Mark David Kaplan News

Gulf Coast Symphony's production of CABARET took place over this past weekend at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. The show follows Clifford Bradshaw, an American who finds himself in Germany at the horrific time when Hitler and Nazis were ascending to power. 

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, is continuing its 2021–2022 season with the World Premiere of Mr. Dickens’ Hat, A Play with Music written by Michael Hollinger, directed by David Catlin, with music direction by Chuck Larkin.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2021–2022 season with the World Premiere of Mr. Dickens’ Hat, A Play with Music written by Michael Hollinger, directed by David Catlin, with music direction by Chuck Larkin. 

Nearly 16 months after dimming its famous marquee due to COVID-19, Aurora's Paramount Theatre has started rehearsals for its 10th Anniversary Broadway Series season opener, Kinky Boots, marking a pivotal moment for the second largest subscription house in the nation as it returns to live performances next month.

It's easy to see why the plot of She Loves You has seen so many iterations. All the tropes are there: enemies to lovers, curmudgeonly boss, bumbling sidekick, upwardly mobile messenger boy, sleazy villain, girl who always picks the wrong guy, and, in this version, a lot of music in three-quarter time.

Join WGN-TV's a?oeAround Towna?? correspondent Ana Belaval and a star-studded line-up of more than 20 top Chicago stage performers for Chicago Offstage! Live at Home, a virtual streaming event debuting live on Season of Concern's new YouTube channel (https://tinyurl.com/soctube) on Sunday, April 19, at 6 p.m. CST.

'Hear ye, hear ye...Prince Wellington is seeking a bride.' The classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen comes to life in a new musical THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA at Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire, from February 8 to April 19, 2019, with a press opening on Saturday, February 15 at 10 a.m. This new spin on the classic tale features music by Marc Robin, book and lyrics by Rick Boynton, and additional lyrics by Curt Dale Clark and Marc Robin. THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA is directed and choreographed by Artistic Director Aaron Thielen, with musical direction by Patti Garwood.

'Hear ye, hear ye...Prince Wellington is seeking a bride.' The classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen comes to life in a new musical THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA at Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire, from February 8 to April 19, 2019, with a press opening on Saturday, February 15 at 10 a.m. This new spin on the classic tale features music by Marc Robin, book and lyrics by Rick Boynton, and additional lyrics by Curt Dale Clark and Marc Robin. THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA is directed and choreographed by Artistic Director Aaron Thielen, with musical direction by Patti Garwood.

'Hear ye, hear ye...Prince Wellington is seeking a bride.' The classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen comes to life in a new musical THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA at Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire, from February 8 to April 19, 2019, with a press opening on Saturday, February 15 at 10 a.m. This new spin on the classic tale features music by Marc Robin, book and lyrics by Rick Boynton, and additional lyrics by Curt Dale Clark and Marc Robin. THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA is directed and choreographed by Artistic Director Aaron Thielen, with musical direction by Patti Garwood.

'Hear ye, hear ye...Prince Wellington is seeking a bride.' The classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen comes to life in a new musical THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA at Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire, from February 8 to April 19, 2020,with a press opening on Saturday, February 15 at 10 a.m. This new spin on the classic tale features music by Marc Robin, book and lyrics by Rick Boynton, and additional lyrics by Curt Dale Clark and Marc Robin. THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA is directed and choreographed by Artistic Director Aaron Thielen, with musical direction by Patti Garwood.

The Marriott Theatre presents Lionel Bart's OLIVER!, which is now running through Sunday, December 29th. The Tony Award-winning musical based on the classic Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist, is directed by eight-time Jeff Award winner for Outstanding Direction, Nick Bowling, with musical direction by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson and choreography by Jeff Award winner Brenda Didier.

The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr. in Lincolnshire, is proud to bring the Victorian streets of London live to Lincolnshire with Lionel Bart's OLIVER!, previewing Wednesday, October 30th, opening Wednesday, November 6th at 7:30 p.m., and closing Sunday, December 29th. The Tony Award-winning musical based on the classic Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist, is directed by eight-time Jeff Award winner for Outstanding Direction, Nick Bowling, with musical direction by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson and choreography by Jeff Award winner Brenda Didier.

Porchlight Music Theatre announces that Peabody and multi-Emmy award-winning composer Larry Grossman of West Hollywood, California, has joined Porchlight's Advisory Board.Grossman partnered with Porchlight Music Theatre earlier in 2019 with Porchlight's popular music series Porchlight Revisits presenting Minnie's Boys, a 1971 Broadway musical about the early years of the Marx Brothersfeaturing music by Grossman.

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce that its final production in the 2018 - 2019 "lost" musicals in staged concert series Porchlight Revisits Minnie's Boys will now include a special event with Minnie's Boys composer Larry Grossman, "A Conversation with Larry Grossman," Thursday, May 23 at 4:45 p.m. and feature a new song added to this Chicago premiere.

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce that its final production in the 2018 - 2019 'lost' musicals in staged concert series Porchlight Revisits MINNIE'S BOYS will now include a special event with MINNIE'S BOYS composer Larry Grossman, 'A Conversation with Larry Grossman,' Thursday, May 23 at 4:45 p.m. and feature a new song added to this Chicago premiere. Porchlight Revisits Minnie's Boys, book by Groucho Marx's son Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher, music by Grossman and lyrics by Hal Hackady with direction and choreography by Christopher Pazdernik and musical direction by Christie Chiles Twille, is presented for three performances Wednesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, March 23 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Each Porchlight Revisits production begins with the 'Behind the Show Backstory' multimedia presentation, created and hosted by Artistic Director Michael Weber, discussing that evening's production including the show's creative history, juicy backstage gossip and much more. Single tickets are $37 for the performance and 'A Conversation with Larry Grossman' is free to the public. Both are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight Music Theatre box office at 773.777.9884.

As Porchlight Music Theatre is set to launch its 25th Anniversary Season as Chicago's center for music theatre, it celebrated 24 years and announced its 25th Anniversary co-chairs at the 2019 ICONS Gala Sunday, March 31 at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago, 160 E. Pearson. The 2019 ICONS GALA set a new attendance record with 300 guests in attendance and raised more funds that directly benefit Porchlight's artistic and educational programs than previous events. The elegant Gala Brunch, chaired by Tamara Sims, included performances from Chicago's leading talents celebrating the legendary career of Jerome Robbins, the presentation of The Luminary Award to Jean Klingenstein, introduced the 25th Anniversary chairs: RIck and Deann Bayless and Bill Kurtis and Donna La Pietra and silent and live auctions.

Porchlight Music Theatre's final production in its 2018 - 2019 'lost' musicals in staged concert series is Porchlight Revisits Minnie's Boys,  with book by Groucho Marx's son Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher, music by Larry Grossman and lyrics by Hal Hackady with direction and choreography by Christopher Pazdernik and musical direction by Christie Chiles Twille.  Porchlight Revisits Minnie's Boys is presented for three performances Wednesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, March 23 at 2 p.m. and  7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street.

Drury Lane Theatre's Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souzaand choreography by Ron De Jesus runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. Get a first look at the cast in action!

Drury Lane Theatre presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souza and choreography by Ron De Jesus. Disney's Beauty and the Beast was originally directed by Robert Jess Ross and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Disney's Beauty and the Beast runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening was scheduled for Thursday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m.

Drury Lane Theatre's Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souzaand choreography by Ron De Jesus runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. Get a first look at the cast in action!