Hot off their record-breaking runs of Jekyll & Hyde and Amélie the Musical, Kokandy Productions is back in 2026 with three full productions, including their first play with music. The season begins with the revolutionary "love-rock" musical HAIR, taking over the Chopin Theater Mainstage for an exhilarating summer of hope and fury. Splashes of tie dye give way to dots of color and light as Sunday in the Park with George comes into focus in the Chopin Downstairs Studio following in the footsteps of Kokandy's award-winning productions of Sondheim's Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd. The season concludes with A Clockwork Orange: A Play with Music, a live adaptation of Anthony Burgess' dystopian novel that brings the cult-classic "horrorshow" to visceral, pulsing, terrifying life on the Chopin Theater Mainstage.

Single tickets for Kokandy's 2026 Season will go on sale Monday, February 2, 2026 at kokandyproductions.com. The Chopin Theater is located at 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

In addition to three full productions, Kokandy is excited to continue stewarding the annual Chicago Musical Theatre Festival in 2026. Submission details and performance dates for this celebration of new work and musical theatre writers will be announced in early 2026.

Kokandy Book Club also returns next season, with the first scheduled "meet" on Monday, January 26. This community cabaret is an ongoing collaboration with The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. 

"2025 was a year of risks for Kokandy, venturing upstairs for the first time and trying styles and scale we had not yet attempted," says Producing Artistic Director Derek Van Barham. "We're continuing to push in 2026 with a season of color and light. Pulling inspiration from Sondheim's gorgeous lyric, our 2026 season is about the brightness of life, about youth in revolt, about individuals challenging the system, facing the sensory overload of overwhelming obstacles. From tribe members at a protest and an artist at an easel to a disaffected youth strapped to a chair forced to watch the worst of the world, these are stories of souls at a crossroads: to resist or conform, to create or destroy, to build it up or burn it down."

Kokandy Productions' 2026 Season includes:

July 2 – October 18, 2026

HAIR

The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical

Book and Lyrics by Gerome Ragni & James Rado

Music by Galt MacDermot

Directed by Brennan Urbi

on the Chopin Theater Mainstage

Press opening: Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 7 pm

The American tribal love rock musical HAIR celebrates the sixties counterculture in all its barefoot, long-haired, bell-bottomed, beaded and fringed glory. To an infectiously energetic rock beat, the show wows audiences with songs like "Aquarius," "Good Morning, Starshine," "Hair," "I Got Life" and "Let The Sunshine In." Exploring ideas of identity, community, global responsibility and peace, HAIR remains relevant as ever as it examines what it means to be a young person in a changing world.

August 13 – November 11, 2026

Sunday in the Park with George

Book by James Lapine

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Directed by Producing Artistic Director Derek Van Barham

in the Chopin Downstairs Studio

Press opening: Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 7 pm

Inspired by the painting, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" by Georges Seurat, Sunday in the Park with George, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's stunning masterpiece, merges past and present into beautiful, poignant truths about life, love and the creation of art. One of the most acclaimed musicals of our time, this moving study of the enigmatic painter, Georges Seurat, won a Pulitzer Prize and was nominated for an astounding ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

November 5, 2026 – January 10, 2027

A Clockwork Orange: A Play with Music

By Anthony Burgess, adapted from his novel

on the Chopin Theater Mainstage

Press opening: Saturday, November 21, 2026 at 7 pm

A Clockwork Orange lures audiences into a glass-edged, testosterone-filled underworld of a dystopian future. The explosive story of little Alex and his rebellious gang of Droogs is a groundbreaking and twisted tale teeming with sexuality and "a bit of the old ultra-violence". As hauntingly relevant today as when Burgess's book first published in 1962 and when Stanley Kubrick's cult classic film caused a stir in 1971, A Clockwork Orange is an unapologetic celebration of the human condition. And Beethoven.

About Kokandy Productions

Founded in 2010, Kokandy Productions seeks to leverage the heightened reality of musical theatre to tell complex and challenging stories, with a focus on contributing to the development of Chicago-based musical theatre artists, and raising the profile of Chicago's non-Equity musical theatre community.

The company's artistic staff is comprised of Derek Van Barham (Producing Artistic Director), Scot T. Kokandy (Executive Producer) and Adrian Abel Azevedo & Leda Hoffman (Artistic Associates). The Board of Directors includes Preston Cropp, Scot T. Kokandy, Danielle Sparklin and Katie Svaicer. 

For additional information, visit kokandyproductions.com. 

Paramount Theatre’s smash hit musical Million Dollar Quartet has been extended once more due to popular demand.

Previously set to run through January 4, 2026, Chicagoland audiences can look forward to Million Dollar Quartet rocking for three more months, March 4-May 31, 2026.

See Paramount’s wildly acclaimed, immersive staging of Million Dollar Quartet before it’s gone. All remaining performances in 2025 are sold out, but tickets for spring extension performances go on sale today, exclusively to Paramount’s 2025-26 season subscribers.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, December 22 at 10 a.m. All seats are $76. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or stop by the Paramount Theatre box office, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until show time on show days. Attention holiday shoppers: tickets to Million Dollar Quartet also make excellent gifts. Prices listed are for in-person purchases. Additional fees apply for phone and online orders. 

Performance days and times March 4-May 31, 2026 are Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Paramount’s Stolp Island Theatre, 5 E. Downer Place, Suite G, in downtown Aurora, is surrounded by new restaurants and easy, affordable parking.

About Million Dollar Quartet

Paramount Theatre’s Million Dollar Quartet is like none before. Both the theater and the show were custom built as an immersive jukebox musical experience inside a replica of the original Sun Records studio in Memphis, Tennessee. There, on December 4, 1956, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins recorded one of the most historic jam sessions in rock ‘n’ roll history. 

As soon as audiences step into the lobby, they find themselves standing right outside the Sun Records recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee, where they can take selfies astride a vintage motorcycle, view displays about the history of the play, and step up to the Taylor’s Good Food concession counter for affordable snacks and beverages.

They then walk through a replica of Sun Studio owner Sam Phillips’ office to enter a theatrical recreation of the actual recording studio, where music legends Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins came together to record one of the most historic jam sessions in rock ‘n’ roll history. The recording studio is lined on two sides with just 98 seats, where audiences are treated to a personal, intimate, one-of-a-kind live musical theater experience, fully immersed by amazing talent and the dazzling production values audiences have come to expect from Paramount.

The production is anchored by incredible, up-close live performances of some of the best songs in rock ‘n’ roll history, including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk the Line,” “Hound Dog” and “Great Balls of Fire.”  As a result, audiences, including repeat ticket buyers, can’t get enough of this radically unique restaging of one of the most popular jukebox musicals of all time.

“This exuberant new take really is all about trying to include the audience in the jam session” wrote the Chicago Tribune’s Chris Jones, calling out Million Dollar Quartet as “another example of how much the success of the nonprofit, audience-focused Paramount has transformed the center of Aurora into a live entertainment destination.” Dean Richards, WGN-TV/AM, said his experience was “like stepping into Sun Records where one special night took place." 

