Sarah Larson News

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. December is here, and 'Peter Pan' is finally live! Plus Light Opera Works and The Hyprocrites tackle operettas, 'Newsies' and 'Mary Poppins' have significant holiday runs, 'Stomp' and 'Schooner' return, Billy Corgan and Patti Lupone strut their stuff, and the community schedules a tribute to Sheldon Patinkin.

The Music Theatre Company will launch its 2014-15 season with THE 48-HOUR MUSICALS: ENCORE!, featuring four 15-minute musicals originally written and rehearsed in just 48 hours by Scotty Arnold, Diana Lawrence, Michael Mahler and J. Oconer Navarro plus the world premiere of a 20-minute musical by Smashing Pumpkins frontman and Chicagoland native Billy Corgan.

?The Music Theatre Company will launch its 2014-15 season with THE 48-HOUR MUSICALS: ENCORE!, featuring four 15-minute musicals originally written and rehearsed in just 48 hours by Scotty Arnold, Diana Lawrence, Michael Mahler and J. Oconer Navarro plus the world premiere of a 20-minute musical by Smashing Pumpkins frontman and Chicagoland native Billy Corgan.

The Music Theatre Company will launch its 2014-15 season with THE 48-HOUR MUSICALS: ENCORE!, featuring four 15-minute musicals originally written and rehearsed in just 48 hours by Scotty Arnold, Diana Lawrence, Michael Mahler and J. Oconer Navarro plus the world premiere of a 20-minute musical by Smashing Pumpkins frontman and Chicagoland native Billy Corgan.

Theo Ubique's wildly popular summer cabaret, which sold out all of its first extension through the end of August, will be performed an additional 11 times between September 6 and October 6. After two weekends of Friday and Saturday 8 PM evening shows September 6, 7, 13 and 14, the sisters will pause for a week while Theo Ubique readies and opens its fall show, A Kurt Weill Cabaret, which will begin previews September 22, 2014. The Andrews Sisters will return on Wednesday, September 24 and play a schedule of varying performance dates through Saturday, October 6, including matinees on Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5. The optional meal service will not be offered for the matinees.

Theo Ubique's hit summer cabaret, A Musical Tribute to the Andrews Sisters, has added a month of performances in August following the complete sellout of all its July dates. The schedule continues with performances Thursday through Sunday evenings (though there will be no shows Friday, August 15 through Sunday, August 17), plus Wednesday evening performances beginning August 13. A complete schedule of performances is listed 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. The Jeff Awards, Theo Ubique's future plans, Jennifer Hudson performs, 'Damn Yankees' at LOW, 'The Beverly Hillbillies,' 'Coraline,' 'The Last Ship' and the Chicago Musical Theatre Festival debut, 'Spelling Bee' starts, 'Avenue Q' extends and BroadwayWorld Chicago hosts a Tony Party!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Cats,' 'Les Miserables' and 'Songs From An Unmade Bed,' rake in the reviews, 'Road Show' and 'Passion' will be followed by 'Assassins,' Theo readies 'The Andrews Sisters,' Kokandy brings back 'The Full Monty' and 'Loving Repeating,' plus two kids shows and more!

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre's production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Passion will feature three Jeff-Award lauded performers in its lead roles, Artistic Director Fred Anzevino has announced. The role of Fosca, the sickly woman obsessed with a handsome young soldier in 19th Century Italy, will be played by Danni Smith, who just last year was honored with the Jeff Award for Actress in a Supporting Role for her work in Bailiwick Chicago's production of the musical See What I Wanna See. Smith's win came after two previous nominations in the same category, for Theo Ubique's Pump Boys and Dinettes and Bohemian Theatre Ensemble's The Glorious Ones. Playing Giorgio, the military officer who is the object of Fosca's affections, will be Peter Oyloe, a three-time Jeff Award winner. Oyloe's recent win as best leading actor in a musical for 2013's Hank Williams: Lost Highway was preceded by wins for his leading role in Equus and supporting role in The Pillowman, both at Redtwist Theatre. Collette Todd, Jeff-nominated for her role as Giulietta in Theo Ubique's Aspects of Love and recipient of critical and audience raves for her leading roles in Light Opera Works' productions of Man of La Mancha, Oliver! and Annie Get Your Gun, will play Clara - the third member of Passion's love triangle. Ms. Todd will also understudy the role of Fosca.

Family and Community combine with music, entertainment and youth when Cabrillo Music Theatre celebrates their upcoming production of IN THE HEIGHTS with CARNAVAL DE CABRILLO! As part of Cabrillo Music Theatre's 20th Anniversary Celebration, and modeled after the 'Carnaval delBarrio' that plays a pivotal role in the show, CARNAVAL DE CABRILLO unites enthusiastic young people, dancers of all ages, city officials, community leaders and local businesses for a free afternoon of dance, music, food and fun. CARNAVAL DE CABRILLO takes place on Sunday, January 12, 2014, from 12 Noon to 5:00PM, in Carpenter Park, directly outside Cabrillo Music Theatre's home venue, the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

Penobscot Theatre Company's Dramatic Academy proudly presents four productions, featuring more than seventy students: Aristocats Kids, Musical Selections from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, High School Musical On Stage, and RENT: School Edition.

The 80th Annual Academy Awards were broadcast live from the Hollywood Kodak Theatre on February 24 on ABC-TV, hosted by Jon Stewart.