Jacaranda to Present David Byrne's THE KNEE PLAYS, 3/16-5/4
by Tyler Peterson - Mar 20, 2014
Jacaranda will perform 'The Knee Plays' by David Byrne, the famed driving force of the 'art rock' band the Talking Heads. This program of 1980s film, theater and ceremonial music is part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's citywide 'Minimalist Jukebox' (March 16-May 4). Robert Wilson's ambitious, unfinished opera 'the CIVIL warS' was intended for the 1984 Olympics Arts Festival in Los Angeles. 'The Knee Plays' was conceived as a set of 14 short interludes between sections of the opera to span an entire day. Jacaranda's offering of the entire set, which Byrne toured widely and recorded, will complement the L.A. Phil's two performances of the opera's 'Rome Section' by Philip Glass. Together, they constitute the only two completed parts of 'the CIVIL warS' - united in Los Angeles for the first time ever. 'The Knee Plays' tour ended in 1988.
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for March 19th, 2014
by Paul W. Thompson - Mar 19, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Passion,' 'Road Show' and 'Into The Woods' celebrate Sondheim's birthday, 'Dessa Rose' and 'Rent' rake in the reviews, Black Ensemble and Bailiwick announce spring shows, new musicals from Writers Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare, plus Ravinia and Court plan summers 2014 and 2015 and more....
Mercury Theater Chicago & The Hypocrites Will Celebrate Sondheim's Birthday with Weeklong Celebration, 3/16-22
by Tyler Peterson - Mar 13, 2014
Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., will celebrate Stephen Sondheim's birthday at The Hypocrites' production INTO THE WOODS with a weeklong celebration beginning on Sunday, March 16 with a panel discussion following the 3 p.m. performance with Andra Velis Simon from Columbia College Chicago and Director Geoff Button, and a second panel discussion on Saturday, March 22 following the 2 p.m. performance with Kris Vire, Associate Editor at Time Out Chicago and Executive Director L. Walter Stearns. The matinee performance on March 22, Stephen Sondheim's actual birthday, will also feature a classic Sondheim sing-a-long immediately following the panel discussion with selections from Merrily We Roll Along, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George and Roadshow. A delicious birthday cake from gourmet Southport bakery Sensational Bites A Dessert Cafe will be served following the sing-a-long on March 22. Directed by Geoff Button* with Musical Direction by Matt Deitchman, INTO THE WOODS has been extended through Saturday, April 5.
Mercury Theater Chicago Extends The Hypocrites' INTO THE WOODS Through 4/5
by Tyler Peterson - Mar 12, 2014
Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., announces that The Hypocrites' production INTO THE WOODS, directed by Geoff Button* with Musical Direction by Matt Deitchman, has been extended through Saturday, April 5. The production was selected as a Critics' Pick by Time Out Chicago and has hailed as 'Beautiful' (Chicago Tribune) and 'A wonder! Terrific! Excellent! Perfectly charming.' (Newcity)
More Than LBJ! Meet the Full Company of ALL THE WAY, Opening Tomorrow on Broadway!
by Meet the Cast - Mar 5, 2014
All the Way, the new play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan, starring BREAKING BAD's Bryan Cranston, is currently in previews on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre. The production officially opens on Thursday, March 6, 2014 for a strictly limited engagement. The play is directed by Bill Rauch, Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where All the Way began its theatrical life. Scroll down to learn more about the full cast of ALL THE WAY, plus watch interviews with the company below!
Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2014 Previews Begin Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Feb 14, 2014
The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2014 preview performances begin tonight, February 14, and the season will open Friday night, February 21 in the Angus Bowmer Theatre with Shakespeare's The Tempest (director, Tony Taccone). On Saturday, Lorraine Hansberry's The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window (Juliette Carrillo) takes the stage, as does the classic Marx Brothers musical The Cocoanuts (David Ivers), and Sunday afternoon Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors (Kent Gash) opens in the Thomas Theatre.
Peter Polycarpou, Gary Wilmot and Colin Stinton Join West End Transfer of THE PAJAMA GAME
by Courtnie Mele - Feb 13, 2014
Peter Polycarpou, Gary Wilmot and Colin Stinton join the cast of the West End transfer of Chichester Festival Theatre's sparkling production of the Broadway smash hit musical, The Pajama Game, directed by Richard Eyre. Peter Polycarpou and Colin Stinton reprise their roles as Vernon Hines and Hasler, with Gary Wilmot taking over the role of Vernon Hines from 2 June. They join the previously announced Joanna Riding and Michael Xavier. The Pajama Game opens at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 13 May, with previews from 2 May, playing until 13 September 2014.
