Displaying items by tag: James M Nederlander Theatre

Broadway In Chicago is excited to announce that individual tickets for the world premiere of the first ever touring production of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD will go on sale Monday, May 13 at 10:00 a.m. CT. Tickets will also be available online at BroadwayInChicago.com starting at 10:00 a.m. CT or stop by the box office at the James M. Nederlander Theatre and be sorted into your Hogwarts house, take a picture with your house banner, play HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD trivia, and more. Pre-sale tickets are available starting May 6; patrons may sign up for pre-sale offers by visiting BroadwayInChicago.com or tour.harrypottertheplay.com.  

Previews begin for the six-time Tony® Award-winning production on September 10 at Broadway In Chicago's James M. Nederlander Theatre. The official opening will be Thursday, September 26. The final performance of the 21-week engagement will be Saturday, February 1, 2025. 

The touring production is based on the acclaimed Broadway production, currently playing at the Lyric Theatre, New York. It picks up right where the last Harry Potter film left off: Nineteen years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, they're back on a most extraordinary new adventure – this time, joined by a brave new generation that has only just arrived at the legendary Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When Harry Potter's head-strong son Albus befriends the son of his fiercest rival, Draco Malfoy, it sparks an unbelievable new journey for them all—with the power to change the past and future forever.  

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, the first Harry Potter story to be presented on stage and the eighth story in the Harry Potter series, has sold over 10 million tickets worldwide since its world premiere in London in July 2016 and holds a record 60 major honors, with nine Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Play and six Tony Awards including Best Play. The international phenomenon has cast its spell worldwide with productions currently running in London, New York, Hamburg, and Tokyo, and has completed runs in Melbourne, Toronto, and San Francisco. The original two-part production in London's West End recently celebrated its 7th anniversary, while the reimagined Broadway production celebrated its 6th anniversary. 

The most successful non-musical play in Broadway history, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD has the unique distinction of being named by the Guinness World Records as the highest-grossing non-musical play in Broadway history with over $270 million total sales and over 2.5 million tickets sold.

To stay up to date with the latest information, go to tour.harrypottertheplay.com.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Preview performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with additional Monday performances at 7:30 p.m. on September 16 and 23 and matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 21 and Wednesday, September 25.

Opening night is Thursday, September 26 at 6:00 p.m.

Regular performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Matinee performances are at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Additional performances are Sunday, November 10 at 7:00 p.m.; Friday, November 29 at 1:00 p.m.; Thursday, December 26 at 1:00 p.m.; Sunday, December 29 at 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, January 2 at 1:00 p.m., and Sunday, January 5 at 7:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 31, there will be 1:00 p.m. performances instead of a 7:00 p.m. performances.

There will be no performances on Sunday, September 29; Tuesday, November 5; Thursday, November 28; Wednesday, December 25; and Wednesday, January 1.

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets will go on sale to the public on Monday, May 13. Pre-sale tickets are available starting May 6; patrons may sign up for pre-sale offers by visiting BroadwayInChicago.com or tour.harrypottertheplay.com. When tickets go on sale, ticket prices will range from $49.00 - $193.00 with a select number of premium tickets available. There will be a limited number of lottery seats available for this engagement. Details will be provided closer to the engagement. Patrons can purchase HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD as part of the Broadway In Chicago Season, which is currently on sale through May 26 at BroadwayInChicago.com. Groups of 10 or more can book tickets now by calling (312) 977-1710 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

ABOUT HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

Based on an original story byJ.K. Rowling,Jack ThorneandJohn Tiffany,HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD is a play byJack Thorne, directed byJohn Tiffany. 

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD features movement byStevenHoggett, set byChristine Jones, costumes byKatrina Lindsay, music & arrangements byImogen Heap, lighting byNeil Austin, sound byGareth Fry, illusions & magic byJamie Harrison, music supervision & arrangements byMartin Lowe. US Casting byJim Carnahan, CSA. 

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions. 

