THE LATEST IN UNAUTHORIZED GOSSIP AND BUZZ
FROM THE HEART OF CHICAGO'S SHOWTUNE VIDEO BARS,
AND MUSICAL THEATER NEWS FROM CHICAGO TO BROADWAY
by Paul W. Thompson
Overheard last weekend under the showtune
video screens at Sidetrack and the Call:
It was a great week for musicals in Chicago last week, with four Broadway productions in town! "Million Dollar Quartet," "Billy Elliot" and "The Lion King" are still here, but on Sunday afternoon we said goodbye to "Rock Of Ages" after the national tour left us after a two-week stint. And, let me tell you, the crowd at the stage door of the Bank Of America Theatre to meet and greet Constantine Maroulis at 5:00 Sunday was pretty impressive! Which got me to wondering...as he was Tony-nominated for his leading role, and then came to Chicago in that role, when is the last time that happened? Who is the last Tony-nominated musical star to come to Chicago in that same leading role? Checking the Broadway In Chicago website and my memory, I think it was March of 2009, when Adam Pascal appeared in the tour of "Rent" here, and Ashley Brown opened the tour of "Mary Poppins" here. I think. Am I right? Anyway, we wish ROA well after its successful tour premiere here, and hope they'll be back soon!
Broadway in Chicago Archives
Speaking of MDQ, it was announced last week that the show at the Apollo Theater is extending again, this time until May of 2011! That will make a run of two years and eight months for the historical rockabilly revue. So far. Not too shabby!
Million Dollar Quartet - Official Site
On the other end of the long-run spectrum, an original one-act show called "Never Have I Ever," based on "the infamous drinking game," is playing on Saturday nights in October, at 10:30 pm, in the de Maat Studio Theater at The Second City on Wells Street. The book and lyrics are by Adrienne Dawes, with music by Amanda Murphy and direction by of the cast of five by Tiffani Swalley. Secrets are revealed!
Never Have I Ever: The Musical - Home
Evanston is a hot spot for show openings right now. The Savoyaires are presenting the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera "The Gondoliers" this weekend and next, directed by Jim Schneider. Performances are at Chute Auditorium on Oakton Street, where Kevin Siembor will star as part of a cast of 40 and an orchestra of 30. My word!
Savoyaires -- Home
And Light Opera Works has its fall "Second Stage" production going up, at the McGaw YMCA Child Care Center on Maple Avenue. It is "I Do! I Do!," the Jones and Schmidt two-hander about fifty years in the life of Michael and Agnes, a married couple who learn that "My Cup Runneth Over." The ever-employed Larry Adams and his co-star from LOW's 2009 "A Little Night Music," Catherine Lord, star. The show runs October 6--November 14, 2010.
Light Opera Works - Upcoming Shows
This coming Sunday, October 11, Porchlight Music Theatre will present its benefit performance, "By Popular Demand," at the lovely Mayne Stage in Rogers Park. Tickets are $40, but it's a clever concept! Some of Chicago's most popular musical theater performers will offer audition pieces during the first half of the evening, and attendees will get to vote for who gets a "call back" to sing again in the second half! Bethany Thomas, Rebecca Finnegan, Jess Godwin, Sean Effinger-Dean, Joseph Tokarz, Jeremy Rill and Ryan Lanning are only some of the names slated to appear. Most of these performers are in shows at other theater companies as we speak! Sounds like a fun night.
