Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois State Legislature honored with Touring Broadway Award

On Wednesday The Broadway League honored Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and the Illinois State Legislature with the distinguished 2013 STAR OF TOURING BROADWAY AWARD at the annual Broadway League Awards. Their leadership brought passage of the “Live Theatre Production Tax Credit Act” to support live theatre. Enacted in 2012, the legislation has already supported the musical tryouts of Kinky Boots and Big Fish.

“I’m pleased that The Broadway League chose to honor our Governor and State Legislature. Even in these tough economic times, or rather because of them, Governor Quinn and the State of Illinois Legislators have embraced the fact that theater is uniquely positioned not only to support the residents of our great state but also to serve as a major tourism attraction and economic engine,” said Broadway In Chicago President Lou Raisin.

Several notable figures in the Broadway community endorsed Governor Quinn and the Illinois State Legislature, including:

“I have always thought of Chicago as a long-run town and the Broadway business as we all know in New York is an economic generator. As such, I am happy to see that Chicago realized the smart investment it would be for both Chicago and all of Illinois to support pre-Broadway and long-run Musicals.”  - James Nederlander Sr., Nederlander

“Chicago has a wonderful theatre community with people who appreciate new work and these elected officials found a way to entice producers like myself to think of Chicago first. In this day and age when musicals are becoming harder and harder to try out, it is leaders like this who deserve our admiration and accolades.” - Daryl Roth, Producer of Kinky Boots, Daryl Roth Productions

“Governor Quinn and the State of Illinois Legislators have made Chicago a more attractive place for us to bring new productions or those productions that we believe can run longer because of their leadership.” - David Stone, Producer, Wicked 

BIG FISH Composer Andrew Lippa Helps Emerging Chicago Writers Refine Their Work

Andrew Lippa and John August

There is nothing more exciting (or daunting) then the traditional out-of-town tryout.  Creative teams get the opportunity to revise, reimagine, and refine their work before it hits the Great White Way and we’re honored whenever Chicago gets chosen to be the city that gets a show’s tryout. The new musical Big Fish currently has the slot, held last season by Kinky Boots (which earned 13 Tony Award nominations on Tuesday, the most of any show this season). Big Fish composer Andrew Lippa is no stranger to Chicago, having worked on the pre-Broadway tryout of his musical adaptation of The Addams Family here in 2009. Even with Big Fish entering the final week of its out-of-town tryout and the revisions that that entails, Lippa still found time to lead a master class for emerging composers at Chicago Dramatists on Monday, April 29.

Working with emerging writers and composers “is one of my favorite things to do,” Lippa told Broadway in Chicago between takes of a behind-the-scenes video filmed at a recent matinee. “I was telling [Big Fish book writer] John August today how I was working with these fantastic writers on Monday night. And of course every time I do that, it’s really selfish because I get better. I listen to what we talk about and what they’re aiming for and not quite getting to and it reminds me of how to do my work.  It’s really the old saying ‘by your pupils you shall be taught.’  Teaching for me is a real opportunity to learn myself.”

When asked to describe the night of the recent master class, Lippa said, “I loved working with Chicago Dramatists, it was really great.” He went on to describe the experience: “It’s like going to church: it’s so incredibly spiritual for me to be around who love making things, in particular music and lyrics.“

It is a rare opportunity for an emerging writer to have the opportunity to have get direct feedback on their work with a writer as successful and acclaimed as Lippa, and he recapped the master class with warmth and fondness, “Look, I’m just one guy who happens to write musicals myself and I was only sharing with them what I’ve learned over time. The beautiful thing was that a couple of them wrote to [Chicago Dramatists Director of New Musical Development] Cheryl Coons and she forwarded some of these messages to me about how the things I said helped them and they started rewriting that very night. That’s just gratifying to know that I can be of help to some emerging writers and make their shows better.” A process we’re sure he can empathize with as he enters the closing weekend of the pre-Broadway tryout of Big Fish.

The show that enters a city for its pre-Broadway tryout is never exactly the same show that heads on to Broadway. Scenes and songs get added and cut, characters are more clearly defined, and both the cast and creative team get to make bold choices and take big risks to make the best show possible for its Broadway run. Those who live in a city lucky enough to get an out-of-town try have the fortunate opportunity to see the show evolve from what it was to what it can be. So even if you saw Big Fish at the beginning of its run here in Chicago, know that the creative team and cast have been passionately revising it each week to make it the best show it can be. Take advantage of the opportunity to see true artistry at work and see how the show has evolved since you first saw it. And if you still haven’t seen it yet, get yourself to the Cadillac Palace Theatre this weekend for the final performances. You definitely want to be able to say “ I saw it when…” before it takes Broadway by storm!

–Danny Bernardo, Broadway In Chicago Marketing Team

Tony Tuesday

Billy Porter, Annaleigh Ashford and Stark Sands in Kinky Boots
(Photo by Sean Williams)

Nominations for the 2013 Tony Awards were announced this morning! Kinky Boots, which had its pre-Broadway World Premiere here in Chicago last fall, led the way with 13 nominations! Matilda was close behind with 12 nominations and the revival of Stephen Schwartz’s Pippin with 10.

