Displaying items by tag: Michael Weber

The award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce the cast and creative team of the first mainstage production of its 32nd season, Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Porchlight's Elaine Cohen and Arlen Ruben Artistic Director, Michael Weber with choreography by Nataki Rennie and music direction by David Fiorello. The first fully staged production presented in Porchlight's new home, the historic Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave, runs November 4 - December 13, 2026. 

For more than four decades, this Tony Award-winning musical has delighted millions of fans around the world with the funny and frightening story of the shy shop assistant, his coworker crush and a mysterious, carnivorous plant. Written by the powerhouse team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and The Beast and Aladdin), Little Shop of Horrors takes audiences on a wild trip where love and world domination meet at a Skid Row floral shop.

The cast of Little Shop of Horrors features (in order of appearance) Kiana Beverly  (Chiffon), Donnalesly Fondjo  (Crystal), Aneesah Jemei  (Ronnette), Andrew Linden  (Seymour Krelborn), Steve McDonagh  (Mr. Mushnik), Alina Taber*  (Audrey), Juwon Tyrel Perry* (Audrey II - Voice), Josh Bernaski  (Audrey II - Puppeteer) and Adam Fane*  (Orin Scrivello, DDS, and Everybody Else).

Stand-by understudies are (in alphabetical order) Daryn Alexus (Stand-by Understudy Chiffon, Ronnette and Crystal), Erline Dorcy (Stand-by Understudy Chiffon, Ronnette and Crystal), Tyler Ehrenberg  (Stand-by Understudy Audrey II - Puppeteer), Niki-Charisse Franco (Stand-by Understudy Audrey II - Voice) Sam Hook (Stand-by Understudy Seymour Krelborn) and Grace Reidenauer (Stand-by Understudy Audrey).

The creative team includes Rachel West (production manager), Jonathan Berg-Einhorn  (scenic and properties designer), Gregory Graham  (costume designer), Max Maxin IV+  (lighting designer) and Matthew Chase (sound designer/sound supervisor), Kevin Barthel  (wig designer), Bill Walters*  (stage manager), Katie Nowak  (assistant stage manager) Nick Peebles  (scenic supervisor), Kristi Martens  (costume supervisor), Riley Woods (lighting supervisor), Cecelia Chan  (Assistant Properties Designer), Tristin Hall  (intimacy / violence designer) and Linda Madonia  (company manager).

*Member of Actor's Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers

+United Scenic Artists (Local USA 829), the union of professional designers, artists and craftspeople in the entertainment industry.

"Bringing Little Shop of Horrors to the Biograph Theater is an extraordinary moment in the history of Porchlight Music Theatre," said Weber. "This historic space has such a rich and fascinating connection to Chicago, and we're thrilled to begin a new chapter for Porchlight by making the Biograph our home for this season. Little Shop of Horrors is the perfect show to launch this adventure: it's wildly entertaining, deliciously dark and filled with unforgettable music, while the Biograph also offers the theatrical intimacy our audiences have come to love. We're especially excited to welcome two terrifically talented leading actors making their Porchlight debuts as "Seymour" and "Audrey". We can't wait to introduce them to our audiences, welcome everyone into the Biograph and experience this beloved musical together in this comfortable and gracious new setting."

The Little Shop of Horrors performance schedule is Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Little Shop of Horrors is included in Porchlight's 2026-2027 subscription series, available at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org. Single tickets are reserved seating and are on sale for $28 - $98 at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight box office at 773-777-9884.

ABOUT ANDREW LINDEN, "Seymour Krelborn"

Andrew Linden is thrilled to be making his Porchlight Music Theatre debut, as well as his first show in Chicago! Before moving from Madison, Wisconsin, he appeared in shows with Forward Theater, Children's Theater of Madison and Capital City Theatre. He is so excited to be in the city and wants to thank his friends, family, partner Tess, and cat Gilda.

