PRESS CONFERENCE: A NEW COMEDY MUSICAL TOOTSIE PRE-BROADWAY WORLD PREMIERE

A NEW COMEDY MUSICAL TOOTSIE PRE-BROADWAY WORLD PREMIERE

WELCOME PRESS CONFERENCE

Here at ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama, we enjoyed hanging out with Broadway In Chicago and the Company of TOOTSIE, a New Comedy Musical Pre-Broadway World Premiere at Cadillac Palace, for the TOOTSIE press conference. I'll also be out on opening night, September 30th, so check back shortly after for my full review. 

Here's my press conference Facebook LIVE video footage and stills.

The following cast and creatives were present:

• Santino Fontana (Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels) & Lilli Cooper (Julie Nichols)
•Sarah Stiles (Sandy Lester) & Andy Grotelueschen (Jeff Slater)
•John Behlmann (Max Van Horn) & Michael McGrath (Stan Fields)
•Julie Halston (Rita Marshall) & Reg Rogers (Ron Carlisle)
•Tony Award-winner David Yazbek (Music & Lyrics) & Robert Horn (Book)
•Scott Ellis (Director)
•Denis Jones (Choreographer)

ABOUT TOOTSIE
Broadway In Chicago and Scott Sanders Productions are thrilled the world premiere Chicago production of the new comedy musical, TOOTSIE, will play a pre-Broadway engagement at Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 West Randolph Street) from September 11 – October 14.  The production will go to Broadway in spring 2019.

TOOTSIE tells the story of a talented but difficult actor who struggles to find work until an audacious, desperate stunt lands him the role of a lifetime.



The company features Tony Award nominee SANTINO FONTANA as Michael Dorsey (and Dorothy Michaels), as well as LILLI COOPER as Julie Nichols, SARAH STILES as Sandy Lester, JOHN BEHLMANN as Max Von Horn, ANDY GROTELUESCHEN as Jeff Slater, JULIE HALSTON as Rita Mallory, MICHAEL McGRATH as Stan Fields, and REG ROGERS as Ron Carlisle.  The company will also include SISSY BELL, BARRY BUSBY, PAULA LEGGETT CHASE, BRITNEY COLEMAN, LESLIE DONNA FLESNER, JENIFER FOOTE, JOHN ARTHUR GREENE, DREW KING, JEFF KREADY, HARRIS MILGRIM, ADAM MONLEY, SHINA ANN MORRIS, JAMES MOYE, KATERINA PAPACOSTAS, DIANA VADEN, and ANTHONY WAYNE.

TOOTSIE features an original score by Tony Award-winner David Yazbek (The Band’s Visit, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), a book by Robert Horn (13; Dame Edna, Back with a Vengeance), choreography by Tony Award nominee Denis Jones (Holiday Inn, Honeymoon in Vegas), and musical direction by Andrea Grody (The Band’s Visit). TOOTSIE will be directed by seven-time Tony Award nominee and Olivier Award winner Scott Ellis (She Loves Me, On the Twentieth Century). 



The design team for TOOTSIE includes scenic designer David Rockwell, costume designer William Ivey Long, lighting designer Donald Holder, sound designer Brian Ronan, hair and wig design by Paul Huntley, make-up design by Angelina Avallone. Casting is by Jim Carnahan C.S.A. Music supervision is by Andrea Grody & Dean Sharenow, vocal arrangements by Andrea Grody, dance arrangements by David Chase, orchestrations by Simon Hale, and music coordination by Dean Sharenow.

TOOTSIE is produced by Scott Sanders Productions, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Carol Fineman, Columbia Live Stage, Sally Horchow, James L. Nederlander, Judith Ann Abrams, Robert Greenblatt, Benjamin Lowy, Cindy and Jay Gutterman/Marlene and Gary Cohen, Stephanie P. McClelland, Michael Harrison/David Ian, A Few Good Women Productions, Adam Blanshay Productions, JAA Productions/Stella LaRue, Silva Theatrical Group, Roy Furman, Peter May, Seriff Productions LLC, The John Gore Organization, Tom McGrath/42nd.club, Chris and Ashlee Clarke, Jonathan Littman, The Woodland Hills Broadway Group, 2 JS AND AN A, INC., and Independent Presenters Network.

TOOTSIE is based on the story by Don McGuire and Larry Gelbart and the Columbia Pictures Motion Picture. For more information visit: TootsieMusical.com



TICKET INFORMATION
TOOTSIE individual tickets are on-sale now. Group tickets for 10 or more are on sale now by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710.  For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Kinky Boots--Cyndi Lauper, Harvey Fierstein Creatives & Cast Members #BroadwayinChicago #worldpremier

ChiIL Live Shows shots--Chicago Press Conference 9/28 for World Premier of Musical Kinky Boots (Oriental Theater)

Cyndi Lauper, Harvey Fierstein, creatives and cast members....and some seriously kinky boots and sweet shoes, too!


ChiIL Live Shows was stoked to be invited to a press conference with the masterminds behind Kinky Boots.  We dug hearing Cyndi Lauper, Harvey Fierstein, creatives and cast members at a press conference earlier in the day.   They all raved about how much they dig Chicago and we're universally enthusiastic about the show and the original indie film that sparked the idea for the adaptation.   Check back with ChiIL Live Shows like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often, as we'll have loads of original video clips from the conference up soon.

I was slated to volunteer at Facets Multimedia last night--home of one of the largest video rental sources for indie and multicultural film in the nation.   I've volunteered there for 22 years, this month.   I was elated that they not only carry the original Kinky Boots movie, but it wasn't rented out!  After my volunteer shift I went home and promptly watched it.  The movie was as endearing and edgy as the production staff said.  The message of acceptance, cooperation and understanding is timely and right on in all the right ways.   

After the kiddos are in bed, we highly recommend checking out the film, with it's unlikely bond between England's drag queen scene and a struggling, old school, mens' dress shoe maker.    The sociology, psychology, human nature, and good old fashioned great story telling make this culture clash and ultimate blending, completely compelling.

We'll be reviewing the pre-Broadway world premier here after the show runs in previews for a few weeks.   We'll be checking it out on October 17th.    Want in on cheaper preview tixs?    The show starts the 2nd.