IN THE HEIGHTS National Tour Company © Joan Marcus
In The Heights starts tomorrow! Rush seats were just announced, but you can buy tickets anytime!
Full-time students and seniors (65+) can get rush tickets for only $25 day of show at box office. Quantities are limited and available with valid ID and cash only.
American-born actor Cory English has spent much of his career in London, but is excited to be back stateside and performing in the Windy City in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, a show masterminded by his mentor and friend, Mel Brooks. He was kind enough to answer a few questions for us.
How has your experience on the tour been so far?
Fantastic, traveling with my family and enjoying all of what the cities have had to offer. Meeting wonderful American characters along the way.
Where have you been so far on the tour?
So far we have been to: Providence, RI; Hartford, Connecticut; Cleveland & Columbus, Ohio.
Any sidesplitting, embarrassing or favorite moments you can share?
A couple of moments in every show there are “free” moments. Roger [Bart] and I have enjoyed some fun ad libs and its fun reminding ourselves in this way that it is a LIVE show. My William Shatner impersonation in one such moment was disgraceful and the joke died. Take the rough with the smooth, I guess. People prefer my Jimmy Stewart (SPOILER ALERT: its when Dr. Frankenstein is about to be taken away to be hung).
Are there any unexpected aspects to life on tour?
I have toured a few shows so touring life is familiar to me. Try and prepare for the surprises, I guess. Living with a 3 year old this often happens.
Have you been to Chicago before?
Yes back in 1994/5 during Hello Dolly with Carol Channing, but I stayed in Hinsdale with family and don’t remember staying in the city properly at all I’m ashamed to say. I do remember Wrigley Field, a great game before the baseball strike and great performances at Second City.
What are you most excited about during your 6-week stay in Chicago?
Being in one place for so long! My son taking class at Joffrey Ballet. Getting out to see some live music. Enjoying the ribs at Twin Anchors. Shows. Family coming together for Thanksgiving – its our first in the states as a family and a big group of us have planned to be in the city. Hopefully catching The Addams Family opening, I have worked with a few people in the show.
See Cory in person at the Cadillac Palace Theatre through December 13 in Young Frankenstein!
In The Heights started rehearsals for the first national tour this week. Here is video (courtesy of Broadway.com) and some photos from media day in New York. Only 6 1/2 weeks left!
On Monday, Broadway In Chicago welcomed some members of the creative team from SHREK THE MUSICAL and even two of the Broadway cast members to our city! Here are just a few photos from the event.
Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation
Producer Bill Damaschke explains why Chicago was chosen for the launch of the national tour
Lindsay-Abaire, Tesori and director Jason Moore chat about the process of writing the songs for SHREK THE MUSICAL
Jeanine Tesori, David Lindsay-Abaire and Brian d'Arcy James perform "Big Bright Beautiful World"
One of the costume sketches by Tim Hatley
Chris Hoch as Lord Farquaad performs his "Ballad"
The transformation is complete!
The National Tour of Cats © 2008 G CREATIVE
Last night as I walked into the Palace lobby for the first night of CATS, I remembered all the excitement I felt years ago when I first saw the show when it was on its first national tour. I remember Opening Night at the National Theater in D.C. and I could barely contain myself. I loved T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. (And cats in general-I grew up in a big old house where cats were necessary part of the family due to the Bay and its proximity to critters). I was the first to jump to feet for the standing ovation and then rushed over to the Opening Night Party at the Pension Building. I have to be honest…I wasn’t a guest. I was working the party. I checked in the VIPs at the door – congressmen, senators and the most dreaded of all, lobbyists. The whole party buzzed with the amazing innovative staging and story.
Later that week the press agent on the show let me stand at the back with my three-year old daughter in my arms for part of the first act. I know, strictly forbidden, but he was an old friend and I don’t think anyone saw us except the “cats” who ran up down the aisles and danced with audience members – another new and unusual concept. One “cat” grabbed my daughter and danced for a few seconds at the back of theatre with her. Tonight, when she sees CATS (for the fifth or sixth time) she will probably stay in her seat for the performance but she will also relive the thrill of seeing CATS for the very first time.
The best part is that my daughter doesn’t remember that she wrote her first play the next day and told everyone in the line at the bank about PIGS the musical. Apparently everyone in the orchestra would get to marry a pig at intermission.
-Gemma
NOTE: Don’t forget to enter to win two tickets to the Chronicles of the Cursed.
Shuler Hensley, left, and Roger Bart in Young Frankenstein National Tour. Credit: Paul Kolnik
The season of ghouls, goblins and MONSTERS is quickly approaching. Test your YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN knowledge for a chance to win a pair of tickets to Chronicles of the Cursed, Chicago’s scariest new haunted house. Leave your answers to all three questions in the comments by Friday, October 16 at 5 pm, and you will be entered to win. Winners will be emailed with details on how to get your tickets.
NOTE: You can also answer different questions on the Broadway In Chicago Facebook page and Twitter feed for two more chances to win. DO IT!
1. Young Frankenstein features what famous 1920’s song inspired by a swanky hotel?
2. Who directed the last two Broadway ventures of Mel Brooks?
3. Mel Brooks has three movies in AFI’s Top 20 comedies of all time. What are those three movies?
The new Mel Brooks musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is coming to the Cadillac Palace Theatre from November 3 to December 13. Purchase your tickets now.
