'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for September 2nd, 2015

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:

It's Super September again! That wonderful time of year when most of Chicago's theater companies get into the swing of things once more, and many do so with a musical. Let's see what's in store for us Mosh Pit peeps this month, shall we? Woo Hoo!!!

Two shows that have already opened but will certainly factor into our play-going experiences this month are the Chicago premiere of "Glory Days" from Refuge Theatre Project (at the Flat Iron Building through September 20) and the world premiere of Michael Mahler's "October Sky" at the Marriott Theatre, which is beginning to pick up national buzz after generally quite positive reviews (through October 11). So that's cool.

http://www.theatreinchicago.com/nowplaying

Two more shows in their local theater premieres have already begun performances, but have not officially opened to reviewers. The first of these is the play with music "Peter And The Star Catcher" at the Drury Lane Theatre, the "Peter Pan" backstory which began performances on August 27 and will open tomorrow, running through October 18.

http://www.drurylaneoakbrook.com/

And the highly anticipated premiere of Green Day's Grammy-winning "American Idiot" from The Hypocrites began performances on August 28, will officially open on September 6 and will run through October 25 at The Den Theatre. This is a young and hungry cast, y'all.

http://www.the-hypocrites.com/

"Back by popular demand" is Kelvin Roston, Jr., in the Congo Square Theatre production of the one-man musical "Twisted Melodies," from August 27 through September 13 only at the Athenaeum Theatre. Roston wrote this script, portraying the life and music and sad demise of R&B legend Donny Hathaway, directed by Samuel G. Roberson, Jr.

http://www.congosquaretheatre.org/#!twistedmelodies/cy02

A number of big New York titles will have prominent Chicago productions this month. Let's run down the list, shall we?

NightBlue Performing Arts Company has announced via social media the casts of its stunning repertory productions of "Victor/Victoria" and "The Producers," playing at Stage 773. "Victor/Victoria" previews September 5 at 8:00 pm and runs through October 10 at 8:00 pm, starring Shari Mocheit in the title role, with Billy Dawson as Toddy, Casey Hayes as King Marchan, Erin Long as Norm and John Gurdian as Squash.

And "The Producers" previews September 6 at 2:00 pm and runs through October 11 at 2:00 pm, starring Tommy Novak and Ryan Stajmiger as Bialystock and Bloom, with Cara Chumbley as Ulla, Andrew Nicholas Sickel as Franz, Dominic Rescigno as Carmen and the aforementioned Billy Dawson as Roger. So there's that! Oh, and they're using the same theater and everything.

http://www.nightbluetheater.com/default.asp?id=17

BoHo Theatre is presenting Pasek and Paul's off-Broadway musical "Dogfight" from September 5 through October 18 at Theater Wit on Belmont Avenue, directed by Peter Marston Sullivan, choreographed by Stephen Schellhardt and music directed by Ellen K. Morris. The full cast includes Emily Goldberg, Garrett Lutz, Matt Frye, Nick Graffagna, Matt Provencal, Travis Austin Wright, Neil Stratman, Peter Robel, Mary Kate Young, Jillian Weingart and Carisa Gonzalez. Benj and Justin are at the forefront of the youngest musical theater writers working in New York today, and the score for this show shows why.

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

Henry Krieger's "Side Show" (pictured) begins performances on September 11 in the local debut of its revised version from the last Broadway season. Porchlight Music Theatre's production plays at Stage 773 until October 18, directed by Michael Weber, music directed by Aaron Benham and choreographed by Andrew Waters. Colleen Fee and Britt-Marie Sivertsen star as Daisy and Violet Hilton, with Matthew Keffer, Devin DeSantis, Evan Tyrone Martin and Matthias Austin as the men in their life.

http://porchlightmusictheatre.org/side-show/

The Skokie Theatre is hosting MadKap Productions' staging of the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Next To Normal" from September 11th through the 27th, directed by Andrew Park and music directed by Gary Powell. The production stars Whitney Morse, Jordan Gryzbowski, Molly LeCaptain, Chris Selefski, Nick Shoda and Brian Zealand. After select performances, the theater is hosting discussions with mental health professionals about the issues raised in the show.

http://skokietheatre.com/next-to-normal.html

The ever-important "Oklahoma!" at Aurora's high-flying, adored Paramount Theatre will begin on September 16 and run through the aforementioned October 18. Jim Corti is directing Colte Julian and Allison Sill as Curly and Laurey, with Peter Saide as Jud, Carl Draper as Will, Kareem Bandealy as Ali, Caron Buinis as Aunt Eller, Lillie Cummings as Ado Annie, Don Forston as Andrew, Don Richard as Cord and Allyson Graves as Gertie. There's a big ensemble, too, for Katie Spelman to choreograph. Tom Vendafreddo music directs.

Allison-Sill-Colte-Julian-More-to-Lead-Paramount-Theatres-OKLAHOMA

"Spamalot" is in production twice right now. The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights is producing the laughfest beginning performances September 10, and running through October 25, directed by Robin Hughes.

http://tickets.metropolisarts.com/shows/monty

And the Theatre At The Center in Munster, Indiana is producing the same Tony-winning show from September 17 through, yes, October 18, starring Larry Adams, Larry Wyatt, Sean Fortunato, Greg Foster and Colette Todd. David Perkovich directs, with choreography by Linda Fortunato and music direction by Bill Underwood.

Theatre-at-the-Center-to-Stage-Monty-Pythons-SPAMALOT

Willy Russell's UK phenomenon "Blood Brothers" begins a rare Chicago production on September 25 at the No Exit Café, directed by Fred Anzevino for his Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. Running through November 15, the show will star Kyrie Anderson, with Dana Anderson, Ryan Armstrong, Ryan Dooley, Darren Hill, Cody Jolly, Charlie Mann, Victoria Olivier, Jordan Phelps, Whitney Rappana and Cullen Rogers. Maggie Portman choreographs, with music direction by Jeremy Ramey.

Cast-Creative-Team-Set-for-BLOOD-BROTHERS-at-Theo-Ubique-Cabaret-Theatre

The national tour of the 2014 Tony Award-winning "A Gentleman's Guide To Love And Murder" will play the Bank Of America Theatre from September 29-October 11, in essential viewing for those who love legit singing, theatrical farce and British manners. And who doesn't?

http://broadwayinchicago.com/show/gentlemans-guide-love-murder/

And to close out the month, the Upstairs space at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre is the site for the U.S. premiere of "Ride The Cyclone," which began life as a Canadian song cycle. More specifically, CST's Rick Boynton is developing the show for its U.S. premiere, to be directed by Rachel Rockwell and music directed by Doug Peck. Written by Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond, it will play September 29-November 8, depicting the lives of six teenagers whose lives have been cut short by a doomed roller coaster. A mechanical fortune-teller and a bass-playing rat add to the funny and irreverent, heart-rending show. Announced just this morning, the cast consists of Tiffany Tatreau, Lillian Castillo, Kholby Wardell, Russell Mernagh, Jackson Evans and Emily Rohm, with Karl Hamilton as The Amazing Karnak. Songs intriguing, no?

Chicago-Shakespeare-Theater-Sets-RIDE-THE-CYCLONE-Cast

And so, September spring superly once more! It's never a dull moment for musical theater around here, I tell you. And what an amazing assortment of shows. Once again, you can very nearly trace the history of the modern musical with a couple of weeks of theatergoing here. Where else? Nowhere else. And on that note, I'll see you under the video screens soon.....-PWT

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