ABOUT ALINA TABER, "Audrey"

Alina Taber is thrilled to be making her Porchlight Music Theatre debut. Recent credits include: Brokeback Mountain (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Anthony Rapp: Home for the Holidays (Lookingglass Theatre), Picnic, Winter's Tale (American Players Theatre),  The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale  (International tour and original American cast; Te Civic, Auckland NZ and Chicago Shakespeare Theater), A Streetcar Named Desire (Paramount Theatre), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Marriott Theatre), Grease (Drury Lane Theatre), and Once (Writer's Theatre). In TV and Film, Alina was a recurring character on the One Chicago shows (Lexi Olinsky). As a cabaret singer and print model, she can be seen throughout Illinois performing or pretending to be a gambling addict on bus stop ads, billboards, and casino pamphlets. IG: @alinajeninetaber

ABOUT JUWON TYREL PERRY, "Audrey II" - voice

Juwon has always been drawn to stories that sing, surprise, and leave a mark. For more than twenty years, Little Shop of Horrors has done exactly that. Porchlight Music Theatre audiences may recognize Juwon from Spring Awakening, Broadway in Your Backyard (Seasons 1 & 2), and the Chicago Sings series. His work has also been seen at Goodman Theatre, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Geva Theatre, and the Tony Award-winning Court Theatre, among others. Beyond the stage, Juwon's cinematic reinterpretations of beloved songs have built an audience of more than 100,000 followers across social media, with performances reaching millions of viewers worldwide. Connect with him on Instagram and TikTok @juwontyrelperry.

ABOUT ADAM FANE, "Orin Scrivello, and everyone else"

Adam is thrilled to return to Porchlight Music Theatre with this seminal classic. Porchlight credits: "Jack Dawson" in Titanique! and "Tony Elliot" in Billy Elliot. Other credits include: Disney's The Little Mermaid (MUNY); Rock of Ages (National Tour); Salome & Medea (Lyric Opera); Frozen, The Full Monty, Into The Woods and The Producers (Paramount Theatre) Jim Henson's Emmet Otter (Studebaker); Ms. Blakk for President (Steppenwolf); Shrek the Musical, Gypsy, and Ride the Cyclone (Chicago Shakes); First Date (Royal George); Sex Tips (Chicago & Edinburgh Fringe); Jersey Boys, Spamalot, Pippin, and Avenue Q (Mercury Theater). Film: Canal Street. TV: Chicago PD. IG: @almostfanemous

ABOUT MICHAEL WEBER, director

Michael Weber is a nationally recognized, award-winning director, producer, actor and educator. Previous Porchlight productions include Follies, Sunday in the Park with George, Anything Goes, Cabaret, Sunset Boulevard, Gypsy and Merrily We Roll Along. He recently directed the London premiere of Call Me Elizabeth and the Off-Broadway and European premieres of Shake it Away: The Ann Miller Story, both 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 NATAKI RENNIE, choreographer

Nataki Rennie is beyond excited to be back at Porchlight Music Theatre! Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Nataki is a graduate of the musical theatre dance concentration program at the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Recent Chicagoland theatre credits include Beautiful the Carole King Musical at Drury Lane Theater, and White Christmas at the Marriott Theatre. She was previously seen on the Porchlight stage in Anything Goes, and in previous Chicago Sings productions. In her free time, she enjoys thrift shopping, creative writing and laughing with loved ones. Nataki would like to thank all of her family, friends and teachers for their love and support. IG: @nataki__

ABOUT DAVID FIORELLO, music director

David Fiorello is an Equity Jeff Award-winning Music Director, Director, Playwright and Performer who is no stranger to Porchlight Music Theatre. His work at PMT has spanned multiple seasons of Chicago Sings, New Faces Sing Broadway, Porchlight Revisits series, ICONS galas and special events, as well as MDing the Mainstage productions of Gypsy, Blues in the Night, and most recently, The Irish...And How They Got That Way. Chicago & Regional credits include work at The Goodman, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakes, Drury Lane, The Fulton Theatre, and Maine State Music Theatre. David is the Founder & Artistic Director of The Beautiful City Project, using the tool of musical theatre to raise funds for charity. He also heads up Fiorello Studios, a premier vocal coaching studio in Chicago, as well as the Music Theatre program with the International Lyric Academy in Vicenza, Italy. David sends continual and undying love to his warrior wife Sarah. https://www.fiorellostudios.com/

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.

