Mary Robin Roth News

The comedy Native Gardens, by Karen Zacarías, runs March 20 through April 14, 2024, at Meadow Brook Theatre on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester.

Mercury Theatre Chicago celebrates the opening of  the monstrously funny Mel Brooks musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. See photos from opening night below.

At the 55th anniversary celebration of Equity theater excellence, the Jeff Awards recognized 46 award recipients selected from among 214 theater artist nominees. Find out who took home Equity Jeff Awards in the full list of winners here!

Mercury Theater Artistic Director Christopher Chase Carter, Managing Director Kristi J. Martens and Executive Producers L. Walter Stearns and Eugene Dizon announce the Chicago Premiere of the new West End version of Young Frankenstein, the electrifying adaptation of Mel Brooks' monstrously funny film. Young Frankenstein features a book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, with music and lyrics by Mel Brooks.

Discover the nominations for the 55th Anniversary Jeff Awards for Equity Theater! Find out who made the cut and get ready for the highly anticipated awards ceremony.

Get a first look at Paramount Theatre's School of Rock, the Chicago professional regional premiere of the good-time musical based on the hit Jack Black movie, featuring new music from the genius mind of Andrew Lloyd Webber, directed by Trent Stork.

Get a first look at video of School of Rock at Paramount Theatre!

Get a look at production photos from Paramount Theatre's production of School of Rock!

What did our critic think of SCHOOL OF ROCK at Paramount Theatre, Aurora IL?

Paramount Theatre has announced its roster for School of Rock, the Chicago professional regional premiere of the good-time musical based on the hit Jack Black movie, featuring new music from the genius mind of Andrew Lloyd Webber, directed by Trent Stork.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced that the Tony Award-winning landmark musical Cabaret, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. Cabaret has been extended for a second time, now through Sunday, March 19.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced, due to popular demand, a new block of tickets for three weeks of performances have been added to its presentation of the Tony Award-winning landmark musical Cabaret, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. See photos from the production!

What did our critic think of CABARET at Porchlight Music Theatre? Porchlight invites audiences into the glittering, gritty world of early 1930s Berlin with John Kander and Fred Ebb’s iconic musical CABARET. Under the direction of Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber and with associate direction and choreography by Brenda Didier, this production largely belongs to Erica Stephan in the role of Sally Bowles. As the seductive and desperate nightclub singer, Sally, Stephan is an absolute dream. She not only plays the character’s arc beautifully, moving from artful seduction to total desperation and panic by the show’s end, but she showcases her powerful belt and vocal control in each of Sally’s solo numbers. In this way, Porchlight’s production mirrors Sally’s character arc; as the other characters in the show are awakened to the realities of the Nazi party’s rise to power, they must contend with the fact that life is not, in fact, a cabaret.

Porchlight Music Theatre will present the Tony Award-winning landmark musical Cabaret, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts January 14 - February 12, 2023. Porchlight’s production is directed by Artistic Director Michael Weber, associate directed and choreographed by Brenda Didier and music directed by Linda Madonia.

Season of Concern, the emergency fund for Chicago theater artists, will present a one-night-only benefit performance of Jerry’s Girls, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, concepts by Larry Alford, Wayne Cilento, and Jerry Herman, direction by Ken-Matt Martin, and musical direction by Nigel D. Robinson.

The Widdington sisters have lived a quiet life for years in Cornwall, England. Then one day in 1937, a handsome, young man washes up on the shore below their home. He's a talented violinist that was headed from Poland to America.

In 2018, Meadow Brook audiences met Nana and her entourage in Nana’s Naught Knickers. Now she’s back, this time for a run at Las Vegas. Nana and her sidekick, Vera, have taken a gamble and moved to Vegas, where they’re working as seamstresses for a show. What could possibly go wrong?

L. Walter Stearns, Executive Director of Mercury Theater Chicago, announced today the cast and creative team of the upcoming SHEAR MADNESS, running on the main stage from February 7 through March 29. The press opening is Sunday, February 16 at 7pm. This hit comedic murder-mystery has slayed the hearts of audiences around the world for more than 40 years, following a mysterious murder above the Shear Madness Salon - leaving it to the audience to catch the killer among the actors. SHEAR MADNESS will be directed by the Jeff Award winning Warner Crocker.

In a one-night-only opportunity to see Chicago's leading ladies of musical theatre on stage together, Season of Concern (SOC) presents 'Second City Divas-In Concert,' a benefit performance Monday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue. Season of Concern is the Chicago theatre community's fundraising effort to provide financial assistance to those in the community impacted by illness, injury or circumstance.

Up until March 10th, you have a chance to catch a supremely unique piece of theatre on at the Meadow Brook Theatre on Oakland University's campus. Playing to this intimate theatre, the former off-Broadway musical The Spitfire Grill feels right at home.