REVIEW: Hilarious Hit Shucked at Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre Through January 19th Only

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

SHUCKED

NOW PLAYING AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S CIBC THEATRE

THROUGH JANUARY 19 ONLY

Ah-maize-ing! 

Humor, grit, and kernels of wisdom. 

Hilarious hit, Shucked is a great respite from reality for a couple hours. 

Felt a-maize-ing to laugh so hard! Corny puns were poppin’ and there were quite a few clever lines that just might sneak into my real world vernacular. 

Highly Recommended. ★★★★ Four out of four stars. 

Bonnie Kenaz-Mara, ChiIL Live Shows

SHUCKED is recommended for ages 10+ due to adult themes, moments of adult language and a harvest of corny innuendo. 

All persons entering the theater, regardless of age, must have a ticket.

REVIEW

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

It was pure joy to catch opening night of Shucked last night at Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre. This Ah-maize-ing Tony Award winning hit is hands down hilarious. I laughed so hard my ribs hurt today. Shucked is filled with humor, grit, and kernels of wisdom, not to mention catchy tunes, bad puns, and excellent talent across the board. This production is a great reminder that simple is different than stupid, there are many types of wisdom, and never underestimate determined women.

Quinn VanAntwerp as Gordy and Miki Abraham as Lulu 

All Production Photos by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

Jake Odmark as Beau and Danielle Wade as Maizy with Cast Members

In our current political climate, while global warming related environmental disasters rage, Shucked is a great respite from reality for a couple hours. It's well worth the ticket price to escape into simpler times, and hide out in a corn maze of cons, relationship woes, and good old fashioned community for a spell. Corny puns were poppin’ and there were quite a few clever lines that just might sneak into my real world vernacular. The writing and score are witty, wonderful, and too much fun. 

Danielle Wade as Maizy

I especially loved Maizy (Danielle Wade) known for playing “Cady” in the Mean Girls National Tour. We need more of her adventurous spirit and gems like "This isn't an argument. I'm right and you're just saying things." She's the corn fed, small town, girl next door type, who's been underestimated all her life. She's also equal parts smart and smart-ass and we're here for it. We also adored Miki Abraham as LuLu, continuing in the role from Shucked on Broadway.  She's fierce and fabulous.

Miki Abraham as Lulu and Ryan Fitzgerald

Danielle Wade as Maizy and Miki Abraham as Lulu 

This modern day Music Man brings a fake physician "corn specialist" to an isolated rural town, to fix their agricultural woes. Instead, the town ends up fixing him. 

Quinn VanAntwerp as Gordy

The Cast of The North American Tour of SHUCKED 

Much like The Music Man's iconic, traveling con artist Harold Hill, Gordy in foiled in his con by smart women, but succeeds in finding love and community, despite his questionable past. Quinn VanAntwerp (Shucked on Broadway) is a treat to see as Gordy. 

The Cast of The North American Tour of SHUCKED 

The creatives and the entire cast are talent filled and top notch. We particularly adored the fabulous lighting, sound, and set design. Don't miss this! Highly Recommended. ★★★★ Four out of four stars. ChiIL Live Shows.

I was unfamiliar with the storyline and score going in, but they won me over by the opening number. I'll certainly be playing this one at home. Want to hear more?

Get an ear full of clever lyrics with this playfully incredible score: 

**The Grammy Award nominated SHUCKED – Original Broadway Cast Recording is available on all streaming platforms and on CD.  The album is produced by Jason Howland, Billy Jay Stein, and the show’s composers Shane McAnally and Brandy Clark.**

Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theatre critic, photographer, artist, and Mama to 2 amazing adults. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly).

The Cast of The North American Tour of SHUCKED 

Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce the Tony Award® winning musical comedy, SHUCKED is now playing at Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.) for a limited engagement through January 19 only.

“More hilarious than any show since The Book of Mormon” – New York Stage Review

SHUCKED features a “superb book” (New York Post) by Tony Award winner Robert Horn, a score filled with “earworm songs” (The Daily Beast) by Grammy Award winners, Tony Award nominees and Nashville music superstars Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, and direction with “an infectious spirit of glee and warmth” (Variety) by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien.

Maya Lagerstam as Storyteller 1 and Tyler Joseph Ellis as Storyteller 2

The Cast of The North American Tour of SHUCKED 

What do you get when you pair a semi-neurotic, New York comedy writer with two music superstars from Nashville? A hilarious and audacious farm-to-fable musical about the one thing Americans everywhere can’t get enough of: corn. SHUCKED is the new musical comedy that proves sometimes tearing down a few walls, rather than growing them, is the only way to preserve our way of life. SHUCKED is turning musical theater on its ear and is offering a kernel of hope for our divided nation.

“More laughs than every other Broadway show put together” – Chicago Tribune

The cast includes Miki Abraham (Shucked on Broadway) as Lulu, Tyler Joseph Ellis (“The Sex Lives of College Girls”) as Storyteller 2, Maya Lagerstam (The Gospel According to Heather) as Storyteller 1, Mike Nappi (Darling Grenadine) as Peanut, Jake Odmark (Kinky Boots) as Beau, Quinn VanAntwerp (Shucked on Broadway) as Gordy and Danielle Wade (“Cady” in the Mean Girls National Tour) as Maizy.

Jake Odmark as Beau and Danielle Wade as Maizy

Jake Odmark as Beau and Mike Nappi as Peanut

The cast also includes Zakiya Baptiste, Mackenzie Bell, Carly Caviglia, Cecily Dionne Davis, Ryan Fitzgerald, Sean Casey Flanagan, Jackson Goad, Erick Pinnick, Nick Raynor, Celeste Rose, Kyle Sherman and Chani Wereley.

Danielle Wade as Maizy and Erick Pinnick as Grandpa  

With choreography by Sarah O’Gleby, and music supervision, music direction, orchestrations, and arrangements by 2023 Tony Award, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award nominee Jason Howland, the design team for SHUCKED includes 2023 Tony Award nominee and Tony Award winner Scott Pask (scenic design), 2023 Drama Desk Award nominee Tilly Grimes (costume design), Tony Award nominee Japhy Weideman (lighting design), Tony Award winner and 2023 Drama Desk Award nominee John Shivers (sound design), Academy Award® winner and Emmy Award® winner Mia Neal (wig design), and Stephen Kopel, C12 Casting (casting director). SHUCKED is produced by Mike Bosner and Jason Owen.

