WICKED IS FLYING BACK TO CHICAGO OCTOBER 30, 2013

Maybe, just maybe, I'll FINALLY get to see this show? 

Broadway In Chicago is pleased to announce WICKED, Broadway’s biggest blockbuster, will return to Chicago in celebration of its 10^th anniversary on Broadway and play the Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph) for a limited eight-week engagement, Oct. 30 to Dec. 21, 2013.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award®-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman (“My So Called Life,” “Once And Again” and “thirtysomething”), WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is directed by two-time Tony® Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…).

Based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED, winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony® Awards, is the untold story of the witches of Oz.  It is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

“We are thrilled to bring WICKED back home to Chicago,” said Lou Raizin, President of Broadway In Chicago. “To be part of WICKED’s 10^th anniversary celebration and once again share WICKED with Chicago audiences is a great honor.”

Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz.  One – born with emerald-green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood.  The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular.  WICKED tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

WICKED has “cast quite a spell” (Washington Post) throughout North America, breaking box office records in every city that it has played, including Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Philadelphia and Boston to name a few.

WICKED has been declared “A Cultural Phenomenon” by Variety and “The Best Musical of the Decade” by Entertainment Weekly.  There are currently 7 productions worldwide: New York, London, Holland, Japan, Australia/New Zealand, and two concurrent North American Tours.  Globally, WICKED has amassed nearly $2.9 billion in ticket sales and has been seen by 36 million people worldwide in its 9-year history.

WICKED features set design by Tony® Award winner Eugene Lee (Ragtime, Show Boat, Candide, Sweeney Todd), costume design by Tony® winner Susan Hilferty (Into the Woods, Assassins), lighting design by Tony® nominee Kenneth Posner (The Coast of Utopia, Hairspray) and sound design by Tony Meola (The Lion King).  Stephen Oremus is the show’s musical director.  Orchestrations are by William David Brohn, with dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott.

Grammy Award-Winning Cast recording available on Decca Broadway.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are now available for groups of 15 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. Individual tickets for WICKED will go on-sale at a later date. 

Chicago Auto Show's Women Driving Excellence Sponsored by Kia

Woman's Day? At the Chicago Auto Show?  To some it might not seem like girls and gears go together. And let's be honest for the most part woman aren't concerned with the technical side of cars.  Horsepower, torque?  I couldn't really care less.  I DO know I prefer a 6 cylinder ideally for a good balance of get up and go versus gas consumption. But beyond that it's all about the style, comfort and safety for me.  And it'd be wise for car makers to realize that since woman not only carry the purses, they carry most of the power when it comes to making a buying decision, yes even when it comes to cars (or vans, trucks or SUVs).

This week I was honored to be part of a fabulous event at the Chicago Auto Show...Women Driving Excellence hosted by Beth Rosen and MJ Tam, both of Chicagonista LIVE and sponsored by Kia.

The day began with some networking with many other fabulous and successful woman in Chicago.  Followed by some exceptional woman being honored for how they are Driving Excellence and continuing to do so by sharing inspiring words with the crowd in attendance.  

After a short break we were entertained by the fabulous cast of I Love Lucy LIVE.  I LOVE musicals so this was a ton of fun for me.  I really want to go see their full show downtown because they really were great.




 Then the ladies of Chicagonista LIVE did their show.  Talking about all things tech, cars and life.

 Then I grabbed the chance to wander around the show.  I had seen the Superman car featured on TV and online and knew I needed to head to Kia to get some pictures of it for my boys.  It really was cool looking.  Although I do feel like Supermom SOME days, I don't think I'm ready to drive around down with the red "S" blazing just yet!

 So I took a look around at the rest of the Kia line.  My husband has been eyeing the Optima. And I have to say I was pretty impressed with the interior room it has.  But I was most surprised to see that there is a Hybrid. 

Of course you can't talk Kia without thinking of the Kia Soul and the dancing hamsters.  

 But my pick from the Kia line would have to be the Sorento.  Although I've been driving a smaller car for awhile now, I'm really missing my larger vehicles.  I'd give my left arm for third row seating again so the boys aren't on top of each other anymore.  

I like the idea of being able to get all my soccer mom STUFF into without looking quite so soccer momish!

 Before heading back to the Woman Driving Excellence stage for a performance by Miss Lori I had to recharge my phone.

Thanks so much to Kia for sponsoring a fabulous event.  It'd been about 10 year since I'd been to the auto show, but I definitely won't wait that long to go again.

