Message In A Bottle Now Playing Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago For a Limited One-week Engagement February 28 – March 3, 2024

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Message In A Bottle

Choreography by Kate Prince, set to the most celebrated hits of world-renowned artist, Sting, is now playing in Chicago

for a limited one-week engagement

February 28 – March 3, 2024

Audiences can now see Message In A Bottle, a new dance theatre production choregraphed by Sadler’s Wells’ Associate Artist Kate Prince at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre for a limited run, from February 28, 2024 to March 3, 2024. Produced by Sadler’s Wells and Universal Music UK, Message In A Bottle is a dance theatre production set to the music of 17-time Grammy Award-winning artist Sting. Tickets are now available for this smashing production. Prices range from $32 to $95 with a select number of premium tickets available for all performances. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. Current Broadway In Chicago subscribers can add to their subscription by calling (312) 977-1717.

Performance Schedule

Wednesday through Friday 7:00PM (Thursday, February 29 Matinee at 1:00PM)

Saturday at 2:00PM and 7:30PM

Sunday at 1:00PM and 6:30PM

Sadler’s Wells and Universal Music UK present Message In A Bottle, a new dance theatre production by Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Kate Prince, set to the music of 17-time Grammy Award-winning artist Sting. Message In A Bottle made its world premiere at Sadler’s Wells’ West End venue, the Peacock Theatre, on Wednesday 19 February 2020. Gravity-defying lyrical hip hop dance and breath-taking music combine in a moving story of humanity and hope.

Message In A Bottle sees a village alive with joyous celebrations suddenly come under siege. In the chaos, three siblings - Leto, Mati and Tana - are separated from their parents. They undertake a perilous journey to new lands and set out on their own extraordinary adventures. Songs include Every Breath You Take, Roxanne, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Walking On The Moon, Englishman In New York, Shape Of My Heart and Fields Of Gold.

The soundtrack to Message In A Bottle also features new vocals by Sting and new arrangements by Grammy and Tony award winner Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton, The Greatest Showman), with guest vocals from award-winning actress and singer Beverley Knight MBE and Lynval Golding (The Specials).

About Kate Prince MBE Director and Choreographer

Kate Prince is a director, writer and choreographer. She is also the Artistic Director of ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company which she founded in 2002. Kate is an Associate Artist at both The Old Vic and Sadler’s Wells, where ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company is also a Resident Company.

In 2005 Sadler’s Wells commissioned the company’s first full-length work, Into the Hoods, conceived and directed by Kate. The show’s premiere in 2006 met with widespread critical acclaim and Into the Hoods went on to become the first hip hop dance show to transfer to the West End in 2008, after two critically successful runs at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Kate’s further work with ZooNation includes the Olivier-nominated Some Like It Hip Hop (The Peacock, 2011- 13, 2019 and two UK tours), Groove on Down the Road (Southbank Centre, 2013-14), ZooNation: Unplugged (Sadler’s Wells, 2013), The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (Royal Opera House, Linbury Studio, 2014 and Roundhouse, 2016), Into the Hoods: Remixed (The Peacock, 2015-16 and UK tour), and SYLVIA (The Old Vic, 2018). The company created special performances for Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations and for the Laurence Olivier Awards in 2011, creating new choreography for West Side Story with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

For TV, Kate’s credits include work for Strictly Come Dancing, So You Think You Can Dance, The Royal Variety Show, Top of the Pops, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Take Away, CD:UK, Blue Peter, Strictly Dance Fever, Sport Relief, The Album Chart Show, Discomania and PopWorld. Her film work includes choreography for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, StreetDance 3D and The Holloway Laundrette, which she wrote & directed for BAFTA/Channel 4.

Other theatre work includes Everybody’s Talking About Jamie for Jonathan Butterell (Sheffield Crucible & West End, nominated for Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer), Enda Walsh’s Ballyturk (National Theatre), Stephen Mear’s Shoes (Sadler’s Wells and The Peacock), I Can’t Sing: The X-Factor Musical (London Palladium) and A Mad World My Masters (Royal Shakespeare Company), both for Sean Foley.

With ZooNation she has also created choreography for sporting events, including the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Handover Ceremonies (2008), the Opening Ceremony of the Tour de France (2007) and the IOC opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics at the Royal Opera House. In 2018, ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company became an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation and a registered charity, in recognition of its mission to inspire the next generation of theatregoers and theatremakers. In 2020, Kate was the subject of the BBC Imagine Documentary series presented by Alan Yentob entitled Kate Prince: Every Move She Makes.

Kate has been nominated for five Olivier Awards, a South Bank Sky Arts Award, a WhatsOnStage Award and two Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards. Kate has an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Winchester and in 2019 Kate received an MBE for services to dance.=

Most recently Kate co-wrote, directed and choreographed SYLVIA at the Old Vic, for which she was nominated for the Gillian Lynne Olivier Award for best theatre choreographer.

Kate’s proudest achievement is being Leo’s wife and Ella’s mum.

About Sting Music and Lyrics

Composer, singer-songwriter, actor, author, and activist Sting was born in Newcastle, England before moving to London in 1977 to form The Police with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers. The band released five studio albums, earned six GRAMMY Awards® and two Brits, and was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

One of the world’s most distinctive solo artists, Sting has received an additional 11 GRAMMY Awards®, two Brits, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, four Oscar nominations, a TONY nomination and has sold 100 million albums from his combined work with The Police and as a solo artist. He is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and has received the Kennedy Center Honors, as well as honorary Doctorate of Music degrees from Northumbria University (1992), Berklee College of Music (1994), University of Newcastle upon Tyne (2006) and Brown University (2018).

Sting, managed by Martin Kierszenbaum/Cherrytree Music Company, has appeared in more than 15 films, a variety of TV shows and authored two books, including The New York Times best-selling memoir, Broken Music. In 1989 he starred in The Threepenny Opera on Broadway.  His most recent theatre project is the Tony®-nominated musical The Last Ship, inspired by his memories of the shipbuilding community of Wallsend in the northeast of England where he was born and raised.

