Jenna Coker-Jones

Photos: The Beautiful City Project's OSCAR NIGHT, Honoring A Year's Worth Of Charities & Non-Profits

The Beautiful City Project's OSCAR NIGHT was an evening of songs that have won the coveted award of 'Best Song' at the Oscars, and paid tribute to the numerous organizations that TBCP have raised funds an awareness for over the past year. Hosted by Stephen Schellhardt & Devin DeSantis, the show featured performances across a span of 9 decades, and included top Chicago musical theatre talent, a 12-piece orchestra, and 12-person choir.

Review: A CHRISTMAS STORY THE MUSICAL at Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire IL

What did our critic think of A CHRISTMAS STORY THE MUSICAL at Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire IL?

Marriott Theatre Closes 2022 Season With A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL

The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr. Lincolnshire, closes their 2022 season with A Christmas Story, The Musical, previewing Wednesday, November 2, opening November 9 at 7:30pm and closing January 1, 2023. 

BWW Feature: Casting Announced for JERSEY BOYS at STAGES St. Louis

STAGES St. Louis has announced the casting for their upcoming production of JERSEY BOYS that will play September 24 – October 24, 2021 at The Ross Family Theater in the new Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. The cast will be headlined by Christopher Kale Jones who is best known for playing Frankie Valli in the 1st National Tour of JERSEY BOYS. With a book written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, JERSEY BOYS takes an exhilarating journey into the cultural phenomenon that is Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. The show features 30 show stopping performances of the hits that took the group all the way to the top of the charts, including: “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.”

Diana DeGarmo, Ace Young & More to Star in Live-Stream Fundraiser Thursday Night

With nearly all of Chicago's theatre productions shuttered, one of the first fundraisers primarily aimed at a streaming audience is being put together by The Beautiful City Project, a Chicago-based musical theatre company that exists solely as a fundraising arm for local charities and non-profits.

Photo Flash: THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA at the Marriott Theatre

'Hear ye, hear ye...Prince Wellington is seeking a bride.' The classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen comes to life in a new musical THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA at Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire, from February 8 to April 19, 2019, with a press opening on Saturday, February 15 at 10 a.m. This new spin on the classic tale features music by Marc Robin, book and lyrics by Rick Boynton, and additional lyrics by Curt Dale Clark and Marc Robin. THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA is directed and choreographed by Artistic Director Aaron Thielen, with musical direction by Patti Garwood.

VIDEO: Take a Look at Marriott Theatre's Production of THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA

'Hear ye, hear ye...Prince Wellington is seeking a bride.' The classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen comes to life in a new musical THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA at Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire, from February 8 to April 19, 2019, with a press opening on Saturday, February 15 at 10 a.m. This new spin on the classic tale features music by Marc Robin, book and lyrics by Rick Boynton, and additional lyrics by Curt Dale Clark and Marc Robin. THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA is directed and choreographed by Artistic Director Aaron Thielen, with musical direction by Patti Garwood.

Marriot Theatre Young Audiences Presents THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA

'Hear ye, hear ye...Prince Wellington is seeking a bride.' The classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen comes to life in a new musical THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA at Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire, from February 8 to April 19, 2019, with a press opening on Saturday, February 15 at 10 a.m. This new spin on the classic tale features music by Marc Robin, book and lyrics by Rick Boynton, and additional lyrics by Curt Dale Clark and Marc Robin. THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA is directed and choreographed by Artistic Director Aaron Thielen, with musical direction by Patti Garwood.

The Marriott Theatre Has Announced Casting for THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA

'Hear ye, hear ye...Prince Wellington is seeking a bride.' The classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen comes to life in a new musical THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA at Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire, from February 8 to April 19, 2020,with a press opening on Saturday, February 15 at 10 a.m. This new spin on the classic tale features music by Marc Robin, book and lyrics by Rick Boynton, and additional lyrics by Curt Dale Clark and Marc Robin. THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA is directed and choreographed by Artistic Director Aaron Thielen, with musical direction by Patti Garwood.

