'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for August 5th, 2015

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:

Those in the musical theater and light opera bizzes may have seen their social media light up in a bad way about a week ago. You see, a whole host of Chicagoans is currently in Scotland, performing with Chamber Opera Chicago and its original musical "Persuasion," in its fourth (fifth?) annual incarnation and third UK tour. (It's Barbara Landis' adaptation of the Jane Austen novel, using period music and Irish stepdancers [pictured], and directed by Kyle A. Dougan from the original direction by Nick Sandys.) The problem? Many of them couldn't get off the ground at O'Hare! After a delay of nearly a day here and an unscheduled stop on our Atlantic seaboard, they did all make it to Aberdeen in time for one performance on July 31. The company is now in Edinburgh, where "Persuasion" is participating in the Fringe Festival with four performances on August 6-9. Let's hope they get back here!

http://www.chamberoperachicagotours.org/

When I used the national tour of "Pippin" as my lead story last week in the Mosh Pit, I was unaware that significant cast changes would be occurring for this, the second week of the company's two week run here. I guess I literally didn't read the press release! Now, it's pretty common for tours to use their relatively longer time in our fair city (in comparison to other tour stops) for rehearsals, auditions, scenic spruce-ups and all manner of things. So, for this second week, we have Gabrielle McClinton as Leading Player, Brian Flores as Pippin and Tony winner Priscilla Lopez as Berthe, replacing Sasha Allen, Sam Lips and Adrienne Barbeau! Is Jake Berman new as Theo too? At the Cadillac Palace, y'all.

http://www.pippinthemusical.com/cast.php

Next March 8-20 at the Cadillac Palace, we'll be getting a national tour of a show that has not been seen in New York lately, "42nd Street." But it's a classy tour anyway, directed by original bookwriter Mark Bramble and choreographed by 2001 revival choreographer Randy Skinner. Unusual for those guys, this seems to be a non-Equity cast, though. And two of the leads are named Caitlin and Kaitlin.

Matthew-J-Taylor-Kaitlin-Lawrence-and-Caitlin-Ehlinger-to-Lead-42nd-STREET-in-Chicago-This-Spring

I've been discussing The Hypocrites's upcoming production of "American Idiot" as being the local Chicago premiere of the Green Day musical (i.e. we did host the national tour of the Broadway production, but I mean the first time it's been done by a local company). However, that's not entirely true. It is the local professional premiere for our area as well as for the City of Chicago, but an educational community theater group in the northwest suburbs is beating Hypo to the opening curtain by a couple of weeks. The Up And Coming Theatre Company will indeed present the show from August 8-16 at the Forest View Education Center in Arlington Heights. It's a cast of 46, directed by Jim Shedd and choreographed by Carly Vadnais.

UAC-Theatre-to-Rock-Out-With-AMERICAN-IDIOT-This-August

Speaking of national tours, there's an upcoming local cabaret performance that uses such a tour as a bouncing-off point. It's Michael Kingston's show at Davenport's, "Harry Takes A Holiday," on August 12 and 17. Kingston, a two-time Jeff Award nominee, left his 13-year day job in 2014 to go on the road with the national tour of "Flashdance: The Musical." And how did it go? You know, all that "living the dream" stuff? Well, we can now find out through this show, with musical direction by Nick Sula and vocal support by Bob Gerics, Sarah Hayes and Patrick Tierney. Stephen Sondheim, Irving Berlin, James Taylor and others provide the tunes, though not in person.

http://reservations.davenportspianobar.com/events/michael-kingston/

A just-announced cabaret show of sorts has stirred up a little bit of controversy. It's "Glee" star and south suburban native Jane Lynch's December 17 and 18 performances at the Civic Opera House, called "See Jane Sing" (sponsored by the Lyric Opera Of Chicago), that has some observers' tongues wagging. Lynch's show, including a five-piece band, will place the audience on the stage of the cavernous Ardis Krainik Theatre, entertaining them with Berlin's "Mr. Monotony," Bock and Harnick's "Far From The Home I Love" and more. Sounds like audience-building and diversity of programming to me, though I'm not a purist when it comes to the hallowed halls of opera houses. As a voice teacher, I can tell you that Lynch will more than likely never be cast in a traditional opera in Chicago (except possibly in the operetta "Die Fledermaus!"). But I'll bet this will be a pretty entertaining evening.

Jane-Lynch-to-Bring-Solo-Show-to-Lyric-Opera-of-Chicago-in-December

The new show (is it parody or homage?) "Bette, Live At The Continental Baths" has extended its run! Well, by all of one performance. But that's enough to have prompted them to send out a press release. And we carried it. So, hats off to Hell In A Handbag Productions and their PR efforts. Through August 28, 2015 at Mary's Attic in Andersonville.

Hell-in-a-Handbags-BETTE-LIVE-AT-THE-CONTINENTAL-BATHS-Extends-Through-August-28-2015

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre has announced the cast of its fall production of "Blood Brothers," beginning performances September 25 (through November 15) at the No Exit Café. The show didn't do exceptionally well in New York, but it did run 24 years in the West End, so there's that. This production will star Kyrie Anderson as Mrs. Johnstone, with Charlie Mann and Cody Jolly as the twin sons separated at birth. Jordan Phelps will be the Narrator, which should ensure ticket sales right there. Fred Anzevino directs, with choreography by Maggie Portman and music direction by Jeremy Ramey (he's currently doing the same honors for the aforementioned "Bette").

Cast-Creative-Team-Set-for-BLOOD-BROTHERS-at-Theo-Ubique-Cabaret-Theatre

Porchlight Music Theatre has divulged key details of its upcoming mainstage season, beginning September 11 with the Chicago premiere of the 2014 version of "Side Show." Michael Weber will direct Colleen Fee and Britt-Marie Sivertsen as the Hilton sisters, with Matthew Keffer, Devin DeSantis, Evan Tyrone Martin and more, music directed by Aaron Benham (through October 18 at Stage 773). Porchlight's award-winning production of "Ain't Misbehavin'" returns November 14-December 20, staged by Brenda Didier and musically helmed by Austin Cook, starring Robin DaSilva, Sharriese Hamilton, Donterrio Johnson, Lorenzo Rush, Jr. and Lina Wass. And the Chicago premiere of Scott Frankel and Michael Korie's "Far From Heaven" will star Summer Naomi Smart next February and March, directed by Rob Lindley and music directed by Chuck Larkin. The season will end with "Dreamgirls" next April and May, staged by Brenda Didier and music directed by Doug Peck. Sounds like a plan.

Porchlight-Sets-SIDE-SHOW-FAR-FROM-HEAVEN-AINT-MISBEHAVIN-Casts

And lastly, the live NBC-TV version of "The Wiz" set for December 3, 2015, has announced most of its casting! Including Dorothy, announced this morning on the "Today" show. "The Wiz Live!" will star previously unknown 18-year-old Shanice Williams as That Kansas Girl, with Queen Latifah as The Wiz, Mary J. Blige as Evillene, Stephanie Mills as Auntie Em and David Alan Grier as the Cowardly Lion. Do we have a Scarecrow or Tinman or Glinda yet? Come on, Kenny Leon!

She'll-Ease-on-Down-the-Road-Shanice-Williams-Will-Play-Dorothy-in-NBCs-THE-WIZ-LIVE

How was your July? Mine was pretty spectacular, thank you. More good weather to come, I think. And after dark, stroll over to a theater and see a musical, why don't you? Afterwards, I'll see you under the video screens.....-PWT

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