Michael Weber News

Porchlight Music Theatre held PorchlightPalooza, a three-day virtual festival Friday, Aug. 21 - Sunday, Aug. 23,  in lieu of its cancelled March 23 ICONS GALA.

An all-star line-up of Chicago natives and stars who got their start in the Windy City have come together for a new music video, performing the Blues anthem a?oeSweet Home Chicago.a?? 

Porchlight Music Theatre announced today that its 2020 - 2021 season has been postponed to 2021 - 2022. Due to the unknowns that currently exist concerning the pandemic and reopening guidelines, Porchlight will be moving its scheduled 2020 - 2021 season productions to the 2021 - 2022 season. 

Learn more about all the streaming offerings, podcasts, classes, and more streaming from Chicago arts orgs this month.:

A Red Orchid Theatre and Porchlight Music Theatre announce the collaboration WAR OF THE WELL(e)S, an audio drama adaptation of the stage play written by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber and directed by A Red Orchid Ensemble Member Lawrence Grimm.

Porchlight Music Theatre's 25th Anniversary season continues with its new free virtual series 'Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable' with host Michael Weber, on Porchlight's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre.

With performing arts venues temporarily shutting their doors due to the health crisis, many theaters are bringing their content online!

Porchlight Music Theatre's 25th Anniversary season continues with a new free virtual series a?oeSondheim @ 90 Roundtablea?? with host Michael Weber, debuting Saturday, April 25 at 7 p.m. CST on Porchlight's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced its 26th season that includes the 2020 - 2021 Mainstage, Porchlight Revisits and New Faces Sing Broadway series. Porchlight's Mainstage and Porchlight Revisits return to the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street with its annual fundraising concert Chicago Sings Andrew Lloyd Webber launching the season taking place at the Museum of Contemporary Arts, 220. E. Chicago Ave.

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre has announced that artists from the worlds of music theatre and dance will be performing at the ICONS Gala celebrating 25 years of Porchlight as the center for music theatre in Chicago, Monday, March 23, at the Ritz-Carlton, 160 E. Pearson St. Performances, directed by Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director Michael Weber, will commemorate the impressive body of work from its 2020 ICON award recipient and Broadway legend Joel Grey who will be in attendance to receive the award.

Porchlight Music Theatre's 25th Anniversary Mainstage season continues with Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, January 24 a?" March 6, 2020 at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. Featuring music by Duke Ellington, concept by Donald McKayle, direction and choreography by Brenda Didier and Florence Walker Harris, and music direction by Jermaine Hill.

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre has announced that Arlen and Elaine Cohen Rubin will be honored with The Luminary Award at the ICONS Gala celebrating 25 years of Porchlight as the center for music theatre in Chicago, Monday, March 23, at the Ritz-Carlton, 160 E. Pearson St. The Chicago-based couple will join Broadway legend Joel Grey who will be in attendance to receive the ICON Award at the 2020 ICONS Gala with proceeds benefiting Porchlight's artistic and youth education programs.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced that actor, singer, dancer, director and photographer Joel Grey will be honored at the 2020 ICONS Gala celebrating 25 years of Porchlight as the center for music theatre in Chicago, Monday, March 23, at the Ritz-Carlton, 160 E. Pearson St. The ICONS Gala's 25th Anniversary co-chairs are Rick and Deann Bayless and Bill Kurtis and Donna La Pietra.

Broadway's smash hit musical BEETLEJUICE will play its final performance at the Winter Garden Theatre on Saturday, June 6, 2020. Final block of tickets now on sale for all performances through Saturday, June 6, 2020. BEETLEJUICE just broke the Winter Garden Theatre Box Office Record for 8 performances on the week ending December 1, 2019. Tour details have been revealed - find out when it's coming to a city near you!

BEETLEJUICE, presented by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures (Mark Kaufman) and Langley Park Productions (Kevin McCormick), announced Beetlejuice broke the Winter Garden Box Office Record for an 8 performance week with a gross of $1,589,838.90, the week ending December 1, 2019. The previous record was held by SCHOOL OF ROCK with a gross of $1,506,236.20, for the week ending December 27, 2015.

Porchlight Music Theatre continue its 25th Anniversary Season with its 'lost' musicals in staged concert series Porchlight Revisits. Porchlight Revisits Call Me Madam, with book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and music and lyrics by Irving Berlin stars Donica Lynn as the titular socialite presented for three performances Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 21 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street.

Riley Keough is set to star as the lead singer Daisy Jones in Amazon's musical drama Daisy Jones and the Six, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

BEETLEJUICE is currently featured as Amazon Music's Song of the Day on Halloween, Thursday, October 31, 2019. By saying, a?oeAlexa, play the song of the daya?? on devices with Amazon Music Unlimited, an Amazon Echo or a phone with the Amazon Music app, you can hear a?oeSay My Namea?? from the smash hit Original Broadway Cast Recording of BEETLEJUICE. a?oeThe Whole 'Being Dead' Thinga?? is also currently featured on Amazon Music's Broadway a?oeShowstoppersa?? playlist (https://music.amazon.com/playlists/B07YG1BLYH) where BEETLEJUICE has taken over the playlist cover this week.

Porchlight Music Theatre continue its 25th Anniversary Season with its a?oelosta?? musicals in staged concert series Porchlight Revisits. Porchlight Revisits Call Me Madam, with book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and music and lyrics by Irving Berlin stars Donica Lynn as the titular socialite presented for three performances Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 21 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street

Sunset Boulevard stars Hollis Resnik and is directed by Michael Weber, choreographed by Shanna VanDerwerker and music directed by Aaron Benham.  The regular run performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. with additional performances Wednesday, Nov. 6; Nov. 13 and Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 24, Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 29 at 3:30 p.m. and an added performance Sunday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $39 - $66 and are available at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight Music Theatre box office, 773.777.9884.