I’ve had the honor of performing the role of Old Deuteronomy in the national tour of Cats since 2005. I’ve crossed this country and Canada many times, going to city after city; many more than once. It never ceases to amaze me when I look out at the audience, I see many people watching the production as if they’re watching it for the first time.
Audiences continue to come see Cats because they simply don’t know what to expect. Cats is not your conventional musical. It’s a ground breaking musical that brought a new kind of musical to audiences. The likes never seen before. The intrigue is so great, it keeps people coming back. It’s guaranteed they’ll find something they’ve never seen before. I don’t know, think of it as a drug, that audiences can’t get enough of.
-Philip Peterson (Old Deuteronomy/Cats Tour 2009-2010)
I am approaching my one year anniversary of working at Margie Korshak, Inc. on the Broadway In Chicago account – and let me tell you that there has rarely been a dull moment! One of my favorite things about my job is that I am rarely at my desk and each day brings something new.
After a year, I thought it might be fun to look back and share some of my favorite moments:
Overall I think I have a pretty cool job…
There are many more fun stories, but so little space. I will be back with more tales from Broadway In Chicago’s press world in a month or two… See you then!
-Anne, Broadway In Chicago press agent
Gavin Lee
So, the Chicago company of Mary Poppins will be moving on to start the 1st National tour in a couple of weeks- I cant believe its been six months already! It’s true – TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN! The minute Em (my wife) and I arrived here in January we loved the city (even though it was freezing. Erm, when is the sun gonna come out so we can go sit on the beach?) Our apartment is just off the Loop, so easy access to all things ‘touristy’ even though I feel we have only touched the surface when it comes to exploring the real Windy City.
Being asked to go on tour was just perfect for me because even though I absolutely love the role of Bert, after 4 years it can get to be ‘just a job’ so to get to start from scratch again with a practically brand new cast was exactly what I needed. Everyone at work is so fresh and positive and already the company feels a lot closer than Broadway or London. I’m guessing, because we are all away from home and our loved ones and ‘Poppins’ becomes your family. On any night there’ll be a group going for a drink after the show to ‘Stocks and Blonds’ or ‘The Emerald Loop’ and there’s always a cast birthday to celebrate at some cool bar or club- any excuse for everyone to get dressed up!
Photo of Ashley Brown as ‘Mary Poppins’ & Gavin Lee as ‘Bert,’ original Broadway Company of MARY POPPINS. ©Disney/CML. Photo by Joan Marcus.
As for the show, having been involved in three separate productions now, I think we have a really strong cast, crew and production and I’m so, so glad that the producers didn’t scale down the show for the tour – everything is still there – the sets, the magic and of course the flying – who knew I’d get to hang upside down in so many cities around the country!
In a couple of days everyone is going to get our ‘touring trunks’ to pack all our worldly goods into, put on one of the 15 or so trucks and it will magically appear in the dressing room of our next theatre. I’m so excited to get out on the road and get to explore this great country that I’ve fallen in love with but I’m kinda gutted that we have to leave here already. The things I’ll miss most about Chicago – the friendly, polite people, Bongo Room for brunch, our apartment roof deck, the river, Brazzaz all you can eat buffet (meat meat meat!) and the great audiences – they are soo loud!! Thank you Chicago for having us – what a brilliant place to have started this amazing journey!
-Gavin Lee (Bert/MARY POPPINS)
This is what the marketing office looks like today:
You may be asking yourself if a bomb went off, or perhaps you think we are building a box fort… the answer is far more exciting than that. (at least for all of you!)
The reason for this mayhem is that we have an action-packed weekend planned! As you have probably heard, Monday is the Broadway In Chicago Concert in the Park, but we will also be participating in the annual Chicago Pride Parade on Sunday. Needless to say, we have been as busy as can be trying to make this an absolutely spectacular, albeit slightly hectic, pair of events.
On Sunday morning at the obscenely early hour of 9am, Andrew, Basia and myself will meet here at the Broadway In Chicago office to transport all of our materials to the parade route. I will have to work on my Tetris skills for the next couple days, because we somehow have to fit over 15,000 pieces of promo merchandise and three people into a Honda Accord. Seriously.
The parade itself will kick off around noon—keep an eye out for float #102 if you are at the parade because we will have tons of fun goodies to give away. There will be 14 BIC staffers and perhaps a cast member or two out supporting the GLBT community…and having a great time in the process! If you haven’t been to the Parade before, you should definitely try to join us—it is truly an unforgettable experience.
Then it’s time to run home for a good night’s sleep before the Concert in the Park! This is probably my favorite event of the year. What could be better than sitting outside listening to some amazing performers sing songs from my favorite shows? This year’s concert will include performances from Mary Poppins, Jersey Boys, Young Frankenstein, In the Heights, 101 Dalmatians and Boys v. Girls. Not only that, but Roger Bart, Dennis DeYoung, Ashley Brown, Gavin Lee and the whole cast of Jersey Boys will be there along with an Olympic athlete!
I have been attending these concerts for far longer than I have worked at Broadway In Chicago, so it is a lot of fun to be in on the planning process this time around. Sure, there is a lot of work involved—have you ever tried to transport dollies laden with fun merchandise through the packed streets of the Taste of Chicago – but there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces as they leave the concert.
I truly hope that everyone joins us for at least one of these wonderful events this weekend. We put a lot of effort into making these experiences fantastic for all who attend, and love to share our passion for theatre with everyone that we can. See you this weekend!
-Mary Brennan (Marketing Coordinator)