Mercury Theater Chicago Announces Cast Of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Walter Stearns, Executive Director of Mercury Theater Chicago, announced today the cast and creative team of the upcoming LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, running on the main stage from March 1 through April 28. The press opening is Sunday, March 10 at 7:30pm. This hit sci-fi musical has devoured the hearts of audiences around the world for more than 30 years, following the story of floral assistant who stumbles across a new breed of carnivorous plant that promises to grant him fame, fortune and all his desires - as long as the blood keeps flowing. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS will feature the creative talents of Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Director) and Christopher Carter (Choreographer)

Photo Flash: Paramount Theatre Celebrates Another Big Hit At THE PRODUCERS Opening Night

Paramount Theatre opened its new Broadway Series production of Mel Brooks's The Producers on Saturday, February 9 to a full house, an instant standing ovation and uniformly critical acclaim. 

BWW Review: LEGALLY BLONDE at Paramount Theatre

Paramount Theatre's production of LEGALLY BLONDE-THE MUSICAL lands the familiar tale of sorority-girl-turned-lawyer Elle Woods firmly in 2018, and it works well. Based on the 2001 movie, the musical premiered on Broadway in 2007, and, unlike some stage adaptations of beloved chick flicks, still resonates in today's post-Weinstein world. A strong female protagonist, working hard to achieve her goals, leaves behind toxic relationships and surrounds herself with people who believe in building each other up. While the narrative is empowering, LEGALLY BLONDE never lets the tone get too serious, with plenty of humor, larger-than-life characters, impressive dance numbers, and all the glitz, glam, and 'Omigod's that one would expect from the women of UCLA's Delta Nu.

Photo Flash: First Look at Paramount Theatre's LEGALLY BLONDE

Omigod! Omigod, you guys! Aurora's Paramount Theatre - Chicago's most decorated theater at the 2017 Jeff Awards, the most heavily subscribed theater in Chicago, and the second largest in the nation - is excited to kick off Chicago's 2018-19 theater season in high fashion with a new production of Legally Blonde.

The Goodman Theatre Leads the Equity Jeff Award Nominations - Check Out The Full List!

The nominations have been announced for the 2018 Equity Joseph Jefferson ('Jeff') Awards.

Photo Flash: Ann Landers THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS Opens At Theatre At The Center In Munster

Janet Ulrich Brooks, making her Theatre at the Center (TATC) debut, is cast as advice columnist Ann Landers in the TATC production of The Lady With All the Answers. Opening Night was on July 15.  Performances continuing through August 12.

Christopher Kale Jones Channels Bobby Darin At Temple Of Music & Art

Christopher Kale Jones, who sang his way into hearts nationwide as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys, will embody the dazzling versatility, passionate voice and quiet charm of Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Bobby Darin in Darin: Bobby's Biggest Hits, Aug. 11-12 at the Temple of Music & Arts, 330 S. Scott Ave. in Tucson.

Review: Mercury Theater's Stellar COMPANY

Come to see the new theater space, but stay for Mercury's COMPANY.

Casting Announced for Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue - is pleased to announce the opening of VENUS CABARET THEATER with a uniquely intimate production of Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY, running from April 5th through June 3rd. Press opening is the weekend of April 13th-15th. Named for the planet next to Mercury, Venus Cabaret is a versatile new performance space offering food and drinks to complement each production.

THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF TOLUCA LAKE: THE MUSICAL Extends at Falcon Theatre

The Falcon Theatre and Roger Bean Productions are proud to present The Real Housewives of Toluca Lake: The Musical, book, music, and lyrics by Molly Bell, arrangements and additional music by Dolores Duran-Cefalu, and directed by Roger Bean, the fifth production of the Falcon's 2015-2016 Season, now extended through May 1st.

BWW Review: Here Come THE Desperate REAL HOUSEWIVES OF TOLUCA LAKE

With a title like THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF TOLUCA LAKE: THE MUSICAL you wouldn't expect to see high art, but I at least thought this new musical would kill it in the comedy department. Instead, it trades on desperate humor, trite songs, stereotypical characters, and a storyline you've seen before. What could have been a smart, cheeky parody of The Real Housewives television franchise instead ends up feeling rather desperate. Even an audience packed with friends and family on opening night grew tired of applauding and a fair number of one-liners made no impact at all.