“Shucked is totally original, unexpected, and brilliant!”  – Forbes

www.shuckedmusical.com

www.facebook.com/shuckedmusical

www.instagram.com/shuckedmusical

www.tiktok.com/@shuckedmusical

Mike Nappi as Peanut

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Tuesday, January 7 at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 8 at 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 9 at 7:00 p.m.

Friday, January 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 11 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 12 at 1:00 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, January 14 at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 15 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m.

Friday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 18 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 19 at 1:00 p.m.

Jake Odmark as Beau 

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for SHUCKED are on sale now and range from $35.00 - $130.00 with a select number of premium tickets available. Patrons can also participate in a digital lottery for a chance to purchase $25.00 tickets for each performance. In addition to the lottery, a limited number of day-of-show, in person Rush tickets will be available for all performances. Click here for more info on Digital Lottery and In Person Rush. Tickets are available 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 25 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 up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the  Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, The Auditorium, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway  Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● TikTok @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

The Cast of The North American Tour of SHUCKED 

All Production Photos by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

We Always Bounce Black: A Black Excellence Comedy Revue Playing January 31– March 29 in UP Comedy Club at The Second City

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

The Second City’s Black Excellence Revue is Back! Artists from across Second City’s stages round out the cast for

We Always Bounce Black: 

A Black Excellence Comedy Revue

 Playing January 31 – March 29 

in UP Comedy Club at The Second City

Celebrating its 65th year, the world’s most influential name in live comedy, The Second City, is proud to announce the cast and crew of We Always Bounce Black: A Black Excellence Comedy Revue. Second City Alum and celebrated theater director Anthony LeBlanc leads creative on this production with a cast that includes Spencer Hodges, Kaleb Jackson, Wanjiku Kairu, Terrance Lamonte Jr., Daryn Robinson, and Brittani Yawn. Rounding out the creative team are Assistant Director Julia Morales, Music Director Tilliski Ramey and Stage Manager Devonte E. Washington.

Chicago giving you the winter blues? We Always Bounce Black is here to bring much-needed warmth. Brimming with brand new songs, sketches, and – of course- The Second City’s world-renowned style of improv, this cast of future stars are delivering an unforgettable night. The Black Excellence Revue is more than a comedy show – it’s a celebration of Black Joy. And, just like at the Apollo, you are a part of the show.

We Always Bounce Black: A Black Excellence Comedy Revue will run January 31 – March 29 on Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm in the UP Comedy Club, located at 230 W North Ave, 3rd Floor of Piper’s Alley, Chicago. Tickets, starting at $29, are available at The Second City Box Office, by phone at 312-337-3992 or online at www.secondcity.com.  

The producing team includes Ed Wells (CEO), Parisa Jalili (COO/CRO), Elizabeth Howard (VP of Production), Jen Ellison (VP, Head of Creative), and Jeremy Smith (Assistant General Manager & Managing Producer).

About the Artists

Spencer Hodges (Ensemble) (she/her) is an actress, writer, and improviser from NC who is happy to call Chicago a second home. You can catch her performing around town at LSI, iO, The Annoyance, and Second City with her teams Mortal Enemies, The Mermaids, Lil Sluggers, and Hell Mash. Elon University grad.

Kaleb Jackson (Ensemble) (they/them) is a Chicago-based producer, writer, director, and Jeff Nominated actor currently understudying the Mainstage Revue “The Devil is in the Detours” at The Second City and understudied last year’s Black Excellence Show, “Black By Popular Demand.”

Wanjiku Kairu (Ensemble) (she/her) is a comedy writer, producer and singer and is thrilled to be a part of the Black Excellence 2025 ensemble. Off stage, Wanjiku works with a wide range of producers in short films, commercials and print ads. She produces her musical comedy webseries Models, as well as comedy shorts RuPaul's Space Race, and Girl Meets God. Wanjiku can also be found understudying for the latest Mainstage Show, “The Devil is in the Detours”.

Terrance Lamonte, Jr. (Ensemble) (he/him) is thrilled to be part of the Black Excellence Revue! A Chicago West Side native, Terrance has graced Mainstages in the US from ComedySportz-Chicago, Laugh Out Loud, The Annoyance Theater to international stage with Boom Chicago in Amsterdam, NL. At The Second City, he has served as an understudy for numerous productions, including “Best Decision You’ve Ever Made”, “Algorithm Nation and the Static Quo,” and “Dream Freaks Fall from Space”.

Julia Morales (Assistant Director) (she/her) is a performer, writer, director, teacher, and mentor originally from Houston, Texas. She attended the University of Houston - School of Theatre & Dance and graduated from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA). Jules first studied improv comedy in Houston and later moved to New York in 2008 after receiving the NBC Diversity Scholarship to study both sketch and improv comedy. She later moved to Chicago in 2015 while performing with the Second City Theatricals on the Norwegian Cruise Line. She was a 2018 Bob Curry Fellow and was later cast as an ensemble member of the Second City Green Co Touring Company. She is a Second City alum having completed two Mainstage revues, “Do the Right Thing, No Worries If Not” and “Don’t Quit Your Daydream”. Jules performs, directs, and teaches at the Annoyance Theater and performs at various theaters in the Chicago community. She is also an adjunct teacher and director at The Theatre School at DePaul University Comedy Studies program. In 2020, she founded a nonprofit organization called the Stepping Stone Theater which celebrates diversity in the comedy community. Jules is a master movie buff, a self-care enthusiast, and an avid traveler. Follow her journey on IG @callmejules.

Daryn Robinson (Ensemble) (she/her) is a writer/comedian originally from Washington, D.C. She recently performed in The Second City’s long-running and award-winning show “She The People” and understudied The Second City e.t.c. and Touring Company. Daryn also improvises with Shamilton! The Improvised Hip-Hop Musical (Baby Wants Candy) and Improvised Jane Austen (iO Theater), and co-produces the Chicago Reader Award-winning variety show “My Best Friend is Black” (Lincoln Lodge). A proud graduate of Northwestern University (MFA ‘23), Daryn contributes jokes to The Onion.