In 2019, an album entitled My Songs, featuring contemporary interpretations of his most celebrated hits, was released, and followed by a world tour and acclaimed Las Vegas residency of the same name. Sting’s latest album, The Bridge, showcases his prolific and diverse songwriting prowess, representing various stages and styles from throughout his unrivaled career. Most recently, Sting produced Shaggy’s album, Com Fly Wid Mi which finds the reggae icon performing the Sinatra songbook in a reggae style and earned a Grammy Award nomination for it.

Earlier this year, Sting became a Fellow of the Ivors Academy – the highest honor reserved for those who have reshaped and redefined the art and craft of music creation, while his hit song, “Every Breath You Take” was added to Spotify’s ‘Billions Club,’ having amassed over 1 billion streams on the platform with the correlating music video surpassing 1 billion streams on YouTube. His critically acclaimed My Songs world tour is currently underway and finds the 17-time Grammy Award winning artist performing his most beloved songs with an electric rock ensemble. Full tour itinerary can be found here.

Sting’s support for human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, and Live Aid mirrors his art in its universal outreach.  Along with wife Trudie Styler, Sting founded the Rainforest Fund in 1989 to protect both the world’s rainforests and the indigenous people living there. Together they have held 19 benefit concerts to raise funds and awareness for our planet’s endangered resources. Since its inception, the Rainforest Fund has expanded to a network of interconnected organizations working in more than 20 countries over three continents.

For the latest news, official fan club access and more, please visit: www.sting.com

About Sadler’s Wells

Sadler's Wells is a world-leading dance organisation. We strive to make and share dance that inspires us all. Our acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap. 

We commission, produce and present more dance than any other organisation in the world. Since 2005, we have helped to bring more than 200 new dance works to the stage, embracing both the popular and the unknown. Our acclaimed productions tour the world. Since 2005 we’ve produced 64 new full-length works and performed to audiences of more than two million, touring to 51 countries. 

Each year, over half a million people visit our three London theatres - Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Lilian Baylis Studio and Peacock Theatre. Millions more attend our touring productions nationally and internationally or explore our digital platforms, including Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage.  

Sadler’s Wells East  

In 2024 we’re opening a fourth London venue in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Sadler’s Wells East will house a 550-seat mid-scale theatre, as well as facilities for the new Rose Choreographic School and the hip hop theatre training centre, Academy Breakin’ Convention.  

Sadler’s Wells East joins the rich cultural heritage of Stratford, opening in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as part of the East Bank development alongside the BBC, UAL’s London College of Fashion, UCL and the V&A. Sadler’s Wells East will support artist development and training, and the creation of new work. It will build the infrastructure for dance and make it accessible to more people. Sadler’s Wells East will house a flexible theatre presenting a wide variety of dance performances. Community will be at the heart of Sadler’s Wells East with a large open foyer that can be used by everyone as a meeting or performance space. There will also be dance studios and world-class dance facilities for dancemakers to train, create and rehearse productions. 

Supporting artists 

Supporting artists is at the heart of our work. We have associate artists and companies, which nurture some of the most exciting talent working in dance today. We host the National Youth Dance Company, which draws together some of the brightest young dancers from across the country. Sadler’s Wells Breakin' Convention runs professional development programmes to champion and develop the world’s best hip hop artists, as well as producing, programming and touring groundbreaking hip hop performances. 

Learning and community links 

Around 30,000 people take part in our learning and engagement programmes every year. We support schools local to our theatres in Islington and Stratford, designing experiences for children and young people to watch, explore and critically engage with the arts. We also run Company of Elders, a resident performance company of dancers aged over 60 who rehearse with renowned artists to make new work for public performances locally, nationally and internationally. 

Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. 

www.sadlerswells.com 

Stay up to date with everything Sadler’s Wells on social media 

Facebook: @SadlersWells 

Twitter: @Sadlers_Wells 

Instagram: @sadlers_wells 

YouTube: Sadler’s Wells Theatre 

About Broadway In Chicago

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 24 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, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com

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Broadway-Bound North American Tour of THE WIZ Through Sunday, December 10, at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre

ChiIL Mama’s ChiIL Picks List

NOW PLAYING!

EASE ON DOWN TO SEE THE WIZ!

SEE THE ALL-NEW NORTH AMERICAN TOUR AND PRE-BROADWAY PREMIERE OF THE GROUND-BREAKING, REVOLUTIONARY, BROADWAY HIT MUSICAL

THE WIZ

THE WIZ - No Bad News. Melody Betts as Evillene-Photo by Jeremy Daniel

CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE

151 W. RANDOLPH STREET

NOVEMBER  28 – DECEMBER 10, 2023

AHEAD OF ITS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RETURN TO BROADWAY

Can you feel a brand new day? The sun is shining brighter now because THE WIZ is currently playing in Chicago! Producers Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Kandi Burruss, Todd Tucker, Common, MC Lyte, The Ambassador Theatre Group, and Broadway In Chicago are proud to bring you the Chicago premiere of the all-new Broadway-bound North American tour of THE WIZ. THE WIZ will play a strictly limited engagement of sixteen performances, through Sunday, December 10, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. I'll be out for the press opening November 29th, so check back soon for my full review. 

 Everybody look around! The Tony Award®-winning Best Musical that took the world by storm is back.

THE WIZ returns “home” to stages across America in an all-new Broadway-bound tour, the first one in 40 years. The tour began on September 23, 2023 in THE WIZ’s original home city of Baltimore, where the show made its world premiere 50 years ago. Following its run in Baltimore, the tour will slide into Emerald cities across the country before it begins Broadway previews at The Marquis Theater on March 24,2024.

This groundbreaking twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world.

The extraordinary cast features Alan Mingo Jr (Kinky Boots) as The Wiz, award-winning recording artist Deborah Cox as Glinda, Melody Betts (The Factotum, Lyric Opera Of Chicago) as Aunt Em and Evillene, Kyle Ramar Freeman (A Strange Loop) as Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson ("Sharper," A24) as Tinman, and recording artist Avery Wilson ("On Top Of The World) as Scarecrow. Nichelle Lewis (Hairspray, National Tour) makes a star turn Broadway debut as Dorothy.

