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Saturday, November 17, 2018

REVIEW: Miss Saigon at Cadillac Palace Through Saturday, December 8, 2018

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THE NEW NATIONAL TOUR OF CAMERON MACKINTOSH’S
DYNAMITE BROADWAY REVIVAL OF BOUBLIL AND SCHÖNBERG’S LEGENDARY MUSICAL
MISS SAIGON
AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE


running time is 2 hour and 40 minutes with an intermission

Review 
by Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

I had the great pleasure of catching Miss Saigon's Chicago press opening and the special effects lived up to their reputation. The evacuation of Saigon, featuring a helicopter and gate storming desperation was impressive, and the massive scale dance numbers alone make this a must see. I particularly loved the reunification celebration with a dragon, masked dancers and plentiful acro moves.




EMILY BAUTISTA is a delight as Kim, and we were rooting for her till the bitter end. ANTHONY FESTA'S Chris is eye candy with talent, and we're not complaining. RED CONCEPCIÓN is also impressive as greed incarnate, The Engineer, a hustler as amusing as he is despicable.

The score is a tear jerker, with beautiful, power numbers, and the story telling is superb in this touring cast's capable hands. It's poignant and eye opening to see the multimedia incorporation of the baby byproducts of the Vietnam war, the rejected and orphaned half American/half Vietnamese children of soldiers. I do like that Miss Saigon doesn't glorify war, and brings up the still timely topics of children in cages, refugees desperate to flee their ravaged homelands, and women as victims of armed conflict. 

That said, this is likely one of the least feminist musicals I've seen in recent years. Part of me hates to see the same trite tale of a stripper with a heart of gold, women forced to choose between prostitution and starvation, the titillation of exploitation, and war victims as scantily entertainment. Furthermore, men need to stop thinking it's justifiable to threaten a woman's child to bully her into an unwanted relationship, no matter how powerful they are. At least Kim's response to this ploy was cathartic! Still, despite her strength, smarts, and fiercely protective love for her son, she ended up in a horrific position, in forced prostitution in brothels in Bangkok. 



I found it far fetched and depressing that we're still idealizing the storyline of a woman pining away for 3 years, waiting to be rescued by her baby daddy, a man she fell hopelessly in love with after knowing for literally one night. It also makes me a bit queasy that Kim is seen as a heroine for making the ultimate sacrifice for her son. Desperate single mothers need resources and choices, not more tragic, romantic figures. Still, Miss Saigon is a classic, and this production tells the story well. If you're fond of star crossed lovers, wrenching choices, tragic missed connections, and large scale Broadway style spectacle, Miss Saigon is an excellent choice. 





Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical MISS SAIGON is now playing a limited engagement at Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W Randolph St) through Saturday, December 8, 2018.

MISS SAIGON tells the story of a young Vietnamese woman named Kim, who is orphaned by war and forced to work in a bar run by a notorious character known as the Engineer. There she meets and falls in love with an American G.I. named Chris, but they are torn apart by the fall of Saigon. For 3 years, Kim goes on an epic journey of survival to find her way back to Chris, who has no idea he's fathered a son. This new production features stunning spectacle and a sensational cast of 42 performing the soaring score, including Broadway hits like “The Heat is On in Saigon,” “The Movie in My Mind,” “Last Night of the World” and “American Dream.”

Cameron Mackintosh said “It’s hard to believe that it has been over 27 years since MISS SAIGON first opened in North America but, if anything, the tragic love story at the heart of the show has become even more relevant today with innocent people being torn apart by war all over the world. This brilliant new production, directed by Laurence Connor and featuring the original dazzling choreography by Bob Avian, takes a grittier, more realistic approach that magnifies the power and epic sweep of Boublil and Schönberg’s tremendous score. Of all my productions, despite its popularity, MISS SAIGON is the one that the public has had the least chance to see as it requires such a huge international cast of Asian and Western performers and a vast array of visually stunning sets.

Now, for the first time in 17 years, as it continues to wow audiences in major cities around the world, theatregoers across America will be able to see one of the most spectacular musicals ever written in all its glory, in a new production that critics in London and on Broadway have embraced.

MISS SAIGON has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg with lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr. and Alain Boublil, adapted from original French lyrics by Alain Boublil, with additional lyrics by Michael Mahler. The new production is directed by Laurence Connor with musical staging by Bob Avian and additional choreography by Geoffrey Garratt. Production design is by Totie Driver and Matt Kinley based on an original concept by Adrian Vaux; costume design by Andreane Neofitou; lighting design by Bruno Poet; projections by Luke Halls; sound design by Mick Potter; and orchestrations by William David Brohn. Music supervision is by Stephen Brooker and James Moore, with casting by Merri Sugarman for Tara Rubin Casting.

Since its London premiere in 1989, Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s epic musical MISS SAIGON has become one of the most successful musicals in history. The original Broadway production of MISS SAIGON opened on April 11, 1991 with what was the largest advance sale in Broadway history ($37 million). The show went on to play for nearly ten years with 4,111 performances and was seen by more than 5.9 million people. MISS SAIGON has been performed in 32 countries, over 350 cities, in 15 different languages, has won over 70 awards including 2 Olivier Awards, 3 Tony Awards and 4 Drama Desk Awards and been seen by over 36 million people worldwide.

The new production of MISS SAIGON opened in London in May 2014 to record-breaking advance sales and critical acclaim. The Daily Telegraph wrote, “This thrilling new production spills out beyond theatre and speaks directly to the times we live in—magnificent performances.” The Daily Mail said, “The greatest musical of all-time just got even better!” The London Times called the production “thrilling, soaring and spectacular.” NY1 proclaimed “the new Miss Saigon soars to the rafters!” And The New Yorker called Miss Saigon “a dynamite Broadway revival!”

Cameron Mackintosh announced in 2015 that the production would transfer for a limited Broadway run from March 1, 2017 to January 14, 2018 before launching its national tour at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI in September 2018.

The new production of MISS SAIGON, currently on tour around the UK, will also play at venues in Germany and Switzerland over the next year. New productions will also open during the next few years in Asia.

The full backstage story of how the new production was created, The Heat Is Back On, is now available on DVD by Universal and is one of the most comprehensive insights into how a big musical is put together that has ever been filmed.



Official show site: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram:
https://www.miss-saigon.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MissSaigonUS/ https://twitter.com/MissSaigonUS https://www.instagram.com/MissSaigonUS/
    
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Tuesdays at 7:30PM
Wednesdays at 2:00PM & 7:30PM
Thursdays at 7:30PM (no performance on Nov. 22)
Fridays at 7:30PM (added 2:00PM matinee on Nov. 23)
Saturdays at 2:00PM & 8:00PM
Sundays at 2:00PM (added 7:30PM evening performance on Nov. 18)

TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets are currently on-sale to the public and range in price from $35-$120 with a select number of premium seats available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 18 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 more than 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 Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, Oriental Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

CAST BIOGRAPHIES
NOVEMBER 2018

RED CONCEPCIÓN (The Engineer). Credits: Miss Saigon (U.K./Ireland Tour), The Secret Garden, Equus, Sleeping Beauty, Sweeney Todd, The Fantasticks, Mulan Jr., Altar Boyz, Hamlet, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Godspell, A Grand Night for Singing, West Side Story, Hairspray, Into the Woods. Film/TV: Incredible Tales: The Hex, The Boston: The Kitchen Musical, All Things New. Aliw Award – Best Actor in a Musical; Gawad Buhay! Award – Outstanding Male Performance in a Musical. @red_concepcion

EMILY BAUTISTA (Kim) is so thrilled to be playing the role of Kim out on the road. She recently understudied the part in the 2017 Broadway revival of Miss Saigon before joining the North American touring company of Les Misérables as Éponine. She is so grateful to the whole creative team, everyone at Tara Rubin casting, her agents at Avalon Artists, as well as her family and friends for all of their support. Instagram: @em_bautista

ANTHONY FESTA (Chris). National tours: Wicked, Finding Neverland. West End/International/U.K. tour: West Side Story (Tony). NYC: Bare (New World Stages), Desperate Measures (York, New World Stages), I Am Harvey Milk (Avery Fisher Hall), How Deep Is the Ocean (NYMF). Regional: Rent, Rock of Ages, Billy Elliot, South Pacific, Hairspray. Thanks to NETworks, Merri Sugarman at Tara Rubin Casting and David Krasner at Nani Saperstein Management. To my Mother, Sister, Mila/Daniel. For Dad. Instagram: @Festafied; Twitter: @anthonylfesta

STACIE BONO (Ellen). Off-Broadway: Sweeney Todd (Beggar Woman/Pirelli), Avenue Q (Kate Monster/Lucy T. Slut). Regional highlights: Guthrie Theater: The Music Man (Marian); Tuacahn: Les Misérables (Fantine); Denver Center: Sense and Sensibility (Lucy); Flat Rock Playhouse: My Fair Lady (Eliza). Awards: NHTA Award (Best Actress in a Musical, The Apple Tree). Training: MA in Acting – Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, BFA from NYU Tisch. This one’s for you, DSR. Twitter/Instagram: @stacie_bono

J. DAUGHTRY (John). Broadway: The Color Purple, Beautiful. Backup singer: Anthony Brown and Group TherAPy, Patti LaBelle, Donald Lawrence, Bobby Jones Gospel, Kirk Franklin. Tours: Cirque Dreams Holidaze, Motown: The Musical. TV: Boardwalk Empire, Law & Order SVU, Elementary, Orange is the New Black. Universal Studios Japan, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. Recipient of the Grady- Rayam Prize. His mother is his inspiration and influence, along with pastors and motivational speakers who have seeded his faith and vision.

