REVIEW: HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD at James M. Nederlander Theatre Through February 1, 2025

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

NOW PLAYING AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S JAMES M. NEDERLANDER THEATRE

THROUGH FEBRUARY 1, 2025

The show is suitable for ages 8 and up.

Runtime: 2 hours and 50 minutes with one intermission

REVIEW

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

Here at ChiIL Mama, we caught the opening night of the US touring production of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, kicking off right here in Chicago, and we loved it! Even Muggles will be enchanted with Harry Potter, the next generation. This play picks up nineteen years after the original series, when the children we know and love have become parents of Hogwarts teens. This production is a mind blowing spectacle of special effects, unexpected friendships, and time travel. Slither in for stunning stage magic, stellar acting, and an epic adventure that changes everything. Highly recommended. ★★★★ Four out of four stars.

(from left to right) Aidan Close and Emmet Smith in Harry Potter and

the Cursed Child North American Tour. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

I bought this script when it came out in 2016 and have been eagerly awaiting the chance to see it on stage in a full production. I devoured all 7 novel and all the movies as each came out, and own all of both. As soon as my kids were old enough, we read them aloud as a family and watched the movies many times. We especially loved Hermione, a smart, female lead, written in an era when the vast majority of main characters were boys. Not so long ago, gate keeper publishers regularly blocked heroines, saying that boys wouldn't read books with girls as main characters. 

(from left to right) Julia Nightingale, Aidan Close and Emmet Smith in

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child North American Tour. Photo by Matthew

Murphy.

Speaking of girls as main characters, no big spoilers, but HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD adds a doozy of a female lead with Delphi Diggory, delightfully played by Julia Nightingale. HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD also gets more diverse with Hermione (Ebony Blake) and her daughter, Rose (Naira Vanessa McCalla), both played by black actresses, and we're here for it! We also couldn't possibly love Moaning Myrtle any more than we do. Mackenzie Lesser-Roy killed it as the ghost girl who lurks in the loo! 

The North American Tour of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Photo by Matthew Murphy.

 

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD GOLDEN SNITCH DIGITAL LOTTERY 

If money's an issue, there's a free to enter ticket lottery for all show dates. The Golden Snitch Digital Lottery will open at 9:00 a.m. CT and close at 5:00 p.m. CT the day prior to the desired performance. Winners can claim 2 tickets for $40 each + a $5 handling fee per ticket. Enter HERE.

If you have somehow managed to avoid the entire franchise and are clueless about the world of Harry Potter and the characters within, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD does work as a stand alone piece. However, the more you know of the backstory, the less confusing and more fun this production will be. I spent the half hour before the show and intermission giving a few clueless fellow critics the Cliff Notes, and overheard others doing the same with their friends and families. The day after the show, a couple of critics I spoke with were inspired to start the movies, which will still make the play clearer after the fact. If you're completely uninitiated, though, I do recommend checking out at least a few of the movies first, if at all possible. 

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD features a great bromance between best friends Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy. The plot line takes tantalizing, unexpected twists and turns. There's a strong anti-bullying bent. And the ultimate take away about the inadvisability/inability to change the past without dire consequences, and the sorrow that comes with that realization, is a message we can get behind, for magicians and muggles alike. 

The stage version is an excellent opportunity for multigenerational fun, with appeal for grandparents, parents and kids. HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD is even likely to win over those who don't naturally love theatre. In fact, this multi award winning play broke the Guinness record for the highest-grossing non-musical play in Broadway history! Worried about sitting still for the two hours and 50 minute run time? There's a 15- to 20-minute intermission, with fun photo ops in the basement level lobby outside of the bathrooms, merch to purchase, and several snack and drink laden bars on multiple floors. The original play was in 2 parts and required a 5 or 6 hour commitment! Now the fast paced show just flies by. This production was so mind bogglingly excellent I'm already planning to catch it again. Best fantasy production ever. Don’t miss this! 

Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theatre critic, photographer, artist, and Mama to 2 amazing adults. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly).

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child North American Tour. Photo by

Matthew Murphy.

**HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED AUTHOR (AKA TERF Wars): This play is based on an original story by J.K. Rowling who has been called out from 2020 to the present, for her negative social media comments on trans people, and doubling down in the face of backlash. I can't in good conscience give this show a rave review without acknowledging the controversy. Rowling has a lot of followers and with a big megaphone comes great responsibility.

I've met many wonderful trans people, working for decades in Chicago's theatre industry, and quite a few of my friends consider themselves trans or have trans children. Some of them are boycotting this production because J.K. Rowling gets royalties, and I respect that, especially in today's political climate. At ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows we do not condone her comments. Nevertheless, I have chosen to review this play, as a collaborative piece of art, involving dozens of people, and can vouch that there is nothing inherently transphobic or negative in any way toward any marginalized group in this production. 

On opening night we met drag queens in full Slitherin regalia, gay couples and even trans humans who raved about the show, and other minorities and marginalized people who were all marveling at the stage magic and having a wonderful evening together. In an era of cancel culture, we believe it's still possible to enjoy creative works with imperfect creators. 

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child North American Tour. Photo by

Matthew Murphy.

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

Chicago Tie-ins on the North American Tour

My son went to school with Harry Potter's son! Not too many Chicago Theatre critics can make that unique claim. No, not Hogwarts, but before attending the infamous wizard boarding school, as Albus Potter, actor Emmet Smith studied theatre arts at Chicago's Northwestern University, in suburban Evanston, with my son, Dugan. Though New York is technically his home town, we're highlighting Albus/Emmet with the Chicago dynamic duo of Severus Snape and Ron Weasley. Emmet truly makes a phenomenal Albus Severus Potter. Aside from the ability to pass for an underager, he's a stellar performer and a joy to see in action. 

 

Emmet Smith (Harry's son, Albus Potter)

he/him. Wizzo! Off-Broadway: Philadelphia, Here I Come! (Irish Rep), Midsummer (TFANA), Soul Doctor (NYTW); Regional: A Distinct Society (Pioneer Theatre), The Sound of Music (Marriott Theatre); TV: New Amsterdam, Law & Order, Blue Bloods. Songwriter, climate activist, Northwestern grad, Ravenclaw. @emmetsmithnyc

(l-r): Emmet Smith and Aidan Close in the North American Tour of

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

We were also pretty jazzed to see Chicago's own Larry Yando playing Snape, Dumbledore, and Amos Diggory. Yando is most recognized for his beloved role as Scrooge at Goodman Theatre for the past 16 seasons! We've seen him in numerous productions over the years and in the past I've dubbed him "King of the pregnant pause" for his delivery style, and his ability to keep an audience rapt and spellbound, even between lines. He's an absolute pro and it's a master class to see him on stage. He's adept at finding the humanity in villains, and making them multidimensional, and dare I say lovable. We adore his take on Snape.

