The gift of an audience experience for the holidays is something unmatched and delivered with the bonus gift of a great memory.
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and in the more than two decades, has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring stage umbrellas in the country as well as a springboard for the launch of new productions eager to “test the waters” with audiences for shows on the way to New York and Broadway.
Part of the stage family of the famed Nederlander Company, Broadway In Chicago is back post-pandemic in a big way, once again lighting up the Chicago Theater District downtown to entertain more than 1.7 million people annually in five landmark destination and historic theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.
I purchased my very first own gift subscription for myself (with an extra ticket for a guest seat) back in 2000, and ever since I’ve been among the elite audiences to catch pre-Broadway productions like in 2001 for “The Producers” starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick (2001) and “Spamalot” starring Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce and Hank Azaria, and then “The Addams Family,” in 2009 with the return of Lane opposite Bebe Neuwirth and funny Jackie Hoffman.
In October 2012, I recall an opening night, sitting in the seat right behind Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein, the creative forces behind their world premiere preview of “Kinky Boots.” My earliest Broadway in Chicago ticket moments and memories are seeing legendary Kaye Ballard as the bawdy piano player in “The Full Monty” in September 2001 and John Lithgow as the lead in “Sweet Smell of Success” a few months later in December that same year at what was once the Shubert Theatre stage space, now the CIBC Theatre.
During December and into January 2022, Broadway in Chicago has an incredible stage selection of golden ticket opportunities.
A ‘Pretty’ ticket
Earlier this week on Tuesday was the opening for a quick one-week run of “Pretty Woman: The Musical” at CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St. continuing through Sunday, Dec. 18 with Olivia Valli starring in the title role. Yep, that last name is the tip-off that she’s the granddaughter of iconic Frankie Valli, and she’s opposite Adam Pascal, known to Broadway audiences for his originating role of Roger in “RENT,” cast as wealthy Edward Lewis, the role made famous by Richard Gere in the 1990 film. Both leads are fantastic, as is the production. This musical originally played Chicago in 2018 prior to hitting Broadway and it now dazzles more than ever. And unlike the original run, this tour DOES now feature Roy Orbison and Bill Dee’s international smash hit song “Oh, Pretty Woman.” Tickets range from $33 to $106.
– Original Credit: photo by Deen van Meer)
Hot ‘Frozen’ ticket
Disney’s “Frozen,” is now playing an exclusive 10-week premiere engagement at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph Theatre, now through Jan. 22, 2022. Lush and lavish, from sets to costumes and incredible performances starring Caroline Bowman as “Elsa” and Caroline Innerbichler as “Anna,” audiences of every age will be enchanted. Framing this story of sisters and family, are Austin Colby as “Hans,” F. Michael Haynie as “Olaf,” Mason Reeves as “Kristoff,” Jeremy Morse as “Weselton,” Collin Baja and Evan Strand alternating as “Sven,” as well as Natalia Artigas (“Young Elsa”), Olivia Jones (“Young Anna”), Arwen Monzon-Sanders (“Young Elsa”) and real-life sisters Natalie Grace Chan (“Young Elsa”) and Victoria Hope Chan (“Young Anna”). Tickets are $33 – $179.
A “Wrong” Ticket
I loved the national Broadway tour when it played Chicago in December 2018, and finally, the producers of the international hit comedy “The Play That Goes Wrong” have granted a talented all-star cast for a Chicago production run for a limited seven-week engagement which also began this week Dec. 14 and continues until Jan. 30, 2022 at Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St.
The Chicago-based company features many of my Chicago favorites Colton Adams as Trevor, Joseph Anthony Byrd as Jonathan, Ernaisja Curry as Annie, Michael Kurowski as Dennis, Matt Mueller as Chris, Kelly O’Sullivan as Sandra, Jarred Webb as Max, and Jonah D. Winston as Robert. Co-written by Mischief company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, this is a funny and fast-paced comedy about the theatre, both in front of the curtain and behind the scenes. The play introduces ‘The Cornley University Drama Society,’ which is attempting to put on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong, certainly does, as the accident-prone thespians battle on against all odds to get to their final curtain call. Tickets start at right around $70 and for more information, visit www.BroadwayGoesWrong.com.
For tickets to Broadway in Chicago performances, visit www.broadwayinchicago.com or call (312) 977-1700.
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. He can be reached at pmpotempa@comhs.org.
