'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for October 15th, 2014

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:

And the 46th Annual Jeff Awards (Equity division) are history, with an enjoyable show on Monday night, and the presentation of awards in 34 categories to productions and individuals working in our area's union houses. I was privileged to be there at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace to witness a mixture of superb live performances and heartfelt speeches, covering theater from August 1, 2013 through July 31, 2014 and all under the direction of Porchlight Music Theatre artistic director Michael Weber. Actor Gene Weygandt and director and teacher Henry Godinez hosted. Linda Madonia was the music director.

The awards on the musical side of things were evenly distributed, with three productions winning three awards each and three productions winning two awards each. The Goodman Theatre's summer revisal of Lerner and Loewe's Golden Age romantic saga "Brigadoon" won Production - Musical - Large, as well as awards for Rachel Rockwell's choreography and Mara Blumenfeld's costumes. The American Blues Theater production of "Hank Williams: Lost Highway" won as Production -Musical - Midsize, and star Matthew Brumlow and music director Malcolm Ruhl won in their categories. And Porchlight's production of "Ain't Misbehavin'" won as Production - Revue, and Brenda Didier and Austin Cook won for their direction and piano playing/conducting efforts (Cook's award was in the category of Artistic Specialization).

The Drury Lane's production of "Next To Normal" (a big winner at last year's BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards) won for Director William Osetek and Actress in a Principal Role Susie McMonagle. Drury Lane's "Les Miserables" won awards for Actor in a Supporting Role - Musical (Mark David Kaplan as Thenardier) and Projections/Video Design (Sage Marie Carter). And "The Old Man And The Old Moon," a PigPen Theatre Co. production which Writers' Theatre presented last fall, won for Original Music in a Play (the entire PigPen Theatre Co. is credited with the win) and Sound Design - Large (Mikhail Fiksel). Five of these six productions (all but "Old Man") presented live excerpts on Monday, to the delight of the capacity crowd at Drury Lane's swanky Dupage County venue.

Other musical awards were won by John Hartman (Actor in a Revue) for "Depraved New World" at The Second City," Jessica Rush (Actress in a Supporting Role - Musical) for "Gypsy" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and Bill Morey (Costume Design - Midsize) for "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" at Porchlight. And the cast of Theater At The Center's now-closed production of "Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown" sang Stephen Sondheim's "No One Is Alone" as part of a moving tribute to two dozen people in Chicago's theater industry who passed away during the last year. I have never heard more people sniffling in a theater than I heard at that moment. It was brilliant, perfectly right, perfectly executed, and perfectly received. Cory Goodrich, Larry Adams and all deserve a tremendous amount of gratitude and support for their generous gift of song.

http://www.jeffawards.org/home/index.cfm

The other big showtune news of the week is that the new New York-based musical "Amazing Grace" began full performances for the first time anywhere at our Bank Of America Theatre last week, with the official opening night set for this coming Sunday. Starring Josh Young and Erin Mackay, the show will run through November 2nd. Mostly the work of newcomer Christopher Smith, it has direction by Gabriel Barre and choreography by Tony Award winner Christopher Gatelli ("Newsies"). It tells the story of John Newton, the 18th century British cleric and the author of the hymn text "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound," who was involved in the North Atlantic slave trade before his religious convictions caused a change of direction in his life. The show doesn't have a Broadway theater booked, but it may get one if the reaction to the Chicago run is positive. What have you heard so far? It could be good, or not. It's a big new musical!

http://broadwayinchicago.com/show/amazing-grace/

Another upcoming new world premiere musical from Broadway In Chicago is "Hansel And Gretel: A Wickedly Delicious Musical Treat," a children's rock musical to play the Broadway Playhouse from November 22, 2014 through January 4, 2015. Grammy nominee Justin Roberts has penned the score, with book by our very own Emerald City Theatre artistic direction Ernie Nolan. And the cast was announced last week! Jack Ball and Alissa Walker lead the cast, which will also include Danny Taylor as Lotte the Witch. The rest of the ensemble consists of actor-musicians Brenton Abram-Copenhaver, Sadie Glaspey, Jennifer Grubb, Royen Kent, Katrina Kiss, Jeff Kurysz, Jay Mast and Pavi Proczko.

Jack-Ball-Alissa-Walker-to-Lead-Emereld-City-Theatres-HANSEL-GRETEL

Lest we forget: Broadway In Chicago is also presenting "Dee Snider's Rock And Roll Christmas Tale" from November 4-January 4 at the Broadway Playhouse (nighttimes), and it's already in rehearsal. The new national tour of "Annie" hits the Cadillac Palace Theatre for November 18-30, and "I Love Lucy Live On Stage" returns to Chicago for one week (December 9-14) at the Bank Of America Theatre. And then come the two productions that many Mosh Pit peeps have been dying to see for going on two years, "Newsies" at the Oriental Theatre (December 10-January 4) and "Cinderella" at the Cadillac Palace (December 16-January 4). Such holiday joy! And it's taken these productions long enough to get here!

http://broadwayinchicago.com/shows/

The upcoming one-city tour of "How The Grinch Stole Christmas!" will star Tony winner Shuler Hensley (Jud in "Oklahoma!") as the titular Green One. The Chicago Theatre will see this production from November 20-29, as an out of town tryout before the production plays The Theater At Madison Square Garden during December. I just can't call the show by its full contractual title, though. "Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical" is how it is styled, complete with an apostrophe ending a proper name ending in "s," and an exclamation point before the subtitle (rather than a colon). Such is life, I suppose. It will be here in just a month, though. Are you ready? He's a mean one--Mr. Grinch.