Casting for the return of Million Dollar Quartet in March is TBA.

The original production inaugurated Paramount’s new Stolp Island Theatre in July 2024, and has since been extended three times due to popular demand. Directors Jim Corti and Creg Sclavi worked with a “million dollar” production team including Kory Danielson, music director; Jeffrey D. Kmiec, scenic designer; Matt Guthier, costume designer; Greg Hofmann, lighting designer; Adam Rosenthal, sound designer; Mike Tutaj, projections designer; Katie Cordts, wig, hair and makeup designer; and Jonathan Berg-Einhorn, properties designer. The book for Million Dollar Quartet is by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux. Original concept and direction by Floyd Mutrix. 

Verano, a leading cannabis company that operates Zen Leaf dispensaries in Aurora and across Chicagoland, is Venue Sponsor for Stolp Island Theatre. Old National Bank is Marquee Sponsor for Million Dollar Quartet.

About Paramount Theatre

Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., is the center for performing arts in Aurora, the second largest city in Illinois. The beautiful, 1,843-seat theater, graced with a strong 1930s Art Deco influence and original Venetian décor, nationally known for its high-quality productions, superb acoustics and historic grandeur, has been downtown Aurora’s anchor attraction since 1931.

Since launching its own Broadway Series in 2011, Paramount has amassed more than 40,000 subscribers, making it the largest subscription house in the U.S.

Paramount Theatre is one of five live performance venues overseen by the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA) in downtown Aurora. ACCA also programs and manages Stolp Island Theatre,
5 E. Downer Place, Suite G, where its wildly acclaimed immersive production of Million Dollar Quartet has been running for more than a year; the 165-seat Copley Theatre, at 8 E. Galena in the North Island Center; the Paramount School of the Arts; and RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, downtown Aurora’s outdoor summer concert venue and home to Christkindlmarket Aurora. 

Paramount Theatre is overseen by Tim Rater, President and CEO, Aurora Civic Center Authority; Jim Corti, Artistic Director, Paramount Theatre; a dedicated Board of Trustees and a devoted staff of live theater and music professionals.

For the latest updates, visit ParamountAurora.com or follow @paramountaurora on Facebook and Instagram, and Paramount Theatre on LinkedIn.

Producing Artistic Director Kyle Dougan-LeBlanc and Music Theater Works are proud to announce that Mrs. Kasha Davis will star as “Edna Turnblad” in the upcoming production of Hairspray, Dec. 17, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027, directed by Keely Vasquez, choreographed by Reneisha Jenkins and music directed by Linda Madonia, in the George Van Dusen Theatre, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie. Mrs. Kasha Davis is known for her work on two seasons of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Season 7 and Season 8: All Stars and is an internationally recognized drag artist, performer, educator and advocate. For priority seating at Hairspray become a member for the 2026 season, with two, three and four show memberships available now and single tickets for all the 2026 productions going on sale Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 at 12 p.m. For more information on the 46th season go toMusicTheaterWorks.com. 

“When I received the call from Music Theater Works offering me the role of “Edna” in Hairspray, I was overjoyed, it was truly a dream moment, and one I immediately celebrated with Mr. Davis. This is exactly the kind of work I hoped my drag career would make possible, especially following my time on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” said Mrs. Kasha Davis.

She continued, “Mrs. Kasha Davis was created as a tribute to my mother and grandmother, and I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to honor their legacy by stepping into such an iconic role. To join a cast dedicated to sharing messages of inclusion, acceptance and love, values they instilled in me long ago, is deeply meaningful. I look forward to the creative journey ahead: the rehearsal process, the collaboration, and the friendships and laughter that will undoubtedly unfold with the team at Music Theater Works and the audiences we serve.”

“The announcement of the incredible Mrs. Kasha Davis joining our 2026 season in this unforgettable role is a great way to kick off our 46th season and the new year,” says Producing Artistic Director Kyle Dougan-LeBlanc. “We look forward to what promises to be a thoughtful, heartfelt and hilarious take on this role that speaks to so many of the values she embodies herself… kindness, joy, acceptance and standing up for what is right.”

Full of heart and 1960s flair, Hairspray follows Tracy Turnblad, a big-dreaming teen who lands a spot on “The Corny Collins Show.” But when she sees injustice in Baltimore, she sets out to integrate the dance floor, proving one girl can make a difference. With infectious songs like “Good Morning Baltimore” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” this musical makes the perfect closer to Music Theater Work’s 46th season.

Music Theater Works’ 46th season opens with CATS, March 5 - 29, 2026 and is followed by West Side Story, August 3 - 30, 2026. The season will continue with Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville, October 8 - November 1, 2026 and concludes with Hairspray, starring Mrs. Kasha Davis, December 17, 2026 - January 3, 2027. Memberships are now available for the 2026 season with single tickets for all the 2026 productions going on sale Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 at 12 p.m. For more information on the 46th season go to MusicTheaterWorks.com. 

ABOUT MRS. KASHA DAVIS

Mrs. Kasha Davis is a cornerstone of the Upstate New York drag scene and an internationally recognized drag artist, performer, educator and advocate. Together with her husband Steve Levins and their business partner Tim Evanicki, she co-founded the production company DRAG ME TO THE STAGE, which has become a leading platform for drag performance in their region and beyond.

After competing on “RuPaul's Drag Race” Season 7 and “RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars” Season 8, Mrs. Kasha Davis embarked on successful national and international tours, bringing her solo shows, speaking engagements and drag appearances to diverse audiences around the world.

Sober since 2015, she has used her personal journey to become an outspoken advocate for addiction recovery and mental-health awareness, frequently booked as a speaker on those issues. In recognition of her artistry and activism, she was named to Out magazine’s Out100 list in 2023, honored as an artist, trailblazer and storyteller making a difference for the LGBTQIA+ community. In November 2024, she received the “Visibility Award” from Human Rights Campaign (New England Chapter) for her work promoting drag and inclusivity through initiatives like Drag Story Hour.

In 2024, Mrs. Kasha Davis added educator to her résumé, joining SUNY Brockport as an adjunct professor teaching a full course on drag, covering its history, theory and performance.

Bold, compassionate, and committed to community, Mrs. Kasha Davis brings authenticity, joy and insight to every stage, lecture hall and performance space she steps into.

Her press kit may be found here: MrsKashaDavis.net/epk

ABOUT MUSIC THEATER WORKS

Music Theater Works is a resident professional not-for-profit music theater founded in

1980. During its 46-year history it has presented more than 150 productions and intimate presentations. Music Theater Works is a professional theater company whose mission is to present works for the musical stage including historic repertoire, revitalizing the Golden Age of Broadway and earlier works, celebrating the Great American Songbook and introducing modern classics. The company uses collaborations among theaters, other artistic disciplines, social service agencies, local business, educational institutions and others to create music theater for the 21st century.

