'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for September 9th, 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:

And so, Super September continues apace, with mostly superb reviews coming in for The Hypocrites and their concept, club/concert staging of "American Idiot" at The Den Theatre. Congrats to them! Pictured above are Jay W. Cullen, Luke Linsteadt and Steven Perkins as Will, Johnny and Tunny. Way to go, you guys. (Through October 25th)

http://www.theatreinchicago.com/american-idiot/7783/

A different type of show altogether, sort of a "roots" show for the American Musical, if you will, is being presented this week only at the Madison Street Theatre in Oak Park (through Sunday, the 13th). It's the Chicago premiere, and only the third U.S. production ever, of the 1908 Viennese operetta "The Girl In The Train," by composer Leo Fall. The second production was by the same company, Chicago Folks Operetta, in 2008, in a new English translation by Hersh Glagov and Gerald Franzen. The show was seen in New York in 1910 and then vanished from our stages. In similar fashion, this production was originally slated for the Athenauem Theatre, but moved to the Madison Street and adjusted its performance dates. Elizabeth Margolius directs and Anthony Barrese conducts.

http://www.chicagofolksoperetta.org

Last week, I only mentioned shows that are opening in late August and in September. What about our shows that are continuing longer runs? Well, there is "Million Dollar Quartet," of course, continuing its record-breaking run at the Apollo Theater as the show marks the seventh anniversary of its opening (which took place at the Goodman Theatre in 2008). "Blue Man Group" has been at the Briar Street Theatre for decades now (well, it opened in 1997), but no one knows whether it's a musical. And three revue-type shows that opened last season are highly regarded and are still going strong, "Ring Of Fire" at the Mercury Theater Chicago, "Panic On Cloud Nine" at The Second City and "Soul Brother, Where Are Thou?" at The Second City e.t.c. (Well, the first one is going strong, and the latter two will be, as soon as all that fire damage gets cleaned up in the lobby areas at North and Wells.)

http://www.theatreinchicago.com/tictop.php

And there's one more show that I hardly ever mention, the ongoing interactive musical comedy shenanigans at Tommy Gun's Garage on South Wells Street. Entertaining audiences since 1987, the year I moved here, it's a tour bus and tourist kind of thing, sure. But they've employed a lot of great young performers over the years, and sung a lot of standards from the Great American Songbook. Not to mention the tap dancing and all the machine guns.

http://www.tommygunsgarage.com/

Two shows featured in last week's Mosh Pit announced extensions this week. One was "Side Show," which hasn't even had any public performances yet! But Porchlight Music Theatre reported last Friday that ticket demand is so strong that the show will now run through October 25, one week longer than originally announced. Previews begin this Friday at Stage 773. Who will love them as they are? Who will never leave them? Chicago audiences, apparently.

Porchlight-Music-Theatre-Extends-SIDE-SHOW

The other show extending one week (now through October 18) is the well-received world premiere musical "October Sky," receiving solid reviews at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. Just a few days after that word came through, the Marriott announced its 2016 season. And it's sort of a new thing for them. Let's break it down.

After "October Sky" flies away, the previously announced family musical "Elf" will take over the famous performing square from October 21-December 31, directed and choreographed by reliable perennial favorite Marc Robin. And then? The theater breaks its own mould. First up will be a non-subscription short run of "Spring Awakening," directed and choreographed by company artistic director and "October Sky" bookwriter Aaron Thielen in his mainstage directorial debut there. This show is even more unusual, given that a Broadway revival of the Tony-winning show is opening in New York at the end of this month (performances began last night), closing January 9, 2016. Marriott's production of the show will last for three weeks only, beginning just five days later on January 14 and closing on the 31st.