Director Schele Williams (The Notebook, revival of Disney’s Aida) and choreographer JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé’s ‘Single Ladies’, Black is King) conjure an Oz unlike anything seen before. Charlie Smalls’ Tony Award®-winning score features the iconic hits “Ease on Down the Road,” and “Home,” with new musical moments from Joseph Joubert (music supervision, orchestrations, & music arrangements) and Allen René Louis (vocal arrangements, music arrangements). Tony® and Emmy®-nominated TV host Amber Ruffin (“The Amber Ruffin Show,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers”) pens additional material for William F. Brown’s trailblazing book.

THE WIZ also includes the hit songs “Everybody Rejoice,” music and lyrics by Luther Vandross, as well as the “Emerald City Ballet” with music by Timothy Graphenreed.

Oz is reimagined with scenic design by Academy Award ®-winning Hannah Beachler (Black Panther, Beyoncé’s Black is King and Lemonade), costume design by Emmy Award®-winning and two-time Academy Award®-nominated Sharen Davis (Ray, Dreamgirls), lighting design by Barrymore Award-winning Ryan J. O’Gara (Thoughts of a Colored Man), sound design by Jon Weston (Parade), projection design by Daniel Brodie (Motown the Musical), and wig design by Charles LaPointe (MJ the Musical).

Based on L. Frank Baum’s children’s book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, THE WIZ takes one of the world’s most enduring (and enduringly white) American fantasies, and transforms it into an all-Black musical extravaganza for the ages.

THE WIZ premiered on Broadway in 1975 and became an instant sensation, going on to win seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Ted Ross), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Dee Dee Bridgewater), Best Choreography (George Faison), and in a Broadway first, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Costume Design (Geoffrey Holder). “Ease on Down the Road” became the show’s break-out single, and “Home” has since become a bona fide classic. That original production ran for four years (first at The Majestic Theatre and later at The Broadway Theatre) – and 1,672 performances – on Broadway. A 1978 film adaptation starred Diana Ross, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Richard Pryor and Lena Horne, and marked Quincy Jones’ first collaboration with Michael Jackson.

Casting by: Tara Rubin Casting. 

For more information and complete tour route visit: www.wizmusical.com and follow @thewizbway on Twitter , Instagram, and Facebook.

 

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for The Wiz are currently on sale and range in price from $55.00 -$195.00 with a select number of premium tickets available. Individual tickets can be found on www.BroadwayInChicago.com or by going to any Broadway In Chicago venue box office. Tickets for groups of 10 or more can be purchased by contacting Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

WEEK ONE

Tuesday, November 28 at 7:30 pm

Wednesday, November 29 at 7:30 pm

Thursday, November 30 at 7:30 pm

Friday, December 1 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, December 2 at 2 pm

Saturday, December 2 at 8 pm

Sunday, December 3 at 2 pm

Sunday, December 3 at 7:30 pm

WEEK TWO

Tuesday, December 5 at 7:30 pm

Wednesday, December 6 at 2 pm

Wednesday, December 6 at 7:30 pm

Thursday, December 7 at 7:30 pm

Friday, December 8 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, December 9 at 2 pm

Saturday, December 9 at 7:30 pm

Sunday, December 10 at 2 pm

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 23 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, Auditorium Theatre, 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

Disney’s ALADDIN TO PLAY BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE MAY 17-28

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TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE FRIDAY, MARCH 17

Disney’s ALADDIN

TO PLAY

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S

CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE

FOR TWO WEEKS ONLY

MAY 17-28

Back in 2017, we covered Disney’s ALADDIN here in Chicago in a big way. It's a fabulously fun production for all ages and great for multigenerational memory making. The show's only playing Chicago for 2 weeks, before it disappears, so don't wait for the FOMO to set in. 

Disney Theatrical Productions, under the direction of Thomas Schumacher, and Broadway In Chicago are delighted to announce that individual tickets for the long-awaited return engagement of Disney’s ALADDIN will go on sale to the public on Friday, March 17. The hit Broadway musical comedy will begin performances in Chicago at Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) on May 17 for a limited two-week engagement through Sunday, May 28.

ALADDIN, the hit musical based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, opened on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre to critical acclaim on March 20, 2014, and quickly established itself as one of the biggest new blockbusters, breaking 16 New Amsterdam Theatre house records and spawning nine productions on four continents. Worldwide it has welcomed more than 16 million people and can be seen currently on Broadway and on tour across North America, as well as in Tokyo, Mexico City and Madrid, with a UK tour slated to open later this year. The Broadway production recently played its 3,000th performance and joined the list of Top 20 longest Broadway runs. 

About ALADDIN

Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, ALADDIN features music by Tony Award and eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida) and six-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Prom, The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin, and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon).   

ALADDIN, adapted from the animated Disney film and centuries-old folktales including “One Thousand and One Nights,” is brought to fresh theatrical life in this bold new musical. Aladdin’s journey sweeps audiences into an exciting world of daring adventure, classic comedy and timeless romance.  This new production features a full score, including the five cherished songs from the Academy Award-winning soundtrack and more written especially for the stage.

The animated film ALADDIN was released by Disney in 1992 and was a critical and box office smash, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year.

The film won the Oscar for Best Original Score and introduced the hit song “A Whole New World,” which won the second of the film’s two Academy Awards as Best Original Song.  The Peabo Bryson/Regina Belle recording of the tune soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

ALADDIN is designed by seven-time Tony-winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, seven-time Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, two-time Tony-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes and sound designer Ken Travis.

The production team also includes illusion designers Jim Steinmeyer and Rob Lake, hair designer Josh Marquette and makeup designer Milagros Medina-Cerdeira.  The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who also created the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly. John MacInnis is the associate choreographer, Jason Trubitt is the production supervisor and Myriah Bash is the general manager. 

Anne Quart serves as co-producer.

A previous North American tour of Casey Nicholaw’s Broadway production played 1,201 performances in 41 cities from April 11, 2017 to March 12, 2020, drawing more than 2.7 million people.

