REVIEW: SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM Via OIL LAMP THEATER Now Playing Through September 14th, 2025

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

OIL LAMP THEATER'S

SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM

Now Playing Through September 14th, 2025

DIRECTED BY CHRISTINA RAMIREZ AND MUSIC DIRECTED AMY BRANAHL

Oil Lamp Theater Celebrates the Life and Works of the Late, Great, Stephen Sondheim

Tommy Wells, Abbey Loria, Jacob Alexander and Daria Koon.

Photo credit for all: Gosia Photography 

REVIEW

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

Whether you're an avid Sondheim fan, or completely uninitiated, Oil Lamp will illuminate and entertain you with their latest production, Side by Side by Sondheim, a full immersion into the legacy of this legendary composer and lyricist. This production features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and music by Leonard Bernstein, Mary Rodgers, Richard Rodgers and Jule Styne with continuity by Ned Sherrin. This tiny but mighty cast of four are ready to take you on a journey through dozens of songs in Sondheim's repertoire, including deep cuts, forgotten gems, and over 2 hours of favorites!

Tommy Wells and Jacob Alexander

Embrace this joyful reprieve from daily life with a plethora of timely tunes. Feel free to laugh, toe tap, and sing along. You might even be surprised by the famous collaborations you didn't know he had a hand in. We adored this cast's playful sense of humor. This is a great pick for multigenerational fun so bring the kids and the grandparents too. 

ChiIL Tips: I've been covering Oil Lamp for years but I've always caught their opening nights or other evening performances. This time I caught a matinee and we could hear a cacophony of different dogs barking from what I assume is the business next door. It was quite loud and ongoing. I don't know if this is an ongoing issue, but if sound bleeding in from the neighborhood would limit your enjoyment of Oil Lamp's shows, I suggest you avoid matinees and pick an evening time instead.

Daria Koon and Abbey Loria 

Spilling the tea: This production is light on dialogue, with just a few short introductions and backstories, so it's more like a concert experience than a musical.

Tommy Wells and Jacob Alexander

Stephen Joshua Sondheim was a beloved American composer and lyricist whose witty lyrics and catchy hooks revolutionized Broadway musicals and Oil Lamp celebrates his legacy in style. Don't miss this! Now playing through September 14th, 2025. Recommended. 3 out of 4 stars ★★★

Check out Oil Lamp Theater’s brand new SPARK CENTER for the Performing Arts! 

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).

The production runs August 15 - September 14, at Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road. Side by Side by Sondheim is directed by Christina Ramirez and music directed by Amy Branahl. The schedule includes a preview performance Thursday, August 14 at 7:30 p.m. with the opening/press performance Friday, Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.,Saturdays at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances August 20 at 3 p.m. and September 3 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. There will be an understudy performance on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m.Tickets are on sale now for $30 for previews and $55 for the run at OilLampTheater.org.  

Abbey Loria

Side By Side By Sondheim offers a captivating journey through the wit and brilliance of one of Broadway’s greatest musical storytellers. Simple and unpretentious, this Tony Award-winning musical is a perfect introduction to the work of the contemporary master, Stephen Sondheim, and a must for diehard fans featuring songs from Gypsy, Company, West Side Story, A Little Night Music, Follies and others.

The cast of Side by Side by Sondheim includes Jacob Alexander (he/him); Michael Davis Arnold (he/him)); Abbey Loria (she/her); Alondra Rios (she/her); with understudies Julia Hope Budd (she/her); Thomas Ferro (he/him); Daria Koon (she/they) and Tommy Wells (he/him). 

The production team includes Christina Ramirez (she/her, director); Amy Branahl (she/her, music director); Andy Cahoon (he/him, technical director); Spencer Donovan (he/him, scenic designer); Taylor Pfenning (she/her, costume designer); Ellie Fey (she/her, lighting designer); Alex Trinh (he/him, sound designer); Leo Bassow (he/they, props designer); Connor Windle (he/him, production stage manager) and Sara Segneri (she/her, assistant stage manager).

ABOUT CHRISTINA RAMIREZ, director

Christina Ramirez is thrilled to be back at Oil Lamp after directing First Date last season. Ramirez serves as managing director at the award-winning Actors Training Center in Wilmette, working with actors of all ages (youth through adult) and when not directing is known for her work as a teaching artist and coach. She holds a masters in directing from Roosevelt University CCPA and a BFA in musical theatre from The Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University. 

ABOUT AMY BRANAHL, music director 

Amy J. Branahl is the director of Choral Activities at New Trier High School and president of the IL-American Choral Directors Association(ACDA).  She is the music and vocal director of the Frosh/Soph musical and coaches badminton there. Branahl is a proud alum of the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana where she received her MME/BME in choral music education. With her husband Jared, they have three awesome boys. When not doing music, she loves to travel and document them by knitting, crocheting, while watching tennis/sports or going to shows. Please check out her work @craftingcourtside. 

MORE FROM FROM OIL LAMP THEATER

Gaslight (Angel Street)

October 2 - November 2

By Patrick Hamilton

Directed by Susan Gorman

Preview Performance:Thursday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Press Opening: Friday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Performance Schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances October 8 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., October 15 at 7:30 p.m. October 22 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and October 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Audiences are invited to step into the suspenseful world of Gaslight (Angel Street), where secrets lurk in the shadows and reality blurs with deception. When Bella begins to suspect that the flickering lights and missing objects in her home aren’t just in her imagination, her world unravels into a chilling game of manipulation and control. Suspenseful, haunting and unforgettable, this is the classic mystery that inspired the 1944 Academy Award-winning film starring Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten and Angela Lansbury, in her film debut, defined a genre and inspired the term “gaslighting.”

It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

November 20 - December 28

Adapted by Joe Landry

Preview Performance:Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Press Opening: Friday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Performance Schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with an additional Wednesday performance, December 10 at 7:30 p.m.

This heartwarming production is the perfect way to embrace the spirit of the Holidays. Experience unrivaled cheer with Frank Capra's beloved classic, “It's a Wonderful Life,” reimagined as a captivating live radio play, complete with foley sound effects and set in Oil Lamp’s own WBFR radio studio.

Journey to Bedford Falls, where George Bailey's troubles lead him to wish he was never born. Clarence, an angel sent to intervene, steps in to make his wishes come true and George quickly learns just how many lives he has touched and just how blessed he really is.

ABOUT OIL LAMP THEATER’S SPARK CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Oil Lamp Theater recently opened the Oil Lamp Theater’s SPARK CENTER for the Performing Arts, 1009 Waukegan Rd. The SPARK CENTER spans 2,750 square feet, featuring two spacious studios for classes and dedicated office spaces for Oil Lamp staff. The SPARK CENTER enables the expansion of Oil Lamp’s arts education programs led by top Chicagoland theater professionals for all ages and skill levels. These same studios serve as the creative center where Oil Lamp’s productions come to life as it is also a rehearsal space for Oil Lamp Theater productions taking place across the street at 1723 Glenview Road.

The inaugural offerings of the SPARK CENTER included Summer Camps and Youth and Adult Education classes with fall classes on sale now. For more information on the SPARK CENTER, go to OilLampTheater.org/spark-center.

ABOUT OIL LAMP THEATER

Oil Lamp Theater is an award-winning 60-seat storefront theater located in the heart of downtown Glenview. Keith Gerth founded the theater in February 2005, originally staging 20 productions for up to thirty-five friends and guests at night in his condo in Chicago. In March 2012, the organization was incorporated as a nonprofit and established a new location in downtown Glenview, fitted with warm décor and comfortable seating, reminiscent of a home. Oil Lamp produced 53 shows over the next seven years, reaching 10,000+ patrons per year and earning “Best Live Theater in the North Shore'' for four consecutive years. At the start of 2020, Keith Gerth retired, and shortly after, the pandemic began. Despite these major changes, Oil Lamp sprung into action and organized a drive-in for a fully-produced solo show, hosted outdoor concerts and built an outdoor venue for two full productions. Seeing the impact this made and the ability to conquer any challenge, Oil Lamp returned to indoor programming with a renewed vision. Oil Lamp now produces a dynamic Main Stage Season, Speak Easy Nights, a Women on Wednesdays series and continues investing in its connection with the community.

