Koray Tarhan News

On the heels of its opening in London, the Broadway musical Be More Chill has announced an all-Chicago cast for its the first North American post-Broadway production at the Apollo Theater.

Paramount Theatre's production of DISNEY'S NEWSIES THE MUSICAL, directed by Jim Corti, offers a spirited, heartfelt take on the popular Tony Award winner. Originally a 1992 Disney movie musical, the cult favorite has attracted a whole new fandom since the stage adaptation opened on Broadway in 2012, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and book by Harvey Fierstein. Based on the true story of the 1899 New York City newsboys' strike, NEWSIES is best known for its rousing tunes and jaw-dropping dancing. With music direction by Tom Vendafreddo and choreography by Joshua Blake Carter, Corti's production nails these essential elements, while the cast give moving, layered performances as the ragtag band of brothers who faced down the giants of the 19th century press.

Then you want Newsies - refreshing, inspirational, a huge feel-good show for the whole family, and the perfect opener for the ninth Broadway Series at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora.

Cue the jazz hands--Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson's PIPPIN has arrived at Mercury Theater's Venus Cabaret in an intimate staging that brings the actors and the audience together. Mercury Artistic Director L. Walter Stearns's interprets this cabaret production of PIPPIN in a literal manner: the show's visual references and presentational style are highly influenced by the 1920s Weimar cabaret in Germany. Thus, the fictional story of Charlemagne's son Pippin does not at all take place in medieval times but rather seems to occupy a moment all its own. Given the eccentricities in the material for PIPPIN itself, this is a fitting choice.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, is pleased to announce that Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN will run from October 11th through November 18th in Venus Cabaret Theater. Press opening is Sunday, October 14th at 7:30pm.

Porchlight Music Theatre announces the final extension of its latest production, Memphis. Memphis must close Saturday, June 16, following that evening's 8 p.m. performance. Now playing through June 16 at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street, features  book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music and lyrics by David Bryan and  is directed by Daryl D.  Brooks, assistant directed and choreographed by Christopher Carter, music directed by Jermaine Hill and assistant choreographed by Reneisha Jenkins.

Drury Lane Theatre for Young Audiences presents Seussical, an unforgettable musical caper from Tony-winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Once on This Island, Ragtime) featuring the beloved characters of Dr. Seuss. This production is directed by Scott Calcagno with choreography by Ericka Mac and music direction by Ellen Morris. Seussical runs April 18 - June 9, 2018, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.

Porchlight Music Theatre announces that due to audience demand Memphis is now extended through Sunday, June 10, at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street.

Drury Lane Theatre for Young Audiences presents Seussical, an unforgettable musical caper from Tony-winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Once on This Island, Ragtime) featuring the beloved characters of Dr. Seuss. This production is directed by Scott Calcagno with choreography by Ericka Mac and music direction by Ellen Morris. Seussical runs April 18 - June 9, 2018, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the final production in its 2017 - 2018 season of Chicago's hit musical revue series, New Faces Sing Broadway. New Faces Sing Broadway 1975, hosted by Donica Lynn with direction by Christopher Pazdernik and music direction by David Fiorello, is Tuesday, June 5 at The Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, June 6 at The Arts Club of Chicago, 201 E. Ontario Street, at 6:30 p.m. (The Arts Club presentation also includes a pre-show reception at 6:30 p.m. with performance at 7:30 p.m.). In tribute to the original New Faces series that ran on Broadway and on film from 1934 - 1968, Porchlight Music Theatre created the Chicago musical revue series, New Faces Sing Broadway as a showcase for the best emerging music talent now performing on Chicago stages. Each edition is a "time-machine" journey from the start to the finish of an entire musical season from the classic days of Broadway, peppered with photos and films of the era in an exciting multimedia presentation with a favorite Chicago theatre veteran like Donica Lynn hosting and introducing the next generation of music theatre artists while acting as your guide through a vintage year on the Great White Way. General admission tickets at Skokie Theatre are $22 and at The Arts Club of Chicago are $35 and are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or at the Porchlight Music Theatre box office, 773.777.9884.