For more information, visit AladdinTheMusical.com/tour, Instagram and Facebook 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

In Chicago, ALADDIN will play Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Sunday performances will be at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. 

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for ALADDIN will go on-sale to the public on Friday, March 17. Tickets start at $33.00 with a select number of premium tickets available. Tickets are available now 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.

Ticket buyers are reminded that Broadway In Chicago is the only official retail ticket outlet for all performances at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. Ticket buyers who purchase tickets from a ticket broker or any third party should be aware that Broadway In Chicago is unable to reprint or replace lost or stolen tickets and is unable to contact patrons with information regarding time changes or other pertinent updates regarding the performance.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 23 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, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway  Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

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

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ●

Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● TikTok @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

REVIEW: Broadway Revival of Fiddler on the Roof One Week Only at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre May 17 - May 22, 2022.

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

The Company of the North American Tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

All photos by Joan Marcus

REVIEW:

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

The Tony Award®-nominated Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof is a multigenerational crowd pleaser and a must see. The dance numbers by acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter are fantastic and the dream scene is a macabre delight with creepy masks, elongated fingers, and a far larger than life Fruma Sarah. 

The Company of the North American Tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

The sets are simple yet effective and the entire cast shines in this high energy crowd pleaser with timeless themes of love, loss, family, and community. Yehezkel Lazarov is a particular stand out as Tevye, punching up the humor in an endearing, charismatic way.

Yehezkel Lazarov (Tevye) 

The Company of the North American Tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Fiddler on the Roof holds a special place in my heart since I was cast in my high school's production. Decades later my daughter's school performed Fiddler on the Roof, and as a limber gymnast she was cast as The Fiddler, and did the Russian dance and the bottle danced. 

Ali Arian Molaei (The Fiddler) and the Company

Scott Willits (Villager) and Eddieomar Gonzalez-Castillo (Villager)and Honza Relichovsky 

The musical Fiddler on the Roof is based on the story "Tevye and his Daughters" written by Sholem Aleichem in 1905 (and set then). Jerry Block and Sheldon Harnick wrote the musical version in 1964, yet as the decades pass this show still has staying power and universal appeal. It's amazing how little has changed, with Russia once again invading and attacking small towns in Ukraine near Kiev, the region where Fiddler on the Roof is set. We were pleased that during the curtain call, the cast dedicated this run to the people of the Ukraine who are still evacuating their homes and fleeing as refugees.  Don't miss this short, 8 performance Chicago run. Fiddler on the Roof is recommended.

Noa Luz Barenblat (Chava) and Kelly Gabrielle Murphy (Tzeitel) and Ruthy Froch (Hodel)

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

The Company of the North American Tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

"ENTIRELY FRESH, FUNNY AND GORGEOUS. A REASON FOR CELEBRATION!"

-New York Magazine

Broadway In Chicago announced that tickets for the tour of the Tony Award®-nominated Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof are now on sale and range in price from $31 - $111 with a select number of premium tickets available. Fiddler on the Roof will play eight performances at Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) from May 17 through May 22, 2022. Individual tickets are available at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com.

Yehezkel Lazarov (Tevye) and Andrew Hendrick (Lazar Wolf)

"ELECTRIFYING! SUPERB."

-The New York Times

A beloved theatrical classic from Tony-winner Joseph Stein and Pulitzer Prize winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, this critically acclaimed production is directed by Tony Award®-winner Bartlett Sher (To Kill a Mockingbird, South Pacific, The King and I) and choreographed by the acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter. 

Noa Luz Barenblat (Chava) and Jack O'Brien (Fyedka)

Fiddler on the Roof is the heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life, love and laughter. This classic musical is rich with Broadway hits, including “To Life (L’Chaim!),” “If I Were A Rich Man,” "Sunrise, Sunset,” "Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” and “Tradition.”

Kelly Gabrielle Murphy (Tzeitel) and Daniel Kushner (Motel) 

"MAGNIFICENT! LIFE-AFFIRMING."

-Time Out New York

Ruthy Froch (Hodel) and Solomon Reynolds (Perchik)

The cast features Israeli theatre and film star Yehezkel Lazarov as Tevye joined by Maite Uzal as Golde, Andrew Hendrick as Lazar Wolf, Brooke Wetterhahn as Yente, Kelly Gabrielle Murphy as Tzeitel, Ruthy Froch as Hodel, Noa Luz Barenblat as Chava, Daniel Kushner as Motel, Solomon Reynolds as Perchik, Jack O’Brien as Fyedka and Jason Thomas Sofge as Constable. 

The ensemble includes Danny Arnold, Nick Berke, Andrea Marie Bush, Morgan Cohen, David Scott Curtis, Eddieomar Gonzalez-Castillo, Ansley Grace Hamilton, Jenna Harwood, Jonathan Hashmonay, James Jude Johnson, Elliot Lazar, Randa Meierhenry, Carlye Messman, Ali Arian Molaei, Jacob Nahor, Max O’Connell, Carly Post, Lauren Blair Smith, Alex Stone, Rosie Webber, Scott Willits and Audrey Rose Young.

The Company of the North American Tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

 "THIS FIDDLER IS LIKE ITS CHARACTERS: RESILIENT, THOUGHTFUL, CELEBRATORY, AND ENDURING."

-Chicago Sun-Times

The original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof, which opened in 1964, was the first musical in history to surpass 3,000 performances. The show won the 1965 Tony Award for Best Musical in addition to eight other Tony Awards that year. This acclaimed revival proudly introduces a new generation to the iconic musical adored across the globe.

The Company of the North American Tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

 "BROADWAY'S FAVORITE MUSICAL"

-NY Daily News

Fiddler on the Roof has musical supervision by Tony Award®-winner Ted Sperling, scenic design by Tony Award®-winner Michael Yeargan, costume design by Tony Award®-winner Catherine Zuber, lighting design by Tony Award®-winner Donald Holder, sound design by Tony Award®-winner Scott Lehrer and Alex Neumann and hair and wig design by Tom Watson. Casting is by Jason Styres, CSA.  