GOODMAN'S BOOK UP! “THEATER FOR THE VERY YOUNG” (0-5) APPEARS IN 12 CHICAGO PARKS OVER THREE WEEKS, NOW THROUGH AUGUST 10, 2025

 ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List: FREE Family Friendly Fun

BOOK UP!

Directed by Tor Campbell and Raquel Torre

July 23 – August 10, 2025

(L-R) Madie Doppelt, Kylie Anderson, Robbie Matthew and Jean Claudio

Photos by Justin Barbin

A high-octane outdoor circus spectacle

NEWEST “THEATER FOR THE VERY YOUNG” (0-5)

Goodman Theatre’s summer 2025 “Theater for the Very Young” (TVY) production, BOOK UP!—a high-octane outdoor circus spectacle that invites little ones and their grown-ups to move, play and discover the magic of reading—are now available. Specially made for children aged 0–5 years and their adult friends and family, BOOK UP! is co-directed by Goodman Michael Maggio Directing Fellow Raquel Torre and Northwestern University Directing Fellow Tor Campbell. BOOK UP! will bring its high-flying energy to eight more Chicago parks through August 10. Remaining performances include July 30 (Hale Park/Clearing), July 31 (Hayes Park/Ashburn/Wrightwood), August 2 (Haas Park/Logan Square), August 3 (Marquette Park/Chicago Lawn), August 6 (Homan Square Community Center Park/North Lawndale), August 7 (Brighton Park Community Campus/Brighton Park), August 9 (Portage Park) and August 10 (Oriole Park/Norwood Park). 

(L-R) Kylie Anderson, Robbie Matthew and Madie Doppelt

Two FREE 60-minute performances appear in each park (at 9:30am and 11:30am) and a hands-on workshop immediately follows. Tickets are not required, but registration is encouraged; visit GoodmanTheatre.org/FreeActs. The Goodman is grateful to Kirkland & Ellis, Arts and Community Sponsor for Theater for the Very Young programming.

(Kneeling, L-R) Madie Doppelt and Robbie Matthew. (Aerial) Kylie Anderson

“Think Reading Rainbow meets the circus meets Chicago’s beautiful parks network,” said Jared Bellot, Goodman’s Clifford Director of Education and Engagement. “BOOK UP! is joyful, imaginative and built to meet children exactly where they are—physically, developmentally, and creatively. We believe that live performance has the power to spark curiosity, build connections and foster a lifelong love of storytelling. And by bringing this work directly into neighborhoods across the city, we’re saying every child deserves access to the arts, and every park can be a stage. This is about nurturing early literacy, yes—but it’s also about creating shared moments of wonder and joy for families and communities.”

Jean Claudio

A traveling librarian (Jean Claudio) rolls into town with a magical book cart, ready to spark big imaginations everywhere and beyond! With a little wiggle, a little giggle and a whole lot of wonder, stories leap off the pages through juggling, tumbling, clowning and aerial acrobatics—with Kylie Anderson, Madie Doppelt and Robbie Matthew, all ProTraining alumni of Chicago’s famed Actors Gymnasium. 

BOOK UP! is presented as part of Goodman’s 100 Free Acts of Theater program and the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, both supported by the Mayor’s Office and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). The Night Out in the Parks program presents cultural events year-round in neighborhood parks throughout the city. The Chicago Park District in partnership with 100 local artists and organizations, presents engaging events and performances that enhance quality of life across Chicago and amplify the artistic and cultural vibrancy in every neighborhood. Through multiple disciplines, which include theater, music, movies, dance, site-specific work, nature programs, and community festivals, the series aims to support Chicago-based artists, facilitate community-based partnerships and programs, cultivate civic engagement, and ensure equity in access to the arts for all Chicagoans. www.nightoutintheparks.com.

(Right) Jean Claudio

Full Company of BOOK UP!

Directed by Tor Campbell and Raquel Torre

Created by Raquel Torre, Originally Devised by La Vuelta

Kylie Anderson…Kid 1/Teaching Artist

Jean Claudio…Librarian/Teaching Artist

Maddie Doppelt…Kid 3/ Teaching Artist

Robbie Matthew…Kid 2/Teaching Artist/US Librarian

Robbie Matthew

Creative Team

1st Line Producer…Jared Bellot

2nd Line Producer…Raquel Torre

Production Manager…Claudette Przygoda

Set Designer…Alyssa Mohn

Scenic Builder…Luke Lemanski

Costume Designer…Ben Argenta Kress

Composer & Sound Designer…Justin Cavazos

Casting Director...Lauren Port, CSA

Production Associate…Jojo Wallenberg

Production Assistant & Circus Rigger…Glenna Broderick

(L-R) Robbie Matthew, Kylie Anderson and Madie Doppelt

ABOUT 100 FREE ACTS OF THEATER

An unprecedented citywide event spanning Goodman Theatre’s Centennial 2025/2026 Season, 100 Free Acts of Theater activates all 50 wards of Chicago. The Goodman partners with local organizations to amplify existing creative programming and collaborate on new efforts—from performances to special events to community engagement offerings—to celebrate the city’s rich cultural landscape and honor the communities that have inspired and supported Chicago’s flagship resident theater over the past 100 years. Each Act, developed in close collaboration and in tune with that partner organization’s mission, is programmed to take place at destinations in its community. Produced in partnership with the Department of Cultural Events and Special Affairs (DCASE), all 100 Acts are offered FREE with participation open to Chicagoans of all ages and backgrounds. Together, DCASE and The Goodman help provide resources to make each Act possible—including but not limited to artistic personnel, tech support, assistance with marketing/publicity and more. Allstate Insurance Company is additionally a Corporate Sponsor Partner for 100 Free Acts of Theater. The first quarter of Free Acts is now live; additional Acts will be announced as the Centennial Season continues. Visit GoodmanTheatre.org/FreeActs for more information.

ABOUT CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND SPECIAL EVENTS 

The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city—to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city—serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via our newsletters and social media.

ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE

Chicago’s theater since 1925, Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit arts and community organization in the heart of the Loop, distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and community engagement. Led by Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics. Artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and more than 160 Jeff Awards, among other accolades. 

The Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” Its longtime annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, now in its fifth decade, has created a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production and program partner with national and international companies and Chicago’s Off-Loop theaters.

Using the tools of theatrical practice, the Goodman’s Education and Engagement programs aim to develop generations of citizens who understand and empathize with cultures and stories of diverse voices. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of these programs, which are offered for Chicago youth—85% of whom come from underserved communities—schools and life-long learners.

Goodman Theatre was built on the unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi Nations. We recognize that many other Nations consider the area we now call Chicago as their traditional homeland—including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo and Mascouten and remains home to many Native peoples today. The Goodman is proud to have a relationship with Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum. Located in Evanston, the Museum honors the survival and perseverance of Indigenous communities and promotes a greater understanding of Indigenous peoples: gichigamiin-museum.org.

Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation on the new Goodman center in 2000.

Marsha Cruzan is Chair of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Diane Landgren is Women’s Board President and Kelli Garcia is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.

 (Above) Kylie Anderson. (Below) Robbie Matthew

FREE: CABINET OF CURIOSITY PRESENTS “KAZOOZAPALOOZA: PEDAL POWERED PROGRAM YEAR 4: THE BLACK MAN FROM MACON” July Through September 2025

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List: FREE Family Friendly Fun

CABINET OF CURIOSITY PRESENTS “KAZOOZAPALOOZA: PEDAL POWERED PROGRAM YEAR 4: THE BLACK MAN FROM MACON”

Images of Cabinet of Curiosity past events courtesy of Cabinet of Curiosity.

 This Musical, Interactive Celebration of the Man Behind the Kazoo, Alabama Vest, is FREE with Locations at Boler Park (July 26), Marquette Park (August 9), and Navy Pier (September 20) 

Cabinet of Curiosity presents “Kazoozapalooza Pedal Powered Program Year 4: The Black Man from Macon” beginning  July 26 at 1 p.m. to  2:30 p.m. at Boler Park and continues with two additional events at Marquette Park and Navy Pier (full details below).  This bike-powered spectacle is presented in collaboration with Working Bikes, the School of the Art Institute, the Homan Square Neighborhood Association, the Chicago Climate Action Museum, the Lawndale Pop-Up Spot, and the Chicago Park District. All events are free, for more information go to www.cocechicago.com.