JINWOO JUNG (Thuy). Off-Broadway: K-Pop (A.R.T/NY, Oracle). Regional: La Cage Aux Folles (East West Players, Jean Michel) and The Christians (Mark Taper Forum, Choir). Film/TV: Glass. MFA Acting: University of Southern California. Many thanks to team Miss Saigon, Merri Sugarman/Tara
 Rubin Casting and team Mcgowan/Rodriguez. Endless love to Bumindong/Jeju family, Mom, Dad and my amazing wife, Hosoo Lee. @jinu108

CHRISTINE BUNUAN (Gigi). National tour: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Regional: Writers Theatre, Silk Road Rising, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Marriott Theatre, TimeLine Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre and more. Visit christinebunuan.com for more information. Special thanks to this incredible artistic team, her family and husband, Sean. Dedicated to Mom and Dad.

EYMARD CABLING (Ensemble, The Engineer at certain performances, u/s Thuy). Tours: Miss Saigon in North America and the international tour of The King and I in Asia. Regional: Allegiance (Frankie Suzuki/Mr. Maruyama), The King and I (Lun Tha), Once on This Island (Daniel), Me...Jane at the Kennedy Center and She Loves Me (Arpad) at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Carnegie Mellon University B.F.A. My love, Veronica, thank you for being my balance and my light. I love you.

MYRA MOLLOY (Ensemble, Kim at certain performances) is a songwriting major at Berklee College of Music. Theatrical credits: Reya – The Musical (young Reya), Dracula: Blood is Life (Lucy). In 2016, Myra performed the songs and voice for Disney’s Thai version of Moana (Moana) and starred in HBO’s Halfworlds 2 (Wish). In 2011, at age 13, Myra won the premiere season of Thailand’s Got Talent, and in 2014 she made the final six on ABC’s Rising Star. @myramolloy

ALEXANDER AGUILAR (Ensemble). Broadway: Miss Saigon, Lysistrata Jones. National tour: Memphis. CCM Graduate. Many thanks to this team for giving me this opportunity.

ERIC BADIQUÉ (Ensemble, u/s The Engineer). Regional: Mary Poppins, Starlight Express, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Miss Saigon, White Christmas, Anything Goes, The King and I and 1776 (Oguma Playhouse). BFA Musical Theatre from AMDA LA. Big thanks to the Company, ATB Talent and Tara Rubin Casting. Love to Mom, Dad, Arlene, Elissa, Sarah and Lisa. Mabuhay! @ericbdk

BRANDON BLOCK (Swing, Dance Captain) is thrilled to be with Miss Saigon. He has been seen in the pre-Broadway tryout of Roman Holiday (Golden Gate Theatre), in the upcoming feature film Isn’t It Romantic and as Jake in Oklahoma! (Muny, St. Louis). Love to blocNYC, his OUMT family, and his beautiful mother, Maria, and sister, Tiffany. Boomer!

JOVEN CALLOWAY (Swing). National/International Tours: Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan, The Aluminum Show. Regional: Damn Yankees (Goodspeed), Miss Saigon (TUTS, Riverside Theater), Evita, Carousel, Guys and Dolls, Yankee Doodle Dandy (Musical Theater West), Frozen, Aladdin (Disney’s California Adventure). Huge thanks to the creative team, Tara Rubin, DDO, his family, Brian, Mayla and Gus! @jkabobs

RAE LEIGH CASE (Swing) first saw Miss Saigon when she was 8 and has been in love ever since. Credits: Jesus Christ Superstar, A Chorus Line, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, White Christmas, Saturday Night Fever, Curtains, Shrek, Swing, The Color Purple, Spamalot, Mary Poppins, Cats, Peter Pan, Sweet Charity. Love to the best TEAM! TERRY!

JACE CHEN (Tam) is thrilled to reprise the role of Tam, which he played throughout the 2017 Broadway revival of Miss Saigon. Jace is in first grade and loves dancing, skiing and swimming. Many thanks to family, CP Talent Management, JGD Agency and Tara Rubin Casting for this amazing opportunity. @mrjacechen

KAI AN CHEE (Ensemble, u/s Kim, u/s Gigi). Professional debut! Third culture kid from Penang, Malaysia. BFA NYU Tisch (Fall ’17). Educational Credits: Xanadu (Thetis, Dance Captain), Medusa (Steno). Thanks to cast, creatives and Tara Rubin Casting. To Mum, Dad, Kai Qi and Josiah for their love and support. Look what God has done. Philippians 4:7. kaianchee.com

MAX B. EHRLICH (Ensemble, Acrobat). National Tours: The King and I, Mamma Mia!. Regional: Seven Brides... (Nu Puppis), Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike (Company of Fools). Education: BFA Virginia Commonwealth University. Interests: Martial Arts, Chocolate, Space Jam. Thanks to ATG, my family and loved ones! @ikaika.ehrlich

JULIE EICHER (Ensemble, u/s Ellen). National Tour: The Phantom of the Opera (Corps de Ballet, Meg u/s). Regional: Lise in An American in Paris (Ogunquit Playhouse), Rob Ashford’s Carousel (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Theatre by the Sea, Houston Grand Opera. Ballet Companies: Nashville Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Ballet Neo, Artisan Dance Co. Proud graduate of CCM (Ballet), Interlochen. @julie.eicher

MATTHEW DAILEY (Ensemble) is thrilled to join Miss Saigon! National Tour: Jersey Boys (Tommy). Regional: Viva Vegas (Elvis), A Chorus Line (Mike), Singin’ in the Rain (Don Lockwood), Cats (Rum Tum Tugger). From Denver, CO. Thanks to the Miss Saigon team, family and friends, as well as Paul and Alann. “This is for you, Dad.” @matthewdailey88

NOAH GOULDSMITH (Ensemble, Acrobat). Favorite Credits: Isn’t it Romantic, Saturday Night Live, Flashdance (First National Tour), Bad Boys of Dance, Radio City Summer Spectacular, Disney’s Newsies (Fulton Theatre), Oklahoma! (Marriott Theatre). Endless love to my family, friends and everyone at Bloc NYC. @noahgouldsmith

ADAM KAOKEPT (Ensemble). Broadway credits: Miss Saigon (The Engineer/Thuy u/s), Aladdin (Original Broadway Cast). Off-Broadway: Radiant Baby, Zanna, Don’t!. National Tours: Mamma Mia! (Pepper), Flower Drum Song, Bye Bye Birdie. Regional: Pacific Overtures, Cloudlands, Jesus Christ Superstar. TV: Master of None, General Hospital. Love to my tribe! adamkaokept.com

RYDER KHATIWALA (Tam) is delighted to be making his national tour debut on Miss Saigon. He is in Pre-K, and loved ballet, hip hop, and soccer. You will often find Ryder singing, while cooking dinner for his dinosaurs.

MADOKA KOGUCHI (Ensemble) couldn’t be more thrilled to be living in the Dreamland! Credits: Night Beats Revamped, A Chorus Line, Rent, MOTHER-A mother of Kamikaze, Tome Torihama. Recent graduate of AMDA NY. Proud native Tokyoite. Thanks Danny at Hudson Artist Agency! For my incredible husband, mom, brother and family in Japan and the U.S.

NANCY LAM (Swing) is overjoyed to be living this dream. Some favorites: Miss Saigon (Macau, China), Frozen: Live at the Hyperion (Disney California Adventure), Beijing Spring (East West Players), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Madison Square Garden). Love, Respect, and Gratitude to the Saigon team, DDO, family and friends, Terence. @nancylam

BRIAN SHIMASAKI LIEBSON (Swing). National Tour: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (The Footman). Select Regional: Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (The Muny), A.R.T., Ogunquit, MSMT, Gateway. Proud graduate of Olin College with a BS in Robotic Engineering. All my love to this team, cast, Tara Rubin and Mom. Thrilled to be a part of Miss Saigon. @LiebsonBounds

GARRICK MACATANGAY (Ensemble). First National Tour: Bombay Dreams. Regional: The King and I (Sacramento Music Circus), Sweet Charity (Center Rep), White Christmas (FCLO), Guys and Dolls (AMTSJ). Thanks to Bloc! Much love to my family and friends with their abundant love and support. Love you Mom, Dad, Glenda, Gio, Maui and Cruz!

