Podcast with Filmmaker ROBERT TRACHTENBERG from SHOWBIZ CHICAGO on Vimeo.

ROBERT TRACHTENBERG: Writer, Director, Producer, and Editor

Robert Trachtenberg is a Los Angeles-based photographer specializing in portrait, entertainment, and fashion photography.  Editorial clients include Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Esquire,Tatler, and Glamour. Entertainment and fashion clients include Neiman-Marcus, NBC, HBO, ABC, TBS, TNT, TCM, Disney, and MGM. Trachtenberg’s photos have been selected for numerous awards, including the American Photography Annual, Communication Arts, and American Photo Magazine‘s Images of the Year. Continue Reading

Podcast with Mary Arrchie Theater’s THE BRIG from SHOWBIZ CHICAGO on Vimeo.

THE BRIG director Jennifer Markowitz and cast members Connor McNamara, G. Riley Mills, Aaron Norman, Mike Newquist, Adam Soule, Alex Seeley, Eric Lindahl and Alex Levin discuss this rarely done play. For more information visit MaryArrchie.com Continue Reading

Select members of the Chicago cast of “Book of Mormon” will perform in a one-night-only cabaret fundraiser, Monday, April 29 at 7:30pm, at The Laugh Factory, 3175 North Broadway. Continue Reading

THE WHALE: VICTORY GARDENS THEATER
Cast members Dale Calandra (Hairspray), Leah Karpel, and Cheryl Graeff discuss their roles in Samuel D. Hunter’s critically acclaimed play THE WHALE, currently on stage at Chicago’s Victory Garden Theater.  Continue Reading

Podcast With Dead Writers’ ADAM PASEN & JIM SCHNEIDER from SHOWBIZ CHICAGO on Vimeo.

A discussion with playwright Adam Pasen and director Jim Schneider about Dead Writers’ Theatre Collective’s World Premiere production of TEA WITH EDIE AND FITZ, at the Greenhouse Theatre, April 26 – June 9.

Dead Writers Theatre Collective is proud to announce the Chicago premiere of Adam Pasen’s Tea with Edie and Fitz, directed by Jim Schneider, April 26 – June 9, at the Greenhouse Theater Complex, 2257 North Lincoln Ave. Preview performances are April 26 – April 28. The performance schedule is Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $15 for previews and $30 for the scheduled run. All tickets are available at deadwriters.net, greenhousetheater.org or 773.404.7336.

Tea with Edie and Fitz chronicles the tempestuous meeting of literary icons Edith Wharton (Patti Roeder) and F. Scott Fitzgerald (Madison Niederhauser) at her estate for tea in the 1920s. In scenes that jump backward and forward chronologically and span the entire globe (from glittering expatriate Paris to roaring post-WWI Manhattan), the play examines the lives of two authors at the height of their powers and imagines what may have happened in that meeting that led them to never speak again. Particular attention is paid to their relationships with their equally legendary partners: Fitzgerald and his beautiful and troubled Southern wife, Zelda (Nora Ulrey), and Wharton with the ghost of her mentor and longtime companion Henry James (Michael D. Graham). Tea with Edie and Fitz calls into question themes of gender, sanity, time, the purpose of art and the nature of love and loss.

Additional Tea with Edie and Fitz cast includes Christina Irwin, Luke Renn, Ben Muller, Peter Esposito, Bill Chamberlain, Sara Minton, Nelson Rodriquez, Megan Delay, Brandon Johnson and Bill Zorn.

The production staff also includes Kari Warfield, production stage manager; Matthew Bonaccorso, assistant stage manager; Reed Motz, assistant director; Kendra Kargenian, dialect coach; E. Matthew Walter, set designer; Elizabeth Wislar, costume designer; Jeffrey Shields, props designer; Angela Guest, properties mistress and Kris Kontour, technical director.

