The Cher Show - 2018 - Chicago Articles Page 12

Mark Cortale, producer of the acclaimed Seth Rudetsky Broadway Concert Series, will present Stephanie J. Block, this year's Tony Award® winning Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her title role in The Cher Show, performing live at the Parker Playhouse on Saturday, February 22 at 8 PM. The series, co-presented by the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, delivers intimate evenings of incredible music and hilarious conversations hosted and music directed by Sirius XM Radio star Seth Rudetsky, whom the New York Times dubbed 'The Mayor of Broadway.' Ms. Block follows her fellow Tony Award® winner Kelli O'Hara's recent January season opener. Next up on April 3 will be Santino Fontana, this year's Tony Award® winner as Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his starring role in Tootsie. For tickets and information, please visit ParkerPlayhouse.com and Ticketmaster.com; by phone at 954.462.0222; in person at the Parker Playhouse box office Tuesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and at the Broward Center's AutoNation Box Office in Holiday Park at 707 N.E. Eighth Street in Fort Lauderdale.

 International music phenom BTS will appear on a?oeThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallona?? in a special telecast on Monday, Feb. 24. The show will not only feature an interview and performance by the band, but will also act as a celebration of New York as Fallon and the group visit iconic local spots over the hour.

Performing Arts Fort Worth has announced its 2020-2021 Broadway at the Bass Season at Bass Performance Hall! The seven-show series features exciting new titles direct from Broadway, freshly revamped revivals and multiple Tony Award-winners. Current 2019-2020 Broadway at the Bass season ticket holders have until March 6 to renew and keep their seats. New season tickets go on sale April 15. Patrons can sign up for the new season ticket waitlist now by visiting www.basshall.com/waitlist.

Samantha Womack and Cameron Blakely will revive their roles as Morticia and Gomez Addams in the new UK & Ireland Tour of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a musical comedy, with book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, the creators of multi award-winning Jersey Boys, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, based on the characters created by Charles Addams. This follows a highly successful premiere tour in 2017. The 2020 Tour will open at the Newcastle Theatre Royal on 30 July 2020 and will once again be directed by Matthew White. Further casting is to be announced.

Theatre fans need not travel all the way to New York City to get a taste of Broadway. Though the Big Apple boasts perhaps the freshest productions and greatest talents in the world, many of the most successful shows on Broadway will eventually hit the road- bringing and equally magical (though sometimes slightly updated) version of their production to cities across the country.

BROADWAY IN HOLLYWOOD (Nederlander Organization) has announced the Spectacular Spectacular 2020-21 Season, consisting of seven Broadway national tour productions which will play both the Dolby Theatre and Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. This season marks the second such season that Los Angeles theater audiences will have regular access to blockbuster national touring productions at both iconic theatres on Hollywood Boulevard.

The inimitable Emily Skinner will be headlining 42nd Street Moon's gala fundraiser a?oeCome to the Moona?? on Tuesday, February 4th at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. After bursting onto the scene with her Tony-nominated performance in a?oeSide Show,a?? Ms. Skinner has gone on to star in several more Broadway shows, most recently a?oeThe Cher Showa?? in 2018-19, and performed at top regional theater companies and done innumerable concerts throughout the country. Ms. Skinner's trademarks are a spectacular voice that can move seamlessly from a luscious lower register to a thrilling high belt, an irreverent sense of humor and a deep passion for the classic American musical. She is the type of performer who can dazzle you with her vocal prowess one moment, then make you laugh out loud with a perfectly-timed bon mot, then break your heart with a tender ballad. BroadwayWorld spoke recently by phone with Ms. Skinner from her home base in Manhattan. In conversation, Ms. Skinner is delightfully chatty, smart and warm, sort of a mashup of a gimlet-eyed leading lady from a bygone era, a brainiac specializing in Broadway arcania, and your best friend from high school.

The Bucks County Playhouse is one of the most historic theaters in the country. Its wooden walls practically brim over with a sense of magic, holding within them the vast legacy of performers and creatives who made their impact upon its stage. Names like Grace Kelly, Robert Redford, Neil Simon, Helen Hayes, Angela Lansbury... and that's the short list. One of the people currently contributing to the Playhouse's legacy in a big way is Alexander Fraser, who came onboard the Bucks County Playhouse team as Producing Director in January of 2014.

A new UK & Ireland Tour is kicking off for THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a musical comedy, with book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, the creators of multi award-winning Jersey Boys, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, based on the characters created by Charles Addams. This follows a highly successful premiere tour in 2017. The 2020 Tour will come to The Bristol Hippodrome from October 6-10 2020 and will once again be directed by Matthew White. Casting is to be announced.