The Company of the North American Tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Tuesday, May 17 at 7:30 pm

Wednesday, May 18 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm

Thursday, May 189 at 7:30 pm

Friday, May 20 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, May 21 at 2 pm and 8 pm

Sunday, May 22 at 2 pm

 Yehezkel Lazarov (Tevye) and Maite Uzal (Golde)

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 22 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 more than 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, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre.

For more information about the show, visit www.Fiddlermusical.com

Follow Fiddler on the Roof on: Facebook ● Twitter  ● Instagram ● @FiddlerBroadway  ● #FiddlerTour ● #FiddlerMusical

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com

Follow Broadway In Chicago on: Facebook ● Twitter ● Instagram ● @BroadwayInChicago ● @broadwaychicago ● #broadwayinchicago

OPENING: HIT MUSICAL THE PROM AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE APRIL 19-24, 2022

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

 THE PROM

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S

CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE

APRIL 19-24, 2022 

EVERYONE DESERVES A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE!

THE PROM will play Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) for a limited one-week engagement April 19-24, 2022. I'll be there opening night, so check back soon for my full review. 

This hit musical stars Kaden Kearney (they/them) as “Emma, High School Student, Banned from the Prom,” Kalyn West as “Alyssa Greene, Head of Student Council with a Secret,” Courtney Balan as “Tony Award Winner Dee Dee Allen,” Patrick Wetzel as “Drama Desk Award Winner Barry Glickman,” Emily Borromeo as “Angie Dickinson, Broadway Chorine,” Bud Weber as “Trent Oliver, Esteemed Julliard Graduate/Cater Waiter,” Sinclair Mitchell as “Mr. Hawkins, High School Principal,” Ashanti J’Aria as “Mrs. Greene, President of the PTA” and Shavey Brown as “Sheldon Saperstein, Broadway’s Press Agent with a Plan.”

Rounding out the ensemble are Jordan Alexander, Gabrielle Beckford, Ashley Bruce, Olivia Rose Cece, Maurice Dawkins, Jordan De Leon, James Caleb Grice, Megan Grosso, Marie Gutierrez, Chloe Rae Kehm, Braden Allen King, Brandon J. Large, Christopher McCrewell, Adriana Negron, Lexie Plath, Brittany Nicole Williams, Thad Turner Wilson and Josh Zacher.

Directed and choreographed by Tony Award® winner Casey Nicholaw (Aladdin, Mean Girls), THE PROM features a book by Tony Award® winner Bob Martin (Elf, The Drowsy Chaperone) and Tony Award® nominee Chad Beguelin (Aladdin), music by Tony Award® nominee Matthew Sklar (Elf the Musical) and lyrics by Tony Award® nominee Chad Beguelin with scenic design by Tony Award® winner Scott Pask (The Book of Mormon), costume design by Tony Award® winner Ann Roth (The Book of Mormon) and Matthew Pachtman (The Book of Mormon), lighting design by Tony Award® winner Natasha Katz (Diana: The Musical), sound design by Tony Award® winner Brian Ronan (Mrs. Doubtfire, Mean Girls), wig and hair design by Josh Marquette (Pretty Woman, Means Girls), make-up design by Milagros Medina-Cerdeira (Mean Girls), orchestrations by Tony Award® winner Larry Hochman (Hello, Dolly!), music supervision by Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Mean Girls) and casting by The Telsey Office. THE PROM is based on an original concept by Jack Viertel.

Everyone’s invited to the joyous Broadway hit that New York Magazine hails as “smart and big-hearted” while The New York Times declares it “makes you believe in musical comedy again!” THE PROM is a musical comedy about big Broadway stars on a mission to change the world and the love they discover that unites them all. 

Variety raves, “It’s so full of happiness that you think your heart is about to burst.” And The Hollywood Reporter cheers, “It’s comic gold!”  

Tony, Emmy, Golden Globe & Peabody Award winner Ryan Murphy (The Boys In The Band, American Horror Story) turned THE PROM into a movie event for Netflix starring Meryl Streep (DeeDee), James Corden (Barry), Nicole Kidman (Angie), Keegan-Michael Key (Principal Tom Hawkins), Andrew Rannells (Trent), Jo Ellen Pellman (Emma), Ariana DeBose (Alyssa), Kerry Washington (Mrs. Greene), and Kevin Chamberlin (Sheldon).

Viking Books also recently announced that Saundra Mitchell, author of over twenty books for tweens and teens, has written the YA novelization of the hit Broadway musical comedy, THE PROM to adapt the new original musical into a reading experience that reflects the energy and humor of the show, and echoes its message of acceptance and inclusion. The book was published on September 10, 2019 with Viking Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers.

The producing team for THE PROM includes Bill Damaschke, Dori Berinstein, Jack Lane, NETworks Presentations, Natasha Davison, Merry & Jim Mosbacher, Terry Schnuck, Liz Armstrong, Elizabeth L. Green, Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, Seth A. Goldstein, Jane Dubin, Smedes-Stern-Palitz, Fahs Productions, Joe Grandy, Don & Nancy Ross, Three Belles & A Bob, Instone Productions, Fakler-Silver, Arment-Tackel, Cliff Hopkins, Larry & Elizabeth Lenke, Christopher Ketner, The John Gore Organization, Nancy & Ken Kranzberg, Independent Presenters Network, Mark Lonlow & JoAnne Astrow, Iris Smith, Sabrina Wallace, Garris-Morris-Masie Productions, Judith Manocherian, The Shubert Organization, Karen DeVerna & Jeremiah J. Harris, Fox Theatricals, Michael and Adrienne Blackman and Heidi & Stephen Distante. 

THE PROM made its world premiere at The Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, GA, Susan V. Booth, Artistic Director, in 2016, and played its final performance at the Longacre Theatre on Broadway on August 11, 2019 after playing 23 previews and 310 regular performances.

 

For more information visit:

Website: ThePromMusical.com

Facebook: @ThePromMusical

Instagram: @ThePromMusical

Twitter: @ThePromMusical

TikTok: @ThePromMusical

Hashtag: #ThePromMusical

 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Tuesday, April 19 at 7:30 P.M.

Wednesday, April 20 2:00 P.M. and 7:30 P.M.

