'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for December 23rd, 2009

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:

What a crazy weekend we had! Everyone was celebrating something, and vacation and holiday cheer were definitely in the air. There was no hotter topic than the upcoming opening of the movie version of "Nine," the musical that defeated "Dreamgirls" in the major creative categories at the 1982 Tony Awards and had to wait more than 27 years to see a Hollywood adaptation. But we don't have to wait any longer! The film has already opened on the far coasts, and will open here Friday, Christmas Day. With five Golden Globe nominations already leading the way, a slew of Oscar winners in the cast and downloadable and hard-copy versions of the soundtrack available now (which includes three new songs by Maury Yeston), the road has been paved. All you have to do is find a movie theater and go in it! Assuming that winter doesn't put a damper on things......... "Nine" is here! And that cast again? Day-Lewis, Kidman, Cruz, Cotillard, Hudson, Ferguson, Loren and Dench. Rob Marshall, the Mosh Pit thinks you done good, kiddo.

http://www.nine-movie.com/#/home-page

In this week's news about "The Addams Family," Nathan Lane and Kevin Chamberlin were at Sidetrack for a while on Sunday, and ever since then, folks have been comparing the real-life social skills of the two actors. (I'll leave it at that.) The two men are portraying Gomez and Fester in the world premiere of the Andrew Lippa musical, now at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre (this for those who have been under some sort of rock lately). We hear that tickets are very scarce at this point. 

http://www.theaddamsfamilymusical.com/

And, following in the footsteps of fellow cast members Zach James and Jackie Hoffman, yet a third New York-based "Addams Family" actor will be putting on a one-man show in the Windy City while here. Word came this week that ensemble member and Ancestor Michael Buchanan (a Jeff Award winner for his handsome portrayal of Bobby Strong in "Urinetown" at the Mercury Theatre here) will be presenting "I'll Do Anything" on Monday, January 4, 2010, at 8:00 in the Cabaret at Davenport's. Our very own Doug Peck is musical directing. 

http://www.michaelbuchananonline.com/home.html 

Speaking of Davenport's, they've got an noteworthy offering for New Year's Eve-Chicago and national diva Hollis Resnik (Fantine in the First National Tour of "Les Miserables," if you are too young to remember her breakthrough achievement) will be presenting in the Cabaret there at 8:00 and 10:15 pm on the 31st. The ubiquitous Peck will preside at the ivories for Resnik as well. Definitely sounds like you should check it out, don't you think?

http://davenportspianobar.com/ 

The First National Tour of "In The Heights" opened last week at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, and, if accounts are to be believed, it is heating up Chicago's winter chill and drawing sizable crowds while doing it. Lots of our friends have been going! Word is that a lot of understudies have been going on, too, with no ill effects for the production. It's only here until January 3rd, so you better get your tickets for uptown while you can, Mosh Pit peeps! And come to think of it, all three of the big shows currently in the Loop will be vacating very soon--"The Addams Family" and "Jersey Boys" both close on January 10th. Wow....... 

http://www.intheheightsthemusical.com/index.html 

So what will replace these shows in our hearts for the upcoming months, you may ask? Well, there are a lot to choose from, though some of them are making mighty quick exits! A lengthy tour of "Annie" will swing through the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University January 19th-24th, and "Mamma Mia!" will be out at the Rosemont Theatre the exact same dates.  The new "Dreamgirls" tour that originated at the Apollo Theater in Harlem will be at the Cadillac Palace January 19th-31st. Those lovely ladies will be followed at the Palace by the new tuner "The 101 Dalmatians Musical" (starring the fabulous Rachel York as Cruella de Vil) February 16th-28th. "An Evening With Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin" (yes, Virginia, you read that correctly) follows March 2nd-7th, and (of course) the elephant in our spring living room, current Tony Award champion "Billy Elliot," arrives at the Palace on March 18th for (we hope) a very long stay. All of these shows are presented here by Broadway In Chicago. So, take your pick! 

http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/shows_dyn.php?cmd=display_current&display_showtag=jerseyboys07

Or, perhaps you like your musical theater a little more homegrown, or a little more classic? Well, the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire just opened their "My Fair Lady" last week, and the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace is readying a "Funny Girl" now, to begin previews New Year's Eve and open to the press on January 7th. If you haven't seen the shows that propelled Julie Andrews and Barbra Streisand to stardom, your education isn't complete, Grasshopper.

http://www.marriotttheatre.com/

http://www.drurylaneoakbrook.com/live_theatre/now_playing.php 

Local favorite Hershey Felder has been in residence as actor and pianist at the other Drury Lane Theatre this holiday season (the one in Water Tower Place), and his extraordinarily successful one-man show "George Gershwin Alone" returns December 22nd for a week. You do know Gershwin's life story and his artistic output, don't you? He had rhythm! 

http://www.drurylanewatertower.com/now_playing.html 

And, last but certainly not least, this year's installment of the irreverent musical spoof, "Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer" has been doing bang-up business and getting some pretty good reviews in its annual incarnation, courtesy of Hell in a Handbag Productions. It's at Mary's Attic in Andersonvillle this year (its twelfth!), and runs through January 2nd. "There's always tomorrow," yes, but only until New Year's! 

http://www.handbagproductions.org/summer-camp/rudolph-the-red-hosed-reindeer-2009/

So, as snowflakes fall and visions of sugarplums dance, I will leave you for now. But, before you can lay a finger aside of your nose, I will see you once again, under the video screens.....And have a great Christmas weekend, everyone!--PWT

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