'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for November 14th, 2012

Second-National-Tour-of-THE-BOOK-OF-MORMON-Launches

And on to the very busy local scene! Many theaters are in the process of closing their Super September shows and opening the ones that will run for all or part of the holidays. Tonight, for instance, Circle Theatre in Oak Park is opening “Pippin,” the Stephen Schwartz show seen twice hereabouts in recent seasons (it will run through December 23). Only, this one has a twist. It’s subtitled, “A Bollywood Spectacular.” That’s right, as in the film industry in India. Director-choreographer Kevin Bellie is setting the show and its dance style in that world. I’m told the music has been reconceived in that vein as well. Sounds intriguing, no? Christopher Logan, Neil Stratman and Khaki Pixley star, with Patti Roeder as Berthe. Ryan Brewster is the musical director, and the Bollywood look of the show is being handled by old Circle hands Bob Knuth (sets), Gary C. Echelmeyer (lights) and Jesus Perez (costumes). Have you seen the pictures?

http://www.circle-theatre.org/

Already in performances at the Court Theatre in Hyde Park is the musical “The Dead,” the 2000 musical which won a Tony Award for Best Book and has been produced at Court twice before. Charles Newell and Doug Peck are director and musical director once again, with a starry cast featuring such luminous names as Susie McMonagle, Mary Ernster, Rebecca Finnegan, Rob Lindley, Jim DeSelm, Rachel Klippel, Lara Filip, Anne Gunn and more. It’s not your typical musical, but it’s pretty special artistic fare. Katie Spelman choreographs. (Through December 9th).

http://www.courttheatre.org/season/show/james_joyces_the_dead2/

Opening this week after a week of previews at the Marriott Theatre is “My One And Only,” the Gershwin show (based loosely on “Strike Up The Band”) that originally starred Tommy Tune and Twiggy. Now through January 6, 2013, you can see song and dance man Andrew Lupp and the triple threat beauty Summer Naomi Smart in those roles, supported by Felicia P. Fields, Ted Louis Levy, Paula Scrofano, Roger Mueller and a well-scrubbed tapping ensemble. This show was quite the thing back in the day. And, oh yes, there’s that water dance! Pure theater magic, that one. Tap whiz and double BroadwayWorld Chicago Award nominee Tammy Mader directs and choreographs.

http://www.marriotttheatre.com

Not to be outdone in the song and dance department, the Drury Lane Theatre is  mounting “Singin’ In The Rain” right now, directed by Bill Jenkins and choreographed by Amber Mak. It too began previews last week, but will run through January 13, 2013. Based on the legendary 1952 film, this show stars Broadway stars Sean Palmer (“The Little Mermaid”) and Melissa van Der Schyff (“Bonnie And Clyde”) as Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont, and Chicago stars Matthew Crowle (“Spamalot”) and Jenny Guse (“tick…tick…BOOM!”) as CosMo Brown and Kathy Seldon. Supporting players include such familiar names as Don Forston, Catherine Lord, John Reeger, Katie Huff, George Andrew Wolff and the young Daniel Coonley, and, yes, Virginia, there is a very large dancing ensemble. And I assume there is a water dance here too! Gotta love that.

http://drurylaneoakbrook.com/live_theatre/now_playing.php

There are just three more times to catch “La Cage Aux Folles” from the Oak Lawn Park District Theatre, at the Oak View Center on 110th Street. It opened last weekend, and will also run November 16, 17 and 18. Paul Nirchi and Brad Kisner star as Georges and Albin/Zaza, directed by Josie Nirchi and choreographed by Staci Cousert. Jenn Rooney is Anne, and Mark Bartishell is Jacob/Claudine. It’s, you know, “La Cage Aux Folles.” With a LARGE cast.

http://olparks.com/programs/theatre.htm

One local theater is readying its holiday show while extending its Super September show! That’s the way to do it! Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre has announced an extension of the Grammy Award-winning Broadway revue, “Smokey Joe’s Café,” now through December 2, and they will still be opening the original revue “Joy To The World,” both slated for November 17-December 23 at the No Exit Café in Rogers Park. And the cast of “Joy To The World” has been announced. The “Christmas Cabaret” will star Justin Adair, Amanda Horvath, Michael Reyes and Amanda Hartley, directed by Fred Anzevino and musical directed by Jeremy Ramey. If you buy the dinner before the show, it’s turkey! Yes, I guess the holidays really are a-comin’.

http://www.theo-u.com/

So that’s it for this week’s “Mosh Pit.” There’s a lot going on, folks! And I’ll have many more Christmas musicals in the coming weeks. Trust me on this one! In the meantime, I'll see you under the video screens...won’t I.?—PWT

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Paul W. Thompson, a contributor to BroadwayWorld.com since 2007, is a Chicago-based singer, actor, musical director, pianist, vocal coach, composer and commentator. His career as a performer, teacher and writer is centered at Paul W. Thompson Music, located in Chicago’s historic Fine Arts Building, where he teaches the great songs of Broadway to the next generation of musical theater performers. A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Paul was raised in a family of professional musicians and teachers, steeped in classical, gospel, country, pop, sacred and show music. Dubbed a “thin, winsome lad” at the age of 13 by a critic for the Nashville Banner, he earned two degrees in musical theater (a B.F.A. with Honors from Baylor University and an M.M. from the University of Miami, Florida), plus an M.B.A. with Distinction from DePaul University. Paul’s memberships include Actors’ Equity Association, the American Guild of Musical Artists, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (proud voter for the Grammy Awards!), the National Association of Teachers of Singing and New York’s Drama League. Moving easily between the worlds of classical music, religious music, classic pop and musical theater, Paul has appeared onstage or in the orchestra pit in concerts, musicals, operettas and operas in 30 states and in Europe, in a career spanning more than 35 years. His Chicagoland stage credits include “Forever Plaid” at the Royal George Theater and twenty mainstage productions at Light Opera Works. Paul joined the Chicago Symphony Chorus in 1995 (he was Tenor I Section Leader for four years and sings on two Grammy-winning recordings), and is one of Chicago’s foremost liturgical singers, marking 20 years as a member of the choir at St. James Cathedral (Episcopal) in 2011.He has composed and arranged a number of anthems, hymns and songs for worship and concert use, and collaborates on the creation of new works of musical theater. Paul can be found on Monday nights watching showtune videos at the world-famous Sidetrack nightclub, the inspiration for his weekly column, “The Showtune Mosh Pit.” His proudest achievement is that he has seen the original Broadway production of every Tony Award-winning Best Musical since “Cats.” No, really. Since “Cats!”

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