'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for September 7th, 2011
By: Paul W. Thompson Sep. 08, 2011
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 Jeff Award nominations in the Equity categories came out last week! And yes, folks are talking. The awards, for shows opening between August 1, 2010 and July 31, 2011, will be presented on Monday, November 7, 2011, at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace. That theater's production of "Spamalot" (or "Monty Python's Spamalot," if you must) is nominated for six awards, including Production - Musical - Large. It tied for second place in nominations in the Large fields with the Drury Lane version of "Hot Mikado," whose six nods do not include the Production award (though David H. Bell is nominated for Director - Musical along with "Spamalot"'s William Osetek and six other prominent Chicago-area names).
Leading the field of musical nominees with eight listings, including Production - Musical - Large, is "Candide" at the Goodman Theatre (co-produced with Washington's Shakespeare Theatre Company). The Bernstein et al. tuner is up for eight Jeffs (two for Mary Zimmerman), and could be the front-runner of the evening. The other productions in that major Production category include the Court Theatre's "Porgy And Bess" (why must we include "The Gershwins'" in front of that?) and two dance shows that played at the Marriott Theatre, "42nd Street" (which gave Rachel Rockwell two nominations) and "A Chorus Line." All three of those shows received five nominations each.
Somewhat disappointed to not be named as many times as these productions are such shows as "Murder For Two" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater (four nominations in all, including two for Joe Kinosian), "White Noise" at the Royal George Theatre (three nods for this Broadway hopeful), and "Working" at the Broadway Playhouse, which received only two mentions, none of which involved the actors or the director.
In the midsize theater categories, the clear favorite among the nominees is the Porchlight Music Theatre production of "The King And I," with four nods. Its rivals in the Production - Musical - Midsize category didn't receive any mentions in any other category, which is shocking, considering that they are the well-regarded productions of "Merrily We Roll Along" at the Music Theatre Company and "The Original Grease" at American Theater Company. For Production - Revue, "Shout" at the Marriott is up against the recent project at Second City E.T.C., "Sky's The Limit (Weather Permitting)." That show received four noms, and its fellow Second City revue, "South Side Of Heaven," received two in all.
Among the many theater artists with multiple nominations, Broadway-bound Jessie Mueller is nominated twice in the category of Actress In A Principal Role - Musical, for her stellar work in the Marriott's "Guys And Dolls" and in Writer's Theatre's "She Loves Me." Musical director Doug Peck was nominated three times for Music Direction, as he was last year as well! (This time around, his efforts were on "Candide," "Porgy And Bess" and "42nd Street.") And Tammy Mader received three nominations as well, and could win two, for Choreography ("42nd Street" and Drury Lane's "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers") and for Actor Or Actress In A Revue (for "Shout").
Other facts of note: "The Music Man" at the Marriott saw its director, choreographer and music director nominated, but none of the actors or designers were so honored, and the Theatre At The Center saw single nominations for its productions of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" (Michael Mahler as Actor In A Principal Role - Musical) and "The Wiz" (James Earl Jones II for Actor In A Supporting Role - Musical). Mahler is also nominated for Music Direction for "Hot Mikado" Confused? Check out all the nominations at the official awards website, and marvel at the 24 different musical productions what are mentioned. Congratulations to everyone!
There's yet another new musical in Chicago, opening this weekend for a four-performance run (September 10-11 and 17-18). It's "Persuasion," based on the Jane Austen novel, and it's presented by Chamber Opera Chicago at the Athenaeum Theatre in Lakeview. Artistic director Barbara Landis has adapted the work, including Irish and 18th century music for the score. She and Nick Sandys (a current three-time Jeff Award nominee [for acting and fight choreography]) co-star and co-direct. Musical direction is by Nyela Basney, leading a full orchestra, and the Trinity Irish Dance Company has provided some perfomers. It's an intriguing idea.
Chamber Opera Chicago's PERSUASION
The day "Persuasion" closes is the day that "Guys And Dolls" opens at the Theatre At The Center in Munster (running through October 16). Chicago and Munster favorite Norm Boucher leads the cast as Nathan Detroit, with Angie Stemberg as Miss Adelaide, Robert Hunt as Sky Masterson and Caroline Kobylarz as Sarah Brown. J. Chris Baum gets to belt our "Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat" as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, and stalwart Jim Sherman will be on hand as Arvide Abernathy. Artistic director William Pullinsi directs.