Steppenwolf Theatre is pleased to present five-time Emmy Award winner Jane Lynch, the hilariously charming Kate Flannery and The Tony Guerrero Quartet in The Trouble With Angels, a raucous night of comedy, song and unapologetic mischief playing four performances only, April 9 – 11, 2026 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St in Chicago. Tickets cost $79 - $149*. A special Steppenwolf member pre-sale begins Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 12 pm. Tickets go on sale to the general public Thursday, December 11, 2025 at steppenwolf.org/angels or by calling the Box Office at (312) 335-1650. *Prices include a $10 processing fee.

With powerhouse vocals, razor-sharp wit and more than a few surprises, these two beloved stars serve up a cocktail of classic tunes, campy banter and devilish charm. It's part cabaret, part stand-up and all sass – because when these angels get together, heaven can wait.

Performance Schedule

Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Friday, April 10, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 3 pm & 7:30 pm

Artist Biographies

Jane Lynch is a five-time Emmy winner known for her portrayal of Sue Sylvester on Glee. She currently hosts NBC's Weakest Link and appears in Only Murders in the Building on Hulu. Additional television credits include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Good Fight and Two and a Half Men. Lynch's film credits include The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Julie & Julia and Best In Show. Along with Kate Flannery, Tim Davis and The Tony Guerrero Quintet, Jane tours the country with their annual holiday show, A Swingin' Little Christmas. The album is available on all music platforms.

Kate Flannery is best known for her nine seasons as Meredith the drunk on NBC's The Office. Kate was a fan favorite on Season 28 of ABC's Dancing With The Stars, touring live at Radio City Musical Hall and 40 cities. Television guest star appearances include Magnum P. I., Young Sheldon and Brooklyn Nine Nine. She can be seen in dozens of indie films including The Prank with Rita Moreno. 

The Tony Guerrero Quartet has been a staple of the Southern California jazz scene for many years. Featuring Tony Guerrero (trumpet/piano), Matt Johnson (drums), Mark Visher (sax/flute), Dave Siebels (keyboards) and David Miller (bass). Along with Jane Lynch, Kate Flannery and Tim Davis, the quintet tours the country with their annual holiday show, A Swingin' Little Christmas. In 2016, they released the holiday album "A Swingin' Little Christmas Time," that landed a spot in the Top Ten of the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts. The title track, an original Tony Guerrero composition, went to #6 on the Billboard charts. The Tony Guerrero Quintet's own recordings have been a staple on jazz radio for over thirty years. 

Accessibility

Steppenwolf is committed to making the theatergoing experience accessible to everyone. Assistive listening devices are available for every performance and all our spaces are equipped with an induction hearing loop. Our building features wheelchair accessible seating and restrooms, push-button entrances, a courtesy wheelchair and all-gender restrooms, with accessible counter and table spaces at our bars. For additional information regarding accessibility, visit steppenwolf.org/access. If you have questions or would like to make a specific request, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call our box office at 312-335-1650.

Sponsor Information

United Airlines is the Official and Exclusive Airline of Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf is also grateful for the significant season support from lead sponsors Allstate Insurance Company, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, Caroline and Keating Crown, Julius Frankel Foundation, Lefkofsky Family Foundation, Northern Trust, Anne and Don Phillips, John Hart and Carol Prins, Shubert Foundation, Inc, Walder  Foundation, and Zell Family Foundation. Steppenwolf also acknowledges generous support from premier sponsors Anonymous, Andrew and Amy Bluhm, Michael and Cathy Brennan, Ann and Richard Carr, Chicago Community Trust, Steven and Nancy Crown, Conagra Brands Foundation, Rich and Margery Feitler, FROST CHICAGO, Joyce Foundation, Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, The Orlebeke Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, Bryan Traubert and Penny Pritzker, Sacks Family Foundation, Smart Family Foundation of Illinois, Thoma Bravo, and Vinci Restaurant. Steppenwolf also acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company:

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation's premier Ensemble Theater with 49 members who are among the top actors, playwrights and directors in the field. Thrilling, powerful, groundbreaking productions have made this theatre legendary. From the 1980 phenomenon of Balm in Gilead, to The Grapes of Wrath, August: Osage County, Downstate, The Brother/Sister Plays, and now, the 2025 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Purpose, Steppenwolf Theatre has had a long-running and undeniable impact on American Theater and Chicago's cultural landscape. Founded in 1976, Steppenwolf started as a group of teens performing in the basement of a church. Today, the company's artistic force remains rooted in the original vision of its founders: an artist-driven theatre, whose vitality is defined by its appetite for bold and innovative work. Every aspect of Steppenwolf is rooted in its Ensemble ethos, from the intergenerational artistic programming to the multi-genre performance series LookOut, to the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf Education and Engagement which serves nearly 15,000 teens annually. While grounded in the Chicago community, more than 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Steppenwolf also holds accolades that include the National Medal of Arts, 14 Tony Awards, two Pulitzer Prize-winning commissions and more. Led by Artistic Directors Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis, Executive Director Brooke Flanagan and Board of Trustees Chair Keating Crown — Steppenwolf continually redefines the boundaries of live theater and pushes the limits of acting and performance.

Steppenwolf's Mission: Steppenwolf strives to create thrilling, courageous and provocative art in a thoughtful and inclusive environment. We succeed when we disrupt your routine with experiences that spark curiosity, empathy and joy. We invite you to join our ensemble as we navigate, together, our complex world. steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre, twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr and instagram.com/steppenwolfthtr.

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce the cast for Porchlight in Concert production Follies, starring (in alphabetical order) Michelle Duffy (Broadway's Leap of Faith, Drury Lane's Sister Act) as "Phyllis Rogers Stone," Alexander Gemignani (Broadway's Assassins and Sweeney Todd) as "Buddy Plummer," Angela Ingersoll (Jeff Award winner for Porchlight's End of the Rainbow) as "Sally Plummer" and Anthony Rapp (Broadway's Rent and If/Then) as "Benjamin Stone," Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 26 at 2 p.m. at the Studebaker Theater, 410 S. Michigan Ave. This staged concert performance features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman and is directed by Artistic Director Michael Weber and music directed by Linda Madonia. Single tickets are reserved seating and are on sale for $24 - $110 at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by phone with the Studebaker Theater box office at 312-753-3210. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Studebaker Theater, 410 S. Michigan Ave., 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday. 

Additional Porchlight in Concert production of Follies cast members include Anastasia Arnold (Young Sally); Dale Benson (Dmitri Weismann); John Cardone (Max Deems); John Concepcion (Roscoe); Teagan Earley (Young Phyllis);  Felicia P. Fields (Hattie Walker); James Harms (Theodore Whitman); Beck Hokanson (Kevin); Cecilia Iole (Young Heidi); Will Koski (Young Buddy); John Marshall Jr. (Young Ben); Susie McMonagle (Carlotta Campion); Lauren Miller (Heidi Schiller); Mary Robin Roth (Emily Whitman); Genevieve Thiers (Christine Donovan); Sybyl Walker (Solange LaFitte) and Honey West (Stella Deems). 

