CANDIDE, PETER PAN and More Set for Music Theater Works' 2017 Season
By: BWW News Desk Feb. 03, 2017
Music Theater Works (formerly Light Opera Works) will open its 2017 season with CANDIDE (June 3-11), followed by GYPSY (August 19-27), Duke Ellington'S GREATEST HITS (October 6-15), and PETER PAN (December 23-January 1, 2018).
The October Duke Ellington concert will be at Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston. All other productions are at the company's home venue, Cahn Auditorium in Evanston.
The box office is located at 516 4th Street in Wilmette. Discount season packages are available. To purchase tickets call (847) 920-5360 or order online at MusicTheaterWorks.com.
CANDIDE
The Royal National Theatre Version Music by Leonard Bernstein Book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler In a New Version by John Caird Lyrics by Richard Wilbur Additional Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein
With full orchestra
Press Opening Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 8 pm Sunday, June 4 at 2 pm Wednesday, June 7 at 2 pm Friday, June 9 at 8 pm Saturday, June 10 at 8 pm Sunday, June 11 at 2 pm
Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson Street, Evanston
The Leonard Bernstein classic, based on Voltaire's satire on the follies and foibles of the human race, includes the songs "Glitter and Be Gay," "The Best of All Possible Worlds" and "Make Our Garden Grow."
GYPSY
A Musical Fable
Book by Arthur Laurents Music by Jule Styne Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Suggested by memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee Original Production by David Merrick & Leland Hayward Entire production originally directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins
With full orchestra
Press Opening Night: Saturday, August 19, 2017 at 8 pm Sunday, August 20 at 2 pm Wednesday, August 23 at 2 pm Thursday, August 24 at 2 pm Friday, August 25 at 8 pm Saturday, August 26 at 8 pm Sunday, August 27 at 2 pm Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson Street, Evanston
Broadway's fable of 1920s show business with a score by Jule Styne, including "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Let Me Entertain You" and "Some People." Mary Robin Roth stars as Rose, the mother of all stage mothers.
Duke Ellington'S GREATEST HITS
Press Opening: Friday, October 6, 2017 at 8 pm Saturday, October 7 at 8 pm Sunday, October 8 at 2 pm Wednesday, October 11 at 2 pm Thursday, October 12 at 2 pm Friday, October 13 at 8 pm Saturday, October 14 at 2 and 8 pm Sunday, October 15 at 2 pm
Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston
American composer, pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington is celebrated in a concert of his best-known work, including "Satin Doll," Mood Indigo," "Sophisticated Lady" and "It Don't Mean A Thing (if it Ain't Got That Swing)."
PETER PAN
A Musical Based on the Play by Sir J.M. Barrie Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh Music by Morris (Moose) Charlap Additional Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green Additional Music by Jule Styne Originally directed, choreographed and adapted by Jerome Robbins
With full orchestra
Press Opening: Saturday, December 23, 2017 at 2 pm Tuesday, December 26 at 2 pm Wednesday, December 27 at 2 pm Friday, December 29 at 8 pm Saturday, December 30 at 2 and 8 pm Sunday, December 31 at 2 and 8 pm (New Year's Eve) Monday, January 1, 2018 at 2 pm
Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson Street, Evanston
The classic tale of the boy who won't grow up includes the songs "I've Gotta Crow," "I'm Flying" and "Neverland."
Light Opera Works is now known as Music Theater Works, effective January 2, 2017.
General manager Bridget McDonough said, "After 36 years, we decided to make a change. Light Opera Works was a wonderful name for a long time, but we felt it no longer told the full story of who we are and what we do."
"The company will remain a home for light opera," she continued, "but we are also the home of Broadway classics, Great American Songbook concerts and popular educational programs for young people. We wanted our new name to reflect the diversity of our repertoire and programs."
Artistic director Rudy Hogenmiller added that people unfamiliar with the company often asked "if we perform short -- 'lite' -- versions of grand operas. There's nothing 'lite' about our productions! We pride ourselves on full-scale stagings of musical theater classics. Everything from Gilbert and Sullivan and Franz Lehar to Lerner and Loewe and Jerry Herman, with big casts and full orchestras. We needed a name that gives people a sense of that."
McDonough and Hogenmiller asked for input from Light Opera Works subscribers and patrons earlier this year. "Suggestions poured in," said Hogenmiller. "Our audience was not shy!"
Music Theater Works' mission is to produce musical theater from a variety of world traditions, to engage the community through educational and outreach programs
and to train artists in musical theater.
Comments
Videos