“Kazoozapalooza Pedal Powered Program Year 4: The Black Man from Macon,” is an outdoor interactive and participatory show written by Frank Maugeri, Lynne Jordan, Brandon Boler, Samarem Diaz-Negrete and Alexis Willis with illustrations by Mandy Newham-Cobb and engineered objects by Dustan Creech and Tom Robinson, and original music by Lynne Jordan, Gordon Middleton and Chicago saxophone player Michael Jackson. This bike-powered panoramic celebratory spectacle shares the visual tale of Alabama Vest, the inventor of the Kazoo. Each guest receives a free kazoo and is invited to contribute to the show's musical score. Early attendees are invited to attend a S.T.E.A.M. workshop, where guests, young and old, can engineer their own mechanical, illustrated story. 

Kazoozapalooza Pedal Powered Program events include:

Boler Park

3601 W. Arthington St.

Saturday, July 26 from 1 -  2:30 p.m.

Free

Marquette Park

6743 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago IL 60629

Saturday, August 9 from 1 -  2:30 p.m,

FREE 

Chicago Live! At Navy Pier

600 E. Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611

Saturday, September 20, 3:30p.m, with a bubble parade prior

FREE with a live performance by Lynne Jordan and band members

The primary collaborators for  “Kazoozapalooza Pedal Powered Program Year 4” include Lynne Jordan (primary collaborator), Gordon Middleton (songwriter), Brandon Boler (community collaborator), Dustan Creech (engineer), Tom Robinson (engineer), Alexis Willis (performance actress), Mandy Newhan-Cobb (illustrator), Frank Maugeri (Cabinet artistic director), Samarem Diaz-Negrete (Cabinet associate artistic director) and Dayna Calderon (parks district rep). School of Celebration Summer 2025 students include Thanh Do, Lucca Duston, Nocturne Best and Olivia Gibson. Band members include Michael Jackson, Raymond Glower, Brady Williams, and Matthew Skoller.

ABOUT CABINET OF CURIOSITY

Cabinet of Curiosity (Cabinet) expertise and mission lies in interactivity, immersion, ritual composition, community building, and collaboration between artists and community members of various skill levels and mediums. Cabinet of Curiosity focuses on creating new types of experiences, gatherings, ceremonies, and rituals which promote community and interactivity amongst people who may not usually mix. Cabinet is composed of diverse project-by-project collectives who authentically collaborate on original celebrations and productions. Cabinet uses sophisticated puppetry and handmade devices to develop unique interactive experiences, productions, and events. The company supports multicultural professionals in the field of theater, visual arts, dance, sculpture, and music, while mindfully training high school and college-age apprentices to become the future creators of new, meaningful rituals. All the objects and devices created by Cabinet are engineered to expose their mechanical operations, so they are simultaneously educational, informative, and magical. Cabinet embraces commissions that require unique elements of ritual, ceremony, procession, and pageantry. These commissions create funding that establishes an innovative revenue stream, reducing the responsibility of sustainability from the board, audience, and foundations, trains apprentices through a unique scholarship apparatus, builds community, and funds our free and significantly discounted public work. Cabinet is committed to social engagement — both grand and intimate, with its purpose to promote curiosity, community, and culture.

Ada Grey joins cast of Lucid Theater’s BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY at the Edge Theatre August 1-17

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List: Adult Night Out 

Ada Grey joins cast of Lucid Theater’s 

BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY 

by WELLS AND WELLES playwright Amy Crider

August 1-17 at the Edge Theatre

Ada Grey joins cast of Lucid Theater’s BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY by WELLS AND WELLES playwright Amy Crider, August 1-17 at the Edge Theatre

I'll be out for the press opening Saturday, August 2nd, so check back soon for my full review.

Ada Grey, the young Chicago actress who has been known to Chicago theatergoers through the theater reviews she began writing at age four and her performances on Chicago stages from age six until she left to attend college at the London Academy of Dramatic Art, has joined the four-actor cast of BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY. This will be Grey’s first stage role in Chicago since her recent graduation from that esteemed British institution. Grey will play Jennifer, the niece of the anxiety-ridden college professor Pamela who faces crises in her career, her marriage and her family relationships while planning an 80th birthday party for her overbearing mother. Jennifer disappoints her grandmother Roberta by defying family expectations in her choice of careers but provides some valuable life lessons for Pamela. BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY will open to the press on Saturday, August 2 at 7:30 pm, at The Edge Theatre, 5451 N. Broadway.

Grey, whose Chicago stage credits include Scout in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD with Oak Park Festival Theatre, Girl in BLACKBIRD with Blank Theatre Company, and Rebbeca Gibbs in OUR TOWN with Redtwist, will join a cast of Chicago veterans in this world premiere comedy by Chicago playwright Amy Crider, whose WELLS AND WELLES was a breakout hit of summer 2024. Actors Equity member Kristie Berger will play the insecure professor Pamela. Berger’s career includes roles at the Goodman, Steppenwolf, and Victory Gardens; as well as productions at storefronts including City Lit, Lifeline, Strawdog, and many others. Pamela’s difficult mother Roberta will be played by Kathleen Ruhl, an ensemble member at Redtwist Theatre, where she has performed in nine plays. Ruhl’s decades-long career includes two Jeff Awards (for supporting actress in DOLLY WEST’S KITCHEN and ensemble for THIS HAPPY BREED, both with TimeLine), and roles with Piven Theatre, Writers, and Shattered Globe. For Shattered Globe, she played the title role in FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70TH BIRTHDAY, written for her by her daughter Sarah Ruhl. Pamela’s husband Lawrence, a self-assured philosophy professor, will be played by Christopher Hainsworth, a Lifeline Theatre ensemble member who has also performed with The Gift Theatre, Remy Bumppo, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Factory, Strawdog Theatre Company, and The House Theatre of Chicago, among others. A pesky raccoon that is an habitual irritant to Pamela’s routine will be created and performed by Emilie Wingate of Flying Leap Productions.

Top Row L-R: Kristie Berger, Kathleen Ruhl.

Lower Row L-R: Christopher Hainsworth, Ada Grey

Iris Sowlat, a Chicago-based director who holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she directed Sarah Ruhl’s ORLANDO and Lauren Gunderson’s EMILIE: LA MARQUISE DU CHATELET DEFENDS HER LIFE TONIGHT, will direct BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY. Sowlat’s previous Chicago directing credits include productions with Accidental Theatre Company, PrideArts, Piven, and others. The creative team will also include Kevin Hagan (scenic design) and Alvaro Ledesma (sound and lighting design).

BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY has been in development for over a decade, starting as a ten-minute play written for a Scene Shop Showcase at Chicago Dramatists in 2014. Crider expanded it into a full-length play for a Chicago Dramatists’ Master Class in 2020, and it has received several readings since then.

Tickets for BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY are $38.00 plus applicable fees and are on at www.lucidtheater.com. Performances will be Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30, and Sundays at 3:00, from August 1 – 17 at the Edge Theatre, 5451 N. Broadway, Chicago.

MORE PRODUCTION INFORMATION

BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY

WORLD PREMIERE

Written by Amy Crider

Directed by Iris Sowlat.

Produced by Lucid Theater Company

August 1 - 17, 2025

Press Opening Saturday, August 2 at 7:30 pm

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30, and Sunday at 3:00

Edge Theatre, 5451 N, Broadway, Chicago

Tickets: $38.00 plus applicable fees, on sale at www.lucidtheater.com

Please visit www.lucidtheater.com for more information.

BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY is a comedy about anxiety, enlightenment, and raccoons. Pamela, an insecure history professor, is pressed by her husband to try medication for anxiety. She’s always counted on the benefits of meditation. Stressed by her overbearing mother and some relentless animals, she learns that liberation is open to all of us in a moment of grace. In the end, her journey is only beginning, and the raccoons will always be with us.  

