Harmony France

Review: You'll Go Crazy for ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE at Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival
by Courtney Symes - Jul 30, 2024

Patsy Cline made it past the cursed musicians’ age of twenty-seven, but not by much. She was killed in a plane crash at the age of thirty, leaving thousands of fans to mourn her memory and music. She is known for inspiring the next generation of women in country music and was the first solo female artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.  It was only a matter of time before her extraordinary journey to fame made it into the book of a jukebox musical, and we are so lucky it did. Always…Patsy Cline is part of the 52nd season of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, playing simultaneously with the delightful Shakespearean comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Review: ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE at Great Lakes Theater
by Roy Berko - Apr 29, 2024

Juke box musicals are stage theatrical presentations in which a majority of the compositions were written before the presentation was conceived, rather than being original music conceived for that show.  They tend to be long on songs and short on a well-conceived plot.

Photos: First Look at Great Lakes Theater's ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE
by Blair Ingenthron - Apr 28, 2024

Great Lakes Theater (GLT) concludes its 62nd season with a musical celebration of country legend Patsy Cline in Always…Patsy Cline, performing in the company's intimate and audience-friendly home at the Hanna Theatre, Playhouse Square, through May 19, 2024. Check out production photos here!

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre to Celebrate Silver Anniversary With LIGHTS UP ON 25 Gala
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 22, 2022

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre is set to celebrate 25 years of moving, intimate, thought-provoking musical theater with the Lights Up on 25 gala on Saturday, September 17, 2022. The gala celebration will take place at their theatrical home on Howard Street in Evanston beginning at 6:30pm.

Paramount Theatre to Present GROUNDHOG DAY: THE MUSICAL
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 28, 2021

Set your alarm to see Groundhog Day: The Musical, based on the classic Bill Murray film comedy, because the forecast calls for Paramount Artistic Director Jim Corti to direct another signature blockbuster musical comedy.

Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, The Musical Offering, and Theo Ubique Announce EVANSTON PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTIVE
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 2, 2020

Three Evanston-based performing arts organizations - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, and The Musical Offering – have joined forces to create the EVANSTON PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTIVE (EPAC), a consortium with the mission of “Celebrating Life, Community and the Arts.”

52nd Annual Equity Jeff Awards Nominations Announced
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 15, 2020

The Jeff Awards has announced the nominees for the 52nd annual awards for theater excellence that include 142 theater artists across 30 artistic and technical categories. The awards will be presented in an online program on Monday, November 9, 2020 at 7:00PM.

Firebrand Theatre's ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE Will Be Extended Through February 23
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 24, 2020

Due to popular demand, Firebrand Theatre is pleased to announce a third and final extension of its hit revival of ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE, now playing through Saturday, February 23 at The Den Theatre's Janet Bookspan Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.

Cast and Crew Have Been Announced for Theo Ubique's GREY GARDENS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 23, 2020

Cast and crew were announced today for Theo Ubique's production of the hilarious and heartbreaking musical GREY GARDENS, to be performed at the Howard Street Theatre at 721 Howard St., Evanston, from March 6 to April 26, 2020.

Danni Smith Joins the Cast of ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE for Three Week Extension at The Den Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 30, 2019

Due to popular demand, Firebrand Theatre has announced a second extension of its hit revival of ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE, now playing through Saturday, January 25, 2020 at The Den Theatre's Janet Bookspan Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.

ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE Extends Through January 4, 2020 at The Den Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 6, 2019

Due to popular demand, Firebrand Theatre's hit revival of ALWAYSa?? PATSY CLINE will add three additional weeks of performances, extending through Saturday, January 4, 2020 at The Den Theatre's Janet Bookspan Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.