The full creative team and additional artists will be announced soon.

Porchlight in Concert debuted in 2024 with sold out performances of Sunday in the Park with George. In spring 2026, Porchlight returns to the Studebaker for a limited engagement of another Stephen Sondheim classic, Follies. 

Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Score, Follies is a dazzling and bittersweet exploration of love, loss and the passage of time. Set at the reunion of the legendary "Weismann Follies" company on the eve of their crumbling theater's demolition, former showgirls reunite one last time, reliving their heyday and confronting the choices that shaped their lives. With iconic songs like "Broadway Baby" "I'm Still Here" and "Losing My Mind," this Sondheim gem blends haunting nostalgia with a show-stopping score in a moving celebration of dreams and regrets.

PORCHLIGHT IN CONCERT FOLLIES SPECIAL EVENT

The Creation and History of Follies with Chris Pazdernik

March 28 -  April 18, 2026

Classes offered virtually

Fee: $200

Register at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org

As part of Porchlight's Hobbyist programming, Jeff Award-winner Christopher Pazdernik, with their "near encyclopedic knowledge of musicals" (NewCity), takes participants on a guided tour behind-the-scenes of all things Follies. This four-week class covers the creation of the show and its original production along with major revivals and concerts, including changes made for the London production, which have never again been authorized for use. Guaranteed to be a one-of-a-kind opportunity to do a deep dive into one of the most revered works in the music theatre canon.

ABOUT MICHELLE DUFFY, PHYLLIS ROGERS STONE

Michelle Duffy is delighted beyond words to have returned to her beloved Chicago (after a 30+ year hiatus!) and deeply thrilled to be a part of this concert singing one of her all-time favorite Sondheim scores. Other recent Chicagoland appearances: "Mother Superior" in Sister Act at Drury Lane Oakbrook and "Bonnie" and others in Come From Away at Paramount. Broadway: OBC of Leap of Faith (OBCast album); OQ-Broadway: Originated "Ms. Fleming/Veronica's Mom" in Heathers the Musical (Original Cast Album). Other recent regional: "Irene Adler" and others in Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson, Apt. 2B at Arizona Theatre Company and "Mrs. Dashwood/Anne" in Sense and Sensibility at Northern Stage. She has appeared in principal roles in theatres across the country and around the world such as The Guthrie, ACT, The Old Globe, The Goodman, Milwaukee Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, Pittsburgh Public and The Barbican in London to name a few, and as a guest star in many television shows; most recently "Dark Matter," "Law and Order," "Chicago PD" and "Succession." 

ABOUT ALEXANDER GEMIGNANI, BUDDY PLUMMER

Alexander Gemignani is an actor, artistic director, music supervisor/music director, orchestrator, arranger, conductor, composer/lyricist and educator. 

As an actor on Broadway: My Fair Lady ("Doolittle"), Carousel ("Enoch Snow" - Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Grammy nominations), Violet ("Father"), Chicago ("Billy"), Les Misérables ("Valjean" - Drama League nomination), Sweeney Todd (Beadle - Drama Desk nomination), Assassins ("Hinckley" - Theatre World Award), The People In The Picture ("Moishe") and Sunday in the Park With George ("Boatman/Dennis"). 

Off- Broadway: Road Show at the Public ("Addison Mizner" - Drama League nomination), Headstrong at EST ("Nick"), and Avenue Q at the Vineyard Theatre ("Brian"). Favorite Regional: Inherit the Wind ("Brady") at the Goodman,  Hamilton in Chicago ("King George III," original cast), Big Fish ("Edward Bloom") at The Marriott Lincolnshire, The Three Sisters ("Andrei") at Cincinnati Playhouse, The Boys From Syracuse ("Sergeant") at The Shakespeare Theatre of D.C. and the title character in the world premiere musical Saint-Ex at The Weston Playhouse. T.V./Film: "Étoile" (AMAZON), "Servant" (APPLE TV), "Empire" (FOX - Recurring), "Chicago Fire" (NBC), "Homeland" (SHOWTIME - Recurring), "The Good Wife" (CBS), "Empire State" (ABC pilot), the film "The Producers" (UNIVERSAL), three appearances on "The Tony Awards" (CBS) and season 5 of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" as "Janusz" (AMAZON - recurring). 

Concerts: The N.Y. Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall, The N.Y. Pops at Carnegie Hall, The L.A. Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl and the American Songbook Series at Lincoln Center. His solo show, All At Once, premiered at the Kennedy Center as a part of Barbara Cook's Spotlight Series. He served as music supervisor, arranger and conductor for Here We Are, Sondheim's final musical (book by David Ives, directed by Joe Mantello). 

As a music supervisor, he was represented Off-Broadway with Fiasco Theatre's production of Merrily We Roll Along at the Roundabout (also penned new orchestrations) and also served as music supervisor/music director and conductor for the 2019/2020 revival of West Side Story. Additionally, he conducted the New York Philharmonic on New Year's Eve 2019 with the concert, Celebrating Sondheim, featuring symphonic suites, which aired on Live From Lincoln Center. 

Other projects include an upcoming new production of john & jen (music supervision and arrangements), Whiskeyland (orchestrations and arrangements) and My Ántonia (orchestrations and co-arrangements), premiering at Theatre Latté Da, spring 2026. 

As a composer/lyricist, he is developing three new musicals, Diamond Alice (music/lyrics) swingset/moon (music and co-lyrics) and Broken Eggs (lyrics) and has composed the incidental music for several plays. 

He is an associate professor of Instruction at Northwestern University and has also served on the faculty of the National Theatre Institute at The O'Neill, NYU Steinhardt and CAP21. He has been guest faculty for the University Of Michigan, Texas State University, Syracuse University (Tepper) and NYU Tisch School Of The Arts. 

He is a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Writing Workshop, holds a certificate in Orchestration for Film and TV from Berklee College of Music and holds a BFA in musical theatre from The University of Michigan. 

He is a member of Actor's Equity, SAG/AFTRA and Local 802 AFM. 2018 marked the beginning of his tenure as artistic director for the National Music Theater Conference at The Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center, where he has helped shepherd over 30 new musicals. He is also the artistic director of the National Music Theater Institute at the O'Neill, a semester-long intensive Music Theatre performance training program. 

His greatest joys are his incredible wife, Erin Ortman, and their beautiful daughter.