LARRY YANDO 

Notable roles: Scar/“The Lion King”, Roy Cohn”/Angels in America”, 15 seasons as Scrooge/”A Christmas Carol”, and King Lear. A five- time Jeff award- winner, Sarah Siddons recipient, Lunt-Fontanne Fellow, and the Wall Street Journal’s Performer of the Year.

Larry Yando in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child North American

Tour. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Rounding out the trio is Matt Mueller, who lives in Chicago's near northern suburb of Evanston. He's also making sweet home Chicago proud, and reprising his Broadway role, where he played Ron Weasley for a year, before the pandemic shuttered theatres in 2020. He's not only a hometown actor, but also the son of two Chicago actors, Jill Shellabarger and Roger Mueller! His three siblings were also bitten by the theatre bug, and his twin sister Abby, sister Jessie, and brother Andrew are all professional actors. All of them work steadily in theater in Chicago, New York on and off-Broadway, or with touring companies. Matt has never been cast in a show with his sisters or parents yet, but he did work on a show with his brother, Andrew. His sister, Jessie Mueller won a Tony Award for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Nothing like a bit of Broadway sibling rivalry to keep things interesting!

Matt Mueller (Ron Weasley)

Broadway: HPCC. Tour: The Play That Goes Wrong - Chicago. Regional: Writers, Chicago Shakespeare, Marriott, Drury Lane, Northlight, Asolo Repertory, Indiana Repertory, Milwaukee Rep, Lyric Repertory, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, BETC, and multiple productions of Woody Guthrie’s American Song.

(l-r): Matt Mueller, Ebony Blake and John Skelley in the North

American Tour of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Photo by Matthew

Murphy.

Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce the National Tour of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD 

now playing at Broadway In Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre

The final performance of the 21-week engagement of the six-time Tony® Award-winning production will be Saturday, February 1, 2025

“One of the most defining pop culture events of the decade” – Forbes

John Skelley is playing Harry Potter with Trish Lindstrom as Ginny Potter and Emmet Smith as their son Albus Potter. Matt Mueller is playing Ron Weasley with Ebony Blake as Hermione Granger and Naiya Vanessa McCalla as their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley. Playing Draco Malfoy is Ben Thys with Aidan Close as his son Scorpius Malfoy. Delphi Diggory is played by Julia Nightingale and Severus Snape is played by Larry Yando.

They are joined by Kaleb Alexander, Julianna Austin, Markcus Blair, Casey Butler, Erin Chupinsky, Reese Sebastian Diaz, David Fine, Simon Gagnon, Alexis Gordon, Caleb Hafen, Lauryn Hayes, Nathan Hosner, Torsten Johnson, Katherine Leask, Markelle Leigh, Mackenzie Lesser-Roy, Evan Maltby, Zach Norton, Travis Patton, Maren Searle, Ayla Stackhouse, Jennifer Thiessen, Timmy Thompson, René Thornton Jr., and Kristin Yancy playing a variety of characters.

The touring production is based on the acclaimed Broadway production, currently playing at the Lyric Theatre, New York. It picks up right where the last Harry Potter film left off: Nineteen years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, they’re back on a most extraordinary new adventure – this time, joined by a brave new generation that has only just arrived at the legendary Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When Harry Potter’s head-strong son Albus befriends the son of his fiercest rival, Draco Malfoy, it sparks an unbelievable new journey for them all—with the power to change the past and future forever.

John Skelley in the North American Tour of Harry Potter and the

Cursed Child. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, the first Harry Potter story to be presented on stage and the eighth story in the Harry Potter series, has sold over 10 million tickets worldwide since its world premiere in London in July 2016 and holds a record 60 major honors, with nine Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Play and six Tony Awards including Best Play. The international phenomenon has cast its spell worldwide with productions currently running in London, New York, Hamburg, and Tokyo, and has completed runs in Melbourne, Toronto, and San Francisco. The original two-part production in London's West End recently celebrated its 7th anniversary, while the reimagined Broadway production celebrated its 6th anniversary. The most successful non-musical play in Broadway history, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD has the unique distinction of being named by the Guinness World Records as the highest-grossing non-musical play in Broadway history with over $270 million total sales

and over 2.5 million tickets sold. To stay up to date with the latest information, go to tour.harrypottertheplay.com.

CHICAGO TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD are on sale now and range from $49.00 - $193.00 with a select number of premium tickets available. There are a limited number of $40 lottery seats available for each performance. Groups of 10 or more can book tickets by calling (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

ABOUT HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

Based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD is a play by Jack Thorne, directed by John Tiffany. HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD features movement by Steven Hoggett, set by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina

Lindsay, music & arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, illusions & magic by Jamie Harrison, music supervision & arrangements by Martin Lowe. US Casting by Jim Carnahan, CSA. HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions.

Instagram: @CursedChildUS ● Twitter: @CursedChildTour ● Facebook: @CursedChildUS ● TikTok: @CursedChildOfficial

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 25 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

REVIEW: THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG at Broadway Playhouse Now Extended Through May 29, 2022

 ChiIL Mama’s Chi, IL Picks List

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG

WILL WREAK HAVOC IN CHICAGO ONCE AGAIN 

$25 Digital Lottery tickets for The Play That Goes Wrong entry link and details below

              BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE

     Now Extended Due To Popular Demand 

Through May 29, 2022

Runtime: 2 hours with an intermission

Guest Review by 

Dugan Kenaz-Mara

The Play That Goes Wrong at Broadway Playhouse is a masterpiece. From the excellent writing and hilarious execution by the actors to the marvel of a set and comical program, the entire show is amazing from start to finish. 

Before taking your seat or at intermission you might notice that the program includes some comedic gems. Not only is the graphic design offset, but the actors included a fake program for the fake play they are putting on. It includes introductions and headshots in the style of their characters and even has fake advertisements to round the whole thing out. 

Before the show starts it is evident that things will go wrong. One of the characters playing a stage manager is out on stage freaking out over lost items, props start breaking before they get to be used, and the board operator character asks audience members about a misplaced DVD. As people find their seats they’ll notice the curtain isn’t drawn and there are still props strewn around the stage, not set for the top of the show. 

