World Premiere of Judy’s Life’s Work Via Definition Theatre February 2–25, 2024

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Adult Shows With Family Themes On Our Radar

Definition Theatre Presents the World Premiere of

Judy’s Life’s Work 

by Loy A. Webb

Directed by Michelle Renee Bester

Definition Theatre opens its 2024 season with the world premiere of Judy’s Life’s Work by Loy A. Webb, directed by Michelle Renee Bester, running February 2–25, 2024 at the company’s newly announced storefront theater called Definition @ 55th at 1160 E 55th in Hyde Park. I'll be out for the press opening February 8th, so check back soon for my full review.

“To say it is an absolute honor to work with Definition Theatre and Loy A. Webb, would be an understatement. Both are such impactive engines of knowledge, creativity, and empowerment,” comments Director Michelle Renee Bester. “Definition Theatre has done some incredible work already in the city of Chicago, more specifically, the Southside, where there is an obvious void. Loy Webb has done tremendous work bringing to light Black legacy and Black excellence, and always writing beautiful Black stories for all to enjoy and learn from. The opportunity to direct such a piece as Judy’s Life’s Work with both entities is such a fulfillment for me, and I’m beyond excited to breathe life into this project along with the fantastically talented cast! My mission as a director is to not only entertain but to educate, and thankfully this project is allowing me to do just that plus more!” 

Loy Webb is a Chicago-born playwright, attorney, and theatre journalist. Her play The Light garnered an Outer Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play and a Joseph Jefferson Award. 

ABOUT THE PLAY 

February 2—25, 2024 

Tickets: Starting at $25

Only a month after their mother’s death, Xavier, a highly praised ex-boxer, and his sister Charli, a brilliant pre-med student, fight to determine the future of their mother’s groundbreaking medical notes. As they work through the grief, heartbreak, pain, and unresolved trauma of their childhoods, we discover a story of the healing power of sibling love. 

Judy’s Life’s Work features actors Rashun Carter, Cereyna Jade Bougouneau, and Kenesha Kristine Reed. 

The production team for Judy’s Life Work  includes Jessica Moore (Assistant Director), Alyssa Moon Thompson (Scenic Design), Janelle Smith (Costume Design), David Goodman - Edberg (Lighting Design), Kyle Cortes (Co-Sound Design), ensemble member Willow James (Co-Sound Design), Mariah Bennett (Props Design), ensemble member Maya Vinice Prentiss (Intimacy & Fight Choreography), Kenya Hall (Dramaturg), ensemble member Julie Jachym (Production Manager), ensemble member Ariel Beller (Stage Manager), Octavio Montes De Oca (Assistant Stage Manager), Tesla Sokolin-Maimon (Technical Director), Louis Lothan (Lead Electrician), ensemble member, Devan Castle (Sound Engineer), Victor Hugo Jaimes (Scenic Painter), Megan O’Brien (Lighting Overhire), and PR Casting (Casting). 

ABOUT DEFINITION THEATRE

Definition Theatre is a culturally diverse theater dedicated to telling language-driven, relationship-oriented, socially relevant stories about and created with underrepresented communities in Chicago. Our ensemble is a collective of artists, art administrators, educators, and designers who prioritize working towards and representing a more equitable theatre industry. 

Definition has built its reputation on work that reflects its unique voice. It shared the words of Academy Award- Winner Tarell Alvin McCraney in The Brothers Size; it grooved with Amiri Baraka’s whirlwind story of a chance meeting on a train in Dutchman. In partnership with, The New Colony staged the world premiere of Byhalia, Mississippi, which starred Academy Award nominee ensemble member Kiki Layne. In association with the Goodman Theatre, Definition staged the Chicago premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, a subversive take on race in America that captivated audiences. Definition sent us all to the moon with ensemble member James Ijames’s Moon Man Walk, explored the challenges of America’s public-school system through Nilaja Sun’s No Child… and highlighted the first- generation experience in the world premiere of Sam Kebede’s ETHIOPIANAMERICA. The company returned to the stage and inspected white privilege, racial politics and the fine line between appropriation and opportunity in ensemble member James Ijames’s WHITE. In 2023, they examined the dark and sweet spots of Black American identity with the choreopoem, ALAIYO and is a searing examination of families, drama, family dramas, and the insidiousness of white supremacy in FAIRVIEW. 

Definition Ensemble members include: Adia Alli, Owais Ahmed, Ariel Beller, Jared Bellot, Carley Cornelius, Ari Craven, Danielle Davis, Julie Jachym, Willow James, Martasia Jones, Slick Jorgensen, Yeaji Kim, Kristy Hall, James Ijames, Kiki Layne, Kelson Michael McAuliffe, Victor Musoni, Neel McNeill, Sophiyaa Nayar, Karyn Oates, Alexandra Oparka, Julian Parker, Maya Vinice Prentiss, Tyrone Phillips, Ireon Roach, Jacqueline Rosas, Christopher Sheard, and Dujon Smith. 

Definition Artistic Advisory Board members include: director May Adrales, Steppenwolf ensemble member Alana Arenas, actress Shannon Cochran, Erica Daniels, actor Brandon Dirden, actor Jason Dirden, director Pam Mackinnon, Equity Quotient CEO Keryl McCord, professor JW Morrissette, director Ron OJ Parson, professor/lighting designer Kathy Perkins, media producer and host Troy Osborne Pryor, Tony Award-winning actress and stage director Phylicia Rashad, and Goodman Theatre director in residence Chuck Smith. Tyrone Phillips is the Artistic Director and Neel McNeill is the Executive Director. 

For tickets and additional information, visit definitiontheatre.org and @definitiontheatre on Facebook and Instagram #stayinit

Cast and Production Team for Porchlight in Concert: Sunday in the Park with George Saturday, May 11and Sunday, May 12 at the Studebaker Theater

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE ANNOUNCES CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM FOR 

PORCHLIGHT IN CONCERT: 

SUNDAY THE PARK WITH GEORGE 

STARRING BROADWAY’S SEAN ALLAN KRILL AND KATHY VOYTKO, 

MAY 11 AND 12, AT THE STUDEBAKER THEATER

Tickets on Sale Now for this Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Stephen Sondheim’s Masterpiece Musical, Directed for Porchlight by Artistic Director Michael Weber and Music Directed by David Fiorello

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce the cast and production team for Porchlight in Concert: Sunday in the Park with George, starring Tony Award-nominated Sean Allan Krill and Broadway’s Kathy Voytko, Saturday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 12 at 2 p.m., at the Studebaker Theater, 410 S. Michigan Ave. This concert performance includes music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine and is directed by Artistic Director Michael Weber and music directed by David Fiorello. Tickets are now on sale with a $150 subscription to Porchlight’s 29th season that also includes Anything Goes starring Meghan Murphy, now playing through February 25. Single tickets for Porchlight in Concert: Sunday in the Park with George ($75 - $125, subject to change) are on sale at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by phone with the Studebaker Theater box office at 312-753-3210. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Studebaker Theater, 410 S. Michigan Ave, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday.

