Category: Broadway in Chicago
David Pittsinger wows the crowd at Gibson’s Steakhouse
Big talent represents “South Pacific” at Gibson’s
By: Timothy McGuire
I recently had the opportunity to attend a media luncheon for the upcoming touring performance of Lincoln Center Theater’s production of South Pacific. Broadway’s successful tony award winning musical will be playing at the Rosemont Theatre for a limited one-week engagement November 24 – 29, 2009. (ticket info)
The passion and excitement for this specific production was evident in the enthusiasm expressed by the people involved in bringing this production from New York to Chicago. They sincerely believe that this is an extraordinary show offering the audience the rare opportunity to experience a performance done in the spectacular old Broadway fashion, featuring a huge full orchestra unlike anything seen in current Broadway productions today. The touring show of South Pacific promises to be a near replica of the prize-winning musical that started in New York.
The most impressive endorsement for this production was the opportunity to hear the astonishingly powerful and elegant voice of David Pittsinger, who will be playing Emile. The impact of Pittsinger’s romantically forceful bass-baritone voice just a few feet away brought the small audience at Gibson’s Steakhouse to emotional heights, and one can only imagine the magnificence of hearing the full production of his songs produced on Rosemont Theatre’s spacious stage.
David Pittsinger also was a terrific speaker, appearing genuine in his belief in the significance and relevance of South Pacific to today’s audience. Pittsinger is the living embodiment of his character Emile. His wife is born of minority decent and he has interracial children (who he is bursting with pride to talk about.) His belief in love, unification and racial equality is evident in his actions and his loved ones around him.
The original role of Emile de Becque was written for an opera singer, and David Pittsinger is a talented, internationally acclaimed opera performer working with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City (most recently portrayed Angelotti in “Tosca”at the Metropolitan Opera) and living and working most of the year in France. The advantage that Pittsinger is also a world-class actor increases the quality of his role and greatly supports the well-written book that goes along with the classically entertaining music in South Pacific. With themes of war and racial conflict, along with the joyous uplifting story and cleverly catchy songs, this year is a fantastic time to enjoy Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific.
Chicago theater openings/closings this week
show openings
A You Like It - Loyola University
Burlesque Is More - Annoyance Theatre
Gossamer - Adventure Stage Chicago
High Holidays - Goodman Theatre
Horrible - Apollo Theatre
Murder in Green Meadows - Citadel Theatre
The Music Man - Rising Stars Theatre
Phedra - New World Repertory Theater
The Shape of Things - University of Chicago
Shootin’ the Shit with EJ and TJ - Annoyance Theatre
The Spectacular Comedy Spectacle - Theatre Building Chicago
When She Danced - TimeLine Theatre
Young Frankenstein - Cadillac Palace Theatre
show closings
An Apology for the Course and Outcome of Certain Events Delivered by Dr. John Faustus on His Final Evening - Theater Oobleck
Arsenic and Old Lace - Northwestern University
Bastards of Young - Tympanic Theatre
Calls to Blood - The New Colony
Cotton Patch Gospel - Provision Theater
Everyone’s Favorite Lobster - Gorilla Tango Theatre
Fake - Steppenwolf Theatre
The Flowers - About Face Theatre
The House on Mango Street - Steppenwolf Theatre
Kill the Old Torture Their Young - Steep Theatre
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Filament Theatre
Lettice and Lovage - Redtwist Theatre
Lucinda’s Bed - Chicago Dramatists
Night Watch - Jedlicka Performing Arts Center
Rhymes with Evil - InFusion Theatre
A Streetcar Named Desire - Polarity Ensemble Theatre
Yeast Nation (The Triumph of Life) - American Theater Company
List courtesy of The League of Chicago Theatres
Addams Family – an interview with Lurch (Zachary James)
Talking With Lurch (Zachary James)
by Timothy McGuire
One could easily make the assumption that Zachary James will be playing quite possibly the most intriguing Lurch ever written, with a musical surprise coming from the man Charles Addams described as a “towering mute.”
This extremely tall (possibly 12 feet?) handsome, bald man has his character Lurch’s physical demeanor down pat – when he demonstrated how Lurch stands hunched over with his arms locked straight holding a serving tray at his knees, he had me sold. In addition to this, James just happens to be a talented and accomplished opera singer as well as proven acting ability to go along with his powerful voice
James gave credit to producer Stuart Oken saying,
“Stuart took the time to look at each individual.”
James said that the talent in all aspects of this production, on stage and off stage, is what will make Addams Family a great musical.
Admitting to being nervous at first knowing he’d be working with Bebe Neuwirth (Morticia) and Nathan Lane (Gomez), James’ admission that, as a kid, he had watched the movie “Bird On a Wire” over a dozen times proved how he could be slightly intimidated to work with Lane.
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But Zachary James is a rising star on his own right. After his role in Broadway’s South Pacific he had a desire to sing more and perform the kind of songs that he wanted to sing. In South Pacific he felt that he was out there singing for five minutes and spent the rest of the time in the dressing room while others performed. He wanted to be on stage singing! With a recent break up motivating his personal story line, Zachary James has created and self-directs his own small New York opera company, which strives to make opera more available and affordable to the public, providing a uniquely powerful experience by performing in smaller intimate settings.
Even with his grueling rehearsal schedule he found time to hold a one night performance of his latest one man opera (Imbecil D’Amour) last Saturday at Gorilla Tango Theatre, giving people a chance to hear a renowned opera singer perform just a couple feet away from them for just $10. His passion drives his performances, and his talent backs him up.
If you see a tall, lean and lanky, bald giant walking on the streets of Chicago, don’t be alarmed, it’s just Lurch in the new Addams Family – The Musical.