ABOUT ADAM PASEN

Adam Pasen, Dead Writer’s playwright in residence, recently received his Ph.D. in English with a focus in Playwriting from Western Michigan University. He is honored to continue his collaboration with Jim Schneider after appearing in Schneider’s production of An Ideal Husband and having Schneider direct his adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” at City Lit. Pasen’s plays have also been produced or workshopped by Theatre Oxford, ATC, Remy Bumppo, the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Festival, Tectonic Theater Project, and the Kennedy Center (2012 KCACTF National Ten-Minute Play Award). He has been a finalist for the Reva Shiner Comedy Award from Bloomington Playwrights Project and his play Badfic Love was a WordBRIDGE 2012 selection.

ABOUT JIM SCHNEIDER

Jim Schneider, artistic director and founder of Dead Writers Theatre Collective, and his productions have garnered a total of five Jeff Recommendations, 11 Jeff Nominations, and won two, both for Best Costume Design. His production of Design for Living won an After Dark Award for Best Costume Design. His production of The Philadelphia Story won three Broadway World Awards for Best Actor, Actress and Revival of a classic. Most recently he directed Dead Writer’s inaugural production Noel Coward’s The Vortex to critical and audience acclaim. Schneider has also directed Circle Theatre’s Jeff-Recommended productions of The Women and The Philadelphia Story, the Tennessee William’s classic drama, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and the critically acclaimed production of Noel Coward’s Hay Fever. In 2007 his production of An Ideal Husband received unanimous praise from the critics, played to sold out houses for eight weeks and was selected by Chicago Tribune critic Kerry Reid as one of the five best productions for 2007 and by Hedy Weiss of the Chicago Sun-Times as one of the best 10 for the season.

ABOUT DEAD WRITERS THEATRE COLLECTIVE

Dead Writers Theatre Collective, a not-for-profit performing arts collective, is committed to bringing the aesthetic back to the classics through fully staged, period-accurate and highly detailed productions. The Collective focuses on the writer as the primary artist and in their process, all aspects of Dead Writers’ productions and decisions radiate from this point. Their productions, comprised largely of Chicago-based directors, designers, actors and playwrights, are either by or about dead writers.

Adam Pasen’s Tea with Edie and Fitz, directed by Jim Schneider, April 26 – June 9, 2013 at the Greenhouse Theater Complex, 2257 North Lincoln Ave. Preview performances are April 26 – April 28.Opening/press night is Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. and will be followed by a reception.The performance schedule is Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Podcast With RICHARD WHITE from SHOWBIZ CHICAGO on Vimeo.

Musical theatre icon Richard White discusses the new production of JEKYLL & HYDE as well as his incredible career including voicing the role of Gaston in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and Phantom in Yeston & Kopit’s PHANTOM.  For more information visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com  Continue Reading

Christopher Allen and Laura Rook discuss their roles in Short Shakespeare! Romeo & Juliet currently playing at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.  For more information visit www.ChicagoShakes.com. Continue Reading

Podcast with ANDREAS MITISEK from Michael Roberts on Vimeo.

Patricia Barber from Michael Roberts on Vimeo.

Jazz great Patricia Barber discusses her critically acclaimed new album SMASH.  For more information visit www.PatriciaBarber.com Continue Reading

Podcast with Linda Balgord from Michael Roberts on Vimeo.

Musical theatre star Linda Balgord discusses her famous roles in Sunset Blvd., Cats, Aspects of Love and The Pirate Queen. Ms. Balgord is currently appearing in Now & Forever: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber at the The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. Continue Reading

Cabaret artist Joan Curto discusses her new show Joan Curto Sings Cole Porter: From Major to Minor.  For more information check out Joan’s website www.JoanCurto.com  To reserve tickets for her upcoming show at Davenport’s Piano Bar February 6-10, 2013, visit www.DavenportsPianoBar.com  Continue Reading

Brent Barrett discusses his role of Captain Hook in the national tour of “Peter Pan” opposite Cathy Rigby. We also take a look back at some of the famous musicals in which he has starred, including Grand Hotel, Annie Get Your Gun, The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago: The Musical and Follies (directed by Gary Griffin). www.BrentBarrett.com. Continue Reading

Podcast with MARC JAFFE from Michael Roberts on Vimeo.