Porchlight celebrates the 40th Anniversary of one of Stephen Sondheim’s most beloved works with a new special event concert staging. Audiences will experience Sondheim and James Lapine’s Pulitzer-, Tony- and Oliver-winning musical masterpiece with the original Broadway orchestrations performed by musicians live on stage with an all-star cast at Chicago's historic and beautifully restored Studebaker Theater. Based on Georges Seurat's painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” which is on display just down the street from the Studebaker Theatre at the Art Institute of Chicago, this limited engagement brings to life the rich score telling the story of the months leading to the completion of Seurat’s famous work in 1886 and the effects of the artist and the art on people over the following 100 years.

(L to R) Sean Allan Krill and Kathy Voytko star in Porchlight in Concert: Sunday in the Park with George

The cast includes: Sean Allan Krill (he/him, Georges Seurat/George) and Kathy Voytko (she/hers, Dot/Marie) and in alphabetical order, Neala Barron (she/her, female ensemble swing); Bella Branshaw (she/her, Louise); Daniel de Cranie-Pierre (he/him, Boatman/Charles Redmond); Devin DeSantis (he/him, Jules/Bob Greenberg); Billy Dwyer (he/him, male ensemble swing; Andres Enriquez (he/him, Mr/Lee Randolph); Veronica Garza (she/her, Nurse/Mrs/Harriet Pawling); Tiyanna Gentry (she/her, Celeste #1 /Waitress); Cory Goodrich (she/her, Yvonne/Naomi Eisen); Cecilia Iole (she/her, Celeste #2/Elaine); Samuel B. Jackson (he/him, Franz /Dennis); Chris Khoshaba (he/him, Soldier/Alex); Iris Lieberman (she/her, Old Lady/Blair Daniels); Chamaya Moody (she/her, Frieda/Betty) and David Moreland (he/him, Louis/Billy Webster).

(L to R) Artistic Director Michael Weber, director, and David Fiorello, music director, of Porchlight in Concert: Sunday in the Park with George

The creative team includes: Michael Weber (he/him, director); David Fiorello (he/him, music director/conductor); Rachel West (she/her, lighting designer & lighting director); Matthew R. Chase (he/him, sound designer); Bill Walters (he/him, stage manager); Drew Donnelly (he/him, asst. stage manager); Taylor Stageberg (she/they, asst. stage manager); John McTaggart (he/him, technical director); Tina Stasny (she/her, costume director); Samantha Anderson (she/they, assistant lighting supervisor/spot 2); Matt Reich (he/him, audio/ video director); Jack Zanger (he/him, wardrobe supervisor); Amanda May (she/her, hair & makeup supervisor); Heather Lynn Gervasi (she/her, production manager); Majel Cuza (she/her, director of production) and Frankie Leo Bennett (he/him, producing artistic associate).

 

PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE’S 29th SEASON

Porchlight’s 29th season includes Anything Goes, January 13 - February 25, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St.  and Porchlight in Concert: Sunday in the Park with George, Saturday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 12 at 2 p.m. at the Studebaker Theater, 410 S. Michigan Ave. As well as the Cole Porter Festival - A Celebration of the Man and his Music and the return of Porchlight’s special fundraising event, Chicago Sings Broadway Pop II,  Monday, April 15 at 6 p.m. at the House of Blues Chicago, 329 N. Dearborn St. Subscriptions are on sale now for $150 which includes Anything Goes and Porchlight in Concert: Sunday in the Park with George. Chicago Sings Broadway Pop II may be added to the subscription at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or 773.777.9884.

Performances, dates and participants are subject to change.

ABOUT SEAN ALLAN KRILL, “Georges Seurat/George”

Sean Allan Krill was most recently seen on Broadway as “Governor Slaton” in the Tony-winning revival of Parade. In 2020, he was nominated for a Tony Award for his role as “Steve Healy” in Jagged Little Pill. The cast recording of the critically-acclaimed musical received the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Other Broadway credits include Honeymoon in Vegas, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and Mamma Mia!. Off-Broadway: Joan of Arc: Into the Fire and The Brother/Sister Plays (The Public), Civil War Christmas (NY Theatre Workshop), Hit the Wall (Barrow Street Theatre). Regional: Sunday in the Park with George (Chicago Shakespeare and Skylight), Sense and Sensibility (Chicago Shakespeare - Jeff Award nomination & Old Globe - Craig Noel Award), Sideways (La Jolla Playhouse), Hot L Baltimore (Steppenwolf), Hamlet and Comedy of Errors (Chicago Shakespeare), Brigadoon (Marriott - Jeff Award nomination). Tours: Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mamma Mia! TV: “Dopesick," “Godfather of Harlem,” “Search Party," “Dr. Death," “Mr. Robot,” “Blacklist," “Blue Bloods," "Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld." Film: “Intermedium.”

ABOUT KATHY VOYTKO, “Dot/Marie”

Kathy Voytko made national news when Hugh Jackman praised her in a curtain speech that went viral, for jumping into the lead role of "Marian Paroo" (played by Sutton Foster) with only a few hours’ notice on the fourth Broadway preview of The Music Man.

Her Broadway debut was in the original cast of the Oklahoma! revival, starring Andrea Martin and Patrick Wilson. She then performed in the Tony Award-winning Nine starring Antonio Banderas and Chita Rivera. Voytko originated the role of "Ariadne" in Stephen Sondheim’s The Frogs opposite Nathan Lane at Lincoln Center. She appeared on Broadway in The Pirate Queen, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Next to Normal, the 2014 Tony Award winner for Best Musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder and the original Broadway cast of Tuck Everlasting.

