Leah Morrow News

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! The rubber will meet the road as the World Premiere of the hilarious new pop rock musical HELLDRIVERS OF DAYTONA takes the stage. With music by Berton Averre, lyrics by Rob Meurer, and book by Emmy Award-winner Mark Saltzman, these award-winning creative minds have put the pedal to the metal in this NASCAR-themed musical full of girls, cars, and rockin' guitars.

Chicago, fasten your seat belts-the world premiere musical HELLDRIVERS OF DAYTONA has parked at the Royal George Theatre...and it's a bumpy, messy ride. Billed as a spoof of 1960s racing films, composer Berton Averre (known for 'My Sharona'), lyricist Rob Meurer, and book writer Mark Saltzman have developed a show that's entirely too on the nose. HELLDRIVERS lacks the satirical tone it seeks; instead, the first act replaces the sexual repression common in those 1960s movies with blatant, unoriginal sexual innuendoes and jokes in poor taste. Though conceived as an ironic take on the movies of that era, HELLDRIVERS feels overall cringe-worthy in the first act. The show shifts gears in the second act to focus more on sending up a number of great American musicals (and one Billy Joel song). The overall experience is erratic.

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines...and prepare for a bumpy ride! The rubber will meet the road as the World Premiere of the hilarious new pop rock musical HELLDRIVERS OF DAYTONA takes the stage, opening tonight, September 12, at 7:30 p.m., and running through October 30 at The Royal George Theatre, 1641 North Halsted Street, Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines…and prepare for a bumpy ride!  The rubber will meet the road as the World Premiere of the hilarious new pop rock musical HELLDRIVERS OF DAYTONA takes the stage, previewing September 8, opening September 12 at 7:30 p.m., and running through October 30 at The Royal George Theatre, 1641 North Halsted Street, Chicago.  With music by Berton Averre (The Knack), lyrics by Rob Meurer (Platinum Records with Christopher Cross), and book by Emmy Award-winner Mark Saltzman (The Tin Pan Alley Rag, The Adventures of Milo and Otis), these award-winning creative minds have put the pedal to the metal in this NASCAR-themed musical full of girls, cars, and rockin' guitars.

Mercury Theater Chicago presents the award winning musical comedy sensation THE PRODUCERS, running now through June 26, 2016. It is truly a "boffo" hit, winning a record twelve Tony Awards and wowing capacity crowds night after night. The production is led by Jeff-Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Director), and Brigitte Ditmars (Choreography). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, presents the award winning musical comedy sensation THE PRODUCERS, from April 14 to June 26, 2016. It is truly a "boffo" hit, winning a record twelve Tony Awards and wowing capacity crowds night after night. The production will be led by Jeff-Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Director), and Brigitte Ditmars (Choreography). Scroll down to see photos from the company's opening night celebration!

THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER sails for its fifth year at Mercury Theater Chicago, running now through December 27, 2015. Jeff Award winner Stef Tovar takes the helm as the Schooner's captain, alongside Brianna Borger as the Captain's wife Alma Stossel. BroadwayWorld has photos from the show's opening festivities below!

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, announces that The Christmas Schooner will be sailing for its fifth year at Mercury Theater Chicago, running November 25 through December 27, 2015.  Jeff Award winner Stef Tovar takes the helm as the Schooner's captain, alongside Brianna Borger as the Captain's wife Alma Stossel.  The whole family will enjoy this heart-warming musical story of the first Christmas tree ship and the family who risked their lives to fill Chicago with the Christmas spirit. The production features a powerful, moving story, an exquisite score of original music and traditional holiday favorites, and a company of 25 actors and musicians and is helmed by the Jeff-award winning team of L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Director) and Brenda Didier (Choreographer).

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, announces the extension of THE ADDAMS FAMILY - THE MUSICAL. The freakishly funny new musical comedy will now be laid to rest on April 12th. The production has been praised for its significant revisions following its Chicago debut in 2010. The production has been Jeff Recommended and is led by Jeff Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Direction), and Brenda Didier (Choreography).

Mercury Theater hits it out of the park with the kooky, funny and touching 'The Addams Family -The Musical'

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, presents the spooky kooky production of THE ADDAMS FAMILY - THE MUSICAL. The weird and wonderful family comes to devilishly delightful life on January 28th and will be laid to rest on April 5th, 2014. Press opening is Wednesday, February 4th at 7:30pm. This magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, and Drama Desk Award winnerAndrew Lippa. The production will be led by Jeff Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Direction), and Brenda Didier (Choreography).

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, presents the spooky kooky production of THE ADDAMS FAMILY - THE MUSICAL. The weird and wonderful family comes to devilishly delightful life on January 28th and will be laid to rest on April 5th, 2014. Press opening is Wednesday, February 4th at 7:30pm. This magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, and Drama Desk Award winner Andrew Lippa. The production will be led by Jeff Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Direction), and Brenda Didier (Choreography).

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, presents Chicago's beloved holiday musical THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER, running now through December 28, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, announces a cast of award-winning actors to bring new life to Chicago's beloved holiday musical THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER, running tonight, November 26 through December 28, 2014.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Dee Snider's Christmas show starts, and 'First Wives Club' and 'N' get their stars. Patsy Cline comes round again, as do the Q Brothers and 'Christmas Schooner.' Peeps gear up for 'Into The Woods,' 'Phantom' inspires television, and 'Billy Elliot' dances into movie theaters and into the Drury Lane Oakbrook!

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, announces a cast of award-winning actors to bring new life to Chicago's beloved holiday musical THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER, running November 26 through December 28, 2014. Press opening is Wednesday, December 3rd at 7:30pm.

The 46th Annual Jeff Awards ceremony honoring excellence in professional theatre produced within the immediate Chicago area is tonight, October 13 at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace.

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 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards are back with nominations open now! Plus the Jeff Awards on Monday night, three acclaimed recent openings, two shows proudly closing, three local shows that may never end, and NBC's live 'Peter Pan' is ready to fly!

Chicago actress, TV and film star Jane Lynch did the honor today of announcing the nominees for the 2013-2014 Equity Jeff Awards.

AVENUE Q at Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue will celebrate its 100th performance of the hilarious musical comedy, now playing through October 26, 2014. AVENUE Q continues to sell out and break all box office records at Mercury Theater Chicago. Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune described the show as 'delightfully sweet and vulnerable...could not be more fun or charming to watch!' and the Chicago Sun­Times Highly Recommends the show saying it's 'better than the Broadway original!' Winner of the Tony 'Triple Crown' for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, AVENUE Q is part flesh, part felt, and packed with heart. AVENUE Q is led by Jeff Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Direction), and Kevin Bellie (Choreography) and features custom made puppets by Russ Walko.