'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for October 15th, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Monday night's Jeff Awards at the Drury Lane, and 'Amazing Grace' at the BOAT! Plus 2014's other Broadway In Chicago shows, The Grinch at the Chicago Theatre, local productions of 'Parade,' 'Camelot' and 'Mary Poppins,' the new 'A Christmas Memory,' and the sold-out Humanities Festival tribute to the Tonys!
The 46th Annual Jeff Awards Are Announced - THE DANCE OF DEATH, THE NORMAL HEART, BRIGADOON and More!
At the gala 46th Annual Equity Jeff Awards held at Drury Lane Oakbrook on Monday, October 13, awards were spread among numerous theatres honoring a season of outstanding productions. From Writers Theatre, "The Dance of Death", a battle of wits between a tyrant and his manipulative wife, received the Production-Play award for a large theatre, along with its two principal actors Larry Yando and Shannon Cochran. "The Normal Heart", Larry Kramer's tale of the early indifference in N.Y. about the HIV/Aids crisis, presented by TimeLine Theatre Company, was honored with awards for Production-Play for a midsize theatre and for Director Nick Bowling.
Ivan Rutherford, Quentin Earl Darrington, Jennie Sophia and More Star in Drury Lane Theatre's LES MISERABLES, Beg. Tonight
In celebration of their 30th Anniversary, Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, will present the legendary musical LES MISERABLES, previewing tonight, March 29, opening Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. and running through June 8, 2014.
Ivan Rutherford, Quentin Earl Darrington, Jennie Sophia and More to Star in Drury Lane Theatre's LES MISERABLES; Cast Announced!
In celebration of their 30th Anniversary, Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, will present the legendary musical Les Miserables, previewing March 29, opening Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. and running through June 8, 2014. Directed by multi-Jeff Award winner Rachel Rockwell (Ragtime, The Sound of Music, Sweeney Todd, and Oliver! at Drury Lane Theatre), the cast is led by Ivan Rutherford ('Jean Valjean' in over 2,000 performances of Les Miserables on Broadway, as well as in the 20th anniversary Broadway Revival and The National Tour of Les Miserables, and Titanic on Broadway); Jeff Award-winner Quentin Earl Darrington as 'Javert' (Ragtime on Broadway and at Drury Lane Theatre, Memphis: A New Musical on Broadway and The National Tours of The Lion King, The Color Purple, and Memphis: A New Musical); and Jennie Sophia as 'Fantine' (The National Tour of The Lincoln Center's South Pacific and Oliver! and The Sound of Music at Drury Lane Theatre).
BLESSING THE BOATS: THE REMIX Plays TPAC, Now thru 6/30
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, the longest operating performance venue in lower Manhattan, in partnership with Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), presents blessing the boats: the remix, a re-imagining of an original play written and performed by Sekou Sundiata, performing today, June 27-29 at 8pm and June 30 at 3pm at TPAC, Theater 2 (199 Chambers Street). This performance has been co-commissioned by LMCC and BMCC, presented as part ofBlink Your Eyes: Sekou Sundiata Revisited, a citywide retrospective produced by MAPP International Productions, and as part of the River To River Festival 2013.Tickets are FREE, but first come, first served - box office opens 45 min. prior to curtain.
River To River Festival Presents BLESSING THE BOATS, 6/27-6/30
First come, first served - box office opens 45 min. prior to curtain
blessing the boats: the remix is a re-imagining of Sekou Sundiata's acclaimed solo theater work, blessing the boats. Director Rhodessa Jones revisits Sundiata's story of life-threatening illness and recovery as told through the unique interplay of three poet/performers: Will Power, Carl Hancock Rux, and Mike Ladd. These compelling voices revive Sundiata's incisive writing, finding the universal in the particular and exploring the ritual, humor and compassion of his play. This remix encompasses language, music, and visual projections of healing and hope.
BLESSING THE BOATS: THE REMIX to Play TPAC, 6/27-30
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, the longest operating performance venue in lower Manhattan, in partnership with Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), presents blessing the boats: the remix, a re-imagining of an original play written and performed by Sekou Sundiata, performing on June 27-29 at 8pm and June 30 at 3pm at TPAC, Theater 2 (199 Chambers Street).
BWW Reviews: The World Premiere of FOR THE BOYS Is Good. Could It Be Better?
The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Illinois, north of Chicago, has an enormous subscription base, deep pockets, a talented and experienced in-house design team and a film property to adapt that touches on a number of important, stage-worthy themes (military patriotism, family, nostalgia, a timely re-visit to accusations of communism in America, parenthood, mid-century entertainment history and censorship, both military and network). And the show's lawyers have acquired the rights to a Hit Parade of jukebox-musical-worthy tunes. But is that enough to make a new stage musical out of the 1991 film 'For The Boys'?
BWW Reviews: Oakbrook Terrace Produces a Wonderful, World-Class RAGTIME
Is "Ragtime" the Great American Musical? Certainly a grand argument in favor of that statement is now on display at the Drury Lane Theatre in Chicago's western suburb of Oakbrook Terrace, where one of the strongest home-grown musical productions in recent memory very nearly floored the opening night audience this past Wednesday night.
MARK'S GOSPEL Features Page To Stage Post Show Discussion 6/18, Closes 6/28
Mark's Gospel, the acclaimed Chicago premiere production running through June 28 at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, will host a special panel discussion and post-show reception on Thursday, June 18. Following the 8 p.m. performance, audience members are invited to listen to a discussion called 'From Page to Stage' and enjoy cake and coffee provided by Cullen's Bar and Grill.
Mark's Gospel Hosts Panel Discussion & Post Show Reception 6/18
Mark's Gospel, the hit Chicago premiere production running through June 28 at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, will host a special panel discussion and post-show reception on Thursday, June 18. Following the 8 p.m. performance, audience members are invited to listen to a discussion called 'From Page to Stage' and enjoy cake and coffee provided by Cullen's Bar and Grill.
Mark's Gospel Hosts Panel Discussion & Post Show Reception 6/18
Mark's Gospel, the hit Chicago premiere production running through June 28 at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, will host a special panel discussion and post-show reception on Thursday, June 18. Following the 8 p.m. performance, audience members are invited to listen to a discussion called 'From Page to Stage' and enjoy cake and coffee provided by Cullen's Bar and Grill.
