Dominic Scaglione Jr., Michael Ingersoll, Michael Cunio and Shonn Wiley with The Honorable Mayor Richard M. Daley. Photo by Amy Doyle.

Did you all see Chris Jones’ blog yesterday?

Our own Frankie Vallie sent his thoughts on the evening:

It was a very proud moment to be playing Frankie in front of Mayor Daley and the group of mayors from the surrounding towns and cities. The energy in the theatre was incredible. It was a moment I will never forget. Thank you people of Chicago and Mayor Daley for making yet another memorable moment for me here in Chicago.

-Dominic Scaglione Jr. (Frankie Valli/JERSEY BOYS)

REMEMBER: There are only two months left to see Jersey Boys before it leaves Chicago! If you haven’t seen it, what are you waiting for? If you have, make sure to see it one last time! The show leaves January 10!

Holy. Moly.

You better get your tickets now – this is going to be amazing.

$15 online at tpan.com, $20 at the door (includes two drink tickets)

After more than two years, 951 performances, and thrilling more than a million theatergoers, JERSEY BOYS is saying “Bye, Bye Baby” to the Windy City on January 10, 2010. If you can’t make it to the Tony Award-winning musical, join us for the next best thing! Don’t’ miss your opportunity to hear the talented cast sing the music of the ‘60s and beyond, all in honor of World AIDS Day and supporting TPAN.

For more information visit www.tpan.com or call Rhett Lindsay at (773) 989-9400 ext. 233.

Broadway In Chicago subscribers get into the spirit of Halloween this past weekend

I have been getting a lot of questions about the details on THE ADDAMS FAMILY. There are only 11 days left till the first preview and I am as anxious as our subscribers, who dressed up for Halloween as the entire “family,” and as our audiences, who have been clamoring on our blog for an update (this is for your Alex!).

This is what I know: the set is up and is stunning, the cast is working very hard and is such a tremendously rich ensemble, the writers of both the book and the music (Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice and Andrew Lippa) are going to deliver something that I think you’ll find surprising, and the show is led by a pair of the most unusual directors (Phelim McDermott & Julian Crouch) to shepherd a musical. Together with the tremendous ensemble, they are going to bring you a show that is as beautiful as it is intelligent – a total match for our Chicago audiences and one that I am telling you, you don’t want to miss! There are still tickets left, but don’t think you can wait – buy your tickets now!

FYI: The cast has been out and about in Chicago! Lots of sightings – McDonald’s, the Bean, Petterino’s, Architectural Boat Cruise, Northwestern – let us know if you have had any sightings of your own.

-Eileen

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!

See you at the theater!

Exciting News…

You haven’t lived until you have felt the excitement of an opening night! And guess what? You could actually go to the opening night of THE ADDAMS FAMILY on December 9. This is the night that the press and all of the VIPs from the show attend. Rarely does the general public get a chance to attend these openings. So, how can you get tickets? Well, we just released about 200 seats in the balcony and they are just waiting for you to purchase them. But hurry! They are going to go quickly!

PLUS…..

We just released first row seats for almost any performance of THE ADDAMS FAMILY. These are seats that were just checked for sight lines and it appears they are great seats. If you want to be up close and personal with the Family, now is the time to buy your seats.

-Eileen

Kevin Chamberlin

Last Thursday was our final run-thru in the rehearsal hall in NYC. The space is located on 42nd Street in the heart of Times Square Theater District. I can’t help thinking that this neighborhood is going to be my home for the next year – beginning in February when we move our show into the Lunt-Fontanne. It’s been a long journey to this point. The initial reading of the script was back in June of 2008. We’ve had numerous puppet labs and dance workshops and script readings – exploring character, finding the physical language of the show, and fine tuning the amazing special effects. My anticipation was palpable as I prepared to fly to Chicago and step into the theater for the first time. For months, we have only seen renderings and used our imagination to envision what the sets and lighting will look like. In 48 hours, I’ll see Julian Crouch’s design “in the flesh” as it were.

It’s always an exciting day with many surprises and revelations. I’m looking forward to actually walking up the beautiful staircase units that inhabit the Addams house. We’ve always had to stop at the 8th step in the rehearsal hall (the room’s ceiling always prevented us from going further). There are new Basil Twist puppet creations to introduce ourselves to, dressers and crew members to meet,  (and more importantly, lots of Chicago restaurants to visit!). I’m a big fan of Portillo’s Italian Beef Sandwich – which I discovered during my last visit to Chicago this past March – when I played Amos Hart in the National tour of “Chicago” at The Oriental.

Chicago is a great theater town with smart and discerning audiences. We have all been working incredibly hard this past year to create a spectacular musical comedy for them, full of hysterical surprises, draw dropping visuals, mind-blowing special effects, and sensational musical numbers. I think Chicago is going to have as much fun watching our show as we did creating it.

-Kevin Chamberlin (Uncle Fester/The Addams Family)

You might think that this title refers to people who are stars at their job. Well, that could be true – we have so many stars behind the scenes at Broadway In Chicago from D.J. McClaurin who is stars as a Director of Finance or Mary Brennan whose star shines bright as our Marketing War Room Manager – they are all brilliant! But I am talking “stars” in the Broadway sense – those who dazzle on and off the stage – whether as actors, dancers, singers, music directors, lighting designers – we have them all! Broadway In Chicago staff members by day and stars of Chicago stages by night!

This is just a brief look into what our staff is currently working on:

Aaron Holland

Five Mos named Guy! – Playground Theatre (3209 N. Halsted) – Through November 21

Steve Hund

Droppin’ $cience Improv – Every Thursday at 10:30 pm – StudioBe (3110 N. Sheffield)

Garrett Johannsen

Lyric Opera of Chicago 09/10 Season as a Supplemental Chorus Member including Gounod’s Faust & Berlioz’s The Damnation of Faust:

vorak’s Rusalka – Opera for the Young (Madison) – January – May 2010 

Mozart’s Requiem – St. Gregory the Great Chamber Ensemble and Chorus – March 2010

Andrew Kraft

Improviser! A Musical Sketch Comedy Revue – Oct 29 – Dec 17

Mrs. Gruber’s Ding Dong School – Oct 16-Nov21 – Gorilla Tango Theater

Trying Too Hard

Govind Kumar

Yeast Nation at American Theater Company  – Running through October 18 

Silk Road Cabaret (77 W. Washington) – October 21 – November 1

Jasmine McNeely

The Ripettes Burlesque – October 25 @ Mary’s Attic (5400 N. Clark) & October 15 & 29 @ National Pastime Theater (4139 N. Broadway)

Silent Theater Company’s 24 –Hour Play Festival - Prop Theater (3502 N. Elston) – October 17

Stephanie Sherline

The Hostage (Music Director)- Griffin Theatre Company at Theatre Building Chicago – Through Nov 1

Mercy Seat (Original Composition/Sound Design)– Profiles Theatre –  Through November 15

Calls to Blood (Original Compsition/Sound Design) – The New Colony at Royal George Studio Theatre – Through November 7

Broadway In Chicago loves them all and is so proud of their accomplishments. These are stars bucking the traditions that all actors are waiters/waitresses. They are supporting themselves while contributing their brilliance to a theatre company rather than diners at a local restaurant.

We wish for all of them billing above the title!

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.