Hot Weekend Picks: Sideshow Villains New EP, Claws for Breakfast and Deviant Cabaret at Alhambra Palace Sunday, October 22, 2023

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Get Your Tricks And Treats On With Chicago's Own 

"Criminal Cabaret" Group Sideshow Villains

This Sunday, I'll be ChiILin' with the villains, reviewing for ChiIL Live Shows. Ready for some adult fun? Sideshow Villains will be performing their new EP, Claws for Breakfast, a compendium of tunes about revenge, addiction, and murder set to an eclectic mix of Americana musical styles, in the lush setting of the Alhambra Palace's main hall on Sunday, October 22 at 6PM CST. 

Interspersed between songs, the audience will witness the Villains' accomplices in the Deviant Cabaret, a mix of dance, circus, and cabaret acts designed to disturb and delight. Attendees are encouraged to arrive in their most exquisite Halloween finery and may be asked to assist Mark the Knife, the "World's Most Dangerous Comic."

The music featured on Claws for Breakfast evokes 70’s film soundtracks, Hollywood westerns, and vaudevillian burlesque acts with all tracks written or co-written by Sideshow Villains band leader Dante Ingram. 

 The Deviant Cabaret will feature Ingram on vocals and silks, MC and comedian Mark Faje, aerialist and juggler Benjy Radinsky, trapeze/aerial sling artist Camille Swift, aerial artist Chris Rooney, guitarist Chris Siebold, dancer Cristal Sabbagh, aerial rope artist Dalia Shafie, percussionist Dan Leoli, bassist Greg Nergaard, trumpet player Jaime Ruiz, aerialist Michael House, multi-instrumentalist Paul Mutzabaugh, and performance artist Spitfire. Sarah Kroth will be stage managing the event.

Ticket prices range from $25 for students to $65 for premium seats and Alhambra Palace is located at 1240 W Randolph St in Chicago's West Loop. 

For more information and tickets, click here:

https://sideshow-villains-deviant-cabaret.ticketleap.com/sv-deviant-cabaret/

https://sideshowvillains.bandcamp.com/album/claws-for-breakfast

https://sideshowvillains.com/

 

EXTENDED: Cabaret Via Porchlight Music Theatre Now Playing Through March 5, 2023

 PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE ANNOUNCES CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM FOR THE AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL

CABARET

Now Extended Through March 5th Due to Popular Demand 

AT THE RUTH PAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Porchlight Transports Audiences to Berlin’s Kit Kat Club Where “Life is Beautiful.” This Landmark Musical is Envisioned Anew  by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber with Associate Director and Choreographer Brenda Didier and Music Director Linda Madonia

 

Porchlight Music Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning landmark musical Cabaret, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., January 14 - February 12, 2023. Based on the 1951 play I Am a Camera by John Van Druten and the novel “Goodbye to Berlin'' by Christopher Isherwood, Porchlight’s production is directed by Artistic Director Michael Weber, associate directed and choreographed by Brenda Didier and music directed by Linda Madonia. Previews are Saturday, Jan. 14 at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19 at 1:30 p.m. 

The regular performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3:30 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. with a weekday matinee Thursday, Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m. Post-Show Discussions are scheduled Friday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m and Thursday, Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m. and open caption performances Saturday Jan. 28 at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday Feb. 4 at 3:30p.m.  Tickets for Cabaret are now on sale starting at $25 and may be purchased through the Box Office by calling 773.777.9884 or by visiting PorchlightMusicTheatre.org. 

Bold and provocative, this winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, shines a spotlight on Berlin in the late 1920s and the colorful, gritty and hedonistic lives found there. Filled with iconic songs and electrifying dance, Cabaret tells the story of the American writer Clifford Bradshaw and his relationship with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles on the eve of the Nazi party’s rise to power. Overseen by an ominous Emcee at the fabled Kit Kat Club, Cabaret is a cautionary tale that has renewed resonance in today’s political climate. 

The cast for Cabaret, in alphabetical order, includes Neala Barron* (Fraulein "Fritzie" Kost); Frankie Leo Bennett+ (standby The Emcee and Max); Jordan Beyeler* (swing); Anna Brockman* (Lulu/ensemble);  Morgan DiFonzo* (Texas/ensemble); Gilbert Domally+ (Clifford Bradshaw); Julia Fleckenstein* (Helga/ensemble); Tim Foszcz+ (Herman/ensemble);  Haley Gustafson*/^ (Frenchie/ensemble); Josiah Haugen+ (Ernst Ludwig); Natalie Henry* (Rosie/ensemble); Mark David Kaplan+ (Herr Schultz); Darren Patin+ (Victor/ensemble); Shane Roberie+ (Max/ensemble); Mary Robin Roth* (Fraulein Schneider); Erica Stephan* (Sally Bowles); Cam Turner+ (swing/Dance Captain); Josh Walker+ (The Emcee); Shaun White+ (Bobby/ensemble) and Evan Wilhelm+(Hans/ensemble).

The Cabaret production team includes Michael Weber+ (director); Brenda Didier* (associate director/choreographer); Linda Madonia* (music director);  Angela Weber Miller* (scenic design); Bill Morey+ (costume design); Patrick Chan+ (lighting design); Matthew R. Chase+ (sound design), Johnnie Schleyer+ (scenic supervisor); Tina Stasny* (costume supervisor); Rachel West* (lighting supervisor); Madeline M. Scott* (production stage manager); Kathy Logelin* (dialect coach),  Sheryl Williams* (intimacy Choreographer); Nate Cohen+ (dramaturg/cultural consultant) and Frankie Leo Bennett+ (producing artistic associate.)

