Richard Friedman News

Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, one of Chicagoland's leading regional theatres, is thrilled to announce today the appointment of Philip Potempa, former Features Writer and Entertainment Columnist at the NORTHWEST INDIANA TIMES and beloved, well-known member of the theater community as Marketing Director. 

As the grand finale to their spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 Season, Theatre at the Center presents the beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Story, running November 19 through December 27, with a press opening on Sunday, November 22 at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. Based on the award-winning film, the play by Phil Grecian tells the story of Ralphie Parker, who longs for a genuine Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. The source material for the film was the warm and hilarious story collection In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by local Hammond, Indiana native Jean Shepherd. The holiday classic will be directed by Jeff Award-winner Linda Fortunato (Monty Python's Spamalot, A Christmas Carol, 42nd Street at Theatre at the Center).

 A massive hit on Broadway, playing over 1,500 hysterical performances seen by more than two million people, Monty Python's SPAMALOT continues Theatre at the Center's exceptional 25th Anniversary Season. The Monty Python-inspired farce of the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, features a book and lyrics by Eric Idle and a fresh new score created by Eric Idle and John Du Prez. The tale of King Arthur and his band of raunchy knights won the Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, and Best Direction of a Musical, as well as the Grammy Award in 2006 for Best Musical Show Album. Jeff Award-winning Director David Perkovich and Jeff Award-winning Choreographer Linda Fortunato join artistic forces to put their creative spin on the irreverent musical parody, running September 17th through October 18th, with a press opening on Sunday, September 20th at 7 p.m. at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN.

A massive hit on Broadway, playing over 1,500 hysterical performances seen by more than two million people, Monty Python's SPAMALOT continues Theatre at the Center's exceptional 25th Anniversary Season.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, presents RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH, now playing an extended run through November 1. The musical tribute has received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and has broken sales records for Mercury Theater Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

A massive hit on Broadway, playing over 1,500 hysterical performances seen by more than two million people, Monty Python's SPAMALOT continues Theatre at the Center's exceptional 25th Anniversary Season.

 Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, is thrilled to announce that RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH has been extended through November 1. The musical tribute has received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and has broken sales records for Mercury Theater Chicago. "A good time with a great American artist!" exclaimed Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune. Hedy Weiss of the Chicago Sun-Times Highly Recommends the production saying it's "A show ablaze with fire and unmitigated fun!"

Overflowing with Rock n' Roll, romance, and mistaken identities, the Elvis fueled Broadway Musical, ALL SHOOK UP, rides into Theatre at the Center, now through August 16th at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN. Jeff Award-winning Artistic Director Bill Pullinsi joins forces with Jeff Award-winning Choreographer Danny Herman to co-direct the well-tuned, hot-rod musical, which continues Theatre at the Center's spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 season. With a book by Tony Award-winning Joe DiPietro, nostalgic songs and sensational dance numbers, the hilarious musical will have audiences of all ages jumpin' out of their blue suede shoes. BroadwayWorld has highlights from the show below!

Overflowing with Rock n' Roll, romance, and mistaken identities, the Elvis fueled Broadway Musical, ALL SHOOK UP, rides into Theatre at the Center, July 16th through August 16th with a press opening on Sunday July 19th at 7 p.m. at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN. Jeff Award-winning Artistic Director Bill Pullinsi joins forces with Jeff Award-winning Choreographer Danny Herman to co-direct the well-tuned, hot-rod musical, which continues Theatre at the Center's spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 season. With a book by Tony Award-winning Joe DiPietro, nostalgic songs and sensational dance numbers, the hilarious musical will have audiences of all ages jumpin' out of their blue suede shoes!

Overflowing with Rock n' Roll, romance, and mistaken identities, the Elvis fueled Broadway Musical, ALL SHOOK UP, rides into Theatre at the Center, now through August 16th with a press opening this Sunday, July 19th at 7 p.m. at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN. Jeff Award-winning Artistic Director Bill Pullinsi joins forces with Jeff Award-winning Choreographer Danny Herman to co-direct the well-tuned, hot-rod musical, which continues Theatre at the Center's spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 season. With a book by Tony Award-winning Joe DiPietro, nostalgic songs and sensational dance numbers, the hilarious musical will have audiences of all ages jumpin' out of their blue suede shoes. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Overflowing with Rock n' Roll, romance, and mistaken identities, the Elvis fueled Broadway Musical, ALL SHOOK UP, rides into Theatre at the Center, tonight, July 16th through August 16th with a press opening on Sunday July 19th at 7 p.m. at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN.

