Liz Chidester News

Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn opened to a packed house at Theatre at the Center on Sunday night. Audience members leapt to their feet at the end of the performance of the now Jeff-Recommended production. Actors James Romney in the role of Huck and Jonathan Butler-Duplessis in the role of Jim lead the cast in the musical that continues through October 15.

Actors James Romney in the role of Huck and Jonathan Butler-Duplessis in the role of Jim lead the cast of Theatre at the Center's Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The musical begins previews Sept. 14 with opening night on September 17 for a run that continues through Oct. 15.  

Firebrand Theatre, the first musical theatre company committed to employing and empowering women by expanding opportunities on and off the stage, is pleased to present its inaugural production, the Chicago premiere of LIZZIE, the rock musical based on the true-life story of accused axe-murderess Lizzie Borden. 

My Father's Daughters is getting a special reading with Route 66 Theatre Company on Tuesday, June 6th. Featuring book by Lara Filip, music and lyrics by Liz Chidester, Lara Filip, Jess Godwin & Diana Lawrence, music direction by Diana Lawrence, an direction by Keely Vasquez, the reading begins at 7:30 p.m. at The Den Theatre (1333 N. Milwaukee Ave).

Firebrand Theatre, the first musical theatre company committed to employing and empowering women by expanding opportunities on and off the stage, is pleased to announce casting for its inaugural production, the Chicago premiere of LIZZIE, the rock musical based on the true-life story of accused axe-murderess Lizzie Borden. LIZZIE will play November 11 - December 17, 2017 at The Den Theatre's Bookspan Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Single tickets for LIZZIE are currently on sale at firebrandtheatre.org. Season subscriptions (including 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL) are currently available. The press opening is Tuesday, November 14 at 7:30 pm.

Firebrand Theatre, the first musical theatre company committed to employing and empowering women by expanding opportunities on and off the stage, is pleased to announce casting for its inaugural production, the Chicago premiere of LIZZIE, the rock musical based on the true-life story of accused axe-murderess Lizzie Borden. LIZZIE will play November 11 - December 17, 2017 at The Den Theatre's Bookspan Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Single tickets for LIZZIE are currently on sale at firebrandtheatre.org. Season subscriptions (including 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL) are currently available. 

The current remount of Refuge Theatre Project's enormously successful 2016 production of High Fidelity: The Musical, originally scheduled to close on March 6, 2017, has been extended three weeks to Saturday, March 25, 2017.

A venue has been announced for the remount of Refuge Theatre Project's enormously successful 2016 production of High Fidelity: The Musical.

A venue has been announced for the remount of Refuge Theatre Project's enormously successful 2016 production of High Fidelity: The Musical.

Refuge Theatre Project has announced leadership changes and programming for its third season, according to company co-founder Ross Egan. Christopher Pazdernik, who directed and choreographed the company's breakout production of High Fidelity: The Musical in February 2016 and more recently directed the Chicago premiere of Wicked City by Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar for Chicago Theatre Workshop, has been named Artistic Director, a position previously held by Egan. Egan, who founded the company two years ago with Morgan Egan, will move to Executive Director, a new position. Morgan Egan will continue as Managing Director.

Refuge Theatre Project, the two-year-old company that produced the surprise hit musical of the 2015-16 season with its environmental staging of High Fidelity in a makeshift 'record store,' will present a one-night-only concert of songs by High Fidelity composer Tom Kitt. The evening, called I Got You, will showcase selections from Broadway musicals for which Kitt either composed the score or provided musical arrangements, along with new unpublished songs he's provided especially for the event. City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph Street is the event venue. Christopher Pazdernik, director of High Fidelity, will direct the concert, with music direction by Mike Evans.

?Jeff Award-nominee and HIV+ director/producer Christopher Pazdernik returns with the second annual Chris' Birthday Belt-Fest, a benefit concert for Howard Brown Health on Monday, May 16, 8:00 PM at Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway, Chicago. Featuring award-winning musical theater performers from across Chicago, the evening will be co-music directed by Dustin Struhall and Jeff Award-winner Aaron Benham. Tickets are $20 and are available by calling 773-867-1946 or visiting uptownunderground.net.

Pride Films and Plays is celebrating S.W.A.N. Day by hosting open "mic" performances, live music and talk back with community support group Not In Our House. Join us for a night of refreshments, women artists and empowering conversation. This night is for celebrating women and their supporters! Admission is free but donations are encouraged for future Pride Films and Plays events under the

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the second installment in the new musical revue series, New Faces Sing Broadway.

Don't change a thing, HIGH FIDELITY; you make the list.

Refuge Theatre Project's second season will open on January 29, 2016 with High Fidelity - the musical based on Nick Hornby's 1995 novel and on Stephen Frears' 2000 feature-film adaptation that starred Chicago natives John Cusack, Joan Cusack and Lili Taylor.

LIMELIGHT is a highly entertaining variety show held periodically throughout the year in Wicker Park! Every production of LIMELIGHT has it's own unique host for the evening. Each show features a fabulous headliner, which could be a comedian, musician(s), aerial artists, slam poets, or well, you get the idea!

LIMELIGHT is a highly entertaining, monthly reoccurring VARIETY SHOW held on the second Saturday of every month! LIMELIGHT is currently hosted by the delightfully ostentatious Maureen SanDiego. Each show features a comedian headliner, music in some capacity, ridiculousness, A Russian Roulette Karaoke-PRE-SHOW and other acts you'll marvel at.

CafeCabaret is an eclectic variety/cabaret show with a rotating cast of performers. With a new cast every month, the show is always fresh. From poignant to funny, mirth to disaster it all happens at Cafe Ballou. Cafe Ballou is located @ 939 N Western. The show begins @7pm. This month's Cafe Cabaret will be hosted by Roberta Miles and GPA tonight, January 17, 2014 at 7 p.m.

CafeCabaret is an eclectic variety/cabaret show with a rotating cast of performers. With a new cast every month, the show is always fresh. From poignant to funny, mirth to disaster it all happens at Cafe Ballou. Cafe Ballou is located @ 939 N Western. The show begins @7pm. This month's Cafe Cabaret will be hosted by Roberta Miles and GPA on January 17, 2014 at 7 p.m.