Randolph Johnson News

Back on stage for the first time since before the pandemic, Grammy-award winner Che Rhymefest joins other Black artists in a virtual cabaret room to ask, “How can we bring color and movement back to our neighborhoods? We do so through the windows of our soul—our smiling eyes.”

CPA Theatricals presents a winning new holiday musical, THE LAND OF FORGOTTEN TOYS.

A brand new holiday musical for families with teens and tweens, but enough smart humor to keep adults entertained as well, will premiere in Chicago this holiday season. THE LAND OF FORGOTTEN TOYS a?" developed by Chicago-based non-profit company CPA Theatricals and produced in collaboration with Greenhouse Theater Center a?" is a completely original 90-minute musical about a brilliant young woman just out of high school and her quest to save Christmas.

A preliminary list of performers for Pride Films and Plays annual NOMINEE NIGHT concert has been announced by PFP Artistic Associate Robert Ollis, presenting music director for the event. NOMINEE NIGHT, which showcases musical theater performers and productions nominated in the Non-Equity Jeff Awards, will be performed on Monday, May 13 at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted. The lineup, which is subject to change up until show time, will include performers who were cast members of the five productions nominated for "Production of a Musical" or who received individual performance nominations.

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY - the heartfelt, intimate musical based on Robert James Waller's tender story of love, regrets and second chances - will play an additional two weeks to meet audience demand, according to Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Artistic Director Fred Anzevino. The new closing date is now Sunday, May 5. Theo Ubique's production, which opened to the press on March 11, earned raves from critics and has been playing to near-capacity houses since its opening. Giving the production 3-1/2 Stars, the CHICAGO TRIBUNE's Chris Jones said leading actress Kelli Harrington 'shines in a Broadway-worthy performance.' Catey Sullivan, writing for the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, said 'the supporting cast is a delight' and called the show ' a genuinely moving story of loss, longing and sacrifice.' WTTW's Hedy Weiss said music director Jeremy Ramey has 'a genius for conjuring a symphonic sound with a five-piece ensemble.' The entire cast will continue with the production for the two-week extension.

The Bridges of Madison County - the heartfelt, intimate musical by Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Honeymoon in Vegas, The Last Five Years) and Marsha Norman (The Color Purple) based on Robert James Waller's tender story of love, regrets and second chances - will open to the press on Monday, March 11. Artistic Director Fred Anzevino will be stage director and Jeremy Ramey music director.  The musical, which won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Score, will be the second show of Theo Ubique's first season in its new home at 721 Howard Street in Evanston. The Bridges of Madison County will preview from March 8-10 and play Thursdays through Sundays through April 21, 2019.

Artistic Director Fred Anzevino announced today his full cast and production team for THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY - the heartfelt, intimate musical based on Robert James Waller's tender story of love, regrets and second chances. Anzevino will be stage director and Jeremy Ramey music director.  THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and book by Marsha Norman, won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Score. The second show of Theo Ubique's first season in its new home at 721 Howard Street in Evanston, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY will preview from March 8-10, open to the press on Monday, March 11 and play Thursdays through Sundays through April 21, 2019.

Porchlight Music Theatre begins its sixth season of Chicago's "lost" musicals in staged concert series with Porchlight Revisits 1776, music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and book by Peter Stone with direction by Artistic Director Michael Weber, musical direction by Jeremy Ramey and musical staging by Michelle Lauto. Porchlight Revisits 1776 is presented for only three performances Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 15 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Tickets for 1776 are available now for $37, subscriptions to the three performance series including 1776, Can-Can, March 6 and 7, 2019 and Minnie's Boys, May 22 and 23, 2019 are $90/per person and available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight Music Theatre box office at 773.777.9884.

Porchlight Music Theatre begins its sixth season of Chicago's "lost" musicals in staged concert series with Porchlight Revisits 1776, music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and book by Peter Stone with direction by Artistic Director Michael Weber, musical direction by Jeremy Ramey and musical staging by Michelle Lauto.

Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to present its 4th annual CHICAGO MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL, created to showcase and support the growing field of musical theatre creators from Chicago and beyond. This year's Festival, featuring full productions of seven new musicals plus two staged readings, will play February 5 - 25, 2018 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Each full production will receive at least four performances during the Festival. Single tickets are currently available at www.cmtf.org. The press "Sneak Preview," featuring a sampling of songs from the 2018 Festival, is Monday, February 5 at 8 pm.

Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to present its 4th annual CHICAGO MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL, created to showcase and support the growing field of musical theatre creators from Chicago and beyond. This year's Festival, featuring full productions of seven new musicals plus two staged readings, will play February 6 16, 2018 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Each full production will receive at least four performances during the Festival. Single tickets are currently available at www.cmtf.org. The press Sneak Preview, featuring a sampling of songs from the 2018 Festival, is Monday, February 5 at 8 pm.

Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to present 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 9 - 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) and can be found at www.cmtf.org, with tickets currently on sale ($20 per show, $200 all-festival rush passes). The press "sneak preview," featuring a sampling of songs from the 2016 Festival, is Monday, August 8 at 7:30 pm.

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.

Step Up Productions opens its 2015-16 season with Neil Simon's Tony Award-winning romantic comedy BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, directed by Michael Driscoll, playing now through November 1, 2015 at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. in Chicago. The press opening is tonight, October 6 at 8 pm, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Step Up Productions is pleased to open its 2015-16 season with Neil Simon's Tony Award-winning romantic comedy BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, directed by Michael Driscoll, playing tonight, October 2 - November 1, 2015 at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. in Chicago.

 Step Up Productions is pleased to open its 2015-16 season with Neil Simon's Tony Award-winning romantic comedy BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, directed by Michael Driscoll, playing October 2 - November 1, 2015 at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. in Chicago. Single tickets and season subscriptions are currently on sale at www.stepupproductions.org or by calling The Athenaeum Box Office at (773) 935-6875.  The press opening is Tuesday, October 6 at 8 pm.

Step Up Productions is pleased to open its 2015-16 season with Neil Simon's Tony Award-winning romantic comedy BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, directed by Michael Driscoll, playing October 2 - November 1, 2015 at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. in Chicago. Single tickets and season subscriptions are currently on sale at www.stepupproductions.org or by calling The Athenaeum Box Office at (773) 935-6875. The press opening is Tuesday, October 6 at 8 pm.