This play feels like watching a comedic rendition of an actor’s worst nightmare. I know I’ve certainly had a bad dream or two about forgetting my lines or having to go on as an understudy with no idea what to do, but this play takes it to the next level. What do you do when the stage door doesn’t unlock? What about when one of the leads gets knocked out and you have to get them off stage? Or when the replacement for that lead also gets knocked out? How about when both of them regain consciousness and have to fight for who actually gets to play the role? It probably feels like that’s the point where everything is going wrong, but that’s just the beginning. 

The actors do an amazing job of putting real stakes into their play and the characters play it up to another level. One of my favorite parts is how much fun they put into their performance. Because they realistically play people who are in a performance themselves it makes the little moments where they ‘break’ by interacting with the audience or whispering to each other that much more hysterical. 

My plus one had this to say, “I thought the whole cast did an excellent job at making both the actor and murder mystery’s characters shine through. The growing exasperation in some of them combined with the panic in others added to the hilarity. I could barely catch my breath from one bout of laughing before being thrust into another. With comedic timing tuned better than a German clock and physical feats that would make the best film stars jealous, I can’t imagine any theatergoers would walk away without their lungs being sore from laughing.”  Ben Jouras

I would recommend this show to anyone who has experience in theatre. There are fun references and puns on well-known musicals. There are jokes about different theater styles and elements, and there are even moments of physical comedy making fun of bad acting practices that anyone in the field will instantly recognize. Because my friend and I are both actors, many of them hit close to home, cracking us up the entire show!

Dugan Kenaz-Mara is an actor, designer, and photographer studying theatre and psychology at Northwestern University. Contrary to popular belief, he is not a time traveler.

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG is one of our favorites here at ChiIL Mama, so we were jazzed to hear that Broadway in Chicago is bringing it back to Broadway Playhouse with a talented Chicago cast. We caught the Broadway touring company in 2018 and laughed so hard our abs hurt for days. Check out past review here. 

The producers of the international hit comedy THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG are pleased to announce the cast for a Chicago production coming to the Windy City for a limited seven-week engagement. Tickets are on sale now at www.BroadwayInChicago.com for performances running December 14, 2021 through January 30, 2022 at Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut St.).

All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket. THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG is recommended for ages 8 and older.

The Chicago-based company will include Colton Adams as Trevor, Joseph Anthony Byrd as Jonathan, Ernaisja Curry as Annie, Michael Kurowski as Dennis, Matt Mueller as Chris, Kelly O’Sullivan as Sandra, Jarred Webb as Max, and Jonah D. Winston as Robert. Standbys include Caroline Chu, Drew Johnson, Russell Mernagh, and Brenann Stacker.

*Updated cast for the extension features: Brenann Stacker as Sandra and Standby Blair Baker

Producer Kevin McCollum said, “More than anything right now, we need to laugh. THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG brings audiences of all ages and backgrounds together through comedy. And we are thrilled to return to Chicago with an incredible cast of extraordinarily talented Chicagoans.” 

Co-written by Mischief company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG is a riotous comedy about the theatre. The play introduces ‘The Cornley University Drama Society,’ which is attempting to put on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does, as the accident-prone thespians battle on against all odds to get to their final curtain call.

“So much goes right…it’s tough to beat ‘The Play That Goes Wrong.’” – Catey Sullivan, Chicago Sun-Times

Entertainment Weekly raves THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG is “hilarious, non-stop pandemonium.” The New York Times calls it “a gut-busting hit,” and Huffington Postproclaims it “the funniest play Broadway has ever seen!” The New York Post says, “Nothing is as fall down funny. GO.”

The Broadway production of THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG opened at the Lyceum Theatre on April 2, 2017 and by its closing on January 6, 2019 played 27 previews and 745 performances, making it the second longest running show in the history of the Lyceum Theatre. Not yet done with New York, THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG officially opened Off-Broadway on February 20, 2019 at New World Stages – Stage 4, where it resumed performances in October 2021 after being suspended due to the pandemic. THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG received a Tony Award® for Best Set Design, Broadway.comAudience Choice Award for Best Play, and the Theater Fans Choice Award for Best Play.

“UPROARIOUS! A hearty laugh-a-thon for the holiday season.” – Scott C. Morgan, Daily Herald

Winning the 2015 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and the 2014 WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Comedy, THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG is now in its eighth year in the West End, having played to over two million people in more than 30 countries on six continents. It is a remarkable rags-to-riches story for a play that started its life at a London fringe venue with only four paying members of the public at the first performance and has gone on to play to an audience of over two million people around the world.

“This is a data-driven observation: People laughed all night.” – Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

Mischief Theatre Ltd. was founded in 2008 by a group of acting graduates of LAMDA and began as an improvised comedy group. Mischief performs across the UK and internationally with original scripted and improvised work and also has a program of workshops. Their previous West End production was The Comedy About A Bank Robbery (Criterion Theatre). In September 2019, the company started a residency at the Vaudeville Theatre with Groan Ups followed by Magic Goes Wrong, which is currently running in the West End until February 2022. Other Mischief productions, including Peter Pan Goes Wrong, regularly tour in licensed productions in the UK, USA and worldwide. Mischief was first seen on television in the Royal Variety Performance of 2015 and subsequently in two BBC One Christmas specials, “Peter Pan Goes Wrong” (2016) and “A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong” (2017). Their recent six-part TV series called “The Goes Wrong Show” was aired on BBC One. The company is owned and controlled by its original members and is led by a creative group and its directors Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer. 

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG is directed in Chicago by Matt DiCarlo with original Broadway direction by Mark Bell, featuring set design by Tony Award winner Nigel Hook, lighting design in Chicago by Jeremy Cunningham based on the original Broadway design by Ric Mountjoy, sound design in Chicago by Beth Lake based on the original Broadway design by Andrew Johnson, and costume design by Roberto Surace.

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG is produced in Chicago by Kevin McCollum, J.J. Abrams, Kenny Wax, Stage Presence Ltd., Catherine Schreiber, Ken Davenport, Double Gemini Productions / deRoy- Brunish, Damian Arnold / TC Beech, Greenleaf Productions / Bard-Roth, Martian Entertainment / Jack Lane / John Yonover, and Lucas McMahon.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayGoesWrong.com or follow

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @BwayGoesWrong

 

CHICAGO CAST BIOGRAPHIES

COLTON ADAMS (Trevor). Theatre credits include Six Degrees of Separation (Redtwist Theatre), Scapin (Citadel Theatre), Goldfish (u/s, Route 66 Theatre Company). Received BFA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and studied at Acting Studio Chicago. TV/film credits include “61st Street” (AMC), Pardoned by Grace, and Driftless. Colton is represented by Big Mouth Talent. 

