All stories by Johnny Oleksinski on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

'Louis & Keely' finds its Louis and Keely by Johnny Oleksinski

Casting was announced for “Louis & Keely ‘Live’ at The Sahara” on Wednesday. Produced by Hershey Felder, the musical show is set to begin performances at the Royal George Theatre in …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:45PM
Monday, January 12, 2015

'Freeze!', part of puppet festival, cancelled by Johnny Oleksinski

An opening act of the inaugural Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, “Freeze!,” has been cancelled two days before it was set to begin performances at Chicago Shakespeare Theat…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:11PM

Hypocrites announce 'Endgame', 'Three Sisters' casts by Johnny Oleksinski

Casting for The Hypocrites’s productions of “Endgame” — coming hot on the heels of its currently-running Gilbert and Sullivan repertory — and "The Three Sisters" was announced on M…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:27PM

Cast-change, 'Blister, Burn' by Johnny Oleksinski

The Goodman Theatre announced a cast replacement for its fast approaching production of Gina Gionfriddo’s “Rapture, Blister, Burn” on Monday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:08PM
Thursday, January 8, 2015

UK comic Simon Amstell will come to Thalia Hall by Johnny Oleksinski

British comedian Simon Amstell will bring his new show to Chicago this spring, a spokesman for the tour said on Thursday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:59PM

'Once' will return to Chicago by Johnny Oleksinski

The national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical "Once," based on the 2007 romantic, indie movie-musical of the same name, will come back to Chicago this spring, Broadway in Chicago said …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:22AM
Wednesday, January 7, 2015

'First Wives Club' full cast announced by Johnny Oleksinski

The upcoming pre-Broadway tryout, “First Wives Club,” announced its full cast on Wednesday morning.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:41AM
Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Chicago Theatre Week tickets go on sale by Johnny Oleksinski

Tickets for participating productions in Chicago Theatre Week, the League of Chicago Theatres and Choose Chicago's annual period of discounted show tickets, went on sale Tuesday morning.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:17PM
Friday, January 2, 2015

'Porchlight Revisits... City of Angels' cast announced by Johnny Oleksinski

Porchlight Music Theatre announced the cast of “Porchlight Revisits… City of Angels” on Friday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:42AM
Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Mercury announces 'Addams Family' cast by Johnny Oleksinski

The Mercury Theater announced the cast of its winter production of “The Addams Family” on Wednesday. 

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:07PM
Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Eric Eatherly, former dancer and arts publicist, dies at 35 by Johnny Oleksinski

The theater and dance communities of Chicago are mourning the death of Eric Eatherly, a publicist for the Chicago-based Silverman Group and a former dancer. He was 35. Eatherly died Monday i…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:29PM
Monday, December 29, 2014

Steep announces 'Eric Argyle' cast by Johnny Oleksinski

Steep Theatre in Edgewater announced the cast of its upcoming production of “The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle” on Monday. 

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:40PM
Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Drury Lane announces 'West Side Story' cast by Johnny Oleksinski

Something’s coming! It’s the Drury Lane Theatre production of “West Side Story.” The theater announced casting for its upcoming staging of Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Art…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:39PM
Tuesday, December 23, 2014

A song from 'Cinderella' by Johnny Oleksinski

This week’s Theater Loop Showcase video is Paige Faure from the national tour of “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” currently onstage at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:32PM
Friday, December 19, 2014

Route 66 announces 2015 season by Johnny Oleksinski

Route 66 Theatre Company announced its partial 2015 season on Friday. The lineup features two productions, one of which will be announced later in February.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:20PM
Thursday, December 18, 2014

Laura Osnes joins Lyric's 'Carousel' by Johnny Oleksinski

Lyric Opera’s spring production of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s “Carousel” will boast some top-drawer Broadway talent.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:30PM

A song from 'Newsies' by Johnny Oleksinski

This Theater Loop Showcase is Dan DeLuca and Zachary Sayle from the national tour of Disney’s “Newsies.”

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:00AM
Wednesday, December 17, 2014

'Newsies' and 'Cinderella' casts will perform at Sidetrack by Johnny Oleksinski

The touring casts of “Newsies” and “Cinderella,” both stationed in Chicago for the month of December, will perform “Seize the Slipper,” a cabaret at Sidetrack bar in Boystown on …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:39PM

'Newsies' and 'Cinderella' casts will perform at Sidetrack by Johnny Oleksinski

The touring casts of “Newsies” and “Cinderella,” both stationed in Chicago for the month of December, will perform “Seize the Slipper,” a cabaret at Sidetrack bar in Lakeview on …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:39PM
Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Adina Aaron performs 'Summertime' from 'Porgy and Bess' by Johnny Oleksinski

This Theater Loop Showcase video is soprano Adina Aaron from “Porgy and Bess” at Lyric Opera.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:38PM

A holiday message from Chicago's theaters by Johnny Oleksinski

It's that time of year again, and you know what that means — The Theater Loop's annual holiday video message! This year, 38 theaters and productions participated in the video.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 09:00AM
Monday, December 15, 2014

Kokandy announces 'Full Monty' cast by Johnny Oleksinski

Lock up your daughters! Kokandy Productions announced the cast of its upcoming production of “The Full Monty” on Monday. 

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:00PM

'First Date' will play the Royal George by Johnny Oleksinski

The Chicago premiere of the musical “First Date” will arrive in early 2015, a spokesperson for the production announced on Monday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:05AM
Thursday, December 11, 2014

Porchlight announces 'Sondheim on Sondheim' cast by Johnny Oleksinski

Porchlight Music Theatre announced casting for its upcoming production of “Sondheim on Sondheim,” a musical revue that blends composer Stephen Sondheim’s songs with stories and multime…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:43PM
Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Victory Gardens will host 'We Must Breathe' by Johnny Oleksinski

In the wake of controversial grand jury decisions in the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases, Victory Gardens Theater will host a discussion on issues of inequality and race on Thursday, Dec…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:33PM
Tuesday, December 9, 2014

New Colony announces 2015 season by Johnny Oleksinski

The New Colony, the oddball theater company that produces original, often humorous ensemble works, announced its 2015 season on Tuesday. This will be the company’s first year in residence …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:14PM
Friday, December 5, 2014

Noyes Center seeking new tenants for former Next space by Johnny Oleksinski

Noyes Cultural Arts Center in Evanston, the longtime home of Next Theatre that shuttered last month, is in search of new tenants, Angela Allyn, program coordinator for the City of Evanston, …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:15PM

16th Street Theater announces 2015 season by Johnny Oleksinski

16th Street Theater in Berwyn has announced its 2015 season.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:42PM
Thursday, December 4, 2014

Fringe Festival will introduce Kids Fringe by Johnny Oleksinski

The 2015 Chicago Fringe Festival will introduce a Kids Fringe this summer, a spokesman for the festival said Thursday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:41PM
Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Jackalope announces cast of 'Four' by Johnny Oleksinski

Jackalope Theatre announced the cast of its upcoming production of Christopher Shinn’s “Four” on Tuesday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:31PM

A new play and a Roger Ebert musical at Black Ensemble in 2015 by Johnny Oleksinski

Black Ensemble Theater, the Uptown company best known for its jubilant musical biographies and recurring original musicals, will begin its 2015 season with an unlikely selection — a straig…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:45PM