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50 E Ida B Wells Dr Lily Oberman Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre AuditoriumTheatre.org 312.341.2331 (office) | 973.699.5312 (cell) [email protected] Release date: September 26, 2019
AUDITORIUM THEATRE SALUTES LEGENDARY LYRICIST AND COMPOSER STEPHEN SONDHEIM IN HONOR OF HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY WITH CHICAGO CELEBRATES SONDHEIM! Directed and Produced by Cabaret Star Joan Curto with Rich Daniels Leading the Chicago Philharmonic Featuring Performers from Across the City Performance Preceded by an Intimate Gala Reception Honoring Patti Eylar and Charlie Gardner Chicago Celebrates Sondheim! on November 16, 2019
(CHICAGO, IL) On November 16, 2019, the Auditorium Theatre continues its 130th anniversary season with a salute to the living legend Stephen Sondheim in a one-night-only event, directed and produced by local cabaret star Joan Curto. In Chicago Celebrates Sondheim!, performers from across the city pay tribute to the lyricist and composer in honor of his 90th birthday season by putting their own spin on songs from classic productions such as Company, Follies, Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, and more.
The Auditorium Theatre’s Annual Fall Gala, attended by 300 of the theatre's friends and supporters, precedes the performance. Patti Eylar and Charlie Gardner are honored with the fourth annual Adler and Sullivan Award for their continued commitment to the Auditorium Theatre and the performing arts in Chicago.
“Stephen Sondheim changed musical theatre as we know it, and we are thrilled to bring together some of Chicago’s greatest performers as they tip their hats to him and his contributions to the genre,” says C.J. Dillon, Auditorium Theatre Chief Programming Officer. “It is fitting to commemorate Sondheim’s legacy and the impact he has had ahead of his milestone 90th birthday.”
The event features performances from theatre, jazz, classical, and folk musicians, including singer- songwriter Susan Werner, musical theatre performer Heidi Kettenring, jazz singer Paul Marinaro, tenor Rodrick Dixon, cabaret artist Beckie Menzie, classical and spiritual vocalist Robert Sims, and singer-pianist Johnny Rodgers, in addition to a vocal ensemble that includes David Edelfelt, Sophie Grimm, Laura Freeman, Tom Michael, Marianne Murphy Orland, and Jaymes Osborne. The finale of the program also features soprano Alfreda Burke and students from Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts. Orchestral accompaniment for the evening is provided by the Chicago Philharmonic, conducted by Rich Daniels.
Curto has been performing the work of Sondheim for decades, and her interpretations of his music have been called “savvy, brainy, [and] shrewdly delivered” and “an illuminating way to celebrate the riches of Sondheim’s art” by the Chicago Tribune. Her previous productions at the Auditorium, commemorating Cole Porter in honor of his 125th birthday and Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne in honor of their centennials, received much acclaim.
“I’m delighted to highlight Sondheim’s incredible body of work at the Auditorium Theatre, one of my favorite places to perform in the city,” says Curto. “His beautiful music and lyrics will sound even better performed at the acoustic marvel that is the Auditorium, enhanced by the scenic backdrop of the iconic theatre.”
About the Performers
Joan Curto (Director and Producer) is a vocalist who has appeared across the nation in concerts and clubs, often celebrating the music of the Great American Songbook. She has performed in many Chicago venues, including the Auditorium, the Harris Theater, and Victory Gardens Theater. Curto has previously directed and produced a tribute to Cole Porter and a celebration of Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne at the Auditorium Theatre.
Beckie Menzie (Music Director) is a pianist and vocalist who has appeared on some of the nation’s top stages, including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. As part of a duo with vocalist Tom Michael, she has received the Chicago After Dark Outstanding Cabaret Artist Award.
Rich Daniels (Conductor) is the founder of the City Lights Orchestra, a highly sought-after 45- piece ensemble that has performed with musicians including Ray Charles, Mel Torme, Dionne Warwick, Paul McCartney, and more. He has previously collaborated with Joan Curto on Cole Porter 125 and Ella and Lena: The Ladies and Their Music at the Auditorium Theatre.
Rodrick Dixon is a powerful tenor who stars in the Auditorium Theatre’s annual production of Too Hot to Handel. He has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, among countless others. He recently performed at the inauguration of Mayor Lori Lightfoot with his wife Alfreda Burke.
David Edelfelt is a voice teacher, vocal coach, composer, arranger, and accompanist, as well as a talented choral conductor. He has performed at the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention, Park West, and others. Recently, he presented his solo show Broadway Baritones at Davenport’s.
Laura Freeman has toured the United States and Europe extensively in productions including Into the Woods and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. As a cabaret performer, she has created tributes to Doris Day, Julie Andrews, and others, and performed as a soloist at the Auditorium Theatre, Park West, and the Acorn Theatre.
Sophie Grimm is a lifelong vocalist and actor who has appeared as Paulette in Paramount Theater’s Legally Blonde, Mom in Trevor at Writers Theatre, and Desdemona in Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Othello: The Remix.
Heidi Kettenring is best known for starring as Nessarose in Broadway In Chicago’s production of Wicked. Her national tour credits include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and she has also performed at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Northlight Theatre, Court Theatre, and Drury Lane Theatre, among others. She is the recipient of a Jeff Award for her portrayal of Anna in The King and I.
