Top: Ron Raines and Bernadette Peters (and their ghostly counterparts) in the Broadway production of “Follies.” (Photo © Joan Marcus) Bottom: Susan Moniz and Robert Petkoff in Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s “Follies.” (Photo: Peter Bosy) The challenge: To see two productions of Follies within four days of each other and determine which production is the winner. [...]
‘Sweeney Todd’ at Drury Lane cuts deep, despite a dull Sweeney
Gregg Edelman and Liz McCartney share a moment in Drury Lane’s “Sweeney Todd.” I’m on a mission to get my friends out to see a show at Drury Lane. Yes, the 45-minute drive out to the tacky-glam convention center is a bitch, but the trip is very much well worth it for those who appreciate [...]
First look: ‘Sweeney Todd’ at Drury Lane Oakbrook
Swing your razors high, kittens! Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace has released Sweeney Todd production photos. The much-anticipated production, which is currently in previews with press opening tomorrow night, stars Gregg Edelman and Liz McCartney. And Judging from these photos, it looks like director Rachel Rockwell is more than delivering the musical’s grand guignol — emphasising [...]
Sondheim gets his rant on in response to revamped ‘Porgy and Bess’
When musical theatre icon (and recent Chicago Tribune Literary Prize honoree) Stephen Sondheim gets raged up, he knows exactly what to do: fire out a feisty letter to The New York Times. Such is the case with his reaction to a recent New York Times article previewing the upcoming revival of The Gershwins’ Porgy and [...]
Chicago Shakes’ Follies casting (partly) announced — where are the Chicago actors?
After much speculation, Chi Shakes has released partial casting news for one of my all-time favorite musicals, and probably the most highly anticipated production (for me) this year: Follies, at Chicago Shakes, directed by Gary Griffin. Here’s what’s been announced so far for Follies casting (via Chris Jones), which begins performances Oct. 4: Hollis Resnik [...]
Some thoughts after watching Sondheim’s ‘Company’ in the movie theatre
A few friends and I drove up and over to icky Rosemont yesterday to see the filmed NYPhil concert of Company starring Neil Patrick Harris, Stephen Colbert, Patti LuPone, Martha Plimpton and more. Here are a few of my thoughts: Neil Patrick Harris was very fine in the book scenes. He’s a charmer and, yet, [...]
Attend the tale, bitches: Drury Lane announces ‘Sweeney’ casting, and I’m excited
The recent casting announcement of Drury Lane‘s Sweeney Todd only heightened my excitement of this upcoming production (running August 11 – October 9). First, we get Gregg Edelman, a four-time Tony Award nominated actor with Chicago roots. Some of my friends think he might be a little too tame for the monomaniacal barber based on his past [...]
‘Follies’ comes to Chicago Shakespeare Theatre: my thoughts
Chris Jones reports that Gary Griffin will direct Stephen Sondheim’s Follies to kick off the 2011-12 season at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. This is Big News for me. Some thoughts before I head out the door … I had two immediate reaction to this news: excitement and disappointment. Let’s get the disappointment out of the way [...]
My (somewhat grumpy) thoughts on ‘Sondheim! The Birthday Concert’
Note: I had a glass (or three) of wine last night and watched the “Sondheim! The Birthday Concert” dvd from start to finish, allowing myself one documented thought per performance. A word of warning: I guess I was a touch grumpy. And it might help to have seen the DVD to know what I’m referring [...]
My (jaw-dropping) visit to the Uptown Theatre
Seems my recent blog post on my dream production of Follies, as staged in the lobby of the Uptown Theatre, has hit a nerve. It’s quickly made the rounds, and I’ve received some lovely and supportive emails from people who’ve visited and raved about the space, have somehow been connected with the Uptown throughout its [...]
My dream production: ‘Follies’ in the lobby of Chicago’s Uptown Theatre
A boy can dream, can’t he? I’ve been mulling this thing in my high-foreheaded skull for years — though I’m sure I’m not the first person who’s thought of it, since any Sondheim freak dreams of seeing a perfect production of Follies, and the mysterious Uptown Theatre is one of those spaces that’s captured the [...]
Audra and Sondheim
I think that combination can get me through the snow today.
Sunday and Sondheim
Tomorrow I’m seeing Sunday in the Park with George at the Village Players Theatre in Oak Park. It’ll be a heck of a commute from the northern burbs, and with the way things have been going lately with the roads I might arrive with my eyes gouged out and half my hair missing. But, Sondheim! [...]
Jamie and Bob make Sondheim roll in his grave
What? Sondheim’s not dead? Sorry! Proverbial grave, then. me: btw: “Don’t you love farce” from Send in the Clowns sounds like “Don’t you love arse” Jamie: Don’t you love farts? me: My fault, I fear? Jamie: I thought that you’d smelt what I dealt.. sorry, my rear! I kill me me: Wow. Also – a [...]
Welcome to [CTA]
- Hi. My name's Bob Bullen and I'm a Chicago Theatre Addict [CTA]. Learn more here. Please leave comments — I'd love to hear what you think, and promise to do my best to reply.
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