JOSEPH ANTHONY BYRD (Jonathan). Chicago: And The World Goes Round at Marriott, Annas in Jesus Christ Superstar at Lyric Opera, Emmett Till in The Ballad of Emmett Till at Goodman, and Emcee in Cabaret at Paramount. Broadway/National Tour: Kinky Boots, The Lion King, and Mamma Mia! (LV). TV: “4400,” “Boardwalk Empire,” and “Proven Innocent.”

ERNAISJA CURRY (Annie). National tour debut! The Florida native received her BFA from Adelphi University and completed Cincinnati Playhouse’s Bruce E. Coyle Acting Internship. Recent credits: Skeleton Crew (Ensemble Theatre), The Ballad… (MFP Productions). Thank you so much to God, family, friends, mentors, and the TPTGW team! ernaisjacurry.com. @ernaisjacurry.

MICHAEL KUROWSKI (Dennis). Chicago performer for almost ten years. Recent credits: Crutchie (Newsies, Paramount Theatre), Jerry Lee Lewis (MDQ, Theatre at the Center), and Once (national tour). Screen: “Chicago Med,” Lovecraft Country, Gran Torino, and the upcoming series “Ripple Effects.” Musician in his free time and father all the time. Love to Mary, JoAnn, and Paonessa Talent. MichaelKurowski.net.

MATT MUELLER (Chris). Broadway: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Regional: Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Marriott Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Rep, Lyric Repertory Company, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company, and multiple productions of Woody Guthrie’s American Song. Television: “Chicago Justice” (NBC). Film: Popper Baxton’s Sickly Stew. 

KELLY O’SULLIVAN (Sandra) is an actor, writer, and director. Theatre: Steppenwolf, The Goodman, Writers, among many others. Film/TV: two seasons of USA’s “Sirens;” features Cha Cha Real Smooth, The Graduates, Henry Gambles’ Birthday Party, and South by Southwest Award winner Saint Frances, for which she was the screenwriter/lead actor. 

JARRED WEBB (Max). Credits include The Brothers Size (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), Julius Caesar (Prague Shakespeare Company), The Death of Kings (Southwest Shakespeare Company, AZ), and the world premiere of The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 (LaunchPad, UCSB). Education: BFA, University of California, Santa Barbara. 

JONAH D. WINSTON (Robert) is overjoyed to join TPTGW family! He earned his BA in Theatre from Butler University and furthered his education at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia. Jonah has performed at The Goodman, Lyric Opera, Cleveland Playhouse, and The Mercury Theatre Chicago. Commercial/TV credits: “Chicago Fire,” Skittles, McDonald's, and more! He is represented by Gray Talent Group.

CAROLINE CHU (u/s Annie, Sandra) is thrilled to be part of TPTGW! Credits: Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Drury Lane, Goodman Theatre, Victory Gardens, First Floor Theater, Jackalope Theatre, Raven Theatre. Graduate of Northwestern University and company member at First Floor Theater. Massive thanks to Stewart Talent and the most supportive family and friends in the world. @carolinechu_

DREW JOHNSON (u/s Robert, Jonathan, Trevor, Dennis, Max) Chicago: Love’s Labor’s Lost (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Flamingo & Decatur (Block St Theatre Co); Turtle (Redtwist Theatre); Crimes of the Heart (Step Up Productions). Regional: Shakespeare in Love, Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical (TheatreSquared). TV: Chicago Fire; Chicago P.D. Education: M.F.A. in Acting (University of Arkansas).

RUSSELL MERNAGH (u/s Chris, Max, Dennis, Robert, Jonathan) is thrilled to be a part of TPTGW. Favorite Chicago credits include Ride the Cyclone and The Comedy of Errors at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Rock of Ages at Drury Lane Theatre and Wonderful Town at The Goodman. Russell studied acting at Western Michigan University and is represented by Stewart Talent. 

BRENANN STACKER (Sandra) Regional Theater: Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, TheatreSquared, Williamstown Theatre Festival. TV/Film: “Chicago Med,” “Sirens,” “Easy,” Banana Season. Education/Training: BA Drama Tufts University, O’Neill National Theater Institute, Russian State Institute of Performing Arts and The School at Steppenwolf. Much gratitude to Stewart Talent, my family and Ezrie.

BLAIR BAKER (u/s Annie, Sandra, Trevor) (she/ they) is an actor, director, and writer. Theatre: The Humans (Broadway, Roundabout Theatre Company), The Play that Goes Wrong (The First National Tour, Off-Broadway), Oleanna (Broadway, Mark Taper Forum, Bristol Riverside Theater), title role in Hvmlet (SheNYC), and The Soap Myth (opposite Ed Asner). TV/Film: “Billions,” “Blue Bloods,” “Harlem,” “Jules.” www.blairbaker.info

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Performances are Tuesday through Friday at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM, and Sundays at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM with select Wednesday matinees at 2:00 PM. Visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com for the detailed performance schedule.

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG are on sale now and start at $30 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.

Until further notice, audience members will need to be masked and fully vaccinated with FDA authorized vaccine. For those with exemptions or unable to be vaccinated (including children) you need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test to enter our Broadway In Chicago Theatres.  Audience members must show proof of vaccination (either through electronic copy, photocopy, or photo) along with a photo ID and valid ticket at their time of entry into the theatre. “Fully vaccinated” means the performance date must be at least 14 days after the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 Vaccine, or at least 14 days after a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Children 5 – 11 will be allowed admittance with one vaccine that was administered 14 days prior to performance.  Tests that are accepted are either PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance start time or antigen test taken within 6 hours of the performance start time. No home tests are accepted and due to COVID 19 protocol children under 2 are not allowed into the theatre.

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 BroadwayInChicago.com/COVID19.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

$25 Digital Lottery tickets for The Play That Goes Wrong

A digital lottery for a limited number of $25 seats will be held for the performance of The Play That Goes Wrong. Seat locations and the number of tickets awarded by the lottery are always subject to availability.

Click here for details and to enter.

