Archive for January, 2009
Sunday Night Sondheim: “A Boy Like That” from West Side Story
A very impressive high school performance of “A Boy Like That / I Have A Love”, from Sondheim’s and Bernstein’s West Side Story. One thing that I love about school productions of Sondheim musicals is that you get to hear the original glorious orchestrations from a Broadway-size orchestra (as opposed to the scaled-down (often over-synthesized) versions presented by most not-for-profit theatres). Enjoy:
Chicago theater tidbits: New Leaf Theatre, Masha Obolensky, Goodman
Centerstage Chicago: Sarah Terez Rosenblum reviews “Touch” at New Leaf Theatre. (runs Jan 7 thru Feb 14)
TheatreinChicago.com reports on the upcoming world premier of playwright Masha Obolensky’s “Not Enough Air”, directed by Nick Bowling; produced by Timeline Theatre. More at BroadwayWorld.com. (runs Jan 24 thru March 22)
Chris Jones reviews “The Emperor Jones”, by Eugene O’Neill, now playing at The Goodman Theatre (awarding it 3.5 stars). Jones interjects an interesting sideline regarding O’Neill’s underlying racism through his use of exaggerated stereotypes:
Eugene O’Neill wasn’t the only 20th Century American playwright to be afflicted by the scourge of racism. He was just the best of them.
Aside: This Chicago ticket broker offers a great selection of tickets in the city – Purchase tickets for Wicked in Chicago and nationwide theater events like Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets – a favorite during the holiday.
ComedySportz adds new Winter shows
WHAT: Celebrating 21 years of making Chicago audiences laugh, The ComedySportz Theatre announces their Winter 2009 show line up.
New Shows Added:
Wednesdays at 8pm: The Chicago Improv Rebellion. Premiere: 1/14/09 The Chicago Improv Rebellion is a hodge podge of some of the best improv shows from ComedySportz, iO, The Annoyance, Second City and The Playground. Each week they present new improv forms, sketches, videos and anything they can imagine! New special guest groups every week! Featuring videos and sketches from Hodge Podge and hosted by musician and comic Nathan Cotter. Tickets: $10. Closing 3/11/09.
Fridays at 12am: Blackout. Premiere: 1/16/09 Blackout is a high energy long form improv show that is quick witted, daring, occasionally raunchy and has a sense of comic timing you can set a watch to. Oh yeah, and the performers are all African-American men…twist that lime in your beverage. Tickets: $10
For more info, go to www.COMEDYSPORTZCHICAGO.com, or call 773-549-3030.
"Defying Gravity" – A cabaret performance to promote equality and civil rights
322 W. Armitage
JANUARY 12, 2009
On Monday, January 12, cast members from the four North American companies of WICKED will host DEFYING INEQUALITY, a special evening of benefit cabaret performances promoting equality and civil rights.
In Chicago, the event will feature cast members of the Chicago companies of WICKED and Jersey Boys, cast members from the National Tour of Grease, members of Second City, and other special guests. The even will be held at Park West, starting at 8pm. A silent and live auction will consist of memorabilia from Broadway musicals and Broadway In Chicago shows, gift certificates to area bars and restaurants and other one-of-a-kind items. Held simultaneously in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Louisville and featuring cast members from WICKED as well as special guest performers, these special one-night only events will benefit Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality California, Garden State Equality and Vermont Freedom to Marry, four charitable organizations working to legislate equality and protect civil rights for the gay and lesbian community. All proceeds will be distributed evenly among the four organizations.
Each of the DEFYING INEQUALITY events will feature different musical performances that support WICKED’S theme of acceptance and illuminate the musical’s message that people should not be judged on first impressions. Performing on their night off from the musical hit, the WICKED cast members and musicians from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Louisville will be joined by local theatre performers who also recognize that in these divisive times we must come together to support one another’s rights throughout the country and around the world.
Experience the magic of Wicker Park Nights
Experience the dynamic spirit, the magic, underlying essence that makes Wicker Park a destination! Wicker Park Nights features poets, dancers, rock, opera and hip-hop musicians, painters, architects, actors, photographers & more all make intense 15 minute presentations. Even more intriguing are the unique collaborations between these artists: hip-hop with opera, architect with painter, viedo artist with photographer and so on. The combinations produce new ideas, new sparks.