JONELLE MARGALLO (Ensemble, u/s Ellen, u/s Gigi). Broadway: Miss Saigon (Dominique). Other favorite credits include: Here Lies Love, West Side Story, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, A Chorus Line, Women on Fire and Imelda, The Musical!. BFA, Boston Conservatory. Endless gratitude and love to family, friends and Jackson! For Mom and Dad. Love you! @jonellemargallo

FIN MOULDING (Tam) is thrilled to be on tour with Miss Saigon, which is her first tour and first show ever. Fin is four years old and lives with her mommy in New York City and sometimes Los Angeles. Fin loves dancing, singing and books. Thank you to grandparents, family, friends who are like family, and mommy. https://backstage.com/finmoulding

JACKIE NGUYEN (Ensemble) is proud to be a Vietnamese American actor telling this story. National/International Tours: Miss Saigon (Kim), My Fair Lady (Swing), Hair, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Swing, Asst. Choreographer/Director). Dedicated to my family who escaped Vietnam over 30 years ago. Con thuong me nhieu. Thanks to Craig, creatives and my husband, Nate. @jackienguyenhuntley

MATTHEW OVERBERG (Ensemble). Originally from Australia, Matthew graduated with a BFA (Dance) in 2014. He has since danced with Royal Caribbean International and appeared in the Australian company of The King and I (Ensemble) and U.S. national tour of Cabaret (Swing). Sending love to my friends, family and husband, Ryan. @dearmatt

MELANIE RAMIREZ (Tam) is making her national tour debut alongside her twin sister, with the support of her parents, big brother Jay and Shirley Grant Management. The girls were recently in a Hyundai commercial that aired during the Superbowl. She is very excited to be on stage with this amazing cast! @ramirez_twins1017

SARAH RAMIREZ (Tam). With the support of her parents, her big brother Jay and Shirley Grant Management, Sarah is making her national tour debut alongside her twin sister. The girls were recently in a Hyundai commercial. She is thrilled to be joining such an amazing cast! @ramirez_twins1017

EMILIO RAMOS (Ensemble). Broadway: The King and I (Lincoln Center). Off-Broadway: West Side Story (Carnegie Hall). Tours: The King and I (First National), West Side Story. Regional: The Muny, Houston Grand Opera, Ogunquit Playhouse, The Ordway, ZACH Theatre. Big love to Lucille, the Saigon team and my family. For Lusiya, Gabriella and my Mum. @lilporkbunz

ADAM ROBERTS (Ensemble, u/s Chris) is elated to be a part of this beautiful show! Broadway: Spider- Man: Turn Off The Dark and Pippin. He has been seen in the national tour of Dirty Dancing, Off- Broadway in Standard Time and as Cornelius in Ozark Actors Theatre’s Hello, Dolly!. He just finished associate directing and choreographing Broadway Backwards.

CASEY LEE ROSS (Ensemble, Acrobat). Broadway: Miss Saigon. Theater: Wicked, Chess, Children of Eden (w/ Jon Jon Briones). Film: Step Up, The Other Guys. TV: Lip Sync Battle. Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Flight of the Conchords, America’s Got Talent. Dance double for Josh Groban, Bill Gates, Mark Wahlberg and Brad Pitt.

MICHAEL RUSSELL (Ensemble). National tour debut! Regional: Rocky Mountain Repertory: West Side Story (Riff), Mamma Mia! (Pepper); Uptown Players: A Chorus Line (Mike Costa); The Arvada Center: Joseph (Napthalie/Apache Dancer); Cortland Repertory: Saturday Night Fever (Tony Manero); Casa Mañana: Spamalot. Much love and thanks to my family, Rob, Mike and Ginner. IG: @itsm_russell itsmichaelrussell.com

PAUL SCHWENSEN (Ensemble, u/s Chris). Regional: All Shook Up (The Muny), Joseph...Dreamcoat (Arvada Center), Mamma Mia! (ACT of Connecticut), Footloose (Porthouse Theatre). Concerts: West Side Story, Guys and Dolls (Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Guangzhou, China). BFA from CCM. Thanks to Mom and Dad, the Tara Rubin team and CGF! @paul_schwensen

JULIUS SERMONIA (Ensemble, u/s Thuy, Fight Captain). Broadway: Miss Saigon (u/s Club Owner), The King and I (u/s Lun Tha), Doctor Zhivago (Dance Captain), Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats (Mistoffelees). National Tours: The King and I, Contact, Cats. Selected: Yoshimi (La Jolla), Miss Saigon (PCLO), Funny Thing...Forum (Mirvish), Seven seasons with Stratford Festival. @JuliusSermonia

EMILY STILLINGS (Ensemble). Broadway: Lincoln Center Theater’s The King and I. LA: David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori’s Soft Power. TV: Saturday Night Live (Lin-Manuel Miranda, Saoirse Ronan, Jimmy Fallon, Kevin Hart), Lip Sync Battle (LL Cool J, John Krasinski). So much love for you, Mom. Thank you for being my biggest supporter always. @emilystillings

TIFFANY TOH (Ensemble). Broadway: Miss Saigon (OBC). National/International Tours: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast. Other: Legally Blonde (Pilar), South Pacific (Liat), The King and I, Lil’ Kim Australia Tour (backup dancer). SUNY Buffalo graduate in Political Science. Proud Malaysian. For Mum, Jie and Mark! @littletoh

NICHOLAS WALTERS (Ensemble, u/s John) is thrilled to be joining the cast of Miss Saigon. Credits: Lusty Lil’s Wild West Revue (Cedar Point Live Entertainment), Hair (Three Rivers Music Theatre). Proud graduate of Ball State University’s BFA Musical Theatre program. Much love to my wonderful friends and family.

MICHAEL WORDLY (Ensemble, u/s John). Off-Broadway: Spamilton. Tours: The Color Purple (First Revival National Tour), The Little Mermaid (u/s Sebastian, 5th Avenue Theatre). Regional: Memphis (Gator), Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Adrian) and Hairspray (Seaweed). Giving honor and thanks to God for all His blessings! Many thanks to my family, Gregg Baker Management and Tara Rubin Casting. WakandaForever.

ANNA-LEE WRIGHT (Ensemble, Assistant Dance Captain). Broadway: Miss Saigon. Tours/International: Miss Saigon (u/s Gigi), The Venetian, Macau (opera singer). TV/Film: MTV’s Ladylike (series regular), Love is a Broadway Hit (Bridgette Wu). Love to Eddie at Take3, TR Casting, T and the entire creative team.



CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES
NOVEMBER 2018

ALAIN BOUBLIL (Book & Lyrics). Librettist/original lyricist of the musicals La Révolution Française, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Martin Guerre and The Pirate Queen with Claude-Michel Schönberg, and Marguerite with Michel Legrand. Co-wrote the screenplay and co-produced the movie soundtrack of Golden Globe–winning Les Misérables (Academy Award nomination, Best Song). Author: plays The Diary of Adam and Eve and Manhattan Parisienne, prize-winning novel Les Dessous de Soi. Awards: two Tony, Grammy and Victoires de la Musique awards; Molière, Evening Standard and Olivier awards; special Grammy honor; honoree of NY Pops at Carnegie Hall (2016). Producer: Boublil/Schönberg Do You Hear the People Sing worldwide symphonic concerts. Member, Board of Directors, NY Pops.

CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG (Concept, Book & Music). Co-book writer and composer of La Révolution Française, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Martin Guerre and The Pirate Queen. Co-wrote Marguerite in collaboration with Alain Boublil, Michel Legrand, Herbert Kretzmer. Supervised overseas productions and co-produced international cast albums of his shows. Composed the ballet scores for Wuthering Heights and Cleopatra for Northern Ballet. Co-wrote the screenplay and reconceived the music for the Les Misérables musical movie. Golden Globe and several times Tony and Grammy winner, Oscar nominee, 2016 honoree of the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall with Alain Boublil. Appointed visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford University.

CAMERON MACKINTOSH (Producer). For over 50 years, Cameron has been producing more musicals than anyone else in history, including the three longest-running musicals of all time: Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and Cats. His co-production with Disney of Mary Poppins continues to sprinkle its magic worldwide. He, with Working Title, enjoyed huge success with the film of Les Misérables. He owns eight London theatres, including the Victoria Palace, which after a major rebuild and refurbishment, has re-opened with the award-winning musical Hamilton, co-produced with Jeffrey Seller. This year, Cameron will have 22 productions running around the world, including 5 in London’s West End. His new productions of Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon are currently touring North America to great acclaim. Cats will also launch a U.S. tour in early 2019. Cameron was knighted in 1996 and is the first British producer to be elected to the Theater Hall of Fame; and the recipient of the 2017 Stephen Sondheim Award.