And then? The large and nationally important theater will present a fairly average season as its seasons go. But three of the five shows will be directed by folks who've never directed there before. It's a fascinating changing of the guard for a theater famous for its use of a small rotation of directors and designers for many years. Leading director-choreographer Rachel Rockwell will stage "Sister Act," in its locally-produced premiere, from February 10-April 3. Then, new-to-the-Marriott Amanda Dehnert will direct "Evita" from April 13-June 5, choreographed by friend-of-the-house Matt Raftery. High-flying Nick Bowling will return after his triumph with Marriott's "The King And I" to direct "Man Of La Mancha" from June 22-August 14, followed by new director Don Stephenson (ably assisted by the choreography of Alex Sanchez) and "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" (August 4-October 16). Lastly, Drury Lane Theatre favorite William Brown will make his Marriott debut helming "Singin' In The Rain," running October 26-December 31. OK then!

EVITA-SPRING-AWAKENING-More-on-Tap-for-Marriott-Theatres-2016-Season

Early October of this year (the 2nd through the 11th) will bring a new revue of Hollywood song hits to the Music Institute Of Chicago's Nichols Concert Hall in downtown Evanston, courtesy of Light Opera Works. And it's called "Hollywood's Greatest Song Hits." Not the catchiest title I've ever heard, but you know exactly what you're going to get. The twist in the company's annual songbook revue series for this year is that the cast is all women. Four great ones, with previous experience with the company, to be exact--Alicia Berneche, Mary Robin Roth, Sarah Larson and BroadwayWorld Chicago Award winner Amanda Horvath. Rudy Hogenmiller directs, with music direction by Linda Madonia. Swanky.

HOLLYWOODS-GREATEST-SONG-HITS-Set-for-Light-Opera-Works

Also, early October of this year (the 3rd, to be exact) will bring a world premiere musical to the Chopin Theatre (running through November 8). It's called "The Story Of A Story (The Untold Story)." Underscore Theatre Company is presenting this musical comedy exploration of artistic clichés, directed and choreographed by Christophey Pazdernik and starring Kevin Bishop, Jonas Davidow, Max DeTogne, Jacob Fjare, Kate Garassino, Sarah Hoch, Kirk Jackson, Luke Meierdiercks, Kirk Osgood, Rachel Page, Lauren Paris, Gerald Richardson and Jessica Vann. The show's book and lyrics are by Peter Gwinn, with music by Jody Shelton. Music direction and orchestrations are by David Kornfeld.

Underscore-Theatres-THE-STORY-OF-A-STORY-THE-UNTOLD-STORY

I don't often (well, hardly ever) mention high school productions in this column. But there is a lot of buzz about the choice of fall musical at the highly regarded Libertyville High School. From November 5-7, the school will be presenting the almost never-seen Andrew Lloyd Webber roller skating train musical "Starlight Express." Yes. With Jack Miller as Rusty and Anna DeNoia as Momma (I think that's Poppa in the original production), other key roles are being taken by Zach Pearson (Greaseball), Taylor Skie (Dinah), Jacklyn Ovassapian (Pearl) and AJ Milunas (Electra). There's a large cast, and lots of understudies, and skating lessons and the whole shebang. Christopher Thomas directs. Road trip!

Libertyville High School Theatre

And word is beginning to trickle out regarding casting for holiday shows. The aforementioned Nick Bowling is directing "A Christmas Story" for the high-flying Paramount Theatre in Aurora, for a run from November 25, 2015 through January 3, 2016. And Michael Harp has been tapped for the iconic role of Ralphie, the Indiana kid who wants a Red Ryder BB gun. Harp was Michael in the Drury Lane's production of "Billy Elliot" and Kurt in Lyric Opera Of Chicago's "The Sound Of Music" in 2014. Michael Accardo and four-time Jeff Award winner Danni Smith will portray his parents, with Philip Earl Johnson as the narrator. Rhett Guter choreographs, with music direction by Tom Vendafreddo and a full cast of kids, adults and orchestra members.

Michael-Harp-Philip-Earl-Johnson-and-More-to-Lead-A-CHRISTMAS-STORY-THE-MUSICAL

So, how was your Labor Day? Warm and restful, I hope. It's trying to be cool right now, but there's still plenty of sunshine for us Midwesterners in the coming weeks. Everybody, simmer down now! And go see some theater. I'll catch you there, or later, I'll see you under the video screens.....-PWT

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