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Footlight Players to stage ‘Fiddler on the Roof’

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:53:45 -0500

The Footlight Players, of Michigan City, will open “Fiddler on the Roof” on June 7 and continue with shows through June 23. The classic Broadway musical is set in the little village of Anatevka, where a poor dairyman tries to instill in his five daughters the traditions of his tight-knit Jewish community in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of czarist Russia. Written by Joseph Stein with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, “Fiddler on the Roof” is based a “Tevye and his Daughters” by Sholem Aleichem. Filled with rich historical and ethnic …

Archie Bunker’s Edith, Jean Stapleton, dies at 90

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 16:37:15 -0500

NEW YORK (AP) — Jean Stapleton, the stage-trained character actress who played Archie Bunker’s far better half, the sweetly naive Edith, in TV’s groundbreaking 1970s comedy “All in the Family,” has died. She was 90. Stapleton died Friday of natural causes at her New York City home surrounded by friends and family, her son, John Putch, said Saturday. Little known to the public before “All In the Family,” she co-starred with Carroll O’Connor in the top-rated CBS sitcom about an unrepentant bigot, the wife he churlishly but fondly called “Dingbat,” their daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers) and liberal son-in-law Mike, aka …

Staying — and staying — power drives ‘I Love You...’

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 12:24:14 -0500

Consider it musical theater’s Little Engine that Could. Other shows are bigger and more spectacular — think the dazzling chandelier of “Phantom of the Opera,” the glittering, high-kicking finale of “A Chorus Line” or the dragstravaganza gender illusionists of “Kinky Boots.” But “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” wherein four actors plug along on a bare stage in a largely dance free revue, is more enduring. “When we did our first stumble through, we all kept looking at each other like, ‘wait, where’s the big dance number?’ ” says Broadway veteran Bernie Yvon. Along with Alex Goodrich, Kelly Anne Clark …

Theatre’s ‘Next Fall’ examines relationships

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:10:20 -0500

A play by a writer from a popular TV show will be presented in Glen Ellyn. “Next Fall,” by Geoffrey Nauffts, a former writer on the show “Brothers and Sisters” on ABC, is presented by the Village Theatre Guild May 24 to June 15 at the theater in Glen Ellyn. It is directed by James A. Liesz and produced by Sue Keenan, both of Glen Ellyn. Show times are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays, as well as 8 p.m. June 13. “Next Fall” is a witty and provocative look at faith, commitment and unconditional love …

A hard-hitting ‘A View from the Bridge’

Fri, 24 May 2013 02:09:20 -0500

The Chicago Street Theatre’s production of Arthur Miller’s play “A View from the Bridge” will open May 24 and runs to June 8 in Valparaiso. Set in New York City’s Brooklyn borough in the 1950s, the play revolves around a longshoreman whose wife’s Italian cousins arrive in America and move into his home. As the story develops, one of the immigrants falls in love with the man’s niece and he becomes violently opposed to the relationship, setting the stage for an intense and tragic drama. “It’s a truly American story based on an actual life occurrence,” co-director Karl Berner said. …

‘Miss Neo Pageant’ explores what it means to be feminine, successful

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 06:14:36 -0500

Women studies scholars will tell you that there are three feminist movements. The first began with the suffragettes and the right to vote; the second, of course, was the women’s liberation movement of the ’60s and ’70s and the third rallied the young women of the ’90s via the Girl Power phenomenon. Megan Mercier came of age during feminism’s third chapter with strong female role models in her life. But despite all this, now at 29, she looks around and feels she’s “ended up in this weird limbo.” “It feels like being a teenager never stopped in some ways,” Mercier …

Crowd Pleasers for June 14, 2013

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 02:19:22 -0500

Here is a look at some crowd pleasers. Events include Driving the Dixie in several suburbs, Throttle Fest Chicago at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, and Pro Championship Wrestling’s Dream Night XII in Midlothian.

Chicago Street Theatre’s summer programs for all ages

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:36:24 -0500

Valparaiso’s Chicago Street Theatre is now accepting registrations for its summer camp programs. Camps are available for kindergartners to seniors in high school and cover theater games and character development to a playwright program and a William Shakespeare workshop. Several new camps will be offered including Introducing Stage Craft, Camp Improv and a clowning workshop. An apprentice program is being reinstated along with Booth Camp and Be Backstage, all of which allow children and teens to learn about the technical aspects of theater. Director of education Lisa Formosa-Parmigiano said popularity has grown exponentially since camps were first offered in 2009. …

M & M Productions celebrates Ross Music Theatre’s 50th

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 06:09:05 -0500

This summer will mark the 50th anniversary of the Ross Music Theatre. M & M Productions will salute the occasion with a special show featuring highlights from the past 50 summers of shows. The special event will be held at M & M’s Center Stage Studio Theatre in Hobart and will include a multimedia celebration with live performances, videos, slides and pictures of past productions. Many of the talented performers from the past 50 years will make appearances and it will be a great time to catch up with old cast mates or your favorite performers. Performances will take place …

‘Kinky Boots’ gets a leading 13 Tony Award nods

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:00:01 -0500

NEW YORK — The Cyndi Lauper-scored “Kinky Boots” has earned a leading 13 Tony Award nominations, with the British import “Matilda: The Musical” close behind with 12. “Kinky Boots” is based on the 2005 British movie about a real-life shoe factory that struggles until it finds new life in fetish footwear. Lauper’s songs and a story by Harvey Fierstein have made it a crowd-pleaser. “Matilda: The Musical” is a witty musical adaptation of the novel by Roald Dahl and is true to his bleak vision of childhood as a savage battleground. The nominations were announced Tuesday in a televised event …

Estefan life story to become Broadway musical

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:27:42 -0500

Gloria and Emilio Estefan have partnered with the Nederlander Organization to create a Broadway musical inspired by their music and life story. The show, still in the early stages of development, will center on the Estefans’ journey from Cuba to the top of the world’s music charts. The creative team (director, choreographer, musical director, librettist and lyricist) will be announced at a later date. “I am thrilled to collaborate with Gloria and Emilio to see their amazing story come to fruition on the Broadway stage,” said Jimmy Nederlander, president of the Nederlander Organization, in a statement. “The Estefans’ journey of …

‘Zarkana’ delivers homage to classic circus arts

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:21:18 -0500

LAS VEGAS — For nearly 30 years, Cirque du Soleil’s colorful, vibrant, cutting-edge, mind-boggling, surrealist extravaganzas have shaken the circus arts to the core, resulting in some of the most breathtaking productions — technologically, physically and artistically. From the playfulness of “Saltimbanco” and darkness of “Alegria,” to the watery wonder of “O” and the moodiness of “Mystere,” to the technical impossibilities of “Ka” and the mesmerizing soundtrack of “Love,” how we have marveled at the impish characters, glorious costumes, world-beat soundtracks and sensual athleticism. The unintelligible Cirque sing/speak, not so much. Now there is “Zarkana,” fresh from its engagements in …

Cairns co-directs the Drama Group’s ‘God of Carnage’

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 02:20:46 -0500

Chuck Cairns and his wife, Deb, originally planned to audition to act in the Drama Group’s production of “God of Carnage.” But when the original director of the comedy-drama had to back out, the Cairns put in a bid to direct it and landed the job. “Both Deb and I really love the play,” Cairns, of Park Forest, said. “We auditioned it in March and had a nice, long, productive leisurely period of about 12 weeks. “It’s a four-character show. That gave us a lot of leeway to work with some very good actors.” The cast features Kyle Decker, of …