Richard Friedman News

Five Chicago actor-musicians made their Theatre at the Center debut in this production. Christine Mild as Rhetta Cupp, Shaun Whitley as Jim, Matt Holzfeind as Jackson, Matt Edmonds as L.M. and Cody Siragusa as Eddie are joined by Veronica Garza, who returns to the TATC stage to play Rhetta's sister Prudie Cupp. Directed by Brian Russell with musical direction by William Underwood, Pump Boys and Dinettes will continue through October 16.  Check out some songs from the show below!

It was a full house on Sunday, September 18, for the opening night of Pump Boys and Dinettes at Theatre at the Center in Munster. The audience was treated to a little slice of Americana with this upbeat roadside musical. Scroll down for photos from the opening night festivities!

HELLDRIVERS OF DAYTONA, the critically-reviled new musical parody of 1960s hot-rod and beach movies, will not be taking a victory lap.

Five Chicago actor-musicians make their Theatre at the Center debut in the musical Pump Boys and Dinettes.  Christine Mild as Rhetta Cupp, Shaun Whitley as Jim, Matt Holzfeind as Jackson, Matt Edmonds as L.M. and Cody Siragusa as Eddie are joined by Veronica Garza, who returns to the TATC stage to play Rhetta's sister Prudie Cupp.   The director is Brian Russell and William Underwood is Music Director. 

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines...and prepare for a bumpy ride! The rubber will meet the road as the World Premiere of the hilarious new pop rock musical HELLDRIVERS OF DAYTONA takes the stage, opening tonight, September 12, at 7:30 p.m., and running through October 30 at The Royal George Theatre, 1641 North Halsted Street, Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Five Chicago actor-musicians make their Theatre at the Center debut in the musical Pump Boys and Dinettes.  Christine Mild as Rhetta Cupp, Shaun Whitley as Jim, Matt Holzfeind as Jackson, Matt Edmonds as L.M. and Cody Siragusa as Eddie are joined by Veronica Garza, who returns to the TATC stage to play Rhetta's sister Prudie Cupp.   The director is Brian Russell and William Underwood is Music Director. 

On Sunday, July 17 Theatre at the Center celebrated opening night of the Neil Simon comedy classic THE ODD COUPLE. THE ODD COUPLE runs through August 14. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines…and prepare for a bumpy ride!  The rubber will meet the road as the World Premiere of the hilarious new pop rock musical HELLDRIVERS OF DAYTONA takes the stage, previewing September 8, opening September 12 at 7:30 p.m., and running through October 30 at The Royal George Theatre, 1641 North Halsted Street, Chicago.  With music by Berton Averre (The Knack), lyrics by Rob Meurer (Platinum Records with Christopher Cross), and book by Emmy Award-winner Mark Saltzman (The Tin Pan Alley Rag, The Adventures of Milo and Otis), these award-winning creative minds have put the pedal to the metal in this NASCAR-themed musical full of girls, cars, and rockin' guitars.

Theatre at the Center is announcing its first season under the leadership of new Artistic Director Linda Fortunato.   Theatre at the Center's 2017 season is comprised of a variety of works ranging from Broadway musicals to a Chicagoland premiere play and a holiday classic.  The season opens with My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra, followed by Kander and Ebb's Tony Award winning Cabaret.  Next will be the Chicagoland premiere of The Tin Woman by Sean Grennan, then Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and closing the season is A Wonderful Life: The Musical.  Jeff award-winner Fortunato will direct three of the five productions.   William Underwood will serve as music director for the season.

?Actors Norm Boucher and George Keating will play the leads in Theatre at the Center's cast for the famous comedy classic The Odd Couple, the 1965 Broadway hit by iconic playwright Neil Simon.   Directed by Larry Wyatt, The Odd Couple runs from July 14 to Aug. 14.   

Theatre at the Center presents the Chicagoland premiere of the Broadway hit NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT. This new musical features a book by Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro, and a treasure trove of George and Ira Gershwin's most beloved, instantly recognizable tunes (Let's Call the Whole Thing Off, Someone to Watch Over Me, 'S Wonderful). NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT runs now through June 5 at Theatre at the Center. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

?Theatre at the Center announces the Chicagoland premiere of the Broadway hit Nice Work If You Can Get It.  This new musical features a book by Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro, and a treasure trove of George and Ira Gershwin's most beloved, instantly recognizable tunes (Let's Call the Whole Thing Off, Someone to Watch Over Me, 'S Wonderful).  Nice Work If You Can Get It runs May 5 through June 5 at Theatre at the Center.

The newly designed and renovated Apollo Theater Chicago, 2540 N Lincoln Ave, is excited to present a special limited engagement of Marc Salem's Mind Over Chicago, the latest interactive show in Marc Salem's Mind Over... series, created with tasty local flavor specifically for the Windy City.

A hit on Broadway and in London's West End, the thrilling comedy, Alfred Hitchcock's THE 39 STEPS kick started Theatre at the Center's 26th season on February 21 and continues through March 20, 2016. This comedic spoof offers non-stop action and features four actors playing more than 150 different characters. The show is filled with an incredible series of lightning fast costume changes that make for a great deal of laughter and excitement. BroadwayWorld has a photo from the opening night festivities below!

The newly designed and renovated Apollo Theater Chicago, 2540 N Lincoln Ave, is excited to present a special limited engagement of Marc Salem's Mind Over Chicago, the latest interactive show in Marc Salem's Mind Over… series, created with tasty local flavor specifically for the Windy City.

Amazing and amusing, Marc's theatrical creations have been hailed as 'NOT TO BE MISSED!' by ABC News and 'A SUREFIRE 'you-gotta-see-this-show' SHOW!' by Variety. Both fascinating and psychological, his performances have been enjoyed by millions around the world from Broadway and the West End to the Sydney Opera House and Singapore, earning him the name 'The King of the Mind-Readers' by Time Out.

A hit on Broadway and in London's West End, the thrilling comedy, Alfred Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps" kick starts Theatre at the Center's 26th season beginning February 18 and continuing through March 20, 2016.  This comedic spoof offers non-stop action and features four actors playing more than 150 different characters.  The show is filled with an incredible series of lightning fast costume changes that make for a great deal of laughter and excitement.

Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, one of Chicagoland's leading regional theatres, announces today that as of January 1, William Pullinsi will step down after over a decade as Artistic Director to dedicate his time to pursuing other opportunities while remaining Artistic Director Emeritus. Jeff Award-winner Linda Fortunato will assume the role of Artistic Director. During Pullinsi's time at Theatre at the Center he brought to the stage World Premiere musicals including Knute Rockne, All American and The Beverly Hillbillies; and Regional and Chicago Premieres including Ring of Fire, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, A Christmas Memory, Making God Laugh, Miracle on South Division Street, Fox on the Fairway, Do I Hear a Waltz, Leading Ladies, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, What a Glorious Feeling and Nice Work if You Can Get It (which he will be directing during TATC's 2016 season).

As the grand finale to their spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 Season, Theatre at the Center presents the beloved holiday classic, A CHRISTMAS STORY, running now through December 27, with a press opening this Sunday, November 22 at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!