ABOUT MICHAEL WEBER, director

Michael Weber is the artistic director at Porchlight Music Theatre and most recently directed Sunset Boulevard and Gypsy for Porchlight Music Theatre as well as the Porchlight Revisits production of 1776 and Broadway by the Decade for PorchlightOnline. His productions of Gypsy, End of the Rainbow, Side Show, ...Forum, Sweeney Todd, Pal Joey and Assassins at Porchlight, Grand Hotel at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place and She Loves Me at Theatre at the Center were each nominated for the Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Production— Musical. Other directing credits include “Living the History-125 Years of the Auditorium Theatre” (starring Patti Lupone, John Mahoney and stars of Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and others), 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 and Cirque du Symphony at Sears Center Arena. The recipient of two Joseph Jefferson Awards, Weber’s regional acting credits include The Merry Widow and The Sound of Music at Lyric Opera, 42nd Street at Paramount, 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 Theater, Angel Street at First Folio Shakespeare and The Gifts of the Magi at Indiana Repertory. He previously served as artistic director of Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place (now The Broadway Playhouse) and Theatre at the Center. Weber is proud to serve as a pledge host with WTTW, Channel 11.

ABOUT LINDA MADONIA, music director/conductor

Linda Madonia has been musical directing in the Chicago area for more than 25 years including Porchlight’s recent New Faces Sing Broadway 1979 as well as Chicago Sings Rock & Roll Broadway and the 2019 critically-acclaimed production of A Chorus Line. Other credits include Pirates of Penzance and Joseph and the  Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for Music Theater Works and Forbidden Broadway: SVU at The Royal George Theater. Other credits include Grand  Hotel and Nunsensations at Drury Lane Water Tower Place and Gigi, She  Loves Me and Me and My Girl at Theater at the Center. Madonia has also been the music director for Chicago’s Equity and non-union Joseph Jefferson Awards numerous times. She owns American Eagle Productions, an educational theatre that has presented 300 shows and workshops a year in Chicago area schools for the past 28 years. 

ABOUT BRENDA DIDIER, associate director/choreographer

Brenda Didier returns to Porchlight where she recently directed the spring 2022 production of Spring Awakening. She also co-directed and co-choreographed Porchlight’s  award-winning Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies with Florence Walker Harris,  directed A Chorus Line and directed and choreographed Billy Elliot, The Musical, In The Heights and Dreamgirls among others. Didier is a multiple Jeff Award recipient in both direction and choreography, and the recipient of After Dark Awards, BroadwayWorld awards and the National Youth Theatre award. She is the proud owner and artistic director of the Lincolnshire Academy of Dance, celebrating its 24th season. Other credits include work at the Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, Second City, Marriott Theatre, The Paramount, Theatre at the Center, BoHo, Mercury Theatre Chicago, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, the Studebaker Theatre, Stage Left, Six Flags Great America, Busch Gardens Virginia, Cirque Shanghai at Navy Pier, T-Mobile’s national commercial “Home for the Holidays,” The Kenny Rogers Christmas Tour and the University of Illinois, University of Wisconsin and Carthage College.

 

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE AS RUTH PAGE IN-RESIDENCE ORGANIZATION

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to be a member of the vibrant Ruth Page Center for the Arts community and an In-Residence Organization. Central to the Ruth Page Center for the Arts’ programming is this program, which is designed to serve organizations looking for a home base while they grow or expand their artistic and organizational capabilities. The Center is committed to nurturing and assisting dance and other performing artists, allowing for exchange and collaborative relationships to develop within the artistic community. The Ruth Page Center for the Arts is a destination for quality performing arts, accessible to a wide community regardless of race, gender, age, education or disability. An incubator of artistic energy and excellence, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts carries forward the vision of its founder, legendary dance icon Ruth Page, to be a platform for developing great artists and connecting them with audiences and community.

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 history, over the last 27 years, includes more than 70 mainstage works with 15 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 184 Joseph Jefferson Award (Jeff) nominations and 45 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. 

Through the global pandemic, Porchlight emerged as one of Chicago’s leaders in virtual programming, quickly launching a host of free offerings like Sondheim @ 90 Roundtables, Movie Musical Mondays, Porchlight by Request: Command Performances and WPMT: Classic Musicals from the Golden Age of Radio. Porchlight launched its annual summer series in 2021, Broadway in your Backyard, performing at parks and venues throughout the city. 

Porchlight Music Theatre is partially supported by generous contributions from: Allstate; Michael Best & Friedrich LLP; Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation; Elegant Event Lighting; Glimpse Vision; James P. and Brenda S. Grusecki Family Foundation; Hearty Boys; The League of Chicago Theatres PAV Grant Fund; The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity and the Arts at Prince; the Pritzker Traubert Foundation; Ryan and Spaeth, Inc.; Daniel and Genevieve Ratner Foundation; The Saints and The Dr. Scholl Foundation.