She toured the United States as "Christine" in The Phantom of the Opera and was chosen by the legendary Hal Prince to play "Eva Peron" in the 25th anniversary tour of Evita. She was a frequent soloist in Boublil and Schonberg’s dream concert Do You Hear The People Sing? on its international tour, alongside Lea Salonga and Terence Mann. She was also a soloist in The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber on its USA tour.

At Carnegie Hall, Voytko sang in Oscar Hammerstein & Jerome Kern’s Showboat and also in the live concert recording of Kristina by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. The company then reprised the concert live at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

She is a featured soloist with symphonies across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. She has portrayed "Clara" in Passion, "Fantine" in Les Miserables and Fiona in Brigadoon. She was honored with her first Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actress in a Musical as “Polly” in Crazy for You and her second as "Francesca" in The Bridges of Madison County and considers beautiful Chicago her alternate hometown.

She earned a BFA in musical theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory and grew up in lovely Johnstown, PA. She is married to Broadway and opera singer John Cudia; they are the proud parents of Alena and Evelyn.

ABOUT MICHAEL WEBER, director

Michael Weber is a nationally recognized, award-winning director, producer, actor and educator. He recently directed the Off-Broadway and European premieres of Call Me Elizabeth written by and starring Kayla Boye as Elizabeth Taylor. Under his artistic leadership, Porchlight Music Theatre was awarded Chicago’s Jeff Award for “Best Production” six times for A Class Act, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Sondheim on Sondheim, The Scottsboro Boys, Dreamgirls and Blues in the Night. Porchlight productions that he directed, include Cabaret, Gypsy, End of the Rainbow, Sweeney Todd, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Pal Joey, Assassins and Side Show, as well as Grand Hotel at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place and She Loves Me at Theatre at the Center were each nominated for the Jeff Award for Best Production. He previously served as artistic director for the inaugural season of Chicago’s Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place (now Broadway in Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse) and at Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana (1998-2004). Directing credits include Living the History-125 Years of The Auditorium Theatre starring Patti LuPone and John Mahoney, Fifth of July and Talley’s Folly at the Oak Park Festival Theatre, The Petrified Forest at Theatre at the Center, Beauty and the Beast at Marriott Theatre, Over the River and Through the Woods at Mercury Theater, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Pheasant Run Theatre, and Cirque du Symphony at Sears Center Arena featuring stars of Cirque du Soleil with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. The recipient of two Joseph Jefferson Awards, he has been nominated for nine awards and he wrote and directed 14 Joseph Jefferson Awards ceremonies (2006-2018). Weber’s regional acting credits include The Merry Widow (starring Renée Fleming) at Lyric Opera, Annie Get Your Gun and Gypsy (both starring Patti LuPone) at Ravinia Festival, The Winter’s Tale and Henry V at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Around the World in 80 Days at Cleveland Playhouse, Disney’s My Son Pinocchio at First Stage Milwaukee, It Had To Be You (starring Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka) at Little Theatre on the Square, Angel Street at First Folio Shakespeare, and The Gifts of the Magi at Indiana Repertory. He is author of the play, WAR of the WELLeS (about Orson Welles’ infamous radio broadcast) and he is a longtime pledge host for PBS station WTTW channel 11.

ABOUT DAVID FIORELLO, music director

David Fiorello is a music director, performer, director, composer and arranger who’s no stranger to Porchlight. He is the music director for the upcoming Chicago Sings Broadway Pop II and has served as music director most recently for Chicago Sings Broadway Pop, New Faces Sing Broadway 1951, Porchlight Revisits The Apple Tree and previously for Porchlight’s Blues in the Night, Gypsy, Do Re Mi, Woman of the Year, several seasons of New Faces Sing Broadway as well as several Chicago Sings and ICONS Gala benefits. He also appeared onstage as “Joe” in Merrily We Roll Along. Fiorello currently serves as founder and artistic director of “The Beautiful City Project,” a theatre company committed to raising funds for local Chicago charities and nonprofits, using some of the city’s finest musical theatre talents. He’s music directed national and international tours, including John Doyle’s re-imagining of Sweeney Todd. He also served as music director for the Off-Broadway hit Danny & Sylvia: The Danny Kaye Musical. His orchestrations and arrangements have been heard across the nation, and on several albums. He’s taught and directed/music directed as part of the International Lyric Academy in Italy and is adjunct faculty at Columbia College Chicago. An in-demand vocal coach, Fiorello Studios has also provided unique cabaret programming featuring the music of The Indigo Girls, Jason Mraz, Kelly Clarkson, Eva Cassidy, Sara Bareilles and Colbie Caillat.

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE

Porchlight Music Theatre is the award-winning center for music theatre in Chicago. Through live performance, youth education and community outreach, we impact thousands of lives each season, bringing the magic of musicals to our theatre home at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts in the Gold Coast and to neighborhoods across the city. Porchlight has built a national reputation for boldly reimagining classic musicals supporting new works and young performers, and showcasing Chicago’s most notable music theatre artists, all through the intimate and powerful theatrical lens of the “Chicago Style.”

Porchlight's 29-year history includes more than 70 mainstage works with 16 Chicago premieres and five world premieres. Porchlight’s commitment to the past, present and future of music theatre led the company to develop the Porchlight Revisits and New Faces Sing Broadway program series, both quickly becoming audience favorites.

Porchlight's education and outreach programs serve schools, youth of all ages and skill levels and community organizations, most notably the ongoing collaboration with Chicago Youth Centers. Porchlight annually awards dozens of full scholarships and hundreds of free tickets to ensure accessibility and real engagement with this uniquely American art form. 

The company’s many honors include 192 Joseph Jefferson Award (Jeff) nominations and 48 Jeff awards, as well as 44 Black Theatre Alliance (BTA) nominations and 12 BTA awards. In 2019, Porchlight graduated to the Large Theatre tier of the Equity Jeff Awards, and was honored with eight nominations in both technical and artistic categories and won three awards in its inaugural year in this tier, most notably Best Ensemble for Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies.

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce the cast and production team for Porchlight in Concert: Sunday in the Park with George, starring Tony Award-nominated Sean Allan Krill and Broadway’s Kathy Voytko, Saturday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 12 at 2 p.m., at the Studebaker Theater, 410 S. Michigan Ave. This concert performance includes music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine and is directed by Artistic Director Michael Weber and music directed by David Fiorello. Tickets are now on sale with a $150 subscription to Porchlight’s 29th season that also includes Anything Goes starring Meghan Murphy, now playing through February 25. Single tickets for Porchlight in Concert: Sunday in the Park with George ($75 - $125, subject to change) are on sale at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by phone with the Studebaker Theater box office at 312-753-3210. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Studebaker Theater, 410 S. Michigan Ave, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday.

