PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE ANNOUNCES ITS 18th SEASON
The 2012 – 2013 Season Includes Two Chicago Premieres Including A New Holiday Production and Two Classics of American Musical Theatre.
CHICAGO – Michael Weber, Artistic Director of Porchlight Music Theatre, is proud to announce Porchlight’s18th season. The season includes the Chicago premiere of A Class Act, September 1 – October 14; a new to Chicago holiday production of The Gifts of the Magi, November 17 – December 30 and two classics of the American musical canon: Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, February 2 – March 17, 2013 and Pal Joey, April 20 – June 2, 2013. Weber described Porchlight’s 2012 – 2013 18th season as “Continuing the path we began in 2011, by presenting Chicago’s audiences with incomparable productions that not only entertain but also challenge audiences to see music theatre in a new way.” “Early Bird” Season Membership Renewals are on sale March 6 – April 1. New Season Memberships go on sale Monday, April 2 and single tickets to the 2012-2013 season go on sale Monday, April 23. All memberships are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by phone at 773.777.9884.
The Porchlight Music Theatre 2012 – 2013 18th season includes: A Class Act A Musical About Musicals Chicago Premiere/Best Musical Tony Award nominee Music and Lyrics by Edward KlebanBook by Linda Kline and Lonny Price Direction and Choreography by Tammy Mader Music Direction by Beckie Menzie Theatre Wit, 1229 West Belmont Ave. September 1 – October 14 Previews: Saturday, Sept. 1 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 2 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Monday, Sept 3 at 7:30 p.m. Opening Night: Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Regular Schedule: Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. & 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. *There is no performance Saturday, Sept. 8 at 4 p.m.
A Class Act, nominated for three Drama Desk Awards and five Tony’s including “Best Musical,” is a “musical about musicals” based on the life of one of the award winning collaborators of A Chorus Line, Composer–Lyricist Edward Kleban, who died at the age of 48 in 1987. Kleban’s friend Linda Kline and Lonny Price created the story from Kleban’s work that was never produced and found after his death.
Providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how a musical is created and the forces behind its creation, A Class Act, uses flashbacks to retrace the high and low points of Kleban’s amazing career and explores how an artist’s personal life can inspire or interfere with professional pursuits. The show integrates songs from widely different Kleban projects into the narrative, with the topics ranging from the tricks of songwriting to personal/professional relationships to self-critical examination. Each number establishes a particular moment of insight creating a study of a lost era in show business.
The Gifts of the Magi O. Henry’s American Christmas Carol Chicago Premiere Music by Randy Courts Lyrics by Mark St. Germain and Randy Courts Direction by Nick Bowling Music Direction by Elizabeth Doran Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. November 17 – December 30 Previews: Saturday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Opening Night: Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Regular schedule: Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Porchlight adds a new holiday family event to the Christmas calendar with the Chicago premiere of The Gifts of the Magi. Drawn from two short stories by the immortal O. Henry, “The Gift of the Magi” and “The Cop and the Anthem,” this heart-warming charmer transports the audience to Christmas in New York, 1905 where they not only meet the famed penniless lovers but also a metropolis of people going about their holiday business including “Soapy Smith,” a cheerful bum hoping to be arrested so he can spend winter in a warm cell. The Gifts of the Magi is an evening perfect for the whole family celebrating the true meaning of the season.
