More than a decade ago, I saw my first Chicago storefront-produced musical. It was the swinging Burt Bacharach tuner Promises, Promises, produced by a little theatre group called Porchlight Music Theatre. Porchlight has been on my radar since then, and while their shows over the years have been usually well-produced, they’ve often seemed a little,… Read More Porchlight’s stellar ‘Putting it Together’
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… Read More ‘Sweeney Todd’ at Drury Lane cuts deep, despite a dull Sweeney
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… Read More First look: ‘Sweeney Todd’ at Drury Lane Oakbrook
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… Read More Sondheim gets his rant on in response to revamped ‘Porgy and Bess’
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… Read More Chicago Shakes’ Follies casting (partly) announced — where are the Chicago actors?
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,… Read More Some thoughts after watching Sondheim’s ‘Company’ in the movie theatre
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… Read More Attend the tale, bitches: Drury Lane announces ‘Sweeney’ casting, and I’m excited
Check out this wonderful 20-second vid of the legendary Elaine Stritch dropping in for a surprise visit with the incomparable Patti LuPone backstage at the New York Philharmonic’s concert production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company: Stritch, as I’m sure we all know, originated the role of Joanne — the acerbic, urban housewife who’ll… Read More When two Joanne’s meet: Patti and Stritchie (plus, a poll!)
Do you love Sondheim? Are you a supporter of arts in schools? If you’ve said “yes” to either of these questions, then you should check out this three-night only benefit performance of Into the Woods, featuring a cast of professional actors who are joining forces to put on this beloved family musical for a great cause.… Read More Chicago’s Catherine Cook School goes ‘Into the Woods’ to support arts programming
Jarrod Zimmerman, Jessie Mueller and Alan Schmuckler — three old friends in The Music Theatre Company’s “Merrily We Roll Along.” “We’re opening doors, Singing, “Here we are!” We’re filling up days On a dime. That faraway shore’s Looking not too far. We’re following every star — There’s not enough time!” – From the song “Opening… Read More It’s a hit: The Music Theatre Company kicks things off in a big way with Sondheim’s ‘Merrily We Roll Along’
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… Read More ‘Follies’ comes to Chicago Shakespeare Theatre: my thoughts
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… Read More My (somewhat grumpy) thoughts on ‘Sondheim! The Birthday Concert’
Oh, Follies. That Sondheim masterpiece featuring a killer score and troubled book. And last night, a one-night only concert of this work took place at the surprisingly handsome auditorium of the Francis W. Parker School to support The Humanities Festival. This concert, sponsored by Greta Wiley Flory in memory of her late husband Bill, a… Read More ‘Follies’ concert at the Humanities Festival
While most “Sondheads” are buzzing about recent casting news related to the Kennedy Center’s upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies, this Chicago Theatre Addict is thinking about a Nov. 9 concert of the musical to support the Chicago Humanities Festival. Chicago musical theatre director Doug Peck hinted at this concert when I interviewed him a… Read More ‘Hats off! Here they come, those beautiful girls’: ‘Follies’ casting announced (and no, not *that* production)
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… Read More My (jaw-dropping) visit to the Uptown Theatre
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