What would happen if Sherlock Holmes and Monty Python had an illegitimate Broadway baby? You’d get THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG, Broadway & London’s award-winning smash comedy! Called “A GUT-BUSTING HIT” (The New York Times) and “THE FUNNIEST PLAY BROADWAY HAS EVER SEEN” (HuffPost), this classic murder mystery is chock-full of mishaps and madcap mania delivering “A RIOTOUS EXPLOSION OF COMEDY” (Daily Beast). Welcome to opening night of The Murder at Haversham Manor where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous. With an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines), it’s “TONS OF FUN FOR ALL AGES” (HuffPost) and “COMIC GOLD” (Variety) – sure to bring down the house!

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO Hello, Dolly! Digital Lottery For $25 Tickets To Every Performance

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO ANNOUNCES DIGITAL LOTTERY

FOR 26 TICKETS FOR $25 EACH

TO BEGIN OCT. 22

ORIENTAL THEATRE

OCT. 23 – NOV. 17, 2018

Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiILLiveShows.com we're eager to catch this extravaganza starring Broadway legend Betty Buckley. I'll be out for the press opening November 24th, so check back soon for my full review.

Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce that a digital lottery will begin Oct. 22 at 9AM for the National Tour of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Revival HELLO, DOLLY! This production will play Broadway In Chicago’s historic Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph) for a limited four-week engagement October 23 through November 17, 2018.



Twenty-six tickets will be sold for every performance at $25 each.  The lottery will happen online only the day before each performance.  Seat locations vary per performance.



HOW TO ENTER
· Visit http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/show/hello-dolly/
· 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 Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph) no sooner than 30 minutes before show time with a valid photo ID.

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 $3.00 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 your chances of winning.

ABOUT HELLO, DOLLY!
Tony Award®-winning Broadway legend Betty Buckley stars in HELLO, DOLLY! – the universally acclaimed smash that NPR calls “the best show of the year!” and the Los Angeles Times says “distills the mood-elevating properties of the American musical at its giddy best.” Winner of four Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival, director Jerry Zaks’ “gorgeous” new production (Vogue) is “making people crazy happy!” (The Washington Post). Breaking box office records week after week and receiving unanimous raves on Broadway, this HELLO, DOLLY! pays tribute to the original work of legendary director/choreographer Gower Champion – hailed both then and now as one of the greatest stagings in musical theater history. Rolling Stone calls it “a must-see event. A musical comedy dream. If you’re lucky enough to score a ticket, you’ll be seeing something historic. Wow, wow, wow, indeed!”

Led by four-time Tony Award-winning director Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Tony Award winner Warren Carlyle, the entire creative team of the Broadway production will reprise their roles for the National Tour of HELLO, DOLLY!, including four-time Tony Award winner Santo Loquasto (Scenic & Costume Design), six-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz (Lighting Design), Tony Award winner Scott Lehrer (Sound Design), Andy Einhorn (Music Direction), Tony Award winner Larry Hochman (Orchestrations), Tony Award winner Don Pippin (Vocal Arrangements), David Chase (Dance Arrangements), and Telsey + Company (Casting).

HELLO, DOLLY!  began performances on Broadway on March 15, 2017, and officially opened on April 20, 2017. Having broken the record for best first day of ticket sales in Broadway history, the box office record at the Shubert Theatre twelve times, and shattering The Shubert Organization’s all-time record ten times, the production ended its historic Broadway run on August 25, 2018.

Cities and dates for the national tour of HELLO, DOLLY! are available at www.hellodollyonbroadway.com

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Tuesdays at 7:30PM
Wednesdays at 2PM & 7:30PM (no matinee performance on 10/24)
Thursdays at 7:30PM
Fridays at 7:30PM
Saturdays at 2PM & 8PM
Sunday, Oct. 28 at 7:30PM & Sunday, Nov. 4 & Nov. 11 at 2PM

TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets for HELLO, DOLLY! at the Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph) are on-sale now with a select number of premium seats available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710.  Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000 and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.  

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 18 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, Oriental Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

DIGITAL TICKET LOTTERY: $25 TOOTSIE MUSICAL TICKETS For Every Performance

A NEW COMEDY MUSICAL 

TOOTSIE

PRE-BROADWAY WORLD PREMIERE

DIGITAL LOTTERY FOR 26 TICKETS 

FOR $25 EACH

Cadillac Palace Theatre

Through October 14, 2018

TOOTSIE will play a pre-Broadway engagement at Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL) for a limited engagement September 11 – October 14, 2018. The production will go to Broadway in spring 2019.

Twenty-six tickets will be sold for every performance at $25 each. The lottery will happen online only the day before each performance. Seat locations vary per performance.

HOW TO ENTER
Visit http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/show/tootsie/
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.

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 $3.00 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 your chances of winning.

ABOUT TOOTSIE  
TOOTSIE tells the story of a talented but difficult actor who struggles to find work until an audacious, desperate stunt lands him the role of a lifetime.

The company features Tony Award nominee SANTINO FONTANA as Michael Dorsey (and Dorothy Michaels), as well as LILLI COOPER as Julie Nichols, SARAH STILES as Sandy Lester, JOHN BEHLMANN as Max Van Horn, ANDY GROTELUESCHEN as Jeff Slater, JULIE HALSTON as Rita Marshall, MICHAEL McGRATH as Stan Fields and REG ROGERS as Ron Carlisle. 

The company will also include SISSY BELL, BARRY BUSBY, PAULA LEGGETT CHASE, BRITNEY COLEMAN, LESLIE DONNA FLESNER, JENIFER FOOTE, JOHN ARTHUR GREENE, DREW KING, JEFF KREADY, HARRIS MILGRIM, ADAM MONLEY, SHINA ANN MORRIS, JAMES MOYE, KATERINA PAPACOSTAS, DIANA VADEN and ANTHONY WAYNE.

TOOTSIE features an original score by Tony Award-winner David Yazbek (The Band’s Visit, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), a book by Robert Horn (13; Dame Edna, Back with a Vengeance), choreography by Tony Award nominee Denis Jones (Holiday Inn, Honeymoon in Vegas), and musical direction by Andrea Grody (The Band’s Visit). TOOTSIE will be directed by seven-time Tony Award nominee and Olivier Award winner Scott Ellis (She Loves Me, On the Twentieth Century). 

The design team for TOOTSIE includes scenic designer David Rockwell, costume designer William Ivey Long, lighting designer Donald Holder, sound designer Brian Ronan, hair and wig design by Paul Huntley, make-up design by Angelina Avallone. Casting is by Jim Carnahan C.S.A. Music supervision is by Andrea Grody & Dean Sharenow, vocal arrangements by Andrea Grody, dance arrangements by David Chase, orchestrations by Simon Hale, and music coordination by Dean Sharenow.

