BWW Blogs: 'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for July 21st, 2010
By: Paul W. Thompson Jul. 22, 2010
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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:
Monday night, "Shrek" was in the house!!! Well, actor Eric Petersen wasn't (or at least, I don't think he was). But many from the cast and crew of the new national tour production of the Jeanine Tesori musical based on the popular family film were in the Sidetrack Mosh Pit having a blast, after having attended the Cubs game at Wrigley Field, one real estate neighborhood to the west. Fiona cover Holly Ann Butler was leading the way, as she was in Chicago last fall, starring as Millie in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook, last October through December. She and the rest of the "Shrek" company will be performing at the Cadillac Palace Theatre through September 5, 2010. We're still not sure we like the show (early word of mouth is mixed), but we love the cast. Break a leg, you guys!
Shrek the Musical 2010 (Chicago) Tickets
Next on the docket for Broadway In Chicago and the premieres of national touring companies is "Rock Of Ages," the Broadway hit featuring the music of many of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s. It's like "Xanadu," only for suburbanites! Constantine Maroulis will be on hand, as he was for the Off-Broadway and Broadway incarnations. The show plays the Bank of America Theatre for only two weeks (September 21-October 3), and single tickets are on sale now! Also note that the BIC website lists the running time of the show as the hilarious "2 hours and 26 minutes, including intermission." I'm glad they know exactly how long it takes Chicagoans to "use the loos."
Rock of Ages 2010 (Chicago) Tickets
It's definitely mid-summer here in the Windy City, so naturally, thoughts of the average showtune fan turn to--the Ravinia Festival in north suburban Highland Park! There are several dates of interest coming up, with the first being this coming Friday night, July 23. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and conductor John Axelrod are presenting "Hits From Bernstein's 'Candide,'" with Nicholas Phan singing the songs of the titular optimist, June Christy as Cunegonde ("Glitter And Be Gay," anyone?), John Aler as the Governor, Kim Criswell as the Old Lady and Jonathan Beyer as Maximilian. Sounds like a nice way to get ready for the Goodman Theatre's new, full production in the fall, directed by Mary Zimmerman!
Next up at Ravinia is the big "Sondheim: 80" Gala Benefit Evening, on July 31, with Paul Gemignani conducting the CSO and Patti LuPone, George Hearn, Audra McDonald and Michael Cerveris, directed by Lonny Price. If this is a redux of the New York birthday concert from this spring, at least we're sure it will be marvelous! Lawn tickets are only $25, but those pavilion seats are pricey! Who's going?
Kelli O'Hara will be performing in Ravinia's Martin Theatre on August 4, and is sure to be a delight. And last, Patti LuPone, Patrick Cassidy and George Hearn will star in "Annie Get Your Gun" on August 13, 14 and 15, in what for many will be the highlight of the summer anywhere, not just the summer at Ravinia. Lonny Price will direct this as well. Who's in? This is Patti's first "Annie," and who knows if there will be another!
Ravinia Festival Website
"Jesus Christ Superstar" at Theater At The Center has gotten some pretty good reviews, and not just from me! Max Quinlan, Joe Tokarz, Audrey Billings and company (including some Mosh Pit peeps you will probably recognize) will be rocking the Munster, Indiana venue only through August 8th. You do not want to miss this show! And I note that the four "granddaddies" of the rock musical genre ("JCS," "Hair," "Tommy" and "Godspell") will all have been seen on Chicago stages in very recent memory, once the "Hair" national tour visits us next spring. We are nothing if not consistently and retroactively cutting edge.........
One new musical that is getting a lot of buzz lately is "The Emperor's New Clothes" the new children's musical now in performance at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier (I think that's their name now). Young composer-lyricist Alan Schmuckler seems to have a hit on his hands (staging is by Rachel Rockwell). Starring is Don Forston as the sartorial emperor, and actress Megan Long is his daughter, Sam. Long was in the Mosh Pit this past Monday night, delightful as always. Their show runs until August 29. And, oh yes, it's in the daytime.
There are four folks listed as creating music and lyrics for another new musical, "That Sordid Little Story," now through August 7 at The Viaduct on Western Avenue, presented by The New Colony. Chris Gingrich, Thea Lux, Henry Riggs and Tara Sessions are those folks (Riggs is the musical director). Under the leadership of author and director Andrew Hobgood they are appearing in the show as well (along with nine others). Has anyone caught this bluegrass-based show? So much new work in town lately--yay!
Somebody, somewhere should always be doing "The Light In The Piazza," as far as I'm concerned. And that somebody at the moment is the Illinois Theatre Center in the south suburbs. Mary Jane Guymon, Megan Murray and Jameson App star in the Adam Guettel musical, with direction by David Boettcher and musical direction by Jonathan Billig. Guettel, by the way, dropped by the Mosh Pit back when the show was originally presented by the Goodman Theatre in early 2004, prior to Broadway. "Piazza" in Park Forest runs July 23 through August 1.
And, looking toward the fall, the increasingly important Writers' Theatre in Glencoe (north suburbs!) has been casting its new production of "She Loves Me" by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. Directed by WT Artistic Director Michael Halberstam, with musical direction by Ben Johnson, this cult classic cast album will come to life September 14--November 21. Take my word for it, tickets will be hard to come by, very soon.
And that's it for the Mosh Pit this week. Get your summer travels in when you can, and visit those summer theaters in those resort areas while you're at it! And then come back here. And next week, I'll see you under the video screens.....--PWT
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