Theatre at the Center Presents GUYS AND DOLLS
Now that we're starting off September, and starting off school, fall clothing and the like, it's a good time to talk about "Starting Here, Starting Now," the fall production from Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. The Theo company is thrilled to have taken out an exclusive lease on their home, the No Exit Café in Rogers Park, and rumor has it that some new tables and chairs await patrons in the famously intimate venue. And the 1977 revue by Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire, featuring the title tune made famous by Barbra Streisand, may be just the thing for fall showtune appetites. Artistic director Fred Anzevino is directing actors Stephanie Herman, Hilary Patingre and Teddy Boone in the show, with choreography by Maggie Portman and musical direction by Eugene Dizon. "Starting Here, Starting Now" will start September 23, and run September 25 through November 6.
Theo Ubique Cabaret Presents STARTING HERE, STARTING NOW
Looking further into the fall, another review on the boards will be "Rodgers & Hart: A Celebration," courtesy of the Evanston-based Second Stage series at Light Opera Works. Previews begin October 2nd, with performances through November 6. Artistic director Rudy Hogenmiller will direct and choreograph, and Linda Slein is musical director. The cast is comprised of Amy Brophy, Tiffany Desmond, Bethany Thomas, David Geinosky, Jon Landvick and Rob Riddle.
Light Opera Works Presents RODGERS & HART: A CELEBRATION
The singular performer Hershey Felder will continue his appearances in his play/musical/documentary/one-man-show format based on the lives and music of famous figures in classical music, when his show "Maestro: The Art Of Leonard Bernstein" plays the Royal George Theatre from November 1 through December 30. After forays into the worlds of Chopin and Beethoven, pianist and actor Felder returns to an American subject (and classical/Broadway crossover star) similar to how he first made his big splash with "George Gershwin Alone" (which played the Royal George for over a year, beginning in September of 2004). Hollywood's Joel Zwick ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding") directs. This one could generate A LOT of buzz, certainly among residents of the Showtune Mosh Pit!
Hershey Felder Returns to Chicago's Royal George Theatre
The busy Eugene Dizon will be musical director of the popular Chicago holiday musical "The Christmas Schooner," absent from the theater scene for just one year, I think. It's been announced to return to the dock, er, the boards, on November 16 courtesy of the Mercury Theater on North Southport, for a run through December 31st. L. Walter Stearns will be the director, and the busy Brenda Didier will choreograph. I don't believe the cast has been announced yet. But you can already buy tickets!
The Mercury Theater Online Tickets
The troupe known as the Chicago Cabaret Project has a hit on its hands with "CT-Hey!" Cabaret Wednesdays at Andersonville's Mary's Attic have reportedly been hopping lately with this musical revue based on life's ups and downs with, or caused by, our beloved public transit system. It's in an open run, every Wednesday at 7:30!
Lastly, a rare personal plug. On Thursday, September 15, I'll be performing on the St. James Café series at Chicago's St. James (Episcopal) Cathedral, at the corner of Wabash and Huron. Hopefully it will be outdoors, but rain or shine, the hourlong concert is at 5:30 pm. I'll be singing and playing some Broadway songs as well as some of my own compositions for the church and the theater. I hope you can make it!
Saint James Cathedral - St. James Cafe
So, with a jolt of chilly breeze, summer is over! You know what that means--the fall theater season! There is so much to see and do this time of year. Awesome! And I know where I'll see you next...under the video screens.....-PWT
Next week: the five fall productions I'm looking forward to the most, plus "The Book Of Mormon" homesteading here for Christmas, 2012!
[Be sure to subscribe to the Mosh Pit! Click here to subscribe to our BroadwayWorld Message Board discussion thread. Receive your e-mail notIce That the weekly "Showtune Mosh Pit" is available!]
[And click here to "Like" BroadwayWorld Chicago on Facebook!]
Comments
Videos