The season program is partially supported by a grant from the 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: Allstate; Crowdstrike; Google; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; Peoples Gas; Pepsico; Polk Bros Foundation; State Farm; The Saints and U.S. Cellular. 

Tickets start at $25. Website: PorchlightMusicTheatre.org

I AM A CAMERA, VIA THE PORCHLIGHT REVISITS SERIES FEBRUARY 8 AND 9th, 2023

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE CONTINUES ITS NINTH SEASON OF THE PORCHLIGHT REVISITS SERIES WITH JOHN VAN DRUTEN’S 

I AM A CAMERA

AT RUTH PAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS,

FEBRUARY 8 AND 9

This Limited Engagement Complements Porchlight’s Mainstage Production of Cabaret, presented January 14 - February 12, that was Adapted from Van Druten’s I am a Camera

Porchlight Music Theatre continues its 2022 - 2023 season with Porchlight Revisits I am a Camera, book by John Van Druten, directed by Nate Cohen+. I'll be out to review at the 2nd performance, so check back for my full review. In the meantime, don't sleep on this short run of the show . Get your tickets today. Porchlight Revisits I am a Camera is presented for two performances only Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 9 at 1:30 p.m. at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Single tickets to Porchlight Revisits I am a Camera are $52 at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight Music Theatre box office at 773.777.9884. 

The ninth Porchlight Revisits season continues with I am a Camera, a 1951 Broadway play that was adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s 1939 novel “Goodbye to Berlin.” This special event production is a rare opportunity to experience the remarkable play that became the inspiration for the musical Cabaret, which Porchlight is presenting January 14 - February 12 also at the Ruth Page Center. 

Never revived on Broadway and not seen in Chicago for decades, the title is a quotation taken from “Goodbye to Berlin’s” first page: “I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking.” The original production was a critically acclaimed success with Julie Harris winning her first of five Tony Awards in the role of “Sally Bowles,” Marian Winters winning both the Theatre World Award and the Tony for her role as “Natalia Landauer” and Van Druten winning the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best American Play in 1952. 

The cast of Porchlight Revisits I am a Camera includes, in alphabetical order, Caron Buinis* (Fraulein Schneider); Ramón Camín+(Clive Mortimer); Justin Kuhn+(Fritz Wendel); Gabi Leibowitz* (Natalia Landauer); Mary Margaret McCormick* (Sally Bowles);  Zachary Owen+ (Christopher Isherwood) and Carrie Lee Patterson* (Mrs. Watson-Courtneidge).

The Porchlight Revisits I am a Camera creative team includes Nate Cohen+ (director); Matthew R. Chase+ (sound designer); Kristi Martens* (production stage manager); Mia Maccarella* (assistant stage manager), Jake Snell+ (assistant stage manager); Frankie Leo Bennett+ (producing artistic associate); Majel Cuza* (production manager) and Michael Weber+ (artistic director).

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

Now in its ninth season, Porchlight Revisits celebrates the rarely seen gems of Broadway, off-Broadway and beyond and is the ticket to go behind the scenes with an introduction to the luminaries who created these plays and musicals and an opportunity to discover a new ‘old’ favorite all in one big show. Chicago’s finest talents dust off these treasures and escort audiences into the world of the art of theatre’s past for a limited run. In addition to productions from days gone by, each Porchlight Revisits includes the Behind the Show Backstory, an entertaining and informative multimedia presentation, created and hosted by Artistic Director Michael Weber+, introducing the evening’s production including the show’s creative history, juicy backstage stories and much more.

The final Porchlight Revisits of the 2023 - 2023 season is Porchlight Revisits Two by Two, Wednesday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 25 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Martin Charnin and book by Peter Stone based The Flowering Peach by Clifford Odets. Porchlight Revisits Two by Two tells the story of Noah, the flood and its aftermath with touches of modern themes including the environment and the differences from generation to generation.

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT REVISITS

Continuing to forge its role as “Chicago’s Music Theatre,” Porchlight launched the exciting new series Porchlight Revisits in 2013; especially created for the die-hard music theatre aficionado. Each season, Porchlight Music Theatre shares with audiences the rare opportunity to visit musicals and non-musicals that opened on the Great White Way but have since gone “unsung.” Previous Porchlight Revisits productions include:

(2022/23) The Apple Tree, I am a Camera, Two by Two;

(2021/22) Passing Strange, Nunsense;

(2019/20) Call Me Madam;

(2018/19) 1776, Can-Can, Minnie’s Boys;

(2017/18) Do Re Mi, They’re Playing Our Song, Woman of the Year;

(2016/17) The Rink, Little Me, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever; 

(2015/16) Chess, Applause, Babes in Arms; 

(2014/15) Bells Are Ringing, City of Angels, Mack & Mabel;

(2013/14) Anyone Can Whistle, Golden Boy, Fade Out-Fade In.

ABOUT CABARET

Porchlight Music Theatre presents 

Cabaret

January 14 - February 12, 2023

Music by John Kander

Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Book by Joe Masteroff

Based on the 1951 play I am a Camera by John Van Druten adapted from the 1939 novella “Goodbye to Berlin” by Christopher Isherwood

Directed by Artistic Director Michael Weber+

Music Directed by Linda Madonia*

Associate Directed & Choreographed by Brenda Didier*

Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St.

Press Opening: Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023 at 7 p.m.

