'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for November 27th, 2013
By: Paul W. Thompson Nov. 27, 2013
THE LATEST IN UNAUTHORIZED GOSSIP AND BUZZ
FROM THE HEART OF CHICAGO'S SHOWTUNE VIDEO BARS,
AND MUSICAL THEATER NEWS FROM CHICAGO TO BROADWAY
Overheard last weekend under the showtune
video screens at Sidetrack and The Call:
They're coming! It'll be one fine day! The cast of the national tour of "Wicked" (playing at the Oriental Theatre through December 21) will appear at Sidetrack on Monday, December 2, 2013, as a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This VIP party and reception, from 6-8 pm on Showtune Monday (or Musical Monday, if you must) will feature Daytime Emmy Award winner Kim Zimmer (from "The Guiding Light," who is Madame Morrible in "Wicked") as host, and other cast members will sing their favorite Broadway songs during the silent auction/holiday event. Admission is $20, which includes two drink tickets. And then, of course, stay for those videos!
Cast-of-WICKED-to-Join-Musical-Mondays-at-Sidetrack
And it's onward to more Christmas shows! Two weeks ago here in the Mosh Pit, I talked about three local musical-ish productions of "A Christmas Carol," which, as you know, varies a lot in script, score and production from theater to theater. (Those three were the ones at the Goodman Theatre and the Drury Lane Theatre, as well as "A Klingon Christmas Carol" at the Raven Theatre.) Well, I'm here to tell you about three more!
Theatre At The Center in Munster is presenting what I think is the Chicago regional premiere of the Alan Menken musical version of the Charles Dickens story, the one that played at the Paramount at Madison Square Garden in New York every Christmas for a decade. It's running through December 22, directed by artistic director William Pullinsi and starring Larry Adams as Scrooge. Patrick Tierney is Young Scrooge, with Kristin O'Connell as Emily, Matthias Austin as Bob Cratchit, and Ron Keaton, Megan Long, Jonathan Butler-Duplessis and Jen Donahoo as the four ghosts. KillIan Hughes is young and Tiny Tim.
Theatre-at-the-Center-to-Present-A-CHRISTMAS-CAROL
Speaking of the Paramount Theatre we are more familiar with (the one in Aurora), it is hosting playwright Charles Jones' adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" in what I believe is a tour by the well-regarded Nebraska Theatre Caravan. It's for one weekend only, December 7-9.
A-Christmas-Carol-and The-Magic-of-Bill-Blagg-Set-for-December-at-Auroras-Paramount-Theatre
And the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in northwest suburban Arlington Heights is mounting its annual production of the tale from November 29-December 24, adapted by Scott Woldman and directed by Micky York. Jerry Miller is Scrooge this year.
http://www.metropolisarts.com/a-christmas-carol
Only barely outdone, I think there are four different musicalized versions of "It's A Wonderful Life," adapted as a staged radio play (the action takes place in a radio studio, with George, Mary, Clarence and all the other beloved characters from the Frank Capra film enacted by radio performers. Got it?)
We once again have "It's A Wonderful Life: Live In Chicago!" from American Blues Theater, performing at the Greenhouse Theater Center through December 29. Directed by Marty Higginbotham, Kevin R. Kelly stars as George, with artistic director Gwendolyn Whiteside as Mary, John Mohrlein as Mr. Potter/Clarence and Michael Mahler as the pianist and announcer.
American-Blues-Theater-Stages-ITS-A-WONDERFUL-LIFE
American Theater Company also has once again staged "It's A Wonderful Life" in this manner, also through December 29, directed by artistic director PJ Paparelli. This year's version of their take on the tale, at the company's facility on Byron Street, features new Foley sound effects and commercials.
http://www.atcweb.org/bxo/nowplay.php
"It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" by Joe Landry is on the boards at the Oil Lamp Theater in north suburban Glenview through December 22. The cast includes Emily Berman, Zach Bloomfield, Megan Skord-Campbell, James Edward Dauphin, Dustin Peek, Steve Silver and Stephen Smith, with direction by artistic director Keith Gerth. And they've got hot chocolate and homemade cookies for everyone!
http://oillamptheater.org/current_season.php
And way up in Crystal Lake, the Williams Street Repertory is presenting "It's A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play" by Philip Grecian, running from November 29-Dcecember 8 only. It's directed by Tom Burke-Kaiser, and stars David Lowenthal as George. Alicia Regan is Mary and Deric Gochenauer is Clarence, leading a cast of nine and a live orchestra at the Raue Center For The Arts. Got all that? Whew!