January 16 line up: Joel MAXINE, Jr, Lady Death, Jennifer Hjelmberg, Nguyen Nguyen, Kevin Coval, Louder Than A Bomb, Jon Shaft, CODA dancers, Quiana, Jerusalem Singleton, Genesis Ensemble, BVax, Koku, Mike Hari, Tasner Harold, White Devil, London Bridgez, Neak, Edwin Garcia, Jus Love, Zamora, Scot Stewart & more
January 23 line up: Baltazar Castillo, Baltazar/Nguyen collaboration, Mallace Finn, Katie Spencer, Flow Johnson, Jason Bowen, Katherine Darnstadt, Carenting, Greg Zimmerman, Unconceal, Shauna Castonguay, clover Dee, A Wu Li Conspiracy, Max Krucoff Sextet, Jason Vigil, Saunce, Chris Knight, Quinton Westmoreland, Wade Wittscheck, Jaik Willis, Kelly Strycker, Dwayne Richardson & more, links to follow.
January 30 line up: Mick Luter, Michael McDermott, Culture Shock dancers, Scott Kladke, Revolution Theatre Group, Big Splashes, Matthew Logan, Brandon Avery Smith, charlotte’s Nightmare, Heather Marie Vernon, Chicago Tribe, John-Frankin Dandridge, Saniqua Thomson/key-I-emit, Lea Grover, Lauren Parets, Chelcie. Porter, Dan Lawrence, James Beckman & more, links to follow.
More info here.
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Aside: This Chicago ticket broker offers a great selection of tickets in the city – Purchase tickets for Wicked in Chicago and nationwide theater events like Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets – a favorite during the holiday.
"Open Rehearsal" with Victory Gardens Theater
Victory Gardens Theater is offering patrons the chance to be part of the production process via its “Open Rehearsal” program. The first entry in the program, “The Making of Living Green”, will take place at 6pm on January 15th at the theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue. Audience members get to watch a 30-minute reheasal of the world premiere family drama by Gloria Bond Clunie, and then participate in a talk-back session with the cast, director Andrea JH. Dymond and playwright. Admission is free, but reservations are required via e-mail at event@victorygardens.org or by calling Will Rogers at (773) 549-5788, x2167. Previews of “Living Green” begin January 23rd. For tickets, call 773-871-3000.
Aerial map of the Victory Gardens Theatre area
University Watch – upcoming shows at DePaul and Northwestern
by Rachel Bykowski
De Paul University – with Chicago PlayWorks
Alice in Wonderland
| By: Lewis Carroll Adapted By: Sharon Holland Music By: Mark Elliott Directed By: Sean Graney |
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| Dates: | January 13 – March 3, Tuesday/Thursday 10am, Saturday 2pm |
| Venue: | Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Drive |
| Tickets: | Only $8 (box office: 312-922-1999) |
Northwestern University – Dolphin Show
The Wizard of Oz
| By: L. Frank Baum and W.W. Denslow Directed By: Katie Spelman Starring: Danielle Gaines (Dorothy), Claire Neumann (Aunt Em/Glinda), Andi Alhadeff (Miss Gultch/Wicked Witch), Darren Barrare (Wizard), Mark Underhill (Scarecrow), Reed Wilson (Tin Man), R.B. Embleton (Lion), Andrew Howard (Uncle Henry/Guard) |
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| Dates: | January 23 – January 31, Fridays/Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays 2pm |
| Venue: | Cahn Auditorium, Northwestern University (Evanston) |
| Tickets: | Students/Kids: $10, Faculty/Staff: $20, General Public: $25 |
| For Wizard of Oz tickets, call 847-467-4000. Ticket info here. |
The Dolphin Show is America’s largest student-produced musical. Started at Northwestern University in 1939, The Dolphin Show is now celebrating its 67th year. More about the show’s history here.
Chicago Theater tidbits: Sam Shepard and free dinner with Screwtape Letters
Playwright and actor Sam Shepard was arrested early on Saturday morning in central Illinois, and charged with speeding and drunken driving. Shepard told police he had been at a tavern in nearby Bloomington and was heading to a hotel. He said he was on his way to his home in Kentucky from Minnesota.
Shepard, 65, won the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for drama for his play “Buried Child.” His other notable plays include “True West” and “A Lie of the Mind”. Shepard is long-time partners with Jessica Lange.
Aside: Okay, I know that this is something that the National Enquirer might cover, but being that he was arrested in Illinois, I couldn’t resist…
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Free Dinner Thursdays and Talk-Back Fridays
THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, adapted from writings by C.S. Lewis, will feature Free Dinner Thursdays and Talk-Back Fridays through February 12.
