Legally Blonde at the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre

 

“Omigod You Guys, “Legally Blonde the Musical” kicked off The Marriottt Theatre 2012 season in a brightly pink and amped up production that leaves you both exhilarated and dizzy if not a little exhausted from all the excitement that's going on the Marriott stage.

The musical based on the novel by Amanda Brown and then turned into the hit 2001 movie starring Reese Witherspoon packs a lot of punch in the short amount of time and if sometimes if you feel that the message that the wiliness to do anything for love ultimately gives into the power of personal self acceptance passes you by rather quickly, it does leave you with a fun-filled score that's filled with as much wit as it is product placement.

Legally Blonde as many know who have seen the movie, however for those who haven't is the story of the ever popular and ever determined Elle Woods, who at the start of the show's main goal seem to be to become the wife of the equally popular Warner Huntington III.   Her plans get sidetracked when Warner dumps her to attend Harvard Law School and also to marry someone who appears to be more serious. However to prove appearances can be deceiving, Elle like any modern women decides to hit the books and apply to Harvard where not only does she get in she's able to rise to the top of her class, get everyone to like her, and belt out a pop score with ease.  All of this while maintaining her signature wardrobe of pink.      

In the starring role of Elle, Chelsea Packard sometimes lacks the likeability that is required for the role but provides a strong voice and lands the comedic aspects of the role with aplomb. As Emmett, Elle's champion David Larsen isn't able to make much of an impact except during his song “Chip on My Shoulder.” Much like Jennifer Coolidge in the film and Orfeh on Broadway Christine Sherrill as Paulette steals the show with both her belting and her comedic skills making her role the crowd pleaser it deserves to be. As Professor Callahan Gene Weygandt is able to make a terrible song like “Blood in the Water” land and as Vivienne Stephanie Binetti is able to convincingly turn her character from being unlikeable to slightly more likeable in the matter of a few moments. The rest of the cast are all excellent and energy levels are as up as if the cast were being pumped with several red bulls.

The show is paced so fast that it only allows a few seconds to breath but all of that is handled expertly by director/choreographer Marc Robin's who does wonders with the material. Costume designer Nancy Missimi is able to do wonders with the differences between East Coast and Wet Coast attire and Diane Ferry Williams lighting design never misses a beat.

The music written by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin is catchy and tuneful and feels such power pop anthems as “What You Want,” “Positive,” “Chip On My Shoulder,” and “So Much Better” and the book by Heather Hatch is quick with the one liners and keeps the action flowing while still remaining true to the movie as to not confuse people not familiar with the material.

Legally Blonde the musical gives you the impression that any dream in life can be accomplished with a little hard work, a fabulous wardrobe and to always remain positive no matter what hurdles live might throw you. Isn't that what we all wish life should really be about all the time?

The performance schedule is Wednesdays at 1:00 pm and 8:00pm, Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturday at 4:30 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Ticket prices range from $40 to $48, plus tax and handling fees. Seniors and students receive $5.00 off a full price theater ticket on Wednesday at 1:00 pm, Saturday at 4:30 pm and Sunday at 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings a limited number of Dinner and Theatre tickets are available for $55.00 per person plus handling fees. Dinner is at Kings Wharf Restaurant or the Fairfield Inn (based on dining availability). Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets with a major credit card, call the Marriott Theater Box Office at 847.634.0200 or www.TicketMaster.com. Visit www.MarriottTheater.com for more information.

MadKap Productions Presents

the Midwest Premiere of

at the Greenhouse Theater Center

from January 19 Through March 11, 2012

Chicago – Wendy Kaplan, President of MadKap Productions, announced today that the riveting new production CLUTTER: The True Story of the Collyer Brothers Who Never Threw Anything Out will make its Midwest Premiere at the Greenhouse Theater Center,2257 N Lincoln Ave., previewing January 19;opening Friday, January 20; and closingMarch 11, 2012.CLUTTER is written by seven-time Emmy Award winning playwright Mark Saltzman (The Muppets andSesame Street, Writer’s Guild Award nomination, and five L.A. Ovation Award nominations including Best Musical).Wayne Mell, Managing Director at Citadel, will direct the production. CLUTTER originally made its World Premiere at the Colony Theater in Burbank in 2004 to much acclaim.

The World Premiere of CLUTTER received rave reviews. The Los Angeles Times selected the play for the “Critic’s Choice” Award stating, “This examination of the Collyer brothers—the world’s most famous packrats—is shamelessly entertaining… richly comic… brilliant.”The Hollywood Reporter raved that “CLUTTER is charming [and] delightful… wise, generous and witty.”KABC enthused that CLUTTER is “a riveting play… As a study in bizarre behavior and obsession, the play is engaging and engrossing… hilarious… an intoxicatingly theatrical milieu… scores a clean dramatic sweep.”

CLUTTER is based on the compelling true story of the wealthy, reclusive Collyer brothers whobecame hoarders in their Fifth Avenue mansion in 1920s Harlem. After years of compulsive collecting, the brothers have become notorious shut-ins in their aristocratic New York neighborhood. Langley Collyer is missing and Homer Collyer is found dead amongst floor-to-ceiling piles of newspapers, books, and junk. The police investigating the case, two brothers with a strained relationship mirroring that of the Collyers, are simultaneously making discoveries about themselves. Narrated by the brothers and the police investigating the bizarre case, this darkly fascinating tale is a poignant and profound exploration of human behavior.

