The New Kid - 2005 - Chicago Articles Page 1

In another world, Jimmy Cliff’s ‘You Can Get It If You Really Want’ would have made a barnstorming musical theatre ‘I Want’ song. This musical adaptation of the late reggae pioneer's 1972 film – which premiered here in Stratford in 2005, and was reworked in New York in 2023 – makes that world a reality.

If you’re looking for a fun evening that will make you want to sing along and dance in the aisles, check out Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre’s production of All Shook Up! The storyline of this jukebox musical by Joe DiPietro is inspired by Shakespeare’s comedies.

In her first season as the new artistic director at Opera Theatre of St. Louis (OTSL), Patricia Racette has programmed a festival season that holds something for everyone. Three of the four Operas being presented are written in English. Two, Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance and The Light in the Piazza, are from the canon of the American Musical Theatre. The other two, A Streetcar Named Desire and Romeo and Juliet, are well known dramas. If you’ve never seen an Opera, this is the season to take in a show at OTSL.

Broadway has a long history of one-person shows, including many that have been added to the canon in this century.  Seeing one actor powerfully create a whole world on stage can be an exceptional experience. Of course, one handers are hardly one-person projects; while there may only be one actor on stage, they are collaborating with an entire team of creatives, designers, and behind-the-scenes personnel to bring a show to life. 

Starlight Theatre in Kansas City will present its 2026 AdventHealth Broadway Series, featuring a lineup of acclaimed Broadway shows. Tickets are now on sale for this highly anticipated series.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will conclude its 20-city U.S. tour with performances at New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. The event marks the inaugural season under new Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack.

Current star of Masquerade Telly Leung discusses with Jennifer Ashley Tepper playing the Phantom in the immersive production, the full circle from Rent fan to Rent actor, Gavin Creel’s leadership during a production that never was, and much more. 

The festival runs from 25 February to 8 March in Glasgow.

In this second part of our in-depth conversation (read Part 1), Jeffrey and Wendy look back on their over three decade career on Broadway and shares stories about some of their favorite shows. 

Joining Emmy and Tony Award-winner Billy Crudup and Olivier Award-winner Denise Gough are Billy Howle, Rosa Salazar, Simon Chandler, James Doherty, Misha Handley, Joshua Hill, Jonah Russell, Rebecca Lee and Tim Steed.

OFC Creations Theatre has been a fixture of the Rochester, NY performing arts scene since 2005. After opening the 260-seat OFC Creations Theatre Center in 2020, OFC has continued to expand with the largest educational theater program for young actors in New York State, opening an immersive theatrical restaurant and cabaret performance venue in 2022.

Diane Keaton made her Broadway debut in the original Broadway production of Hair at the age of 22. The landmark musical started out at the Public Theater off-Broadway in 1967 before transferring to the Biltmore Theatre on Broadway in 1968. Keaton joined the cast for the Broadway run, originating her track in the show.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that screen icon Robert Redford, with several Broadway credits to his name, has died at age 89. Read his obituary here.

The World Premiere of the play HIGH NOON, starring Emmy and Tony Award-winner Billy Crudup as Will Kane and Olivier Award-winner Denise Gough as Amy Fowler, opens in December.

BroadwayWorld is here with your fall 2025 guide to all the shows lighting up New York’s stages. From world premieres to long-awaited revivals, this season’s Off-Broadway lineup delivers something for every kind of theater fan!

​​​​​​​The Purple Rose Theatre Company (PRTC) has announced the first production of their 35th season, “Norma & Wanda” a 20th Anniversary production of the comedy by Jeff Daniels, which originally premiered at The Purple Rose in 2005.

Watch a video of 'Kaboom' from the Signature Theatre's DC premiere of The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical, with music and lyrics by Joe Iconis (Be More Chill, NBC’s Smash) and a book by Joe Iconis and Gregory S. Moss.

Second Stage Theatre’s 43rd Street off-Broadway house, right near 8th Avenue, recently changed hands and is now the home of Studio Seaview . Seaview’s first production in the space is Angry Alan, starring John Krasinski. They have renovated and updated the space since Second Stage switched off-Broadway locations to now present shows at the Signature.

Signature Theatre has revealed a new look at the DC premiere of The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical, with music and lyrics by Joe Iconis (Be More Chill, NBC’s Smash) and a book by Joe Iconis and Gregory S. Moss (Indian Summer, Reunion). Check out brand new video of 'Nixon's Big Number' from the show.

Signature Theatre has revealed first look photos of the DC premiere of The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical, with music and lyrics by Joe Iconis (Be More Chill, NBC’s Smash) and a book by Joe Iconis and Gregory S. Moss (Indian Summer, Reunion).

George Duran is a chef and entertainer. Author of Take This Dish and Twist it, known for his Food Network show Ham on the Street and most recently host of TLC’s Ultimate Cake Off. 

Watch a preview of Joe Iconis' The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical at Signature Theatre! It stars Eric William Morris, George Abud, Darlesia Cearcy, George Salazar, and more.

As Joe Iconis' The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical prepares for its Washington DC premiere at Signature Theatre, watch an exclusive video of George Salazar performing 'Brown Buffalo.' 

On Friday May 30, 2025, at 8 PM, the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra will present a concert at Stern Auditorium in Carnegie Hall conducted by Kenneth Kiesler featuring soloists Karen Slack, soprano, Goitsemang Lehobye, soprano, and Daniel Washington, bass.

The new musical Goddess can currently be seen in its New York premiere production at the Public Theater on Lafayette Street. Directed by the Public’s associate artistic director and resident director Saheem Ali, who is currently Tony Award-nominated for directing Buena Vista Social Club, Goddess is playing at the Public’s largest space by capacity, the Newman Theatre.