BIOS

Amy Crider (Playwright) studied comedy at Second City, and attended workshops with Chicago Dramatists, Jackalope Theatre, and LaMaMa. Her last production, WELLS AND WELLES, produced in Chicago in July/August 2024, was a nominee for the 2025 ATCA/Steinberg Award. Her plays have won the Tennessee Williams One Act Play Contest, Word Wave, and New Plays from the Heartland. Two of her plays have been published by TRW. She is also the author two novels published by the University of New Orleans Press. Her podcast Continuous Dream is on Spotify. You’re welcome to find out more at www.amycrider.com

Iris Sowlat (Director) is a Chicago-based director who holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she directed Sarah Ruhl’s ORLANDO and Lauren Gunderson’s EMILIE: LA MARQUISE DU CHATELET DEFENDS HER LIFE TONIGHT. This year, she directed Gunderson’s THE BOOK OF WILL for Triton College (as Adjunct Faculty) and will direct COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE by Rozina Kanchwala for Eco Logic (June 2025). Favorite Chicago directing credits include ROMEO AND JULIET (Accidental Shakespeare Company), JOAN OF ARC and UNDERWORLD ANTHEM (RhinoFest), THE DAYS ARE SHORTER (Pride Arts), ABCD (Piven Theatre) and NARRATIVES OF ACHROMATOPSIA and TURN THAT THING AROUND, (Chicago Fringe Festival), and three different sold-out fundraiser readings of Paula Kamen’s JANE: ABORTION AND THE UNDERGROUND. She has also worked with Northlight Theatre, About Face Theatre, American Theatre Company, Chicago Dramatists, Collaboraction, Broken Nose, Stage Left Theatre (former Artistic Associate), Possibilities Theatre Company, NoPassport Theatre Alliance, and many others. Iris is one half of the leadership (with Allison Fradkin) of the DIY queer feminist theatre Violet Surprise. In 2018, she was named one of WINDY CITY TIMES  “30 Under 30.” Find her on the web at www.IrisSowlat.com.

Kristie Berger (Paula) last appeared in THE MOUSETRAP at Citadel Theatre. Regional theater credits include Barbara Fordham in AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY and Frankie in  FRANKIE & JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE at The Human Race Theatre in Dayton; the long-running national tour of THE ODD COUPLE: FEMALE VERSION starring Barbara Eden; VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE, CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, BUS STOP, and RESIDENT ALIEN at Nebraska Repertory Theatre.  Chicago area credits include Diane in THE BIRDS, Citadel Theatre; Jeanette in THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS, Illinois Theatre Center; THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE, and THE ODD COUPLE: FEMALE VERSION, Apollo Theater. Other theaters she has worked with include the Goodman, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, Equity Library Theater, City Lit, Lifeline, Strawdog, Mary-Arrchie, Touchstone, Center Theater, and Absolute.  She also works in TV, voice-overs, commercials, films, and industrial films. Kristie is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.

Ada Grey (Jennifer). Television credits include THE RED LINE (CBS), SHRINK (NBC), SIRENS (USA), and CHICAGO FIRE (NBC). Most recent credits at the London Academy of Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) include: DANCE NATION (LAMDA), CHAOS, SAINT GEORGE AND THE DRAGON, and OUR HOUSE. Chicago stage credits include NO HOME FOR BEES (20% Theatre), OUR TOWN (Redtwist Theatre), THE HAVEN PLACE and I AND MY IPHONE (A Red Orchid Youth), SCARCITY (Redtwist Theatre, Broadway World Chicago Nomination Best Actress), THE AWAKE (First Floor Theatre), THE HAMMER TRINITY (The House Theatre), TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (Oak Park Festival Theatre), JANE EYRE (Lifeline Theatre), MEN SHOULD WEEP (Griffin Theatre, Jeff Award Best Production), and SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR (The Hypocrites).  She recently graduated from London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art with a BA in acting. 

Christopher Hainsworth (Lawrence) is a Lifeline Theatre ensemble member, where he has performed in TREASURE ISLAND, NEVERWHERE, THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, THE THREE MUSKETEERS, THE KILLER ANGELS, A TALE OF TWO CITIES, MISS HOLMES, FRANKENSTEIN and MISS HOLMES RETURNS; and penned the adaptations of HUNGER, MONSTROUS REGIMENT, MIDNIGHT COWBOY and FABLE-OUS! He has also worked for The Gift Theatre, Remy Bumppo, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Factory, Strawdog Theatre Company, and The House Theatre of Chicago, among others.

Kathleen Ruhl (Roberta) Over many years in Chicago, Kathleen Ruhl has been lucky enough to have performed on a lot of stages with many wonderful actors and directors. She started on the Chicago City Players stage (four shows) which later became the TimeLine stage (three shows), where she won Jeffs for best supporting actor (DOLLY WEST’S KITCHEN) and member of a Best Ensemble (THIS HAPPY BREED). Kathleen did Shakespeare at the outdoor Court Theatre at the University of Chicago (MACBETH, TWELFTH NIGHT, and AS YOU LIKE IT) and Noel Coward at the “new” Court Theatre (HAY FEVER). She studied with Joyce Piven and performed in seven shows directed by Joyce at the Piven Theatre. Some of the other stages she has trod in Chicago and the northern suburbs include those at Writer’s Theatre (HEDDA GABLER), the Attic playhouse in Highwood (three shows), Shattered Globe (Peter Pan in FOR PETER PAN ON HER SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAY) and Music Theatre of Hyde Park (Sarah Brown in GUYS AND DOLLS). Kathleen is currently a company member at Redtwist, where she has done nine shows.

ABOUT LUCID THEATER COMPANY

Lucid Theater Company has been producing plays since 2017. Previous productions include LEDA (2017), CHARLIE JOHNSON READS ALL OF PROUST (2019), METADATA (2021), and A LEGACY (Rhinofest, 2023). The company also produces the podcast series of audio plays CONTINUOUS DREAM.

Mission:

Lucid Theater produces original plays with a broad range of subjects and styles. We center ideas and emotions to evoke thoughtful reflection, courageous choices, and compassion. Our goal is to fight against numbness and awaken our audiences to the richness and depth of emotional experience. Rather than replicate reality, we seek to reveal subjective experience for its dreamlike sensibility.

Values:

We honor the artist by paying everyone involved.

We commit to a respectful work environment.

We strive to hire female directors and leadership.

We pledge to listen deeply and question authentically.

We vow to uplift the human spirit. 

Physical Theater Festival Presents All Ages Show: Adventure Sandwich 6/8/25 at 11am at Theater WIT

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List

ADVENTURE SANDWICH: IT'S A SANDWICH ADVENTURE (Chicago)

by Adventure Sandwich 

50 min / All Ages

One Performance Only! June 8 at 11am

Make this Sunday a family fun day with an all ages adventure show. ChiIL Mama will be there... will you? 

Adventure Sandwich: A Sandwich Adventure! is a new live-action-cartoon musical made for people and sandwiches of all ages. Join Hoagie (a sandwich) and Lily (a human) as they make their way from the streets of Possibilopolis to the depths of the Several Seas and beyond. Will they find the secret recipe for Imaginnaise? Will they escape Dr. Distracto’s Den of Diversions? Or will they get stuck in The Buffer Zone? Find out on June 8th at the Physical Theater Festival!

https://www.physicalfestival.com/adventuresandwich

Check out the full lineup for the12th Physical Theater Festival Chicago right HERE: https://www.physicalfestival.com/shows.

Also, check out the fabulous Physical Theater Fest Workshop offerings for this year at  https://www.physicalfestival.com/workshops.

Paramount’s Circus-Themed Revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats April 30-June 15, 2025

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List

Step right up! Paramount’s circus-themed revival of 

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats 

promises to be a Jellicle spectacle, April 30-June 15

Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows we're so excited to see Paramount's circus filled rendition of CATS! My son and daughter both practiced circus arts from age 7 through their teen years, performing in numerous Actors Gymnasium youth shows, and with Circesteem's team. We've also covered local, national, and international circus shows of all sizes for decades. Needless to say, we're quite familiar with Chicago's circus scene. Some of my kids' former coaches and castmates are about to grace Paramount's stage with feline finesse, and we can't wait to see them. I've reviewed multiple iterations of Broadway touring productions of CATS, but I can honestly say I'm more jazzed for Paramount's production. Don't miss this! 

