SHOWS ON OUR RADAR: Theatre at the Center Presents Ghost The Musical Through October 14th, 2018

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar
Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana
Presents 

Ghost The Musical

Theatre at the Center (TATC) and Director and Choreographer Linda Fortunato have cast Garrett Lutz in the role of ghostly hero Sam, Donica Lynn as psychic Oda Mae and Courtney Mack in the role of Molly Jensen for Chicagoland’s first regional production of the newly imagined Ghost The Musical. Previews begin September 13 with an Opening Night on September 16 and performances continuing through October 14.

Ghost The Musical features a Book by Bruce Joel Rubin and Music and Lyrics by Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics with Glen Ballard and Bruce Joel Rubin. Based on the hit 1990 romantic fantasy thriller film that starred Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg, the musical had its world premier at the Manchester Opera House in March, 2011. It opened on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontaine Theatre in April 2012 before the first North American tour launched in September 2013.

Garrett Lutz returns to TATC where he appeared in last fall’s Big River. He received Jeff Award Nominations for his roles in Kokandy Productions’ Heathers: The Musical and The Full Monty. Other recent credits include playing Clifford Bradshaw in Cabaret at Paramount Theatre as well as Madagascar at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and James and the Giant Peach at Drury Lane.

Donica Lynn last appeared at TATC in the 2009 hit Footloose the Musical. She recently appeared in Drury Lane Theatre’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 42nd Street and Smokey Joe’s Café. Lynn won a Jeff Award for Best Actress for Dreamgirls at Porchlight Music Theater. Other credits include Confession of a P.I.M.P. at Victory Gardens and The Color Purple and Barnum at Mercury Theater.

Courtney Mack was seen last season in TATC’s production of Cabaret. Other recent theatre credits include Million Dollar Quartet and Mamma Mia! at Paramount Theatre, Urinetown at BoHo Theatre and Kokandy Productions’ Heathers: The Musical, which won her a Jeff Award for her role as Veronica Sawyer.

Additional cast members include Tony Carter in the role of Carl, Christie Coran as Mrs. Santiago, Jackie Gessert as Clara, Qiana McNary as Louise, Carlos Olmedo as Willie and Kelvin Roston, Jr. and Travis Austin as various ghosts.

Linda Fortunato, director and choreographer of Ghost The Musical, is also TATC Artistic Director. Her TATC credits include directing Steel Magnolias, Big River, The Tin Woman, Cabaret, Annie Warbucks and A Christmas Story. She has been nominated for five Joseph Jefferson Awards for her work as a choreographer and director. She received both the Equity and Non-Equity Jeff Award for Outstanding Choreography in the 2013-14 season, garnering Theatre at the Center its first award for her choreography of 42nd Street.

This musical adaptation of the Academy Award winning film stars a score by Grammy Award winning songwriters and includes the classic “Unchained Melody” as it follows the love story of Sam and Molly. After his untimely death, Sam tries to protect Molly from a threat unknown to her, with the help of a storefront psychic.

"Called 'one of the finest love stories ever to hit the big screen,' Ghost is an iconic film that is not only romantic, but thrilling and funny,” Fortunato said.

“Centered around a love story between this world and the next, we look forward to bringing to the TATC stage the same charm in the Chicagoland premiere of this musical version of the story."

The creative team for Ghost the Musical includes Scenic Designer Sarah Ross, Lighting Designer Guy Rhodes, Sound Designer Mike Patrick, Costume Designer Brenda Winsted and Prop Design is by Amanda Herrmann. Stage Manager is Jessica Banaszak. William Underwood is Music Director.

Fortunato, in her third season as TATC’s Artistic Director, is teamed with Richard Friedman, General Manager, and Ann Davis, Head of Production.

The TATC run of Ghost The Musical includes some new and exciting themed special event opportunities including a Friday and Saturday “Date Night” special $30 ticket price, when purchasing two or more tickets, and features a cash bar in the lobby.

There will also be a fun-filled Oct. 4 Ghost-themed Dinner & Theatre Night in the dining room at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts. The evening includes a pottery wheel exhibition by South Shore Arts with a pottery art sale, wine tasting hosted by Chef Joe Trama featuring the Canyon Road wine line, a table for spiritual readings by Psychic Paige and demonstrations of clay mud beauty mask treatments courtesy of SpaPointe & Hair Studio. Dinner & Theatre night combo tickets are $55 (plus tax).



