Robert Deason News

Fox Valley Repertory continues their 2013 theater series rockin' to the classic tunes of the 1960s with the fun summer musical, Why Do Fools Fall in Love?. Directed and Choreographed by Kyle Donahue of Geneva with Music Direction by Robert Deason, performances will take place at the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage on June 6 through July 28, 2013 (4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL; box office 630-584-6342).

Big Noise Theatre Company closes their 2012-13 season with DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, directed and choreographed by Zachary L. Gray, with musical direction by Robert Deason. Performances will be held at the Prairie Lakes Theatre from tonight, April 26-May 12, 2013. Marsha Rutenberg and Daiva Paulis co-produce, and Alex McCrary is the associate director.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'The Jungle Book' heats up, 'Oklahoma!' and 'South Pacific,' 'Oliver!' and 'Barnum,' plus 'Stomp,' some interesting student productions and more!

Big Noise Theatre Company closes their 2012-13 season with DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, directed and choreographed by Zachary L. Gray, with musical direction by Robert Deason. Performances will be held at the Prairie Lakes Theatre from April 26-May 12, 2013. Marsha Rutenberg and Daiva Paulis co-produce, and Alex McCrary is the associate director.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Fiddler' and the Paramount triumph and make plans, two Sondheim shows next year from Gary Griffin, the return of 'Hank Williams' and 'Last Five Years,' 'Parade' and 'Pirates' in short runs, and two Victorian musical dramas, spanning the pond...and more!

Fox Valley Repertory continues their 2013 theater series with the 1950's with Stuart Ross's hit, Forever Plaid. Directed by Brandon Bruce with Music Direction by Jeffrey Poindexter, performances will take place at the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage on March 28 through May 19, 2013 (4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL; box office 630-584-6342).

Midwest New Musicals continues Words and Music, its concert reading series of original musicals, with WANTING MISS JULIE, book by John Sparks, lyrics by Patricia Zehentmayr and music by Jake Anthony, tonight, November 19, at 7:30 PM at the Light Opera Works Second Stage at 1420 Maple (at Lake) in Evanston. Tickets are $15, available at Light Opera Works box office: (847) 920-5360 or at the door.

Kenny Leon and True Colors Theatre Company announce their 2012-2013 season. This is the 10th anniversary season for Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company, which opens in November with a Regional Premiere of Leon's hit Broadway show, The Mountaintop by Katori Hall directed by Jasmine Guy. The Mountaintop will be followed by August Wilson's classic Two Trains Running in February 2013. The season concludes in July 2013 with Shakin' the Rafters, a World Premiere gospel musical by former Alliance Theatre Associate Artistic Director, David H. Bell, the writer who brought us Gut Bucket Blues and Hot Mikado.

Midwest New Musicals continues Words and Music, its concert reading series of original musicals, with WANTING MISS JULIE, book by John Sparks, lyrics by Patricia Zehentmayr and music by Jake Anthony, on Monday, November 19, at 7:30 PM at the Light Opera Works Second Stage at 1420 Maple (at Lake) in Evanston. Tickets are $15, available at Light Opera Works box office: (847) 920-5360 or at the door.

Big Noise Theatre Company opens its 2012-13 season with the engaging rock-opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, now playing weekends through October 21, 2012. Performances will be held at Prairie Lakes Theatre in Des Plaines, IL. The production is directed by Stacey Flaster, and Robert Deason returns to

Big Noise Theatre Company will open its 2012-13 season with the engaging rock-opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, opening tonight, September 28th and playing weekends through October 21, 2012. Performances will be held at Prairie Lakes Theatre in Des Plaines, IL. The production is directed by Stacey Flaster, and Robert Deason returns to Big Noise as the show's music director.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Grease,' 'Godspell,' 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' 'The Rocky Horror Show' and 'Xanadu' bring back the 70s! Plus more, including a big '42nd Street,' two announcements from Light Opera Works, and a weekend with Lonny Price.

Big Noise Theatre Company will open its 2012-13 season with the engaging rock-opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, opening September 28th and playing weekends through October 21, 2012. Performances will be held at Prairie Lakes Theatre in Des Plaines, IL. The production is directed by Stacey Flaster, and Robert Deason returns to Big Noise as the show's music director.

Kenny Leon and True Colors Theatre Company announce their 2012-2013 season. This is the 10th anniversary season for Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company, which opens in November with a Regional Premiere of Leon's hit Broadway show, The Mountaintop by Katori Hall directed by Jasmine Guy. The Mountaintop will be followed by August Wilson's classic Two Trains Running in February 2013. The season concludes in July 2013 with Shakin' the Rafters, a World Premiere gospel musical by former Alliance Theatre Associate Artistic Director, David H. Bell, the writer who brought us Gut Bucket Blues and Hot Mikado.

In case you missed it in the "Showtune Mosh Pit" column last week, here is my full listing of musical theater shows (plus three special concert events) happening in Chicago this summer. Click on the name of each show for a link to more information. And enjoy!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The non-Equity Jeff Awards are Monday night, and we've compiled our first ever Summer Musical Theatre Guide! Here are 35 listings for your viewing pleasure....

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'tick...tick...BOOM!,' 'A Little Night Music,' a local 'Avenue Q?,' Kevin Earley and Nathan Lane are in town, 'Sexy Baby,' the High School Musical Theater Awards and more....

Big Noise Theatre Company closes its 2011-12 season with the musical biography, LEADER OF THE PACK: THE ELLIE GREENWICH MUSICAL, opening tonight April 27 and playing weekends through May 13, 2012. Performances will be held at the Prairie Lake Theatre in Des Plaines, IL. The company is celebrating its 10th year of bringing live entertainment to the venue. LEADER OF THE PACK is directed by Nancy Flaster, with choreography by Flaster and Ann Fink, the team who brought the smash hit BEEHIVE to Prairie Lakes audiences in 2009. Robert Deason, music director of Big Noise's fall production of HOW TO SUCCEED… returns as music director.

The Paramount Theater is presenting the nostalgic jukebox revue Route 66 for a nine-week run, four shows a week, in the intimate, 216-seat Copley Theater. Tickets are on sale now for Paramount's production of Roger Bean's Route 66, a jukebox comedy about a gang of rowdy Chicago service station attendants who take an imaginary Chicago to L.A. road trip singing tunes by Willie Nelson, Woody Guthrie, Roger Miller and The Beach Boys, just to name a few. Check out photos from the production below!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Broadway In Chicago's upcoming season, 'The Boy Scout Musical,' 'Faustus,' a rare 'Leader Of The Pack,' death of Etel Billig, a Southside 'Dreamgirls' and much more....