Thursday, April 21 at 7:30 P.M.

Friday, April 22 at 7:30 P.M.

Saturday, April 23 at 2:00 P.M. & 8:00 P.M.

Sunday, April 24 at 2:00 P.M.

 

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for THE PROM go on sale tomorrow and range from $31 to $107 with a select number of premium tickets available. Tickets are available now 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 21 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 more than 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, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

 

COVID-19 Protocol: When entering the theatre, audience members will be required to provide their valid ticket, be masked, and provide valid I.D. (ages 16 and up). Guests, ages 5 and up, will be required to provide vaccination card that proves full vaccination, meaning 14 days after their second dose of a two-dose FDA authorized COVID-19 vaccine or at least 14 days after a single dose vaccine. Those with vaccine exemptions, including children 2 – 4, religious or medical, will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test along with a photo ID and valid ticket. Acceptable tests are either a PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance start time or an antigen test taken within 6 hours of the performance start time. No home tests will be accepted. Due to COVID-19 protocol, children under the age of 2 will not be admitted to any Broadway In Chicago Theatre. We are currently not serving or allowing food and beverage inside the theatres to allow audience members to remain masked throughout the performance. 

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

 

Award Winning Musical Come From Away Returns To Cadillac Palace Theatre February 22 – March 6, 2022

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

COME FROM AWAY 

Returns To 

Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre

February 22 – March 6, 2022

On September 11, 2001, the world stopped.  On September 12, their stories moved us all.

Here at ChiIL Mama, we adore COME FROM AWAY and are eager to see it again on opening night, February 23rd. Check back soon for my full review. A close friend of mine, Flo and her mother experienced the true story this musical is based on in real life. They were enroute back to Chicago from Greece when the 9/11 attacks happened and their plane was diverted to Gander! Check out this award winning musical that will renew your faith in human kindness and humankind. 

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to welcome COME FROM AWAY, a Broadway musical about the true story of the small town that welcomed the world, back to Chicago by popular demand at Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph Street) for a limited engagement from February 22 through March 6, 2022. COME FROM AWAY tickets are on sale now! 

★★★★ (out of 4)

“The show offers comfort, understanding, and hope. 

It touches the heart, and Chicago audiences are loving it!” 

– Chicago Tribune

The touring production of COME FROM AWAY will star Marika Aubrey (Lincoln Center’s South Pacific), Kevin Carolan (Disney’s Newsies), Harter Clingman (Peter and The Starcatcher), Nick Duckart (In the Heights), Chamblee Ferguson, Sharriese Hamilton, Christine Toy Johnson (The Music Man), Julie Johnson (Memphis), James Earl Jones II (The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess), Julia Knitel (Beautiful), Andrew Samonsky (South Pacific), Sharone Sayegh (The Band’s Visit), Jenny Ashman, Jane Bunting, Amelia Cormack, Aaron Michael Ray, Kilty Reidy, and Brandon Springman.

COME FROM AWAY features a book, music and lyrics by Olivier, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award winners and Grammy and two-time Tony Award nominees Irene Sankoff & David Hein, direction by Tony Award winner and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Christopher Ashley, musical staging by Olivier Award winner and two-time Tony Award nominee Kelly Devine, and music supervision by Olivier Award winner and Grammy Award nominee Ian Eisendrath. 

★★★★ (out of 4)  

“Brilliant, Moving, and Marvelous.”

 – Chicago Sun-Times

COME FROM AWAY features scenic design by Tony Award winner Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Tony Award nominee Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by two-time Tony Award winner Howell Binkley, sound design by Olivier & Outer Critics Circle Award winner and Tony Award nominee Gareth Owen, orchestrations by Olivier Award winner and Grammy & Tony Award nominee August Eriksmoen, and music arrangements by Olivier Award winner and Grammy Award nominee Ian Eisendrath and casting by Telsey + Company.

COME FROM AWAY tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.

The Tony & Olivier Award-Winning “Must-See Musical”

– NPR

A “Best Musical” winner all across North America, the smash-hit musical has won the Tony Award for “Best Direction of a Musical” (Christopher Ashley), 4 Olivier Awards (London) including “Best New Musical,” 5 Outer Critics Circle Awards (NYC) including “Outstanding New Broadway Musical,” 3 Drama Desk Awards (NYC) including “Outstanding Musical,” 4 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards (North American Tour) including “Best Production,” 4 Helen Hayes Awards (D.C.) including “Outstanding Production of a Musical,” 4 Gypsy Rose Lee Awards (Seattle) including “Excellence in Production of a Musical,” 6 San Diego Critics Circle Awards including “Outstanding New Musical,” 3 Toronto Theatre Critics Awards including “Best New Musical,” 3 Dora Awards (Toronto) including “Outstanding New Musical/Opera” and “Outstanding Production,” and the 2017 Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award (Toronto). 

The Grammy Award-nominated original Broadway cast recording of COME FROM AWAY is available digitally and in stores everywhere. Grammy Award winner David Lai and Grammy Award nominees Ian Eisendrath, August Eriksmoen, Irene Sankoff & David Hein served as album producers. 

Apple Original Films’ filmed version of the Tony & Olivier Award-winning hit musical COME FROM AWAY, produced by eOne, Hasbro’s entertainment studio, will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, September 10. COME FROM AWAY, which marks the first Broadway show to be streamed by Apple TV+, is directed by Tony Award-winner Christopher Ashley, who directed the original Broadway production, and stars an ensemble cast led by members of the Broadway show. The live performance of COME FROM AWAY was filmed in New York at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in May 2021, where the Broadway production is staged, for an audience that included 9/11 survivors and front-line workers; and, employed over 200 people including members of the Broadway crew, staff, and creative teams. 

