2019 YEAR IN REVIEW
Back channel negotiations, microscopic measurements, stories set in and among our vibrant ethnic neighborhoods, a beast, a beauty, a quartet and a bucketful of particularly astounding solo performances capped a year on stage that was stuffed with the new–“SIX”–the retold–“Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN” and “SPAMALOT”–and just the right number of high-octane favorites–Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” “A Chorus Line” and “Into the Woods”–to make 2019 a year to remember.
In no particular order, here are the moments, memories and people from the shows we saw this year that made our top list. (Click on “P6” for more.)
Monty Python’s SPAMALOT – “All for one and one for all!” There is not much more to say about the Mercury Theater production of “Spamalot,” directed by L. Walter Stearns, with choreography by Shanna Vanderwerker and including a superb cast that featured Jonah D. Winston and Meghan Murphy. This production, starring Jeff Diebold and Keely Vasquez, can still be seen through Dec. 29. P6
DANA H. – The world premiere of Lucas Hnath’s “Dana H.” was a searing drama, interpreted by Deirdre O’Connell in the role of Hnath’s mother, Dana Higginbotham, whose tape-recorded recollections are the only dialogue of the piece. Directed by Les Waters, O’Connell gives a compelling and arresting performance—the most gripping production of the year. P6
CHAON CROSS – In “Photograph 51” at Court Theatre, Chaon Cross played British chemist Dr. Rosalind Franklin, whose groundbreaking—and historically obscured—work in the male-dominated world of scientific research provided the key to our understanding of DNA’s molecular structure. Uniquely told from the point of view of her peers, Cross’s flawless performance was exhilarating. P6
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER –Settling into their world-class facilities on Navy Pier, Chicago Shakes presented critically acclaimed productions of “SIX,” “Hamlet,” “The Wizard of Oz” and more. Start planning now to take a day next summer, stroll the Pier and see a mid-day matinee–a Chicago experience second to none! P6
BETHANY THOMAS – Writers Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” –directed by Gary Griffin, with musical direction by Matt Deitchman–featured one of the finest casts ever assembled, including Bethany Thomas, Michael Mahler, Brianna Borger and McKinley Carter. Musically rich and superbly produced, “Into the Woods” was top-flight entertainment. P6
LA HAVANA MADRID – The new staging of the Teatro Vista|Collaboration production of Sandra Delgado’s “La Havana Madrid” fit perfectly into The Den Theatre, bringing to life the beautiful cultural diversity of a community in Chicago through the songs and the stories of the people who lived there. One of the most festive and enjoyable evenings of the year. P6
NAT ZEGREE – A terrific production of “Million Dollar Quartet” was staged in the round at Marriott Theatre. And, it was Nat Zegree who shaked, rattled, rolled, flipped, spinned and knocked everyone for a loop with his turn as Jerry Lee Lewis. The unique staging allowed the exuberant and multi-talented Zegree to give the audience a full–360 “Zegree”–performance. P6
ROSS LEHMAN – On the other end of the spectrum, but equally show-stopping and also at Marriott Theatre, was the performance of one of Chicago’s top actors, Ross Lehman as Nostradamas in “SOMETHING ROTTEN!” singing “A Musical,” one of the most uplifting and entertaining anthems to musical theater ever written and so marvelously performed by Lehman. P6
HEIDI KETTENRING – Among the many fascinating CONVERSATIONS this year, Heidi Kettenring ventured into the challenges, and the joy, of a career in Chicago theater and a satisfying life with her actor husband, David Girolmo. On stage, Kettenring was hilarious in Mary Zimmerman’s “The Music Man” at Goodman Theatre, then gave an amazing performance at the Auditorium Theatre in Joan Curto’s “Chicago Celebrates Sondheim!” concert. There is lots more ahead, but you can see Heidi’s one-woman show–“Merry Christmas Darling: Heidi Kettenring Sings Karen Carpenter”–at Venus Cabaret through Dec. 29. Podcast
PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE – This year, and into 2020, Porchlight Music Theatre celebrates its 25th season. Thanks in large part to a growing subscriber base and the top-flight new talent that appear in their productions, the future looks rosy for the company that followed up last year’s mega-hit “Gypsy” with superb productions of “A Chorus Line” and “Sunset Boulevard.” From their educational youth programs to mentoring new talent, Porchlight is making magical moments happen at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. P6
BRI SUDIA – When we sat down with the multi-talented Bri Sudia during rehearsals for TimeLine’s “OSLO,” you could tell that this was going to be a major turning point for the company. A cast steeped in talent, under the direction of Nick Bowling, brought the show to the Broadway Playhouse in a memorable run. There, in the middle of it all, was Sudia: poised, powerful and at the top of her game in TimeLine’s critically acclaimed production. Podcast P6
SEAN FORTUNATO – The Drury Lane production of Roald Dahl’s “Matilda The Musical” had several memorable performances, but Sean Fortunato’s turn as the prickly, insensitive, mega-maniacal ex-Olympian Miss Trunchbull was in a class all its own. P6
LILI-ANNE BROWN – For directing superb productions of Ike Holter’s “Lottery Day” at Goodman and “The Color Purple” at Drury Lane, Lili-Anne Brown is tops again in 2019. P6
WEST SIDE STORY – The highly-anticipated Lyric Opera production of “West Side Story” filled the Lyric stage with soaring voices, fast-paced drama and one of the finest stage productions of the classic that we will see for a long time. P6
Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN – Companies all over Chicago mounted thrilling versions of Mary Shelley’s classic in 2018, but only one roared to life in 2019: an outstanding Lookingglass Theater adaptation written and directed by David Catlin, and performed by an ensemble of actors who electrified Chicago’s historic Water Tower Water Works. Imaginative atmosphere, Rick Sims’s piercing original compositions and high-flying acrobatics all contributed to making Catlin’s “Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN” a whopping good story of joy, sadness and gripping suspense. P6
Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – Aurora’s Paramount Theatre, home to stellar productions this season of “The Producers” and “Newsies,” is in the middle of a run of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” directed by Amber Mak and starring Beth Stafford Laird as Belle and Paul-Jordan Jansen as the Prince. Jeffrey D. Kmiec’s cantilevered three-story wing-and-wagon system is magnificent, and the performances of an all-star cast that includes George Keating, Jackson Evans, Jeannie Sophia, Emmet O’Hanlon and many more all under the musical direction of Kory Danielson make this beast a real beauty. P6
Not to be missed: James Earl Jones II continues in the North American Tour of Come From Away in Washington, DC. Next stop: Charlotte, NC… Sharissee Hamilton continues in the Melbourne company of Come From Away. Next stop: Shanghai… Rob Lindley is appearing now in the 25th Anniversary tour of Phantom of the Opera at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre… Merry Christmas Darling Heidi Kettenring Sings Karen Carpenter has performances through December 29 at Venus Cabaret…You can see Karl Hamilton in SPAMALOT at Venus’s big brother Mercury Theater Chicago through December 29… Larry Yando trips through time as Ebenezer Scrooge in Goodman’s classic staging of A CHRISTMAS CAROL… American Blues Theater presents It’s A Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago through January 5th at Stage 773… the Lincoln Park Zoo Lights are spectacular this year and the weather is accommodating… Joel Gray will be honored by Porchlight Music Theatre on March 23 at Ritz-Carlton Chicago at the 2020 Icons Gala celebration of Porchlight’s 25th Anniversary… and Santa’s workshop will be working overtime at Greenhouse Theater Center with the world premiere of Eleanor's Very Merry Christmas Wish-The Musical playing through December 29!
Monday Night Live at Petternio’s returns January 13, 2020!
Happy Holidays!