Instagram: @CursedChildUS ● Twitter: @CursedChildTour ● Facebook: @CursedChildUS ● TikTok: @CursedChildOfficial

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 24 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago's Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway  Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

@BroadwayInChicago

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The Groundhog Day musical debacle left me wary of movie-to-stage adaptations. I saw them as cash grabs, mere shadows of the beloved originals. So, I approached Mrs. Doubtfire with trepidation, fearing another corny, uninspired musical. Thankfully, Mrs. Doubtfire surprised me. It wasn't just enjoyable, but the refreshingly unapologetic old-fashioned style of musical theater was a welcome change.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the source material, Mrs. Doubtfire is based on the 1993 movie of the same name. It starred the late incomparable Robin Williams and Americas sweetheart Sally Fields, and yes, we really do love her. The musical faithfully captures the heart of the movie, while incorporating essential modernizations. The plot is straight forward, Daniel Hillard a fun-loving vocal actor, devoted father to his three children is having marital problems. His free-spirited personality and impulsive behavior often clash with his workaholic wife, Miranda. Their differences culminate in a divorce. Daniel loses custody of his children although he gets limited visitation rights. Meanwhile, as Miranda’s work as a gym-wear executive requires more of her time, she now requires a Nanny. The process of interviewing potentials is comedy driven, as is so much of what unfolds in this 2-1/2-hour show.

After securing an interview with Miranda, Daniel sets out to become the nanny. He visits his gay brother Frank and his equally gay brother-in-law Andre. Both are in the costume design business. The first production number of this show (Make Me a Woman) sets the bar extremely high for future production numbers. Frank and Andre give Daniel several options to choose from. They start out with glamorous ‘Jackie’, ‘Diana’, ‘Cher’ and ‘Donna Summer’ until they realize ‘Eleanor Roosevelt’, ‘Julia Childs’, ‘Margaret Thatcher’, ‘Janet Reno’ and ‘Oscar Wilde’(strange, but it works) is closer to the nanny Daniel is going for. Daniel becomes Mrs. Doubtfire right before our eyes.

The production updated the material by using modern devices to its benefit. In ‘Easy Peasy’ Mrs. Doubtfire uses Alexa to find recipes and suddenly chefs pop out of every corner of the kitchen to help create a chicken recipe, even Julia Child and Paula Deen, with extra butter, make an appearance.

‘Playing With Fire’ is a fever dream of Daniel where he questions everything he has done thus far and involves the entire company. It is a big production with excellent choreography bringing the whole company together.

The heart of this production is Rob McClure, a theatrical force seamlessly transitioning between Daniel and Doubtfire, McClure is giving a career defining performance that would surely make Robin Williams proud. The lovely Maggie Lakis as Miranda and their on-stage children Giselle Gutierrez as Lydia (what a voice), Cody Braverman as Christopher, and Kennedy Pitney as Natalie make up the Hillard family. 

The supporting cast includes Aaron Kaburick (hilarious as Frank), Nik Alexander (a dramatic Andre), Leo Roberts (a powerfully built Stuart Dunmire) and Jodi Kimura as stoic station manager Janet Lundy.

In the wrong hands this production would be a mess, in the hands of four-time Tony Award winner, Jerry Zaks it becomes gold. His illustrious career boasts triumphs like "Guys and Dolls," "Six Degrees of Separation." and “La Cage Aux Folles”.  His keen eye for talent, comedic timing, and the ability to draw out the best in his actors have cemented his place as a Broadway icon.

This heartwarming and delightful musical is a pure joyride. Unlike some shows with hidden agendas, its sole purpose is to make you laugh out loud. While it's a charmingly old-fashioned family-oriented production focused on pure entertainment, the underlying message is clear: love conquers all, family is everything.

When: Through March 10

Where: James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St.

Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes

Tickets: $44-$116 at www.broadwayinchicago.com

Broadway In Chicago is ecstatic to announce that individual tickets for the 25th Anniversary Tour of MAMMA MIA! will go on sale on Friday, March 1. The ultimate feel-good show based on the songs of ABBA, will play Broadway In Chicago's James M. Nederlander Theatre (24 W. Randolph St.) for a limited three-week engagement, April 30 – May 19.

Since premiering in London in 1999 and on Broadway in 2001, the irresistible musical has captured the hearts of millions around the globe. The sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter, and three possible dads on a Greek island paradise, all unfolding to the storytelling magic of ABBA's timeless songs, has now been seen live on stage by 65 million people across the world and turned into two record-breaking movies – MAMMA MIA! The Movie and MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again.

To date, MAMMA MIA! has been seen in 50 productions in 16 different languages grossing more than $4 billion at the box office.  

MAMMA MIA! opened on Broadway in 2001 where it played for a record-breaking 14 years, first at the Winter Garden Theatre, then at the Broadhurst Theatre. The show also toured North America from 2000-2017 with four different touring companies spanning this period.

Also produced by Judy Craymer, MAMMA MIA! The Movie became the highest grossing live action musical film of all time upon its release in 2008. A second film, MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again, opened in July 2018 and is the most successful live musical movie sequel of all time. The films starred a host of stars including Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Amanda Seyfried, Dominic Cooper, Lily James, and Cher.