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre announces today that the recent stars of Porchlight in Concert’s production of Follies, Tony Award-nominee Felicia P. Fields and Broadway’s Anthony Rapp, have joined the Artistic Advisory Board. Porchlight's Artistic Advisory Board consists of seasoned professionals who have excelled in their theatrical disciplines and who have a vested interest in the artistic and professional advancement of the company. For more information on Porchlight Music Theatre, go to PorchlightMusicTheatre.org.

“Felicia has been a part of Porchlight productions and special events for many years and we look forward to her joining us as an Advisory Board Member, ” said Artistic Director Michael Weber. “And Anthony, having just moved back to Chicago, is looking to be more involved in the city’s vibrant theatre scene. On behalf of everyone at Porchlight, I welcome these two great additions.”

“When Michael Weber asked me to join the Artistic Advisory Board, I immediately said ‘yes!’” added Felicia P. Fields. “I have always found a home on their stage and am excited to be a part of this Board and help guide Porchlight into the future.”

“One of the first offers when I returned to Chicago came from Porchlight for this spring’s Follies,” commented Anthony Rapp. “I had an incredible experience working with the entire team on that special event. I not only appreciate their dedication to music theater, but their desire to create memorable experiences for their audiences. I am grateful for the invitation to join this impressive Board.”

The Advisory Board is a valued resource for the artistic director, executive director and other facets of the company in their support and guidance to achieve Porchlight's mission as Chicago's center for music theatre. The membership includes artists from Chicago and across the United States including Wm. Eric Bramlett, John Bucchino, E. Faye Butler, Cheri Coons, Kevin Depinet, Raúl Esparza, William Finn*, Joel Grey, Larry Grossman, Kenny Ingram, Linda Kline, Jesse Klug, Sean Allan Krill, Donna McKechnie, Dominic Missimi, Jill Moore, Lonny Price, Hollis Resnik*, Chita Rivera*, Bill Russell, Chuck Smith, L. Walter Stearns, Leslie Uggams, Ben Vereen, Bob Walton, Jim Walton and Maury Yeston.

*Denotes the advisory member is deceased. 

ABOUT FELICIA P. FIELDS

Felicia P. Fields is a proud Southsider and has worked in theater for 40 years at home in the Chicagoland area, as well as traveled and toured throughout the United States and Europe. Seasoned in theater, she has also directed and co-directed several projects with Ron OJ Parsons and most recently with Definition Theaters Amplified series. Tony-nominated for her creation of the role of “Sofia” in The Color Purple on Broadway, she also began the first national tour. She has many awards to her credit as well as on-camera and voice-over credits. She has her own Blues show, Pearl Rollin With The Blues and has performed many times at Chicago’s Blues Festival, Taste of Chicago and Navy Pier. She works with theatres in her community and has tutored and mentored many young people and several celebrities. She is blessed with a supportive family including two children, Sidney and Aubriel, both who are singers, and four fabulous grandchildren. Governor Quinn declared July 24, Felicia P. Fields Day.

ABOUT ANTHONY RAPP

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 PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE

Porchlight Music Theatre, 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 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 50 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. 

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce the return of its free summer concert series Broadway in your Backyard, July 6 - September 19, sponsored by Chicago Free For All Fund. Broadway in your Backyard is directed by Artistic Director Michael Weber, music directed by Linda Madonia and starring Tafadzwa Diener, Nik Kmiecik, Juwon Tyrel Perry and Bethany Thomas. For more information go to PorchlightMusicTheatre.org.

Now in its sixth year, this free to the public summer series has become one of Porchlight’s most popular offerings with thousands of people enjoying Porchlight favorite artists performing hits and beloved songs from the Broadway and Hollywood musical song books including Hello, Dolly!, Mary Poppins, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Toy Story, The Wiz and others. 