Other nominated shows that played here before Broadway include Bring It On (Best Musical and Best Choreography) and Holland Taylor earning a Leading Actress in a Play nomination for Ann, the story of Texas Governor  Ann Richards. The Broadway transfer of Steppenwolf Theatre Company‘s production of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? earned five nominations, while ensemble member Laurie Metcalf was also recognized for her work in The Other Place.

For the complete list of nominations, click here. Are you surprised by any of the nominations? Were there any shows you feel were snubbed? And most importantly, what shows are you hoping come here to Chicago? (\I’ll start — a return engagement of Kinky Boots!.

Short and Sweet: The Lowdown on the Show – Big Fish

Broadway In Chicago is happy to introduce “Short and Sweet,” a quick view of our shows courtesy of Diana Martinez, who will give you the lowdown on Broadway In Chicago productions from the perspective of an audience member. Diana will discuss the important points of each show with a guest in this special, produced by the talented students and faculty at Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy. If you’d like to join Diana for a future production, leave a comment below.

Short and Sweet – An Audience View: Anything Goes

Rachel York and Company
Roundabout Theatre Company’s ANYTHING GOES
© Joan Marcus, 2012

Broadway In Chicago is happy to introduce “Short and Sweet,” a quick view of our shows courtesy of Diana Martinez, who will give you the lowdown on Broadway In Chicago productions from the perspective of an audience member. Diana has more than 25 years of experience as an entertainment executive, most recently as President of The Second City. She has directed and produced over 40 live Broadway musical theatre shows and has presented more than 350 world-class Broadway national tours, dance, headline comedians and concert. We hope you enjoy this quick insight into our shows, and since this is all about our audience, share your own thoughts with us in the comments below.

Do anything to see Anything Goes

This Tony Award®-winning Broadway National Tour of Anything Goes is the real deal. Right off the bat these cats sweep you into the swanky, salty 1930’s with their fabulous double-talk and witty banter. This is solid cast with veterans all the way around and the sets are straight from the Broadway Stage.

Within the first few bars of leading lady Rachel York’s smoky and silky rendition of  “I Get a Kick Out of You,” I knew I was for a real treat. She has an unmatched smooth, mezzo voice that oozes with a style and control that is hypnotic, giving you  a hankering for a sloe gin fizz. But don’t let it fool you, as the show continues she lets it rip and can belt it out against the best.

My guest for the evening was Emily Martinez, my 24- year-old niece, recent DePaul graduate, a Chicagoan and one of Kraft’s newest brand assistants.  As the lights came up at intermission she was still looking at the stage and said, “I love the ’30s and now I love them more. There isn’t anything I don’t like about this show. It’s perfect”.

This production is truly everything a national Broadway musical tour should be: huge production numbers, show-stopping tap breaks, opulent sets and costumes and a story filled with humor and romance.  This production is timeless and it is played and timed perfectly. Big kudos to director Kathleen Marshall for knowing just how to hit each beat and appeal to a modern-day audience. Instead of feeling dated, the show actually feels fresh and makes you realize just how smart, sexy, racy and edgy the ’30s were – the humor was sharp and filled with sophisticated wit. One interesting thing I noticed is that the show hits almost every classic comic style imaginable from mistaken identities, play on words and puns, to vaudeville “Who’s On First” style bits, slapstick and double-entendres. It was all here – and masterfully executed by this distinguished cast making the opening night audience LOL throughout the show.

The sets are opulent massive and impressive, and they keep coming scene after scene. The costumes designed by Martin Pakledinaz are stunning and the sleek and flowing designs and fabric choices always included a gorgeous visual payoff from the back of each dress.

The chemistry and spark between Josh Franklin and Rachel York in the duet  “You’re the Top” was one of the highlights of the show for me; by the sounds of a show-stopping ovation complete with hoots and hollering from the opening night audience I think the sentiment was shared. Other show stoppers were the act I finale “Anything Goes” with 22 hoofers bringing it home, “Blow, Gabriel, Blow,” and the finale which brought this Chicago audience to an immediate standing ovation. This is a show you can bring the entire family to, so get them together fast because the show is only sailing through until May 5. Honestly, this is an amazing cast and production not to be missed.

Short and Sweet – An Audience View: Big Fish

Norbert Leo Butz and Kate Baldwin
(Photo by Paul Kolnik)

Broadway In Chicago is happy to introduce “Short and Sweet,” a quick view of our shows courtesy of Diana Martinez, who will give you the lowdown on Broadway In Chicago productions from the perspective of an audience member. Diana has more than 25 years of experience as an entertainment executive, most recently as President of The Second City. She has directed and produced over 40 live Broadway musical theatre shows and has presented more than 350 world-class Broadway national tours, dance, headline comedians and concert. We hope you enjoy this quick insight into our shows, and since this is all about our audience, share your own thoughts with us in the comments below.

Big Fish is a Great Catch!

We all have known that person who never lets the truth stand in the way of a good story. In the case of Big Fish, that quality fuels the protagonist, Edward Bloom, a provincial sort of man with the ability to spin a tale. The more he amuses the crowd with his entertaining tales, the more it irks, embarrasses, and distances his son Will, portrayed by the perfectly suspicious Bobby Steggert.