Founded in 1991, the 410 seat TATC is a year-round professional theater at its home: The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. TATC is an accessible venue with plenty of free parking. TATC is located off I80/94, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago.

Performances are 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 7:30 p.m. Fridays: 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays, with select Thursday and Sunday night performances. Individual ticket prices range from $42-$46. To purchase individual tickets, call the Box Office at 219-836-3255 or Tickets.com at 800-511-1532. Group discounts are available for groups of 11 or more. Student tickets are $20 (not available for Sunday performances) and gift certificates are also available.

For more information on Theatre at the Center, visit www.TheatreAtTheCenter.com.

Actors Courtney Mack and Garrett Lutz star in Ghost The Musical at Theatre at the Center.

ACT OUT OPENING: Ghost The Musical #BroadwayInChicago

Ghost the musical hits Chicago tonight, just as the arctic vortex is lifting.   We'll be reviewing tomorrow night at the press opening and can't wait to see the stage adaptation.   We just watched the movie again, since we love to play the same/different game and see how the basic plot line, special effects and more are adapted for the Broadway version.   I always dug this movie.   Demi Moore had a rockin' urban loft, and aside from the dead boyfriend tragedy, her character in Ghost was living my dream life, so to say I could relate was an understatement.  I was already running around in overalls, making wheel pottery, and fancying myself an artist before the film came out.   The whole supernatural schtick was a cool premise too. 

It's strange to see the movie again and realize that Patrick Swayze is actually deceased now.  My Location Sound Engineer husband, Dug, worked with him on his final series, The Beast, right here in Chicago, before his untimely death at a young age.   Go back and revisit this 1990 movie blast from the past, then head out to Oriental Theatre and catch the stunning supernatural stage adaptation.   We've heard the large screen, multimedia effects are pretty chill.



After seeing the illusions clip below, we're extra stoked for the Broadway touring show.

SAVE THE DATE: GHOST THE MOVIE NOW A MUSICAL will play Chicago’s Oriental Theatre Jan. 7 – 19, 2014.

THE TIMELESS FANTASY ABOUT THE POWER OF LOVE 

      

Playing Chicago’s Oriental Theatre
 January 7 – 19, 2014

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that the new Broadway and West End musical GHOST THE MUSICAL will play Chicago’s Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph) from Jan. 7 – 19, 2014. Relive the iconic and magical moments from the Oscar-winning movie Ghost in a brand-new Broadway musical.  Ghost The Musical breathes glorious new life into a timeless love story.  

Ghost The Musical is directed by Tony Award-winner Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, The Norman Conquests, Boeing-Boeing) and created by a team of Grammy and Academy Award-winners, including an original score by Dave Stewart (half of the multi-Grammy Award-winning Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson's Man In The Mirror, Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill).  GHOST THE MUSICAL features a book by Bruce Joel Rubin (Ghost, Jacob’s Ladder, The Time Traveler’s Wife) who has adapted his Academy Award-winning original screenplay for the stage.  This brand new score also includes the iconic song “Unchained Melody,” famously performed in the film by The Righteous Brothers.  

Set in modern day New York City, GHOST THE MUSICAL is a timeless fantasy about the power of love.  Walking back to their apartment one night after a romantic dinner, Sam and Molly are mugged, leaving Sam dead on a dark street.  Sam is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next and unable to leave Molly, who he learns is in grave danger. With the help of a phony storefront psychic, Sam tries to communicate with Molly in the hopes of saving and protecting her. 

GHOST The Musical has been enjoyed by over 500,000 people worldwide and has been nominated for numerous awards including five Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards.  The Associated Press calls GHOST The Musical “Eye-poppingly brilliant” while Variety assures the audience will experience “A limitless array of dazzling effects.”  Newsday promises that GHOST The Musical is “Unlike anything seen on stage before” and the Daily Telegraph says that GHOST The Musical “Will keep you gasping!”

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film in 1990, Ghost became a blockbuster hit and an instant classic, winning numerous awards worldwide.  The film starred Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Tony Goldwyn and Whoopi Goldberg and was directed by Jerry Zucker.  Bruce Joel Rubin’s script won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and Whoopi Goldberg won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of psychic Oda Mae Brown.

TICKET INFORMATION
GHOST THE MUSICAL is part of the Broadway In Chicago 2014 Spring Season.  Group tickets for 10 or more are now on sale by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. Individual tickets for GHOST THE MUSICAL will go on sale at a later date.  For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com or www.ghostthemusical.com.