Bring the whole family. Broadway shows are multigenerational fun! Here at ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama, we've reviewed and enjoyed the Broadway productions of Motown the Musical, Wicked, & Million Dollar Quartet and highly recommend you check out this amazing FREE annual montage.
Including cast performances from ELF, EVITA, FLASHDANCE,
GHOST THE MUSICAL, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET,
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, ONCE,
WE WILL ROCK YOU and WICKED
Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce their annual FREE BROADWAY IN CHICAGO SUMMER CONCERT will take place on Monday, August 5, 2013 at 6:15 p.m. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park (201 E Randolph St).
Hosted by ABC 7 Chicago’s Janet Davies, Val Warner and Ryan Chiaverini, the headlining performance will feature cast members from the smash hit Broadway musical MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, as well as Broadway’s biggest blockbuster WICKED, and showcase additional cast performances from ELF, EVITA, FLASHDANCE THE MUSICAL, GHOST THE MUSICAL, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, ONCE and WE WILL ROCK YOU. The Broadway In Chicago Summer Concert at Millennium Park is sponsored by ABC 7 Chicago and produced in partnership with The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.
This year's concert will also feature performances by the 2013 Illinois High School Musical Theater Award recipients: John Clay III of Oak Park, Illinois, and Taylor Marie Sherry of St. Charles, Illinois. Clay and Sherry will participate in The Jimmy™ Awards in New York City, named for legendary Broadway theater owner and producer James M. Nederlander, on July 1, 2013.
“We love being able to give back to our loyal fans and the residents of Chicago with this free concert,” said Eileen LaCario, vice president of Broadway In Chicago. “To see the number of Broadway performers who gather together for this one special night and their joy in performing on the stage of one of the most extraordinary outdoor concert settings - it is truly one of our favorite nights.”
Presented in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events as part of Millennium Park Presents, May 26–September 11 (various dates; start times vary), Millennium Park proudly presents symphonic music, dance, opera, Broadway hits and more—performed by some of Chicago’s best-loved cultural institutions.
For full calendar information, visit millenniumpark.org. For exciting facts about the Park, program updates and weather cancellations, follow us on Twitter @Millennium_Park and like us on Facebook.
FLASHDANCE
Aug. 6, 2013 – Aug. 18, 2013 Ÿ Cadillac Palace Theatre
Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, the pop culture phenomenon of FLASHDANCE is now live on stage. With electrifying dance at its core, FLASHDANCE-THE MUSICAL tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a bar dancer by night with dreams of one day becoming a professional performer. When romance with her steel mill boss threatens to complicate her ambitions, Alex learns the meaning of love and its power to fuel the pursuit of her dream. FLASHDANCE-THE MUSICAL features a score that includes the biggest hit songs from the movie, including the Academy Award-winning title song "Flashdance - What a Feeling," "Maniac," "Gloria," "Manhunt," and "I Love Rock & Roll." In addition to these hits, 16 brand new songs have been written for the musical with music byRobbie Roth and lyrics by Robert Cary and Robbie Roth. FLASHDANCE-THE MUSICAL features a book by Tom Hedley (co-writer of the original screenplay), and Robert Cary with direction and choreography bySergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis).
EVITA
Sep. 17, 2013 – Oct. 6, 2013 Ÿ Oriental Theatre
TIM RICE and ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER's Tony Award®-winning musical returns at last! Eva Perón used her beauty and charisma to rise meteorically from the slums of Argentina to the presidential mansion as First Lady. Adored by her people as a champion for the poor, she became one of the most powerful women in the world — while her greed, outsized ambition and fragile health made her one of the most tragic. EVITA tells Eva's passionate and unforgettable true story, and features some of theater's most beautiful songs, including "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" and "High Flying, Adored." Don't miss the stunning new production of EVITA, directed by MICHAEL GRANDAGE and choreographed by ROB ASHFORD, that Channel 4 New York calls “THE HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN!”