Brittani Yawn (Ensemble) (she/her) is a performer and writer originally from Cleveland, OH and has earned her BA in Theatre from Miami University. She has toured with The Second City’s Touring Company and is an alum of The Second City Bob Curry Fellowship (2021). Some of her credits include “Oh! The Places You’ll Glow!” (The Second City, ETC), “Poison” (The Plagiarists), “The Suffrage Plays” (Artemisia Theatre), and “The Ridiculous Darkness” (Sideshow Theatre Company). She has also performed with Hell in a Handbag Productions, the Annoyance, and iO, among others.

Anthony LeBlanc (Director) (he/him) Anthony LeBlanc works at Nickelodeon/Paramount doing talent development and as an on-set acting coach on such hit shows as The Reboot of All That and The Really Loud House. He acted as Interim Executive Producer of The Second City in 2020. Previously, LeBlanc served as an Artistic Director for The Second City Inc., as well as a part-time faculty member at Columbia College Chicago. Anthony is a Second City alum who wrote and performed in two original Chicago Mainstage revues, “Taming of the Flu” and the Jeff Award-nominated America: All Better!. He has been a teacher and resident director for Second City, directing several resident stage and theatrical productions in Chicago and Washington, D.C., including “The Winner ... of Our Discontent” (Chicago Mainstage), “Soul Brother, Where Art Thou?” (The Second City e.t.c.), “Generation Gap” at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the Helen Hayes-nominated “Nothing to Lose (But Our Chains)” at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. And Independently including The Magic Negro and Other Blackity Blackness as Told by an African-American Man Who Also Happens to be Black at The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. A native of Beaumont, Texas, Anthony holds a degree in Computer Science and Physics from Loyola University New Orleans. Anthony is an autistic Blerd dedicated to promoting Neurodiversity and DEI in comedy.

Tilliski Ramey (Music Director) (he/him) has music directed for three revues with the Second City in the e.t.c. Theater along with their Touring Company. He also plays at the Chicago Magic Lounge, iO, ComedySportz, and performed at The Annoyance.

Devonte E. Washington (Stage Manager) (he/him) is a Chicago native. Born and raised on the southside. He has been working in production for over 10 years. He has molded his skills by learning the aspects of designing and building shows from scratch. His Talents have been used with many events, venues and shows throughout the city.

About The Second City

The Second City opened its doors in 1959 as a small comedy cabaret and has since grown to become the world's most influential name in improvisation and comedy. Celebrating 65 years, The Second City's stages, Touring Companies, and Training Centers across North America have proudly been the launch pad and artistic home for many of the funniest performers, writers, directors, and comedic minds on the planet.

For more information on The Second City, visit www.secondcity.com and follow The Second City on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

 

Spring and Summer Block of *The Magic Parlour* Performances Now Available

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

The Magic Parlour Extends Performances Through Summer 

Tickets Now on Sale

Production photos Courtesy of The Magic Parlour unless otherwise noted

MORE MAGIC THIS SPRING/SUMMER!  DENNIS WATKINS OPENS THE MAGIC PARLOUR TIX THRU AUGUST 2025

***VALENTINE’S DAY WEEKEND (FEBRUARY 13-16) PERFORMANCES FEATURE EXTRA SPECIAL MAGIC + MIND-READING WHILE PETTERINO’S OFFERS A SPECIAL FOUR-COURSE SENSORY EXPERIENCE WITH COCKTAIL + WINE PAIRINGS***

The Magic Parlour is recommended for audiences ages 12+; while there is no inappropriate content, this elegant experience is designed for adults.

Bonnie Kenaz-Mara, Dennis Watkins, and Catherine Hellmann

at The Magic Parlour at Palmer House, 2019 

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we've been fans of Dennis Watkins for decades. I caught some of his early Magic Parlour shows in the basement of Chopin Theatre, and many years of performances at first the Palmer House, and now at Petterino's, in partnership with Goodman Theatre. He's a longtime favorite of ours and his show and VIP experience aftershow in The Encore Room are highly recommended for Chicago locals and tourists alike. Don't miss this! 

Highly Recommended. ★★★★ Four out of four stars. 

Bonnie Kenaz-Mara, ChiIL Live Shows

  Photo Credit for all The Magic Parlour 2025 Photos Kyle Flubacker

On the heels of holiday season success—including welcoming 2,200+ guests to 40 performances over two months, nearly a third of which were sold out—third generation magician Dennis Watkins now opens a new block of tickets to The Magic Parlour performances, through August 31, 2025. This extension also increases the potential for bespoke group bookings with Watkins: in addition to performing close-up magic in his custom theater at 50 W. Randolph, established in partnership with Goodman Theatre and Petterino’s restaurant, “Chicago’s premiere resident magician” (Chicago Tribune) offers group and private event bookings on location. 

  Photo Credit for all The Magic Parlour 2025 Photos Kyle Flubacker

Performances of The Magic Parlour, now on sale through August 31, 2025, take place every Thursday through Sunday. Tickets are $85 (includes the 90-minute performance + complimentary beverage) or $115 (includes the performance, beverage and “The Encore Room” 25-minute VIP experience). To purchase tickets, call the Goodman Theatre Box Office at 312.443.3800 (12 Noon – 5pm daily) or visit TheMagicParlourChicago.com. 

“It’s been a thrill to see The Magic Parlour grow from a weekly installation to a downtown destination—for all kinds of audiences and gatherings, from date nights and family outings to team celebrations and corporate events,” said magician Dennis Watkins. “We’ve been able to serve our audience with six shows weekly, and have found ways to host events for groups of 20-120 for tailored magical celebrations. I’m excited that we’re now able to release tickets through August of this year, to help bring magic to those traveling and celebrating in Chicago this Spring and Summer.”

  Photo Credit for all The Magic Parlour 2025 Photos Kyle Flubacker

Expect extra-special magic at Watkins’ special Valentine’s Day weekend six-performance stand. Wedding rings mysteriously interlock as he reads the mind of your loved one in an unforgettable, elevated night out for couples, gal-entines, family and friends alike. Valentine’s Day weekend performance pricing is $85-$115 (February 13 and 16) and $95-$125 (February 14 and 15). Theatergoers can make it dinner and a show with “The Relationship”—a four-course Valentine’s sensory experience at Petterino’s. Diners embark on a journey through the four stages of a relationship, starting from flirtatious courtship, with each course designed to invoke the emotions and enjoyment of each moment. For more information, visit Petterinos.com. 