RICHARD MALTBY, JR. (Lyrics). Broadway: conceived and directed two Tony Award Best Musicals: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1978, also Best Director); Fosse (1999). Ring of Fire (2006). With composer David Shire: director/lyricist: Baby (1983); lyricist: Big (1996). Co-lyricist: Miss Saigon (1989); The Pirate Queen (2007). Director/co-lyricist: Song & Dance (1986). Director: The Story of My Life (2009). Off- Broadway: director/lyricist: Starting Here, Starting Now (1977); Closer Than Ever (1989). Director: Just Jim Dale, Roundabout (2014), London (2015). Regional: lyricist: Take Flight, Chocolate Factory (2010), McCarter (2012); book/lyrics, Waterfall, Pasadena, Seattle (2015). Film: screenplay, Miss Potter. Contributes cryptic crossword puzzles to Harper’s. Son of well-known orchestra leader. Children: Nicholas, David, Jordan, Emily, Charlotte.
MICHAEL MAHLER (Additional Lyrics) is the Chicago-based composer/lyricist of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, October Sky, Hero, Something in the Game, Painted Alice and others. He served as premiere English lyricist for Boublil & Schönberg’s La Revolution Française and contributed lyrics to Russell Watson’s album Only One Man. Projects in development include Secret of My Success and Gravediggers’ Hamlet. michaelmahler.com

WILLIAM DAVID BROHN, 1933–2017 (Orchestrations). For Cameron Mackintosh: Miss Saigon; Mary Poppins; Oliver!; Barnum; Half a Sixpence; Betty Blue Eyes; My Fair Lady; Carousel; Hey, Mr. Producer!; Witches of Eastwick and Oklahoma. Further commissions included: Wicked, South Pacific, Crazy for You, Porgy and Bess, The Secret Garden and Show Boat. Bill Brohn was a respected collaborator for many productions and celebrated a thirty-year history alongside Cameron Mackintosh and his creative teams.

LAURENCE CONNOR (Director). Theatre: School of Rock (Broadway, West End, U.S. tour), Les Misérables (Broadway, West End, worldwide, U.S. tour), Miss Saigon (West End, U.S and U.K. tours, worldwide), Jesus Christ Superstar (U.K. arena tour, Australia), the entirely new stage production of The Phantom of the Opera (U.S., U.K. tours), Oliver! (U.K. tour). Concerts: The Phantom of the Opera 25th anniversary (Royal Albert Hall, worldwide cinema streaming, DVD), Les Misérables 25th anniversary (O2 Arena, worldwide cinema streaming, DVD), Miss Saigon 25th anniversary (cinema release, DVD). Awards: Miss Saigon West End (Best Direction – WhatsOnStage, Broadway World awards), Miss Saigon Australia (Best Director of a Musical – Green Room Awards), Les Misérables Korea (Best Director of a Musical).

BOB AVIAN (Musical Staging) began his career as a dancer in more than a dozen Broadway shows including West Side Story and Funny Girl. He then became an integral part of every Michael Bennett production for the next 20 years, working as associate choreographer and/or assistant director on Company, Follies, Twigs, Seesaw and God’s Favorite; co-choreographer of A Chorus Line (Tony Award); co-choreographer/co-producer of Ballroom (Tony Award); and producer of Dreamgirls. London: Follies, Miss Saigon and Sunset Boulevard (both also Broadway), Martin Guerre (Olivier Award), The Witches of Eastwick. Additional Broadway: Putting It Together, A Chorus Line (director, revival, also at London’s Palladium).

GEOFFREY GARRATT (Additional Choreography). Musical staging: Les Misérables (Broadway). Assoc./Additional Choreography: Broadway: Mary Poppins. West End: Miss Saigon; Mary Poppins; The Witches of Eastwick; Betty Blue Eyes; Oliver!; Hey, Mr. Producer!; South Pacific. Dance Captain: Martin Guerre, Cats. U.K. tours/international: Les Misérables, Mary Poppins, The Witches of Eastwick, Oliver!, Miss Saigon. Choreography: Jack and the Beanstalk, Blues in the Night, Fascinating Aïda, A Doll’s House, Little Shop.

TOTIE DRIVER (Set Design) has 25 years’ experience working on the stage designs for the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Donmar Warehouse, Theatre de Complicite, Glynedebourne and London’s West End. She is a visiting lecturer on Stage Design at Nottingham Trent University. For Cameron Mackintosh: stage designer for Oliver! U.K. tour, Ghent and Antwerp; Miss Saigon U.K. tour 2002 and subsequently Korea, Australia, Japan, Brazil and Utrecht. For the 2014 return to the West End, she collaborated with Matt Kinley, winning 2015 WhatsOnStage Best Set Design.

MATT KINLEY (Set Design) graduated from the Motley course in 1994 and spent the next decade working in The National Theatre and West End. As part of a long working partnership with Cameron Mackintosh, he has adapted and designed productions of My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Phantom and Les Misérables all over the world amongst the design of numerous other international shows. In 2013, Matt worked alongside Totie Driver to redevelop Miss Saigon ahead of its London revival. They have continued their relationship to bring you this new version.

ADRIAN VAUX, 1936–2012 (Design Concept), studied design at the Slade School. London: house designer at Mermaid Theatre (1964–1970), Leicester Phoenix/Haymarket (1971–1980), Old Vic (1980– 1982); West End credits including My Fair Lady, Cause Célèbre, Tomfoolery. He began working in Israel in 1968, amassing extensive credits including the original production of Ghetto. Recent work: international tours of Miss Saigon and Oliver!; August: Osage County for Habimah in Israel.

ANDREANE NEOFITOU (Costume Design). Theatre includes Les Misérables (Tony nomination) and Miss Saigon (worldwide); Once in a Lifetime, Nicholas Nickleby, Hedda Gabler, The Merchant of Venice, Fair Maid of the West, The Changeling (all Royal Shakespeare Company); Peter Pan (National Theatre); Grease (West End); Miss Julie (Athens); Carmen (Royal Albert Hall); Timon of Athens with David Suchet (Old Vic); Martin Guerre (Guthrie); Nabucco (The Met); Jane Eyre (Broadway, Outer Critics Circle nomination). Film includes Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, directed by Tom Stoppard.

BRUNO POET (Lighting Design) works extensively across theatre, opera, dance, music and live events. He won the Olivier Award for his lighting on Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein at the National Theatre and a Knight of Illumination Award for his lighting on Sigur Ros’ 2012–2013 world tour. He subsequently designed the lighting for their current 2016–2017 world tour. His international work includes productions for the National, RSC, Royal Opera House, Los Angeles Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Bregenz Festival, English National Opera, Royal Danish Opera, The Royal Ballet and in the West End.

LUKE HALLS (Projections) is a video designer for theatre, opera, dance and music. He has received a Knight of Illumination Award for Don Giovanni at the Royal Opera House and a BAFTA for his work on ITV’s The Cube. Luke has designed internationally for music artists including, most recently, Beyoncé (Formation world tour), Adele (2016 world tour) and U2 (2015 world tour). His theatre work includes Half a Sixpence (West End), Man and Superman (National Theatre) and Hamlet (Barbican) starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

MICK POTTER (Sound Designer) has designed the sound for over 100 musicals worldwide including Broadway and West End productions of School of Rock (Drama Desk Award nominee), Les Misérables (Tony Award nominee, Helpmann Award), The Phantom of the Opera (Parneli Award), Miss Saigon, Evita, The Woman in White (Olivier Award), Bombay Dreams, Saturday Night Fever, Sunset Boulevard, From Here to Eternity, Betty Blue Eyes, The Wizard of Oz, Love Never Dies (Green Room Award), Sister Act, Joseph..., Zorro, The Sound of Music, Half a Sixpence and Cats.

STEPHEN BROOKER (Musical Supervisor). Conductor/Musical Director: Les Misérables film. Supervisor: Les Misérables (NY, London, Tokyo), Half a Sixpence, Barnum, Oliver!, Mary Poppins, Miss Saigon, Cats, My Fair Lady, The Secret Garden, South Pacific, Chess, The Woman in White, Saturday Night Fever, The Phantom of the Opera. Conductor: symphonies and choirs worldwide including Royal Choral Society for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Composer: Walt Disney, Coca-Cola, Ford Motors, BMW Motor, Jaguar Cars. Produced recordings of Les Misérables, Oliver!, Mary Poppins, South Pacific. Conducted the 85th Academy Awards.

