You heard it here first because Stage Door Jonny always has the scoop: About Face Theatre will spend most of the 2006-2007 season in residence at Victory Gardens Theater—that's the old Victory Gardens complex at 2257 N. Lincoln. The troupe will be both more active and more regular than it has been this season, staging either four or five shows, with Scott Ferguson and probable-Tony-Award-nominee Gary Griffin among the directors. The schedule isn't set in stone, but don't be surprised if Griffin stages a new, expanded version of Patricia Kane's delightful lesbian comedy, Pulp. Meanwhile, About Face is talking with the powers that be in New York about the troupe's recent Loving Repeating, the entertaining musical vaudeville about Gertrude Stein created by director Frank Galati and composer Stephen Flaherty.
If you've ever seen Cecil B. DeMille's long and ponderous The Ten Commandments, you've probably wiled away the hours between miracles as Jonny has, observing how many gorgeous muscle hunks old Cecil cast as Egyptian guards and Hebrew slaves. Obviously, the folks at Chicago Gay Men's Chorus ( CGMC ) have done the same thing: Just in time for Orthodox Easter, CGMC will debut its version of Exodus, The Ten Commandments: The Musical. There will be three performances at the historic Athenaeum Theatre, April 21-22. Tickets are available at the Athenaeum Box Office or via Ticketmaster, at www.ticketmaster.com or ( 312 ) 902-1500.
Book, music and lyrics for The Ten Commandments: The Musical are by Patrick Sinozich and Bill Larkin, both long associated with CGMC, who promise to deliver the story of Moses with healthy doses of high camp, high drama and a few high heels. The show is directed by Jay Paul Skelton with choreography by Keith Elliott and Jake Stigers. Jonny wonders if it's possible to create a biblical epic any campier than Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, or Victor Mature and Hedy Lamarr in Samson and Delilah, but we shall see. Jonny assumes the folks at CGMC are far too smart to leave out the hunky slaves.
Bill Larkin is quite a busybody. Not only does he have The Ten Commandments: The Musical on the boards, but he's also playing a lead role in the Chicago company of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the very funny Broadway musical now in previews at the Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place. Official opening is April 11 for the show, which is expected to run several years.
Jonny knows it's quite a while until Halloween, still there's no wrong time to pick up professional tips on costumes and wigs, right? No one in Chicago does these things better than Chicago Shakespeare Theater, so all you drag queens and kings might want to reserve Saturday, April 15—yes, the same day your income tax is due. That evening, from 7-8 p.m., artists from Chicago Shakespeare's costume and wig departments will offer a free demonstration.
In fact, Chicago Shakespeare Theater is offering free events every day this month through April 23, which is Will Shakespeare's 442nd birthday, and you need not attend a performance to participate ( although the current show, A Flea in Her Ear, is a delight ) . For example, there's an Acting Shakespeare workshop on April 10; one-hour stage combat workshops on April 13 and 22; and various backstage tours. To register for any of the free events, go to www.chicagoshakes.com .
Jonny knows it's a quite a while until July, too, but it's never too early for a true Stephen Sondheim queen to make a date for a special event. This summer, the Grant Park Music Festival will devote an entire weekend, July 14-16, to Sondheim in the Park. Yes, the great Broadway composer of Sweeney Todd, Company, A Little Night Music, Assassins, Into the Woods, Follies, Anyone Can Whistle, Pacific Overtures and other shows will become a Chicago summertime legend along with Blues Fest, Gospel Fest and Jazz Fest as well as Taste of Chicago. Sondheim in the Park will feature full symphony orchestra and chorus concerts of his music and lyrics on July 14 and 15, with Broadway musical director Kevin Stites as conductor and Broadway stars to be announced. In addition, local actors and musicians will perform songs from Sondheim's shows throughout Millennium Park all weekend. As always, Grant Park events are free.
Jonny is pleased to report that Daryl Nitz and a gaggle of his friends are reviving their 2004 tribute to Judy Garland's famous 1961 Carnegie Hall come-back concert. And what a gaggle of friends they are! Judy at Carnegie: A Celebration will feature Amy Armstrong, Elizabeth Doyle, Margie Gibson, Ester Hana, KT McCammond, Colleen McHugh, Stephen Rader, Spider Saloff and MeKole Wells. There are four performances only, April 20-23, at the Lakeshore Theatre. When first presented in 2004, the show sold out. Tickets: ( 773 ) 472-3492.