'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for September 11th, 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

by Paul W. Thompson

Overheard last weekend under the showtune

video screens at Sidetrack and The Call:

The Showtune Mosh Pit got turned upside down yesterday, with a bit of news from Bailiwick Chicago (now called "Bailiwick Chicago Theater," FYI). In the announcement of their upcoming season, the Bailiwickers let us know that they will not be producing the previously announced play "Bootycandy," nor the musical "Applause," the rarely-seen Tony winner based on the film "All About Eve." Instead, Chicago will be treated to two Chicago premieres. First up, from March 6 through April 5, 2014, will be "Dessa Rose," the off-Broadway musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty about a white woman and a runaway slave in 1847. Jayson Brooks of JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound will be in the cast, directed by artistic director Lili-Anne Brown with musical direction by James Morehead. As if that news weren't great enough, Bailiwick will follow that show with "Carrie!" Yes, the infamous musical based on the Stephen King novel and its film adaptation, with a score by Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford. The show was revised and presented off-Broadway in early 2012, and now we get it! "And Eve Was Weak," anyone? Christopher Pazdernik will direct a cast headed by actress Katherine Condit, with musical direction by Aaron Benham (May 29-July 12, 2014). Both productions will take place at the Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, inside the Biograph on Lincoln Avenue. You have our full attention, Bailiwick!

http://bailiwickchicago.com/bailiwick-chicago-theater-announces-2013-14-season-2/

And yet, Bailiwick's announcement of "Carrie" was not the only announcement of an upcoming Chicago production to receive national attention this past week. Oh, no! For you see, Theatre At The Center in Munster, Indiana, announced its next season as well, and eagle-eyed New Yorkers realized that the recent Broadway musical, "Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown," would be featured next season at TATC in what will be its very first production post-Broadway. And this production will feature some revisions by writers David Yazbek and Jeffrey Lane. William Pullinsi will direct the show, being presented exactly one year from today, September 11-October 19, 2014. And as if that weren't exciting enough, TATC will also present the Chicago premiere of "Ring Of Fire," the Johnny Cash musical (February 20-March 30, 2014), as well as the world premiere of "The Beverly Hillbillies, The Musical," with music and lyrics by Chicagoan Gregg Opelka, directed by David Perkovich (July 10-August 20). I attended a staged reading of the show (maybe you did, too), and I'm so glad to hear a full production being announced! And at Christmastime in 2014, Munster will see "A Christmas Memory," the new musical based on a Truman Capote short story with music by Larry Grossman ("Minnie's Boys") and lyrics by Carol Hall ("The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas"). Pullinsi will direct. Awesome!

WOMEN-ON-THE-VERGE-RING-OF-FIRE-More-Set-for-Theatre-at-the-Center-2014-Season

And lest we forget, "Godspell" at Theater At The Center is one of the big openings this week! The Munsters will present Stephen Schwartz's take on Jesus and his followers, directed and choreographed by Stacy Flaster, starting tomorrow, September 12, and running through October 20. Liam Quealy is Jesus and Jim DeSelm is Judas, with such Chicago notables as Matt Deitchman, George Keating and Alexis Rogers in in the cast. I can't even recall the last time Chicago had an Equity production of this extremely successful title. This may be a unique experience! William Pullinsi directs, with musical direction by William A. Underwood.

Munsters-Theatre-at-the-Center-to-Present-GODSPELL

The Tony-winning "In The Heights" is our other big opening for the week, beginning performance tonight, officially opening on Saturday and running through October 6, 2013. This regional premiere is in downtown west suburban Aurora, in the art deco gem known as the Paramount Theatre. Rachel Rockwell directs, with choreography by Katie Spelman and musical direction by Tom Vendafreddo. Nick Demeris stars as Usnavi, the role originated by composer-lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda, with Paula Scrofano as Abuela Claudia, Lillian Castillo as Carla, Luis Herrera as Sonny, Jonathan Butler-Duplessis as Benny and Christina Nieves as Nina. It's a big cast. And the set is credited to the original Broadway set designer, Anna Louizos! That's cool.

