Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to present its 5th annual CHICAGO MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL, created to showcase and support the growing field of musical theatre creators from Chicago and beyond. This year's Festival features full productions of nine new musicals plus two free readings. The Festival will be performed simultaneously on two stages fromFebruary 4 - 24, 2019 at The Edge Theater: the Broadway (5451 N. Broadway) and the new Off Broadway (1133 W. Catalpa Ave.) in Chicago Edgewater neighborhood. Each full production will receive at least five performances during the Festival. Single tickets and festival passes are currently available at www.cmtf.org. The press "Sneak Preview," featuring a sampling of songs from the 2019 Festival, is Monday, February 4 at 8 pm.
The 5th annual Festival takes place during the League of Chicago Theatres' annual Chicago Theatre Week, with discounted tickets available to all Theatre Week performances.
Since its inception in 2014, the CHICAGO MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL has brought more than 40 new musicals to Chicago stages. The festival provides much-needed artistic resources for emerging composer/lyricist teams to have their work supported, explored and most importantly - performed!
Comments Underscore Theater Artistic Director Laura Stratford, "Underscore is thrilled to return to the Edge Theater to inaugurate their new Off Broadway stage for our fifth annual Chicago Musical Theatre Festival. This marks the first time in the festival's history that we will have programming running on multiple stages at once, which means more options for festival-goers and more time on stage for participants. We have added a representative from the independent licensing company Stage Rights to our panel of judges, meaning that not only will every show receive feedback from experts in the community, but they will all have a chance to make an impression on a licensing company that flourishes among regional theatres. Our lineup of musicals truly offers something for everyone, so we hope to see you in February!"
Photo Credit: Evan Hanover, Sarah Cushman
John B. Leen, Timothy Sullivan, Bill Kavanagh and Emi Lee Frantz
John B. Leen, Bill Kavanagh, Timothy Sullivan and Emi Lee Frantz
Madeline Lauzon with (back, l to r) Shelby Marie Edwards, Allison Taylor, Ricci Prioletti
Sarah Frasco, Madeline Lauzon and Brittney Brown with (back, l to r) Elisabeth Del Toro, Allison Taylor and Gabriella Hirsch
Madeline Lauzon and Brittney Brown (middle, l to r) Sarah Frasco, Allison Taylor, Ricci Prioletti, Shelby Marie Edwards and Elisabeth Del Toro and (back, l to r) Gabriella Hirsch, Katie Hunter, Gary Fields, Brendan Tran, George Ochoa and Shanna Sweeney
Kayla Higbee and Allie Wessel with (back, l to r) Kevin Blair, Allison Grischow, Rob Chesler, Jenna Rapisarda and Austin Nelson Jr.
Jenna Rapisarda, Allison Grischow, Allie Wessel and Kayla Higbee Wessel
Rob Chesler and Jenna Rapisarda
Alex Iacobucci and Travis Shanahan
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