6-6-08
Not a Steady Run
Less than two weeks after announcing an extension through Oct. 5, the producers of Keith Huff’s A Steady Rain posted a June 8 closing notice. The quick reversal has many locals scratching their heads, since producers Frank Gero, Ray Gaspard and Jono Gero contend that ticket demand has been “extraordinary.” Both actors in the show, Randy Steinmeyer and Peter DeFaria, have been cast in Public Enemy, currently filming in town, but are able to maintain the play’s regular performance schedule at the Royal George. Publicist Katherine Hughes, of Noreen Heron & Associates, said the producers wished to focus on creating a New York production rather than expend energy on maintaining the Chicago edition through the summer and beyond. Indeed, the press release announcing the closure states the show “will eventually open in New York.” However, there’s no New York when or where to announce yet, nor word as to whether Steinmeyer, DeFaria or director Russ Tutterow will be involved in other productions.
How much Much is too much? Chicago this summer will see four overlapping productions of Much Ado About Nothing. The Festival Theatre in Oak Park is up first with a June 11-July 19 production, which overlaps the June 21-Aug. 10 GroundUp Theatre genderfuck production touring city parks, both of which overlap the First Folio (Oak Brook) production, June 25-Aug.3, all of which coincide with Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s rap version, Funk It Up About Nothin’, June 25-Aug. 3 (before heading to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival).
Producer Stuart Oken spent little time moping about his split with Northwestern University and the American Music Theatre Project (AMTP), which he conceived and founded. His Elephant Eye Theatrical (a commercial entity in which Michael Leavitt also is a partner) and Playwrights Horizons have just opened a new Off-Broadway musical, Saved (through June 22).
You’re first reaction might be “Huh? Saved? The 1960s Edward Bond play in which London punks stone a baby to death? How do you walk out humming THAT?” But, no, this is an adaptation of a limited-release 2004 MGM feature film; a very contemporary look at high school love with significant Christian and gay themes. The writing team is Michael Friedman (music and lyrics), and John Dempsey and Rinne Groff (book and lyrics). Friedman and Groff worked with Oken at Northwestern last year on In the Bubble. The director of Saved is Gary Griffin.
The Journeymen have become the resident troupe at the Chicago Park District’s Berger Park (6215 N. Sheridan Road), beginning with a June 26-Aug. 2 production of the Jonathan Larson musical, Tick, Tick…Boom! The J-Men will convert the coach house of the small lakefront park into a legitimate theatre space fully equipped with lighting, sound and patron seating. Up until now, the coach house and the main Berger Mansion have been used for theatrical performances only on a temporary basis. The Journeymen have produced complete seasons in one location before, but never have committed to a long-term residency or to making capital improvements. The park partnership includes the Dawghaus Café, directly next door to the Coach House, providing additional storage and office space and a box office. The restaurant’s patio stage will offer free weekend musical concerts, June through September.
There’s a name change in Schaumburg, regrettably not the suburb itself (we favor O’Hare Heights): the former Chicago Comedy Company now is Laugh Out Loud, newly purchased by veteran improv performer, director and teacher Lillie Frances. She’s renovated the space, upgraded the décor and stage, cast some fresh faces and added a kitchen and full bar. She’s retained the Chicago Comedy Company name as the corporate entertainment and training division of Laugh Out Loud.
Laugh Out Loud opens June 13 offering two shows each on Friday and Saturday nights, all of which will be 100 percent improvised from audience suggestions (may the Ghost of Del smile upon you). Frances says the early shows (7:30) “are always guaranteed to be family appropriate and fun for all ages” while the 9:30 shows are geared more towards adults. Yeah, we’ll see how long the family thing lasts, especially with performers hired from iO, ComedySportz and Annoyance.
Laugh Out Loud Theater is at 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg, just off of I-290, south of Woodfield Mall.
Many critics find it novel when actors double as musicians, as in the recent Sweeney Todd that stopped briefly in Chicago. But performers portraying rock musicians have done it for years. Case in point: the current Drury Lane Oak Brook Terrace production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (through July 27). The Drury Lane line-up includes Justin Berkobien (starring as Buddy Holly), American Standard Stratocaster; Michael Gerhart, acoustic guitar; Bernie Yvon, alto saxophone; Michael Mahler, banjo, acoustic guitar and electric guitar; Cody Siragusa and Dieterich Gray, upright bass; Greg Hirte, fiddle; Jim Barclay, drums; Jennifer Loftus, piano, cello and keyboard; Derek Hasenstab, six string bass; and Katie Miller, fiddle and baritone saxophone. Maybe producer Kyle DeSantis threw them in a room and told ‘em not to come out until they sounded like a band, just like The Monkees.
We reported six extensions in the May 9 Curtain and we have more this week: Piven Theatre’s Because They Have No Words, now through June 22; Raven’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor, through June 28; Drury Lane’s Shout: The Mod Musical, through July 20; Timelines’ Fiorello!, through July 30. Also, Gift Theatre has arranged its first-ever production transfer, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, which moves to the Victory Gardens Greenhouse, June 12-July 20. The Stephen Adly Guirgis play is directed by Kevin Christopher Fox and features a cast of 15, among them Gift founder Michael Patrick Thornton in the title role.
Many local folk will recall the highly-regarded Pyewacket Theatre Company under artistic director Kate Harris. One of the troupe’s great successes was a stage adaptation of Francis Ford Coppola’s film The Conversation. Harris, who adapted the screenplay, has worked for over two years to have the piece produced in New York. She was rewarded with an April 10-May 18 run at the 29th Street Repertory, the company that first staged Tracy Letts’ Killer Joe in the Big Apple. Reviews were mixed but included raves from The New Yorker and Time Out New York. Harris reports some critics attended one of only four previews, with crucial technical elements not fully in place. Still, The Conversation earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for Joe Fosco’s Outstanding Sound Design.