Step right up! The Jellicle Ball is about to begin under the big top when Paramount Theatre presents a stunning, circus-themed revival of Cats, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, directed by Trent Stork, April 30-June 15, 2025.

Just picture Grizabella and her feline friends flying through the air with the greatest of ease. You may know all of the words to Cats, but you’ve never seen this Cats before, a new production intent on showcasing the amazing acrobatics and athletic grace of true felines.

Paramount isn't kitten around, casting its new take on Cats with a contortionist, jugglers, aerialists, tumblers, acrobats and other talented circus performers guaranteed to bring all new layers and energy to Lloyd Webber’s fantastical journey into the clandestine world of cats.

With a tent full of acro-cats, audiences will get swept up in the circus theme while Mungojerrie, Bustopher Jones, Bombalurina and more explore timeless themes of identity and redemption through captivating dance, singsong poetry, and unforgettable songs like “Memory” and “The Rum Tum Tugger.”

Paramount Theatre's Jellicle Ball is about to begin under the big top, on a set designed by Jeffrey D. Kmiec, with its stunning, circus-themed revival of Cats, April 30-June 15. 

Set rendering courtesy Jeffry D. Kmiec

Inspired by T.S. Eliot’s collection of poems, “Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats,” Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical tells the familiar story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the sacred night they make the “Jellicle choice” - which cat is worthy enough to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to new life? Brimming with magic, dance, and feats of fancy, Cats won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score, and ranks eleventh on the all-time best selling Broadway musical roster. 

Here in Chicago, Paramount Artistic Producer and Casting Director Trent Stork has been licking their paws for years in anticipation of directing Cats. Stork most recently helmed Paramount’s smash hit regional premiere of Disney’s Frozen the Broadway Musical, directed Paramount’s stagings of Billy Elliot, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, School of Rock and Kinky Boots (Jeff Award winner, Director-Musical- Large) and co-directed Into the Woods with Jim Corti.

Trent Stork

“I was the associate director when Paramount did Cats the first time and I remember thinking, ‘what if Victoria arrived to the Jellicle Ball on a Moon Beam of Silks…’ and from there, a completely realized circus Cats has been living in my head for 11 years,” said director Trent Stork. “I’m very excited and grateful to be able to bring that vision to life with so much talent in the cast and behind the scenes. It’s going to be unlike anything the world has ever seen and totally something new for our audiences at Paramount.”

Charged with training actors to dance, play and move like cats are choreographer Kasey Alfonso, whose Paramount credits include Into the Woods and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, circus choreographer and founder of Actors Gymnasium. In fact, Paramount’s cast will take part in additional circus arts training intensives at Actors Gymnasium, Chicago’s oldest circus school, throughout the rehearsal process to make this production of Cats truly fly.

Cats fans better pounce on these tickets, because they’re just $28-$85, a fraction of the cost to see live theater in downtown Chicago. Plus Aurora boasts easy, affordable parking and great new restaurants all around.

Previews begin April 30. Press opening is Friday, May 9 at 8 p.m. Regular performances run through June 15: Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Thursday at 7 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. (Exception: No matinee Wednesday, April 30.)

For tickets, visit ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or stop by the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until show time on show days. For group discounts, contact Melissa Striedl, melissas@paramountarts.com or (630) 723-2461. 

Note: Paramount will also offer two Pay What You Can previews of Cats on Thursday, May 1 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 3 at 3 p.m. See ParamountAurora.com/Pay-What-You-Can for details. 

Accessible Performances

Paramount will offer open captioning Wednesday, June 11 at 7 p.m. and American Sign Language interpretation Friday, June 17 at 8 p.m.

Paramount offers free assistive listening devices at all performances. Check in at the coat room before the show to borrow a device. If you require wheelchair or special seating or other assistance, please contact the box office at (630) 896-6666 or boxoffice@paramountarts.com in advance.

Costume rendering for Electra (Hayley Larson) courtesy Izumi Inaba

 

Costume rendering for Coricopat (Ryan Huemmer) by Izumi Inaba 

Costume rendering for Munkustrap (Jake DiMaggio Lopez) by Izumi Inaba

Costume rendering for Grizabella (Emily Rohm) by Izumi Inaba

Paramount’s cast for Cats features Emily Rohm as Grizabella, Lorenzo Rush Jr. as Old Deuteronomy, Gene Weygandt as Asparagus/Bustopher Jones/ Peter, Jake DiMaggio Lopez as Munkustrap, Donovan Hoffer as Rum Tum Tugger, Tiffany Topol as Bombalurina, Alexandra Palkovic as Demeter, Allison Sill as Jellylorum, Christopher Kelley as Mistoffelees, Anakin Jace White as Skimbleshanks, Dani Goldberg as Mungojerrie, Ayana Strutz as Rumpleteazer, Kara Brody as Victoria, Kat Hoil as Jennyanydots, Emma Ogea as Sillabub, Brian Bandura as Carbuckety, Matty Bettencourt as Pouncival, Liam Bradley as Admetus, Sophie Liu David as Etcetera, Shaun Dennison White as George, Evan C. Dolan as Alonzo, Kat Harvey as Tantomile, Joe Giovannetti in The Cats Chorus, Ryan Huemmer as Coricopat, Brian Hupp in The Cats Chorus, Hayley Larson as Electra, Michael Lunder as Tumblebrutus, Emilie Lynn in The Cats Chorus, Selena Robinson as Cassandra, Emily Scinto as Exotica, Nellie Shuford in The Cats Chorus, and Matthew Weidenbener as Macavity/Plato.

Paramount Theatre’s Cats, directed by (row 1, from left) Trent Stork, features Emily Rohm as Grizabella, Lorenzo Rush Jr. as Old Deuteronomy, Gene Weygandt as Asparagus/Bustopher Jones/Peter, Jake DiMaggio Lopez as Munkustrap, Donovan Hoffer as Rum Tum Tugger, Tiffany Topol as Bombalurina, Alexandra Palkovic as Demeter, Allison Sill as Jellylorum, (row 2) Christopher Kelley as Mistoffelees, Anakin Jace White as Skimbleshanks, Dani Goldberg as Mungojerrie, Ayana Strutz as Rumpleteazer, Kara Brody as Victoria, Kat Hoil as Jennyanydots, Emma Ogea as Sillabub, Brian Bandura (row 3) as Carbuckety, Matty Bettencourt as Pouncival, Liam Bradley as Admetus, Sophie Liu David as Etcetera, Shaun Dennison White as George, Evan C. Dolan as Alonzo, Kat Harvey as Tantomile, Joe Giovannetti in The Cats Chorus, Ryan Huemmer as Coricopat, (row 4) Brian Hupp in The Cats Chorus, Hayley Larson as Electra, Michael Lunder as Tumblebrutus, Emilie Lynn in The Cats Chorus, Selena Robinson as Cassandra, Emily Scinto as Exotica, Nellie Shuford in The Cats Chorus, and Matthew Weidenbener as Macavity/Plato. 

Paramount’s production team is led by director Trent Stork along with Kasey Alfonso, choreographer; Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, circus choreographer; Amanda Crockett, clown consultant and associate circus choreographer; Kory Danielson, music director, conductor; Jeffrey D. Kmiec, scenic designer; Izumi Inaba, costume designer; Greg Hofmann, lighting designer; Adam Rosenthal, sound designer; Paul Deziel, projection designer; Katie Cordts, wig, hair and makeup designer; Ivy Thomas, properties designer; Benjamin Barnes, illusion consultant; Max Fabian, fight, stunt & intimacy director; Ethan Deppe, electronic music designer; Susan Gosdick, dialect coach; Tracy Nunnally, flight director; Devon Hayakawa, associate director; Kara Brody, associate choreographer; Kevin Reeks, associate music director; Cameron Tragesser, associate conductor; Amber R. Dettmers, stage manager; and Natalie Cohen and Lanita VanderSchaaf, assistant stage managers.