JAMES MOORE (U.S. Musical Supervisor). Broadway: On the Town, Gigi, Follies, South Pacific, Ragtime, Steel Pier, Company. National tours: The Producers; Kiss Me, Kate; Crazy for You; And the World Goes ‘Round—The Songs of Kander and Ebb. Regional: Signature Theatre, Ford’s Theatre, Paper Mill, The Muny. Symphonic: National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, The Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, The Santa Barbara Symphony. Recordings: On the Town, Follies. Education: Master and Bachelor of Music degrees from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

SETH SKLAR-HEYN (Associate Director/Executive Producer). Broadway: Miss Saigon, Les Misérables (Executive Producer); The Phantom of the Opera (Production Supervisor); Miss Saigon,
Evita, A Little Night Music, Finian’s Rainbow, Good Vibrations (Associate Director); Mary Stuart, Rock’n’Roll, Frost/Nixon (Assistant Director); The Coast of Utopia (Assistant to the Director). National Tours: Miss Saigon, The Phantom of the Opera (Executive Producer and Associate Director); Billy Elliot (Resident Director). Seth directed the national tours of Frost/Nixon and Evita (2012 revival). Seth serves as Executive Producer for Cameron Mackintosh Inc. in NY. Graduate of Vassar College.

JESSE ROBB (Associate Choreographer). Broadway: 2017 Revival of Miss Saigon (Associate Choreographer) and The Cher Show (Associate Choreographer). Toronto: We Will Rock You (Resident Choreographer), Dirty Dancing (Resident Choreographer), The Lord of The Rings (Dance Captain). Vegas: Cirque Du Soleil’s Zumanity (Dance Captain). Jesse recently choreographed Elizabeth Cree for Opera Philadelphia and Ragtime at the Ogunquit Playhouse. He has served as associate director/choreographer at 5th Avenue Theatre, Goodspeed Musicals, and Berkshire Theatre Group, among others.

WILL CURRY (Music Director/Conductor). Broadway: My Fair Lady (LCT), Miss Saigon, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Misérables. National Tours: Les Misérables. Cast Albums: My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, John & Jen. Education: Northwestern University Bienen School of Music. For my family and Sebastian. @wjcurry.

RYAN EMMONS (Resident Director) is the founding co-artistic director of No.11 Productions. Directing credits with No.11 include Quest for the West, Coosje and Friends Call Me Albert. Broadway resident/assistant credits: Ghost, Matilda the Musical and Groundhog Day. Ryan was also the resident director for the 1st National Tour of Matilda the Musical. Thanks Jane! www.ryanemmonsdirects.com

TARA RUBIN CASTING (Casting). Selected Broadway: King Kong, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, The Band’s Visit, Prince of Broadway, Indecent, Bandstand, Sunset Boulevard, Miss Saigon, Dear Evan Hansen, A Bronx Tale, Cats, Falsettos, Disaster!, School of Rock, Les Misérables, The Heiress, The Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot, Shrek, Spamalot, ...Spelling Bee, The Producers, Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys. Off-Broadway: Smokey Joe’s Café; Jersey Boys; Here Lies Love; Love, Loss and What I Wore. Selected Regional: Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe, Asolo Rep. www.tararubincasting.com

JOHN MILLER (Music Coordinator). Over 100 Broadway shows. Recent: Hello, Dolly!; Indecent; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; A Bronx Tale; The Great Comet of 1812; Waitress; Something Rotten!; Beautiful; Jersey Boys. Musician (bass): Leonard Cohen, Eric Clapton, Bette Midler. His album Stage Door Johnny—John Miller: Takes on Broadway is available on PS Classics. johnmillerbass.com

JACK STEPHENS (Company Manager) has hit the road with many great touring productions, including The Magic of David Copperfield, Blue Man Group (North America and Latin America), Into the Woods, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, A Chorus Line (North America and Tokyo), Finding Neverland, Shrek The Musical (Asia) and Rent, among others. He resides in Denver and Las Vegas.

JUSTIN T. SCHOLL (Associate Company Manager) is proud to be joining the Saigon family. Broadway: Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill (Assistant to CM). Tours: Gentleman’s Guide, R&H’s Cinderella, Shrek The Musical (International), Beauty and the Beast (International), Elf, Flashdance, and Broadway Rox. Thanks for everything Mom, Dad, Sydney, my Human and Cookie.

JOVON E. SHUCK (Production Stage Manager). A proud member of AEA and graduate of Michigan State University, Jovon’s credits include the national tours of: Waitress, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King and Monty Python’s Spamalot. Much love to Sheila Marie, always.

MICHELLE DUNN (Stage Manager). Broadway: The Lion King, Jumpers, Bridge and Tunnel, Dance of the Vampires. National Tours: The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Dreamgirls, Hairspray. Other credits include: Houston Ballet and Disney Cruise Line. Love and thanks to my family for your never-ending support. For Dad.

STEPHANIE HALBEDEL (Assistant Stage Manager). Credits include the most recent national tours of Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Dirty Dancing and Blue Man Group, as well as shows throughout the Northeast and New York. All love and thanks to my dear family.

RACHAEL WILKIN (Assistant Stage Manager). National Tours: Waitress, Fiasco Theater’s Into the Woods, Pippin. Regional: Edinburgh and NY Fringe Festival, RWCMD. Scenic fabrication/painting: The Humans (Broadway).

BROADWAY BOOKING OFFICE NYC (Tour Booking, Engagement Management, Press and Marketing) is a leading theatrical tour booking, marketing and press company representing award- winning musicals and plays. Currently: Jersey Boys, Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, A Bronx Tale, Falsettos, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, The Sound of Music, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies. bbonyc.com

NICHOLAS ALLOTT (Executive Producer) joined Cameron Mackintosh in 1981 as Executive Producer for Cats and subsequently Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, The Phantom of the Opera, Oliver! and Mary Poppins, amongst others. Executive Producer of the feature film of Les Misérables. Since 2000, Managing Director of Cameron Mackintosh Ltd. Chairman of Soho Theatre, Trustee of the Roundhouse, Patron of Shakespeare Schools Festival and U.K. Business Ambassador for the Prime Minister’s Office. Awarded an OBE for services to theatre and charity by the Queen in 2014.

SETH WENIG (Executive Producer) has been with NETworks since its inception in 1995. He spearheaded the international tours of Fosse starring Ben Vereen and Ruthie Henshall. Seth has produced the Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific and the National Theatre production of War Horse. Together with Cameron Mackintosh, Seth served as Executive Producer for both the U.S. and U.K. tours of the National Theatre’s My Fair Lady, the 25th Anniversary U.S. Tour of Les Misérables, the new The Phantom of the Opera tour, Miss Saigon and A Bronx Tale. He is most proud of his greatest productions – Marlo and Camden.

NETWORKS PRESENTATIONS (Producer), from its inception over 20 years ago, has been an industry leading producer and manager of touring musical theatre productions and remains committed to delivering quality entertainment to audiences worldwide. Having toured over 70 productions internationally, NETworks’ current and upcoming touring productions include Cameron Mackintosh’s The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Elf the Musical, Finding Neverland, The Sound of Music, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I, The Band’s Visit, A Bronx Tale, Falsettos, Fiddler on the Roof and Cameron Mackintosh’s Miss Saigon.


ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (“Equity”), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 50,000 actors and stage managers. Equity seeks to foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. #EquityWorks



Friday, November 16, 2018

5 Shows Only: Chicago Magic Lounge Presents Spotlight: Women in Magic Through December 1, 2018

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Chicago Magic Lounge presents
Spotlight: Women in Magic
featuring an all-female lineup including host 
The Incredible Jan Rose,
headliner, Gold Medal of Magic winner, Jade,
featured act Lucy Darling (aka Carissa Hendrix) 
and close-up magician Alba in the 654 Club


November 29 – December 1, 2018

Chicago Magic Lounge, Chicago’s new home for close-up magic, is proud to present Spotlight: Women in Magic, featuring some of the world’s best professional magicians – who all happen to be women. Hosted by The Incredible Jan Rose, Spotlight: Women in Magic will feature magic by Lucy Darling (aka Carisa Hendrix) and close-up magician extraordinaire, Alba, with headliner (and first-time guest) Jade, the first woman to win the Gold Medal of Magic from the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Spotlight: Women in Magic will be presented as part of Chicago Magic Lounge’s The Signature Show, for five performances, November 29 – December 1, 2018.

“When we first opened the Chicago Magic Lounge, one of the conversations we had was about the comparatively small number of female to male magicians in the industry. Why aren’t there more female magicians?, we wondered,” notes Joseph Cranford, CEO and Co-Owner of Chicago Magic Lounge. “We firmly believe that a diversity of backgrounds and experiences is the key to innovation in any art form. As an organization, we are committed to doing our part to support female magicians and encourage more women to become part of the magic community. We hope that Spotlight: Women in Magic brings more people into the conversation.”

While female magicians are rare – research studies estimate only 5-10% of professional magicians and magic club members are women – they have played an important role in the history of magic. Groundbreakers include Adelaide Hermann, Lisa Menna, and June Horowitz. Hermann took over her late husband’s magic act in the early 1900s and became one of the most famous magicians of her day. Lisa Menna faced discrimination early in her career only to become the first woman to lecture and perform at the International Federation of Magic Societies (FISM), one of the most respected organizations in the magic community. Menna then went on to found the non-profit organization, Cause to Wonder, a theatre for social change that coordinates curiosity-based events across the globe. Chicago-born magician June Horowitz began performing magic around 1920 when female magicians were a rarity. With skill, wit, and determination, she earned the respect of the nearly all-male magical community and went on to become the first female president of the International Brotherhood of Magicians in 1987. Horowitz continued performing magic until she passed away at the age of 104 in June of 2018. Spotlight: Women in Magic is dedicated to her memory.