BWW Review: ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE at Firebrand Theatre
by Rachel Weinberg - Nov 22, 2019

Firebrand Theatre's ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE is both a lovely tribute to female friendship and Patsy Cline's iconic song catalog (the musical features more than 25 of Patsy's songs). Ted Swindley's show, here directed by Brigitte Ditmars, is based on the real-life friendship between Patsy and one of her most fervent fans, Louise Seger. After a chance encounter at one of Patsy's concert engagements in 1961, Louise and Patsy struck up a friendship that lasted the rest of the singer's life. Because the musical incorporates so many of Patsy's iconic country songs, however, it manages to avoid becoming too trite in relaying its story. Instead, ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE becomes unquestionably enjoyable as it's presented more as a concert with a storyline. It's a format that works, and works well.

Photo Flash: Check Out Photos From Firebrand Theatre's Production of ALWAYS…. PATSY CLINE
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 20, 2019

Firebrand Theatre has launched its 2019-20 season with a limited engage ment of ALWAYS… PATSY CLINE, featuring Artistic Director Harmony France and Christina Hall, who have both previously played the titular music legend. France and Hall will alternate in the roles of Patsy Cline and Louise Seger – so if you love the show, come see it again with the cast flipped!

Firebrand Theatre Presents ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE At The Den Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 16, 2019

Firebrand Theatre is pleased to launch its 2019-20 season with a limited engagement of ALWAYSa?? PATSY CLINE, featuring Artistic Director Harmony France and Christina Hall, who have both previously played the titular music legend. France and Hall will alternate in the roles of Patsy Cline and Louise Seger a?' so if you love the show, come see it again with the cast flipped!

Young Critics Mentorship Program Returns For Its 3rd Session At Steppenwolf Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 15, 2019

Rescripted is thrilled to announce the third session of The Key: Young Critics Mentorship Program, September 25 a?" December 4 and hosted for the second year at Steppenwolf Theater, 1650 N. Halsted. Regina Victor, founder of the online arts journalism platform Rescripted, and entertainment critic Oliver Sava created the 10-week training program for Chicago youth in arts criticism. In league with The Chicago Inclusion Project, The Key has successfully held two sessions, educating young writers on the skills and industry knowledge needed to pursue careers in arts criticism. Alumni of The Key have written for outlets like Chicago Reader, Howlround, The Windy City Times, and Rescripted. 

Firebrand Theatre Announces ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 15, 2019

Firebrand Theatre is pleased to launch its 2019-20 season with a limited engagement of ALWAYSa?? PATSY CLINE, featuring Artistic Director Harmony France and Christina Hall, who have both previously played the titular music legend. France and Hall will alternate in the roles of Patsy Cline and Louise Seger a?" so if you love the show, come see it again with the cast flipped!

Theatrical Sound Designers And Composers Association (TSDCA) Hold Fourth Annual Membership Meeting
by Stephi Wild - Jun 12, 2019

Today, the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association (TSDCA) announced their fourth annual membership meeting, with events for both members as well as the general public. On June 23rd-24th, the TSDCA will hold two days of public panels and discussions regarding sound design and composition in theatre. After three years of holding the annual meeting in New York City, the TSDCA will be changing its location this year to Chicago, in order to highlight the organization's growing national membership. The events will be held at the brand new headquarters of Shure, 125 S Clark St, Chicago, IL 60603 from 11am-8pm on June 23rd, and 10:30am-8pm on June 24th.

Writers Theatre NEXT TO NORMAL Extends Again, Must Close June 30
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 12, 2019

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, announces an additional one-week extension of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal, with music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, directed by Tony Award winner David Cromer (The Band's Visit), music directed by Andra Velis Simon and choreographed by Eamon Foley. Next to Normal now runs through June 30, 2019, in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe.

David Cromer Directed NEXT TO NORMAL Extended At Writers Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - May 23, 2019

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, announces a one-week extension of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal, with music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, directed by Tony Award winner David Cromer (The Band's Visit), music directed by Andra Velis Simon and choreographed by Eamon Foley. Next to Normal runs through June 23, 2019, in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe.

Ars Nova, The Public, and More Receive NAMT Grants
by Julie Musbach - May 6, 2019

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announces 11 awards granted from their Frank Young Fund for New Musicals(formerly known as the National Fund for New Musicals), and six awards granted from their Innovation & Exploration Fund.