With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson; with lighting design by Howard Harrison; sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken; and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.

The North American tour is booked by The Booking Group with casting by Tara Rubin Casting.

MAMMA MIA! is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East, and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal. Amy Jacobs of Bespoke Theatricals is the Executive Producer in association with Work Light Productions.

The special edition cast recording of MAMMA MIA! is available on Decca Broadway.

For information about MAMMA MIA! visit www.mammamiathetour.com

Follow on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @MammaMiaTheTour

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Performances are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:00 p.m. (with Wednesday matinee at 1:00 p.m. on May 8 and May 15), Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. (with an additional performance on Sunday, May 5 at 6:30 p.m.)

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for the 25th Anniversary Tour of MAMMA MIA! will go on-sale to the public on Friday, March 1 and range from $52.50 - $137.50 with a select number of premium tickets available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more  information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 24 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago's Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● TikTok @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce that individual tickets for the all-new production of the Tony Award-winning Broadway Classic, PETER PAN will go on sale on Friday, January 26. PETER PAN takes flight at Broadway In Chicago's James M. Nederlander Theatre (24 W. Randolph St.) for a limited two-week engagement, March 26 – April 7.

This high-flying musical has been thrilling audiences of all ages for close to 70 years and is now being brought back to life in a newly-imagined production directed by Emmy Award-winner Lonny Price (Sunset Boulevard, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill) with additional book by celebrated playwright Larissa FastHorse (The Thanksgiving Play, What Would Crazy Horse Do?) and choreography by Lorin Latarro (Waitress, The Who's Tommy).

"PETER PAN is one of the great treasures of the American Musical Theatre," said Lonny Price. "The show nurtures and inspires the imagination of its audience and reminds us to keep alive the child within us all."  

"I am thrilled to be part of bringing PETER PAN to life for a new generation," said Larissa FastHorse. "If you loved this musical before, you will still see the show that enchanted you, while discovering a PETER PAN that everyone can enjoy, without harm, for many years to come." 

The adventure begins when PETER PAN and his mischievous sidekick, Tinker Bell, visit the bedroom of the Darling children late one night. With a sprinkle of fairy dust and a few happy thoughts, the children are taken on a magical journey they will never forget. This extraordinary musical full of excitement and adventure features iconic and timeless songs including "I'm Flying", "I Gotta Crow", "I Won't Grow Up" and "Neverland." PETER PAN embraces the child in us all so go on a journey from the second star to the right and straight on 'til morning - your entire family will be Hooked!  

Based on Sir James M. Barrie's classic tale and originally directed, choreographed, and adapted by Broadway legend Jerome Robbins, PETER PAN features an iconic and unforgettable score by Morris (Moose) Charlap; lyrics by Carolyn Leigh; additional lyrics by Betty Comden, Adolph Green, and Amanda Green; and additional music by Jule Styne. 

Nolan Almeida will play the iconic role of Peter Pan. An Orange County, California native, Nolan was most recently seen as Crutchie in Newsies at 5-Star Theatricals and was featured in Christmas on Repeat on Hulu. Joining him will be Cody Garcia as Captain Hook, who most recently starred as Willy Wonka in the national tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and as Buddy in Elf; Emerson College graduate Hawa Kamara as Wendy; and acclaimed recording artist Raye Zaragoza as Tiger Lily.

Director Lonny Price is thrilled to introduce Nolan Almeida as the high-flying Peter Pan. "Nolan embodies all the beautiful contradictions of Peter. He's an extraordinarily gifted young actor, a wonderful singer and nothing short of magical. Cody Garcia as Captain Hook is utterly modern, surprising and one of the most engaging actors I've ever worked with."

"I also want to celebrate Hawa Kamara, making her professional debut as Wendy! A wildly charismatic young actress, who's as talented as she is beautiful. And rounding out this sensational group is Raye Zaragoza as Tiger Lily - brilliant multi-faceted recording artist and actress. This company is simply going to blow people away and I cannot wait for audiences across the country to fall in love with each of them."

The full cast is completed by Shefali Deshpande as Mrs. Darling, Kurt Perry as Smee, William Foon and Micah Turner Lee alternate as John, and Reed Epley and Jayden Guarneri alternate as Michael. The ensemble includes Charles Antenen, Jonah Barricklo, Eric Allen Boyd, Christina Hélène Braa, Brandon Gille, Ryan Perry Marks, Michael Marrero, Kenny Ramos, Hannah Schmidt, and Kiara Williams. The swings are Tony Collins, Bailey Frankenberg, Leo Gallegos, and Cheyenne Omani.

