'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for August 11th, 2009
By: Paul W. Thompson Aug. 11, 2009
THE LATEST IN UNAUTHORIZED GOSSIP AND BUZZ
FROM THE HEART OF CHICAGO'S SHOWTUNE VIDEO BARS
Overheard last weekend under the Sidetrack and Cattle Call showtune video screens:
Chicago's musical theater community remains tremendously excited about the national tour of "Spring Awakening," halfway through its two-week stay at the Oriental Theatre/Ford Center for the Performing Arts.
Everyone has gone or is going, and nearly everyone has great things to say about the show and its cast. (I should say that there are only strong reactions, one way or the other!) The fall season in the Loop will be hard pressed to mount a production that will make a bigger impression on us than this production is currently making. Can't it come back sometime, for a longer stay?
Though it seems to be somewhat of an under-the-radar event, the lucky few who knew about it ventured to the northern suburbs Saturday night to hear none other than the newly-minted Broadway legend Patti LuPone singing Kurt Weill with our very own Chicago Symphony Orchestra. And now they can't stop talking about how marvelous it was.
The Ravinia Festival, site of her first staged Mama Rose anywhere (also with the CSO), welcomed La LuPone back once again, this time in an evening of Weill songs, including the full "The Seven Deadly Sins." Local singers Hudson Shad gave reportedly first-rate support in this capper to a mini Weill festival. Insider reports indicate that LuPone was in great voice and easy to work with, and that the audience was charmed and thrilled with the performance.
http://backstage.ravinia.org/blog/2009/7/27/why-dont-you-stay-a-weill.html
Many Chicago performers have been following the events behind the scenes at the Skylight Opera Theatre in Milwaukee and at our Theatre Building Chicago, where changes in management have kept the organizations in upheaval this summer. Here's hoping that things are smoothed out now, and that all is resolved in time for Labor Day and the fall's activities. Time will tell in both situations. Now's not the time for shaky leadership, or for the perception of shaky leadership, either.
http://www.skylightopera.com/aboutus/boardelects.html
http://www.theatrebuildingchicago.org/press_detail.php?press_id=132
Speaking of fall, we can't wait for regular airings of the new FOX TV series, "Glee." Video clips we're seeing, especially of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing," have us all in a frenzy with anticipation for the show. Can it possibly be as good as that first teaser episode? Will it go the way of the late, unlamented "Cop Rock?" Is the song "Don't Stop Believing" from "Glee" or from "Rock of Ages?" Chicago is setting its calendars for Wednesday, September 9th and hoping to continue to be enthralled! Those who saw Matthew Morrison or Lea Michele on Broadway are especially excited for them.
The death last week of film writer/director John Hughes has some folks wondering why we haven't seen any musical stage adaptations of Hughes' films. The best bet for a workable adaptation: "The Breakfast Club." You heard it here first-unless you hang out where I do.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000455/
Two local musical productions were getting a lot of attention this weekend. The first is the "theatre for young audiences" version of Disney's "Aladdin" at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, featuring showtune night and "Spelling Bee" familiar face Bill Larkin as the Genie, along with the beloved Alan Menken/Howard Ashman/Tim Rice score. (The show closes August 30th.)
http://www.chicagoshakes.com/main.taf?p=2,37
And the other show, in previews now and getting ready to open August 17th, is the first major production of the musical "High Fidelity" since the show's Broadway run in 2006. The Route 66 Theatre Company is installing the show in the "Tony and Tina's Wedding" space in Piper's Alley Theater, while the long-running wedding reenactment show takes a rumored hiatus until nearer the holiday season. Respected veteran actor Stef Tovar stars, and also serves as the company's artistic director. Could be good, maybe not, and nobody knows! Not many people have seen this show, after all. But what an exciting venture, nonetheless.
Last but not least, the tour of "Spring Awakening" and the continued success of Chicago's own production of "Jersey Boys" are leading to rumors and speculation about future Broadway productions here for 2010-11 and beyond. Can JB last beyond New Year's? Will Disney bring "The Little Mermaid" here, as they did the recently departed "Mary Poppins?" Will we see other successful recent Broadway productions like the Lincoln Center Theatre "South Pacific," or even (dare we hope to dream) "Next to Normal?" The buzz is afoot for next summer already!
http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/
And until we know for sure what the powers at Broadway in Chicago have in store for us, beyond what they've already announced,........well, I'll see you under the video screens.....--PWT
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