'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for October 1st, 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:

As Super September comes to a close, it is followed by an even bigger Super October! After such openings as the superbly received "Cats" at the Paramount Theatre and "A Kurt Weill Cabaret" from Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, the amazingly split-decision opening of "Evil Dead" at the Broadway Playhouse (critics either loved it or hated it) and the world regional premiere of "Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown" in suburban Munster (other observers liked it more than I did ), well, October is about to burst upon us with even more exciting musical theater offerings from and for the Chicagoland musical theater community. Where to begin, where to begin??

There are four big openings by northside theater companies that have had denizens of the Mosh Pit atwitter in recent weeks. Perhaps none of these looms larger than "Sweeney Todd" from Porchlight Music Theatre, as Stephen Sondheim's most unavoidable work hits the boards at the Stage 773 complex for performances from October 3-November 9, 2014. Journeyman Chicago actor David Girolmo gets his first crack at the demon barber, opposite another opportunity for the remarkable Rebecca Finnegan to give her Jeff Award-winning performance as Nellie Lovett. Michael Weber directs and Doug Peck music directs. It doesn't get any more Chicago than this.

http://porchlightmusictheatre.org/sweeney-todd/

Another Tony Award-winning musical with added Mosh Pit cache is "Titanic," and the Griffin Theatre Company is presenting what is essentially the U.S. premiere of a scaled-down version of the script and score of the 1997 Maury Yeston-Peter Stone show. And it will be playing next door to "Sweeney Todd," in the Theater Wit complex, from October 18-December 7. Scott Weinstein directs, with choreography by Tyler Sawyer Smith and music direction by Elizabeth Doran. The cast is a who's who of Chicago's non-union talent pool. This one could receive national attention!

http://griffintheatre.com/titanic/

Also playing at Theater Wit, and opening almost simultaneously with "Titanic," is the show that solidified Jason Robert Brown's status as a composer to be reckoned with, "Parade." This production, playing October 17-November 16, is from BoHo, the Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, directed by Linda Fortunato and music directed by Matt Deitchman. Jim DeSelm stars as the ill-fated Leo Frank, with Sarah Bockel as Lucille Frank. Nathan Carroll and Rus Rainear are the Young Soldier and Old Soldier, in this tale of the lingering effects of the Civil War on race relations in Titanic-era Atlanta, and its surprising impact on the flourishing Jewish community there. Alfred Uhry contributed the book.

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

Beginning performances tomorrow and running through November 1 is "The Wild Party" from Bailiwick Chicago, the Michael John LaChiusa-George C. Wolfe adaptation of the Joseph Moncure March poem that played Broadway nearly 15 years ago. Multi-award-winner Brenda Didier directs and choreographs, with music direction by Aaron Benham. Danni Smith and Matthew Keffer star as Queenie and Burrs, supported by Sharriese Hamilton, Khaki Pixley, Ryan Lanning, Danielle Brothers and more. Head to the Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater for this one.

http://bailiwickchicago.com/season-5/wild-party/

Also opening on the north side this month will be Black Ensemble Theater's "At Last: A Tribute To Etta James," a revival of the company's 2005 tribute to the multi-style, Grammy Award-winning singer and Chess Records legend. Performances have already begun, with the opening scheduled for this Friday night. Jackie Taylor directs her original script, co-directed by Daryl D. Brooks.

http://blackensemble.org/

Another tribute show, this one in the northern suburbs, is the Light Opera Works original production, "Cole Porter's Greatest Hits," playing at the Music Institute Of Chicago's Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston. Performances are October 3-12, directed by Rudy Hogenmiller and music directed by Roger L. Bingaman. The cast is James Harms, James Rank, Mary Robin Roth and Katelin Spencer.

http://lightoperaworks.org/Porter.html

Honing in on Light Opera Works' historic repertoire, and staying true to their own mission, are the Savoyaires, the Evanston-based community group that is producing its 50th annual Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, "The Grand Duke." Performances are October 10-19 at the Chute Middle School Auditorium on Oakton Street. Terry McCabe directs, with music direction by Timothy Semanik. This production marks the completion of the troupe's second complete G&S cycle. That's quite an accomplishment!

http://www.savoyaires.org/

In the northwest suburbs, the Big Noise Theatre Company will perform "Legally Blonde" at the Prairie Lakes Community Center in Des Plaines from October 4-19. Zachary L. Gray directs and choreographs, with music direction by Jeffrey Poindexter. Haley Jane Schafer stars as Elle Woods, with Greg Foster, Tommy Thurston, Kara Schoenhofer and Kathleen Gibson in supporting roles.

http://www.bignoisetheatre.org/blonde.html

And we're not done yet! Pretty amazing month, right? How are we doing so far? Well, don't put our local colleges on the back burner. "Into The Woods" will be playing at Columbia College Chicago's Getz Theatre from October 15-25, representing perhaps the last directing credit for the late Sheldon Patinkin, who died a week and a half ago after nearly 60 years on Chicago's theater scene. Andra Velis Simon music directs. And in DePaul University's Fullerton Stage, The Theatre School will present "In The Heights" from October 3-12, directed by Lisa Portes with musical direction by Mark Elliott.

http://events.colum.edu/event/into_the_woods_3590#.VCufzWdkTTo

http://theatre.depaul.edu/on-stage/In-The-Heights

And of course I didn't forget about the world premiere, prior-to-Broadway production of "Amazing Grace!" The new musical about the creation of the text to Christendom's most famous non-holiday hymn performs October 9-November 2 at the Bank Of America Theatre, directed by Gabriel Barre and choreographed by Christopher Gatelli ("Newsies"). Tony Award and BroadwayWorld Chicago Award nominee Josh Young stars as Englishman John Newton.

http://amazinggracemusical.com/

To round out the amazing month, our arguably most prominent suburban Equity theater companies will offer Golden Age gems for the holidays, with "The King And I" at the Marriott Theatre and "Camelot" at the Drury Lane Theatre, both beginning performances in the days leading up to Halloween. Can you stand it? So many great opportunities to see legendary shows, up close and personal. I'm sure I'll see you somewhere, won't I? Surely! Besides, I'll see you under the video screens.....-PWT

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