ABOUT ANGELA INGERSOLL, SALLY DURANT PLUMMER 

Angela Ingersoll is an Emmy-nominated and multi-award-winning actress, singer, producer, director and writer. She received an Emmy Award nomination for the PBS broadcast of her national concert tour "Get Happy: Angela Ingersoll Sings Judy Garland." She also won acclaim starring as Judy Garland in several productions of "End of the Rainbow," receiving Chicago's Jeff Award, a BroadwayWorld Award and Los Angeles Times Woman of the Year in Theatre. Also: How to Succeed in Business ... ("Hedy," Jeff nomination), The Mistress Cycle ("Anais Nin," Jeff nomination), The Secret Garden ("Martha," Jeff nomination), South Pacific ("Nellie"), Carousel ("Julie"), Jekyll and Hyde ("Lucy," Ostrander Award), Disney's Beauty and the Beast ("Belle," Ostrander Award), Man of La Mancha ("Aldonza," Ostrander nomination), Ragtime ("Evelyn Nesbit," Ostrander nomination), Macbeth ("Lady Macbeth," Ostrander Award), Much Ado About Nothing ("Beatrice"), Richard III ("Lady Anne"), The Wizard of Oz ("Dorothy") and The Second City (Chicago and Hollywood). Other television: "Chicago PD." Other concerts include her one-woman show "The 12 Dames of Christmas" and appearances alongside her husband, entertainer and producer Michael Ingersoll. Ingersoll is the artistic director of Artists Lounge Live, a Chicago-based production company presenting concerts nationwide.  She writes and directs many of their offerings.

ABOUT ANTHONY RAPP, BENJAMIN STONE

Anthony Rapp is thrilled to return to live and work in the city of his birth. Chicago is also where he earned his Equity card 45 years ago, when he was nine years old. He has since appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in National Tours, at Regional Theatres and in films and on television. But his proudest work these days is as the father, with his husband Ken, of their two sons, Rai (aged 3) and Keony (aged 2).

ABOUT MICHAEL WEBER, director 

Michael Weber is a nationally recognized, award-winning director, producer, actor and educator. Previous Porchlight productions include Sunday in the Park with George, Anything Goes, Cabaret, Sunset Boulevard, Gypsy and Merrily We Roll Along. He recently directed the Off-Broadway and European premieres of both Shake it Away: The Ann Miller Story and Call Me Elizabeth, written by and starring Kayla Boye. Under his artistic leadership, Porchlight Music Theatre was awarded Chicago's Jeff Award for "Best Production" six times. He previously served as artistic director for the inaugural season of Chicago's Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place (now Broadway in Chicago's Broadway Playhouse) and at Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana. The recipient of two Joseph Jefferson Awards, he has been nominated for nine awards and he wrote and directed 14 Joseph Jefferson Awards ceremonies (2006-2018). Weber's regional acting credits include The Merry Widow (starring Renée Fleming) at Lyric Opera, Annie Get Your Gun and Gypsy (both starring Patti LuPone) at Ravinia Festival, The Winter's Tale and Henry V at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and more. A board member of The League of Chicago Theatres, he is author of the play WAR of the WELLeS (about Orson Welles' infamous radio broadcast) and he is a longtime pledge host for PBS station WTTW channel 11.

ABOUT LINDA MADONIA, music director

Linda Madonia is thrilled to be back at Porchlight where she recently music directed the ICONS Gala Celebrating Leslie Uggams and previously worked on Titanique, Broadway in your Backyard, Anything Goes, Cabaret and A Chorus Line. Other recent projects include Legally Blonde: The Musical, Shrek the Musical, Mamma Mia! and Camelot at Music Theater Works and Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages and Sister Act at Mercury Theater Chicago. Linda also serves as the contractor for the Chicago Federation of Musicians for Porchlight Music Theatre, Music Theater Works and Teatro Zinzanni. She is the vocal coach for the master's degree program in music theatre pedagogy at Carthage College and owns American Eagle Productions, which has been at the forefront of theatre education in the Chicago area for the past 35 years.

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE

Porchlight Music Theatre, now in its 31st season, is the award-winning center for music theatre in Chicago. Through live performance, youth education and community outreach, we impact thousands of lives each season, bringing the magic of musicals to our theatre home at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts in the Gold Coast and to neighborhoods across the city. Porchlight has built a national reputation for boldly reimagining classic musicals, supporting new works and young performers, and showcasing Chicago's most notable music theatre artists, all through the intimate and powerful theatrical lens of the "Chicago Style." 

Porchlight's history over nearly three decades includes more than 70 mainstage works with 15 Chicago premieres and five world premieres. 

Porchlight's education and outreach programs serve schools, youth of all ages and skill levels and community organizations. Porchlight annually awards dozens of full scholarships and hundreds of free tickets to ensure accessibility and real engagement with this uniquely American art form. 

The company's many honors include 178 Joseph Jefferson Award (Jeff) nominations and 49 Jeff awards, as well as 44 Black Theatre Alliance (BTA) nominations and 15 BTA awards. In 2019, Porchlight graduated to the Large Theatre tier of the Equity Jeff Awards and has been honored with seven awards in this tier to date including Best Ensemble for Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies (2019) and Best Production-Revue for Blues in the Night (2022). 

Through the global pandemic, Porchlight emerged as one of Chicago's leaders in virtual programming, quickly launching a host of free offerings like Sondheim @ 90 Roundtables, Movie Musical Mondays, Porchlight by Request: Command Performances and WPMT: Classic Musicals from the Golden Age of Radio. In 2021, Porchlight launched its annual summer series, Broadway in your Backyard, performing at parks and venues throughout the city which continues this summer. 

Join Hell in Handbag Productions for its 2025 benefit, The Handbag Follies, featuring dinner, drinks, entertainment, a raffle, silent auction and more on Sunday, December 7, 2025 from 5:30 – 9 pm at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1650 W. Foster Ave. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Tickets ($104 general admission, $129.75*) are available here. *Prices include processing fees.

Handbag celebrates its 24^th year with a very abbreviated production of Follies – performed Hell in a Handbag style! Watch as aging showgirls, draped in sequined desperation, reunite to belt out twisted parodies of Stephen Sondheim's most iconic numbers including "I'm Still Here," "Losing My Mind," "Broadway Baby," "Beautiful Girls" and other favorites  It'll be the hits you love and a show you'll desperately try to forget (with apologies in advance to the spirit of Mr. Sondheim).

The entertainment line-up features ensemble members David Cerda, Sydney Genco, Caitlin Jackson, Ed Jones, Lori Lee, David Lipschutz, Stevie Love, T.J. O'Brien, Michael Rashid, Danne W. Taylor and Robert Williams, along with some surprise guests.

All proceeds benefit Hell in a Handbag Productions. From camp classics to bold new works, the Handbag ensemble is committed to celebrating the city's diverse community through the lens of the ridiculous, the theatrical and the wonderfully queer.

About Hell in a Handbag Productions

Hell in a Handbag is dedicated to the preservation, exploration, and celebration of works ingrained in the realm of popular culture via theatrical productions through parody, music and homage. Handbag is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit. For additional information, visit handbagproductions.org.

Chicago, IL — The Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago (BACA) has announced the winners of the 2025 Black Excellence Awards, honoring and celebrating Chicago theatre, dance, music, film, literary, and visual artists. The 24^th annual event was held on Monday, November 3, 2025, at Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark St. in Chicago.

Throughout the evening, Special Honor Awards were presented to: Pemon Rami (Excellence in Film); Eve L. Ewing (Excellence in Literature); and Professor Roxanne Stevenson (Excellence in Music and Music Education).