Hailed as a “star attraction dazzling audiences in an elegant underground Loop parlor” (WBEZ), The Magic Parlour is “90 minutes of mind-boggling fun that would make Houdini proud, offer(ing) warmth, intimacy and a great close-up view of the magic being performed right before your eyes” (WGN Radio). In a first-of-its-kind creative collaboration, Watkins teamed up with Goodman Theatre and Petterino’s restaurant to establish a permanent home for Chicago’s longest-running magic show—an intimate evening of classic magic and mind-reading previously hosted for more than a decade at the Palmer House (opened on New Year’s Eve, 2011). 

The audience participates in much of the performance as Watkins wows the room with classic sleight of hand, unbelievable mind-reading and magical wisdom passed down from his grandfather. The space at 50 W. Randolph, situated adjacent to the Goodman in Petterino’s transformed lower-level area, continues Watkins’ famed tradition of the VIP experience in The Encore Room, an upgraded ticket option for guests seeking an exclusive 25-minute interaction following the performance. Immediately following the performance, up to 20 guests are escorted to a private space where Watkins performs up-close magic. 

  Photo Credit for all The Magic Parlour 2025 Photos Kyle Flubacker

A co-founder of The House Theatre of Chicago, Dennis Watkins has collaborated as an actor, writer, director and/or designer on 30+ world-premiere plays with companies including Lookingglass, Steppenwolf and Goodman Theatre. After studying theater at Meadows School of the Arts and the British American Drama Academy in London, he launched The House Theatre with Artistic Director Nathan Allen and cohorts from school on Halloween of 2001. His appearance in the title role of Death and Harry Houdini—including performing Houdini’s infamous Water Torture Cell escape in every show—earned him a Joseph Jefferson Award.

Pictured: Dennis Watkins as Houdini

Courtesy of  The House Theatre

Here at ChiIL Mama, this is one of our top favorite shows of all time! 

DEATH & HARRY HOUDINI is oh SO highly recommended! 

We reviewed it in 2012, 2013 & 2016.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: Back in 2012, before a revival of Death & Harry Houdini, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Dennis Watkins in his lovely home, filled with show posters and retro magic tricks from his grandfather's stash. Check out our original video interview right here!

ABOUT THE PARTNERS

Petterino’s has been a beloved downtown icon in the Chicago community for 20+ years, continuing to offer the same spirit and tradition that diners know and love. Enjoy timeless flavors, authentic Italian fare, comfortable interiors and warm hospitality. Our passion for creating memorable dining experiences aligns perfectly with the mystique of magic. The synergy between the culinary artistry of our chefs and the magical prowess of Dennis Watkins promises an evening of unparalleled wonder and flavor. We've joined forces with the Goodman and this talented magician to bring you a dining experience like no other. Blend the flavors of Italy with the wonder of magic, by dining at Petterino’s before or after the show. You may also consider booking a private or corporate event in conjunction with a show. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion, a romantic evening, or simply seeking an escape from the ordinary, our magical collaboration guarantees an enchanting escape into a world where delectable cuisine dances with spellbinding illusions.

Chicago’s theater since 1925, Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit arts and community organization in the heart of the Loop, distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and community engagement. Led by Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics. Artists and productions have earner two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and nearly 200 Joseph Jefferson Awards, among other accolades.

The Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” Its longtime annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, now in its fifth decade, has created a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production and program partner with national and international companies and Chicago’s Off-Loop theaters.

Using the tools of theatrical practice, the Goodman’s Education and Engagement programs aim to develop generations of citizens who understand and empathize with cultures and stories of diverse voices. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of these programs, which are offered for Chicago youth—85% of whom come from underserved communities—schools and life-long learners.

Goodman Theatre was built on the unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi Nations. We recognize that many other Nations consider the area we now call Chicago as their traditional homeland—including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo and Mascouten and remains home to many Native peoples today. The Goodman is proud to have a relationship with Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum. Located in Evanston, the Museum honors the survival and perseverance of Indigenous communities and promotes a greater understanding of Indigenous peoples: gichigamiin-museum.org.

Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation on the new Goodman center in 2000.

Julie Danis is Chair of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Lorrayne Weiss is Women’s Board President and Kelli Garcia is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.

Photo Credit for all The Magic Parlour 2025 Photos Kyle Flubacker

WORLD PREMIERE OF FIRST FLOOR THEATER'S “ONE PARTY CONSENT” February 13 - March 15, 2025

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

FIRST FLOOR THEATER ANNOUNCES CAST AND PRODUCTION TEAM FOR WORLD PREMIERE OF

“ONE PARTY CONSENT”

Written By: Omer Abbas Salem*

Directed By: Nadya Naumaan

Production Runs February 13 - March 15, 2025

Chicago’s First Floor Theater today announced the cast and production team for the World Premiere production of ONE PARTY CONSENT, written by Omer Abbas Salem, running February 13 - March 15, 2025 (previews February 13 - 19) at The Den Theatre’s Crosby stage, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets ($10 - $35) on sale now at www.firstfloortheater.com. 

Trust is tricky. You enter working relationships and it's unprofessional not to offer it. When you feel your trust challenged, you convince yourself that you're the problem. And some people take advantage of that. Fola is an MFA directing grad student stepping into a mid-year review with their advisor. What happens when you record a professional meeting and you don't tell the other? And what do you do when you record something really incriminating? This is a play about the degradation of trust.

The cast includes Stephanie Shum (Fola), Ashlyn Lozano (Sandra/Ms. Brite), Cindy Marker (Dean Ellen Healy), with understudies Leslie Huang (Fola u/s), Bashany Garcia (Sandra/Ms.Brite u/s) and Wendy Lee Evans (Dean Ellen Healy u/s). 

Led by director Omer Abbas Salem*, a Company Member of First Floor Theater and the most recent past recipient of the company’s Blueprint Commission, the production team includes Kendyl Meyer (Stage Manager), Spencer Donovan (Scenic Designer), Conchita Avitia (Lighting Designer), Satya Chavez (Sound Designer), Caitlin McCarthy* (Costumes Designer), and Adanna Eziri (Props Designer).

*Denotes First Floor Theater Company Member

First Floor Theater’s World premiere ONE PARTY CONSENT runs February 13 - March 15, 2025, with previews February 13, 15, 16, and 19. Performances are held Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. in the Crosby 2B at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets are $10 - $35; to purchase tickets visit www.firstfloortheater.com. 

