Ross Lehman News

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Anything Goes,' 'A Funny Thing...' and 'Billy Elliot' prepare to open, 'Les Mis' racks up the raves, season announcements from the Paramount, Kokandy, The Hypocrites and Chicago Shakes, plus another Austen adaptation, and legs for Ethel Merman. Enjoy the warmth!

One of musical theater's biggest hits, Anything Goes, the irresistible musical filled with unforgettable music and dazzling dance numbers, continues The Marriott Theatre's spectacular 40th anniversary season. Anything Goes features an unparalleled score by the legendary Cole Porter with a virtual hit parade of songs ('De-lovely,' 'Friendship,' 'You're the Top,' 'Blow, Gabriel, Blow,' 'I Get a Kick Out of You'). 15-time Jeff Award-winner Marc Robin will bring his signature high-watt energy to the stage to direct and choreograph the toe-tapping musical comedy which previews April 8, opens April 15 and runs through May 31 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Robin is joined by Music Director Jeff Award-nominee Ryan T. Nelson.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater continues the 2014/15 season with William Shakespeare's riveting odyssey Pericles, staged by CST veteran director David H. Bell and featuring Stratford Festival company member Ben Carlson in the title role. The production runs through January 18, 2015. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces today the casting and creative team for William Shakespeare's riveting odyssey Pericles, staged by CST veteran director David H. Bell and featuring Stratford Festival company member Ben Carlson in the title role.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents William Shakespeare's towering epic King Lear, directed by CST Founder and Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and featuring Chicago theater legend Larry Yando in the title role. King Lear opens Chicago Shakespeare's 2014/15 season in the Courtyard Theater, now through November 9, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents William Shakespeare's towering epic King Lear, directed by CST Founder and Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and featuring Chicago theater legend Larry Yando in the title role. A wrenching story of love, loss and reconciliation, the unraveling of an imperious king has fascinated audiences for more than 400 years. Gaines brings audiences a King Lear for our times, especially relevant as today's generation wrestles with the harrowing effects of aging on loved ones. King Lear opens Chicago Shakespeare's 2014/15 season in the Courtyard Theater, now through November 9, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presentsWilliam Shakespeare's towering epic King Lear, directed by CSTFounder and Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and featuring Chicago theater legend Larry Yando in the title role.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces today the casting and creative team for William Shakespeare's towering epic King Lear, directed by CSTFounder and Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and featuring Chicago theater legend Larry Yando in the title role. A wrenching story of love, loss and reconciliation, the unraveling of an imperious king has fascinated audiences for more than 400 years. Gaines brings audiences aKing Lear for our times, especially relevant as today's generation wrestles with the harrowing effects of aging on loved ones. King Lear opens Chicago Shakespeare's 2014/15 season in the Courtyard Theater, September 9-November 9, 2014.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces today full casting, as well as six American Sign Language (ASL) Duo-interpreted performances for this year's Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, touring FREE FOR ALL to eighteen neighborhood parks across Chicago, July 18-August 17, 2014. Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks galvanizes communities by giving Chicagoans of all ages direct access to their city's cultural resources. This citywide summer tradition is made possible by a partnership between Chicago Shakespeare, the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District and Boeing. For the first time in the history of Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks, CST offers ASL Duo-interpreted performances as part of the Theater's continued commitment to Access Shakespeareprogramming.

Between graduating from Syracuse University in 2005, and getting her Broadway break opposite Harry Connick, Jr., in 2011, Tony Award winner Jessie Mueller was a Chicago-based actress, following in the steps of her Evanston-based parents, Roger Mueller and Jill Shellabarger. And what a career she had in the Windy City!

The Lake Worth Playhouse revives the gritty classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, tonight, February 27 - March 16.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream, a 75-minute abridged production of William Shakespeare's whimsical comedy of misplaced young passions and magical mischief. Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream will be performed for the public Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. from February 22 to March 22 in CST's Courtyard Theater. After each performance, the actors remain on stage for a brief question-and-answer session, before joining the audience in the Lobby for one-on-one conversations and photo opportunities. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream, a 75-minute abridged production of William Shakespeare's whimsical comedy of misplaced young passions and magical mischief.

The Lake Worth Playhouse revives the gritty classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, February 27 - March 16.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces casting for Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream, a 75-minute abridged production of William Shakespeare's whimsical comedy of misplaced young passions and magical mischief. This new adaptation by Jeff Award-winning director David H. Bell provides a quality, family-friendly introduction to Shakespeare with special opportunities for audiences to interact with the actors at every performance. In addition to public performances each Saturday, this production will welcome 1,000 students each day to the Theater's home on Navy Pier during its five-week run in the Courtyard Theater, followed by a tour to schools across the Midwest. Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream will be performed for the public Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. from February 22 to March 22 in CST's Courtyard Theater. After each performance, the actors remain on stage for a brief question-and-answer session, before joining the audience in the Lobby for one-on-one conversations and photo opportunities.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents William Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines. Embraced by audiences as one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, The Merry Wives of Windsor is an energetic romp with the lovable rogue Sir John Falstaff, performed by Scott Jaeck, as he charms and conspires against the townspeople of Windsor, only to be outsmarted by Mistress Page and Mistress Ford, performed by Kelli Fox and Heidi Kettenring. Chicago Shakespeare's production will transport audiences to post-war England in the late 1940s with a soundtrack of spirited dance music. The Merry Wives of Windsor will run in CST's Courtyard Theater now through January 19, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents William Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines. Embraced by audiences as one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, The Merry Wives of Windsor is an energetic romp with the loveable rouge Sir John Falstaff, performed by Scott Jaeck, as he charms and conspires against the townspeople of Windsor, only to be outsmarted by Mistress Page and Mistress Ford, performed by Kelli Foxand Heidi Kettenring. The Merry Wives of Windsor is nonw running in CST's Courtyard Theater through January 19, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today casting for William Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines. Embraced by audiences as one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, The Merry Wives of Windsor is an energetic romp with the loveable rouge Sir John Falstaff, performed by Scott Jaeck, as he charms and conspires against the townspeople of Windsor, only to be outsmarted by Mistress Page and Mistress Ford, performed by Kelli Fox and Heidi Kettenring. Chicago Shakespeare's production will transport audiences to post-war England in the late 1940s with a soundtrack of spirited dance music. The Merry Wives of Windsor will run in CST's Courtyard Theater December 3, 2013 through January 19, 2014.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents Cyrano de Bergerac, launching the Theater's 2013-2014 Season. CST's new production of Edmond Rostand's timeless classic, adapted and translated by Anthony Burgess, marks the return to CST of director Penny Metropulos and film and stage actor Harry Groener, the duo behind the Theater's award-winning 2011 production of The Madness of George III. Featuring some of the most romantic and witty verse written for the stage, Cyrano de Bergerac is a poignant and entertaining homage to poetry, love and panache which will run in CST's Courtyard Theater now through November 10, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights below!