Spotlight: Women in Magic (The Signature Show) will be presented November 29 – December 1, 2018 on Thursdays at 7:30pm and Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm & 10pm. Tickets, priced $39.50-$54.50, 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 shows with a legal guardian. Ages 5+ allowed for The Family Show only.

Spotlight: Women in Magic performances are as follows:

Spotlight: Women in Magic (The Signature Show)
November 29 – December 1, 2018
Thursdays at 7:30pm; Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm & 10pm
Tickets: $39.50 (Main Floor), $44.50 (Premium Main Floor), $49.50 (Front Row), $54.50 (Mezzanine Experience)

Chicago Magic Lounge presents a special Spotlight: Women in Magic edition of The Signature Show featuring some of the best female magicians working today. The Incredible Jan Rose will be the guest host for the weekend, as well as performing table-magic during the cocktail hour along with regular CML house magicians, including Jeanette Andrews, Paige Thompson and Nancy Anderson, plus newcomer to the CML tables, Emily Hosman. The evening will continue with an hour of stage magic featuring Carissa Hendrix (aka Lucy Darling) and headliner (and first-time guest) Jade, the first woman to win the Gold Medal of Magic from the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Guests who purchase Mezzanine, Front Row and Premium Main Floor tickets are invited to an exclusive performance of close-up magic by Alba directly after the show in our 43-seat close-up gallery, The 654 Club.

About the Magicians

Jade (Headliner) took the male-dominated world of magic by storm in 1990, when she became the first woman to win the International Brotherhood of Magicians’ coveted Gold Medal of Magic, a prize awarded only a handful of times in the competition’s long history. She has performed and received multiple awards for her performances here and abroad, including the Mandrake Award from France as well as the “Female Magician of the Year” award from the International Magicians Society in Las Vegas. Fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English, Jade has performed on the stages of variety theaters around the world, on luxury cruise lines, and in casino revue shows in Atlantic City, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, Malaysia, and Australia. She has also delighted audiences in numerous appearances on international and American television, including CBS’ Late Late Show and CW Network’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us! Jade’s command performance for the Royal Family of Monaco at the Princess Grace Theater was one of her many career highlights. Among her impressive list of corporate clients includes Sony, Facebook, Apple Computer, and Google. 

Carisa Hendrix, aka Lucy Darling, (Featured Act) is a lady of extraordinary ability known for her comedy magic and her exceptionally good hair. She is an award-winning entertainer featured in the Guinness Book of World Records (2014 Book, Page 86), Ripley’s Believe it or Not (2015 Book) and the winner of the Melbourne Magic Festival award for the best comedy magic show.

Alba (654 Club) became the first female magician from South America to appear at Hollywood’s famous Magic Castle in two of its main stages. Her tools of the trade are her magnetic personality, theatrical training, command of English and Spanish, upbeat sense of humor, sleight of hand (and mind!) plus a deep respect for her audience. This Argentinian travels all over the world with her unique style of magic. The list of celebrities she has performed for is long, but the most famous is Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, currently known as Pope Frances.

The Incredible Jan Rose (Host, Table Magician) is a professional entertainer who is most often seen on stage performing her act for corporate events, trade shows, exclusive private parties as well as a frequent performer at the Chicago Magic Lounge. Jan’s table side magic is up-close, surprising and delightful. Along with her husband, Danny Orleans, with whom she performs a mentalism act, Jan lectures worldwide to magicians, including at the world famous FISM.

Jeanette Andrews (Table Magician) is a contemporary illusionist and artist who specializes in creating interactive sensory illusions, possessing a contemplative take on the art of the impossible. Combining a lifetime of craft with influences not typically seen in magic performances such as interactive performance art, immersive theater, quantum physics, and philosophy, she invents a unique take on this ancient art form. Andrews uses sensory anomalies and scientific oddities to bridge everyday life to a special, heightened world. Hailed as one of the most innovative illusionists today, Andrews has staged hundreds of performances at museums, theaters and universities across the United States, including sold-out and standing-room-only crowds at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Birmingham Museum of Art. Illusion is Ms. Andrews’ life’s work and her performances have been praised by PBS, The Daily Mail, and the Chicago Tribune.

Paige Thompson (Table Magician)
In an art form dominated by men, Paige Thompson emerges as one of the few world class female magicians. She spent her childhood and young adult life assisting other magicians on stages around the world and on national television including the highly acclaimed Americas Got Talent. Now, having recently been featured on FOX’s Showtime at the Apollo Paige has transitioned to a leading lady taking her passion for magic and experience within the art to give the boys a run for their money.

Nancy Anderson (Table Magician)
Nancy Anderson is a new magician from Minnesota. She volunteers as a Hospital Magician with Open Heart Magic in Chicago bringing smiles to families. She also has taken her magic internationally performing at the Ronald McDonald House in South America.  She is a dedicated student of Magic and a member of the Society of American Magicians and International brotherhood of Magicians. She is a  Wealth Manager and trust lawyer during the day.

Emily Hosman (Table Magician)
In the last 5 years Emily Hosman has performed throughout the country with Ardan James the Animated Illusionist, and has written and directed theatrical illusion performances in the Chicagoland area. Recently graduated with a BA in theatre, Emily is honored to be performing at the Chicago Magic Lounge amongst some of the greatest names in magic.

For a complete schedule of performances and more information about Chicago Magic Lounge, as well as resident and guest performers, Chicago Magic College classes, the Chicago Magic Round Table, and more, please visit chicagomagiclounge.com.

In addition to its programming, Chicago Magic Lounge is a proud organizational sponsor of Open Heart Magic, a non-profit organization of volunteer magicians who perform Bedside Magic™ for kids in hospitals, regardless of their medical condition or physical abilities.

About Chicago Magic Lounge
Chicago Magic Lounge reinvents the classic "magic bar" that once dotted Chicago's nightlife landscape, bringing cocktails and card tricks back together again. Shows include magic performance at the bar, on the stage and in true Chicago-style Magic form, at the tables of the guests, providing the classic "Close-Up" tradition Chicago-style Magic is known for. Chicago Magic Lounge is also the home of the Chicagoland magic community, showcasing over 30 local professionals, and serving as a networking hub for working magicians from all over the world. 

The newly constructed theater at 5050 N. Clark St., designed by Morris Architects Planners, has ushered in a new wave of entertainment, bringing back “Chicago-style Magic” under the leadership of Donald C Clark, Jr. and Joseph (Joey) Cranford. Converted from a 1940s-era, commercial laundry building, the Chicago Magic Lounge is a 7,200 square-foot, Art Deco, state-of-the-art theater and lounge complete with secret doors, elegant performance areas and a magic bar – all dedicated to the art of sleight of hand, prestidigitation and Chicago's contribution to the magical arts. From magicians to mind readers, Chicago Magic Lounge provides guests the unique, one-of-a-kind experience of seeing wonders up-close and personal in a venue unlike anything else offered throughout the country.

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

THE BOOK OF MORMON ANNOUNCES DAILY $25 TICKET LOTTERY FOR ALL CHICAGO SHOWS

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

THE BOOK OF MORMON
ANNOUNCES LOTTERY TICKET POLICY
PERFORMANCES BEGIN NOVEMBER 20, 2018
AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S ORIENTAL THEATRE




“THE BEST MUSICAL OF THIS CENTURY.
Heaven on Broadway!  A celebration of the privilege
of living inside that improbable paradise called a musical comedy.”
Ben Brantley, THE NEW YORK TIMES

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
AFTER RECORD BREAKING, SOLD-OUT RUNS


THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, is pleased to announce a lottery ticket policy for the National Tour, which begins in Chicago on November 20, 2018 at Broadway In Chicago’s Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph) and plays a limited two-week engagement through Sunday, December 2, 2018. In Chicago, the production will conduct a pre-show lottery at the box office, making a limited number of tickets available at $25 apiece.  

The wildly popular lottery for the Broadway production has attracted as many as 800 entries at some performances. The producers of THE BOOK OF MORMON are pleased to offer low-priced lottery seats for every city on the National Tour.  

Entries will be accepted at the box office when the Oriental Theatre box office opens each day; each person will print their name and the number of tickets (1 or 2) they wish to purchase on a card that is provided. Two hours before curtain, names will be drawn at random for a limited number of tickets priced at $25 each. Only one entry is allowed per person. Cards are checked for duplication. Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase tickets. Limit one entry per person and two tickets per winner. Tickets are subject to availability.



