Light Opera Works News

"The Christmas Schooner" has been performed in the Chicago area every year, except for one, since 1995. And yet, I know for a fact that new theatergoers are discovering it all the time. Hence, it's a good thing that the Mercury Theater on Southport Avenue has mounted this story--based on a real slice of Chicago history--for the second year, and has already announced it for next year as well. It's one of the most popular musicals across the country to originate in Chicago, and we are proud to call it our own.

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 204th season with an all-new production of Broadway's five-time Tony Award-winning family musical, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN. Directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, this production will feature Philadelphia's very own Jeffrey Coon and Broadway's Jennifer Hope Wills. The cast also includes a live horse that will pull the Wells Fargo Wagon in the first act. THE MUSIC MAN runs now through January 6th on the WST Mainstage. Check out highlights from the production in the video below!

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!

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!

Midwest New Musicals continues Words and Music, its concert reading series of original musicals, with WANTING MISS JULIE, book by John Sparks, lyrics by Patricia Zehentmayr and music by Jake Anthony, tonight, November 19, at 7:30 PM at the Light Opera Works Second Stage at 1420 Maple (at Lake) in Evanston. Tickets are $15, available at Light Opera Works box office: (847) 920-5360 or at the door.

Relive some of the greatest moments in musical theater history through One Hand, One Heart: The Musicals of Leonard Bernstein, a cabaret revue performed at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret, tonight, November 14 - 29, 2012. Reservations can be placed at www.davenportspianobar.com.

Light Opera Works presents the musical OLIVER! with full 26-piece orchestra, December 22 through 31, 2012, at Cahn Auditorium in Evanston.

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 204th season with an all-new production of Broadway's five-time Tony Award-winning family musical, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN. Directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, this production will feature Philadelphia's very own Jeffrey Coon and Broadway's Jennifer Hope Wills. The cast also includes a live horse that will pull the Wells Fargo Wagon in the first act. THE MUSIC MAN opens on November 14th and runs through January 6th on the WST Mainstage. Join Jeffrey Coon (Harold Hill), Jennifer Hope Wills (Marian Paroo) and Vincent Crocilla (Winthrop Paroo) as they prepare for Walnut Street Theatre's production of THE MUSIC MAN during the pre-production photo shoot in the video below!

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 204th season with an all-new production of Broadway's five-time Tony Award-winning family musical, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN. Directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, this production will feature Philadelphia's very own Jeffrey Coon and Broadway's Jennifer Hope Wills. The cast also includes a live horse that will pull the Wells Fargo Wagon in the first act. THE MUSIC MAN opens on November 14th and runs through January 6th on the WST Mainstage. Check out new photos from the production below!

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 204th season with an all-new production of Broadway's five-time Tony Award-winning family musical, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN. Directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, this production will feature Philadelphia's very own Jeffrey Coon and Broadway's Jennifer Hope Wills. The cast also includes a live horse that will pull the Wells Fargo Wagon in the first act.

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 Award nominees, three shows that are closing, 'The Burnt Part Boys' debuts, a second 'Fifty Shades' parody musical, 'Miami Nice,' Lyric Opera's 'Oklahoma!' and more....

Light Opera Works is currently taking enrollments for the new Musical Theater Winter Workshop, to be held January 2 through 6, 2013. Based on the success of the company's Summer Workshop, young people ages 8 to 13 learn singing, dancing and acting in preparation for a public performance on Sunday, where family and friends are invited to watch them perform a mini-musical version of DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. No experience or audition required, and everyone gets a part.

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!

Light Opera Works' 2013 season will begin with Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. PINAFORE June 8-16, followed by Kander and Ebb's CABARET August 10-25, GERSHWIN'S GREATEST HITS October 4-13 and Irving Berlin's ANNIE GET YOUR GUN December 21-31.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2012-2013 season with Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, featuring legendary comic actors Tim Kazurinsky and George Wendt, directed by Artistic Director BJ Jones. The comedy will play at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, from November 2-December 9, 2012. The Press Opening is Today, November 9, at 7:30 pm.

Midwest New Musicals continues Words and Music, its concert reading series of original musicals, with WANTING MISS JULIE, book by John Sparks, lyrics by Patricia Zehentmayr and music by Jake Anthony, on Monday, November 19, at 7:30 PM at the Light Opera Works Second Stage at 1420 Maple (at Lake) in Evanston. Tickets are $15, available at Light Opera Works box office: (847) 920-5360 or at the door.

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 Jeff Award results, 'Smokey Joe's' impresses, three presidential musicals (at least!), old and new shows in Evanston, Ann Hampton Callaway in Lakeview and more!

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2012-2013 season with Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, featuring legendary comic actors Tim Kazurinsky and George Wendt, directed by Artistic Director BJ Jones. The comedy will play at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, from November 2-December 9, 2012. The Press Opening is Friday, November 9, at 7:30 pm.

Relive some of the greatest moments in musical theater history through One Hand, One Heart: The Musicals of Leonard Bernstein, a cabaret revue performed at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret, November 14 - 29, 2012. Reservations can be placed at www.davenportspianobar.com.

Eclipse Theatre has announced the recipient of their Fourth Annual Corona Award: Steve Scott, Associate Producer of The Goodman Theatre. Eclipse's Corona Award honors an individual who has played an important role in supporting and nurturing the Chicago Theatre community as well as Eclipse Theatre.