Cats is a sung-through musical with music by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the 1939 poetry collection “Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats” by T. S. Eliot. Lloyd Webber began setting Eliot's poems to music in 1977, and the compositions were first presented as a song cycle in 1980. Producer Cameron Mackintosh then recruited director Trevor Nunn and choreographer Gillian Lynne to turn the songs into a complete musical. Cats opened in 1981 to positive reviews at the New London Theatre in the West End and then to mixed reviews in 1982 at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway. Regardless, it launched the era of the megamusical juggernaut, won countless awards including seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score, garnered millions of loyal fans, and remains an international sensation.

In 2014, the Chicago Tribune’s Chris Jones called Paramount’s first staging of Cats “a genuinely spectacular show.” More than a decade later, just wait when Paramount unleashes its new circus-inspired version of Cats, the first Broadway title Paramount has brought back to its stage since launching its own Broadway series 13 seasons ago.

Cats is sponsored by Old Second National Bank. Paramount Theatre Broadway Season sponsors are the Dunham Foundation, BMO, ComEd, Illinois Arts Council and the City of Aurora.

 Costume rendering for Tantomile (Kat Harvey) by Izumi Inaba

Costume rendering for Old Deuteronomy (Lorenzo Rush Jr.) by Izumi Inaba

Costume rendering for Rum Tum Tugger (Donovan Hoffer) by Izumi Inaba

Costume rendering for Mistoffelees (Christopher Kelley) by Izumi Inaba

  

Coming soon: Paramount’s announces 2025-26 Broadway and BOLD Series line-ups

Looking to 2025-26, Paramount has revealed a four-show line-up for its 14th Broadway Series, and just as it has since it launched its first Broadway Series in 2011, Paramount still offers the same “Buy Two Shows, Get Two Shows Free” offer, with packages starting as low as $60. Next season boasts two Chicago-area premieres - Come from Away, directed by Trent Stork, (August 20–October 12, 2025) and Dear Evan Hansen, directed by Jessica Fisch (February 4–March 22, 2026).

Add the most iconic holiday musical of all time, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, directed by Stephen Schellhardt (November 12, 2025–January 11, 2026), and the beloved 1940s World War II era musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, directed by Devon Hayakawa and Trent Stork (April 29-June 14, 2026), now that’s one enchanted season.

Just as it has since it launched its first Broadway Series in 2011, Paramount still offers the same “Buy Two Shows, Get Two Shows Free” offer. Broadway packages start as low as $60. Actually, subscribers pay no more than $43.50 per show, and that’s the most expensive ticket. Fees not included. 

Paramount will also present three more exciting works in the Copley Theatre in 2025-26 as part of its fourth BOLD Series: Sam Shepard’s American classic True West, directed by Paramount Artistic Director Jim Corti (July 16–August 31, 2025), the Chicago premiere of the buzzy new play Covenant by York Walker, directed by Goodman Theatre’s Malkia Stampley (October 1–November 9, 2025), and the first area Equity staging of Ride the Cyclone since its debut in 2015, directed by Lauren Berman (March 18–May 31, 2026). Sign-up for Paramount’s 2025-26 BOLD Series for as little as $78.

For subscriptions, tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or stop by the Paramount Theatre box office, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until show time on show days.

About Paramount Theatre

Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., is the center for performing arts in Aurora, the second largest city in Illinois. The beautiful, 1,843-seat theater, graced with a strong 1930s Art Deco influence and original Venetian décor, nationally known for its high-quality productions, superb acoustics and historic grandeur, has been downtown Aurora’s anchor attraction since 1931.

Since launching its own Broadway Series in 2011, Paramount has amassed more than 37,000 subscribers, making it the largest subscription house in the U.S.

For over 50 years, the Joseph Jefferson Awards has recognized excellence in Chicago area theater. Paramount has been honored to earn 124 Jeff nominations and 29 wins over the last eight years of eligibility, including six Jeff Awards in 2022 for Kinky Boots, including Best Musical-Large, Paramount’s fourth win in that category following Sweeney Todd (2017), West Side Story (2016) and Les Misérables (2015). 

Paramount Theatre is one of five live performance venues overseen by the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA) in downtown Aurora. ACCA also programs and manages the 165-seat Copley Theatre, home to Paramount’s BOLD Series, at 8 E. Galena in the North Island Center; Stolp Island Theatre, now open at 5 E. Downer Place, Suite G, with a critically acclaimed immersive production of Million Dollar Quartet, extended through June 2025; RiverEdge Park, downtown Aurora’s outdoor summer concert venue at 360 N. Broadway; and the Paramount School of the Arts.

Paramount Theatre continues to expand its artistic and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Tim Rater, President and CEO, Aurora Civic Center Authority; Jim Corti, Artistic Director, Paramount Theatre; a dedicated Board of Trustees and a devoted staff of live theater and music professionals.

For the latest updates, visit ParamountAurora.com or follow @paramountaurora on Facebook and Instagram, and Paramount Theatre on LinkedIn.

Titanic The Musical to Make Waves at Marriott Theatre April 9 Through June 1, 2025

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Marriott Theatre, continues its 50th Anniversary Season celebration with the epic production of 

Titanic The Musical

Marriott Theatre has long been a favorite of ours here at ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama. Now with Three Embers Restaurant hosting a pre show pop-up experience that will coincide with Titanic The Musical, shows are tastier than ever. Don't miss the boat on this one!

Chicagoland’s longest running musical theatre, Marriott Theatre, continues its 50th Anniversary Season celebration with the epic production of Titanic The Musical, directed and choreographed by Connor Gallagher (Marriott Theatre debut! Broadway: Beetlejuice; Off-Broadway: The Big Gay Jamboree, The Robber Bridegroom, Into the Woods; Beauty and The Beast, Disney’s Tale of Moana, Tangled) with Musical Direction by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson. Capturing the triumph and tragedy of the hopeful passengers on the ill-fated Ship of Dreams, Titanic The Musical previews on April 9, opens Wednesday, April 16 at 7pm, and runs through June 1, 2025. Based on the real people aboard the most legendary ship in the world, Titanic The Musical is a stirring portrait of the passengers on board the “unsinkable ship” and the tragedy that followed. With a soaring score by Maury Yeston and book by Peter Stone, the original Broadway production won five Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book.

“As a child who discovered musical theatre in the '90s, Titanic was a formative show for me,” said director Conor Gallagher. “The chance to bring it to life on the Marriott Theatre stage is a thrilling, daunting, and ultimately energizing task. Add to that the legendary actors of Chicago and one of the most haunting scores ever written, and I couldn’t be happier to be collaborating on this production. I promise it will be unlike any Titanic you’ve seen before.”

Titanic The Musical stars David Girolmo as “Captain E.J. Smith,” Adam Pelty as “J. Bruce Ismay,” Christopher Kale Jones as “Thomas Andrews,” Lillian Castillo as “Alice Beane,” James Earl Jones II as “Edgar Beane/Fourth Officer Boxhall,” Erica Stephan as “Kate McGowan,”  Garrett Lutz as “Jim Farrell,”  Eric Amundson as “Bellboy,” Joel Gelman as “Second Officer Charles Lightoller/John Jacob Astor,” Darian Goulding as “Frederick Barrett/Benjamin Guggenheim,” Laura Guley as “Kate Murphey/Eleanor Widener,” Kelli Harrington as “Charlotte Cardoza,” Matthew Hommel as “Harold Bride/Joseph Bell/Bandmaster Wallace Hartley,” Mark David Kaplan as “Isidor Straus/Quartermaster Robert Hitchens,” George Keating as “First Officer William Murdoch,” Heidi Kettenring as “Ida Straus,” Will Lidke as “Charles Clarke/George Widener,” Francesca Mehrotra as “Caroline Neville/Mme. Aubert,” Victoria Okafor as “Kate Mullins/Stewardess/Madeleine Astor,” Lucas Thompson as “Frederick Fleet,” Kevin Webb as “Henry Etches/Third Officer Herbert Pitman,” with Anna Louise Bramlett, Andrés Enriquez, David Gordon-Johnson, Michael Metcalf and Schyler Vargas.

The artistic team features Associate Director and Choreographer Katie Johannigman, Scenic Designer Collette Pollard, Costume Designer Sully Ratke, Wig, Hair & Makeup Designer Miguel Armstrong, Lighting Designer Jesse Klug, Sound Designer Michael Daly, Props Designer Sally Zack, Dialect Coach Adam Goldstein, Conductor Brad Haak and Stage Manager Colt Luedtke.

NEW FOR 2025 WEEKNIGHT PERFORMANCE TIMES, Titanic The Musical is scheduled to run Wednesdays at 1 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., with select Thursday 1:00 p.m. shows. Call for group, dinner-theatre, student, senior, and military discounts. To make a restaurant reservation, please call 847.634.0100. Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets or become a Marriott Theatre subscriber during the 50th Anniversary season, please call the Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or go to www.tickets.marriotttheatre.com. Visit www.MarriottTheatre.com for more information. 

Attendees are also invited to visit Three Embers Restaurant before the show to experience a pop-up experience that will coincide with Titanic The Musical, transporting guests to another realm while enjoying a themed food and beverage menu led by the culinary team at Three Embers Restaurant.

Review: Guys and Dolls at Music Theater Works Now Playing Through March 30 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Music Theater Works 

Guys and Dolls

MUSIC THEATER WORKS’ GUYS AND DOLLS,

NOW PLAYING THROUGH MARCH 30, AT THE NORTH SHORE

CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IN SKOKIE

Music Theater Works’ 45th Season Begins with the Frank Loesser Classic, directed

by Sasha Gerritson, choreographed by Clayton Cross and

music directed by Linda Madonia

at NorthShore Center for The Performing Arts in Skokie 

Run Time (currently): Two hours and 30 minutes including the intermission.

(L to R) Alex Villaseñor, Jenny Couch, Catherine Rodriguez O’Connor, Brandon Acosta and Emma Jean Eastland 

Guest Review

By Catherine Hellmann

A musical must be amusing if a two-and-a-half hour show retained our attention and kept us laughing throughout. What’s more fun to start things off than dancing gamblers in suits and slick fedoras during the overture? This energetic opening number made it obvious that we were in for a treat. 

(center) Cary Lovett and the cast of GUYS AND DOLLS, from Music Theater Works, now playing through March 30 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. 

All Photos by Brett Beiner

Premiering in 1950, Guys and Dolls boasts a familiar score including “A Bushel and a Peck,” “Luck Be a Lady,” “Sue Me,” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat. ” Director Sasha Gerriton writes in her notes that she “fell in love with the show’s rich, lush score and the vibrant dances” when she was 14 years old as a high school student and saw a production in downtown Chicago. In addition to the Tony-winning score by Frank Loesser, the show has a hilarious script with great characters penned by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. 

The entire cast does an admirable job with the singing, acting, and entertaining choreography. Standouts are Callan Roberts as a very funny Nathan Detroit, Kristin Brintnall is delightful as the patiently-forever-waiting-to marry-Nathan Miss Adelaide, and Jeffrey Charles is charming as reformed sinner Sky Masterson. 

 (L to R) Callan Roberts and Cecilia Iole

“Sue Me/I Could Die” duet between Brintnall and Roberts brought applause in the middle of the song for their wonderful repartee. Cecilia Iole as Sarah Brown, the determined missionary, and Brintnall had a fantastic duet as the frustrated but resolute girlfriends in “Marry the Man Today.” Also of note are Cary Lovett as Nicely-Nicely and David Geinosky as Benny Southstreet, Nathan’s goofy henchmen. I really enjoyed Ian Reed’s Irish-cop accent as Lt. Brannigan. Andrew Freeland adds a *huge* presence as Big Jule, the intimidating gangster from East Cicero outside of Chicago who carries his own questionable dice to New York for the game of “Crap.” We were thrilled to recognize Peter Ruger from one of our favorite theater companies, Hell in a Handbag, where he was Rudolph in their recent Christmas production.  

(L to R) Adam Raso, Callan Reed, Andrew Freeland, David Geinosky and Peter Ruger 

(L to R) Adam Raso, Andrew Freeland, Alex Villaseñor and Brandon Acosta 

Clayton Cross’ choreography is very inventive and creative and adds so much lightheartedness to the show. Our first impression of the set was seeing the orchestra above the stage in a big-band style. We complimented scenic designer Ben Lipinski at intermission, and he said placing the orchestra in full view was one of his first decisions. Kudos to Pianist and Conductor Kevin Disch for his musical direction. It’s cool to be able to watch the instrumentalists in action; so often they are relegated to being behind-the-scenes. Special shout-out to costume designer Bob Kuhn for his inspired ensembles. The dancers’ garden dresses and vegetable-themed hats at the Hot Box Club were amazing! “She has carrots on her head!” I whispered to my sister. :-)    

(L to R) Catherine Rodriguez O’Connor, Jenny Couch,  Emma Jean Eastland and Emily Holland 

So, head to the suburbs where there is FREE parking and a lovely evening of musical theater awaits. As Benny declares: “I’ve always been a bad guy, and a bad gambler. From now on, I would like to be a good guy, and a good gambler.” Take a gamble and head to Skokie for this enjoyable show. Odds are, you will love it. 

Catherine Hellmann is a teacher in Chicago and a theater lover everywhere. An upcoming trip to Hawaii for spring break means she has achieved a long-time goal of visiting all 50 states.

Members of the cast of GUYS AND DOLLS, from Music Theater Works, now playing through March 30 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. 

 

Music Theater Works is proud to kick off its 2025 season with Guys and Dolls, in the North Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, March 6 - 30, 2025. Guys and Dolls, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, is directed by Sasha Gerritson, choreographed by Clayton Cross and music directed by Linda Madonia. 

 

(center) Alex Villaseñor and members of the cast of GUYS AND DOLLS, from Music Theater Works

The performance schedule is Wednesdays at 2 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 7:30

p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., with additional performances on Saturdays, March 15, March 22

and March 29 at 2 p.m. Tickets are now on sale from $19.50 to $89 with tickets for guests

25 years old and younger available at half-price at MusicTheaterWorks.com or by calling

the Music Theater Works box office at the North Shore Center, 847.673.6300. Group

discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more by contacting 847.920.5360.

Music Theater Works’ season kicks off with what many believe is the “perfect musical” with

every song in its score a part of the American musical classic. Guys and Dolls whisks

audiences from Manhattan to Havana and back again with career gambler Sky Masterson,

“Save-A-Soul” missionary Sarah Brown, Miss Adelaide, Nathan Detroit and others in this

exuberant, big, brassy musical. Join Music Theater Works at the Hot Box Club onstage for

an unforgettable time.

The cast of Guys and Dolls includes, in alphabetical order: Brandon Acosta (he/him,

Liver Lips/Ensemble/US Nathan Detroit/fight and intimacy captain); Jordan Beyeler

(she/her, swing); Kristin Brintnall (she/her, Miss Adelaide); Caron Buinis (she/her,

General Cartwright); Jeffrey Charles (he/him, Sky Masterson); Jenny Couch (she/her,

ensemble); Emma Jean Eastlund (she/her, ensemble); Andrew Freeland (he/him, Big

Jule/ensemble); David Geinosky (he/him, Benny Southstreet/ensemble/US Nicely

Nicely); Joe Giovannetti (he/him, ensemble/US Sky Masterson); Isabella

Gomez-Barrientos (she/her, Agatha/ensemble/US Sarah Brown); Ben Harmon (he/they,

Angie The Ox/ensemble); Emily Holland (she/her, ensemble/US Miss Adelaide); Cecilia

Iole (she/her, Sarah Brown); Dee Kimpel (she/her, Martha/ensemble/US General

Cartwright); Kyle Kite (he/him, ensemble); Miguel Long (he/him, Rusty

Charlie/ensemble); Cary Lovett (he/him, Nicely Nicely Johnson/US Arvide Abernathy);

Matthew Millin (he/him, swing); Catherine Rodriguez O’Connor (she/her, ensemble);

Adam Raso (he/him, Harry the Horse/ensemble/US Lt. Brannigan); Ian Reed (he/him, Lt.

Brannigan); Callan Roberts (he/him, Nathan Detroit); Peter Ruger (he/him,

Calvin/ensemble/US Big Jule); Bob Sanders (he/him, Arvide Abernathy) and Alex

Villaseñor (he/him, ensemble/Non-Equity Deputy).

(L to R) Cecilia Iole and Jeffrey Charles

The Guys and Dolls orchestra includes Kevin Disch (piano/conductor); Alison Tatum

(she/her, violin); Cara Strauss (she/her, reed 1); Eva Lewis Butcher (she/her, reed 2);

Amy Nelson (she/her, trumpet); Stephanie Lebens (she/her, trombone); Eric Von Holst

(he/him, bass) and Lindsay Williams (she/her, drums).

Guys and Dolls’ creative team is Sasha Gerritson (she/her, director); Clayton Cross

(he/him, choreographer); Linda Madonia (she/her, music director); Amber Wutke

(she/her, intimacy and violence choreographer); Kathy Logelin (she/her, dialect coach);

Rachel Rock (she/her, stage manager); Ethan Colish (he/him, assistant stage manager);

Ben Lipinski (any with respect, scenic designer); Nga Sze Chan (she/her, properties

designer), Bob Kuhn (he/him, costume designer); Kristen Brinati (she/her, wardrobe

head); Alice Salazar (she/her, hair/wig/makeup co-designer); Melanie Saso (she/her,

hair/wig/makeup co-designer); Andrew Meyers (he/him, lighting designer); Forrest

Gregor (he/him, sound designer); Kimberly Carbone (she/her, production sound

engineer) and Andersonville Scenic Studios (scene shop).

(L to R) Bob Sanders and Cecilia Iole

(L to R) Bob Sanders, Isabella Gomez-Barrientos, Cecilia Iole, Dee Kimpel and Peter Ruger 

Binny’s Broadway Lounge

Music Theater Works’ donors of any level and subscribers are welcome to access Binny’s

Broadway Lounge before the performance and at intermission of Guys and Dolls. Binny’s

Broadway Lounge, sponsored by Binny’s Beverage Depot, is located on the second floor

at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie offering complimentary drinks

and snacks and does not require reservations. The Lounge is available during Guys and

Dolls, Saturday, March 8 (opens at 6:30 p.m.) and Saturday, March 15 (opens at 1 p.m.).

ASL Interpreted Performance

The Saturday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. performance will be ASL interpreted by Michael

Albert and Laurie Waldeck.

ABOUT SASHA GERRITSON, DIRECTOR

Sasha Gerritson is an opera and musical theater stage director who directs shows for many local and regional companies. Most recently having directed the critically acclaimed Music Theater Works’ production of Carousel, in addition to previous Music Theater Works’ shows Brigadoon and Irving Berlin's White Christmas, she is proud to return for Guys & Dolls. Known for her expertise in the standard repertoire, Gerritson is also a highly sought after opera director, having most recently directed Puccini's Manon Lescaut and Il Assassinio Nella Cattedrale for The Opera Festival of Chicago, where she serves as general director. In addition to her work as a stage director, Gerritson is a choral conductor and serves as the director of Music Ministries for the Park Ridge Community Church.

Previous work as a choral conductor included positions with the Chicago Children's Choir

and Merit School of Music. Gerritson is a proud board member of Music Theater Works, in

addition to The Goodman Theatre, the Brookfield Zoo and DePaul University, where she

serves as vice chair of the Board of Trustees. She served as the opera and music theatre

director of Northeastern Illinois University from 2010-2022, has directed for Musica Nelle

Marche (Urbino, Italy), Opera Piccola, DePaul University, the Cherub Music Theatre

program for Northwestern University, in addition to various other summer programs in the

area. She lives in Glenview with her husband Eugene Jarvis and their two sons, Nate and

Josh.

(L to R) Jenny Couch, Catherine Rodriguez O’Connor, Kristin Brintnall, Emily Holland and Emma Jean Eastland 

ABOUT CLAYTON CROSS, CHOREOGRAPHER

Clayton Cross works nationwide as a choreographer, performer and dance

instructor. Cross was most recently in the ensemble and dance captain of Rock Of Ages

with Mercury Theater Chicago, with Drury Lane in the ensemble and dance captain in

Grease as well as in the ensemble in Evita. He most recently choreographed Brigadoon

for Music Theatre Works. He was last seen on the Music Theater Works stage as “Scuttle”

in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, in the ensemble of Mamma Mia!, as choreographer for

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and Billy Elliot The Musical. He was choreographer in

residence with Music Theater Works under the direction of Rudy Hogenmiller for seven

seasons where he choreographed and/or performed in Joseph and the Amazing

Technicolor Dreamcoat as “Benjamin”, Hunchback of Notre Dame, How to Succeed in

Business Without Really Trying, Into The Woods, Anything Goes as “ensemble”, Pirates of

Penzance as “ensemble”, Peter Pan as “Nana/Croc”, Gypsy as “Tulsa”, Mame as “ensemble”, Candide, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady, Die Fladermanus, The Fantasticks as “Mute,” Damn Yankees as “Eddie” and in A Chorus Line as “Greg” with Porchlight MusicTheatre. Cross also performed at Marriott Theatre in La Cage Aux Follies as “Mercedes”.

He is an instructor and choreographer for M.A. Dance Nation, a Texas based traveling

convention circuit, where he has been choreographing, teaching and judging since

1999. Cross has five times been a consultant and contributed choreography for the Capital

One Bowl’s “All American Halftime Show.” Throughout his 25 year career as a dancer he

has worked with Robert Battle, Fernando Bujones, Sherry Zunker, Paul Taylor and Anne

Reinking. Cross’s television credits include “Every Dancer Has a Story,

” a PBS special on the River North Chicago Dance Company, where he was a company member for 10

seasons and toured nationally and internationally. He is originally from Midland, Texas

where he received his early training from La Petite Dance Co., Coleman Academy and the

Midland Community Theatre as a member of the Pickwick Players. He holds a double

B.F.A. in Ballet and Modern Dance from Texas Christian University.

(L to R) Kristin Brintnall and Cecilia Iole

ABOUT LINDA MADONIA, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Linda Madonia is thrilled to be back at Music Theater Works where she has previously

music directed Legally Blonde:The Musical, Shrek: The Musical, Mamma Mia! and

Camelot. Other recent projects include; Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages and Sister Act at

Mercury Theater Chicago. Anything Goes, Cabaret and A Chorus Line at Porchlight Music

Theatre. Madonia also serves as the contractor for the Chicago Federation of Musicians

for Porchlight Music Theatre, Music Theater Works and Teatro Zinzanni. She is the vocal

coach for the Master’s Degree program in Music Theatre Pedagogy at Carthage College

and owns American Eagle Productions, which has been at the forefront of Theatre

Education in the Chicago area for the past 35 years.

(L to R) David Geinosky, Cary Lovett and Miguel Long 

 in GUYS AND DOLLS, from Music Theater Works, now playing through March 30 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. 

Music Theater Works 2025 Season

The 45th season includes Guys and Dolls, March 6 - 30; Fiddler on the Roof, August 7 -

17; Godspell, October 23 - November 16 and Annie, December 18, 2025 - January 4,

2026. For more information on the 45th season go to MusicTheaterWorks.com.

ABOUT MUSIC THEATER WORKS

Music Theater Works is a resident professional not-for-profit music theater founded in 1980. During its 45-year history it has presented more than 150 productions and intimate presentations. Music Theater Works is a professional theater company whose mission is to present works for the musical stage including historic repertoire, revitalizing the Golden

Age of Broadway and earlier works, celebrating the Great American Songbook and introducing modern classics.

Show dates and times:

Saturday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. – Binny’s Broadway Lounge (opens at 6:30 p.m. )

Sunday, March 9 at 2 p.m.

Wednesday, March 12 at 2 p.m.

Friday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 15 at 2 p.m. – Binny’s Broadway Lounge (opens at 1 p.m.)

Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. 

Sunday, March 16 at 2 p.m.

Wednesday, March 19 at 2 p.m.

Friday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 22 at 2 p.m.

Saturday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. – ASL Interpreted

Sunday, March 23 at 2 p.m.

Wednesday, March 26 at 2 p.m.

Friday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m.

Saturday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 30 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: $19.50 to $89, tickets for guests 25 years old and younger are available for half- price.

Music Theater Works Box Office: (847) 673-6300

Website: MusicTheaterWorks.com