Porchlight’s 2023-2024 season is dedicated to Jim Jensen in recognition of his outstanding generosity and 12 years of dedicated board service to Porchlight Music Theatre.

Porchlight Music Theatre is partially supported by generous contributions from Allstate Foundation; Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation; Byline Bank; Chicago Park District/Night Out in the Parks; Comcast/Xfinity; ComEd; James P. and Brenda S. Grusecki Family Foundation; Hearty Boys; The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity and the Arts at Prince; Mesirow Financial; the Pritzker Traubert Foundation; Ryan and Spaeth, Inc.; Daniel and Genevieve Ratner Foundation; The Saints; Dr. Scholl Foundation; the Shulman-Rochambeau Foundation; the Shubert Foundation and Uvae Kitchen and Wine Bar

The season program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce, Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency, and by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Porchlight Music Theatre wishes to thank members of the Matching Gift Corporate Program including Abbvie; Allstate; Baxter, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; Peoples Gas; Pepsico; Polk Bros Foundation and The Saints. 

REVIEW: Peter Samelson’s Magic, Love, Mystery Now Playing at Chicago Magic Lounge Wednesdays Through March 27, 2024

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Chicago Magic Lounge Presents

Peter Samelson’s

Magic, Love, Mystery

Wednesdays beginning January 10, 2024

Production Photos Courtesy of Chicago Magic Lounge unless otherwise noted.

Chicago Magic Lounge Also Announces Full Slate of 

Winter Programming

Review

By Guest Critic, Dugan Kenaz-Mara 

Prepare yourself for a night of charm at Peter Samelson's Magic, Love, Mystery at The Magic Lounge. 

Dugan and Kit (photo by Kit)

In typical Magic Lounge fashion, the night begins with pre-show table performances as magicians bring close-up tricks directly to your table. Despite arriving after the table magic started we still managed to catch 2 different magicians who completely wowed us. I was especially excited to see some of our favorites who have taken the main stage at previous performances. 

 photo by Dugan Kenaz-Mara

Once Samelson took the stage the atmosphere completely transformed. With the help of slide projections, dim lights, and gentle jazz music, the audience was taken into a detective’s office straight out of a noir film. It was here that we got our role - the audience would be working together with the magician to solve a mystery throughout the course of the show.

Samelson does a great job of tying each of his tricks to the case we are collectively exploring. He sometimes introduces tangential ticks through voice-over narration and clever slides and uses the rest of the tricks to find clues, like names, dates, and locations relating to the case. While the narrative itself was difficult to follow it was still a useful tool, and what the magician lacked in storytelling ability he made up for with skill and experience as a magician.

Theatergoers who appreciate magic and have seen other magicians will recognize some of the tricks in this show but will be surprised at how he adds his own twist to them. Magic, Love, Mystery incorporates a good mix of old and new tricks, as well as variety within the tricks from card magic and restoration to mentalism and predictions. The show even includes props I’ve never seen in a magic show, like the prize inside a box of cracker jacks.

The show does include a lot of audience participation (which is to be expected at a parlor magic show). I appreciate that Samelson brings some of his acts out to individual tables to demonstrate a few stage tricks up close, and I think he does a wonderful job of including as many people as possible. He takes care not to invite the same few people up to the stage and actively seeks willing participants. It is worth noting that his instructions are not always clear and some audience members were uncomfortable being asked to do things onstage (like dancing), but for the most part, everyone had a good time.

Dugan and Kit (photo by Dugan)

Dugan Kenaz-Mara is a designer, photographer, educator, and recent graduate of Northwestern University.

Chicago Magic Lounge, Chicago’s home for close-up magic, kicks off its 2024 Artist-In-Residence series with Peter Samelson’s Magic, Love, Mystery. In this mesmerizing performance, Samelson takes you on a journey through the enigmatic world of love, exploring its many forms and revealing its secrets. Magic, Love, Mystery runs Wednesdays at 7:00pm, January 10 – March 27, 2024. Tickets for all Chicago Magic Lounge shows are available at the box office, (312) 366-4500 or online at chicagomagiclounge.com.

Experience the mystery of love through the eyes of a magician with Peter Samelson's one-man show, Magic, Love, Mystery.

Through his masterful storytelling, Peter explores how love can inspire us, transform us from the inside out, and even transcend death. Minds will be read, the imperceptible bond between soul mates will be revealed, and the boundaries of loss and mortality will be crossed, uncovering how memories shape our past and future.

Prepare for an unforgettable evening filled with laughter, entertainment, and wonder as Peter Samelson takes you on a whimsical journey through the mystery of love. Get ready to experience pure magic and unlock the secrets of love.

About the Artists

Peter Samelson insists he doesn’t do magic, he only helps people to see it. He is an illusionist/entertainer/philosopher, blending simplicity and sophistication as he provokes thought and inspires wonder.

Recently appearing on Penn & Teller's Fool Us, the pair praised Peter Samelson as "one of the greatest living magicians." Samelson, master magician and off -Broadway star, literally wrote the book on Theatrical Magic. Co-founder of New York City's longest running off -Broadway magic show Monday Night Magic and frequent performer at Speakeasy Magick, one of NY's hottest new shows at the McKittrick Hotel, Peter has been hailed as New York's most distinguished illusionist, entertainer, and philosopher. 

Christened “the soft-spoken conceptualist of sorcery” by the New York Times, Peter Samelson is a recipient of the Merlin Award for Lifetime Achievement, Peter is one of the most sought-after theatrical wizards. He has created magic for some of Broadway's biggest plays and musicals including Leap of Faith, Harvey, The Cherry Orchard, The Winter’s Tale, the National Tour of Pippin, the musical Houdini, Carnival at the Papermill Playhouse, Tom Stoppard's Travesties, and the Menotti opera The Consul. Additionally, Peter has created and starred in three critically acclaimed one-man off -Broadway shows: The Magician, PaperWork, and Radnevsky's Real Magic.

What distinguishes Peter from other artists in the field of Illusion is his commitment to making Magic an Art. His performance is more than mere entertainment, touching the hearts of his audiences in a way few evenings can.

Magic, Love, Mystery will be presented on Wednesdays at 7:00pm, January 10 – March 27, 2024. Tickets are priced $42.50 (Main Floor) and $47.50 (Front Row).