ONCE
Oct. 9, 2013 – Oct. 27, 2013 Ÿ Oriental Theatre
Winner of eight 2012 Tony Awards® including BEST MUSICAL, ONCE is a truly original Broadway experience. Featuring an impressive ensemble of actor/musicians who play their own instruments onstage,ONCE tells the enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician who's about to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs. As the chemistry between them grows, his music soars to powerful new heights... but their unlikely connection turns out to be deeper and more complex than your everyday romance. Emotionally captivating and theatrically breathtaking, ONCE draws you in from the very first note and never lets go. It's an unforgettable story about going for your dreams... not living in fear... and the power of music to connect all of us.
WE WILL ROCK YOU
Oct. 22, 2013 – Oct. 27, 2013 Ÿ Cadillac Palace Theatre
From London’s West End, the worldwide smash hit musical by Queen and Ben Elton comes to Chicago for a limited engagement! WE WILL ROCK YOU features the greatest hits of the legendary British rock group, Queen. Now in its 11th year in London and seen by a staggering 15 million people worldwide, this hilarious, multi-award-winning and record-breaking phenomenon boasts a fantastic score of killer Queen tunes that you just can't resist singing along to, such as Another One Bites The Dust, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, We Are The Champions, Bohemian Rhapsody and of course, We Will Rock You. It's the world champion of musicals and the show that rocks harder than any other, so don't miss the party!
WICKED
Oct. 30, 2013 – Dec. 21, 2013 Ÿ Oriental Theatre
Back by “Popular” demand in celebration of its 10th anniversary on Broadway. Variety calls WICKED "a cultural phenomenon.” Winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards, WICKEDis “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” (The New York Times). Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One - born with emerald green skin - is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for "the most complete - and completely satisfying - new musical in a long time" (USA Today).
ELF THE MUSICAL
Nov. 26, 2013 – Dec. 15, 2013 Ÿ Cadillac Palace Theatre
ELF is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF. The New York Times says that ELF is “SPLASHY, PEPPY, SUGAR-SPRINKLED HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT!” USA Today calls ELF, “ENDEARINGLY GOOFY!” Variety proclaims, “ELF is happy enough for families, savvy enough for city kids and plenty smart for adults!”
GHOST THE MUSICAL
Jan. 7, 2014 – Jan. 19, 2014 Ÿ Oriental Theatre
Relive the iconic and magical moments from the Oscar-winning movie Ghost in a brand-new Broadway musical. GHOST THE MUSICAL features an original pop score from multiple Grammy Award-winners Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard and is adapted from the hit film by its Academy Award-winning screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin. GHOST THE MUSICAL follows Sam and Molly, a young couple whose connection takes a shocking turn after Sam's untimely death. Trapped between two worlds, Sam refuses to leave Molly when he learns she is in grave danger. Desperate to communicate with her, he turns to a storefront psychic who helps him protect Molly and avenge his death. GHOST THE MUSICAL is “eye-poppingly brilliant” (AP) and “unlike anything seen onstage before!” (Newsday).
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL
April 22, 2014 – July 13, 2014 Ÿ Oriental Theatre
MOTOWN is the real story of the one-of-a-kind sound that hit the airwaves in 1959 and changed our culture forever. The show charts Motown Founder Berry Gordy's journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and many more. MOTOWN tells the story behind the hits as Diana, Smokey, Berry and the whole Motown family fight against the odds to create the soundtrack of change in America. The music that shattered barriers, shaped our lives and made us all move to the same beat has finally arrived on Broadway and will launch its national tour in Chicago.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
Now playing Ÿ Apollo Theater
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is Chicago’s smash-hit musical inspired by the famed recording session that brought together rock 'n' roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time. On December 4, 1956, these four young musicians gathered at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions ever. MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET brings that legendary night to life, featuring a score of rock hits including "Blue Suede Shoes," "Fever," "That's All Right," "Sixteen Tons," "Great Balls of Fire," "Walk the Line," "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," "Who Do You Love?," "Matchbox," "Folsom Prison Blues," "Hound Dog" and more. For more information, visit www.milliondollarquartetlive.com.
Please note: program is subject to change.
ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 13 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining well up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Bank of America Theatre, Oriental Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.
For ticket information for the shows featured at the Summer Concert or any of Broadway In Chicago’s upcoming performances, call (800) 775-2000 or visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