The complete list of 2025 Black Excellence Awards winners is as follows:

Dance

• Outstanding Achievement in Dance – Overall Performance: Praize Productions - Complexions
• Outstanding Achievement in Dance – Choreographer: Rasheida Smith, Love Jones - Move Me Soul

Literature

• Excellence in Community Engagement – Literature: The Underground Bookstore

Music

• Outstanding Achievement in Music – Male Performer: Gregory Gibbs
• Outstanding Achievement in Music – Female Performer: Lucy Smith

Theater

• Outstanding Achievement in Theater – Production: If You Think You're Lonely Now - Theater 47
• Outstanding Achievement in Theater – Director: Daryl D. Brooks, That's What Friends Are For: Gladys, Dionne, and Patti - Black Ensemble Theater
• Outstanding Achievement in Theater – Male Performer: Ronald L. Conner, Fat Ham - Definition Theatre
• Outstanding Achievement in Theater – Female Performer: Rhonda Preston, Blue Eyed Soul Song by Brown Eyed People - Black Ensemble Theater
• Special Recognition Theater – Director: Malika Stampley, Primary Trust - Goodman Theatre
• Special Recognition Theater – Performer: Gregory Fenner, Topdog/Underdog - The Gift Theatre

Visual Arts

• Outstanding Achievement in Visual Arts – Artist: Dayo Layo - "Watercolors"
• Outstanding Achievement in Visual Arts – Gallery Exhibition: Faie African Art Gallery

Special Honor Awards:

• Special Recognition Excellence in Literature – Fiction: Eve L. Ewing
• Special Recognition Excellence in Film: Pemon Rami
• Special Recognition for Excellence as a Music Director and Jazz Educator: Professor Roxanne Stevenson

About The Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago

The mission of the Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago is to collectively advance excellence in the work of the Black arts and culture sector. The Alliance works to increase interaction, communication and development of black arts organizations and artists, while delivering programs that increase their visibility, marketability, stability, and sustainability.

Founded in 1997 as the African American Arts Alliance of Chicago and rebranded the

Black Arts & Cultural Alliance of Chicago (BACA) in 2023, BACA offers a diverse range of events and programs that celebrate the rich heritage of the Black arts community in Chicago. Events and programs are designed to engage, educate, and inspire individuals (artists and patrons) who are passionate about Chicago's Black arts and culture.

With new leadership in November 2024, the organization has been reorganized and revitalized, including a return to its original mission and a new focus in building the Board and programming, increasing membership, and creating websites that appropriately support BACA's mission and purpose.

BACA is going strong after 28 years, with a full slate of events and programs celebrating the rich heritage of the Black arts community in Chicago.

In August 2025, BACA launched the Black Arts Directory of Chicago to serve as a vibrant online hub for African American and minority performing arts and culture in Chicago and beyond. The directory spotlights theatre, dance, music, and cultural events to celebrate rich artistic traditions. BACA prioritizes connecting audiences with diverse cultural experiences, showcasing the talents of Black and Brown artists that showcase the dynamic ingenuity and creativity of Chicago's Black artists and organizations. It celebrates the rich narratives, historical relevance and artistic expressions that define African American and minority performing arts.

To find out more and view the Black Arts Directory visit https://www.blackartsdirectory.org/. The Black Arts Directory is made possible by an Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

The BACA staff is Executive Director Luther Goins, Grants Writer & Development Manager Ilesa Duncan, and PR, Marketing & Design Director Doc Wheeler. The Board of Directors includes President Jackie Taylor, Vice President Sydney Chatman, and members Cheryl Lynn Bruce, Troy O. Pryor, Portia McFarland, William Gill, Ericka Ratcliff, Shawn Wallace, Daryl D. Brooks, and Roxanna Conner.

Upcoming BACA Events and Programs include:

Martin Luther King Celebration: The Black Arts & Culture Town Hall

January 19, 2026

This celebration and panel discussion honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and discusses the challenges and commonalities faced by Black artists and arts organizations and will launch the 2026 Black to Black Workshop Series.

Black to Black Series: Entertainment Business for the Black Artist

March 2026

Workshops

Black to Black Series: Working & Thriving in Chicago

May 2026

Panel Discussion

Cookout In The Blackyard Summer Networking Event

August 2026

Join BACA for an amazing networking opportunity featuring barbecue, drink, music, and fun.

Black to Black Series: History & Fundamentals of Black Organizations

October 2026

Workshops & Auditions

Black Excellence Awards

November 2026

Black Arts Hall of Fame 2026

November 2026

About Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago (BACA)
The mission of the Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago is to collectively advance excellence in the work of the Black arts and culture sector. The Alliance works to increase interaction, communication and development of black arts organizations and artists, while delivering programs that increase their visibility, marketability, stability, and sustainability.

For tickets, event updates, and more information about the Black Arts and Culture Alliance of Chicago, visit https://www.bacachi.org/.

Goodman Theatre announced today that its highly-anticipated presentation of Theater of the Mind, by Academy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning artist David Byrne (Broadway’s Here Lies Love with Fatboy Slim, American Utopia and the renowned group Talking Heads) with writer Mala Gaonkar, will make its Chicago debut March 11 – May 31, 2026 (opening night is March 25, 2026) at the Reid Murdoch Building, 333 N. LaSalle. Tickets ($66-$96, subject to change) will be available for sale starting Friday, November 7 at 10 am, at the Goodman Theatre Box Office (170 N. Dearborn), by calling 312.443.3800 or by purchasing online at TheaterOfTheMindChicago.com. The Goodman is grateful for the support of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Illinois Office of Tourism, Northern Trust, and Friedman Properties.

“The Goodman is thrilled to introduce Theater of the Mind to Chicago audiences and to showcase the singular creativity of David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar,” said Goodman Theatre Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth. “Our Centennial Season welcomes audiences to experience all of the ‘feels’ and Theater of the Mind engages all of the senses, making it a perfect addition to our landmark season. We hope for this production to be an ongoing attraction that sparks joy, conversation and community.”

A one-of-a-kind theatrical experience audiences will see, feel, taste, and hear, this intimate and immersive journey of how we perceive and create our worlds is inspired by both historical and current neuroscience research. Under Director Andrew Scoville and Technology Director Heidi Boisvert, PhD, Theater of the Mind is a 15,000-square-foot immersive experience taking just sixteen audience members at a time through a 75-minute journey of self-reflection, discovery, and imagination, inspired by and grounded in neuroscience.

"Mala and I have long been fascinated by the science behind these experiences; though reading about the phenomena involved is exciting, it’s quite something else to actually experience it,” said co-creator David Byrne. “It’s a different level of understanding, a different kind of knowledge—visceral, immediate, and profound. The film and theater adage ‘show, don’t tell’ became a guiding principle in discovering a way to include these experiences in an entertaining and engaging show. A show in which the audience makes many of the inferences for themselves, without being told by us what it means. For me, the broader implications that these phenomena have in our lives, our sense of the world, and our sense of self is key.”