Photo Flash: First Look at The Hypocrites' INTO THE WOODS
by Diana Heisroth - Feb 10, 2014
Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents The Hypocrites' production INTO THE WOODS, directed by Geoff Button* with Musical Direction by Matt Deitchman, opening Tuesday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m. and running through Sunday, March 30. Scroll down for some pictures from the production!
Mercury Theater Chicago Hosts Stephen Sondheim Panel After INTO THE WOODS Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Feb 7, 2014
Mercury Theater Chicago and The Hypocrites will feature Stephen Sondheim: The Man and The Music, a post-show talk back discussion on the renowned composer with Dr. Mark E. Lococo, Professor and Director of Theatre at Loyola University Chicago; Dr. Sarah Gabel, Chairperson for the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Loyola University Chicago; and Director Geoff Button, following the 8:00 p.m. performance of INTO THE WOODS tonight, February 7 at the Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Ave. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and the book by James Lapine, The Hypocrites bring their heightened and playful sense of theatricality to the musical INTO THE WOODS through March 30.
Mercury Theater Chicago Sets Stephen Sondheim Panel After INTO THE WOODS, 2/7
by Tyler Peterson - Jan 29, 2014
Mercury Theater Chicago and The Hypocrites will feature Stephen Sondheim: The Man and The Music, a post-show talk back discussion on the renowned composer with Dr. Mark E. Lococo, Professor and Director of Theatre at Loyola University Chicago; Dr. Sarah Gabel, Chairperson for the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Loyola University Chicago; and Director Geoff Button, following the 8:00 p.m. performance of INTO THE WOODS on Friday, February 7 at the Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Ave. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and the book by James Lapine, The Hypocrites bring their heightened and playful sense of theatricality to the musical INTO THE WOODS through March 30.
Mercury Theater Chicago to Present The Hypocrites' INTO THE WOODS, 2/6-3/30
by Tyler Peterson - Jan 27, 2014
Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents The Hypocrites' production INTO THE WOODS, directed by Geoff Button* with Musical Direction by Matt Deitchman, previewing February 6, opening Tuesday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m. and running through Sunday, March 30.
Main Street Theater Adds Additional Performances of INTO THE WOODS
by Tyler Peterson - Jan 24, 2014
Main Street Theater has added 2 performances of its current production of Into the Woods, James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's exploration of everyone's favorite fairytale characters. The new performances are on Wednesdays, February 5 and 12 at 7:30pm. Other remaining performances are on Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm through February 16 at Main Street Theater - Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd. Performances are. Tickets are $39 - $20, depending on date and section, and are on sale in person at the Main Street Theater Box Office, 2540 Times Blvd., via phone at 713.524.6706, or online at MainStreetTheater.com.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2014 Previews Begin 2/14; THE TEMPEST to Open 2/21
by BWW News Desk - Jan 23, 2014
The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2014 preview performances begin February 14, and the season will open Friday night, February 21 in the Angus Bowmer Theatre with Shakespeare's The Tempest (director, Tony Taccone). On Saturday, Lorraine Hansberry's The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window (Juliette Carrillo) takes the stage, as does the classic Marx Brothers musical The Cocoanuts (David Ivers), and Sunday afternoon Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors (Kent Gash) opens in the Thomas Theatre.
BWW Reviews: Main Street Theater's INTO THE WOODS is Splendidly Beautiful
by David Clarke - Jan 17, 2014
When it comes to modern musical theatre, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's INTO THE WOODS is definitely among the most beloved. The show had its world premiere in 1986, opened on Broadway in 1987, and won the 1988 Tony Awards for Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actress in a Musical in a year that was otherwise dominated by Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. With a handful of revivals and countless regional productions, INTO THE WOODS is a show that both audiences and theater companies love, and Main Street Theater's beautiful production of the classic perfectly illustrates why.
INTO THE WOODS Begins Tonight at Main Street Theater
by BWW News Desk - Jan 11, 2014
Main Street Theater begins 2014 with Into the Woods, James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's exploration of everyone's favorite fairytale characters. Main Street Theater's production will return the material to its storytelling roots with a small company and simple accompaniment on its intimate Rice Village stage.
INTO THE WOODS to Begin 1/11 at Main Street Theater
by BWW News Desk - Dec 27, 2013
Main Street Theater begins 2014 with Into the Woods, James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's exploration of everyone's favorite fairytale characters. Main Street Theater's production will return the material to its storytelling roots with a small company and simple accompaniment on its intimate Rice Village stage.