TOOTSIE is produced by Scott Sanders Productions, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Carol Fineman, Columbia Live Stage, Sally Horchow, James L. Nederlander, Judith Ann Abrams, Robert Greenblatt, Benjamin Lowy, Cindy and Jay Gutterman/Marlene and Gary Cohen, Stephanie P. McClelland, Michael Harrison/David Ian, A Few Good Women Productions, Roy Furman, Peter May, Seriff Productions LLC, Tom McGrath/42nd.club, The John Gore Organization, Independent Presenters Network, Chris and Ashlee Clarke, Phil Goldfine, Jonathan Littman, The Woodland Hills Broadway Group.

TOOTSIE is based on the story by Don McGuire and Larry Gelbart and the Columbia Pictures Motion Picture. For more information visit: TootsieMusical.com

PERFORMANCE DATES 
Tuesdays at 7:30PM
Wednesdays at 2:00PM and 7:30PM (no matinee performances on Sept. 12 & Sept. 19)
Thursdays at 7:30PM
Fridays at 7:30PM
Saturdays at 2:00PM and 8:00PM
Sundays at 2:00PM and 7:30PM (6:00PM performance on Sept. 30 & no evening performances on Oct. 7 & Oct. 14)

TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets for TOOTSIE at the Cadillac Palace Theatre are on-sale now. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000 and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.   

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 18 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, Oriental Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University.   For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

Wicked Good Deal: $25 Day of Show Ticket Lottery at Block 37

WICKED ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF THE DAY OF SHOW DRAWING FOR $25 TICKETS

20 TICKETS HELD FOR EACH PERFORMANCE AT BLOCK 37

BY STEPHEN SCHWARTZ AND WINNIE HOLZMAN

BASED ON THE NOVEL BY GREGORY MAGUIRE

ORIENTAL THEATRE

DEC. 6, 2017 - JAN. 21, 2018

Want to catch Broadway In Chicago's WICKED without breaking the bank? My family entered this lottery a few years back and WON 2 pairs of front row tickets for $25 a seat (cash only)! So it is doable. Chances of being picked of course depend on turnout for any given show, but you've gotta be in it to win it, and it certainly doesn't hurt to try. Ticket lottery is free to enter. 

Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce that a WICKED day-of-show drawing for a limited number of seats will take place inside Block 37. Throughout the run of the show on each performance day, people can pick up entry forms at the Block 37 guest services booth during business hours up until two hours prior to the performance. Entry forms are placed into the WICKED hat, one entry per person. Names will be drawn two hours before each performance for twenty seats at $25 each, cash only.

This drawing is available only in-person at Block 37 with a limit of two tickets per person. Drawing participants must have a valid photo ID when submitting their entry form and, if chosen, when purchasing tickets. Block 37 is located at 108 N. State across from the Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph). Chicago’s most popular musical will return to Broadway In Chicago’s Oriental Theatre during the holiday season for a limited seven-week engagement December 6, 2017 - January 21, 2018.

Mary Kate Morrissey returns to the WICKED National Tour as Elphaba after touring as the Elphaba standby in 2016. Off-Broadway: David Byrne’s Joan of Arc: Into the Fire (The Public Theater), Tamar of the River (Prospect Theater). International tour: Hair as Sheila. Regional: Elmer Gantry (Signature Theatre), Lizzie: The Musical (Portland Center Stage), Little Women (Syracuse Stage) and the workshop of Fun Home (Sundance Lab). Syracuse University.

Ginna Claire Mason comes directly from playing the Glinda standby on Broadway to play Glinda in the National Tour. National tour: Newsies (Katherine u/s), Flashdance (Gloria). Vegas: Duck Commander Musical (Korie). Regional favorites include Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie), Grease (Sandy), Hairspray (Shelley). NYC concerts: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Rosemary). Recently performed in Japan at the World Musical Concert. B.F.A., Elon University.

The company includes Judy Kay as Madame Morrible, Tom McGowan as The Wizard, Harry Bouvy as Doctor Dillamond, Catherine Charlebois as Nessarose, Robin De Jesús as Boq, John Robert Hall as Fiyero, and Chelsea Emma Franko, Deanna Aguinaga-Whyte, Allison Bailey, Kerry Blanchard, Beka Burnham, Lauren Cannon, Autumn Crockett Cooper, Michael Di Liberto, Michael Drolet, Ryan Patrick Farrell,  Napoleon W. Gladney, Sara Gonzales, Lauren Haughton, Chris Jarosz, John Krause, Kelly Lafarga, Chase Madigan, Tiffany Rae Mallari, Matt Meigs, Olivia Polci, Anthony Sagaria, Wayne Schroder, Tregoney Shepherd, Ben Susak and Justin Wirick.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Pippin, Godspell, Academy Award®-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman (“My So Called Life,” “Once And Again” and “thirtysomething”), WICKED is directed by two-time Tony® Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…). The musical is based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire.

The Broadway sensation, WICKED, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle.  Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin, who is smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”

With a thrilling score that includes the hits “Defying Gravity,” “Popular” and “For Good,” WICKED has been hailed by The New York Times as “the defining musical of the decade,” and by Time Magazine as “a magical Broadway musical with brains, heart, and courage.” 

Winner of over 100 international awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, WICKED has been performed in over 100 cities in 15 countries around the world (U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Germany, Holland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, The Philippines, China, Mexico, and Brazil) and has thus far been translated into six languages: Japanese, German, Dutch, Spanish, Korean, and Portuguese. 

Grammy Award-Winning Cast recording available on Decca Broadway. For more information about WICKED log on to www.wickedthemusical.com or www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Follow WICKED on Twitter and Facebook.

CAST BIOGRAPHIES
MARY KATE MORRISSEY (Elphaba) is air­borne with excitement to return to this electric company after touring as the Elphaba Standby in 2016. Off-Broadway: David Byrne’s Joan of Arc: Into the Fire (The Public Theater), Tamar of the River (Prospect Theater). International tour: Hair as Sheila. Regional: Elmer Gantry (Signature Theatre), Lizzie: The Musical (Portland Center Stage), Little Women (Syracuse Stage) and the workshop of Fun Home (Sundance Lab). Syracuse University. “Epic thanks: Christopher Freer and CGF, Craig Burns, Matt Farnsworth and my friends and family. For TC, Mom and Dad. Never underestimate the power of listening, beauty and beat drops.” @maryspacekate.