There will be a talkback session immediately following the performances every other Thursday evening beginning on January 19. Dr. Scott Kaplan, an Illinois licensed clinical psychologist, will facilitate talkbacks to address questions about hoarding and other themes addressed in the play.

CLUTTER stars Andrew J. Pond as “Langley Collyer” (Metropolis, Citadel, Piccolo, Redtwist, Blue Heron, and Circle Theatre); Northwestern and University of Chicago graduate Edward Kuffert as “Homer Collyer” (Center Stage, City Lit, Inconceivable, Halcyon, Hubris, GroundUp, Big Noise, Citadel, and Jeff nominated as “Danforth” inThe Crucible at Infamous Commonwealth); Joe Mack as “Sgt. Reilly Dolan”; and Michael Jay Bullaro as “Patrolman Keven Dolan” (Goodman, Citadel, and Harper Theatre Ensemble). The production also features Jeff Award winner Stephen M. Genovese (former Artistic Director of Bohemian Theatre Company and Tim Walsh.

The artistic team for CLUTTER is led by director Wayne Mell who has been Managing Director at Citadel since 2009, most recently directingSomething’s Afoot (which starred CLUTTER leads Andrew J. Pond and Edward Kuffert). Mell began his directing career in 1976, receiving the Talented Student Scholarship from Northern Illinois University, going on to continue his study of directing at Victory Gardens, as well as improvisation at The Second City. He continued to direct at Citadel, Attic Playhouse, and Bailiwick Repertory’s Director’s Festival.

Sound Design is by Bob Boxer, Lighting Design is by Matthew R. Godlewski, Properties Design is by Mary Odowd and Set Design is by Andrei Onegin.

Playwright Mark Saltzman, who began his career writing forThe Muppets with Jim Henson, is the winner of seven Emmy Awards for his work onSesame Street. He has also been nominated for the Writer’s Guild Award and five L.A. Ovation Awards, including Best Musical. Notable works includeA, My Name is Alice; The Tin Pan Alley Rag; Romeo and Bernadette; andMr. Shaw Goes to Hollywood. His work has been shown at Laguna Playhouse, The Ballroom, Soho Rep, 13^th Street Theater, Village Gate, Pasedena Playhouse, Goodspeed, The Cleveland Playhouse, Florida’s Maltz Jupiter Theatre, New York’s Roundabout Theatre Company, Miami’s Coconut Grove Playhouse, and New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse.Film credits include Disney, Showtime, SONY, and Universal, includingMrs. Santa Claus (starring Angela Lansbury), The Adventures of Milo and Otis,Three Ninjas Kick Back, and The Red Sneakers. Years after being scolded by his mother, who referred to him as a Collyer brother for having a messy room, Saltzman’s research on the famous hoarders inspired him to write CLUTTER.

Producer Wendy Kaplan has been producing theatre since the age of eighteen. She was previously Managing Director of Stage Two Theatre Company and has produced for many regional theatre companies and worked on various Broadway productions, including Lost in the Stars, The Changing Room, Spofford, and Leonard Bernstein’s Mass. She has also produced many shows at Citadel Theatre Company in Lake Forest, includingSomething’s Afoot, directed by CLUTTER director Wayne Mell.

Performances for CLUTTER will be Thursday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $ 15.00 for students, $30.00 for seniors $30-35 for groups and $40 for general admission. For tickets, call the Greenhouse Theater Box Office at 773.404.7336, or visitwww.greenhousetheater.org. The Box Office is open Wednesday through Saturday 12-8 p.m. and Sunday 12-4 p.m. For group tickets call 312.423.6612 or visit www.grouptheatertix.com.

"Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting" at Lookingglass

Opening at the Lookingglass Theatre Company tonight and playing though February 19th 2012 located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works is the new play "Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting: written by Ed Schmidt and directed by ensemble member J. Nicole Brooks.    

Baseball’s Opening Day is one week away, and Branch Rickey, General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, will call up Jackie Robinson to break the color-barrier and play as the Major League’s first black ballplayer. If he agrees, Robinson will face loud and heated opposition from virtually every owner, manager, and player in baseball – and it won’t be a cakewalk with the fans, either. Who will be his allies be if he makes the most daring and important play of his life? 

Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting features Artistic Associates Kevin Douglas (Clancy Hope) and Anthony Fleming III (Joe Louis), Javon Johnson (Jackie Robinson), James Vincent Meredith (Paul Robeson), Larry Neumann, Jr. (Branch Rickey) and Ernest Perry (Bill "Bojangles" Robinson).

Award-winning Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks (Black Diamond, Fedra: Queen of Haiti) directs this dazzling fast-ball script by Ed Schmidt. When 1947’s biggest African American personalities – baseball great-to-be Jackie Robinson, boxer Joe Louis, entertainer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, actor and activist Paul Robeson – meet, ideas and ideals clash and sparks fly, and America’s national pastime will never be the same.