Also Happening at Chicago Magic Lounge

Music & Magic

Mondays at 7:00pm

Tickets: General Admission $30

 

The Showcase

Tuesdays at 7:00pm

Tickets: Standard: $35 - $37.50; Front Row: $40 - $42

The Signature Show

Thursdays-Sundays at 7:00pm, Fridays and Sundays at 10pm

Tickets: Front Row $85 - $96, Premium Main Floor (main floor banquette and main floor cabaret) $72.50 – $82.50, Standard (rail and elevated banquette) $65 - $75, Mezzanine $52.50 – 61.50. 

 

Family Show

Sundays at 3:00pm, November 19, December 3 & 17, January 7 & 21

Tickets: Standard: $40; Front Row: $50

Tickets for all Chicago Magic Lounge performances are available at the box office, (312) 366-4500 or online at chicagomagiclounge.com. Chicago Magic Lounge is a 21+ venue. Ages 16+ allowed to ticketed evening shows with a legal guardian. Ages 5+ are allowed to The Family Show. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. The staff and performers of the Chicago magic lounge are fully vaccinated for covid 19. Ticket holders must attest to being fully vaccinated against covid-19 or have tested negative within 48 hours prior to your visit to enter the premises.

For a complete schedule of performances and more information about Chicago Magic Lounge, resident and guest performers, and more, please visit chicagomagiclounge.com.

 

Music Box Theatre to Play Wim Wenders’ 3-D Documentary ANSELM beginning February 2, 2024

What We're Watching: Wim Wenders’ 3-D Documentary 

ANSELM 

Shot in 6K Resolution

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar

Music Box Theatre & Janus Films present director Wim Wenders’ 3-D documentary ANSELM, beginning February 2, 2024!!! Shot at 6K resolution and in the 3D format. the film chronicles the art of German painter and sculptor Anselm Kiefe. I'll be out January 30 for a press preview, so check back soon for my full review.  

“Much as he did with his 2011 documentary, PINA, Wenders uses three dimensions in almost sculptural fashion, allowing us to take in the weight and texture of a work, or a movement.” — New York Magazine

“As unique and thought-provoking as Kiefer’s own epic works.” — The Austin Chronicle

“As Kiefer’s monumental art decays, “Anselm” can endure as his memorial.” — The Washington Post

“The director has fashioned a mesmerizing engagement with Kiefer’s art, including just enough face time with the subject to elevate the work’s immersive, bleak majesty, rather than give it an aggrandizing spin.” — Los Angeles Times

About ANSELM:

In ANSELM, Wim Wenders creates a portrait of Anselm Kiefer, one of the most innovative and important painters and sculptors of our time. Shot in 3D and 6K resolution, the film presents a cinematic experience of the artist’s work which explores human existence and the cyclical nature of history, inspired by literature, poetry, philosophy, science, mythology and religion. For over two years, Wenders traced Kiefer’s path from his native Germany to his current home in France, connecting the stages of his life to the essential places of his career that spans more than five decades.

Pricing:

Ticket prices are $11 ($8 for Music Box members). For showtimes and information, click here.

Become a member: https://www.musicboxtheatre.com/membership/become-a-member

About Music Box Theatre:

Operating since 1929, the Music Box Theatre has been the premier venue in Chicago for independent and foreign films for more than three decades, playing host to over 200,000 patrons annually. It currently has the largest theater space operated full time in the city. The Music Box Theatre is independently owned and operated by the Southport Music Box Corporation. SMBC, through its Music Box Films division, also distributes foreign and independent films in the theatrical, DVD, and television markets throughout the United States; and through its Music Box Direct subsidiary, operates an online streaming service offering the best of foreign and independent films.

Regular events produced, presented and hosted at Music Box Theatre include the 70mm Film Festival; the annual 24-hour horror-movie marathon Music Box of Horrors; and Noir City: Chicago, co-presented by the Film Noir Foundation.

Follow the Music Box Theatre on Facebook (www.facebook.com/musicboxchicago/), Twitter (@musicboxtheatre), and Instagram (@musicboxchicago)

LAST CALL: The Dolphin Show’s Highly Recommended 81st production: Kinky Boots! Ends Tonight! 1/27/24

 The Dolphin Show

AMERICA’S LARGEST STUDENT PRODUCED MUSICAL PRESENTS…

KINKY BOOTS THE MUSICAL

WINNER OF 6 TONY AWARDS INCLUDING BEST MUSICAL!

With Book by Harvey Fierstein and Music & Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper

Recommended for Ages 10+

Review

By Guest Critic, Dugan Kenaz-Mara 

Sometimes a two-and-a-half-hour show feels daunting, and you fear you may get tired and bored, wanting to leave before the second act is through. But fear not, you will find yourself completely immersed in every second of The Dolphin Show’s 81st production: Kinky Boots! I had the pleasure of catching it last night. Overall, it is a stunning show, and I highly recommend you see the final performance tonight.

The show had many wonderful features, including:

Flashy costumes for all of the angels worthy of a runway show all to themselves.

Over-the-top makeup that builds in intensity, resulting in an expressive explosion in the finale.

An incredible versatile set with moving pieces that adapt easily to every scene.

Dramatic lights and sound that pull the audience into the world of the show.

And brilliant actors who shine on stage with their vocal talent, and guide the audience effortlessly through the highs and lows of the musical.

You can tell by the cheers, gasps, and standing ovation that this production really touches the audience, and it is incredibly clear how much dedication went into the show from every producer, designer, actor, and other member of the Dolphin team.

Over 90% sold out for the closing performance. Only 100 tickets are left for the final show. Don't miss this! Click here for more information and photos on Instagram.

Dugan Kenaz-Mara is a designer, photographer, educator, and recent graduate of Northwestern University.

The 81st Annual Dolphin Show is gearing up to bring you an electrifying performance of Kinky Boots the Musical! 

Get ready to be dazzled by this spectacular show filled with fabulous music, incredible designs, sensational choreography, and a heartwarming story that will leave you cheering for more. Our team of over 150 students cannot wait to bring this relevant and powerful narrative to Northwestern’s campus and continue our educational workshops, community outreach efforts, and more. 

Whether you're a fan of musical theater or just looking for a night of pure entertainment, this is an event you won't want to miss. Save the date and join us for a night of unforgettable entertainment that's sure to knock your boots off!