Chicago theater openings/closings this week
show openings
Anna, in the Darkness: The Basement
Bastards of Young - Tympanic Theatre
Calls to Blood - The New Colony
Cats - Cadillac Palace Theatre
Dooby Dooby Moo - Lifeline Theatre
Everyone’s Favorite Lobster - Gorilla Tango Theatre
The Flaming Dames in Vamp II - New Millenium Theatre
Heroes - Remy Bumppo Theatre
The House on Mango Street - Steppenwolf Theatre
The Last Unicorn - Promethean Theatre
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Filament Theatre Ensemble
The Man Who Was Thursday - New Leaf Theatre
Mrs. Gruber’s Ding Song School - Gorilla Tango Theatre
Plans 1 Through 8 from Outer Space - New Millenium Theatre
Rachel Corn and the Secret Society - Corn Productions
You Can’t Take It with You - Village Players Performing Arts Center
show closings
Ah, Wilderness! - Loyola University Chicago Theatre
Bad Touch and the Deep End - Annoyance Theatre
Dirty Talking Amish - Gorilla Tango Theatre
Dracula - Oak Park Festival Theatre
The History Boys – Timeline Theatre
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom - Court Theatre
The Night Season – Vitalist Theatre
Rent - Big Noise Theatre
Sleeping Beauty - Big Noise Theatre
Stripped: An Unplugged Evening with Marilyn’s Dress - Gorilla Tango Theatre
Bomb threat during performance of Jersey Boys
Per Chris Jones’ Theater Loop blog, the Bank of America Theatre (The Shubert) was evacuated about half-way through the evening performance after suspicious boxes were found in the alley behind the theatre. Per the blog:
According to a report from the Tribune’s William Lee, who was quoting a police source, one letter read "this is not a bomb," and the other note said "this is not going to end good."
Because of time constraints, following the realization that the boxes held nothing dangerous, there was no time left in the evening to complete the second act, and it was canceled. The audience members were informed that ticket exchanges would be available for any Tuesday performance in the month of October.
The entire posting can be found here, including some fairly heated comments below the story. Full Chicago Tribune coverage, including video, here.
“Jersey Boys” to appear on The Oprah Show
Oddly, in the video, they don’t say what day they will appear (perhaps they don’t know themselves???)
“Billy Elliot the Musical” announces its 3 Billys!
The 2009 Tony Award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical (website) has announced that Tommy Batchelor, Giuseppe Bausilio and Cesar Corrales will star as ‘Billy’ in the Chicago production of the musical. Billy Elliot will begin an extended run on March 18, 2010 at Chicago’s Ford Center/Oriental Theatre before embarking on a multi-city tour.
Amazingly, more than 1,500 boys auditioned for the role of ‘Billy’!!
The ‘Billy’ bios:
Tommy Batchelor, 14, is currently play ‘Billy’ on Broadway in rotation with David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish. Tommy is a native of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and made his Broadway debut in the role of ‘Billy.’ He started his training at age 4 at Dance Factory in Minnesota and has starred in Miami City Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker as well as having competed nationally in the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix.
Cesar Corrales, 13, was born in Mexico before moving to Montreal with his family. At age 4 he performed with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Madama Butterfly. Among his other credits, Cesar placed first at the Coupe Quebec gymnastics competition in 2008, the same year he joined Canada’s National Ballet School.
Giuseppe Bausilio, 12, was born in the Swiss capital of Bern and began his ballet training at age 4. He has performed with the State Theatre of Bern in Coppelia, as well as in the operas Mazzepa and Falstaff, among other roles. Giuseppe has won numerous awards for the competitions in the US and Europe.
The 3 actors will perform in rotation throughout the run here in Chicago
Broadway in Chicago announces 2010 season
Broadway In Chicago has announced their complete 2010 Broadway In Chicago Season Series. Shows included in the 2010 Season Series are Billy Elliot the Musical (website), Shrek The Musical (website), August: Osage County,(website), NETworks presentation of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and The 39 Steps. Season subscriptions go on sale Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 10 a.m. Below is a sampling of pictures from some of these upcoming shows.
Feb 2: August: Osage County
March 18: Billy Elliot the Musical
June 1: Shrek the Musical
The 39 Steps
FYI: For The 39 Steps, no dates were supplied.
Think Fast: Project Runway, Footloose, The Color Purple, kids hate shots
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$18.5 million later, “Mary Poppins” flies out of Chicago
MARY POPPINS
Flies high in Chicago
with 300,000 Audience members
and 18-weeks of performances
Well, this is quite an accomplishment – Chicago’s “favorite nanny” has opened her umbrella and followed the winds eastward after an extremely successful 18 week engagement at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. Ending its Chicago stay on Sunday, July 12, 2009, MARY POPPINS performed for an amazing 300,000 theater patrons and grossed over $18.5 million at the box office. Mary Poppins opened on March 11th to rave reviews from both fans and critics.
From Lou Raizin, President of Broadway in Chicago:
“We are thrilled to have had MARY POPPINS choose to launch their national tour in Chicago with nothing less than an extraordinary production. The popularity of this show further established Chicago’s reputation as a national tourist destination for theatre this summer. Clearly theater continues to be a welcome stimulus in these economic times as evidenced by this successful 18 week run and the consistent activity in the Theatre District that it created.”
A co-production by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, this stage production is based on P.L. Travers‘ cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film. The show includes the Academy Award®-winning music and lyrics of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. The stage production has been created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes, who has written the book, and the Olivier Award-winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who have composed new songs and additional music and lyrics.