 

Bold and provocative, this winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, shines a spotlight on Berlin in the late 1920s and the colorful, gritty and hedonistic lives found there. Filled with iconic songs and electrifying dance, Cabaret tells the story of the American writer Clifford Bradshaw and his relationship with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles on the eve of the Nazi party’s rise to power. Overseen by an ominous Emcee at the fabled Kit Kat Club, Cabaret is a cautionary tale that has renewed resonance in today’s political climate.

ABOUT NATE COHEN+, director

Nate Cohen makes his Porchlight debut with Porchlight Revisits I am a Camera. He is an associate member of the SDC and holds an MFA in directing from Northwestern University, where he also teaches. Notable directing credits include Peter and the Starcatcher, Winnie-the-Pooh, The Angry Brigade and Midsummer: A Play with Songs at the Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, A Maze (Theatre Vertigo), Middle Names (DownBoat Arts), All's Faire (Action/Adventure Theatre) Manspread Madness (Collaboraction) and assisting on Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Steppenwolf), Linda Vista (Steppenwolf), Mr. Dickens’ Hat (Northlight), The Beauty Queen Lenanne (Northlight), Book of Will (Northlight), Grand Concourse (Artists Repertory Theatre) and American Hero (Artists Repertory Theatre). 

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE AS RUTH PAGE IN-RESIDENCE ORGANIZATION

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to be a member of the vibrant Ruth Page Center for the Arts community and an In-Residence Organization. Central to the Ruth Page Center for the Arts’ programming is this program, which is designed to serve organizations looking for a home base while they grow or expand their artistic and organizational capabilities. The Center is committed to nurturing and assisting dance and other performing artists, allowing for exchange and collaborative relationships to develop within the artistic community. The Ruth Page Center for the Arts is a destination for quality performing arts, accessible to a wide community regardless of race, gender, age, education or disability. An incubator of artistic energy and excellence, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts carries forward the vision of its founder, legendary dance icon Ruth Page, to be a platform for developing great artists and connecting them with audiences and community.

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE

Porchlight Music Theatre, now in its 28th season, 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 history over the last 27 years includes more than 70 mainstage works with 15 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 178 Joseph Jefferson Award (Jeff) nominations and 49 Jeff awards, as well as 44 Black Theatre Alliance (BTA) nominations and 15 BTA awards. In 2019, Porchlight graduated to the Large Theatre tier of the Equity Jeff Awards and has been honored with seven awards in this tier to date including Best Ensemble for Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies (2019) and Best Production-Revue for Blues in the Night (2022). 

Through the global pandemic, Porchlight emerged as one of Chicago’s leaders in virtual programming, quickly launching a host of free offerings like Sondheim @ 90 Roundtables, Movie Musical Mondays, Porchlight by Request: Command Performances and WPMT: Classic Musicals from the Golden Age of Radio. In 2021, Porchlight launched its annual summer series, Broadway in your Backyard, performing at parks and venues throughout the city. 

Porchlight Music Theatre is partially supported by generous contributions from  Allstate; Michael Best & Friedrich LLP; Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation; Elegant Event Lighting; Glimpse Vision; James P. and Brenda S. Grusecki Family Foundation; Hearty Boys; A.L. and Jennie L. Luria Foundation; The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity and the Arts at Prince; the Pritzker Traubert Foundation; Ryan and Spaeth, Inc.; Daniel and Genevieve Ratner Foundation; The Saints and Dr. Scholl Foundation.

The season program is partially supported by a grant from the 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; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; Peoples Gas; Pepsico; Polk Bros Foundation and The Saints. 

DAVENPORT’S PIANO BAR & CABARET CELEBRATES JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH IN APRIL WITH A LINEUP OF NEW MUSIC, COMEDY AND MORE

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar  

The Wicker Park Venue Announces the Return of Open Mic Fridays and Hosts Davenport’s Staff Favorite Megan Elk in a new show, Scott Gryder, Adam Hibma and Kimberly Lawson with Hello, Gorgeous! A Barbra Streisand Birthday Celebration, Cathleen Brumback and Christian Lutes in Two English Majors Walk into a Bar, Two Jackie Smook’s Performances with Music and Puppets and in Under Your Skin and More

Davenport’s Piano Bar & Cabaret, Chicago’s premier location for enjoying music in an intimate setting, announces its roster of April performances in its Cabaret and Piano Bar. Davenport’s, 1383 North Milwaukee Avenue, is open Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. - 12 a.m. and Sundays from 6 - 11 p.m. Performers, tickets and more are available at DavenportsPianoBar.com.

Please note: All patrons must be 21 years old or older and vaccinated. For entry, patrons must provide proof of vaccination, such as a Vaccination Cardand a valid photo ID. Masks will be required upon entry and when not seated.

All performances In The Cabaret are ticketed events with a two-drink minimum on the night of the performance. 

In The Cabaret this April are: 

Cathleen Brumback and Christian Lutes

Two English Majors Walk into a Bar

Friday, April 1 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $10 with a two-drink minimum 

Former English majors Cathleen Brumback and Christian Lutes reintroduce their audience to all those “classics” you never actually read in your high school English class. Sparknotes and Wikipedia saved us all back in the day and it’s time to party and relive the experience.