Overflowing with Rock n' Roll, romance, and mistaken identities, the Elvis fueled Broadway Musical, ALL SHOOK UP, rides into Theatre at the Center, July 16th through August 16th with a press opening on Sunday July 19th at 7 p.m. at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, IN. Jeff Award-winning Artistic Director Bill Pullinsi joins forces with Jeff Award-winning Choreographer Danny Herman to co-direct the well-tuned, hot-rod musical, which continues Theatre at the Center's spectacular 25th Anniversary 2015 season. With a book by Tony Award-winning Joe DiPietro, nostalgic songs and sensational dance numbers, the hilarious musical will have audiences of all ages jumpin' out of their blue suede shoes!

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, is pleased to announce the extension of RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH through August 30. The musical tribute has received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and has broken sales records for Mercury Theater Chicago. "A good time with a great American artist!" exclaimed Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune. He also praised Kent M. Lewis' portrayal of Johnny Cash saying, "Lewis does not wear the cloak of the Man in Black; he inhabits him" and Hedy Weiss of the Chicago Sun-Times Highly Recommends the production saying it's "A show ablaze with fire and unmitigated fun!"

The deeply moving, enchanting new Broadway musical for all ages BIG FISH continues Theatre at the Center's exceptional 25th anniversary 2015 season. With a book by John August and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, BIG FISH is based on the Columbia Pictures film screenplay of the same name by John August and Daniel Wallace's 1998 novel, Big Fish: A Novel of Mythical Proportions. Artistic Director and multiple Jeff Award-winner William Pullinsi lends his expertise in the first professional locally-produced staging of the beloved musical running now through June 7th at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster. The show opened yesterday, May 10, and BroadwayWorld has photos from the festivities below!

Considered one of the Midwest's leading, professional equity theaters that presents both regional and world premieres featuring the area's finest artists, Theatre at the Center kicks off its 25th Anniversary 2015 season with the beloved classic, Ernest Thompson's ON GOLDEN POND. The touching, funny, and warmly insightful story, which went from a Tony Award-winning play on Broadway to an Oscar winning film starring Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda, runs now through March 29, with a press opening on Sunday, March 1. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, presents Theater at the Center's production of RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH, a thrilling musical celebration of 'The Man in Black', running from April 30 through June 28, 2015.

In the wake of the tragic loss of Actor Bernie Yvon, 50, in a car accident on his way to rehearsal of WOMEN ON THE VERGE, Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN the theater has moved its press opening to Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2:30pm. Previews begin Saturday, Sept. 13, with George Andrew Wolff assuming the role of the taxi driver that Mr. Yvon had been scheduled to play. After the opening, a small tribute reception will take place at the theater for attendees of the performance.

From the urban streets of Buffalo, NY's East Side, comes the story of the working-class Nowak family as they cope with tested faith and life's surprises. Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, continues their 2014 season of premieres with Tom Dudzick's MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET, running from May 1 through June 1. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights below!

From the urban streets of Buffalo, NY's East Side, comes the story of the working-class Nowak family as they cope with tested faith and life's surprises. Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, continues their 2014 season of premieres with Tom Dudzick's MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET, running through June 1. Dudzick is the writer of the beloved comedy 'Over the Tavern', which became a Theatre at the Center hit, and was also previously a long-running commercial success at The Mercury Theater - both under William Pullinsi's direction. Now as Director of MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET, Pullinsi presents the heartfelt and hilarious comedy that follows a supposed visitation by the Virgin Mary to a blue collar working class neighborhood, causing revelations for a family of Polish American Catholics. The production opened last night, May 4 - check out a look back below!

From the urban streets of Buffalo, NY's East Side, comes the story of the working-class Nowak family as they cope with tested faith and life's surprises. Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, continues their 2014 season of premieres with Tom Dudzick's MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET, running from tonight, May 1 through June 1 with a press opening on Sunday, May 4.