AMERICAN IDIOT Tickets On-Sale February 15

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that individual tickets for the national tour of the explosive Broadway hit AMERICAN IDIOT called “wonderfully raucous” and “emotionally charged” by The New York Times and “flat-out electrifying” by the Boston Globe, will go on-sale to the public Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 at 10 a.m. AMERICAN IDIOT will play the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 West Randolph Street) for one week only, April 16 – 21, 2013.

AMERICAN IDIOT, a 2010 Tony Award^®-nominated Best Musical and 2010 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Show Album, features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong. The book is by Armstrong and Michael Mayer and direction is by Tony Award^®-winner Mayer (“Spring Awakening”).

The acclaimed creative team also includes choreography by Olivier Award-winner Steven Hoggett (“Black Watch”) and orchestrations and arrangements by Pulitzer Prize-winner Tom Kitt (“Next to Normal”). The Tony Award^®-winning scenic design by Christine Jones and the Tony Award^®-winning lighting design by Kevin Adams will also be featured in the tour.

Alex Nee will star as Johnny along with Trent Saunders as St. Jimmy, Casey O’Farrell as Will, Thomas Hettrick as Tunny, Alyssa DiPalma as Whatsername, Jenna Rubaii as The Extraordinary Girl and Kennedy Caughell as Heather.

AMERICAN IDIOT will also feature Aurie Ceylon, Carson Higgins, Antwaun Holley, Daniel C. Jackson, Brandon Kalm, John Krause, Alison Morooney, Turner Rouse, Jr., Jamal Shuriah, Dustin Harris Smith, Ashley Tobias, Chelsea Turbin, and Jared Young.

“I am thrilled that we get to continue sharing AMERICAN IDIOT with audiences across North America,” said director Michael Mayer. “The creative team and I couldn’t be happier with the stellar group of actors we’ve assembled. All of them are talented new additions to the AMERICAN IDIOT family.”

Winner of two Tony Awards^®, AMERICAN IDIOT is the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9-11 world. Through incredible spectacle, thrilling performances and with the hope embodied by a new generation, AMERICAN IDIOT has given audiences the time of their lives night after night since its Broadway run at the St. James Theatre (March 2010 – April 2011) and its subsequent national tour, which launched December 2011 in Toronto.

“Since its inception, audiences have been surprised by the emotional journey the show takes them on, told almost exclusively through Green Day’s songs, including many they are already familiar with and love,” said Tom Hulce, producer. “This is such a potent time for our country and the search of our characters for what to believe in is gorgeously celebrated through Billie Joe and Green Day’s wonderfully lush score,” he added.

The musical features the hits “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “21 Guns,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” “Holiday” and the blockbuster title track “American Idiot” from Green Day’s 2004 Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum album. Also included in the score are several songs from Green Day’s 2009 release “21^st Century Breakdown,” and an unreleased love song, “When It’s Time.”

AMERICAN IDIOT premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in September 2009 and played through November of that year. In April 2010, the musical opened on Broadway where reviews were unanimously positive with Charles Isherwood of the New York Times calling the show “the most adventurous musical to brave Broadway in the past decade” and the Toronto Star naming it “the first great musical of the 21^st century!”

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

The performance schedule for AMERICAN IDIOT is as follows:

Tuesday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 20 at 2 & 8 p.m.

Sunday, April 21 at 2 & 7:30 p.m.

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

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for AMERICAN IDIOT at the Cadillac Palace Theatre range from $18-$85.  A select number of premium seats are also available for many performances. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (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), 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.americanidiotthemusical.com.

Broadway In Chicago Audience Rewards

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce the launch of Audience Rewards for the Chicago market.  This is a national loyalty program for arts fans that began in New York and is now named “The Official Loyalty Program of Broadway,” attracting over 1 million members. The program allows audience members to earn points redeemable for show tickets and other memorabilia and merchandise.

Audience Rewards was created through an unprecedented partnership between Broadway theater owners and performing arts centers throughout the United States. The program, which began in 2005, has more than 1,000 new members joining daily and is the first and only loyalty program of its kind. Members are able to take advantage of hundreds of point-earning offers and ticket redemptions, and gain insider access to special events and advance ticketing for new shows nationwide. In addition, Audience Rewards members can also earn and redeem partner points for their theatre ticket purchases with other rewards programs such as Starwood Preferred Guest®, Delta SkyMiles® and Best Buy® Reward Zone®.