THE BOOK OF MORMON features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Parker and Stone are the four-time Emmy Award-winning creators of the landmark animated series, “South Park.” Tony Award-winner Lopez is co-creator of the long-running hit musical comedy, Avenue Q.  The musical is choreographed by Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw (Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone) and is directed by Nicholaw and Parker. 

THE BOOK OF MORMON is the winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Book (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Direction (Casey Nicholaw, Trey Parker), Best Featured Actress (Nikki M. James), Best Scenic Design (Scott Pask), Best Lighting Design (Brian MacDevitt), Best Sound Design (Brian Ronan) and Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman, Stephen Oremus); the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical; five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album; four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Musical, and the Drama League Award for Best Musical.



THE BOOK OF MORMON features set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt and sound design by Brian Ronan.  Orchestrations are by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus.  Music direction and vocal arrangements are by Stephen Oremus.  

The Original Broadway Cast Recording for THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, is available on Ghostlight Records.

For more information, visit www.BookofMormonTheMusical.com
Follow THE BOOK OF MORMON on Twitter and on Facebook.

TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets for THE BOOK OF MORMON at the Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph) range from $40 - $150 with a select number of premium seats available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000 and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 18 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 more than 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 Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, Oriental Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago


Friday, November 9, 2018

3 SHOWS ONLY: PORCHLIGHT REVISITS,“LOST” MUSICALS IN STAGED CONCERT SERIES, BEGINS ITS SIXTH SEASON WITH 1776, AT RUTH PAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, NOVEMBER 14 – 15

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

ARE YOU READY FOR A REVOLUTION?!
PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE’S PORCHLIGHT REVISITS,“LOST” MUSICALS IN STAGED CONCERT SERIES, BEGINS ITS SIXTH SEASON WITH 
1776, 
AT RUTH PAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, NOVEMBER 14 – 15


Porchlight Revisits Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Tony Award-winner About the Founding of the United States of America with the Largest Cast in Porchlight Revisits History

I'll be ChiILin' with Chi, IL's Porchlight Music Theatre for their matinee Thursday, Nov. 15th. Check back soon for my full review. These short runs do tend to sell out so don't wait to get your tickets. These “lost” musicals in staged concerts are a hoot and a favorite of ours here at ChiIL Live Shows.

Porchlight Music Theatre begins its sixth season of Chicago’s “lost” musicals in staged concert series with Porchlight Revisits 1776, music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and book by Peter Stone with direction by Artistic Director Michael Weber, musical direction by Jeremy Ramey and musical staging by Michelle Lauto. Porchlight Revisits 1776 is presented for only three performances Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 15 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Tickets for 1776 are available now for $37, subscriptions to the three performance series including 1776, Can-Can, March 6 and 7, 2019 and Minnie’s Boys, May 22 and 23, 2019 are $90/per person and available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight Music Theatre box office at 773.777.9884. 

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Tony Award-winner, Porchlight Music Theatre brings to Chicago the impassioned arguments and world-changing visions that were fought over in those sweltering summer days in Philadelphia nearly 250 years ago. The historic players will be present in the characterizations of Benjamin Franklin, Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson and others, showcasing the compelling debate of what are we willing to compromise to build a new country will ring out louder than the toll of the Liberty Bell.

With special permission from the rights holders, the approach to this production, which has been frequently presented with a primarily Caucasian and male identified cast playing the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the congressional staff, will be an inclusive company of actors, expanding the casting potential both in ethnic and gender identities, in modern dress. 

Every Porchlight Revisits begins with 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 gossip and much more.

Featuring a cast of 26, the largest ever for a Porchlight Revisits production, the 1776 company includes: Micha Astala, “Dr. Josiah Bartlett;” Frankie Leo Bennett, “George Reed;” Jeff Bouthiette, “Samuel Chase;” Erica Chinn, “Col. Thomas McKean;” Cynthia Clarey, “Rev. John Witherspoon;” Jazmín Corona, “Andrew McNair;” Richard Costes, “Leather Apron;” Ryan Dooley, “James Wilson;” William Dwyer,“Edward Rutledge;” Joseph Foronda, “Dr. Benjamin Franklin;” Kim Fukawa, “Charles Thomson;” Lucy Godinez, “Martha Jefferson;” Randolph Johnson, “Stephen Hopkins;” Christopher W. Jones, “Lewis Morris;” Teressa LaGamba,“, “Richard Henry Lee;” Michelle Lauto, “Abigail Adams,” Anne Marie Lewis, “Joseph Hewes;” Cari Meixner, “Dr. Lyman Hall;” Robert Quintanilla,“Thomas Jefferson;” Nolan Robinson, “Courier;” Kelvin Roston Jr., “John Adams;” Jenny Rudnick, “Caesar Rodney;” Peter Ruger, “Robert Livingston;” Heather Townsend, “John Dickinson;” Jessica Vann,  “Roger Sherman” and Nancy Wagner,  “John Hancock.” 

ABOUT MICHAEL WEBER, director
Michael Weber is the artistic director of Porchlight Music Theatre where, under his leadership, the company has received the Best Production Equity Jeff Award for the past five consecutive years. He previously served as artistic director for the inaugural season of Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place (now The Broadway Playhouse) and at Theatre at the Center (1998 – 2004).  Weber recently made his Porchlight stage debut in Porchlight Revisits Do Re Mi this past spring. His productions of End of the Rainbow, Sweeney Todd, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Pal Joey, Assassins and Side Show at Porchlight Music Theatre, Grand Hotel at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place and She Loves Me at Theatre at the Center were each nominated for the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Production. 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 has written and directed the past twelve Joseph Jefferson Awards ceremonies. 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. 

ABOUT JEREMY RAMEY, music director
Jeremy Ramey is a concert pianist, conductor and music director based in Chicago.  He was awarded the non-equity Jeff Award for music direction for his work on Theo Ubique’s Light in the Piazza in 2012 and again in 2013 for the company’s Smokey Joe’s Cafe. Some of his favorite music directing projects include Altar Boyz at Downtown Drury Lane, Hats! with Grammy award winner Melissa Manchester and Tony-nominated director Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Forever Plaid at Drury Lane Oakbrook and C’est la Vie at Light Opera Works. Ramey was also the music director for both the world premiere and Wisconsin premiere of Adding Machine. He received his training in piano performance at Rhodes College, Northwestern University and The Juilliard School of Music. He has taught at Northwestern University, Columbia College, Loyola University and the University of Memphis. He is also the music director at Unity Church on the Northshore in Evanston, Illinois.

ABOUT MICHELLE LAUTO, musical staging and “Abigail Adams”
Michelle Lauto is Porchlight Music Theatre’s education associate and starred in Porchlight’s hit In The Heights. Lauto is an award winning Chicago based actor, singer, writer and educator having grown up in the Jersey suburbs of New York and begun acting in and around the city at the age of 16. At 21, she moved to Chicago to study her other love: comedy. She is a 2014 graduate of The Second City Training Center's Conservatory program. Since graduating, Lauto has worked at several prominent Chicago area theaters, including appearing in the Original Chicago Cast of Spamilton: An American Parody for which she won a 2017 Jeff Award for Best Actress in a Revue. She also enjoys working as a teaching artist and sharing her love of musical theatre with the next generation. 

ABOUT KELVIN ROSTON JR., “John Adams”
A four-time Jeff Award nominee, three-time BTA Award winner and two-time Black Excellence Award winner, Kelvin Roston Jr. is the winner of the Light in the Darkness Public Education Award from NAMI for his play, Twisted Melodies, written and performed by himself. He is an artistic associate of Congo Square and has appeared at Court Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Black Ensemble Theatre, Timeline Theatre, Northlight Theatre and Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

ABOUT JOSEPH FORONDA, “Benjamin Franklin”
Joseph Foronda’s Broadway credits include Pacific Overtures, Miss Saigon and James Clavell's Shogun: The Musical. His West End credits include Pacific Overtures (Donmar Warehouse). And Chicago credits include productions at Goodman Theatre, Ravinia Festival, Silk Road Rising, American Theater Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Victory Gardens Theater. Foronda’s regional credits include productions at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Weston Playhouse and more. 

ABOUT LUCY GODINEZ, “Martha Jefferson”
Currently appearing as “Serena” in Legally Blonde at The Paramount Theatre, Lucy Godinez burst onto the Porchlight stage receiving rave reviews as “Nina” in In The Heights and in New Faces Sing Broadway 1969. She has appeared in Chicago in Hair at The Mercury Theatre, A Christmas Carol at The Goodman Theatre and others.

ABOUT HEATHER TOWNSEND, “John Dickensen”
A Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Associate, Heather Townsend’s Chicago theatre credits includes productions with Mercury Theatre, Shattered Globe, Northlight, Remy Bumppo, Dog & Pony, Theatre Wit, Apple Tree, Next and readings with the Goodman and Steppenwolf.  