Shuler-Hensley-to-Star-in-Dr-Seuss-HOW-THE-GRINCH-STOLE-CHRISTMAS

There are two exciting local productions set to open soon. From the Bohemian Theatre Ensemble comes a striking and contemporary Tony-winning look at the Leo Frank-Mary Phagan tragedy that occurred in Atlanta 100 year ago. "Parade," with a book by Alfred Uhry and score by Jason Robert Brown, will run October 17-November 16 in the Theater Wit complex. Directed by Linda Fortunato and music directed by Matt Deitchman, the roles of mostly real-life Atlantans will be played by the following real-life Chicagoans: as Leo Frank: Jim Deselm, as Lucille Frank: Sarah Bockel, Minnie/Angela: Angela Alise, Dorsey: Scott Danielson, Frankie: Cole Doman, Mary/Essie: Peyton Tinder, Monteen: Rachel Shapiro, Iola: Lillie Cummings, Jim Conley: Eric Lewis, Newt Lee: Lorenzo Rush Jr., Sally/Mrs. Phagan: Christa Buck, Watson: Michael Potsic, Craig/Young Soldier: Nathan Carroll, Slaton/Rosser: Russell Alan Rowe, Judge Roan/Old Soldier: Rus Rainear. Can't wait to hear the buzz on this one! Sing it!

http://bohotheatre.com/shows/parade.php

The Drury Lane Theatre has announced its cast of "Camelot," and just in time for it to begin performances! Our local Alan Jay Lerner-Frederick Loewe retrospective ("Brigadoon" at the Goodman, and a Lerner-Loewe evening at Ravinia) concludes with the beloved but hard to pull off final original Broadway musical by the celebrated team. Broadway performers Ken Clark and Christy Altomare will star as Arthur and Guenevere, with Chicago rising star Travis Taylor as Lancelot (the same role he played to acclaim at Light Opera Works in June of 2012, opposite Nick Sandys and Jennie Sophia). Alan Souza directs the show, said to feature a new scenic approach (by Kevin Depinet) to match its almost hyper-masculine casting notice. Previews begin October 30, with performances through the popular closing date of January 4, 2015. Supporting roles are taken by Jonathan Weir, Patrick Rooney and young Gabriel Stern, with an ensemble of 11 men and 5 women.

Ken-Clark-Christy-Altomare-More-to-Star-in-Drury-Lane-Theatres-CAMELOT

The director of the Goodman's "Brigadoon," Jeff Award winner Rachel Rockwell, will direct and choreograph "Mary Poppins" for Aurora's Paramount Theatre for the holidays (November 26-[yes,]January 4), and the cast was announced last week. Emily Rohm (Marian in Paramount's "The Music Man") will star as the titular nanny, with Matt Crowle as Bert and Michael Aaron Lindner and Cory Goodrich as George and Winifred Banks. Charlie Babbo and Jake Helm, Eloise Lushina and Peyton Shaffer will alternate as Michael and Jane, with a cast of 19 supporting triple-threat perfomers. Tom Vendafreddo music directs.

Rachel-Rockwell-to-Direct-MARY-POPPINS-at-Auroras-Paramount

Speaking of holiday time, local productions with holiday themes are beginning to emerge. Theatre At The Center has announced the cast for the regional premiere of "A Christmas Memory," a new musical based on a Truman Capote story with a score by a veteran Broadway composer and lyricist. Larry Grossman ("Minnie's Boys") has written the score, and Carol Hall ("The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas") the lyrics. Luke Michael Klein and Geoff Rice share the role of Buddy (young and old), with Paula Scrofano as Sook, John Reeger as Seabon, Iris Lieberman as Jennie, Robin DaSilva as Anna and Madison Hertel as Nelle. William Pullinsi directs. It's a holiday show filled with veterans! Catch it in Munster from November 13-December 14.

Theatre-at-the-Center-to-Present-A-CHRISTMAS-MEMORY

And it's a great thing, but I don't know why I'm telling you about it, since it's already sold out! The Chicago Humanities Festival presentation of "A Night At The Tonys" is indeed sold out for its one-night-only performance on November 3. Jessie Mueller, Andre DeShields, Ernestine Jackson and Karen Mason will headline, appearing alongside Adrian Aguilar, Allison Bazarko, Devin DeSantis, Rebecca Finnegan, James Earl Jones II, Tammy Mader, Beckie Menzie, Tom Michael, Christine Mild, Meghan Murphy, Andrea Prestinario, Emily Rogers, Anne Sheridan Smith, Travis Taylor, and Bethany Thomas. That's a lot of Jeff Award winners! The evening is a cavalcade of Tony winning Best Musicals, directed by Rob Lindley, choreographed by Tammy Mader and music directed by Doug Peck. The auditorium at the Francis W. Parker School may never be the same!

Tony-Winners-Jessie-Mueller-Andre-DeShields-More-Set-for-Chicago-Humanities-Festival

So it's mid-October. How did that happen!?!? Well, I'll see you under the video screens, unless I see you sooner!.....-PWT

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