The 2026 Broadway in your Backyard season is 

Monday, July 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Northcenter Town Square,  4100 N. Damen Ave.

This appearance also includes a performance from students of The Chicago Academy for the Arts. 

Tuesday, July 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Welles Park,  2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.

This appearance also includes a performance from students of The Chicago Academy for the Arts. Additionally, audiences may join Porchlight’s Education as they host a “Kids’ Day” at Welles Park with activities and treats for children, while supplies last. 

Monday, July 13 at 6:30 p.m.

Berger Park,Waterfront Cafe, 6205 N. Sheridan Rd.

This appearance also includes a performance from PMTeens, Porchlight’s teen performers enrolled in its summer education programming.

Tuesday, July 14 at 6:30 p.m.

Washington Square Park, 901 N. Clark St. 

This appearance also includes a performance from PMTeens, Porchlight’s teen performers enrolled in its summer education programming and Porchlight Young Professionals Associate Board hosting a “Picnic With PYP” at the performance. “Picnic With PYP,” additional details to be announced. 

Navy Pier, STAGE TBD, 600 E. Grand Ave.

Saturday, Sept. 19 at 12:30 p.m.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents its popular Broadway in your Backyard program of family-friendly showtunes as it joins more than 110 artists and organizations for Navy Pier’s the annual celebration of Chicago’s vibrant arts and cultural community. 

Performance dates and venues are subject to change.

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE

Porchlight Music Theatre, 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 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 50 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. 

To those familiar with Cole Porter’s 1930s musical, you may recognize the opening notes as the live orchestra begins to play the title number. Reno Sweeney (played with dazzle by Meghan Murphy) bounds on stage, and the Opening Night crowd erupts in cheers. Sweeney takes in the applause and adoration as she starts to sing:

“Times have changed
And we’ve often rewound the clock.
Since the puritans got a shock.
When they landed on Plymouth Rock.”

As Murphy’s belt swells and rings through the theater, this audience only cheered harder. This is the 11 o’clock number, and the artistic team does not disappoint. As the ensemble joins Murphy on stage, Choreographer Tammy Mader pulls all the stops. Tappers, ballroom dance, and everything in between. Lighting Designer G. “Max” Maxin IV fills the space with color that is only heightened by the exquisite costume design full of sparkle. Looking around at the audience, it was clear that I was not the only one bouncing along in my seat. Before Murphy even hits the final lyrics, the crowd was on their feet, eager to reward this show-stopping number with everything that they had.

Directed by Michael Weber, Anything Goes follows Billy Crocker (Luke Nowakowski), a man hopelessly in love with Hope Harcourt (Emma Ogea). The one problem? She is engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Jackson Evans), and her mother is eager to see that this wedding takes place. Billy sets out as a stowaway onboard the ocean liner S.S. American – desperate to win the love of his life. Ultimately, if he wants to succeed, he finds that his only hope is to trust his alliances with nightclub singer Reno Sweeney (Meghan Murphy) and two wanted criminals - Moonface Martin (Steve McDonagh) and Erma (Tafadzwa Diener).

With music and lyrics by Cole Porter, the score features famous hits including: It’s De-Lovely, Friendship, and of course, Anything Goes. Full of love triangles, mistaken identities, and missed opportunities, you might just find yourself on the edge of your seat – eager to see what twist or turn might come next.

The die-hard fans of the classic musical know Cole Porter hits audiences with one larger-than-life number after another. Weber and his team fill the small stage to the brim with impressive designs and jaw-dropping choreography. Especially when combined with the stellar vocalists, those numbers ranging from You’re the Top to Blow, Gabriel, Blow certainly stand out. However, if you’re anything like this writer, you might also find that the intimate, smaller numbers truly hit the heart of the show.