Paul Marinaro is a jazz vocalist who has performed at venues including the Green Mill, Andy’s Jazz Club, and the Chicago Jazz Festival in Millennium Park. Marinaro’s performances have been named among the best of the year in the Chicago Tribune numerous times. He has performed with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra and was the sole vocalist in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2019 production of The Oscar Peterson Story.
Tom Michael has performed on stages including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, the Auditorium Theatre, and the Empire Room. He regularly performs in cabaret, symphony, and orchestra concerts with his musical partner Beckie Menzie.
Marianne Murphy Orland is a big band singer, a cabaret artist, and a voice actor who has performed at Victory Gardens, Park West, and countless other venues. She is known for her tributes to Karen Carpenter, Petula Clark, and Dolly Parton.
Jaymes Osborne is a local Chicago performer who has appeared in Hairspray and Jesus Christ Superstar at the Paramount Theatre, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Porchlight Music Theatre, and Avenue Q at the Mercury Theater.
Johnny Rodgers has performed as a piano player and music director for Liza Minelli performances and tours and wrote the song “I Would Never Leave You” for her Tony Award- winning production Liza’s at the Palace. He has appeared at venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and many others.
Robert Sims has been hailed by critics for his rich tone, energetic performance, and captivating stage presence. He has been praised for his interpretations of African American spirituals, which he has performed throughout the United States, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia at venues including Symphony Center, Lincoln Center, and the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.
Susan Werner has written 12 albums, in a range of styles from folk and rock to gospel, country, and chamber music. She is renowned as a charismatic performer and has appeared on NPR’s World Café and Mountain Stage. Her songs have been recorded by Tom Jones, Michael Feinstein, Betty Buckley, and Christine Ebersole, among countless others.
Performance Information
Chicago Celebrates Sondheim!
Saturday, November 16 | 8PM
Tickets start at $30 and are available online here, by phone at 312.341.2300, or in person at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office (50 E Ida B Wells Dr). Chicago Celebrates Sondheim! is part of the Auditorium Theatre's American Music Series subscription, which offers a 20% discount on tickets and also includes The Nightmare Before Christmas and Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more people are also available.
The Auditorium Theatre also offers $20 student rush tickets to full-time college students and $5 tickets to young people ages 13-19 with Urban Gateways' Teen Arts Pass program. The Auditorium Theatre's ADMIT ONE program offers complimentary tickets to Chicago-area community groups.
THE WALSH GROUP – Presenting Sponsor
About the Annual Fall Gala
Tickets to the Annual Fall Gala include a seat to the Chicago Celebrates Sondheim! performance. Dinner and a cocktail reception take place at the Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, immediately prior to the show. The gala also features the presentation of the fourth annual Adler and Sullivan Award, named after the theatre’s founding architects and given to Patti Eylar and Charlie Gardner for their longtime dedication to the Auditorium Theatre. Together, Eylar and Gardner have supported countless productions at the Auditorium, including Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah, The Royal Ballet, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago/Malpaso Dance Company.
Eylar is the co-director of Chicago Ballet Arts, where she teaches and trains the next generation of dancers, and Gardner is the former President and CEO of the Chicago Dock & Canal Trust. Eylar led The Joffrey Ballet’s Women’s Board for three years and Gardner is an Emeritus Director of the Auditorium Theatre’s Board of Directors, in addition to being a Life Trustee of Roosevelt University.
For more information or to purchase tickets/tables, contact Kelly Saroff Allen at 312.341.2364 or [email protected].
Press photos and video are available here.
Upcoming Events at the Auditorium Theatre
October 4: Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater + Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre
October 16-27: The Joffrey Ballet – Jane Eyre
October 31+November 1: Disney in Concert: The Nightmare Before Christmas
November 7-9: 93XRT Presents The String Cheese Incident
November 10: Magic Reality Group Presents Sleeping Beauty Dreams
November 16: Chicago Celebrates Sondheim!
November 21: An Evening with David Sedaris
November 30-December 29: The Joffrey Ballet – The Nutcracker
January 18+19: Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah
January 26: National Geographic Live – On the Trail of Big Cats
About the Auditorium Theatre
The Auditorium Theatre, located at 50 E Ida B Wells Dr at Roosevelt University in Chicago, is an Illinois, not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community, and educational programming to all of Chicago and beyond as The Theatre for the People. The organization also is committed to the continued restoration and preservation of the National Historic Landmark, and was recognized by the League of Historic American Theatres as the Outstanding Historic Theatre for 2019 for its programming, restoration, and community engagement.
The Auditorium Theatre 2019-20 Season is made possible in part with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, and the Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel. Chicago Magazine is the official magazine sponsor. For more information about programming, volunteer, and donor opportunities or theatre tours, please call 312.341.2310 or visit AuditoriumTheatre.org. For a complete listing of events at the Auditorium Theatre, please click here. Chicago Celebrates Sondheim!, photos courtesy of Joan Curto. | Auditorium Theatre, photo by Lucio Vergara.
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50 E Ida B Wells Dr, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
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