Max DeTogne News

The current remount of Refuge Theatre Project's enormously successful 2016 production of High Fidelity: The Musical, originally scheduled to close on March 6, 2017, has been extended three weeks to Saturday, March 25, 2017.

A venue has been announced for the remount of Refuge Theatre Project's enormously successful 2016 production of High Fidelity: The Musical.

A venue has been announced for the remount of Refuge Theatre Project's enormously successful 2016 production of High Fidelity: The Musical.

Refuge Theatre Project has announced leadership changes and programming for its third season, according to company co-founder Ross Egan. Christopher Pazdernik, who directed and choreographed the company's breakout production of High Fidelity: The Musical in February 2016 and more recently directed the Chicago premiere of Wicked City by Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar for Chicago Theatre Workshop, has been named Artistic Director, a position previously held by Egan. Egan, who founded the company two years ago with Morgan Egan, will move to Executive Director, a new position. Morgan Egan will continue as Managing Director.

Pride Films and Plays celebrates its first holiday season in the Pride Arts Center with three special LGBT-themed cabaret/musical variety events in December. All three events will be staged in The Broadway, at 4139 N. Broadway.

Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to announce the full line-up for its third annual CHICAGO MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL, featuring 14 new musical productions. Created to showcase and support Chicago's burgeoning field of musical theatre creators, this year's festival will be held August 8 - 28, 2016 at Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Each production will receive four performances during the Festival. The full schedule (Tuesdays - Sundays) can be found at www.cmtf.org, with single tickets and festival passes currently on-sale. The press preview, featuring songs from all of the 2016 productions, is Monday, August 8 at 7:30 pm.

Refuge Theatre Project, the two-year-old company that produced the surprise hit musical of the 2015-16 season with its environmental staging of High Fidelity in a makeshift 'record store,' will present a one-night-only concert of songs by High Fidelity composer Tom Kitt. The evening, called I Got You, will showcase selections from Broadway musicals for which Kitt either composed the score or provided musical arrangements, along with new unpublished songs he's provided especially for the event. City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph Street is the event venue. Christopher Pazdernik, director of High Fidelity, will direct the concert, with music direction by Mike Evans.

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the final production in the third smash season of Chicago's 'lost' musicals in staged concert series, Porchlight Revisits Chess, music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, lyrics by Tim Rice and Bjorn Ulvaeus and book by Tim Rice, with direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber, choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music direction by Jimmy Morehead. Porchlight Revisits Chess is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, May 3 through Thursday, May 5 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's Dreamgirls (previews begin April 8) on nights when there are no performances at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets for Chess are $30 in advance and $35 at the door the night of the performance. All tickets include access to the popular pre-performance event, Behind the Show Backstory, a multi-media presentation, created and hosted by Weber, that discusses that evening's production including the show's creative history, juicy backstage gossip and more. Single tickets to Chess are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Stage 773 box office, 773.327.5252.

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber present the final production in the third smash season of Chicago's 'lost' musicals in staged concert series, PORCHLIGHT REVISITS CHESS, music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, lyrics by Tim Rice and Bjorn Ulvaeus and book by Tim Rice, with direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber, choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music direction by Jimmy Morehead. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the final production in the third smash season of Chicago's "lost" musicals in staged concert series, Porchlight Revisits Chess, music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, lyrics by Tim Rice and Bjorn Ulvaeus and book by Tim Rice, with direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber, choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music direction by Jimmy Morehead. Porchlight Revisits Chess is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, May 3 through Thursday, May 5 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's Dreamgirls (previews begin April 8) on nights when there are no performances at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets for Chess are $30 in advance and $35 at the door the night of the performance. All tickets include access to the popular pre-performance event, Behind the Show Backstory, a multi-media presentation, created and hosted by Weber, that discusses that evening's production including the show's creative history, juicy backstage gossip and more. Single tickets to Chess are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Stage 773 box office, 773.327.5252.  The 2016 - 2017 season subscriptions to Porchlight Revisits includes The Rink (October 4 - 6), Little Me (February 28 - March 2, 2017) and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (May 9 - 11, 2017) are also available at porchlightmusictheatre.org. 