Jackie Smook

Under Your Skin

Saturday, April 2 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $20 with a two-drink minimum 

“Under Your Skin” is an original solo show written by Jackie Smook and Jackson Zinn-Rowthorn. It tells the story of the time Smook worked as a medical assistant during her summer vacation, a job she never expected. She had no prior training and this, of course, caused utter chaos to ensue. This is a comedic telling, in real time, of her experiences told through standup, multiple original characters and song.

Future performances from Jackie Smook at Davenport’s:

Saturday, May 7 at 8 p.m. and 

Saturday, June 25 at 8 p.m.

Jay Schleppenbach

A Life on Stage

Sunday, April 3 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $15 with a two-drink minimum

Featuring Brad MacDonald, Melissa Redondo and Freddie Joseph III. Why should fawning career retrospectives be reserved solely for actual famous people? Jay may not have won a Latin Grammy, but he did star in an anti-drug PSA in sixth grade and played lead characters named Billy in not one but two high school musicals. This show explores Jay's classic roles, from first grader promoting the benefits of dental hygiene to 42-year-old attorney dressed as a Pokemon for some reason, in songs and mostly-true stories. Fans of classic Broadway, trenchant parody and occasional jazz hands should all enjoy this show.

 

Dawn Miller

Coalessence- a Queer/Trans Story Hour

Friday, April 8 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $15 with a two-drink minimum

“Coalessence” is a Queer story telling hour! LGBTQ+ Artists come together to share stories surrounding their theme of Blossom- to burst forth. You may laugh, cry a bit, and learn something new about the trans community. 

 

Megan Elk

Not A Pretty Girl

Sunday, April 10 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $15 with a no-drink minimum

Davenport's staff favorite, Megan Elk, takes over the backroom for an evening of songs and stories about what happens when you stop trying to be pretty and start being real. Spurred on by a divorce, a global pandemic and the onset of middle age, Elk spins the hilarious tale of how little by little, they realized they could stop trying to be one of the girls from a 90s “Seventeen Magazine” cover and start being... themself.

Featuring the music of Ani DiFranco, Leonard Bernstein, Lizzo, Radiohead, Sara Bareilles, William Finn and much more. Musical direction by Micky York, with special guest Rachel Schuldt on cello.

Jackie Smook

The Jackie Smook Program of De-Dumbification

Saturday, April 16 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $20 with a two-drink minimum 

Join Jackie Smook and her brilliant pianist Joey Chimes, as the audience goes on a magical, puppet-filled, comedic (yet moving) ride into the return of the Jackie Smook self help cabaret. Newcity said “She delivers with all twelve tunes in her one-chanteuse, one-piano-man and several-puppet cabaret.” It’s a roller coaster through Jackie’s journey from a dingy dongy dumb dumb to the hard working, go getting, ambitious woman she is today. Told through four stages and 12 musical acts, you will be moved by this true story of growth and self love.

Micky York

After Party #22 Easter Show

Sunday, April 17 at 7 p.m

Tickets are $15 with a two-drink minimum, includes all-you-can-eat peanut butter eggs

Davenport's most beloved Easter tradition is back with After Party #22! Join host Micky York with Ben F. Locke, David Gordon-Johnson, Jennifer Ledesma and Miriam Plotkin as they sing about that one time at that one bar when that one thing happened. (You've heard that story, but you've never heard it like THIS, with music from all over the pop/rock charts.) Plus, we'll have lots of candy and maybe you'll find a hidden Easter egg and win a prize? Honestly, what a time to be alive.

Stick around after the show for the After After Party at Sunday Night Social Lounge, with more Easter snacks plus bonus Celine Dion songs from the cast in the front room!

 

Sonia and Bob: Songs We Love

Thursday, April 21 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $20 with a two-drink minimum

Sonia Oyola and Bob Solone together again with an all new show titled Songs We Love. They are often asked, “What’s your favorite song?” and to this couple that question is unanswerable. However, they’ve selected a group of intimate and personal songs they both love, to share with Davenport’s audiences.

 

Scott Gryder, Adam Hibma and Kimberly Lawson

Hello, Gorgeous! A Barbra Streisand Birthday Celebration

Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $20 with a two-drink minimum

First woman to win an Oscar for composition. Only artist to have a number one album in six consecutive decades. First woman to write, direct, produce and star in a movie since the silent era. EGOT. Activist. Icon. The greatest star is turning 81! Join Scott Gryder, Adam Hibma and Kimberly Lawson in a birthday cabaret celebration like no other with music direction by Jimmy Morehead and featuring arrangements by Nick Sula. 

 

Alex and Amelia

Sunday, April 24 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $20 with a two-drink minimum

Artist and head-in-the-clouds Amelia is suddenly convinced she’s clairvoyant as she practices readings on her skeptical boyfriend, Alex, only to find out the cards might hold more power than she realizes. Unable to control their fate, they are grounded in reality by live music. Join Amelia Bryant and Alex Patterson on their tarot musical journey as they battle spirituality, truth, and the true meaning of their relationship with recognizable hits like “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, “Inside and Out” by The Beegees and original songs! 

4 Chairs Theatre

Parenthood Unplugged

Thursday, April 28 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $20 with a two-drink minimum

A musical theatre cabaret through the peaks and valleys of parenthood and what it means to be a parent, whether gifted, created or chosen, featuring Linda Andrews, Alexis Armstrong, Leah Davis, Dave Lemrise and JoJo Farrell. 

