Missy Wise News

Launching BoHo Theatre's fifteenth season, Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's BRIGHT STAR is an earnest and charming show that wears its heart proudly on its musical sleeve.

Award Winning Songwriter Scott Alan makes his Chicago debut at Davenports Piano & Bar on March 11.

BoHo Theatre begins its 2019 season with BRIGHT STAR, a new musical by playwright Steve Martin and musician Edie Brickell, directed by Ericka Mac. This production marks the company's first as a resident company at Lincoln Park's Greenhouse Theater Center and also the first under new artistic director Stephen Schellhardt. BRIGHT STAR was nominated for five Tony Awards and called "a shining achievement" by THE NEW YORK TIMES. It received a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music and Outer Critics Circles Awards for Outstanding New Broadway Musical and Outstanding Score.

Porchlight Music Theatre announces the 2018 - 2019 New Faces Sing Broadway series: New Faces Sing Broadway 1964, with host WGN's Paul Lisnek, November 19 and 20; New Faces Sing Broadway 1941, February 26 - 28 and New Faces Sing Broadway NOW, April 29 and 30.

The Jeff Awards announced recipients of the 45th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards on Monday, June 11, at the Athenaeum Theatre.

Listen: Two songs from PF&P's hit show FLIES! The Musical

The Jeff-recommended World Premiere production of FLIES! THE MUSICAL has been extended for one additional weekend, due to popular demand. Originally scheduled to close on June 10, the new musical by bookwriter/lyricist Larry Todd Cousineau and composer Cindy O'Connor will play three additional performances - on Thursday June 14 and Friday, June 15 - and closing Saturday, June 16, all with curtain times of 7:30 pm. The Thursday, June 14 performance is pay-what-you-can for theatre industry members and returning audiences. The musical is performed in The Broadway, Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway.

Robert Ollis, music director and producer of Pride Films and Plays's annual NOMINEE NIGHT, has announced the lineup of performers nominated for Non-Equity Jeff Awards who will perform at the Monday, May 21 event, singing songs from the productions and roles for which they were nominated this year. It was also announced that Steve Kmetko (pictured), a longtime featured personality on E! Entertainment will serve as the concert's Master of Ceremonies.

In a twisted mash-up of WAITING FOR GUFFMAN and GLEE, FLIES! THE MUSICAL! follows the drama kids from Lovely Valley Performing Arts Magnet High School. The students are left behind in an abandoned forest preserve during a "research" retreat for an unauthorized teacher-written musical production of LORD OF THE FLIES. Gradually, things turn savage in a couple of unsupervised hours as the plot points of the novel begin to come true one by one, in song, until eventually the kids are "rescued" by an astonished park ranger (who happens to love musicals) but it's much too late for them to go back to who they were before. FLIES! THE MUSICAL! will open on Today, May 11 at 7:30 pm in The Broadway, Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway, following previews from May 3-6 and May 10.  

In a twisted mash-up of WAITING FOR GUFFMAN and GLEE, FLIES! THE MUSICAL! follows the drama kids from Lovely Valley Performing Arts Magnet High School. The students are left behind in an abandoned forest preserve during a 'research' retreat for an unauthorized teacher-written musical production of LORD OF THE FLIES. Gradually, things turn savage in a couple of unsupervised hours as the plot points of the novel begin to come true one by one, in song, until eventually the kids are 'rescued' by an astonished park ranger (who happens to love musicals) but it's much too late for them to go back to who they were before.

The Jeff Awards announced today a total of 115 nominations in 19 categories for the 45th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards.

In a twisted mash-up of WAITING FOR GUFFMAN and GLEE, FLIES! THE MUSICAL! follows the drama kids from Lovely Valley Performing Arts Magnet High School. The students are left behind in an abandoned forest preserve during a "research" retreat for an unauthorized teacher-written musical production of LORD OF THE FLIES. Gradually, things turn savage in a couple of unsupervised hours as the plot points of the novel begin to come true one by one, in song, until eventually the kids are "rescued" by an astonished park ranger (who happens to love musicals) but it's much too late for them to go back to who they were before. FLIES! THE MUSICAL! will open on Friday, May 11 at 7:30 pm in The Broadway, Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway, following previews from May 3-6 and May 10.  

Philip Torre, a baritone who has appeared on the stages of Lyric Opera of Chicago, New York City Opera, Boston Lyric Opera and others, will perform the title role of Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET. The production's Mrs. Lovett will be Jacquelyne Jones, who just completed a run in Firebrand Theatre's acclaimed production of LIZZIE and appeared in Theo Ubique's HONKY TONK ANGELS as well as Kokandy Productions' HEATHERS last season.

In a twisted mash-up of WAITING FOR GUFFMAN and GLEE, FLIES! THE MUSICAL! follows the drama kids from Lovely Valley Performing Arts Magnet High School. The students are left behind in an abandoned forest preserve during a "research" retreat for an unauthorized teacher-written musical production of LORD OF THE FLIES.

Philip Torre, a baritone who has appeared on the stages of Lyric Opera of Chicago, New York City Opera, Boston Lyric Opera and others, has been cast in the title role of Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET. The production's Mrs. Lovett will be Jacquelyne Jones, who just completed a run in Firebrand Theatre's acclaimed production of LIZZIE, and appeared in Theo Ubique's HONKY TONK ANGELS as well as Kokandy Productions' HEATHERS last season. Theo Ubique Artistic Director Fred Anzevino, who will direct the production, announced the full cast today.

Kokandy Productions is pleased to continue its 5th anniversary season with the Chicago premiere of BONNIE & CLYDE, the musical story of two small-town nobodies searching for meaning at the height of the Great Depression from the creative team of Frank Wildhorn, Ivan Menchell and Don Black. Directed by Spencer Neiman, with music direction by John Cockerill and choreography by Aubrey Adams, BONNIE & CLYDE will play August 27 - October 15, 2017 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.kokandyproductions.com, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office. 

Kokandy Productions has announced casting for its Chicago premiere of BONNIE & CLYDE, the musical story of two small-town nobodies searching for meaning at the height of the Great Depression from the creative team of Frank Wildhorn, Ivan Menchell and Don Black. 

Big Noise Theatre Company, a division of Winnetka Theatre, opens the Spring show Big Fish, the Musical. Join us for an opening night reception this Friday, April 21st beginning at 7pm. Light refreshments will be provided while you mingle, and you'll have a chance to take pictures in front of our amazing, show-inspired backdrop in the lobby. It's a romantic adventure you don't want to miss!

Big Noise Theatre Company, a division of Winnetka Theatre, announces the Spring show of their 2017 season, Big Fish, the Musical. Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed Tim Burton film, Big Fish centers on Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest, and then some! Edward's incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him - most of all, his devoted wife Sandra. But their son Will, about to have a child of his own, is determined to find the truth behind his father's epic tales. Overflowing with humor and heart, Big Fish is an extraordinary recent Broadway musical that's richer, funnier, and BIGGER than life itself!