GINNA CLAIRE MASON (Glinda) is thrillified to travel by bubble with Wicked on tour! She comes directly from Broadway as the Glinda standby. National tour: Newsies (Katherine u/s), Flashdance (Gloria). Vegas: Duck Commander Musical (Korie). Regional favorites include Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie), Grease (Sandy), Hairspray (Shelley). NYC concerts: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Rosemary). Recently performed in Japan at the World Musical Concert. B.F.A., Elon University. Many thanks to DGRW, Telsey + Co. and the Wicked creative team. “For mom and dad and my Prince Eric.” Instagram/Twitter: @ginnaclaire.

JUDY KAYE (Madame Morrible) joins the tour after having played Madame Morrible on Broadway. Other Broadway: Nice Work If You Can Get It (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award); Souvenir (Tony nomination, L.A. Ovation Award); The Phantom of the Opera (Tony Award); Mamma Mia! (Tony nomination); Ragtime (L.A. Ovation Award); On the Twentieth Century (TheatreWorld Award); Grease; Oh, Brother; Cinderella; Candide (NYCO); The Pajama Game (NYCO); Brigadoon (NYCO); Bells Are Ringing; Face the Music; Little Me (Encores!). For more: JudyKaye.com.

TOM McGOWAN (The Wizard). Broadway: Wicked, She Loves Me, Casa Valentina, Chicago, Ivanov, La Bete (Tony and Drama Desk noms.). Off-Broadway: The Food Chain (Obie). West End: Wicked. Television: Uncle Jax on “The Good Fight,” Kenny on “Frasier,” Bernie on “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Veep,” “Modern Family,” “CSI,” “ER,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Film: Freeheld, The Birdcage, Heavyweights, Ghost World, Bad Santa, As Good As It Gets, Bean, Family Man. M.F.A., Yale. B.F.A., Hofstra. Thanks to daughter, Mary, for introducing him to Wicked when she and her best friend, Sara, spent the entire summer of ’04 playing Glinda and Elphaba in the backyard.

HARRY BOUVY (Doctor Dillamond). Off-Broadway: Silence! The Musical (original cast re­cording). Tour: The Producers. Vegas: Spamalot. Regional: Yale Rep, St. Louis Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Pittsburgh Public, City Theatre Company, TheaterWorks Hartford, Montana Shakespeare, Arrow Rock Lyceum, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Syracuse Stage. Film: The Producers. Television: “The Good Wife,” “Law & Order,” “Sex and the City.” For Sean, always and all ways. harrybouvy.com.

CATHERINE CHARLEBOIS (Nessarose). Broadway and national tour: Wicked (Nessarose). Regional : Beauty and the Beast (Belle) at Ogunquit Playhouse, Music Theatre Wichita and North Carolina Theatre; Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Milly) at Music Theatre Wichita; Steel Magnolias (Shelby) at Triad Stage. Catherine can be seen in the parody video Downton Abbey at 54 Below as Lady Mary Crawley and Michelle Dockery. Catherine is also a style blogger: follow along at CharleboisChic.com and on social media @CharleboisNYC!

ROBIN DE JESÚS (Boq). Broadway: In the Heights (Tony nomination, Drama Desk Award), La Cage aux Folles (Tony, Drama Desk nomina­tions), Rent. Select Off-Broadway and regional: Domesticated (Lincoln Center), In the Heights, Patti Issues, Cabaret, Aladdin, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Grease and Homos, Or…. Select film: Camp, HairBrained, Gun Hill Road, Elliot Loves, 11:55 Holyoke, Fat Girls. Select TV: “Law & Order: SVU,” “How to Make It in America.” Cabaret: Crush to Crushed, The Struggle is Real (54 Below). Tweet and Instagram @RobinOfJesus.

JON ROBERT HALL (Fiyero) is a Los Angeles native. He recently played Tom Chisum in the Emmy Award-winning “Grease: Live!” on Fox, as well as recurring on “Glee.” He also played Stacee Jaxx in the Vegas production of Rock of Ages at the Venetian. In addition, Jon produces music for young social media stars and helps develop them. His company HallPass Productions is an L.A. staple for many of the heavy-hitting kids in the social media world. Go to his website or DM for ways to work with him. Jonroberthall.com. Insta/twitter/Musical.ly: @jonhall28 and @hallpassproductions.

CHELSEA EMMA FRANKO (Standby for Elphaba) is ecstatic to be making her national tour debut with Wicked. Most recently, she was Live at the Hyperion in Disney’s California Adventure. Favorite regional credits: Company (Marta), Damn Yankees (Gloria Thorpe), Meet Me in St. Louis (Esther), Oklahoma! (Ado Annie), Monty Python’s Spamalot (Lady of the Lake), Chicago (Roxie Hart), Hairspray, Sunset Boulevard and Shrek. For mum, dad and SRO. @thechelseaemma.

DEANNA AGUINAGA-WHYTE (Assistant Dance Captain, Swing). Broadway: Mamma Mia! West Side Story, A Chorus Line. Tours: Fame the Musical, Evita, Radio City Christmas Spectacular. B.A. sociology, Cal State University of Long Beach and 200 Hour Yoga Alliance Certification. “Love and gratitude to husband Blake and our daughter Kya for sharing this Wicked dream adventure.”

ALLISON BAILEY (Ensemble, u/s Glinda). National tour debut! Regional credits: Goodspeed and New London Barn Playhouse. The Boston Conservatory ’14. “Thanks to God and much love to my family, DGRW and Telsey + Co.” Allison-Bailey.com.

KERRY BLANCHARD (Ensemble) is so happy to be a part of Wicked. Thanks to everyone at Wicked, Telsey and MSA. “All my love to my wonderful family and amazing friends for their never-ending support, love and laughter.”

BEKA BURNHAM (Ensemble, u/s Glinda, Nessarose). Back in Oz! Previously with the com­pany for almost two years. BoCo ’14. “Love and thanks to Craig/Telsey, DGRW, my Wicked fam­ily, Mom and Dad and especially my pup Root.”

LAUREN CANNON (Ensemble). Thrilled to be in Oz! Credits include West Side Story (nat’l/int’l/Ogunquit Playhouse), Radio City Christmas Spectacular and recently seen on the 2016 Tony Awards. “Love to my family.” @L_cannon.

AUTUMN CROCKETT COOPER (Ensemble). Credits include Rihanna, LeAnn Rimes, Billy Gilman, CeCe Winans, I Kissed a Vampire (film), “America’s Got Talent,” CW’s “The 100,” Cirque de la Symphonie, Odyssey Dance Theatre, Eclipse, Frozen Live, La Mirada Theatre production of Cats and West Side Story.