PETER PAN is directed by Lonny Price, with additional book by Larissa FastHorse, choreography by Lorin Latarro and flight choreography by Paul Rubin, with music supervision and additional arrangements by Andy Einhorn, and dance arrangements by David Dabbon. The national tour has scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by Sarafina Bush, lighting design by Amith Chandrashaker, sound design by Kai Harada, projections by David Bengali, hair & make-up design by J. Jared Janas, fight direction by Rick Sordelet & Christian Kelly-Sordelet, and "Tinker Bell" design by Paul Kieve. The Associate Director is Matt Cowart and the Associate Choreographer is Travis Waldschmidt, with casting by ARC/Duncan Stewart, CSA and additional casting by Michael Donovan Casting. The production is licensed by Music Theatre International. The tour is produced by NETworks Presentations.

The PETER PAN tour is conducted by Jonathan Marro. The stage management team is led by Ashlynn Abbott with Kendall Stevens. The company management team is led by Luke Meyer with Kyle Hess.

Please follow the flight at:  

peterpanontour.com 

Instagram: @PeterPantheMusical 

Facebook: @PeterPanTheBroadwayMusical 

TikTok: @PeterPantheMusical 

#peterpanmusical

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Performances are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:00 p.m. (with a Wednesday matinee at 1:00 p.m. on April 3), Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. (with an additional performance on Sunday, March 31 at 6:30 p.m.)

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for PETER PAN will go on-sale to the public on Friday, January 26 and range from $35.00 - $105 with a select number of premium tickets available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more  information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 24 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago's Loop including the  Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway  Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● TikTok @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

Broadway In Chicago is pleased to announce that tickets for the Lincoln Center Theater's critically acclaimed production of Lerner & Loewe's MY FAIR LADY will go on sale on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Ticket prices will range from $27.00 to $98.00 with a select number of premium seats available. The strictly limited engagement will run from Tuesday, March 12 to Sunday, March 17, 2024, at the James M. Nederlander Theatre. Additional ticket information and the performance schedule are below.

Lincoln Center Theater's production of Lerner & Loewe's MY FAIR LADY is the winner of 5 Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Revival of a Musical and was nominated for 10 Tony Awards® including Best Musical Revival, 5 Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical Revival and 3 Drama League Awards including Best Musical Revival.

This touring production welcomes Anette Barrios-Torres as Eliza Doolittle, returning cast includes Jonathan Grunert as Professor Henry Higgins, John Adkison as Colonel Pickering, Nathan Haltiwanger as Freddy Eynsford-Hill, Michael Hegarty as Alfred P. Doolittle, Becky Saunders as Mrs. Higgins, Maeghin Mueller takes over the role of Mrs. Pearce, and Christopher Isolano joins the company as Zoltan Karpathy.

The production's ensemble will feature Lauren Emily Alagna, Nick Berke, Evan Bertram, Nicholas Carroll, Shannon Conboy, Ryaan Farhadi, Andrew Fehrenbacher, Kelly Gleason, Jackson Hurt, Michelle Lemon, Derek Luscutoff, Ashton Norris, Jessica Ordaz, Rafa Pepén, Kumari Small, Charlie Tingen, Gill Vaughn-Spencer, John Viso, Gerri Weagraff and Mary Beth Webber.

Adapted from George Bernard Shaw's play and Gabriel Pascal's motion picture Pygmalion, MY FAIR LADY, with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, premiered on Broadway on March 15, 1956. The legendary original production won 6 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and ran for 2,717 performances making it, at the time, the longest-running musical in Broadway history.

Boasting a score that contains such now-classic songs as "I Could Have Danced All Night," "Get Me to the Church on Time," "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "On the Street Where You Live," "The Rain in Spain," and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," Lincoln Center Theater's production of MY FAIR LADY was hailed by The New York Times as "Thrilling, glorious and better than it ever was. A marvelous and transformative revival." New York Magazine described it as "Enthralling," adding that "Bartlett Sher's glowing revival proves that a beloved musical from another era can keep on kicking," and Entertainment Weekly raved "A sumptuous new revival of the most perfect musical of all time. A masterful piece of entertainment."