It’s De-Lovely comes towards the end of Act I. Hope is discouraged, knowing deep down that she loves Billy, but her mother will never let her end the engagement. Alone on the ship deck, Billy finds her, and the two begin to sway and sing.

“The night is young, the skies are clear
So if you want to go walking, dear,
It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely.”

The lights dim to a deep blue, creating the feel of moonlight. As the song continues, the two become lost in each other, and start to dance. Other couples join and dance alongside them, but for Billy and Hope, it’s clear that the world only exists between the two of them. To put it simply, Ogea and Nowakowski enchant the Opening Night audience with their sweet duet. As the ending note plays and Billy dips Hope in a final pose, an audible sigh could be heard from the crowd. 

Inspiring vocalists and a jaunty score make Anything Goes a night of fun. If you’re a classical musical fan, then this is the show for you. If you have yet to experience a production of Cole Porter’s classic, Porchlight Music Theatre certainly offers an exciting introduction as we hit the show’s 90^th anniversary.

RECOMMENDED

Running through February 25, 2024 at Ruth Page Center for the Arts – 1016 N. Dearborn St. 773-777-9884

*Extended through March 10th!

Few shows this fall have been as highly anticipated as Porchlight Music Theatre’s production of ‘Sunset Boulevard’. Porchlight artistic director Michael Weber directs Chicago stage superstar Hollis Reznik in this vibrant revival. Aaron Benham conducts a full orchestra that really showcases the sweeping Andrew Lloyd Webber score. 

‘Sunset Boulevard’ is the 1993 musical adaptation of the Billy Wilder noir classic. In it, struggling screenwriter Joe Gillis (Billy Rude) stumbles into the Sunset Blvd mansion of reclusive former Hollywood starlet Norma Desmond (Hollis Reznik). She persuades him to help her fix up a script she’s written. Things get weird when Norma has the wrong idea about their friendship. 

There’s as much tabloid drama surrounding the development of this musical as there is on the stage. Many consider Norma Desmond to be Glenn Close’s definitive Broadway role. She reprised her role on Broadway last year in the high-grossing revival, but it was written for Patti LuPone who had originated the part in West End. 

First and foremost, this is Hollis Reznik’s show and her Norma Desmond isn’t going to let you forget it. Reznik is at her best when playing deranged older women, having appeared as Little Edie in ‘Grey Gardens’ at Northlight, and Judy Garland in ‘End of the Rainbow’ at the Milwaukee Rep. Seeing her fill shoes tailored for the likes of Glenn Close and Patti LuPone shows that Reznik is capable of more than just reinterpreting other people’s work. With her powerful voice and electrifying acting choices, Reznik makes this her own. The result is haunting and disturbing. Though Reznik herself is a successful actress, something about her performance as a faded star seems urgent. It’s as if to say perhaps this isn’t just a story about the Hollywood machine, but rather a parable about the way the workforce discards people once they’re no longer useful. 

That said, this is Hollis Reznik featuring the rest of the cast. Some notable standouts from Billy Rude as Joe Gillis and Michelle Lauto as Betty Schaefer rise to meet the high standard set by Reznik, but sadly the rest of the cast fades into the orchestra. While the beautiful score was provided by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the book and lyrics were penned by Don Black and Christopher Hampton. The dialogue and lyrics aren’t great, and many original critics in the 1990s were quick to point that out. The somewhat shallow lyrics are often repeated throughout the songs as a means to fill out the book, which is hard for any actor to make dynamic. This show does not endure because of the book, but instead for the performances and the central conflict between Norma and Joe. 

Those with an affinity for ‘Sunset Boulevard’ or missed Glenn Close on Broadway last year will be delighted by Porchlight’s faithful production. With an extension of the run announced before the opening, Porchlight proves that Hollis Reznik packs houses as the headliner. A Broadway tour can book a star to play Norma, but director Michael Weber shows us that our local Chicago theaters can do just as well if not better than any corporate-flavored national tour. 

Through December 8th at Porchlight Music Theatre at Ruth Page Center for the Arts. 1016 N Dearborn St. 773-777-9884