Bobby Steggert and the Cast of Big Fish
(Photo by Paul Kolnik)

The opening night audience showed their enthusiasm and awe for the immense creativity and concept coordination displayed by this brilliant production team with several ovations within the first few minutes of the show. One for the ingenious water effect, the second for the perfectly timed and lit orchestra reveal — the musicians cleverly stacked upstage three “stories” high behind a scrim — and later in the forest scene, which was absolutely gorgeous, innovative and magical. “It’s truly amazing what they did with the video in this show,” commented my guest audience member Dan Gartlan of Downers Grove. The coordination of choreography with the visual video projections, lighting and costumes was artfully mastered and perfectly executed and the audience responded in a show-stopping ovation.

The casting is spot on across the board. I can’t urge Chicago audiences enough to take advantage of seeing this Broadway preview and two time Tony-Award®-winning actor Norbert Leo Butz (Wicked, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Catch Me If You Can, Is He Dead) perform a role that couldn’t be more perfectly suited for him. He is without a doubt one of the most charismatic story tellers on stage today. He is the master of perfect, comic timing and physical comedy, and yet can draw you in with earnest sincerity.

Norbert Leo Butz and Kate Baldwin
(Photo by Paul Kolnik)

Butz is perfectly supported by Kate Baldwin as his wife Sandra, who balances a joi de vivre with inner-strength and has a voice that sails in a poignant and heart-felt ballad “I Don’t Need a Home.” Steggert’s unflappable and contained determination is the right counter part to balance this powerhouse trio.

As the musical unfolds we realize that any story is in its most basic form is simply a series of events that is interpreted by someone from their own point of view. We can be suspect to an interpretation or simply enchanted by it. In the case of the son Will, he is compelled to find truth and dispel what he perceives to be myths of grandeur spun by his father. Through his suspicion and determination to reveal that “the emperor has no clothes,” he discovers the most compelling and heroic accomplishment his father was truly responsible for, yet had the discretion never to tell. Through this, Will finds the one thing he never had for his father — empathy, respect and inspiration.  The father and son relationship tension builds to the end with a heart-tugging finale that made even the most stoic members of the audience wipe away a tear, leaving them with a sense of understanding and hope as they rose to their feet. Big Fish is an amazing catch for Chicago. See it before it gets away!

Short and Sweet – An Audience View: American Idiot

The company of AMERICAN IDIOT (Photo by John Daughtry)

Broadway In Chicago is happy to introduce “Short & Sweet,” a quick view of our shows courtesy of Diana Martinez, who will give you the lowdown on Broadway In Chicago productions from the perspective of an audience member. Diana has more than 25 years of experience as an entertainment executive, most recently as President of The Second City. She has directed and produced over 40 live Broadway musical theatre shows and has presented more than 350 world-class Broadway national tours, dance, headline comedians and concert. We hope you enjoy this quick insight into our shows, and since this is all about our audience, share your own thoughts with us in the comments below.

In the throws of the recent tragedy in Boston, the themes of rebellion against needless violence, destruction, war and politics – rang loud and clear at the opening night performance of American Idiot at the Cadillac Palace Theatre – its relevance today is timely and poignant. I walked out loving this show.

If you are wondering, like I was…  “What’s it about?” It can be summed up best by my guest Daniel Porter of Clarendon Hills: “It’s a great modern rock concert with a gritty story about the world that generation x and y grew up in and brings back those events that still touch you today.” Mark Sauder of Clarendon Hills also commented,  “It’s a compelling story. You always hear parents saying, it’s tough to find something to do with your teen-agers that you both will like. Well, here it is.”

And it’s all wrapped up in, video junkies dream. (I’d recommend taking teens 16 an older).

The show starts off rambunctious and is choreographed in a performance art like fashion against a digital, pop culture, montage in reaction to the life choices we make personally from relationships, drugs, and sacrifice to social issues like politics, and war. The opening number, “American Idiot,” explodes out of gate with power and passion and images fly at you from 34 different monitors spattered across this amazing urban set. The production is paced perfectly and drives through “Holiday” where the pulsing music sets the tone of tension and anti- establishment for the show, with inventive staging and choreography that is aggressive, fresh and irreverent.

But, the most telling indication that this young aggressive cast had the audience completely engaged was their ability to completely mesmerize the audience in a moment through their powerfully sung ballads that had us hypnotically silent and riveted. Alex Nee’s ability to draw you in, with his beautiful voice and completely connected performance, void of any unpretentious staging or gimmicks is absolutely captivating.  The live band led by musical director Evan Newman doesn’t miss a beat and drives the show. The gorgeous ballads like “Wake me up when September ends” and “21 Guns” are what completely drew me in- some staged so perfectly simply and some ingeniously avant-garde and poetic.  The encore where the entire cast of 17 talented actors, perform on acoustic guitar and sing, is brilliant and brought the opening audience to their feet to salute this amazing performance that provides hope and unity. It’s only at the Cadillac Palace for a week, so get it together and get your tickets.