COME FROM AWAY is produced by Junkyard Dog Productions (Randy Adams, Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff and Sue Frost), Jerry Frankel, Latitude Link, Smith & Brant Theatricals, Steve & Paula Reynolds, David Mirvish, Michael Rubinoff, Alhadeff Productions, Michael Alden & Nancy Nagel Gibbs, Sam Levy, Rodney Rigby, Spencer Ross, Richard Winkler, Yonge Street Theatricals, Sheridan College, Michael & Ellise Coit, Ronald Frankel, Sheri & Les Biller, Richard & Sherry Belkin, Marlene & Gary Cohen, Allan Detsky & Rena Mendelson, Lauren Doll, Barbara H. Freitag, Wendy Gillespie, Laura Little Theatricals, Carl & Jennifer Pasbjerg, Radio Mouse Entertainment, The Shubert Organization, Cynthia Stroum, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Gwen Arment/Molly Morris & Terry McNicholas, Maureen & Joel Benoliel/Marjorie & Ron Danz, Pamela Cooper/Corey Brunish, Demos Bizar/Square 1 Theatrics, Joshua Goodman/Lauren Stevens, Adam Blanshay Productions/Judith Ann Abrams Productions, Bill & Linda Potter/Rosemary & Kenneth Willman, and La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle Repertory Theatre. 

COME FROM AWAY was originally co-produced in 2015 by La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle Repertory Theatre, and presented in 2016 by Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC and Mirvish Productions at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, CA. COME FROM AWAY (NAMT Festival 2013) was originally developed at the Canadian Music Theatre Project, Michael Rubinoff Producer, Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, Canada and was further developed at Goodspeed Musicals’ Festival of New Artists, in East Haddam, CT. The Canada Council for the Arts, The Ontario Arts Council, and the Fifth Avenue Theatre in Seattle WA also provided development support. 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Tuesday-Friday at 7:30 pm (with 2 pm matinees on Wednesdays)

Saturdays at 2 pm & 8 pm

Sundays at 2 pm

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for COME FROM AWAY are now on sale and range in price from $35 - $105 with a select number of premium tickets available. Individual tickets will be available by calling the Broadway In Chicago Ticketline at (800) 775- 2000, visiting www.BroadwayInChicago.com, or by visiting any Broadway In Chicago venue box office during their open hours, which can be found here. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 21 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 more than 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, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre. 

COVID-19 Protocol:  Audience members are required to be masked and show proof that they are fully vaccinated. Those with exemptions, including children, must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Vaccine cards and negative COVID-19 test must be shown along with a photo I.D. and valid ticket. No home tests are accepted and due to COVID-19 protocol, children under 2 are not allowed into the theatre. For further information including types of vaccines or testing details visit BroadwayInChicago.com/COVID19.

All Broadway In Chicago schedules, productions, and protocols for attendance will continue to be reviewed as further guidance and recommendations are provided by the CDC, Illinois State, and Chicago Departments of Health. For the latest health and safety procedures and guidelines, visit www.broadwayinchicago.com/covid19.

For more information about the show visit: https://comefromaway.com/

Connect with COME FROM AWAY on

Facebook ● Twitter: @Wecomefromaway ● Instagram: @Wecomefromaway

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com,

Follow Broadway In Chicago: Facebook ● Twitter ● Instagram ● #broadwayinchicago

REVIEW: Riverdance 25th Anniversary Tour Now Playing Chicago Through February 9, 2020

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

RIVERDANCE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW

AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE FEBRUARY 4 - 9, 2020

Riverdance Production Photos by Jack Hartin unless noted

*Runtime is 2 hours with an intermission*


Riverdance Lead Dancers
Photo Credit Ewa Figaszewska & Fatima Caballero

REVIEW:
By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

Whether the sum total of your knowledge of Irish step dance is curly wigged kids bouncing in unison in parades, or whether you're a diehard Riverdance fan who has followed the show for a quarter of a century, this tour has something to wow. The Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show opens and closes with a video montage of the past, a nostalgic nod to the award winning dancers who laid the foundations to make Riverdance a worldwide phenomenon, and the stellar success it remains today.

The dancers are world class, at the top of their game, and their lightning fast footwork is astonishing. Add the haunting solos of siren sopranos, talented musicians on traditional Irish instruments, and panoramic backdrops, and this show will leave you longing to travel. 

Caoineadh Cu Chulainn

We were elated that the drummer was a woman, and an excellent one at that, in what's sadly still a male dominated niche. 

Firedance

We particularly enjoyed the multicultural dance numbers that go beyond Irish dance to highlight the similarities to Flamenco, tap, Russian dance and more. The dance battle on the streets of New York was especially fun as was Thunderstorm, a sexy and powerful number. 

Thunderstorm

Trading Taps

Bring the whole family. Kids will be inspired and adults will be awed. The colorful costume changes, clever, moving background scenes, driving beat and flying feet will easily keep the attention of all ages. Highly recommended.

Don't forget to try your luck at the digital ticket lottery. Full details are below.
There will be a limited number of digital lottery tickets sold for every performance at $25 each. The lottery will happen online only the day before each performance. In addition, there will be a limited number of in person rush tickets sold for each performance at $30 each. These will be available at all performances of the run for purchase in-person at the Cadillac Palace Theatre box office beginning when the box office opens daily. Seat locations vary per performance for the digital lottery and day-of show tickets.

How to Enter Digital Lottery
• Visit www.broadwayinchicago.com/show/riverdance-2020/
• Follow the link “Click here for details and to enter the lottery”

Bonnie Kenaz-Mara is a Chicago based writer-theater critic-photographer-videographer-actress-artist-general creatrix and Mama to two terrific teens. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly). 

Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce that RIVERDANCE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW is now playing at Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph) for a limited one-week engagement through February 9, 2020.

Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show is Riverdance, as you’ve never seen it before! A powerful and stirring reinvention of this beloved favorite, celebrated over the world for its Grammy Award-winning score and the thrilling energy and passion of its Irish and international dance. Twenty-five years on, composer Bill Whelan has rerecorded his mesmerizing soundtrack while producer Moya Doherty and director John McColgan have completely reimagined the ground-breaking show with innovative and spectacular lighting, projection, stage and costume designs.

Immerse yourself in the extraordinary power and grace of its music and dance–beloved by fans of all ages. Fall in love with the magic of Riverdance all over again. Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show has been designed by lead designer Peter Canning, featuring Set by Alan Farquharson, Lighting by Andrew Voller and Video by Cosmo AV along with Costumes by Joan Bergin and Sound by Michael O’Gorman.

