Lake Forest Theatre's Inaugural Season to Feature A CHORUS LINE & More

Managing Artistic Director Steve Malone announces the opening of Lake Forest Theatre with its Inaugural Season. Starting in June 2016, the season will include three musicals with 10 Tony awards combined: THE SECRET GARDEN (Previewing June 10 and opening June 11 at 8pm) and, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, and A CHORUS LINE. The shows will be held at the newly renovated John & Nancy Hughes Theatre in downtown Lake Forest. The long-term vision for Lake Forest Theatre is to build a brand new venue. Lake Forest Theatre will also host two special events this season.

The Lake Forest Theatre Inaugural Season:

THE SECRET GARDEN - June 10 - July 2, 2016

Lake Forest Theatre's Managing Artistic Director is excited to direct the inaugural season opener, THE SECRET GARDEN. The musical adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1911 novel The Secret Garden originally premiered on Broadway in 1991 and earned a Tony award that same year. The enchanting musical follows 11-year-old orphan Mary Lennox on her return to Yorkshire from India. She returns to live with her reclusive uncle and ill cousin. Mary explores the grounds of her new home to discover a magic garden. There she finds spirits from her past that offer guidance for her new life. The tale of forgiveness and renewal plays out with beautifully haunting melodies. This Lake Forest production impressively has a 15-piece live orchestra to accompany the unbelievable performance. THE SECRET GARDEN was written by composer Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of Night Mother.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - October 07 - October 30, 2016

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is equally as hilarious to the adaption of the Oscar-nominated Mel Brooks film of the same name. Tony Award winner and creator of Broadway hit The Producers, Brooks effortlessly transported his film to the stage with memorable tunes like "Puttin' on the Ritz". The wickedly funny comedy re-imagines the legend of Frankenstein. Lake Forest Theatre will follow along on the young, bright Dr. Frankenstein's journey as he attempts to complete his grandfather's masterwork of bringing a corpse to life. Alongside his endearing helper Igor, his curvaceous lab assistant Inga, and his self-involved fiance Elizabeth, Frankenstein succeeds, but not without scary and often hilarious complications. The show is full of big production numbers including a hay ride and tap dancing monsters. It is definitely a performance that is fun for all ages.

Shows on Friday and Saturday start at 8 p.m. while shows on Sunday start at 3 p.m. The two Thursday matinees on 10/20 and 10/27 will start at 3 p.m.

A CHORUS LINE - March 24 - April 16, 2017

One of the longest running shows on Broadway, A CHORUS LINE boasts nine Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Lake Forest Theatre will take audiences behind the scenes of Broadway musicals to the audition phase. The show follows a day in the life of twelve performers vying for a role on the chorus line. It offers a glimpse into their lives as they describe the events that guided them to become dancers. A CHORUS LINE offers uncanny authenticity as each story is taken from the lives of real Broadway dancers as told to the show's original choreographer Michael Bennet. The Lake Forest Theatre is proud to be performing the original 1975 choreography.

2016 Special Events -

Special Events will be held at the new Lake Forest Theatre rehearsal space at 600 Broadsmoore Drive, Lake Forest, IL.

HALLOWEEN MASQUERADE BALL - October 31, 2016

This fundraising evening is exclusive to the first 100 tickets sold. Actors from YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN will entertain guests throughout the evening as a food and dessert buffet, specialty cocktails and wine are served. Guests can tour the new Lake Forest Theatre rehearsal space and the surrounding newly decorated 20+ room home at their leisure. Costumes are expected. This event is restricted to ages 21+ and will begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $100 ($50 is tax deductible) and free parking is included.

The Twelve Days of White Christmas - December 05 - December 24, 2016

Lake Forest Theatre will host Twelve Days of White Christmas. Each night is exclusively open to 100 guests. The event features a 90-minute performance from some of Chicagoland's best soloists with a live orchestra. Guests will enjoy a food and dessert buffet, holiday cocktails and hot cider while classic holiday tunes fill the room. The lyrics of the holiday classic and #1 Most Popular Song according to Billboard Magazine, "White Christmas", will be provided and guests will be encouraged to sing along. Tickets are $100 for adults ($50 is tax deductible) and $50 for children under 17 years of age ($25 is tax deductible). Guests will also be given a tour of the 600 Broadsmoore Estate in Lake Forest. Holiday attire is requested. Free parking is also included.

The specific dates the show will be running are: December 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, and 24, 2016. Shows on Friday and Saturday start at 7:30 p.m. while shows on Sundays start at 3 p.m. The Thursday show on December 22 will start at 7:30 p.m.

The John & Nancy Hughes Theatre welcomes the Lake Forest Theatre performances following a $1.5 Million renovation in 2015. The 309-seat theatre features a state-of-the-art sound system and clear views from every seat. Audience members will enjoy orchestral accompaniment during all performances.

Single show tickets are $49 and three show season tickets are $120. Tickets may be purchased online or at the box office. The box office opens thirty minutes prior to each show.

To post a comment, you must register and login.