 

Evan Silver

Tiresias Presents HYPERFANTASIA

Friday, April 29 at 8 p.m. 

Tickets are $20 with a two-drink minimum

Featuring original music and madness, HYPERFANTASIA is a sci-fi fantasy drag cabaret about the proliferation of matter in the universe and life on planet Earth. Hosted by Tiresias, the blind prophet of the Underworld, this miniature epic draws on new evolutionary theories and ancient queer wisdom to dismantle the survival-of-the-fittest paradigm toward an ethic of abundance and extravagance.

 

Fia Torres and Bill Demis 

Just Us

Saturday, April 30 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $15 with a two-drink minimum

After their last sold-out show in September of last year, Fia Torres and guitarist Bill Demis are thrilled to bring back to Davenport’s Fia and Demis. Just Us features all new songs. Guests are invited to sit back and enjoy an intimate evening of interpretation of popular, jazz, ballads and original tunes.

 

April performances in The Piano Bar include: 

Sundays 8 - 10 p.m.

Every Sunday: Sunday Night Social Lounge, hosted by Micky York

No cover or drink minimum. 

Fridays 8 - 11 p.m.

Every Friday: The Return of Open Mic with George Howe

George Howe hosts Open Mic in the Piano Bar, where performers may bring sheet music to perform.

No cover or drink minimum. 

Saturdays 9 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Every Saturday: The Nitz & Howe Experience

Saturday appearances have a $5 cover, with no drink minimum and is limited to 50 guests. 

DAVENPORT’S PIANO BAR & CABARET HEALTH & SAFETY PROCEDURES

Davenport’s prioritizes the health and safety of its patrons, staff and performers. Following current local, state and government protocols, Davenport’s asks that all patrons be vaccinated. For entry, patrons must provide proof of vaccination, such as a Vaccination Card and a valid photo ID. Masks will be required upon entry and when not seated.

ABOUT DAVENPORT’S PIANO BAR & CABARET

Davenport's Piano Bar and Cabaret is Chicago's premier location for enjoying music in an intimate setting. With two performance spaces, visitors, 21 years old and older, may enjoy performances by national and local talent. The cabaret room has performances most nights showcasing a variety of types of music. The piano bar provides music from an accomplished roster of musicians and a talented serving staff that can both make a drink and sing you a Broadway-caliber song.

 

DAVENPORT’S PIANO BAR & CABARET HAS REOPENED

After More Than a Year of Virtual Performances, 

Davenport’s Returns with LIVE Performers 

in The Cabaret and Piano Bar

Davenport’s Piano Bar & Cabaret has long been a favorite of ours here at ChiIL Live Shows. We're thrilled they weathered the crazy past year of streaming shows and shuttered venues. We can't wait to catch their eclectic talent lineup in person! 

Chicago’s premier location for enjoying music in an intimate setting, announces its roster of August performances in its Cabaret and Piano Bar. Davenport’s, 1383 North Milwaukee Avenue, is open Thursdays from 7 - 11 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. - 12 a.m. and Sundays from 6 - 11 p.m.  Performers, tickets and more are available at DavenportsPianoBar.com.

“We are so grateful for all the support during this past year our followers have shown for our virtual offerings,” said co-owner Donna Kirchman. “However, nothing can beat the sound of live music and seeing the audience’s response to the cabaret performers and our talented performing staff.”

General Manager Debra Steward added, “Our August kicks off our reopening to live shows with some of our most popular performers and we look forward to welcoming the audiences back to their favorite cabaret spot.”

All performances In the Cabaret are ticketed events with a two-drink minimum on the night of the performance.

In The Cabaret this August are:

Joan Curto in Back in Business at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret

Thursday, Aug. 5 - Sunday, Aug. 8 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $30 with a two-drink minimum on the night of the performance.A joyful celebration of the re-opening of Davenport’s featuring Beckie Menzie on piano, Jim Cox on bass and Tim Davis on percussion and special guests each night.

Cathy Glickman and Anna Palermo in Judy and Liza, Don’t Tell Mama at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret

Saturday, Aug. 14 at 8 p.m and Sunday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m.

 Tickets are $25 with a two-drink minimum on the night of the performance.

Cathy Glickman and Anna Palermo join forces with music director Beckie Menzie on piano as they pay tribute to Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli and their similarities with men, addiction, money and their audience.

Kelly Tansor

Thursday, Aug. 19 at 8 p.m.

$10 cover with a two-drink minimum on the night of the performance.

Kelly Tansor is a singer-songwriter and pianist from Chicago. She will be performing covers from artists such as Billy Joel, Regina Spektor, Olivia Rodrigo and more.

David Edelfelt in Broadway Baritones: The Men, The Music, The Magic at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret

Friday, Aug. 20 and Saturday, Aug. 21 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 22 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $25 with a two-drink minimum on the night of the performance.

The best of 100 years of songs from leading men of the Great White Way by an artist the Chicago Tribune calls “A consummate song interpreter [who] probably sounds great singing the weather forecast… one of Chicago's best." 

The Piano Bar has a variety of performances and performers each week. The Piano Bar is open to the public and does not require advanced ticket purchase.

August performances in the Piano Bar include: 

Thursdays 8 - 11 p.m.