Cast: Stephanie Shum (Fola), Ashlyn Lozano (Sandra/Ms. Brite), Cindy Marker (Dean Ellen Healy), with understudies Leslie Huang (Fola u/s), Bashany Garcia (Sandra/Ms.Brite u/s) and Wendy Lee Evans (Dean Ellen Healy u/s). 

Production Team: Kendyl Meyer (Stage Manager), Spencer Donovan (Scenic Designer), Conchita Avitia (Lighting Designer), Satya Chavez (Sound Designer), Caitlin McCarthy* (Costumes Designer), and Adanna Eziri (Props Designer). 

*Denotes First Floor Theater Company Member

Dates: February 13 - March 15, 2025 (Previews February 13, 15, 16, 19)

Press Opening: Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 8 p.m.

Schedule: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.

Location: The Den Theatre Crosby 2B (1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.)

Tickets: General Admission: $10 - $35 

Chicago Theatre Week (February 13-19): $15 with code CTW25

Box Office: https://www.firstfloortheater.com

ABOUT FIRST FLOOR THEATER

Founded in 2012, First Floor Theater has garnered a reputation for pairing some of the most cutting-edge scripts in Chicago and the American Theater with a signature innovative design style. Shortly after their inaugural season, FFT was named “Best New Theater Company” by the Chicago Reader. FFT was also honored to be recognized with the 2018 Francesca Primus Prize from ATCA for their production of Leah Nanako-Winkler’s Two Mile Hollow, and in Newcity’s Players 2019: “The Fifty People Who Really Perform for Chicago.” Some of First Floor’s notable past productions include Hooded or Being Black for Dummies, Mike Pence Sex Dream, Two Mile Hollow, peerless, Plano, and Pro-Am. First Floor Theater is a Resident Company at The Den Theatre. 

Northlight Theatre Presents The Heart Sellers January 23 – February 23, 2025

 Northlight Theatre continues 2024-2025 season with

The Heart Sellers 

By Lloyd Suh

Directed by Helen Young

January 23 – February 23, 2025

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2024–2025 season with The Heart Sellers, Lloyd Suh’s funny and moving play about the Asian immigrant experience in the 1970s, directed by Helen Young. The Heart Sellers runs January 23 – February 23, 2025, at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. I'll be out for the press opening January 30th so check back soon for my full review. 

It’s Thanksgiving 1973, and life in the USA is lonely for recent Asian immigrants Jane and Luna, with their workaholic husbands leaving them to fend for themselves. Over sips of wine and a questionable frozen turkey, they reminisce about home and dream of spreading their wings together in the land of opportunity: disco dancing, learning to drive, and even a visit to Disneyland. Inspired by the landmark “Hart-Celler Act” which opened a new path to citizenship for people around the world, this funny and moving play gives a big-hearted voice to the Asian immigrant experience.

Artistic Director BJ Jones comments, “Lloyd Suh’s play offers the tale of two women from different countries and cultures, learning about each other, their new home, and the odd custom of cooking a turkey to celebrate America’s uncomfortable beginnings. The metaphor is not lost on us, and we root for these women and their own journeys. It’s a deceptively funny and yet profound tale. These brave pioneers struggle to learn about each other and their new life. It’s a glimpse of our own ancestors' journeys, and conversely, reflects the very moment that occupies the national conversation today. It offers the opportunity for us to have compassion for those who seek a better life and, one would argue, contribute to the strength and quality of ours.”

The cast is: Aja Alcazar (Luna) and Seoyoung Park (Jane).

The creative team includes: John Culbert (Set Design), Jessica Kuehnau Wardell (Costume Design), Maggie Fullilove-Nugent (Co-Lighting Design), Josiah Croegaert (Co-Lighting Designer), Forrest Gregor (Sound Design) and Nicolas Bartleson (Properties Designer). Jooyoung Cho is the dramaturg and Katie Klemme is the production stage manager). 

Tickets for the remainder of the 2024-2025 season, including The Heart Sellers, Prayer for the French Republic, and Twisted Melodies, are now on sale through the box office, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie; 847.673.6300; northlight.org.

About the Artists

Lloyd Suh (Playwright), a second-generation Korean-American playwright, explores Asian American identity, culture, and history in his works, including The Chinese Lady, Charles Francis Chan Jr.’s Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery, American Hwangap, and more. His plays have been staged at notable U.S. theaters such as the Atlantic Theater Company, The Public Theater, and Berkeley Rep, as well as internationally in the Philippines and South Korea. Suh has received prestigious accolades, including the Steinberg Playwright Award, the Herb Alpert Award, the Horton Foote Prize, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. From 2005 to 2010, he was the artistic director of Second Generation Theatre Company and co-director of the Ma-Yi Writers Lab. He also served as director of artistic programs at The Lark from 2011 to 2020. A resident playwright at New Dramatists, Suh is a member of the Actors Studio and Ensemble Studio Theatre. He holds a B.A. in English from Indiana University and an M.F.A. in Playwriting from the Actors Studio Drama School. In 2024, he joined Princeton University’s faculty at the Lewis Center for the Arts.

Helen Young (Director) Northlight Theatre debut. Selected credits: What the Constitution Means to Me, Black Sunday, The Chinese Lady, Building a Bridge Toward Asian Visibility (online event with Stephanie Hsu) - Timeline Theatre; The Great Leap - Farmers Alley Theatre; American Hwangap - ASquared; Tiny Dynamite - Halcyon/ASquared; Tea - Prologue Theatre; Wild Boar, New China Festival - Silk Road. Other directing credits include work with: Rivendell, LifeLine, Goodman, Strawdog, Steppenwolf, Depaul, Remy Bumppo, Chicago Dramatists, Artemisia, Artistic Home, Token, Miranda Theatre's Liz Smith Reading Series at the Cherry Lane. Young is a company member at Timeline Theatre Company. Young is also a SAG/AFTRA actor represented by Grossman Jack Talent. Film/TV credits: Chicago Med, PD, Justice; Stranger Than Fiction, The Prize (Producer).