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill A Musical Biography of a Legend By Lanie Robertson Direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Rob Lindley Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. February 2 – March 17, 2013 Previews: Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Monday, Feb 4, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. Opening Night: Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. Regular schedule: Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
It’s 1959 and legendary musical performer Billie Holiday is just four months away from death as she steps to the microphone in a seedy bar in Philadelphia for one of her final performances. Though she is there to sing, the audience will find she has a lot more on her mind than music. In addition to featuring a dozen of her hits, Holiday tells the tale of who she is, in her own original style. Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill showcases the talents of the strong, yet, fragile woman who pioneered a new way of looking at music while presenting a story fused with drama as much as humor that plays like one of Lady Day’s legendary songs. Pal Joey The Beguiling Broadway Classic Music by Richard Rodgers Lyrics by Lorenz Hart Book by John O’Hara Direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber Music Direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck Choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont April 20 – June 2, 2013 Previews: Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Monday April 22, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. Opening Night: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. Regular schedule: Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m
Pal Joey, the O’Hara, Rodgers & Hart masterpiece introduced the world to the first anti-hero to propel a musical; featuring one of the greatest American musical scores including “I Could Write a Book,” “You Mustn’t Kick it Around,” “Zip” and “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.” The story, based on the book by The New Yorker columnist John O’Hara, focuses on the dirty deeds done by the charming cad Joey Evans. Starting a new job at a seedy south side Chicago nightclub, Joey is soon juggling the affections of a naive shop girl and a wealthy society dame who is also married. Once Joey has charmed the socialite into setting him up in his own joint, Chez Joey, he ditches the shop girl and is riding high, playing the big-time operator. However, life for Joey is never easy and when he is threatened with his affair being leaked to the socialite’s husband his glamorous world is turned upside down.
ABOUT PORCHLIGHT THEATRE Porchlight Music Theatre, nationally recognized for developing innovative new works, reimagining classic productions and showcasing musical theater’s rising stars, continues its 17th season as Chicago’s leader of music theatre productions. Porchlight elevates music theatre in Chicago within an intimate, close-up environment. Porchlight provides a thoroughly modern and passionate experience, serving both audiences and artists alike. With the recent addition of new Artistic Director Michael Weber and a 2011-2012 season that includes Sondheim, a Chicago premiere, an international sensation and the creation of a whole new musical improv production, Porchlight’s status as Chicago’s music theatre continues to grow. Porchlight’s rich history includes the staging of over 50 shows with five world premieres, among them, The Teapot Scandals, its first work developed through “Off the Porch,” Porchlight’s new works program, as well as seven Chicago premieres. The company has received a total of 40 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations resulting in 12 Jeff Awards.
Porchlight introduced the first annual Guy Adkins Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Music Theatre in 2011. Named in honor of the beloved actor, it was presented, in 2011, to L. Walter Stearns in recognition of his 14 years as Porchlight’s artistic director. The 2012 – 2013 season includes the following membership packages: Preview Membership When one purchases four tickets to Porchlight’s preview performances they save $20 off full-priced preview tickets and receive priority seating, one free ticket exchange plus invitations to exclusive Members-only Season Preview Party and advance notice of special events and discounts. Preview Memberships available Monday, April 2. Premiere Membership When one purchases four tickets to Porchlight’s regular run performances they save $20 off full-priced tickets and receive priority seating, one free ticket exchange plus invitation to exclusive Members-only Season Preview Party and advance notice of special events and discounts. Premiere Memberships available Monday, April 2. Current Subscriber/Member Discounts Previous Porchlight subscriber/members may save up to $30. Renewing subscriber/members receive discounted tickets based on their 2011-2012 subscription when they order by April 1, 2012. “Early Bird” Season Membership Renewals are on sale March 6 – April 1. New Season Memberships go on sale Monday, April 2 and single tickets, $30 for preview performances, $39 for regular run performances, to the 2012-2013 season go on sale Monday, April 23. All memberships are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by phone at 773.777.9884. # # #
Porchlight Music Theatre is partially supported by generous contributions from the A.R.T League, the Arts Work Fund at the Chicago Community Trust, a City Arts Grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, the Shen Family Foundation, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency), the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the National Association of Realtors, Peoples Energy and The Saints.
A Dose of Soul: A Review of Pump Boys & Dinettes at Porchlight Music Theatre The show is a small miracle, surviving four decades and its corn-poney Southern-ish roots and emerging largely free of the pre-woke landmines rife in musical theater of "Pump Boys’" vintage and before…due in large part to the skillful adaptation by Chicago director Daryl Brooks who imports a strong, rousing dose of soul into the show’s mix.
