Music Theater Works is heading from Evanston to Skokie, where it says it can grow By Chris Jones Chicago Tribune | Aug 30, 2020 at 1:11 PM Music Theater Works, the 40-year-old Evanston company formerly known as Light Opera Works, is to leave its longtime home on the campus of Northwestern University and take up residence in the main theater at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie next summer. The move could well be a game-changer for the company, which specializes in classic and family musicals performed with their original full orchestrations. At Northwestern’s Cahn Auditorium, the non- profit company was restricted to dates when the aging facility was not in use by the university, and performance runs were limited. The venue also presented parking challenges for patrons. The move to Skokie will not only provide free parking, full bar service and more lobby space, but allow the company to expand its runs and open up its schedule to include prime weekends. “We hope to explore the entire spectrum of musical theater in Skokie,” said the recently hired producing artistic director Kyle A. Dougan. Dougan also said he hopes to produce smaller musicals in the second space inside the facility, currently used by Northlight Theatre. For the North Shore Center, which is controlled by the Village of Skokie, the arrival of Music Theater Works means both a popular and active new tenant and a hedge against the departure of Northlight Theatre, which (in a flip of the Music Theater Works plans) is trying to build a new facility in Evanston, although the coronavirus crisis has delayed those plans. Music Theater Works is moving its performances to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. (Michael Kardas photo) Michael Pauken, the executive director of the North Shore Center, said he thinks that there would be plenty of room for both theater companies. He also said that he expects the Music Theater Works transition to be smooth. “My expectation is that most of those subscribers already come here to see shows at least once in while,” Pauken said, “and that they will already be familiar with our building.” The main theater at the North Shore Center is the size of a small Broadway house (it once hosted the pre-Broadway tryout of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”) and offers a very large stage and a full orchestra pit with an elevator. Dougan said he see the move as a huge opportunity for the $1.5 million company to expand its audience and work towards becoming fully affiliated with the Actors’ Equity union. “We just have never had the resources before,” Dougan said, “but we think this move will help us build our audience.” Music Theater Works already plans a busy second half of 2021 in Skokie. Its residency will (state regulations permitting) begin in June with a concert in the smaller space, followed by major productions of “Mamma Mia!” (August), “Ragtime” (October) and “Billy Elliot” (December). Chris Jones is a Tribune critic. [email protected] Chris Jones Chris Jones is chief theater critic and culture columnist for the Chicago Tribune. He also serves as Broadway critic for the New York Daily News and a critic for WBBM-Ch. 2. His latest book is "Rise Up! Broadway and American Society from 'Angels in America' to 'Hamilton.'" He has a Ph.D. from Ohio State and lives in Chicago with his wife and sons. .