WILLIAMS-STREET-REP-PRESENTS-ITS-A-WONDERFUL-LIFE-A-RADIO-PLAY
Black Ensemble Theater is presenting an original world premiere holiday musical, "Once Upon A People," from November 30-December 30. Billed as a "dancesical," it's described as "an original African Fairytale that exemplifies the true power of love told through spoken word, spirited music and exhilarating dance. Journey to the mystical land of Mirah, where Prince Oba and Princess Erin take us on a fascinating mystical experience that teaches us to embrace the joy of living." Book, lyrics and direction are by Rueben D. Echols, with musical direction by Kelvin Roston, Jr. and the band led by BroadwayWorld Chicago Award winner Robert Reddrick. The cast features Alexis J. Rogers, Donald Craig Manuel, Eric Lewis, Jazzelle Morriss and Claudia Cunningham, leading a cast of fourteen and students from the dance studio, Studio One.
ONCE-UPON-A-PEOPLE-to-Play-Black-Ensemble-Theater
If you are of a mind to experience more of the tunes and less of the shows of the holidays, perhaps Davenport's Cabaret in Wicker Park is the place for you. The highly regarded wife and husband team of Amanda Horvath and Justin Adair are presenting "Amanda and Justin Sing Christmas" on December 2 and 13, with Dana Brown on piano. Also of interest: David Edelfelt has "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" this weekend, friend of the Mosh Pit James Gavin offers "Meet Me Under The Mistletoe" on December 4 and 11, and Broadway's Karen Mason returns with "Christmas! Christmas! Christmas!" on December 20, 21 and 22. Stuff like that there!
http://davenportspianobar.com/
You know, of course, that the Walt Disney animated film, "Frozen" is not the only musical film opening this weekend. There's also "Black Nativity," based on the Langston Hughes stage musical, that casts the story of Jesus' birth in contemporary Harlem terms. The film stars Oscar winner and Chicagoan Jennifer Hudson and Jacob Latimore, alons with some well-known names like Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett and Mary J. Blige. Kasi Lemmons writes and directs the picture, which also stars Tyrese Gibson, Nasir Jones, Vondie Curtis-Hall and, as the young expentant couple, Luke James and Grace Gibson. And let me just back up and say one more time: there's a musical film starring Jennifer Hudson that's opening this weekend!
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/blacknativity
It's not a holiday movie, but it's happening this weekend at Orchestra Hall. That's right, THAT Orchestra Hall, home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The event I'm referring to is "Sing-A-Long-A 'Grease'." Yes, that's right. THE "Grease." Put on your poodle skirt, pink or leather jacket and grab a heap of nostalgia for both the 50s and the 70s when Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta appear in the hit motion picture (complete with projected lyrics and the encouragement to dance in the aisles). It's been scrubbed of all sense of its Chicago stage origins, but folks worldwide love this movie. So, if you would like to spend your Thanksgiving weekend at Rydell High, then come on down to Michigan Avenue, Friday and Saturday, November 29-30.
http://cso.org/TicketsAndEvents/GREASE
Just a little bit further down the Avenue, and a little to the right, is DePaul University's Merle Reskin Theatre (formerly the Blackstone). And it is the site for an annual event which, while not holiday themed this year, is certainly an annual holiday tradition for many. It's the Chicago Bar Association's 90th annual Bar Show, which may be the nation's oldest annual original musical revue. Sixty attorneys appear in this year's show, December 4-8. And it's called, "The Merry Old Land Of Lawz." Yes, it's a parody of "The Wizard Of Oz." Only they've also worked in "Blurred Lines" and "Thrift Shop," among other video hits of the past year, in the topical, ripped-from-the-headlines satire. Directed and choreographed by Marla Lampert, you probably don't want to miss this. It's a true Chicago tradition. And did you notice how I started and ended with the classic Judy Garland film?
Chicago-Bar-Association-Presents-90th-Annual-Bar-Show
You've voted for the fourth annual BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, haven't you? Don't forget!
And I hope you have a great holiday weekend. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! See you soon, under the video screens.....-PWT
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