GET TICKETS NOW

Tickets can be purchased online from Northwestern Box Office or in person at the Norris University Center front desk at 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60201.

How do I access my tickets?

Tickets will be emailed to you after you make a purchase. Please present this PDF either on your screen or printed out when entering the theatre. Make sure to pull up the QR code.

What age is the show recommended for?

Kinky Boots is officially recommended for children ages 10 and older, but children younger than 10 may be suited for the production based on maturity levels and parental involvement. For more information, please visit our parent guide here.

Are there special discounts available for tickets?

Northwestern Students can access $10 tickets to performances by logging in with their Northwestern email. Limit 2 tickets per performance.

Northwestern Faculty can access $20 tickets to performances by logging in with their Northwestern email. Limit 2 tickets per performance.

Children under age 18 can access $10 tickets by applying the code TDSstudent10 at checkout. Limit 2 tickets per order.

Seniors over age 65 can access $20 tickets by applying the code TDSsenior20 at checkout. Limit 2 tickets per order. 

How can I bring a group to see Kinky Boots?

Group tickets are available for purchase for all performances. Orders with 10 or more tickets will receive a 10% discount on the order. If you are interested in group booking, please reach out to sales@nudolphinshow.org for booking assistance. Group tickets can only be paid for via check (made out to “Northwestern University” with the memo line “Dolphin Show - Group Tix”) or in person with a credit card at the Norris Center front desk.

What if purchasing tickets is a financial burden for me, as a Northwestern student?

The 81st Annual Dolphin Show has partnered with The Student Activities Assistance Fund to offer “pay what you can tickets” to financially support students in attending our upcoming production of Kinky Boots The Musical.

Tickets for undergraduate and graduate Northwestern students are $10. If this is a financial burden, please email sales@nudolphinshow.org to access pay what you can tickets, where you will have the option to pay as little as $0.

What is the Dolphin Show?

The Dolphin Show at Northwestern University is a non-profit student theatre organization that annually produces the largest student-produced musical in the country. It celebrates the diverse talents of the Northwestern undergraduate community by providing opportunities to learn and excel in all artistic and administrative fields. Every year, The Dolphin Show presents a professional-caliber production led by over 150 undergraduate students. Learn more about Dolphin’s mission on our About page.

Where did the Dolphin Show get its name?

The Dolphin Show was named after the Dolphin Swim Club, the Northwestern swim team who presented the first annual Dolphin Show in the Northwestern swimming pool as a fundraiser for their team to travel to competitions. Visit our About page for Dolphin Show’s full history. 

Who can get involved with The Dolphin Show?

Northwestern University undergraduate students of all backgrounds, majors, and experience levels are welcome to work on the Dolphin Show. Students can work on the production in many capacities, including on the business team, the artistic team, the production team, in the cast, or in the orchestra. Dolphin Show’s annual productions are open to the public. 

Click here for information, show photos, tickets and more. 

Porchlight Music Theatre's Anything Goes Extended Through March 10, 2024

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND

PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE PRESENTS COLE PORTER’S 

ANYTHING GOES

STARRING MEGHAN MURPHY 

NOW EXTENDED THROUGH MARCH 10th 

AT THE RUTH PAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS 

This 90th Anniversary Production of the Porter Classic with a New 2022 Libretto, Directed by Artistic Director Michael Weber, Choreographed by Tammy Mader and Music Directed by Nick Sula Must Close March 10

(center) Meghan Murphy with the cast of  ANYTHING GOES from Porchlight Music Theatre,  now playing through March 10 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. All Production Photos by Liz Lauren

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we've been following Meghan Murphy's career for years and can't wait to catch her “Reno Sweeney” in Porchlight's Anything Goes! We enjoyed her talents on Chicago stages for ages and in recent years have traveled along vicariously on social media, as she's taken the world by storm. We may not have the weather of tropical resort destinations, or cruise ship chic, but Chicago will not be short on style this winter! We're beyond lucky to have "Big Red" back in town. Don't miss this! 

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce that due to popular demand, the 90th Anniversary production of Cole Porter’s crown jewel musical comedy, Anything Goes, music and lyrics by Cole Porter, original book by P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton and Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and a new book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman, is now extended through March 10 at the Ruth Page Center, 1016 N. Dearborn St. 

Members of the cast of ANYTHING GOES

 (L to R) Meghan Murphy and Jackson Evans

Starring internationally renowned powerhouse Meghan Murphy as “Reno Sweeney” and featuring the Chicago debut of a newly commissioned 2022 libretto, Anything Goes is Jeff Award Recommended and directed by Porchlight Music Theatre’s Artistic Director Michael Weber, choreographed by Tammy Mader and music directed by Nick Sula. The performance schedule is Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m, Thursdays at 7:30 p.m, Fridays at 7:30 p.m, Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Open caption performances are Saturday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. with post-show discussions immediately following the performances on Friday, Feb. 2 and Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Subscriptions and single tickets are currently available at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org/Anything-Goes or by calling 773.777.9884.

 (L to R) Luke Nowakowski and Meghan Murphy

Chicago will get a kick out of this 90th anniversary production of Cole Porter’s smash-hit musical comedy, Anything Goes starring the Chicago-based international sensation Meghan Murphy as “Reno Sweeney.” Launching Porchlight Music Theatre’s 29th season, this legendary toe-tapping voyage across the Atlantic is filled with laughs, romance and intrigue. Porter’s iconic score includes a shipload of tunes that built the Great American Songbook including "Anything Goes,” “Friendship,” "You're the Top" and "I Get a Kick Out of You.” 

Anything Goes is the centerpiece of Chicago’s Cole Porter Festival - A Celebration of the Man and his Music, the recently launched live and digital, multi-partnered festival commemorating the career of one of America's greatest composers and songwriters. 

 (L to R) Steve McDonagh and Meghan Murphy 

Pronoun Key: + (he/him/his); * (she/her/hers); ^ (they, them, theirs). = (any with respect)

The cast of Anything Goes, in alphabetical order, includes Logan Becker+ (Ensemble); Tommy Bullington+ (Ship's Purser); Rachael Dec* (Charity); Tafadzwa Diener* (Erma); Nick Dorado+ (Ship’s Captain); Jackson Evans+ (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh); Josiah Haugen+ (Henry T. Dobson, Ensemble); Ciara Hickey^ (Dippy); J. Christian Hill+ (Ensemble); Kelsey MacDonald* (Ensemble); Steve McDonagh+ (Moonface Martin); Emily Ling Mei* (Chastity); Meghan Murphy* (Reno Sweeney); Luke Nowakowski= (Billy Crocker); Emma Ogea* (Hope Harcourt); Hannah Remian* (Virtue); Nataki Rennie* (Purity); Jenna Schoppe* (Ensemble, dance captain); Gabriel Solis+ (Spit); Mack Spotts^/+ (Ensemble); Jerod Turner+ (Ensemble); Genevieve VenJohnson* (Evangeline Harcourt), Anthony Whitaker+/^ (Elisha J. Whitney) and Noah Wood+ (swing).