ABOUT CYNTHIA CLAREY, “The Reverend John Witherspoon”
In addition to her Porchlight debut in The Scottsboro Boys, Cynthia Clarey has sung leading roles in Thea Musgrave’s Voice of Ariadne, which was her New York City Opera debut, Anthony Davis’ Under the Double Moon, Minoru Miki’s Actor’s Revenge, Myron Fink’s Chinchilla and many more.  She has sung the role of “Carmen” throughout the world and toured in seven countries with Peter Brook’s innovative La Tragedie de Carmen.

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT REVISITS
One of Porchlight’s most popular offerings, Porchlight Revisits celebrates the lost musical gems of The Great White Way. Everyone knows Rodgers and Hammerstein's hits Oklahoma!, South Pacific, and The Sound of Music. But have they ever had the chance to experience, live on stage, their rarely seen Broadway shows Allegro, Me and Juliet or Flower Drum Song? It's here audiences get to discover the 'lost musicals' of Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, Kander and Ebb and more when Chicago's finest music theatre talent, with script in hand and fully staged, dust off these treasures and escort you to the world of Broadway’s past.

The experience begins with 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 gossip and much more.

Porchlight Revisits is the ticket to go behind the scenes with an introduction to the luminaries who created the greatest musicals of all time and an opportunity to discover a new 'old' favorite all in one big show—plus Porchlight Revisits subscribers are invited to influence the choosing of future titles in the series.

Previous Porchlight Revisits productions include: 
(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 PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE AS RUTH PAGE ARTIST IN-RESIDENCE
Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to be a member of the vibrant Ruth Page Center for the Arts community and an Artist In-Residence. Central to the Ruth Page Center for the Arts’ programming is the Artists In-Residence 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
As Chicago’s home for music theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre enters its 24th season and its second as an Artist In-Residence at the historic Ruth Page Center for the Arts in Chicago’s Gold Coast. Porchlight Music Theatre is nationally recognized for reimagining classic productions, developing new works and showcasing musical theatre’s noted Chicago veterans and rising stars. Porchlight elevates the genre by providing intimate and powerful theatrical experiences of music theatre through the lens of the “Chicago Style.” Porchlight’s rich history includes the staging of more than 60 productions with 15 Chicago premieres and five world premieres. Through Porchlight’s “Off the Porch” new works program, the musicals of the next generation are developed and given a first audience. The School at Porchlight is Chicago’s center for music theatre training in the areas of performance, writing and appreciation including a youth summer “Make Your Own Musical” camp and a Saturday morning youth program. The company’s many accolades include 28 Black Theatre Alliance nominations and seven awards, as well as a total of 151 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations resulting in 42 Jeff Awards including five consecutive Best Production awards for The Scottsboro Boys (2017), Dreamgirls (2016), Sondheim on Sondheim (2015), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (2014) and A Class Act (2013).

Porchlight Music Theatre begins its sixth season of Chicago’s “lost” musicals in staged concert series with Porchlight Revisits 1776, music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and book by Peter Stone with direction by Artistic Director Michael Weber, musical direction by Jeremy Ramey and musical staging by Michelle Lauto. Porchlight Revisits 1776 is presented for two-nights-only Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 15  at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Tickets for 1776 are available now for $37, subscriptions to the three performance series including 1776, Can-Can, March 6 and 7, 2019 and Minnie’s Boys, May 22 and 23, 2019 are $90/per person and available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight Music Theatre box office at 773.777.9884. 


The Honorable Julian Frazin and Rhona Frazin and Charles and Diane Laff sponsor Porchlight Revisits 1776.

Porchlight Music Theatre is supported by generous contributions from the Actors’ Equity Foundation, Bayless Family Foundation, Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation, Chapman | Spingola, Attorneys at Law, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Elegant Events Lighting, James P. and Brenda S. Grusecki Family Foundation, the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Prince Foundation, the Morgan Stanley Foundation, Q Chicago, The Saints and the Topfer Family 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. 

Thursday, November 8, 2018

INCOMING: The Skatalites and More at Chicago's Beat Kitchen Friday, November 9th, 2018

Chi,IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:
SKA, ROCKSTEADY, REGGAE - IT ALL BEGAN WITH
THE SKA-TALITES


This Friday I'll be ChiILin' at Chi, IL's Beat Kitchen, covering The Skatalites for ChiIL Live Shows. Their Chicago show is officially sold out, so check back soon for our recap.


ABOUT THE SKA-TALITES
CURRENT MEMBERS


The Skatalites are Jamaica's premier ska band since 1964 who backed artists like Bob Marley, Toots and The Maytals, Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe and most of the singers of the day. Their infectious brand of bluesy,jazzy ska spread like wildfire around the island and spawned the entire genres of ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, two-tone, and 3rd wave ska. The tiny island of Jamaica has probably had more effect on music globally than any other country or place in the world, and The Skatalites were the pioneers of the music that originally caused this. 

The original lineup lasted only 14 months but recorded thousands of tunes, some of which are still being discovered in the archives today. Although the group broke up in 1965, the members remained active in the evolution of Jamaican popular music as it increased in popularity. After hearing about the resurgence of interest in their music they reunited in 1983 to perform at Jamaica's famed Sunsplash festival. Subsequently in 1986 they migrated to the USA and began performing and touring all over the world as they continue to do now after 52 years in the music business. 

Despite changes in personnel over the years, the band has continued to stay viable in the market, recording and performing at some of the world's largest festivals and has been nominated twice for The Grammys. Their most recent recording "Platinum Ska" features some tracks with Lloyd Knibb , the original drummer who passed away in 2011 and was widely regarded as the creator of the ska beat as well as the "onedrop" rhythm that is the foundation of most reggae music. Also on some tracks is original alto sax man Lester Sterling who is still active but no longer touring regularly with the band. Original vocalist Doreen Shaffer contributes a vocal track on this cd and continues leading the band on it's path as it continues it's great legacy bringing joy to fans, old and new, all over the world. 





LEGENDARY MEMBERS



Click the image to view legendary members




Forever indebted to the inspiration and talent of: Roland Alphonso, Lloyd Brevett, Tony DaCosta, Rupert Dillon , Don Drummond, Joseph " Lord Tanamo" Gordon, Jerome "Jah Jerry" Haynes, Lloyd Knibb, Tommy McCook, Donat Roy "Jackie" Mittoo, John " Dizzy Johnny" Moore, Jackie Opel, Doreen Shaffer, Lester Sterling.

Thursday, November 1, 2018

NEW RELEASE: Dead Can Dance Album Dionysus Out November 2nd

Music on Our Radar:

New album Dionysus 
November 2, 2018
through [PIAS] Recordings





Check out their new recording ACT II - The Mountain - 



European Tour May + June 2019
A Celebration of Life & Works 1980 – 2019

DIONYSUS
ACT I :
Sea Borne
Liberator of Minds
Dance of the Bacchantes

ACT II 
The Mountain
The Invocation
The Forest
Psychopomp

Having previously announced details of their new album Dionysus, Australian duo DEAD CAN DANCE share new recording ACT II - The Mountain which premieres via Pitchfork.

The follow-up to 2012’s Anastasis and taking its lead from the myth of Dionysus, the new work consists of two acts across seven movements representing the various facets of the legend - conveyed via an array of folk instrumentation,  field recordings  and chants. Its inspiration drawn from across the world, Dead Can Dance continue to harvest an intriguing trajectory both in spiritual and creative terms.

ACT II - The Mountain is the first new recording from Dionysus and the first movement of the album’s second Act where, explains Brendan Perry; “listeners will find themselves visiting Mount Nysa. This mountain was Dionysus’ place of birth, where he was raised by the centaur Chiron, from whom he learned chants and dances together with Bacchic rites and initiations. “

Driven by Perry’s exploration of religious rites and rituals, Dionysus nevertheless sees ally-in-arms Lisa Gerrard convey the feminine aspect of Dionysus's dual nature through song in both solo and mantric choral forms and ultimately to play the role of Psychopomp, signifying Dionysus's role as an agrarian deity returning to winter’s underworld to reassume the role of guide to dead souls.
TOUR DATES:

May 02: Le Liberte, Rennes, France
May 04 / 05: Hammersmith Apollo, London, UK
May 07 / 08: Cirque Royale, Brussels, Belgium
May 10 / 11: Grand Rex, Paris, France
May 13 / 14: Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands
May 16 / 17: Tempodrom, Berlin, Germany
May 20 / 21: Barts, Barcelona, Spain
May 23 / 24: Aula Magna, Lisbon, Portugal
May 26 / 27: Teatro Degli Arcimboldi, Milan, Italy
June 16: Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Germany
June 18 / 19: Ruhrcongress, Bochum, Germany
June 21 / 22: Torwar Hall, Warsaw, Poland
June 24: Kongresove Centrum Praha, Prague, Czech Republic
June 26: Papp Laszlo Budapest Sportarena, Budapest, Hungary
June 28: Sava Centar, Belgrade, Serbia
June 30: Roman Theatre Of Philippopolis, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

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