Porchlight Music Theatre's Mainstage 2017-2018 season concludes with Memphis, April 19 - June 3, at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Memphis, book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music and lyrics by David Bryan, is directed by Daryl D.  Brooks, assistant directed and choreographed by Christopher Carter, music directed by Jermaine Hill and assistant choreographed by Reneisha Jenkins. 

Porchlight Music Theatre opened Porchlight Revisits They're Playing Our Song last night at Porchlight's new home, The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. They're Playing Our Song features music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and book by Neil Simon, with direction and choreography by Christopher Carter, musical direction by Andra Velis Simon and starring Lorenzo Rush Jr and Sharriese Hamilton. 

Porchlight Music Theatre announced that Lorenzo Rush Jr has replaced James Earl Jones II in Porchlight Revisits They're Playing Our Song, music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and book by Neil Simon, with direction and choreography by Christopher Carter and musical direction by Andra Velis Simon. Porchlight Revisits They're Playing our Song is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, March 6 through Thursday, March 8 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's Merrily We Roll Along (previews begin January 26) at Porchlight's new home, The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Tickets for They're Playing Our Song are $35.

Porchlight Music Theatre announced that Lorenzo Rush Jr has replaced James Earl Jones II in Porchlight Revisits They're Playing Our Song, music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and book by Neil Simon, with direction and choreography by Christopher Carter and musical direction by Andra Velis Simon. Porchlight Revisits They're Playing our Song is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, March 6 through Thursday, March 8 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's Merrily We Roll Along (previews begin January 26) at Porchlight's new home, The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Tickets for They're Playing Our Song are $35. All tickets include access to the popular pre-performance event, Behind the Show Backstory, a multimedia presentation, created and hosted by Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Director Michael Weber that discusses the evening's production including the show's creative history, juicy backstage gossip and the state of the art on Broadway that season. Single tickets to They're Playing Our Song and subscriptions for the entire series are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight Music Theatre box office at 773.777.9884.

Porchlight Music Theatre continues its fifth season of Chicago's lost musicals in staged concert series with Porchlight Revisits They're Playing Our Song, starring Sharriese Hamilton and James Earl Jones II, music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and book by Neil Simon, with direction and choreography by Christopher Carter and musical direction by Andra Velis Simon. Porchlight Revisits They're Playing our Song is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, March 6 through Thursday, March 8 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's Merrily We Roll Along (previews begin January 26) at Porchlight's new home, The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Tickets for They're Playing Our Song are $35. All tickets include access to the popular pre-performance event, Behind the Show Backstory, a multimedia presentation, created and hosted by Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Director Michael Weber that discusses the evening's production including the show's creative history, juicy backstage gossip and the state of the art on Broadway that season. Single tickets to They're Playing Our Song and subscriptions for the entire series are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight Music Theatre box office at 773.777.9884.

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's joyous, time-honored celebration of the true meaning of the holidays, a tradition enjoyed by multiple generations of Cincinnatians each year, returns for its 26th season as U.S. Bank presents Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL. The beloved, iconic story will be performed Nov. 23 through Dec. 31 in the Playhouse's Robert S. Marx Theatre.

A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY launches the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's 2016-17 season in a powerful, spectacularly theatrical way on the Robert S. Marx Theatre stage from Sept. 3 through Oct. 1.

A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY launches the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's 2016-17 season in a powerful, spectacularly theatrical way on the Robert S. Marx Theatre stage from Sept. 3 through Oct. 1.

Diversionary Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Artistic Director Matt M. Morrow, presents the daring new musical The Boy Who Danced On Air with Book and Lyrics by Charlie Sohne, Music by Tim Rosser, featuring direction by Tony Speciale, choreography by Nejla Yatkin, and musical direction by Cris O' Bryon.  

Diversionary Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Artistic Director Matt M. Morrow, presents the daring new musical The Boy Who Danced On Air with Book and Lyrics by Charlie Sohne, Music by Tim Rosser, featuring direction by Tony Speciale, choreography by Nejla Yatkin, and musical direction by Cris O' Bryon.