Musical writing team Davyd Reddyk and Ethan Krupp are proud to announce their first cabaret, Sunday Night Songbook with Reddy and Krupp. Directed by Jon Martinez and featuring a cast of Chicago's top theater and comedy talent, S?unday Night Songbook w?ill include songs from four original musicals, and will be performed on Sundays April 24 and May 1 at MCL Chicago, 3110 N. Sheffield Ave. (near the Belmont Red/Brown/Purple Line stop)

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the final production in the third smash season of Chicago's "lost" musicals in staged concert series, Porchlight Revisits Chess, music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, lyrics by Tim Rice and Bjorn Ulvaeus and book by Tim Rice, with direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber, choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music direction by Jimmy Morehead. Porchlight Revisits Chess is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, May 3 through Thursday, May 5 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's Dreamgirls (previews begin April 8) on nights when there are no performances at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets for Chess are $30 in advance and $35 at the door the night of the performance. All tickets include access to the popular pre-performance event, Behind the Show Backstory, a multi-media presentation, created and hosted by Weber, that discusses that evening's production including the show's creative history, juicy backstage gossip and more. Single tickets to Chess are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Stage 773 box office, 773.327.5252. 

Don't change a thing, HIGH FIDELITY; you make the list.

Refuge Theatre Project's second season will open on January 29, 2016 with High Fidelity - the musical based on Nick Hornby's 1995 novel and on Stephen Frears' 2000 feature-film adaptation that starred Chicago natives John Cusack, Joan Cusack and Lili Taylor.

From the comedic minds behind The Colbert Report and Fifty Shades! The Musical, Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to present the world premiere musical comedy THE STORY OF A STORY (THE UNTOLD STORY) with book and lyrics by Emmy Award-winning writer Peter Gwinn (The Colbert Report), music by Jody Shelton (Fifty Shades!), direction and choreography by Christopher Pazdernik, associate direction by Jon Martinez and music direction and orchestrations by David Kornfeld. THE STORY OF A STORY (THE UNTOLD STORY) runs now through November 8, 2015 at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago. The press opening is tonight, October 6 at 7:30 pm, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

From the comedic minds behind The Colbert Report and Fifty Shades! The Musical, Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to present the world premiere musical comedy THE STORY OF A STORY (THE UNTOLD STORY) with book and lyrics by Emmy Award-winning writer Peter Gwinn (The Colbert Report), music by Jody Shelton (Fifty Shades!), direction and choreography by Christopher Pazdernik, associate direction by Jon Martinez and music direction and orchestrations by David Kornfeld. THE STORY OF A STORY (THE UNTOLD STORY) will play October 3 - November 8, 2015 at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago. The press opening is Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30 pm. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast!

From the comedic minds behind The Colbert Report and Fifty Shades! The Musical, Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to present the world premiere musical comedy THE STORY OF A STORY (THE UNTOLD STORY) with book and lyrics by Peter Gwinn (The Colbert Report), music by Jody Shelton (Fifty Shades!), direction and choreography by Christopher Pazdernik, associate direction by Jon Martinez and music direction and orchestrations by David Kornfeld. THE STORY OF A STORY (THE UNTOLD STORY) will play October 3 - November 8, 2015 at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago.  Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, September 1 at www.underscoretheatre.org or by calling (312) 646-0975. The press opening is Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30 pm.  

From the comedic minds behind The Colbert Report and Fifty Shades! The Musical, Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to present the world premiere musical comedy THE STORY OF A STORY (THE UNTOLD STORY) with book and lyrics by Peter Gwinn, music by Jody Shelton, direction and choreography by Christopher Pazdernik, music direction and orchestrations by David Kornfeld. THE STORY OF A STORY (THE UNTOLD STORY) will play October 3 - November 8, 2015 at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago.  Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, September 1 at www.underscoretheatre.org or by calling (312) 646-0975. The press opening is Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30 pm.  

From the comedic minds behind The Colbert Report and Fifty Shades! The Musical, Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to present the world premiere musical comedy THE STORY OF A STORY (THE UNTOLD STORY) with book and lyrics by Emmy Award-winning writer Peter Gwinn (The Colbert Report), music by Jody Shelton (Fifty Shades!), direction and choreography by Christopher Pazdernik, associate direction by Jon Martinez and music direction and orchestrations by David Kornfeld. THE STORY OF A STORY (THE UNTOLD STORY) will play October 3 - November 8, 2015 at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago. The press opening is Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30 pm. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'American Idiot' examines a generation, and 'The Girl In The Train' captures a by-gone era. We run down long-run shows, and break down the Marriott Theatre's 2016 season announcement, too. Plus 'Hollywood' from Light Opera Works, a new show from Underscore, a high school mounts 'Starlight Express,' and Christmas has begun!