Travis Porchia News

What began as a 1970s rock opera concept album became a global stage phenomenon that captured seven Tony Award nominations and countless awards overseas in its 40-plus years. Jesus Christ Superstar, the beloved rock opera that explores the story and internal struggles of the last seven days of the greatest idol in history - Jesus - is the 2016-17 Broadway Series finale, now through May 28, 2017 at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora. BroadwayWorld has highlights from the show below!

More than 60 million people in 40 countries on six different continents have reveled in Mamma Mia!, the iconic musical about love and friendship, of lost dreams and that last chance to make it right, all set to the music of ABBA, one of the most popular bands in the world. 

Cleveland Play House has in its recent history included small cast musicals in its offerings. Those shows included TAPPIN' THROUGH LIFE (Maurice Hines), BREATH AND IMAGINATION (Roland Hayes), WOODY SEZ; LIFE AND MUSIC OF WOODY GUTHRIE (Woody Guthrie), THE DEVIL'S MUSIC: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BESSIE SMITH (Bessie Smith), and ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN (Janis Joplin). Each told a story about the person through their own words, their music, or from the mouths of those who knew them. Often they have been tied to Black History Month.

Come and dance the blues away with Five Guys Named Moe! Helen Hayes Award winner Robert O'Hara (Bootcandy, director of The Mountaintop at Arena Stage) returns to Arena Stage to direct an explosive, reimagined tribute to the 'King of the Jukebox'-legendary composer and saxophonist Louis Jordan. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights below!

Come and dance the blues away with Five Guys Named Moe! Helen Hayes Award winner Robert O'Hara (Bootcandy, director of The Mountaintop at Arena Stage) returns to Arena Stage to direct an explosive, reimagined tribute to the 'King of the Jukebox'-legendary composer and saxophonist Louis Jordan. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in costume below!

While an oldies-filled jukebox revue complete with a nod to today's boy bands might not sound like the most appealing night of theater DC has to offer, Arena's skillfully lighthearted take has the audience gasping, laughing, singing along, and even dancing on stage, so take the plunge into your radio and let Five Guys Named Moe show you the way.

Come and dance the blues away with Five Guys Named Moe! Helen Hayes Award winner Robert O'Hara (Bootcandy, director of The Mountaintop at Arena Stage) returns to Arena Stage to direct an explosive, reimagined tribute to the 'King of the Jukebox'-legendary composer and saxophonist Louis Jordan. A co-production with Cleveland Play House, the show opened last night, November 20, in the Kreeger Theater and continues through December 28, 2014. Below, BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities, featuring book writer Clarke Peters!

Come and dance the blues away with Five Guys Named Moe! Helen Hayes Award winner Robert O'Hara (Bootcandy, director of The Mountaintop at Arena Stage) returns to Arena Stage to direct an explosive, reimagined tribute to the 'King of the Jukebox'-legendary composer and saxophonist Louis Jordan. The show opens tonight, November 20, in the Kreeger Theater and continues through December 28, 2014.

Boy bands have long been a staple of American pop culture. They're also a staple of Arena Stage's re-imagined production of Five Guys Named Moe which opens this Thursday and is being billed as "big band meets boy band."

Come and dance the blues away with Five Guys Named Moe! Helen Hayes Award winner Robert O'Hara (Bootcandy, director of The Mountaintop at Arena Stage) returns to Arena Stage to direct an explosive, reimagined tribute to the 'King of the Jukebox'-legendary composer and saxophonist Louis Jordan. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in costume below!

Come and dance the blues away with Five Guys Named Moe! Helen Hayes Award winner Robert O'Hara (Bootcandy, director of The Mountaintop at Arena Stage) returns to Arena Stage to direct an explosive, reimagined tribute to the 'King of the Jukebox'-legendary composer and saxophonist Louis Jordan. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in costume below!

Come and dance the blues away with Five Guys Named Moe! Helen Hayes Award winner Robert O'Hara (Bootcandy, director of The Mountaintop at Arena Stage) returns to Arena Stage to direct an explosive, reimagined tribute to the 'King of the Jukebox'-legendary composer and saxophonist Louis Jordan. Check out phtoos from the cast meet and greet below!

Come and dance the blues away with Five Guys Named Moe! Helen Hayes Award winner Robert O'Hara (Bootcandy, director of The Mountaintop at Arena Stage) returns to Arena Stage to direct an explosive, reimagined tribute to the 'King of the Jukebox'-legendary composer and saxophonist Louis Jordan. This modernized production features new orchestrations for classic songs, including 'Let the Good Times Roll' and 'Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby,' and a contemporary twist on the five Moes, now a hit boy band set in 2014. This dynamic musical revue features musical direction by Darryl G. Ivey (assistant music director for original Broadway production of Five Guys Named Moe) and choreography by Byron Easley (off-Broadway's Langston in Harlem). A co-production with Cleveland Play House, Five Guys Named Moe runs November 14-December 28, 2014 in the Kreeger Theater.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., announces that the hit musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, is extended through Sunday, November 10 due to popular demand.

On Wednesdays and Thursdays through October 25, Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., is featuring complimentary dinner for two at Cullen's Irish Pub, adjacent to the theater, with the purchase of two tickets to the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE. The offer is available before the performances on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 2 p.m., and Thursdays at7:30 p.m. To make a reservation, call 773.325.1700 and ask for the 'Dinner's on Us' promotion. Gratuity is not included, this offer cannot be combined with other discounts, and it is not valid for use with previously purchased tickets. Hailed as "A genuinely eye-popping achievement!" by The Chicago Tribune and called "Lustrous…Superbly directed…Marvelous!" by the Chicago Sun-Times, THE COLOR PURPLE is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and runs through October 27, 2013.

Mercury Theater Chicago's production of THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, opened last night, Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and will continue through October 27, 2013. THE COLOR PURPLE stars Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway's Rent, All Shook Up, and Little Shop of Horrors and the first National Tour of Sister Act) as 'Celie,' Jasondra Johnson (Crowns at Goodman Theatre) as 'Sophia,' and Adrienne Walker (Marriott Theatre's Dreamgirls) as 'Shug.' This highly anticipated production is led by multiple Jeff Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Director), and Brenda Didier (Choreographer). Check out a look back at last night's festivities below!

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, opening Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and running through October 27, 2013. THE COLOR PURPLE stars Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway's Rent, All Shook Up, and Little Shop of Horrors and the first National Tour ofSister Act) as 'Celie,' JaSondra Johnson (Crowns at Goodman Theatre) as 'Sophia,' and Adrienne Walker (Marriott Theatre's Dreamgirls) as 'Shug.' Check out a first look at highlights of the show below!

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, opening Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and running through October 27, 2013. THE COLOR PURPLE stars Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway's Rent, All Shook Up, and Little Shop of Horrors and the first National Tour ofSister Act) as 'Celie,' Jasondra Johnson (Crowns at Goodman Theatre) as 'Sophia,' and Adrienne Walker (Marriott Theatre's Dreamgirls) as 'Shug.' Check out a first look at the cast below!

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, previewing tonight, August 14, opening Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and running through October 27, 2013.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, previewing August 14, opening Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and running through October 27, 2013. THE COLOR PURPLE stars Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway's Rent, All Shook Up, and Little Shop of Horrors and the first National Tour of Sister Act) as 'Celie,' Jasondra Johnson (Crowns at Goodman Theatre) as 'Sophia,' and Adrienne Walker (Marriott Theatre's Dreamgirls) as 'Shug.' This highly anticipated production is led by multiple Jeff Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Director), and Brenda Didier (Choreographer).