Aja Alcazar (Luna) (she/her) has appeared in Chicago in The Penelopiad (Goodman); Ring of Fire (Drury Lane); Cambodian Rock Band (Victory Gardens); Merrily We Roll Along (Porchlight); Aristophanesathon, Cinderella (Hypocrites), Hookman (Steep); Little Fish (Kokandy); The Wedding Singer (Haven); Spring Awakening (Griffin Theatre). Regional credits: I Oughta Be in Pictures, The Angel Next Door, Million Dollar Quartet (Peninsula Players); Cambodian Rock Band (City Theatre, Merrimack Repertory); Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore (Olney Theatre Center); A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Repertory); Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (South Coast Repertory). Aja is represented by Stewart Talent Chicago and Brave Artists LA. 

Seoyoung Park (Jane) was born and raised in Seoul, Korea, Seoyoung now proudly calls Chicago her second home. She is passionate about contributing to the diversity of Chicago's vibrant theatre scene. Recent credits include The Long Christmas Dinner, Attempts on Her Life (TUTA Theatre), Indecent (ARKO/Korea Premiere), tvN's Criminal Minds, and more. Education: MFA in Acting, TTS at DePaul University; BA and MA in Acting, Chung-Ang University. Represented by DDO Artists Agency. www.seoyoungpark.com @psych0_0p

Dates:

Previews begin January 23, 2025

Press Opening: Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 7:30pm

Regular run: January 31 – February 23, 2025

Schedule:   

Tuesdays: 7:30pm 

Wednesdays: 1:00pm and 7:30pm

Thursdays: 7:30pm 

Fridays: 7:30pm

Saturdays: 2:30pm and 7:30pm

Sundays: 2:30pm and 7:30pm

Backstage with BJ – Northlight’s popular discussion series with Artistic Director BJ Jones – will be held January 17 at 12pm.

An Open Captioned performance will be held on Friday, February 14 at 7:30pm. An Open Captioned and Audio Described/Touch Tour performance will be held on Saturday, February 15 at 2:30pm.

Location: Northlight Theatre is located at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie

Tickets:

Previews: $35-$74

Regular run: $49-$91

Student tickets are $15, any performance (subject to availability)

Box Office: The Box Office is located at 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie.

847.673.6300; northlight.org

Director Helen Young has worked in Chicago at Rivendell, LifeLine, Goodman, Strawdog, Steppenwolf, DePaul, Remy Bumppo, Chicago Dramatists, Artemisia, Artistic Home and Token, among others. This is her Northlight Theatre debut.

Aja Alcazar (Luna) (she/her) has worked extensively on Chicago stages, including The Penelopiad (Goodman); Ring of Fire (Drury Lane); Cambodian Rock Band (Victory Gardens); and Merrily We Roll Along (Porchlight).

Prior to relocating to Chicago, Seoyoung Park built a diverse career in the Korean entertainment industry, featuring in various TV shows and films, including Criminal Minds and Don’t Dare to Dream. Her theatre credits include the devised play Linmiathes (Hypsipyle) at Hydra Theatre in Greece and Indecent (Halina) at Daehakro Arts Theatre in Seoul.

2024-2025 Season

The 2024-2025 season continues with Joshua Harmon’s celebrated play Prayer for the French Republic, directed by Jeremy Wechsler in a co-production with Theater Wit, April 10 – May 11, 2025. The season closes with the mesmerizing one-man show about Donny Hathaway, Twisted Melodies, written and performed by Kelvin Roston Jr, July 10-August 10, 2025.

Northlight Theatre aspires to promote change of perspective and encourage compassion by exploring the depth of our humanity across a bold spectrum of theatrical experiences, reflecting our community to the world and the world to our community.

Founded in 1974, the organization has mounted over 240 productions, including more than 45 world premieres. Northlight has earned 230 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations and 36 Awards, as well as 11 Edgerton Foundation for New Play Awards. As one of the area’s premier theatre companies, Northlight is a regional magnet for critical and professional acclaim, as well as talent of the highest quality.

Northlight is supported in part by generous contributions BMO Harris Bank; Bulley & Andrews; Byline Bank; ComEd, An Exelon Company; Dr. Scholl Foundation; Eckenhoff Saunders Architects, Inc.; The Field Foundation of Illinois; Full Circle Foundation; Grumman Butkus Associates; Hagerty Consulting; Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; John R Halligan Charitable Fund; LionBird; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; Mabadi Realty; Mammel Family Foundation; Modestus Bauer Foundation; Northwestern University; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Pritzker Foundation; The Schubert Foundation, Inc.; The Sullivan Family Foundation; The Weatherlow Foundation; Tom Stringer Design Partners.

TICKETS ON SALE: Tomorrow 1/7/25 at 10am for Chicago Theatre Week 2025

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

Hot Savings On Cool Shows!

Tickets go on sale starting tomorrow at 10am for 

Chicago Theatre Week 2025

a program of the League of Chicago Theatres, in partnership with Choose Chicago

Here at ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama we're passionate about Chicago's Theatre scene and cover upwards of 200 shows annually. Want to see shows like a critic without breaking the bank? During theatre week you can! We've been covering this amazing annual event since it's inception and highly recommend setting a reminder for 10am tomorrow and enjoying the savings. Don't miss this. 

Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Tuesday. January 7, 2025, for Chicago Theatre Week (#CTW25), an annual celebration of the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago during which visitors and residents can access value-priced tickets. Chicago Theatre Week is February 6-16, 2025. For the third consecutive year, HotTix.org will host Chicago Theatre Week Continued from February 17-23, 2025, which will extend Theatre Week discounts to participating productions for an additional week.

The value-priced CTW tickets will be $30, $15, or less. Tickets will go on sale at 10:00am CST on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at ChicagoTheatreWeek.com. 

Last year’s Chicago Theatre Week saw massive ticket sales with more than 18,000 tickets sold to 81 participating productions for more than 446 performances. 64 theaters participated in CTW 2024, with 29 neighborhoods and suburbs represented. The program continues to bring in new audiences to area theatres with approximately 58% of patrons visiting their chosen theatre for the first time. Chicago Theatre Week also raises the visibility of the theater industry, as evidenced by the 144,689 unique visitors to www.chicagoplays.com from the ticket onsale through the end of Theatre Week.