The Anything Goes band includes Linda Madonia* (conductor/piano); Greg Strauss+ (trumpet); Cara Strauss* (reeds 1); Sophie Cruetz* (reeds 2); Justin Akira Kono+ (percussion); Marcel Bonfim+ (bass) and Stephanie Lebens* (trombone).

The creative team of Anything Goes includes Michael Weber+ (director, artistic director); Tammy Mader* (choreographer); Nick Sula+ (music director); Jeffrey D. Kmiec+ (scenic designer); Milo Bue+ (associate scenic designer); Rachel Boylan* (costume designer); Kevin Barthel+ (wig designer); G. Max Maxin IV+ (lighting designer, projection designer); Matthew R. Chase+ (sound designer); Patrick McGuire+ (properties designer); Kristi Martens* (production stage manager, AEA); Drew Donnelly+ (assistant stage manager); Andrea Enger= (assistant stage manager); John McTaggart+ (technical director); Danny Carraher+ (assistant technical director); Wendy Ann Huber* (scenic charge); Josh Derby+ (master carpenter/spot 1); Tina Stasny* (costume director); Rachel West* (lighting director); Samantha Anderson*/^ (assistant lighting supervisor / spot 2); Matt Reich+ (audio/video director); Joe Court+ (A1); Christine Burquest* (A2); Jack Zanger+ (wardrobe supervisor); Amanda May* (hair and makeup supervisor); Gabrielle Lux*/^ (wardrobe assistant); Heather Lynn Gervasi* (production manager); Majel Cuza* (director of production) and Frankie Leo Bennett+ (producing artistic associate).

 (center) Luke Nowakowski and Emma Ogea  

PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE’S 29th SEASON

Porchlight’s 29th season includes Anything Goes and Porchlight in Concert: Sunday in the Park with George, Saturday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 12 at 2 p.m. at the Studebaker Theater, 410 S. Michigan Ave., ass well as the Cole Porter Festival - A Celebration of the Man and his Music and the return of our special event, Chicago Sings Broadway Pop II, Monday, April 15, 2024 at 6 p.m. at the House of Blues Chicago, 329 N. Dearborn St. Subscriptions are on sale now for $150 which includes Anything Goes and Porchlight in Concert: Sunday in the Park with George. Chicago Sings Broadway Pop II may be added to the subscription at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or 773.777.9884. Sponsorship opportunities for Porchlight’s 29th Season are available by contacting Development Associate Kellie Buffington at kellie@porchlightmusictheatre.org.

(center) Meghan Murphy

ABOUT MEGHAN MURPHY, “Reno Sweeney”

Meghan Murphy is an actor/singer/producer/cabaret and recording artist currently based in Chicago. Her multifaceted talents have been showcased on many different stages in the worlds of theater, music, travel and cabaret. As an actor, she is a six-time Joseph Jefferson Award nominee for Chicago credits such as: Mamma Mia! (“Tanya,” Marriott Theater), Spamalot (“Lady of the Lake,” Mercury Theater Chicago), The Who's Tommy (“Acid Queen,” Paramount Theater), Smokey Joe's Cafe (“Patty,” Drury Lane Theater), City of Angels (“Oolie”/”Donna,” Marriott Theater) and And The World Goes Round (“Woman 3,” Marriott Theater). Film and TV credits: Honey Nut Cheerios (national commercial), “Captive State” (Focus Features). As a singer, you may have seen her in countless concerts and festivals throughout the country, including many appearances in the Chicago Humanities Festival and Chicago Sings. As a cabaret artist, she’s had sold out shows in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, London and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and has been touring her critically-acclaimed one woman show, The Big Red Show, around nationally and now internationally with Vacaya, Brand g Vacations, Azamara, RWS Entertainment and Blackburn International. As a recording artist, Murphy has two self titled EP albums of her Chicago-based blues/soul band Everybody Says Yes available on all streaming platforms and her holiday album “Big Red & The Boys, Live” at Feinstein’s/54 Below, available at bigredandtheboys.bandcamp.com.

ABOUT MICHAEL WEBER, director

Michael Weber is Porchlight Music Theatre’s artistic director. Most recently, he directed Cabaret at Porchlight and this summer co-directed Broadway in your Backyard. Previously the artistic director of Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place (now The Broadway Playhouse) and Theatre at the Center, his Porchlight productions of Sweeney Todd, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Pal Joey, Assassins and Side Show as well as Grand Hotel at Drury Lane and She Loves Me at Theatre at the Center were each nominated for the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Production-Musical. Directing credits include Living the History-125 Years of The Auditorium Theatre starring Patti LuPone and John Mahoney, Fifth of July and Talley’s Folly at the Oak Park Festival Theatre, The Petrified Forest at Theatre at the Center, Beauty and the Beast at Marriott Theatre, Over the River and Through the Woods at The Mercury Theater, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Pheasant Run Theatre and Cirque du Symphony at Sears Center Arena. The recipient of two Joseph Jefferson Awards, he wrote and directed twelve Joseph Jefferson Awards ceremonies (2006-2018). Weber’s regional acting credits include Annie Get Your Gun and Gypsy (both starring Patti LuPone) at Ravinia, Disney’s My Son Pinocchio at First Stage Milwaukee, Around the World in 80 Days at Cleveland Playhouse, The Winter’s Tale and Henry V at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, It Had To Be You (starring Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka) at Little Theatre on the Square, Angel Street at First Folio Shakespeare and The Gifts of the Magi at Indiana Repertory. Weber is proud to serve as a pledge host on WTTW, Channel 11 and is author of the play, War of the Well(e)s.

