'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for August 24th, 2011

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:

Well, she's back! "Mary Poppins," that lovable, schizophrenic, dark-hued, happy-voiced musical from both Cameron Mackintosh and Walt Disney Theatricals, is returning its national tour to Chicago for three weeks (October 13--November 6) at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. Tickets are now on sale. Based on both the award-winning Disney film and the books by P. L. Travers on which the film was based, its existence as a stage musical is a miracle of negotiation and legal fees, methinks. I'll leave it to you to decide whether it works for we adults. For the wee children, I think it does, and of course the "family" audience is the reason to bring this show back to Chicago after the tour began here in the bleak financial times of March of 2009. Seems a little quick to come back to me, but I guess you have to get some kids in the door at exactly the right age! For other kids, any age will do.

MARY POPPINS | Official Site for the Broadway Musical

Speaking of a quick return, it was announced last week that "Jersey Boys" will also be making a return appearance here, after its long run at the Bank Of America Theatre was somewhat cut short by the financial crash in the winter of 2008-9.  In the same way in which the long-running "Wicked" popped back into town, JB will be here (again at the BOAT) for two months, April 5--June 2, 2012. 

Chicago Jersey Boys 2012 Tickets | Broadway in Chicago

Another show with the word "boys" in the title is having its world premiere up at the Marriott Theatre this weekend. It's "For The Boys," the stage adaptation by Aaron Thielen of the Bette Midler/James Caan film about thirty years in the life of a big band singer and a song and dance man, entertaining troops through World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The jukebox and film score score (somewhat reminiscent of the film's contents, but not exactly) includes songs like "Stuff Like That There," "Come Rain Or Come Shine" and "What A Wonderful World." Michele Ragusa and Timothy Gulan star, directed and choreographed by Chicago favorite Marc Robin. Summer Smart, Bernie Yvon, Rod Thomas and Holly Stauder are among the supporting cast of twenty. The show runs in Lincolnshire through October 16th.

Marriott Theatre In Lincolnshire 

Speaking of boys, there are two headline performers who are teaming up at Ravinia for one night only, August 31. It's Broadway (and screen) star Mandy Patinkin and opera (and crossover) star Nathan Gunn, with their respective piano accompanists in tow. They'll be in the Pavilion, no doubt trading solos of what they do best. But I wonder if they will do any duets? Hard to picture, unless it's maybe "Lily's Eyes" from "The Secret Garden." Patinkin, you remember, won a featured actor Tony for his Che in "Evita," and went on to create the role of Georges/George in "Sunday In The Park With George" four seasons later. Gunn sang Lancelot in the New York Philharmonic's "Camelot" in 2008, and will star as Gaylord Ravenal in "Show Boat" here with the Lyric Opera Of Chicago in the early spring of 2012. Fans of male singing will have a lot to talk about after "An Evening With Mandy Patinkin And Nathan Gunn." 

Ravinia Festival / Patinkin and Gunn 

Four days earlier, in Ravinia's Bennett-Gordon Hall, Tony winner (for "Gypsy") Laura Benanti will make her solo bow at the summer music festival. She's been in a pretty good string of shows in New York, including last year's "Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown," as well as the revivals of "Into The Woods" and "Nine." I'm sure she would love to see you there, and tickets are only ten dollars! A word of warning, though. The band "Chicago" is playing the Pavillion that night, so parking will be crazy! 

Ravinia Festival / Benanti 

Another concert may be of interest. It's "Hallelujah Broadway" at the landmark Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on September 17, 2011. Chicago-based singers Rodrick Dixon and Alfreda Burke and "Irish Tenor" Anthony Kearns will be supported by an orchestra from Roosevelt University's Chicago College Of Performing Arts in a program of uplifting songs from Broadway shows like "Godspell," "West Side Story," "The Sound Of Music," "Rent," "Les Miserables," "Chess," "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Company" and more. And the cheapest tickets are a lot pricier than the tickets to hear Laura Benanti. 

Auditorium Theatre :: Hallelujah Broadway 

The Theatre At The Center in easy-to-reach Munster, Indiana has announced its 2012 season. It includes the musicals "Always...Patsy Cline," "Little Shop Of Horrors," "42nd Street" and "Plaid Tidings," along with the non-musical "Making God Laugh." Brian Russell, Stacey Flaster and William Pullinsi are the directors of the musicals. And "Guys And Dolls" is getting ready to open there on September 18 of this year, directed by Pullinsi and choreographed by Linda Fortunato. 

Theatre at the Center 

At the other geographical end of the Chicago spectrum, the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights has also announced its upcoming season, and it favors newer, lesser known works. "The Andrews Brothers," a cross-dressing musical comedy set in the World War II USO world and featuring 1940s tunes, is coming September 22--November 5, written by Roger Bean, creator of "The Marvelous Wonderettes." And closing the Metropolis season next May 17--June 17 will be "Married Alive!" With music by Leah Okimoto and book and lyrics by Sean Grennan, it's about two couples. Sounds like a cross between "I Do! I Do!" and "Baby," if you know what I mean. 

Metropolis - 2011-12 Season 

Speaking of next season, we now know who has won themselves roles on "Glee," courtesy of Sunday night's finale of "The Glee Project" on a cable channel I don't think I have. My friends tell me it was good, and that all four of the reality show's finalists will have roles on the hit series this year! Two were given "seven episode arcs" and two were given "two episode arcs." Damian and Samuel were the big winners, and Alex and Lindsay got more than they believed they would. Maybe someday we will all learn their last names? And that's three boys and one girl, for those unable to tell the gender of names these days.... But the big question is whether any of them will be given contract extensions. It's possible! 

The Glee Project | Oxygen 

Finally this week, there's a hit show in town that has run all summer, and has been extended twIce That I'm aware of, now announced on Friday nights at 8:00, through October 7. It's "Oprah! A Comedy!," written by Marc Warzecha and directed by Anne Marie Saviano (well, as written and directed as a musical comedy rooted in sketch comedy can and needs to be). It's set on the day of the taping of the last "The Oprah Winfrey Show," and the ghost of the late mayor Richard J. Daley shows up. What more do you need to know? It's at the Annoyance Theatre and Bar on Broadway in Uptown. Of course it is! 

The Annoyance Theatre & Bar - Oprah! A Comedy! 

Can we keep summer going a little while longer, please? Please? We're having too much fun with all our summer theatrical goings on. But, I fear that fall is right around the corner. There are simply too many fall shows already in rehearsal, and too many schools have already started classes. Ah, well. We've had a good run, and so much more good musical theater is just around the corner, I promise you. In the meantime, you know where you can find me! I'll see you under the video screens.....-PWT 

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