A sample of the many productions expected to participate are:

Sondra Radvanovsky in Concert – Lyric Opera

Singin’ In the Rain in Concert – Lyric Opera

A Raisin in the Sun – Court Theatre

Beautiful – The Carole King Musical – Drury Lane

Avaaz – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

The Heart Sellers – Northlight Theatre

Fool for Love – Steppenwolf Theatre Company

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Betrayal – Goodman Theatre

Winter Series – Hubbard Street at Harris Theater for Music and Dance

Fat Ham – Goodman Theatre and Definition Theatre

Waitress – Paramount Theatre

Salonen Conducts Bluebeard's Castle – Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Kitty James and Destiny's Trail to Oregon – The Factory Theatre

A Lie of the Mind – Raven Theatre

MFA Collaboration: Wink – Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts

Native Gardens – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Marriott Theatre Lincolnshire

Teatro Zin Zanni

Complexions Contemporary Ballet at Auditorium Theatre

Whirled News Tonight – iO Theater

The Infinite Wrench – The Neo-Futurists

Mr. Parker – Open Space Arts

Lobby Hero – Shattered Globe Theatre

The Devil’s is in the Detours – The Second City

Fun Home – Porchlight Music Theatre

The Cave – A Red Orchid Theatre

The Mannequins' Ball – Trap Door Theatre

League of Chicago Theatres Executive Director Marissa Lynn Jones comments, “Chicago Theatre Week is a time for exploration and discovery. It is a pleasure to bring new audiences to our treasured stages that bring talent from across the globe. Chicago is the home of the best theatre artists in the world with stories for all ages and experiences.’ 

 “Chicago offers one of the most dynamic performing arts scenes in the world," said Choose Chicago Interim President and CEO Rich Gamble. "I am proud to support Theatre Week in partnership with the League of Chicago Theatres. Initiatives like this are critical to attracting new audiences to our venues and ensuring residents and visitors alike have the opportunity to experience the excitement and vibrancy of live theater in Chicago for generations to come."

Chicago Theatre Week is presented by the League of Chicago Theatres in partnership with Choose Chicago. Subscribe to the Theatre Week email newsletter for updates and announcements.

The official hashtag for Chicago Theatre Week 2025 is #CTW25.

Check back with ChiILMama.com (family friendy/family themed) and ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often. We have great ticket giveaways, arts and entertainment news, original reviews, original photo features, and more. 

About Chicago theatre 

Chicago theatre is the leader in the U.S. with more than 250 theatres throughout Chicagoland, comprising a rich and varied community ranging from storefront, non-union theatres to the most renowned resident theatres in the country, including 7 which have been honored with Regional Tony Awards, and the largest touring Broadway organization in the nation. Chicago’s theatres serve 5 million audience members annually and have a combined budget of more than $250 million. Chicago produces and/or presents more world premieres annually than any other city in the nation. Each year Chicago theatres send new work to resident theatres across the country, to Broadway, and around the world. For more information, visit www.chicagoplays.com. #ChiTheatre

The League of Chicago Theatres’ Mission Statement

Theatre is essential to the life of a great city and to its citizens. The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theatres, which leverages its collective strength to support, promote and advocate for Chicago’s theatre industry. Through our work, we ensure that theatre continues to thrive in our city.

About Choose Chicago

Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city and its member business community.

Follow @choosechicago on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and tag #ChicaGOandKNOW. For more information, visit choosechicago.com. Support the theatre community this fall during Theater Season and explore more than 100 shows happening now through the end of the year at TheaterSeason.com.

Midwest Regional Premiere of Waitress To Play Paramount Theatre February 12-March 30, 2025

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

A slice of heaven: Paramount Theatre’s Midwest Regional Premiere of 

Broadway’s hit musical Waitress 

runs February 12-March 30, 2025

 

Paramount Theatre’s Midwest Regional premiere of Waitress, directed by (top, from left) Katie Spelman, features Michelle Lauto in her Paramount debut as as Jenna, with (bottom, from left) Teressa LaGamba as Becky, Kelly Felthous as Dawn, David Moreland as Dr. Pomatter, Ian Paul Custer as Earl, Ron E. Rains as Joe, Jonah D. Winston as Cal, Jackson Evans as Ogie (through March 16), and Nik Kmiecik as Ogie (March 19-30). I'll be out for the press opening February 21, reviewing for ChiIL Live Shows.

What’s more American than Apple Pie? A small-town waitress with a dream and the recipe for success. Catch that sweet smell of success at the largest subscription theater in the U.S., Aurora’s Paramount Theatre, when it greets 2025 with the Midwest Regional Premiere of Waitress. Music and lyrics are by Grammy Award winner and Tony nominee Sara Bareilles, with a book by Jessie Nelson.

Director Katie Spelman returns to Paramount to stage the first Chicago-area production of the hit Broadway musical, with Michelle Lauto making her Paramount debut as Jenna. Performances are February 12-March 30, 2025. 

Sugar, butter and flour aren’t the only ingredients Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, uses to make her famous pies. Stuck in a small town, a loveless marriage, and a surprise pregnancy, Jenna hopes to bake her way out of trouble. Jenna puts her heart and soul into her delicious pies, winning over anyone who tastes them. But battling expectations and low self-esteem, Jenna’s pies reflect her state of mind with names like “I Hate My Husband Pie,” “Pregnant, Miserable, Self-Pitying Loser Pie” and “Baby Screaming it’s Head Off in the Middle of the Night and Ruining My Life Pie.

Full of romance and the joy of an uninhibited fling, Waitress challenges the stereotype of a pregnant woman trapped in a small town between the life she’s living and the life she wants. Her customers, co-workers, and the town’s handsome new doctor may all offer conflicting recipes for happiness, but only Jenna can do the soul-searching to decide what the right ingredients are for her own happiness. 

Want to know her secret recipe? Come get a taste of Paramount’s delicious new production of Waitress, nominated for four Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score, and serving up terrific songs like “What’s Inside” “What Baking Can Do,” “Club Knocked Up” with a side of romantic tunes including “It Only Takes a Taste” and “When He Sees Me.”

Seeing Waitress at Paramount Theatre is easy as pie. Performance are February 12 through March 30, 2025: Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Thursday at 7 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are just $28-$85, a fraction of the cost to see a show in downtown Chicago. Plus Aurora’s live downtown theater district boasts easy, cheaper parking and an influx of great new restaurant options opening all around.

Paramount Theatre is located at 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or stop by the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until show time on show days. For group discounts, contact Melissa Striedl, melissas@paramountarts.com or (630) 723-2461. 

Note: Paramount will offer two Pay What You Can previews on Thursday, February 13 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, February 15 at 3 p.m. See ParamountAurora.com/Pay-What-You-Can for details. 