MICHAEL DI LIBERTO (Swing, u/s Witch’s Father, Ozian Official, The Wizard, Dr. Dillamond). National tours: Annie, Cinderella, Strike Up the Band. Select regional: The Producers (Helen Hayes nomination), Sweeney Todd, Elf, Oliver!, LMNOP, Spamalot, The 39 Steps, Titanic. MichaelDiLiberto.net

MICHAEL DROLET (Ensemble, u/s Boq). Broadway: Wicked. National tours: Wicked—L.A. cast (Boq), Saturday Night Fever (Vinnie). Regional: Peter Pan—Dorset Theatre Festival (Peter Pan), Of Mice and Men—Palace Theatre (Curley), Cyrano—Fulton Opera House. TV: “The Tonight Show.” B.F.A.: University of the Arts. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter: @michael_drolet.

RYAN PATRICK FARRELL (Ensemble, u/s Chistery). A Michigan native. Began danc­ing at age 8. Ryan is thrilled to join Wicked on tour. Credits include Wicked (Chicago), Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Cats national tour (Mistoffelees), Copacabana (Mill Mountain), Princess Cruises, Chase Brock Experience (Joyce Soho) and Boyz II Men. Love to Mom and Dad.

NAPOLEON W. GLADNEY (Dance Captain, Swing, u/s Chistery). B.F.A. dance performance, Chapman University. Select credits include Wicked first/second nat’l tours, Me & Caesar Lee (Chor.), Odyssey Dance Theatre European tour, Backhaus Dance, “The Late Late Show,” “Good Morning America” and The Dance Cartel. @napogladney.

SARA GONZALES (Ensemble, u/s Madame Morrible). Webster University B.F.A. in musical theater. Regional: Bridget in Bring It On (L.A.), Daniela in In the Heights (L.A.) and more. Award-winning jazz vocalist, performing internationally at IAJE in Toronto, Monterey Jazz Festival and 54 Below. Saragonzales.weebly.com.

LAUREN HAUGHTON (Swing, u/s Nessarose). Broadway: Wicked. Off-Broadway: Fools in Love. Regional favorites: Sammy with Leslie Bricusse (Old Globe Theatre), Turn of the Century with Tommy Tune (Goodman Theatre). B.F.A.: musi­cal theater, Syracuse University. Thanks to Mom, Dad, the Gillis family. “Je t’aime Michael.” IG: @laurenhaughton. Website: laurenhaughton.com.

CHRIS JAROSZ (Ensemble). La La Land, “Glee,” Radio City’s New York Spectacular, Cirque du Soleil, “SYTYCD.” Excited to be joining the national tour of Wicked. “Love to my Mom, Dad and my MSA family.”

JOHN KRAUSE (Ensemble, u/s Fiyero, Witch’s Father, Ozian Official). Broadway: Fun Home. Off-Broadway: Camp Rolling Hills. Tour/regional: Green Day’s American Idiot, Drew in Rock of Ages (Vegas) and Cruel Intentions: The Musical (L.A.).The Boston Conservatory. Instagram/Twitter: @johnakrause.

KELLY LAFARGA (Swing) feels honored to join Wicked. Film: Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3D. TV: “Glee,” “Bones,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “DWTS.” Tours: Eve, Donnie Klang. Marymount Manhattan College. Thanks Mom, Nina, and Sasha for their endless love and sup­port. “Dad, I love and miss you always.”

CHASE MADIGAN (Chistery). West Side Story (Broadway), Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The New York Spectacular, Rock the Ballet (inter­national tour). Thrilled to be joining the national tour of Wicked! Love to Mom and Dad!

TIFFANY RAE MALLARI (Ensemble) has been lucky to perform for the past 10 years. Some accomplishments include High School Musical 3, Cirque du Soleil’s Viva! Elvis and Disneyland’s California Adventure.

MATT MEIGS (Ensemble, u/s Boq). Broadway: Holiday Inn, Tuck Everlasting, Matilda. Vegas: Rock of Ages (Franz). National tour: Mary Poppins. “For mom—who taught me to live with an open heart and open mind.” @matt_meigs.

OLIVIA POLCI (Ensemble, u/s Elphaba) re­cently completed two solo shows at Feinstein’s/54 Below in New York City. Other credits in­clude The Threepenny Opera (Jenny), Wendy’s Shadow (Young Wendy) and Foolerie (Kate). Thanks to Telsey + Co., her family and friends. B.F.A. in musical theater from Montclair State University. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @oliviafpolci.

ANTHONY SAGARIA (Ensemble, u/s Fiyero). Broadway: American Psycho. NYC/regional: The Bad Years, Murder Ballad, Into the Woods. TV/film: “OITNB,” “Madam Secretary,” Block Island. Thanks to family, SMS, BWU, Telsey + Co. Twitter/Instagram: @Anthony_Sagaria.

WAYNE SCHRODER (Witch’s Father, Ozian Official, u/s The Wizard, Doctor Dillamond). Broadway: 9 to 5, A Christmas Carol. Tours: 9 to 5. Off-Broadway: The Prince and the Pauper, Mimi le Duck. Film: The Producers, Brando, Welcome Home. Television: “Guiding Light,” “All My Children.” Concert: Kristina at Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall in London.

TREGONEY SHEPHERD (Midwife, u/s Madame Morrible) is excited to make her home in Munchkinland. Broadway: Been there. National tours: Done that. Regional theater: Check. One woman shows: Check again. Education: D.M.A. vocal performance. Love to Lafayette. TregoneyShepherd.com.

BEN SUSAK (Swing, u/s Chistery) is very grate­ful to be back with the Munchkinland family! Credits: Cirque du Soleil, “SYTYCD,” Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Florence + the Machine, Ke$ha, Kelly Clarkson, “American Music Awards,” “Video Music Awards,” “Billboard Awards,” “DWTS,” “American Idol,” San Francisco Ballet.

JUSTIN WIRICK (Ensemble). Joined Jan. 2010. 3,000+ performances. 20 Green Girls. Denizen of Pittsburgh, Pa. Travel enthusiast: eight plus years of touring, 50 states, eight provinces, 15 countries. Passions/hobbies: Wicked, gymnastics, figure skat­ing, fundraising, event coordinating, photography, motivational speaking. “Success is where prepara­tion and opportunity meet.” Adventures and full bio on Insta @justinwirick88.

TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets for WICKED at the Oriental Theatre range from $62-$212 with a select number of premium seats available. Tickets are available now for groups of 15 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710.  Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000 and online.



ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 17 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 well 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, Oriental Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University.