“For a few years, David and I partnered with several cognitive neuroscience labs to see how some of the most basic human intuitions determine how humans react," said co-creator Mala Gaonkar. "What we concluded was that the experiments and ideas of the labs we partnered with, several of which we embedded in our narrative, seemed as engaging as any piece of theater. We began referring to this project as a ‘Neuro Funhouse,’ but as we worked on it, we came to realize that it was evolving to be something more than that. It has made us rethink some of our own beliefs and assumptions, to see ourselves and the world in a different way. We hope that it might have a similar effect on our audience—and think of science and theater in a new way."

Led by a Guide whose stories are inspired from the creators' lives, audiences will explore how they perceive the world through sensory experiments that reveal the inner mysteries of the brain. Casting for the multiple roles of the Guide will be announced after the new year.

Caution: the brain may wander! Side effects may include a distrust of your own senses, a disorientation of self, and a mild to severely good time. You may not be who you think you are. But we're all in it together.

Theater of the Mind had its World Premiere on August 31, 2022, at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Starting March 11, Theater of the Mind will be staged Tuesday evenings starting at 6 pm; Wednesday afternoons starting at 2 pm and evenings starting at 6 pm; Thursday evenings starting at 6 pm; Friday evenings starting at 5 pm; Saturday afternoons starting at noon and evenings at 6 pm; and Sunday afternoons starting at 12:30 pm. Performances begin every 15 minutes, and each includes 16 audience members. A complete schedule can be found at theaterofthemindchicago.com.

ABOUT THE CREATORS

David Byrne (Co-Creator) is a musician, performer, writer, and multidisciplinary artist whose creative ventures have captivated audiences since 1975, when he co-founded the renowned group Talking Heads. In addition to Theater of the Mind, recent works include Here Lies Love, a musical with music by Byrne and Fatboy Slim (2023), SOCIAL! at The Park Avenue Armory, the Broadway production of Byrne’s American Utopia (2019) as well as the Spike Lee-directed film version (2020), the launch of his Reasons to be Cheerful online magazine (2019), and the solo album American Utopia (2018). To date, Byrne has published five books including How Music Works (2012).

Mala Gaonkar (Co-Creator) has more than 20 years of experience investing behind technology trends. She was a founding partner of the investment management firm Lone Pine Capital in 1998. In 2022, Gaonkar launched her own firm, SurgoCap Partners, focused on the disruptive effects of technology within broad industry categories. Gaonkar’s focus is on multi-disciplinary thinking, including using the tools of data science, artificial intelligence, and behavioral science to solve problems.  She has embraced this approach both through her investing career as well as through Surgo Ventures, a foundation that she co-founded in 2015. Gaonkar is a graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Business School.

ABOUT THE DIRECTORS

Andrew Scoville (Director), a native of west suburban Elmhurst, is a New York-based theater director specializing in immersive layouts, technological landscapes, and hybrid-genre theater-making with an emphasis on integrating science ideas into theatrical experiences. Credits include The Brobot Johnson Experience (Bushwick Starr, The New York Times Critics' Pick), Escape the Planet (NY Hall of Science commission with astronomer Moiya McTier),  People Doing Math podcast and, as Associate director: Here Lies Love (dir. Alex Timbers, Public Theater, National Theater UK, Seattle Rep), Sweeney Todd (dir Bill Buckhurst, Barrow Street Theater), Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (dir Alex Timbers, Broadway).

Heidi Boisvert, PhD (Technology Director) is an interdisciplinary artist, experience designer, creative technologist, and researcher investigating the neurobiological and socio-cultural impacts of media and technology. Her work focuses on how the body, senses, and emotions influence perception and social change. She is currently mapping the world’s first media genome with careful attention to its ethical implications. She founded future Perfect lab, a creative agency and think tank that works with social justice organizations to design playful emerging media campaigns to transform the public imagination. She also co-founded XTH, a company developing novel forms of expression through biotechnology and the human body.

ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE

As previously announced, Theater of the Mind makes its Midwest debut during The Goodman’s Centennial 25/26 Season. Since 1925, The Goodman has been a theatrical home for artists and a gathering space for community. It’s where stories come to life—bold in artistry and rich in history, deeply rooted in the city it serves. Led by Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins, The Goodman sparks conversation, connection, and change through new plays, reimagined classics, and large-scale musicals. With distinctions including world and American premieres, Pulitzer Prizes, Tony Awards, and Joseph Jefferson Awards, The Goodman is proud to be the first theater to produce all 10 plays of August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” But The Goodman believes a more empathetic, more connected Chicago is created one story at a time and counts as its greatest legacy the community it’s built. The Goodman was founded by William O. Goodman and his family to honor the memory of Kenneth Sawyer Goodman—a visionary playwright whose bold ideas helped shape Chicago’s early cultural renaissance. That spirit of creativity and generosity endures today.

Music Theater Works is proud to announce the cast and creative team for the third production of its 2025 season, Godspell, sponsored by the Whirled Peas Foundation and presented in partnership with Curt’s Café, in the North Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, October 23 - November 16. Godspell, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by John Michael Tebelak, is directed by Matthew Silar, choreographed by Amanda Hope and music directed by Justin Kono. The production includes a preview performance Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. with a press opening Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. The schedule is Wednesdays at 2 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., with additional performances on Saturdays, Nov. 1, Nov. 8 and Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. Tickets are now on sale from $19.50 to $106 with tickets for guests 25 years old and younger available at half-price at MusicTheaterWorks.com or by calling the Music Theater Works box office at the North Shore Center, 847.673.6300. Group discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more by contacting 847.920.5360.

Day by day for more than 50 years, audiences have delighted in this modern musical fable. Godspell  weaves together music, improv and infectious pop and rock songs including the hits “Day by Day,” “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord,” “O Bless the Lord My Soul” and more. This Godspell finds a fractured and disconnected community gathered at a local coffee shop discovering the transformative power of forgiveness and embracing radical love. 

The cast of Godspell includes, in alphabetical order: P-Jay Adams (she/they, ensemble/U/S); Brandon Acosta (he/him, ensemble/U/S); Diana Marilyn Alvarez (she/they, swing); Maxwell J DeTogne (he/him, Maxwell, U/S Jesus); Tafadzwa Diener (Tafadzwa, she/her); Kaitlin Feely (Kaitlin, she/her); Emily Holland (she/her, ensemble/U/S); Nicholas Ian (Nicholas, any); Jenna Makkawy (she/they, ensemble/U/S); Dani Pike (Dani, she/her); Connor Ripperger (Connor, he/they); Concetta Russo (Concetta, she/her); Jacob Simon (he/they, John the Baptist/Judas); Ethan Smith (he/him, ensemble/U/S John the Baptist/Judas); Eldon Warner-Soriano (he/him, Jesus); Ben Woods (Ben, he/him) and Alex Villaseñor (swing, he/him).

