Raven Theatre’s hit production of Dave Malloy’s “Octet,” an a capella musical structured around eight-part vocal harmonies that tells the stories of the members of a technology addiction support group, will move to the Goodman Theatre for an encore summer engagement, running July 15-26 with its original cast. Goodman executive director John Collins said the arrangement will involve the Goodman covering all the costs of the transfer with a share in the revenue, should the move turn out to be profitable. “We think it is good for Chicago when these shows from small theaters are able to move,” Collins said.
Collins said the hope was for the run of “Octet” to be extended deeper into the summer. It’s still a Raven Theatre production, which means that the cast won’t suddenly be bumped up to Goodman salaries, but members are still likely to see raises, given the increase in venue size from about 130 seats, which were mostly sold out, to about 300 seats in Goodman’s Owen Theatre.
The Chicago production was helped by Chicago’s many Malloy fans, as well as the news during the rehearsal process that Lin-Manuel Miranda is making a movie based on the show. Raven sold almost every available ticket to director Keira Fromm’s production. “What a joy to just keep it going,” Fromm said. Raven and Goodman have close connections these days — Fromm also is assistant directing for Marc Bruni on “Iceboy! The Musical,” which begins preview performances on Saturday, and former Raven artistic director Sarah Slight is now associate artistic producer at Goodman.
Lyric Opera of Chicago said Tuesday that “Wicked,” “Frozen” and “Rent” star Idina Menzel will perform in concert at the Lyric Opera House on May 1, 2027. She’ll sing with the Lyric Opera Orchestra under the baton of conductor Edwin Outwater. Tickets go on sale next month.
A Red Orchid Theatre is remounting its hit father-daughter drama “Birds of North America” in its longtime home at 1531 N. Wells St. in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood. The reprise engagement of Anna Ouyang Moench’s lovely play will run from Sept. 10 to Oct. 4. The original cast of John Judd and Cassidy Slaughter-Mason is returning, and director Kirsten Fitzgerald’s production will otherwise be the same. Tickets won’t go on sale until August. Among the several notable aspects of this moving show is its sound design from Ethan Korvne, a highly distinctive compilation of original music and bird sounds.
All four highly successful Mueller siblings — Jessie, Abby, Matt and Andrew — will perform together at the grand opening gala slated for Aug. 15 at the new, 287-seat Northlight Theatre, 1012 Church St. in Evanston.
The building’s ribbon cutting will be held two weeks earlier, on July 28, with Northlight’s first season in its new home beginning Sept. 9 with the world premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation of “The Front Page,” the classic Chicago newspaper drama by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur. Artistic director BJ Jones will direct a cast featuring Kate Fry and Timothy Edward Kane. Opening night will be Sept. 18.
The original Broadway cast of “Six,” will come back together for one night only at The Fairlie in the West Loop at 7:30 p.m. Monday night to benefit the the Illinois Conservatory for the Arts. The original band will be part of “The Royal Reunion: Celebrating Six Years of Six,” too. “Six” began its North American journey at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2019.
Finally, the Chicago theater community honored the late actor Matt DeCaro Monday night at the Goodman Theatre with many humorous anecdotes from fellow performers Marc Grapey, Felicia Fields and others, reflecting a generous, much-loved colleague with a singular dedication to his profession.
Chris Jones Recommends
“Theater of the Mind” in an open run by the Goodman at the Reid Murdoch Building; “Job” through July 5 at Writers Theatre; “Octet” through June 28 at Raven Theatre; “Pandemonium, Please Hold” in an open run on the Second City Mainstage; “An Enemy of the People” through June 27 at TimeLine Theatre; “Damn Yankees” through July 5 at Theo Ubique Theatre; “Leopoldstadt” through Aug. 9 at Writers Theatre.
Chris Jones is a Tribune critic
cjones5@chicagotribune.com
