Elsewhere in this issue, Mary Shen Barnidge is offering the pick of the litter when it comes to musicals in Chicago's off-Loop theaters this autumn season. My job is to fill in the blanks about musical theater in The Bigs.
In Chicago's lively theater scene, any venue with 300 seats or more can be counted among The Bigs.
Without question, three musical events tower over all others with regard to their colorful appeal, one quite old, one brand-new and a third that splits the difference. The oldie is Animal Crackers, a 1928 Broadway show that starred the Four Marx Brothers ( youngest brother Zeppo still was part of the act ) just before they hit movie fame. Indeed, there is a film version of Animal Crackers with quite a cult following, but the complete musical is substantially different ( longer and more songs ) . This revival is being presented by the Goodman Theatre, Sept. 28-Oct. 25 ( with previews from Sept. 18 ) . The score, by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, includes Groucho's famous ditty, "Hello, I Must Be Going," and his familiar theme song, "Hooray for Capt. Spaulding."
The brand-new show is the world premiere of The Addams Family, based on the famous cartoons by Charles Addams, which will have its pre-Broadway world premiere run at the Ford Center/Oriental Theatre, Nov. 13 ( Friday the 13th, of course ) -Jan. 10. Produced and developed by Chicago-based producer Stuart Oken, the show stars Nathan Lane as Gomez and Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia and features some of the most creative authors, designers and directors available today.
The show that splits the difference is the world premiere ( and another pre-Broadway warm-up ) of a new Cirque du Soleil show that's theater-based rather than tent-based. Cirque du Soleil: A Twist on Vaudeville will debut at the Chicago Theatre, Nov. 21-Jan. 3. Vaudeville, of course, is that old variety show of 19th and early 20th centuries that died out during the Great Depression, but frequently is revived in modern form. Look for this one to be spectacular and colorful with plenty of music, although not a musical per se.
And then there are all the rest, enumerated here in chronological order.
The reliable and popular James Harms will star as don Quixote in Man of La Mancha at Theatre at the Center, Sept. 17-Oct. 17 ( previews Sept. 10 ) , with Erika Mac as Aldonza. Veteran producer/director William Pullinsi is staging the show.
The reliable, popular and gifted comic actor Ross Lehman will star as Edna Turnblad in the regional premiere of Hairspray ( based on the John Waters film ) at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Sept. 30-Dec. 6 ( previews Sept. 30 ) , with direction and dance by the always-dazzling Marc Robin. Let's face it, for a show that isn't gay, you really can't get any gayer than Hairspray!
In October, Cats creeps back to town for the 961st time, playing the Cadillac Palace for one week, Oct. 13-18. Oh, well, if you must. For some, I suppose Cats still is the Cat's Meow.
The revitalized Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace continues its lavish new producing policy with Thoroughly Modern Millie, Oct. 28-Dec. 20 ( previews from Oct. 22 ) . It's bright and imaginative new productions definitely now are worth the westward journey.
Mel Brooks's fans can make up their own minds about whether or not his musical adaptation of Young Frankenstein is any good when it plays the Cadillac Palace, Nov. 3-Dec. 13, with its original Broadway stars, Roget Bart and Shuler Hensley. The critics declared it not nearly as good as The Producers, even with book, music and lyrics all by Brooks. The Tony Awards ignored it as it limped through a relatively short Broadway run and now you can decide for yourself.
Finally, the dazzling pianist and musical impersonator Hershey Felder returns to town as author/actor in three signature one-man shows that will play in succession at the Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place. Fans will recall that Felder spent nearly a year at the Royal George Theatre with George Gershwin Alone ( in 2004-2005 ) before debuting Monsieur Chopin here. In the last couple of years, Felder has added Beethoven, As I Knew Him to form a trio of shows, all staged by film director Joel Zwick. Beethoven kicks off the series, Nov. 13-Dec. 6, followed by Chopin Dec. 9-20 and concluding with Gershwin, Dec. 23-30. FYI: on Sunday and Monday nights, when Felder doesn't perform, Drury Lane Water Tower Place will present Peter Gallagher: Don't Give Up On Me, Nov. 22-Dec. 14. Gallagher will be in residence developing this new piece as a concert-cabaret presentation.
And, of course, for musical theater on the grandest of all possible scales, one cannot forget Lyric Opera of Chicago, which launches its seven-month-long 55th season with Puccini's Tosca, Sept. 26. The fall portion of the season also will offer Gounod's Faust, Verdi's Ernani ( based on Victor Hugo's play ) , Janacek's Katya Kabanova and Lehar's The Merry Widow all opening before Christmas. Our town's Gary Griffin will direct the new production of The Merry Widow. All performances will be in the high Art Deco splendor of the Civic Opera House.
