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'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for February 1st, 2012
By: Paul W. Thompson Feb. 01, 2012
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:
OK, it’s time, peeps! And you know the time I mean. “Smash” debuts next Monday night on NBC-TV! It seems like I’ve been mentioning this new dramatic series about the creation of a Marilyn Monroe Broadway musical for at least six months now, maybe more. But the time has finally arrived! And I know that a lot of you have found one way or the other to see the first episode already. Seriously, I can’t think of one person who’s done this who didn’t love the result. Now, you and I both know that fans of musical theater (for that is what readers of the “Showtune Mosh Pit” are) are not the same as average American TV watchers. And it is those viewers whom NBC must attract in order for this show to remain on the air. But I think that maybe they know that theaters are dark on Monday nights, so they are hoping to attract us too. Perhaps. At any rate, this show promises to be more about what we love than perhaps any other scripted series in television history (certainly more so than “Glee”), and scores of real-life Broadway actors and others have already been involved in the filming. So, here’s hoping that it’s a smash, and that it shows others exactly what we already know and love. And here’s hoping that we love it too! Like I said, advance word has been pretty spectacular. Monday night, February 6, 2012. 9:00 Central. Then come to Sidetrack and tell me all about it!
Turns out that my sources (or source, in this case) came through with the true, in regards to the film version of “Les Miserables.” I was told something was about to break, and now it has. No Taylor Swift. Eponine will be played by Samantha Barks, who blew people away (myself included) by her rendition of “On My Own” in the Royal Albert Hall performance marking the show’s 25th anniversary last season. Her vocal technique seems flawless! Producer Cameron Mackintosh announced the news (apparently to Barks’s surprise) after Tuesday night’s performance of “Oliver!” in London’s West End, where Barks is currently playing Nancy. This young woman is on quite a career trajectory, I think. And now, casting for the film’s major roles really is complete. Onward to filming!
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Last week I covered the publicity appearance at Sidetrack of “The Doyle And Debbie Show.” Well, wouldn’t you know it! Just after I went to press last week (how quaint a turn of phrase, right?) it was announced that the show has extended for the second time its run at the Royal George Cabaret Theatre. Now through June 24, 2012, the country singer from the past and his most recent girl sidekick will be parodying and homaging the genre that gave us both Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift. And the reviews have been simply stellar.
Speaking of cabarets, two divas of the cabaret world, though certainly known to musical theater as well, will be performing single-night engagements in our area in mid-February. Broadway’s Sally Mayes (best known for her many recordings and for the 1993 Boyd Gaines revival of “She Loves Me”) will perform in “Valentine” on Sunday, February 12 at North Central College in Naperville. Mayes will be in the Madden Theatre there, with a $30 top ticket. And Chicago treasure E. Faye Butler (who just opened in “Black Pearl Sings” at Northlight Theatre) will perform on the Millennium Park “Cabaret With A View” series on Monday, February 13. Called “My Funny Valentine,” Butler’s show will be performed on stage at the Jay Pritzker Pavillion, and that’s where most of the audience will be seated, too! Tickets are $25, which includes two complimentary drinks!
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Coming up later this month also is a production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein revue, “A Grand Night For Singing,” courtesy of the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, at Morton College in Cicero. Tiffany Desmond, Christopher Logan, Kristofer Simmons, Leslie Allison Smith and Megan Renee Reed star, directed by Michael A. Kott, choreography by Sarah Bright and music direction by John Warren. And coming up later for Jedlicka, in late April, will be “Sunset Boulevard,” the Andrew Lloyd Webber diva vehicle.
Just opened, and looking quite spiffy, is Elle Woods herself in the 2007 Broadway musical version of “Legally Blonde” at the Marriott Theatre, directed and choreographed by Marc Robin. As is true with many of the top Equity houses in Chicago, the leads are from New York, but the supporting players are pure Chicago talent. Chelsea Packard, David Larsen and Cole Burden fit their roles perfectly, and are enjoyable to look at, too. But there are a number of local lookers in this thing, too. And all are apparently doing a first-rate job. But don’t take my word for it. Check it out! The O’Keefe and Benjamin show runs through April 1.
The next show to open at the Marriott Theatre is (according to their usual formula) a children’s show, performed during the day and working around some of the set that the evening show provides/forces upon it. But the Marriott has gotten my attention by programming for its young audiences the very first Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, “Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” running Februay 22 through May 12. You may remember that this show began as a show for children for perform, though that has certainly changed! But I can’t remember knowing about an adult cast version of the show being mounted for children. It sounds fascinating! And so does some of the casting! Northwestern University senior Brian Bohr played Joseph in an evening run of the show in the fall at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, and he’s playing the coated one again up in Lincolnshire, this time in daylight. Some other top talent involved includes Alan Schmuckler, Bernie Yvon, Tiffany Topol, Brandon Springman, Lara Filip, Christopher Logan and Rob Riddle, among others. Oh, and a little talent named Susan Moniz (Sally in the Chicago Shakespeare Theater “Follies”) is the Narrator! And Matt Raftery is directing and choreographing. This is not your childhood’s “Joseph.” It will be nearly every day at10:00 am. Sounds awesome!
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I’ve mentioned the upcoming Lyric Opera Of Chicago production of “Show Boat” herein recently. Well, another and even more rare Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II Broadway musical (or is this one an operetta?) will be staged this summer, courtesy of Music By The Lake at George Williams College in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, a short drive over the state line on the shores of Lake Geneva. It’s “Music In The Air,” from 1932, the team’s follow-up to “Show Boat,” which will be directed by Dorothy Danner and musical directed by Christine Flasch. Performance dates are July 21st and 22nd. The show yielded the standard, “I’ve Told Ev’ry Little Star.” Sounds perfect for outdoors!
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On a sad note, there are rumors afoot that the announced Chicagoproduction of “Avenue Q” previously announced for a mid-March opening may not be happening. Part of the information that appeared on the Bailiwick Chicago website is still there, but part of it isn’t. Does anybody know for sure that it isn’t happening? Maybe it’s been postponed instead? Somebody let us know!
But on a happy note, Bailiwick Chicago’s “Casting Auction” production of the rollicking “Damn Yankees” is certainly happening, on Friday and Saturday, February 17-18, at Stage 773. Kate Garassino is directing, with musical direction by Robert Ollis. Jill Renn is cast in the coveted role o’ Lola, with Herbert Quinde as The Devil. Harvey Kaluzna and Jerry Hickey are the two Joes. Sounds fun!
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And so, with warm weather occurring and lots of musical theater a-happening, I’ll leave you to it! Have fun with whatever you’re up to this week, and I'll be sure to see you soon, under those video screens.....—PWT
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