Kieran McCabe & Friends

August 5, 12 and 26

Mark & Anne Burnell

August 19

​

Fridays 8:30 - 11:30 p.m.

Dan Stetzel & Guest 

August 6 

Jenny Farney & Dave Bugher

August 13 and 20

Julia Merchant 

August 27

​

Saturdays 9 p.m. - 12 a.m. with a $5 cover

Dan Stetzel & Guest 

August 7

Blendernitz  Experience

Andrew Blenderman & Daryl Nitz 

August 14

Daryl Nitz & Ester Hana

August 21 and 28

 

Sundays 8 - 11 p.m.

Sunday Night Social Lounge

Hosted by Micky York 

Every Sunday

DAVENPORT’S PIANO BAR & CABARET HEALTH & SAFETY PROCEDURES

Davenport’s prioritizes the health and safety of its patrons, staff and performers. Following current local, state and government protocols, Davenport’s asks that non-vaccinated persons wear a mask when attending performances and vaccinated individuals may choose to not wear masks.

 

ABOUT DAVENPORT’S PIANO BAR & CABARET

Davenport's Piano Bar and Cabaret is Chicago's premier location for enjoying music in an intimate setting. With two performance spaces, visitors may enjoy performances by national and local talent. The cabaret room has performances most nights showcasing a variety of types of music. The piano bar provides music from an accomplished roster of musicians and a talented serving staff that can both make a drink and sing you a Broadway-caliber song.

Karen Mason: For the First Time at The Cabaret Room at Drury Lane May 17–19, 2019

The Cabaret Room at Drury Lane Announces 

limited engagement of

Karen Mason: For the First Time

May 17–19, 2019

Chicago favorite and Broadway star Karen Mason debuts at Drury Lane Theatre’s intimate Cabaret Room. Her newest cabaret, Karen Mason: For the First Time will run for only three performances: May 17 and May 18 at 7:30pm and May 19 at 6:30pm in Drury Lane’s beautiful and intimate Cabaret Room located at 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through the box office at 630.530.0111 or TicketMaster at 800.745.3000 or online at DruryLaneTheatre.com.  

Featuring uniquely showstopping numbers, For the First Time highlights Mason’s vocal prowess, moving charisma, and overall versatility – few performers transcend seamlessly between television, recording, Off-Broadway, and Broadway as has Karen Mason. This legend has graced the stages of Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Feinstein’s 54 Below, and more, and The Cabaret Room at Drury Lane is thrilled to welcome her back to Chicago.

The Cabaret Room features a special small plates menu including a shareable charcuterie and cheese platter and bacon wrapped dates in addition to cocktails and desserts. Doors open one hour prior to performance time, leaving plenty of time for guests to take advantage of this delectable menu. Gold Circle tickets include front row table seating at $70 and General Admission table seating is $60. There is a $25 food and beverage minimum per person.
The 2019 Cabaret Series will continue August 9-11, 2019, September 27-29, 2019, December 27-29, 2019, and February 14-16, 2020). Performers to be announced at a later date.

For more information or to make a reservation, call the Drury Lane Theatre box office at 630.530.0111 or visit DruryLaneTheatre.com. 

Also playing at Drury Lane
The 2019/2020 season will include two award-winning Regional Theatre premieres – the imaginative Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical (April 26 – June 23, 2019), based on the beloved novel, and the beautifully captivating Gershwin musical An American in Paris (January 31 – March 29, 2020). The thrilling season also includes Agatha Christie’s edge-of-your-seat murder mystery And Then There Were None (July 12 – September 1, 2019); the revival of the exhilarating The Color Purple (September 13 – November 3, 2019), based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel; and the magical musical for all ages Mary Poppins (November 15 – January 19, 2020). 
  
Subscriptions for the 2019/2020 Season are priced from $172 to $203.50 and are currently on sale. Subscribers receive special offers on dining, flexible ticket exchanges, and early notification and priority seating for added events and concerts. For more information, visit DruryLaneTheatre.com. 
  
The performance schedule for all productions during the 2019/2020 season is as follows: Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Student group tickets start as low as $35 and Senior Citizens start at $45 for matinees. Dinner and show packages are also available. For individual ticket on-sale dates and ticket reservations, call the Drury Lane Theatre box office at 630.530.0111 or TicketMaster at 800.745.3000 or visit DruryLaneTheatre.com.  



About Drury Lane Theatre    
Under the leadership of President Kyle DeSantis and Artistic Director William Osetek, Drury Lane Theatre is a major force in the Chicagoland theatre scene, presenting world-class productions in collaboration with some of the nation’s leading actors, artists, writers, and directors. Drury Lane has staged more than 2,000 productions and has been nominated for more than 360 Joseph Jefferson Awards. Drury Lane is committed to breathing new life into beloved classics and introducing audiences to exciting new works.   
   
Throughout its 50-year history, Drury Lane has employed more than 7,500 actors and 10,000 musicians, designers, and crew members to entertain upwards of nine million audience members. Originally founded by Anthony DeSantis, Drury Lane Theatre moved to its current Oakbrook Terrace home more than 30 years ago and remains a family-run organization known for producing breathtaking Broadway classics, top-rated musicals, bold new works, hilarious comedies, and unforgettable concert events.   