Theatergoers who buy four tickets to the show on Thursday evenings will receive a free dinner for four at Cullen’s Bar & Grill, the restaurant connected to the theater. Cullen’s pub-style menu features the hearty British-inspired cuisine that C.S. Lewis loved, including meatloaf, chicken pot pie or mac & cheese..
Friday night post-show talk-backs will feature Max McLean (co-creator and star) and Jeffrey Fiske (co-creator and director.) During the talk-backs, McLean and Fiske will foster audience discussions about the show’s provocative themes and answer questions about how they adapted C.S. Lewis’ classic novel into a hit stage production. More information here.
Sunday Night Sondheim – Chenowith does “Candide”
For all those ardent Stephen Sondheim enthusiasts out there, I know that – although Sondheim wrote lyrics for a number of songs in Candide – he did not contribute to the writing of “Glitter and Be Gay”. But hey, it’s a great song, and Ms. Chenowith is as talented and endearing as ever! (fyi: for a list of the songs from Candide where Leonard Bernstein‘s musis was combined with Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics, go here).
Now here’s Kristin Chenowith performing “Glitter and Be Gay” from Candide:
Chicago Theater – Best of 2008 (Chicago Sun-Times)
Hedy Weiss, theater-critic extraordinaire for the Chicago Sun-Times, has put together an excellent list of her 10 favorite plays of 2008. Along with the list, Hedy notes the wonderful year Chicago theater has had on the national stage:
…this was the year that Steppenwolf Theatre picked up five Tony Awards for its Chicago-bred Broadway production of Tracy Letts‘ “August: Osage County” before the cast crossed the pond to remount the show at London’s National Theatre, and when the Chicago Shakespeare Theater was feted with the “Best Regional Theater” Tony.
Continuing:
But that was just the beginning. Next Theatre‘s production of the new musical “Adding Machine,” was hailed in its Off Broadway incarnation, with director David Cromer racking up plaudits for his work on that show, as well as for his revelatory revivals of “Our Town” (at the Hypocrites) and “Picnic” (at Writers’ Theatre). Profiles championed the work of incendiary playwright Neil LaBute to grand effect. Remy Bumppo earned laughs with its tale of financial chicanery in a revival of an Edwardian classic, “The Voysey Inheritance.” And director Sean Graney experimented boldy with productions of “The Threepenny Opera” and Marlowe‘s “Edward II.”
Now here are Hedy Weiss’s favorite productions in 2008:
| 1. | Caroline or Change (Court Theatre) by Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori Standouts: Charles Newell (director), Doug Peck (musical director); performances: Malcolm Durning, E.Faye Butler |
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| 2. | Ruined (Goodman Theatre) by Lynn Nottage Weiss comments: Worthy of a Pulitzer Prize, the play will soon move to New York’s Manhattan Theatre Club. |
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| 3. | Gatz (Elevator Repair Service Theatre) by John Collins |
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| 4. | Our Town (The Hypocrites) by Thornton Wilder Standouts: David Cromer (director) |
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| 5. | Requiem for a Heavyweight (Shattered Globe) by Rod Serling Standouts: Lou Contey (director) |
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| 6. | Amadeus (Chicago Shakespeare) by Peter Schaffer Standouts: Gary Griffin (director), Daniel Ostling (set designer); performances: Robert Sella, Robbi Collier Sublett, Elizabeth Ledo, Lance Baker |
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| 7. | As You Like It (Writers’ Theatre) by William Shakespeare Standouts: William Brown (director), Performance: Larry Yando |
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| 8. | Drowsy Chaperone (Cadillac Palace Theater) by Laura Wade Standouts: Casey Nicholaw (director) |
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| 9. | Around the World in 80 Days (Lookingglass) Standouts: Laura Eason (adaptor/director); Performances: Philip R. Smith, Kevin Douglas, Joe Dempsey, Ravi Batista, Anish Jethmalani, Ericka Ratcliff, Nick Sandys and Rom Barkhordar |
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| 10. | Columbinus (Raven Theatre) by Stephen Karam and P.J. Paparelli Standouts: Greg Kolack (director); Performances: Matthew Klingler and Jamie Abelson |
To see the Hedy Weiss’s complete description and thoughts on her favorite plays, click here.