ABOUT TAMMY MADER, choreographer

Tammy Mader is a proud member of SDC, the union of professional Stage Directors and Choreographers. Credits include: Bye Bye Birdie, Hairspray (Jeff Award), Next To Normal, Sunset Blvd., Gypsy, Spamalot, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (Jeff Nomination), Buddy; The Buddy Holly Story, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jeff Award), Meet Me In St. Louis, Kiss Me Kate (Jeff Nomination), Anything Goes (Jeff Nomination), and My One And Only (Jeff Award) at Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace; Buddy; The Buddy Holly Story, Meet Me In St. Louis, Grand Hotel and The Full Monty at Drury Lane Water Tower Place; Guys & Dolls and Invisible Man at Court Theatre; Singin' In The Rain, My One And Only (Jeff Nomination) , 42nd St. (Jeff Award), Beauty and the Beast for Marriott’s Lincolnshire Theatre; Animal Crackers for Baltimore’s Center Stage, Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? for Drury Lane Theater in Evergreen Park; She Loves Me, Singin’ In The Rain (Jeff Nomination), Grand Hotel, 42nd St., Meet Me In St. Louis, and Swingin’ On A Star: The Johnny Burke Musical at Theater at the Center, Elizabeth Rex at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and Porchlight Music Theatre’s Mack And Mabel and Assassins.

ABOUT NICK SULA, music director

Nick Sula is a pianist, arranger, and award-winning music director for theater and cabaret, and is thrilled to return to Porchlight. Music Direction credits include Sweeney Todd (Kokandy Productions, Jeff Award); Ghost Quartet (Jeff nomination), Nevermore, Amour, Coraline (Black Button Eyes); Myths & Hymns, The Glorious Ones (Jeff nomination), Pippin (BoHo Theatre), His & His, Broadway at the Broadway (Pride Films and Plays); Merrily We Roll Along, Head Over Heels, The Pajama Game, The Pirates of Penzance (CCPA). Sula can be seen performing with vocalists at theaters and cabaret venues around Chicagoland such as Davenport’s Piano Bar and the Skokie Theater. As a professor of musical theatre, he serves as a music director, instructor and vocal coach at the Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) at Roosevelt University.

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE

Porchlight Music Theatre is the award-winning center for music theatre in Chicago. Through live performance, youth education and community outreach, we impact thousands of lives each season, bringing the magic of musicals to our theatre home at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts in the Gold Coast and to neighborhoods across the city. Porchlight has built a national reputation for boldly reimagining classic musicals supporting new works and young performers, and showcasing Chicago’s most notable music theatre artists, all through the intimate and powerful theatrical lens of the “Chicago Style.”

Porchlight's 29-year history includes more than 70 mainstage works with 16 Chicago premieres and five world premieres. Porchlight’s commitment to the past, present and future of music theatre led the company to develop the Porchlight Revisits and New Faces Sing Broadway program series, both quickly becoming audience favorites.

Porchlight's education and outreach programs serve schools, youth of all ages and skill levels and community organizations, most notably the ongoing collaboration with Chicago Youth Centers. Porchlight annually awards dozens of full scholarships and hundreds of free tickets to ensure accessibility and real engagement with this uniquely American art form.

The company’s many honors include 192 Joseph Jefferson Award (Jeff) nominations and 48 Jeff awards, as well as 44 Black Theatre Alliance (BTA) nominations and 12 BTA awards. In 2019, Porchlight graduated to the Large Theatre tier of the Equity Jeff Awards, and was honored with eight nominations in both technical and artistic categories and won three awards in its inaugural year in this tier, most notably Best Ensemble for Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies.

The cast of ANYTHING GOES

Porchlight Music Theatre’s 90th Anniversary production of Cole Porter’s crown jewel musical comedy, Anything Goes, music and lyrics by Cole Porter, original book by P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton and Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and a new book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman, is now playing through February 25, 2024, at the Ruth Page Center, 1016 N. Dearborn St. Starring internationally renowned powerhouse Meghan Murphy as “Reno Sweeney” and featuring the Chicago debut of a newly commissioned 2022 libretto, Anything Goes is directed by Porchlight Music Theatre’s Artistic Director Michael Weber, choreographed by Tammy Mader and music directed by Nick Sula. The performance schedule is Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m, Thursdays at 7:30 p.m, Fridays at 7:30 p.m, Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Open caption performances are Saturday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. with post-show discussions immediately following the performances on Friday, Feb. 2 and Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Subscriptions and single tickets are currently available at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org/Anything-Goes or by calling 773.777.9884.

(L to R) Gabriel Solis and Ciara Hickey

Ruth Page Center for the Arts

1016 N. Dearborn Ave., Chicago

Single Tickets start at $20

Running time including intermission is currently 2 hours and 45 minutes

Website: PorchlightMusicTheatre.org/Anything-Goes

Box Office: 773.777.9884    

 

(L to R) Emily Ling Mei, Rachael Dec, Hannah Remian and Nataki Rennie

Performance Schedule:

Friday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 20 at 2:00 p.m.        

Sunday, Jan. 21 at 2:00 p.m.                       

 

(center) Meghan Murphy and the cast in ANYTHING GOES 

Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m.    

Thursday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m.                   

Friday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m.              

Saturday, Jan. 27 at 2:00 p.m.                    

Saturday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m.                     

Sunday, Jan. 28 at 2:00 p.m.          

 

Luke Nowakowski

Thursday, Feb. 1 at 2:00 p.m.          

Thursday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m.           

Friday, Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m.    (post-show discussion)

Saturday, Feb. 3 at 2:00 p.m. (open caption performance)        

Saturday, Feb. 3 at 7:30p.m.            

Sunday, Feb. 4 at 2:00 p.m.           

 

Emma Ogea

Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. (post-show discussion) 

Thursday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m.          

Friday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m.   

Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2:00 p.m. (open caption performance)                  

Saturday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m.         

Sunday, Feb. 11 at 2:00 p.m.

 

 (L to R) Logan Becker, Jenna Schoppe, Geneiveve VenJohnson and Emma Ogea

Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2:00 p.m.         

Saturday, Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2:00 p.m.

 

Anthony Whitaker

Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 24 at 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 25 at 2:00 p.m. 

 

(L to R) Luke Nowakowski and Steve McDonagh

FINAL ADDED DATES

Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 2 at 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 3 at 2:00 p.m. 

 

(L to R)  Tafadzwa Diener, Mack Spotts, Logan Becker, Jerod Turner, J. Christian Hill and Josiah Haugen in ANYTHING GOES from Porchlight Music Theatre,  now playing through March 10 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts.

Wednesday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 9 at 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 10 at 2:00 p.m.