The tour of Lincoln Center Theater's production of Lerner & Loewe's MY FAIR LADY directed by Bartlett Sher with tour direction by Samantha Saltzman features original choreography by Christopher Gattelli with tour choreography by Jim Cooney, and has sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Donald Holder and sound by Marc Salzberg and Beth Lake. Music Supervision is by Ted Sperling, featuring MY FAIR LADY's original musical arrangements by Robert Russell Bennett and Phil Lang, and dance arrangements by Trude Rittman. Tour orchestrations are by Josh Clayton and Larry Blank and music direction is by David Andrews Rogers. Casting by Binder Casting. The stage management team is led by production stage manager Rebecca Radziejeski, alongside assistant stage manager Zoe Steenwyk. James A. Woodard serves as company manager, alongside assistant company manager Abi Steinberg.

The North American tour of Lincoln Center Theater's production of Lerner & Loewe's MY FAIR LADY is produced by Crossroads Live North America.

For more information worldwide, visit www.MyFairLadyonTour.com

Connect with MY FAIR LADY on: Facebook and @MFLonTour on Twitter/Instagram | #MyFairLadyonTour

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Performances will be on Tuesday through Thursday at 7:00 PM (with a matinee on Wednesday, March 13), Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm (with a matinee on Saturday, March 16), and Sunday at 1:00 PM.

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for MY FAIR LADY will go on sale tomorrow and range in price from $27.00 to $98.00 with a select number of premium seats available. Individual tickets are available by visiting www.BroadwayInChicago.com or going to any Broadway In Chicago venue box office. Tickets are also available for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 24 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago's Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Follow @broadwayinchicago on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

Stephen Sondheim warns to be careful what you wish for in one of his most beloved musicals, Into the Woods. The 2022 New York City Center Encores! Broadway revival became a revolving door for some of today’s biggest musical theatre stars. The run included Sara Bareilles, Cheyenne Jackson, and Brian D’Arcy James. The National tour, which features most of the original revival cast, makes its stop in Chicago at the James M. Nederlander Theatre. Fulfilling a lifelong dream, husband and wife Sebastian Arcelus and Stephanie J. Block lead this cast in the roles of the Baker and the Baker’s Wife. Unfortunately, due to illness in the cast, the Chicago run opened with Ximone Rose as the Baker’s Wife. Rose proved to be a worthy understudy for Block.

Into the Woods in some ways was the first time Grimm’s fairy tales were intermingled to tell an alternative version of the stories we know so well. Since then, there have been numerous books, movies, and TV series to attempt the same idea. Into the Woods may feature fairy tale characters, but it’s not a kids show. The script asks the big question, what happens if every single character got their wish? And the unintended consequences of getting what you think you want.

Into the Woods showcases some of Sondheim’s most beautiful music, and co-writer James Lapine’s most inventive storytelling. This stripped-down version almost looks like a staged concert with the orchestra playing on stage amidst the action. The minimal set and monochromatic costuming allow for the music to be front and center. With voices like Montego Glover as the Witch and Gavin Creel as Cinderella’s Prince and the Big Bad Wolf, this production soars to the rafters.

There are some plum roles in this show, but none are probably as rewarding as the Witch. Originated by Bernadette Peters in 1987, many big names have filled the cape including Meryl Streep in the 2014 film. Though, you may never again experience the kind of roaring applause and cheering (often reserved for pro sports games), that audiences gave Montego Glover after her hair-raising interpretation of The Last Midnight. The show was held for a few extra seconds while the audience brought down the house.

Gavin Creel as Cinderella's Prince/Wolf and Katy Geraghty as Little Red Ridinghood in 'Into the Woods at James M Nederlander Theatre through May 7th

 
Despite some understudies filling in, there’s not a glimmer of imperfection in this cast. Ellie Fishman went on as Cinderella where she really shines in the show’s final scene. Other than Fishman and Rose, the entire cast performed as listed in the Playbill. Katy Geraghty skipped off with most of the evening’s biggest laughs as Little Red Ridinghood. And of course, any chance you get to see Gavin Creel on stage, take it. He does a great job creating two distinctly different but hilarious characters in the Wolf and Prince Charming. He brings a physical humor that’s only occasionally upstaged by the puppet cow Milky White, helmed by Kennedy Kanagawa. 

There’s so much to love about this definitive revival of Into the Woods. Anyone who’s ever had the misfortune of sitting through a bad community (or high school) production knows that when done poorly, it can be a slog. This production moves along at quite a clip in part to its staging, but it’s a welcomed pace. No moment or song, or sweet section of music overstays its welcome. This Into the Woods would make its creator proud.

Through May 7th at Broadway in Chicago. James M Nederlander Theatre. 24 W. Randolph St. www.broadwayinchicago.com/show/into-the-woods