The February lineup of acts performing at City Winery Chicago (1200 W. Randolph St) has been announced. See full details below!

Below is the upcoming schedule at Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater February 3 through February 16: 

Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM), in partnership with Broadway Across America (BAA),  has announced the full lineup of Broadway shows coming to Dallas in the 2020-2021 season. The eight-show lineup features fan-favorites, fresh adaptations, and seven Tony Award® winners including 2019's Best Musical, HADESTOWN. Season tickets will go on sale at 12 p.m. on Friday, January 17.

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are pleased to present the schedule for the month of February! At Birdland Jazz Club, catch the iconic Lionel Hampton Big Band Featuring Jason Marsalis, current GRAMMY nominee Catherine Russell, the Birdland debut of AGUAS Trio with Omar Sosa, Yilian Cañizares and Gustavo Ovalles, and iconic vocalist Jane Monheit. Internationally recognized trumpeter Rachel Therrien, the Seth Weaver Big Band, and The Voice contestant Melinda Rose Rodriguez will also be performing upstairs. 

Suncoast Showroom will bring highly-acclaimed tribute performers to the Suncoast Hotel and Casino in February, including acclaimed rock band Zowie Bowie, a?oe4NR a?" Tribute to Foreigner,a?? the Reckless in Vegas Valentine's Day Show, soul group The Box Tops, a?oeMirage a?" Tribute to Fleetwood Maca?? and a?oeEvil Waze a?" Tribute to Santana.a?? Guests can also enjoy free dance parties and live entertainment throughout the month.

Women of Color on Broadway, a non-profit dedicated to supporting women of African, Latin, and Asian descent pursuing careers in musical theater, will present its Purple Crystal Honorary Awards in The Cooper Union's Great Hall on February 10, 2020. This year's honorees are Tony-award winners LaChanze and Melba Moore. The award celebrates the heroines of African, Latin, and Asian descent who paved the way for the next generation of women of color in theater.

Broadway talents including Stark Sands (Kinky Boots), Kate Rockwell (Mean Girls), and Constantine Maroulis (Jekyll & Hyde, 'American Idol') complete the starry lineup for the next installment of the acclaimed Broadway Sings concert series, honoring the iconic rock band Queen on February 17 at Sony Hall. Cast members from Broadway shows including The Tina Turner Musical, Waitress and Head Over Heels will sing completely new arrangements of the hits of the British rock band, accompanied by a 14-piece orchestra playing original orchestrations of their music.

The Muny announced today the directors, choreographers and music directors for its 2020 season, which opens June 15 with Kander and Ebb's internationally-acclaimed Chicago. Among the talented list are a mix of Muny favorites and newcomers. In addition to casting, a comprehensive list of design teams for each production will be released later this spring. Telsey + Company is the official casting partner for Muny.

GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announced that it will honor global superstar Taylor Swift and award-winning director, producer, writer, and advocate Janet Mock at the 31st Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton on Thursday, April 16, 2020.

The Drama League presents DirectorFest,  the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing. Launching the 2020 series is the musical Hello Again, with Book, Music and Lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa, Music Direction by Jesse Kissel, and Directed by 2019 Drama League Leo Shull Musical Directing Fellow Ben Randle.

U.S. high school singers with interests in musical theater, jazz and classic popular music can apply now to experience a life-changing week of performance opportunities and personal mentoring from Broadway stars and other arts and entertainment professionals.

Over the past ten years, Broadway has been home to a plethora of creative triumphs. From daring new works to re-imagined classics, theatre has consistently challenged our perspectives, ignited our passions, and defied our expectations. For that, audiences have the creative minds of Broadway to thank. 

The Drama League (Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Director Bevin Ross) announced today the acting company for the 36th annual DirectorFest, the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing. Directorfest will take place January 10 - February 4, 2020 at various locations around NYC: The New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher Street), The Drama League Theater Center (32 Avenue of the Americas), LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (31-10 Thomson Avenue), and Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street). For festival details and tickets, visit directorfest.org or call (212) 244-9494 x102.

The Seth Rudetsky Broadway Concert Series presented by Mark Cortale returns to Parker Playhouse in January. The series, co-presented by the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, delivers three intimate evenings of incredible music and hilarious conversations hosted and music directed by Sirius XM Radio star Seth Rudetsky, whom the New York Times dubbed 'The Mayor of Broadway.'

As the decade comes to a close on Broadway, we're doling out some good, old-fashioned superlatives to acknowledge some of the best and brightest theatre people, show elements, and productions that have made this decade one of the best in Broadway history.