Writer/Comedian Marc Jaffe discusses his new play “Side Effects May Include…” which is having its Chicago premiere at the Greenhouse Theatre. We also look back at some of the shows Marc has written for including Seinfeld and Mad About You. Continue Reading

Podcast with LIAM BENZVI from Michael Roberts on Vimeo.

Actor LIAM BENZVI discusses his role as Gabe in the Goodman Theatre’s World Premiere production of TEDDY FERRARA by playwright Christopher Shinn. Continue Reading

Podcast With Young Rapscallions from Michael Roberts on Vimeo.

The Young Rapscallions: Taylor Messersmith (Bass), Jonathan Sanders (Vocals), Chris Mintz-Plasse (Drums) and Nick Chamian (Guitar)discuss their music and concert tour.  For more information please visit www.TheYoungRapscallions.com.

For ticket information for their upcoming concert on January 18, 2013 in Chicago, please visit www.TheMontroseRoom.com

Podcast With R & B Superstar BRANDY from Michael Roberts on Vimeo.

R & B superstar Brandy Norwood discusses her incredible music career, her new album and her mentor Whitney Houston.

Brandy will be appearing at the Venue at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana on Saturday, January 19, 2013.  For more information, visit click here.

In 1993, Brandy Rayana Norwood signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records, releasing her self-titled debut album a year after, which was a commercial success with two number one singles on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart—”I Wanna Be Down”, and “Baby”. She went on to release the widely successful single, “The Boy Is Mine”, a duet with singer Monica, and her multi-platinum second album Never Say Never in 1998. Norwood garnered critical acclaim with subsequent albums Full Moon (2002), Afrodisiac (2004), Human (2008), and Two Eleven (2012), though experiencing career and commercial turbulence throughout the 2000s. Within pop music, she has become known for her distinctive sound, characterised by her peculiar timbre, voice-layering, melodic riffs, and beat-driven R&B. She has since been signed to both Epic Records and RCA Records, where she has acquired a catalogue of hits, with singles such as “What About Us?”, “Full Moon”, and “Put It Down” being her most successful.

Apart from her work in music, Norwood is widely known for her reality series Brandy: Special Delivery (2002) and Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business, co–starring her younger brother Ray J, as well as her roles as judge on the premiere season of America’s Got Talent and a contestant on the eleventh season of Dancing with the Stars. She has sold over 8.62 million copies of her first five studio albums in the United States, and over 30 million records worldwide. Additionally, she has won over 100 awards as a recording artist. In 1999, Billboard ranked Norwood among the top 20 of the Top Pop Artists of the 1990s. In 2010, Billboard included Norwood in their Top 50 R&B and Hip Hop Artists list of the past 25 years.

Grammy nominated Singer/Songwriter/Producer Jack Petruzzelli discusses his incredible career in the music industry including his collaborations with Joan Osborn, Rufus Wainwright and his Beatles tribute band The Fab Faux. Continue Reading

Podcast with cast of I Love Lucy Live On Stage from Michael Roberts on Vimeo.

The fabulous foursome; Sierna Irwin, Bill Mendieta, Curtis PettyJohn and Joanna Daniels, discuss their iconic roles in the hit production of I LOVE LUCY® LIVE ON STAGE, now playing at the Broadway Playhouse.  For more information visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com 

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that I LOVE LUCY® LIVE ON STAGE, the brand new hit musical stage show adapted from the longest-running and most beloved television program in history, starring Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel: America’s favorite foursome, is extending by popular demand at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 East Chestnut St.).  Tickets for performances through March 3, 2013 are on-sale now.