IN-THE-HEIGHTS-to-Kick-Off-Paramounts-2013-14-Broadway-Series

There are two widely anticipated national tours hitting our shores soon, courtesy of Broadway In Chicago. The first is "Evita," in the production directed by Michael Grandage and choreographed by Rob Ashford, conceived for Argentinian actress Elena Roger and headlined on Broadway by Latin pop star Ricky Martin in his eagerly awaited return to Broadway. This tour is just now opening in Providence, Rhode Island, and Chicago's Ford Oriental Theatre is its second stop (for a long three weeks, September 18 through October 6). Neither Roger nor Martin is along, however. I understand that former Chicagoan Ryan K. Bailer is in the ensemble. And of course, somebody will sing "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina." Don't throw napkins at her, ok? Just sayin'.

http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/shows=evita13

Even more hotly anticipated by denizens of the Mosh Pit is the show that will follow "Evita" into the Ford Oriental. It will be "Once," the Tony and Grammy Award-winning best musical that will play here (also for three weeks) October 9-27. Based on the movie of the same name, and featuring the Academy Award-winning song, "Falling Slowly," a lot of people like this material. A lot. I would recommend getting your tickets soon, if you don't already have them!

http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/shows=once13

Speaking of Tony Award-winning best musicals, "Spamalot" by the NightBlue Performing Arts Company has opened at Stage 773, running on weekends through October 6th. John Gurdian is King Arthur, with Creg Sclavi as Sir Robin, Andrew Sickel as Sir Lancelot and Katie Miller as the Lady Of The Lake ("Diva's Lament," or, if you prefer, "Whatever Happened To My Part?"). David Walters directs, with choreography by Kelsey Overberg. Ancient England wasn't really that much fun...or was it? Perhaps it was....

http://www.nightbluetheater.com

Things are really humming these days at Porchlight Music Theatre. Its production of "Double Trouble" is also running at Stage 773 through October 6th, presenting us with probably our last opportunity to see Adrian Aguilar in action before he becomes Andy Karl's understudy in next spring's Broadway production of "Rocky," the new musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Also from Porchlight is this coming "Walton Weekend," as the authors of "Double Trouble," Broadway performers and brothers Bob Walton and Jim Walton, host and present their Chicago Comedy Song Master Class and Showcase. The Showcase is on September 15 at Stage 773, with Chicago cabaret star Beckie Menzie at the piano. And I think Adrian and Alexander Aguilar will be performing at Sidetrack next Monday night, September 16, as part of Showtune night there. As if all this weren't enough, Porchlight's home grown improvised musical comedy, "Best Musical!" will be running on Wednesdays October 2 through November 6 at the UP! Comedy Club in the Second City complex at North and Wells.You go, you guys!

http://porchlightmusictheatre.org/events-dt

Speaking of "Merrily We Roll Along," the Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical that originally starred Jim Walton as Franklin Shepard (Inc.), you may know that there is currently a successful and very-well reviewed revival of the show, directed by the noted actress Maria Friedman, running in London's West End. Last week, CinemaLive announced that this production will broadcast around the world and in the U.S. on the night of October 23rd, and that tickets will go on sale on September 13th. The musical will be broadcast to 14 movie theaters in Illinois, and only one in Chicago proper, the ShowPlace ICON at Roosevelt Collection. Evanston and Lincolnshire, Naperville, Niles and more are also on the list. Get your tickets now! Well, get them this Friday. Not a day goes by, or should, without you having a ticket...

Breaking-News-West-Ends-MERRILY-WE-ROLL-ALONG-to-Screen-in-US-Cinemas-October-23-2013

And on this September 11th, I am reminded about the close connection I have personally observed between the performing arts and social work. Both fields closely observe the human condition and strive to make the world a better place, and many folks have worked in or with non-profit organizations in these fields. Some groups straddle the line of both! One such group is the REALITY Theatre, the youth ensemble of OMNI Youth Services, working out of Buffalo Grove and active in the high schools in Chicago's northwest suburbs. REALITY combines the power of creative drama with the impact of youth speaking directly to youth--positive peer-to-peer communication. If you know of a youth who would benefit from participating in such a program, if you know of a school that could book the group to appear, or if you would like to volunteer or donate, please do so. There are a lot of youth theater groups, choirs, etc, which combine arts education with a message to both the participants and the audiences who see them perform. If you are of a mind to give a little bit back, somebody will be glad to have you on board. Trust me.

http://realitytheatre.weebly.com/index.html

And so, with a couple of hot days behind us and a few cool ones on the horizon, it may actually be September around here! Super September, I call it. Theater openings galore, and more to come. I hope I see you thereabouts! And I hope I see you online as well. Of course, you know where I am when I'm socializing. Or is it networking? Or am I learning new musical theater repertoire? Can't fool you--it's all of the above! Come join me, won't you, under the video screens.....-PWT

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