Access Services

Paramount will offer open captioning on Wednesday, March 26 at 1:30 p.m. and American Sign Language interpretation on Friday, March 28 at 8 p.m. 

Paramount always offers assistive listening devices free of charge at all performances. Check in at the coat room before the show to borrow a listening device. If you require wheelchair or special seating or other assistance, please contact the box office at (630) 896-6666 or boxoffice@paramountarts.com in advance.

Baked from the heart: Behind the scenes of Paramount’s Waitress

Katie Spelman

Katie Spelman (director and choreographer) is a Chicago-born, Brooklyn-based choreographer, director, and intimacy director who creates work with an emphasis on story, the feminine and collaboration. Her hometown directing credits include acclaimed productions of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 at Writers Theatre, multi-Jeff-nominated productions of Once at Writers Theatre and The Music Man at Marriott Theatre, and Paramount’s Cabaret in 2018, also Jeff-nominated for best production. She made her Broadway choreographic debut in 2024 with The Notebook. Spelman was also associate choreographer on Moulin Rouge for the Boston, Broadway and Australian companies, a dance consultant on the West End and first U.S. national touring productions, and an associate on Amelie, American Psycho and Once on Broadway. She has received a Helen Hayes Award, the Agnes de Mille Commission from SDCF, and appeared on the Broadway Women's Fund Women to Watch List and the inaugural list of Theatrely’s 31. katiespelman.com

Michelle Lauto

Michelle Lauto, an award-winning New York-based actor, singer, director, and educator, makes her Paramount debut as Jenna. Lauto grew up in the Jersey suburbs before moving to Chicago in 2012 to study her love of comedy. She is a 2014 graduate of The Second City Training Center's Conservatory program. Since graduating, she has starred in more than a dozen musicals all over Chicagoland, won a 2017 Jeff Award for Best Actress in a Revue in the original Chicago cast of Spamilton: An American Parody, and has worked at several prominent regional theaters.

The principal cast also features Teressa LaGamba as Becky, Kelly Felthous as Dawn, David Moreland; Ian Paul Custer as Earl; Ron E. Rains as Joe, Jonah D. Winston as Cal, Jackson Evans as Ogie (through March 16), and Nik Kmiecik as Ogie (March 19-30). The ensemble includes Marta Bady, Logan Becker, Andrés Enriquez, Sophie Grimm, Devon Hayakawa, Laura Savage, Emma Ogea, David Stobbe and Anakin Jace White. Youth actors Julianna Velez 

and Reese Bella alternate performances as Lulu.

Paramount’s design and production team includes Katie Spelman, director and choreographer; Kory Danielson, music supervisor; Celia Villacres, music director and conductor; Scott Davis, scenic designer; Mieka van der Ploeg, costume designer; Eric Southern, lighting designer; Adam Rosenthal, sound designer; Katie Cordts, wig, hair and makeup designer; Ivy Thomas, properties designer; Ethan Deppe, electronic music designer; Alyssa Vera Ramos, intimacy director; Susan Gosdick, dialect coach; Emily Ann Brooks, associate director and associate choreographer; Kailey Rockwell, associate music director and associate conductor; Bailey O’Neil, young performer supervisor; Jinni Pike, stage manager; and Lina Benich and Emma Franklin, assistant stage managers.

Waitress the musical is based on the hit 2007 indie film written and directed by Adrienne Shelly, starring Keri Russell as Jenna. After a 2015 tryout at American Repertory Theater, Waitress premiered at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway in 2016, directed by Diane Paulus, starring Chicago’s own Jessie Mueller as Jenna, and earning four Tony nominations including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Following a London production, national and international tours, Waitress returned in 2021 to Broadway for a limited engagement starring Sara Bareilles as Jenna, resulting in the live stage recording of the show released in 2023.

Aurora Bank & Trust is the official show sponsor of Waitress. Paramount Theatre Broadway Season sponsors are the Dunham Foundation, BMO, ComEd, Illinois Arts Council and the City of Aurora. Waitress is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

Also playing in 2025 on Paramount’s three stages in downtown Aurora

Paramount has had a smash hit on its hands since last summer with its new, immersive production of Million Dollar Quartet, now extended all the way  through June 29, 2025 at Paramount’s new Stolp Island Theatre.

Right across the street from Paramount, in the sleek new Copley Theatre, study up for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, part of Paramount’s BOLD Series, March 12-April 27, 2025.

A stunning revival of Cats wraps Paramount’s 13th Broadway Series at Paramount Theatre, April 30-June 15, 2025. For tickets, information and the latest updates, visit ParamountAurora.com.

About Paramount Theatre

Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., is the center for performing arts in Aurora, the second largest city in Illinois. The beautiful, 1,843-seat theater, graced with a strong 1930s Art Deco influence and original Venetian décor, nationally known for its high-quality productions, superb acoustics and historic grandeur, has been downtown Aurora’s anchor attraction since 1931.

Since launching its own Broadway Series in 2011, Paramount has amassed more than 37,000 subscribers, making it the largest subscription house in the U.S.

For over 50 years, the Joseph Jefferson Awards has recognized excellence in Chicago area theater. Paramount has been honored to earn 124 Jeff nominations and 29 wins over the last eight years of eligibility, including six Jeff Awards in 2022 for Kinky Boots, including Best Musical-Large, Paramount’s fourth win in that category following Sweeney Todd (2017), West Side Story (2016) and Les Misérables (2015). 

Paramount Theatre is one of five live performance venues overseen by the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA) in downtown Aurora. ACCA also programs and manages the 165-seat Copley Theatre, home to Paramount’s BOLD Series, at 8 E. Galena in the North Island Center; Stolp Island Theatre, now open at 5 E. Downer Place, Suite G, with a critically acclaimed immersive production of Million Dollar Quartet, extended through June 2025; RiverEdge Park, downtown Aurora’s outdoor summer concert venue at 360 N. Broadway; and the Paramount School of the Arts.

Paramount Theatre continues to expand its artistic and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Tim Rater, President and CEO, Aurora Civic Center Authority; Jim Corti, Artistic Director, Paramount Theatre; a dedicated Board of Trustees and a devoted staff of live theater and music professionals.

For the latest updates, visit ParamountAurora.com or follow @paramountaurora on Facebook and Instagram, and Paramount Theatre on LinkedIn.