Returning to the lead iconic roles are BroadwayWorld Chicago Award Winner (Best Actress in a Touring Production) Sirena Irwin (Spongebob Squarepants; San Francisco’s Love’s Labours Lost) and BroadwayWorld Award Winner Bill Mendieta (Smash; The Hunchback of Notre Dame) as the infamous Ricardo couple.  Local Chicagoans Curtis Pettyjohn (Chicago production of Shear Madness; My Fair Lady) and Joanna Daniels (LADCC’s Becky’s New Car) continue to star as neighbors Fred and Ethel Mertz.

Ashley Braxton (Pinkalicious: The Musical), Lauren Creel (Romeo and Juliet), Gregory Franklin(Divorce! The Musical), Karl Hamilton (The Three Musketeers), George Keating (Off-Broadway’sSchoolhouse Rock Live!), Peter Kevoian (TATC’s Little Shop of Horrors), Ed Kross (Animal Crackers at The Goodman Theatre), Debbie Laumand-Blanc (Drury Theatre’s Oklahoma), Doug Pawlik (Eastland: A New Musical at Lookingglass Theatre Company), Rebecca Prescott (Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical National Tour), Sara Sevigny (Assassins),Holly Stauder (Annie at Paramount Theatre) and Richard Strimer (West Side Story) complete the cast.

Imagine stepping back in time and into the Desilu Playhouse soundstage!  It’s 1952 and you are a member of the studio audience awaiting the filming of two hilarious and oh so familiar “I Love Lucy” episodes.  A charming host entertains and enlightens you to the behind-the-scenes filming process, the 1950’s hi-fidelity technology, and this brand new thing called ‘television’.  The episodes begin and you witness, firsthand, the side-splitting antics of that crazy redhead in the  Ricardo’s New York apartment and thrill to the Cuban sounds of “The Ricky Ricardo Orchestra” at the famed Tropicana Nightclub.  In between scenes?  The Crystaltone Singers perform live advertising jingles of the show’s newest sponsors in perfect 50s style harmony.  Can you say ‘Brylcreem’?!

The iconic television hit sitcom “I Love Lucy” was most recently honored in September 2012 as the “Best TV Show Of All Time” and the “Greatest TV Comedy” by People Magazine and ABC’s “20/20” special “Best in TV: The Greatest TV Shows of Our Time.”  I LOVE LUCY® LIVE ON STAGEis produced under license from CBS Consumer Products.

The Chicago Tribune says I LOVE LUCY® LIVE ON STAGE is “A big variety show for your money!  A risk-free evening of music & familiar comedy!”  The Chicago Sun-Times exclaims the show is “A sweet 95-minute musical comedy! Those nostalgic for 1950s America will have their internal time clocks rewound!”

I LOVE LUCY® LIVE ON STAGE is produced by Stephen Kahn (Executive Producer), David George (Executive Producer) and Hyra George (Producer), Kim Flagg (Co-Adaptor/Producer),Allan Williams (Executive Producer), Dede Harris (Producer), Sharon Karmazin (Producer), andDavid Carpenter (Associate Producer).  Staged, directed and co-adapted for the stage by Rick Sparks, the creative team also includes Aaron Henderson (Set Designer), Wayne Moore (Musical Supervision, Arrangements and Special Lyrics), Peitor Angell (Original Music Composer), Noah Mitz (Lighting Designer), Shon LeBlanc (Costume Designer), Cricket S. Myers (Sound Designer),Diane Martinous (Hair /Wig Designer), and Alan Bukowiecki (Music Director).

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

The performance schedule for I LOVE LUCY® LIVE ON STAGE is as follows:

Wednesdays at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.

Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays at 2 & 8 p.m.

Sundays at 2 & 6:30 p.m.

Please note: Ticket prices and performance schedule are subject to change.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are on-sale now and range from $35–$85.  A select number of premium seats are also available. Tickets for groups of 10+ start at $25 and can be purchased by calling 312-977-1710.  Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut St.), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Kiosk at Water Tower Place (845 N. Michigan Ave.), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775‐2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com or www.ilovelucylive.com.