area's finest artists, Theatre at the Center kicks off its 25th Anniversary 2015 season with the beloved classic, Ernest Thompson's ON GOLDEN POND. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the show below!

Considered one of the Midwest's leading, professional equity theaters that presents both regional and world premieres featuring the area's finest artists, Theatre at the Center kicks off its 25th Anniversary 2015 season with the beloved classic, Ernest Thompson's ON GOLDEN POND.

Considered one of the Midwest's leading, professional equity theaters that presents both regional and world premieres featuring the area's finest artists, Theatre at the Center kicks off its 25th Anniversary 2015 season with the beloved classic, Ernest Thompson's ON GOLDEN POND.

The Palace Theater, Wisconsin Dells' newest professional theater, 564 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy South, gifts audiences this holiday season by bringing to the stage the world's most beloved nanny, Disney's MARY POPPINS previewing November 19, opening Monday, November 24 at 7 p.m., and running through January 3, 2015. The all-star cast is led by Jessica Lorion Haugh (National Tour of Disney's Beauty & the Beast) who will fly through the air as 'Mary Poppins,' Kyle Szen (National Tour of A Christmas Carol) as 'Bert,' Eddie Urish (National Broadway Tour of Memphis the Musical) as 'George Banks,' and Rebecca Kostell as 'Winifred Banks.' MARY POPPINS is directed and choreographed by Multi Jeff Award-winner Marc Robin and co-directed by Buddy Reeder. Nationally known stand-up comedian and actor, Tom Dreesen, long time guest of The Tonight Show and The David Letterman Show will serve as the emcee at the opening night performance on November 24.

The Palace Theater, Wisconsin Dells' newest professional theater, 564 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy South, gifts audiences this holiday season by bringing to the stage the world's most beloved nanny, Disney's MARY POPPINS previewing November 19, opening Monday, November 24 at 7 p.m., and running through January 3, 2015. The all-star cast is led by Jessica Lorion Haugh (National Tour of Disney's Beauty & the Beast) who will fly through the air as "Mary Poppins," Kyle Szen (National Tour of A Christmas Carol) as "Bert," Eddie Urish (National Broadway Tour of Memphis the Musical) as "George Banks," and Rebecca Kostell as "Winifred Banks." MARY POPPINS is directed and choreographed by Multi Jeff Award-winner Marc Robin and co-directed by Buddy Reeder. Nationally known stand-up comedian and actor, Tom Dreesen, long time guest of The Tonight Show and The David Letterman Show will serve as the emcee at the opening night performance on November 24.

Over the course of their 2014 season, Theatre at the Center, a major equity player on the Chicago theater scene, has introduced audiences to never-before-seen productions on Chicagoland stages. To round out their current season, they will be making no exception, and are thrilled to present the regional debut of the musical adaptation of Truman Capote's A CHRISTMAS MEMORY, November 13 through December 14, with a press opening on Sunday, November 16 at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster. Directed by William Pullinsi, A CHRISTMAS MEMORY is a labor of love for its Broadway veteran team, written by Duane Poole, with music by Larry Grossman and lyrics by Carol Hall. Based on Capote's touching memoir of his own childhood, this wistful Southern Christmas tale is a tender portrait of a rare friendship across generations with a joyous score that will bring love and light to everyone's hearts this holiday season. Sure to delight the entire family, Capote's masterpiece springs to life in this heartfelt musical treat. Check out a first look at highlights below!

Over the course of their 2014 season, Theatre at the Center, a major equity player on the Chicago theater scene, has introduced audiences to never-before-seen productions on Chicagoland stages. To round out their current season, they will be making no exception and present the regional debut of the musical adaptation of Truman Capote's A CHRISTMAS MEMORY, through December 14, with a press opening last night, Sunday, November 16 at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster. Directed by William Pullinsi, A CHRISTMAS MEMORY is a labor of love for its Broadway veteran team, written by Duane Poole, with music by Larry Grossman and lyrics by Carol Hall. Based on Capote's touching memoir of his own childhood, this wistful Southern Christmas tale is a tender portrait of a rare friendship across generations with a joyous score that will bring love and light to everyone's hearts this holiday season. Sure to delight the entire family, Capote's masterpiece springs to life in this heartfelt musical treat.