Godspell’s orchestra includes Justin Kono (he/him, conductor/drums); Linda Madonia (she/her, piano); Kyle Paul (he/him, guitars) and Marcel Bonfirm (he/him, bass).

Godspell’s creative team is Matthew Silar (he/him, director); Amanda Hope (she/her, choreographer); Justin Kono (he/him, music director); Becca Holloway (she/her, asst. director); Amber Wuttke (she/her, intimacy & violence choreographer); Kathy Logelin (she/her, dialect coach); Blue Darner Dupuis (they/them, stage manager); Carolyn Goldsmith (she/her, asst. stage manager); Bob Knuth (he/him, scenic designer); Nga Sze Chan (she/her, props designer); Kristen Brinati (she/her, costume designer/wardrobe crew); Melanie Saso (she/her, hair, wig, makeup designer); Levi J. Wilkins (he/him, lighting designer); Chelsea Lynn (she/her, board programmer); Forrest Gregor (he/him, sound designer); Mitchell Finger (technical director); Will Hughes (he/him, Andersonville Scenic Studios) and Ben Lipinski (any, Andersonville Scenic Studios).

“Behind the Curtain with Thomas M. Shea”

Immediately following the Sunday, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 matinees, audiences may join musical theater historian Thomas M. Shea, author of “Broadway’s Most Wanted,” for a post-show talk exploring the behind-the-scenes history of Godspell.

Binny’s Broadway Lounge

Music Theater Works’ Donors of any level and subscribers are welcome to access Binny’s Broadway Lounge before the performance and at intermission of Godspell. Binny’s Broadway Lounge, sponsored by Binny’s Beverage Depot, is located on the second floor at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie and offers complimentary drinks and snacks and does not require reservations. The Lounge is available during Godspell, Wednesday, Oct. 29 (opens at 1 p.m.) and Saturday, Nov. 1 (opens at 6:30 p.m.).  

ASL Interpreted Performance

The Saturday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. performance will be ASL interpreted.

Curt’s Café Day at Godspell

At the Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. performance of Godspell, Music Theater Works will celebrate Curt’s Café and its mission including hosting representatives of Curt’s Café to discuss Curt’s impact has had on youth for more than a decade at a discussion immediately following the matinee. 

ABOUT MATTHEW SILAR, DIRECTOR

Matthew Silar is a Chicago-based director, stage manager and acting coach. Recent Chicago directing credits include Citadel Theatre’s productions of She Loves Me (Jeff Nomination) and Little Shop Of Horrors, as well as Daddy Long Legs (Awaken Theatre). Other directing credits include Annie, The Spongebob Musical and Matilda The Musical (Firehouse Theatre), Kate Fodor’s 100 Saints You Should Know, Lee Blessing’s Two Rooms (Acu) and a slew of educational productions. He’s worked across Chicagoland and the country as an AEA stage manager including Paramount Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, The Rev Theatre Company, and more. He holds a BFA in theatre directing from Abilene Christian University and is a proud associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. 

ABOUT JUSTIN KONO, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Justin Kono is a drummer, percussionist, pianist, arranger, orchestrator and conductor of uncommon range. Recent Music Theater Works credits include Little Shop of Horrors, Legally Blonde: the Musical and Shrek (drums and electronic music design) and Pippin (music direction, conductor, drums and electronic music design). Other recent credits include the Chicago company of Titanique (drums and electronic music design) by Porchlight Music Theatre and Rock of Ages and Jersey Boys with Mercury Theater (drums, electronic music design). Kono has also played at Drury Lane Oakbrook, many Porchlight Music Theatre shows and events, Teatro ZinZanni and the Marriott Theater, where he will be the local cover for the role of “Fluke” in Million Dollar Quartet Christmas this coming holiday season. In addition to theater activities, he is a music director and accompanist at First Congregational Church in Downers Grove and the handbell choir director at First United Methodist Church of Downers Grove. 

Music Theater Works 2025 Season

The 45th season concludes with Annie, December 18, 2025 - January 4, 2026. For more information on the 45th season go to MusicTheaterWorks.com. 

Music Theater Works 2026 Season

The 46th season opens with CATS, March 5 - 29, 2026 and is followed by West Side Story, August 3 - 30, 2026. The season will continue with Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville, October 8 - November 1, 2026 and concludes with Hairspray, December 17, 2026 - January 3, 2027. Current members may renew for the 2026 season now with new memberships available beginning Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 12 p.m. and single tickets for all the 2026 productions will go on sale Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 at 12 p.m. For more information on the 46th season go to MusicTheaterWorks.com. 

ABOUT CURT’S CAFÉ

Curt’s Café is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers workforce training, life skills and supportive resources to young adults (ages 15 – 24) who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, involvement with the justice system or other challenges. Curt’s Cafe has two fully operating cafés, offering a variety of breakfast, lunch, coffee drinks and catering services located in Highland Park and Evanston to serve both Lake County and Cook County.

Curt’s was established in 2012 and has served over 650 students since opening. The students are creating better futures—and community support drives that change. To learn more about Curt’s Café, please visit CurtsCafe.org or follow them on social @curtscafe.

ABOUT MUSIC THEATER WORKS

Music Theater Works is a resident professional not-for-profit music theater founded in

1980. During its 45-year history it has presented more than 150 productions and intimate presentations. Music Theater Works is a professional theater company whose mission is to present works for the musical stage including historic repertoire, revitalizing the Golden Age of Broadway and earlier works, celebrating the Great American Songbook and introducing modern classics. 

The Godspell production sponsor is Whirled Peas Foundation.

Music Theater Works presents

Godspell

October 23 - November 16

North Theatre

North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie

9501 Skokie Blvd.

Skokie, IL 60077

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

Book by John Michael Tebelak

Directed by Matthew Silar

Choreographed by Amanda Hope

Music Directed by Justin Kono

Show dates and times:

Thursday, Oct.  23 – 7:30 p.m. – Preview

Friday, Oct. 24 – 7 p.m. – Press Performance

Saturday, Oct.  25 – 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct.  26 – 2 p.m. – Talk Back with Thomas M. Shea

Wednesday, Oct.  29 – 2 p.m. – Binny’s Broadway Lounge (opens at 1 p.m.)

Friday, Oct.  31 – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 1 – 2 p.m. 

Saturday, Nov. 1 – 7:30 p.m. – Binny’s Broadway Lounge (opens at 6:30 p.m.)

Sunday, Nov. 2 – 2: p.m. – Talk Back with Thomas M. Shea

Wednesday, Nov. 5 – 2 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 7 – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 8 – 2 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 8 – 7:30 p.m. – ASL Interpreted performance

Sunday, Nov. 9 – 2 p.m. - Curt’s Café Day

Wednesday, Nov. 12 – 2 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 14 – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 15 – 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 16 – 2 p.m.

Tickets: $19.50 to $106, tickets for guests 25 years old and younger are available for half- price.

Music Theater Works Box Office: (847) 673-6300

Website: MusicTheaterWorks.com

Total Running Time, including intermission, (currently): Two hours and 10 minutes