Tom Vendafreddo News

Families, set your holiday entertainment dials for excitement, because Chicago musical theater powerhouse, the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, is turning one of the most iconic holiday movies ever made into a larger-than-life musical blockbuster, November 25-January 3. Director Nick Bowling will make his Paramount debut with A CHRISTMAS STORY - THE MUSICAL, everyone's favorite holiday comedy about little Ralphie and his quest for a Red Ryder BB gun. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

Writers Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce the Inaugural Season in the company's new theatre center, to include a season kick-off at Books on Vernon with Marjorie Prime by Jordan Harrison, directed by Kimberly Senior, followed by the Grand Opening of the state-of-the-art facility, designed by Jeanne Gang and Studio Gang Architects. Arcadia by Tom Stoppard, directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam will be the inaugural production in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre. A new collaboration with Chicago's The Second City entitled Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf-A Parody, by Tim Sniffen, with additional material by Tim Ryder, directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Stuart Carden, will open the Gillian Theatre. Company, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, directed by William Brown with musical direction by Tom Vendafreddo, will follow Arcadia in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre.

Everything's up to date in Aurora, where nearly 27,000 subscribers (and still counting) have already signed up for the Paramount Theatre's 2015-16 four-show Broadway Musical Series. That's just one reason why Paramount's Broadway opener OKLAHOMA!, directed by Artistic Director Jim Corti, promises to be the musical everyone will be talking about this fall. Wower of Chicagoland audiences and critics alike since launching its own, self-produced Broadway series four years ago, the Paramount's fifth consecutive Broadway Series kicks off with the epic, much-loved debut collaboration between Rodgers and Hammerstein about turn of the century American pioneers. Scroll down for photos from opening night on September 19!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Oklahoma!' is very ok, as are 'Side Show,' 'Triassic Parq' and 'Next To Normal,' 'The Revel' and 'One Brain More' join Super September, and 'Cupid' keeps his heart on. Porchlight has 'Babes In Arms' and a 'New Faces' series, 'Irving Berlin' and 'Elf'plan to light up the holidays, and 'The Wiz' gets replaced by 'Xanadu!'

Everything's up to date in Aurora, where nearly 27,000 subscribers (and still counting) have already signed up for the Paramount Theatre's 2015-16 four-show Broadway Musical Series.

Everything's up to date in Aurora, where nearly 27,000 subscribers (and still counting) have already signed up for the Paramount Theatre's 2015-16 four-show Broadway Musical Series.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'American Idiot' examines a generation, and 'The Girl In The Train' captures a by-gone era. We run down long-run shows, and break down the Marriott Theatre's 2016 season announcement, too. Plus 'Hollywood' from Light Opera Works, a new show from Underscore, a high school mounts 'Starlight Express,' and Christmas has begun!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's a Super September Preview! We've got the low-down on 16 musical productions you will want to see this month, from city to suburbs, big theaters to small, premieres and old favorites galore! 'Side Show,' 'Dogfight,' 'Next To Normal,' 'Oklahoma!,' 'Spamalot,' 'Blood Brothers,' 'October Sky,' CST's 'Ride The Cyclone' and much more!

Chicago actor Michael Shannon announced the 2014-15 Equity Jeff Award Nominees at 11 a.m. today, and the Paramount Theatre in Aurora is thrilled to share the news that in its first year of eligibility, Paramount received the most nominations of any Chicago theater.

Chicago stage, TV and film star Michael Shannon did the honor of announcing the nominees for the 2014-2015 Equity Jeff Awards. A video of the presentation is available at www.JeffAwards.org.

Families, set your holiday entertainment dials for excitement, because Chicago musical theater powerhouse, the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, is turning one of the most iconic holiday movies ever made into a larger-than-life musical blockbuster, November 25-January 3.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Into The Woods,' 'Company,' 'Oklahoma!' and 'South Pacific' receive local stagings, as do 'Loving Repeating' and 'Goblin Market.' New shows include 'Stanley In The Name Of Love' and the musical episode of 'Buffy.' Plus the latest on new screen versions of 'Lucky Stiff,' 'The Wiz' and 'Grease!'

Everything's up to date in Aurora, where nearly 27,000 subscribers (and still counting) have already signed up for the Paramount Theatre's 2015-16 four-show Broadway Musical Series.

The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences is thrilled to present its new production of Marc Robin's classic fairy tale musical PINOCCHIO! Come join us for the story of Pinocchio's eventful journey from wooden puppet to real boy, and delight in the adventures he has along the way. The production  runs through August 2, with a press opening today, July 11 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action 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. 'Beaches,' 'Kinky Boots' and 'Gotta Dance' show how a pre-Broadway tryout is done, while 'Fancy Nancy,' 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Pinocchio' go for a younger demographic. Meanwhile, Ravinia, Grant Park and Three Oaks (MI) do summer concerts, and The Music Theatre Company announces its own surprise demise.

Writers Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce casting for the Inaugural Season in the company's new theatre center.

The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences is thrilled to present its new production of Marc Robin's classic fairy tale musical PINOCCHIO! Come join us for the story of Pinocchio's eventful journey from wooden puppet to real boy, and delight in the adventures he has along the way. The production is currently in previews and runs through August 2, with a press opening on Saturday, July 11 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences is thrilled to present its new production of Marc Robin's classic fairy tale musical PINOCCHIO! Come join us for the story of Pinocchio's eventful journey from wooden puppet to real boy, and delight in the adventures he has along the way. The production is currently in previews and runs through August 2, with a press opening on Saturday, July 11 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences will present its new production of Marc Robin's classic fairy tale musical PINOCCHIO! Come join us for the story of Pinocchio's eventful journey from wooden puppet to real boy, and delight in the adventures he has along the way.

The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences will present its new production of Marc Robin's classic fairy tale musical PINOCCHIO! Come join us for the story of Pinocchio's eventful journey from wooden puppet to real boy, and delight in the adventures he has along the way.