Teatro ZinZanni Bringing Love, Chaos, & Dinner Cirque Cabaret To Chicago In April of 2019

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Love, Chaos, & Dinner Premieres in Chicago

Launching this Spring

In Brand New Venue in Chicago Theatre District

 

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we're seriously stoked for Love, Chaos, & Dinner to open in Chicago as a long running dinner destination. Circus arts have made a resurgence in new and creative ways, and Chicago's talent pool runs deep. This style of  dinner theatre featuring everything from campy cabaret to breathtaking aerial arts and more, has taken cities by storm. Chi, IL is ripe for The Spiegeltent ZaZou, a Belgian mirror tent filled with historic touches, which will host this self described "Kit Kat Klub on acid". We can't wait!

With great excitement, Teatro ZinZanni today announced the premiere of Love, Chaos, & Dinner, the critically acclaimed show combining the best of cirque, cabaret, spectacle, live music, comedy and fine dining.  Presented by Randolph Entertainment, performances are scheduled to begin on April 5, 2019 at a brand new location in the center of Chicago Theatre District. The Spiegeltent ZaZou, a Belgian mirror tent filled with historic touches, will be located on the 14th floor in the newly opened Cambria Hotel Loop-Theatre District.  The previously forgotten space was discovered in 2017 during the renovation of the hotel when dropped ceilings were removed revealing the original grand space within the 1926 historic building. 







Described as the “Kit Kat Klub on acid, Teatro ZinZanni brings to Chicago an international cast of premier entertainers for its anticipated engagement.  Love, Chaos & Dinner features the master of madcap improv Frank Ferrante, cabaret star Lady Rizo, and acclaimed Chicago natives aerial trapeze act Duo Rose. The company will also feature entertainment from comedians Joe De Paul and Tim Tyler, hoop aerialist Elena Gatilova, Parisian acrobat Domitil Aillot, and the body juggling Anastasini Brothers.  Teatro ZinZanni’s founder Norm Langill will direct the production.  The menu will be designed by Chicago’s own Debbie Sharpe – The Goddess in The Goddess and Grocer.







Broadway In Chicago is will be handling the sales and marketing for Teatro ZinZanni. Group tickets for 10 or more are now available by calling (312) 977-1710 or visiting BroadwayInChicago.com.



About Teatro ZinZanni
Teatro ZinZanni was founded in 1998 launching a wholly original new form of entertainment combining a unique fusion of cirque, comedy, cabaret, spectacle, and live music while serving up a multi-course feast. Inspired by the great cabarets of Europe, a team of creative artists and theatre professionals who have been working together for over 40 years created Teatro ZinZanni led by Founder Norm Langill. Teatro ZinZanni has brought in celebrated artists from the worlds of cirque, clowning, cabaret, music, aerial arts, magic, and illusion.  Performers over the years have included internationally recognized names like Joan Baez and Ann Wilson.  The show in Chicago is presented in the Spiegeltent ZaZou on the 14th floor in the newly opened Cambria Hotel Chicago Loop located in the Theatre District.





About Randolph Entertainment

Randolph Entertainment is a partnership of some 25 people who share in the vision of bringing an extraordinary experience to Chicago. A group of mostly Chicago based individuals; the partnership is committed to being a good neighbor and contributor to Chicago’s vibrant cultural community. Stanley Feig, a veteran of the entertainment industry with a career spanning several decades, manages the partnership. 





About Debbie Sharpe
Two parts rock n’ roll, one part Chicago, and one sassy Aussie, Debbie Sharpe is The Goddess in The Goddess and Grocer. The Goddess got her background in rock n’ roll catering, traveling the globe and feeding some of the most influential musicians of our time including The Rolling Stones, Madonna, U2 and Fleetwood Mac. Instantly falling in love with Chicago, she got off the Paul McCartney tour bus and laid down roots in the Wicker Park – Bucktown neighborhood in 1990. Serving a colorful, globally inspired menu of creative sandwiches, vibrant salads, mix-and-match square meals, and gourmet pantry items, she opened The Goddess and Grocer in 2004 and it was an instant hit. At The Goddess and Grocer, we believe in the power of community, the influence of music, and most of all, we believe great food brings people together.



Love, Chaos, and Dinner
Enter a realm where reality and dreams converge; an experience unlike any other! Teatro ZinZanni is a whirlwind of international cirque, comedy and cabaret served with a multi-course feast.  Described as the “Kit Kat Klub on acid”, the fast-paced action unfolds around, above and alongside guests as world-class acrobats, musicians, divas, illusionists, madmen, and aerialists fill our intimate Spiegeltent ZaZou, a unique jewel box mirror tent. Teatro ZinZanni’s signature blend of Love, Chaos & Dinner has played to sold out audiences in Seattle and San Francisco. Don’t miss the show The New York Times calls, “A feast for the senses” and the “city’s hottest ticket!”



WHERE:
Spiegeltent ZaZou
The Cambria Hotel Loop-Theatre District
32 W. Randolph St.

WHEN:
Begins Performances April 5, 2019
Wednesday-Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sundays Brunch Matinees at 12:00 p.m.

TICKETS:
Tickets start at $123 and include a 4-course meal
Broadway In Chicago Subscription and Group Sales:  (312) 977-1710
BroadwayInChicago.com  

Individual Tickets – Presale begins November 26, 2018 and General Onsale begins December 7, 2018
ZinZanni.com/Chicago