American Wake

Riverdance began its journey as the interval act in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, produced for television by Moya Doherty. This electrifying and innovative seven-minute dance piece was then developed into a full-length stage show by Producer Moya Doherty, Composer Bill Whelan and Director John McColgan. With its fusion of Irish and International music and dance, the show broke all box office records during its world première run in Dublin in early 1995. When the show transferred to London the reaction was unprecedented. There followed a hugely successful tour starting in New York in March 1996, where 8 sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall heralded the start of two decades of touring by Riverdance companies throughout North America. Since its inception, Riverdance has packed theatres throughout North America, Oceania, Asia, Europe, South Africa and South America.

For more information, visit: www.riverdance.com.
Follow @Riverdance on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Countess Cathleen

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 7:30PM Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 2PM & 7:30PM Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7:30PM
Friday, Feb. 7 at 7:30PM
Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2PM & 8PM Sunday, Feb. 9 at 2PM

TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets for RIVERDANCE 25th ANNIVERSARY SHOW are on sale now and range in price from $32 – $90 with a select number of premium tickets available. Individual tickets will be available by calling the Broadway In Chicago Ticketline at (800) 775-2000 or by visiting www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com.

Digital Lottery & Rush Tickets
There will be a limited number of digital lottery tickets sold for every performance at $25 each. The lottery will happen online only the day before each performance. In addition, there will be a limited number of in person rush tickets sold for each performance at $30 each. These will be available at all performances of the run for purchase in-person at the Cadillac Palace Theatre box office beginning when the box office opens daily. Seat locations vary per performance for the digital lottery and day-of show tickets.

How to Enter Digital Lottery
• Visit www.broadwayinchicago.com/show/riverdance-2020/
• Follow the link “Click here for details and to enter the lottery”
• Click the “Enter Now” button for the performance you want to attend.
• Fill out the entry form including the number of tickets you would like (1 or 2). Patrons will receive a confirmation
email once they have validated their email (one time only) and successfully entered the lottery.
• After the lottery closes, patrons will be notified via email within minutes as to whether they have won or not.
• Winners have 60 minutes from the time the lottery closes to pay online with a credit card.
• After payment has been received, patrons can pick up tickets at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W Randolph) no
sooner than 30 minutes before show time with a valid photo ID.

Digital Lottery Additional Rules
Limit 1 entry per person, per performance. Multiple entries will not be accepted. Patrons must be 18 years old and have a valid, non-expired photo ID that matches the names used to enter. Tickets are non-transferable. All lottery prices include a $3.50 facility fee. Ticket limits and prices displayed are at the sole discretion of the show and are subject to change without notice. Lottery prices are not valid on prior purchases. Lottery ticket offer cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. All sales final - no refunds or exchanges. Lottery may be revoked or modified at any time without notice. No purchase necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not improve chances of winning.



Lead Dancers’ Biographies
MAGGIE DARLINGTON. Maggie began dancing with the Claddagh School of Irish Dance in California. She won four North American Championships, two All-Ireland Championships and in 2007 won the World Irish Dancing Championships. In 2010 Maggie performed the lead role in Busch Gardens’ production Celtic Fyre and originated the lead female role in Battle of the Dance. She joined the cast of Riverdance in 2011 and became a member of the female principal team, touring internationally. Maggie was also featured dancer with Heartbeat of Home.

ANNA MAI FITZPATRICK. Anna Mai began her dance journey at the age of four. She danced competitively for 16 years alongside her brother Fergus, realising quickly that it was her passion. As a competitor, she has won many major championships such as the All-Ireland Championships, Great Britain Championships and the British Nationals. She joined Riverdance and went on to tour China with the fantastic cast of which included her brother Fergus and spent the last two summers performing with Riverdance in the historic Gaiety Theatre, Dublin. Aside from her dancing, Anna Mai has also received a qualification in personal training from the University of Limerick.

GIANNA PETRACIC. Born in Australia, Gianna attended the Halloran School of Dance, training in Irish dance, ballet, contemporary dance and musical theatre. There she obtained several championship titles in Irish dancing. She also studied ballet part time at the Australian Ballet School and part time acting at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts). Gianna was a part of the cast of Prodijig’s show Footstorm. She is also an original cast member of Heartbeat of Home, touring and performing in London’s West End as a featured dancer. Gianna joined the cast of Riverdance in 2014 and has since toured the world as part of the female principal team.

WILL BRYANT. Born in Sydney, Australia, Will trained with the Halloran Dance School in Irish, ballet, contemporary and tap from the age of four. Will performed lead roles in musical productions and made regular appearances on TV. At University he studied for a Bachelor of Music and is an accomplished guitarist. An ambitious athlete, Will is studying personal training on and off tour. Following an impressive competitive Irish dance career, placing top-three internationally and winning state and national titles, he then went on to perform with Celtic Illusion and Heartbeat of Home. In 2014 he joined Riverdance and has toured in over ten different countries. He is thrilled to be part of the lead team.

PATRICK O‘MAHONY. Patrick is a native of Rusheen, Ballylongford, Co Kerry. He began his dance training at age two with Rinceoiri Na Riochta. He has many titles and he became All-Ireland champion in 1995. Moving to the U.S state of Virginia in 2004, he spent eight years dancing with Irish Thunder in Busch Gardens, Williamsburg. Back in Europe, he toured extensively with Gaelforce and performed in the Breandan De Gallai productions Noctu and the Rite of Spring. Patrick joined Riverdance in 2012 and went on to become Lead Dancer and has toured extensively with the show. In 2015 he was also principal dancer in Heartbeat of Home.

JASON O’NEILL. Jason started dancing at the age of five alongside his six sisters. Under the tuition of the Armstrong school in Belfast he developed a deep-rooted passion for rhythm. Jason has been a lead dancer Riverdance, Heartbeat of Home and with Prodijig’s Footstorm and is truly honoured to attain the lead role in three shows. As an avid traveller he has now performed in over 200 cities worldwide

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 20 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 more than 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 CIBC
          
Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago