Broadway in Chicago previewed its upcoming season with a free concert in Millennium Park Aug. 6. The Pritzker Pavilion was packed to see the variety of shows scheduled to run.
ABC-7's Janet Davies hosted the evening that began with the national anthem and the all-American hit Million Dollar Quartet. Joey the War Horse galloped across the stage and into the audience, to the surprise of audience members. Although Cathy Rigby didn't fly through the air, she did flip into a cartwheel, exclaiming, "I will prove to you that I am not old!"
The Verona Project is composed of a group of young musicians inspired by Shakespeare's first comedy; they showed to sing a medley. Cinderella from Emerald City cast the ugly stepsisters as two men in drag, to great comedic effect. Catch Me If You Canlike the film that serves as the production's inspirationtells the story of Frank W. Abagnale, Jr., and has melodies that are sure to please; the show will run next April.
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was another Broadway show inspired by a filmand this one has a trio of singers singing disco. Let's cross our fingers that show producer Bette Midler will pop into town at the openingor maybe even Whoopi Goldberg, for that matter, when Sister Act arrives in November. Even Harry Potter was represented, with the production Potted Potter, as two former BBC hosts bring all seven of the books to life in 70 minutes. Television was represented with I Love Lucy Live On Stage.
Les Miserables will be returning with the 25th-anniversary production; the lead singer was on hand to sing a touching rendition of "Bring Him Home."
Cyndi Lauper brought home the finale of the evening with her single, "The Sex Is in the Heel," from Kinky Boots the Musical, which will debut in Chicago in October. Lauper did not disappoint as she walked into the crowd dancing to the tune before waving goodbye.
For ticket information on any of these shows, call 800-775-2000 or visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com . Photos and text by Jerry Nunn