Membership in Audience Rewards is free. Local arts fans can sign up at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Customers who sign-up will receive points for purchasing tickets for participating Broadway In Chicago shows at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, Oriental Theatre, Bank of America Theatre, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. These points can then be redeemed by members for participating shows in Chicago or at over 30 participating shows on Broadway in New York. To join Audience Rewards, visit BroadwayInChicago.com and click on the Audience Rewards Button to sign up. Once members have an ID and password, they will begin earning ShowPoints and gaining access to special members-only benefits.

“Broadway In Chicago is excited to partner with Audience Rewards,” Eileen LaCario, Vice President of Broadway In Chicago said. “We are so appreciative of all of the loyal theatergoers in Chicago and this gives us another way to give them insider opportunities and to thank them for their patronage.”

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 10 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Bank of America Theatre, Oriental Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

PINKALICIOUS: THE MUSICAL 2 TICKETS FOR $35!

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO AND PINKALICIOUS: THE MUSICAL ARE EXCITED TO GIVE FANS A LIMITED

2 FOR $35 TICKETOFFER FOR PERFORMANCES IN OCTOBER.

Use code PINK When Ordering!

* Valid on all October performances. Offer ends October 28 at 11:59pm. Not valid with any other offer or on previously purchased tickets.

 Subject to availability. Normal ticketing fees apply. Other restrictions may apply.

MARY POPPINS Opens Saturday, Oct. 15 at Cadillac Palace Theatre

 

 

OPENS SATURDAY, OCT. 15 AT THE CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE

IN CHICAGO

CHICAGO (October 13, 2011) – The Chicago return of MARY POPPINS opens this Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011 at 8 p.m. at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) for a limited engagement of four weeks through November 6, 2011.  The tour launched in Chicago in March 2009 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre where it entertained over 300,000 patrons and grossed over $18.5 million at the box office during its 18-week engagement. 

With four productions currently running on three continents, MARY POPPINS is one of the biggest stage musical successes to emerge from London or New York in recent years.  Worldwide to date, the six productions of the show have grossed over $605 million, welcomed 8.5 million guests and cumulatively run 12 years.  The musical is the winner of 44 major theatre awards around the globe, including Tony®, Olivier, Evening Standard and Helpmann awards, Australia’s highest performing arts honor. 

The entire original creative team has reunited to bring this magical story of the world’s most famous nanny to audiences around North America.  The MARY POPPINS North American Tour began performances on March 25, 2009 and has played to two million delighted theatergoers in 32 cities to date.

Rachel Wallace will star as “Mary Poppins” while original Broadway company member, Nicolas Dromard, will assume the role of “Bert”. 

Joining Wallace and Dromard will be Laird Mackintosh as “George Banks”, Blythe Wilson as “Winifred Banks”, Rachel Izen as “Mrs. Brill”, Dennis Moench as “Robertson Ay”, Q. Smith as “Miss Andrew”, Janet MacEwen as “The Bird Woman”, and Mike O’Carroll as “Admiral Boom.” Performances in the role of “Jane Banks” will be alternated between Camden Angelis and Annie Baltic.  Performances in the role of “Michael Banks” will be alternated between Reese Sebastian Diaz and Dakota Ruiz. 

Rounding out the cast are Josh Assor, Jacob ben Widmar, Elizabeth Broadhurst, Arielle Campbell, Debra Cardona, Hannah Chin, Eric Coles, Anthony Christian Daniel, Kiara Danielle, Elizabeth Earley, Tyler Foy, Molly Garner, Eric Giancola, Mark Harapiak, Eric Hatch, Benjamin Howes, Lisa Kassay, Matthew Warner Kiernan, Koh Mochizuki, Michael Dean Morgan, Chuck Rea, Sam Strasfeld, Nic Thompson, Madeline Trumble, Michelle E. White and Neka Zang.      

MARY POPPINS, a co-production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, opened on Broadway on November 16, 2006.  Based on P.L. Travers' cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film, MARY POPPINS the stage play features the Academy Award®-winning music and lyrics of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman.  The stage production has been created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes, who has written the book, and the Olivier Award-winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who have composed new songs and additional music and lyrics.

Olivier Award-winning director Richard Eyre leads the award-winning creative team, with co-direction and choreography by Tony® and Olivier Award winner Matthew Bourne.  MARY POPPINS features set and costume design by TonyÒ Award winner Bob Crowley, co-choreography by Olivier Award winner Stephen Mear, lighting design by Howard Harrison, orchestrations by William David Brohn, and music supervision by David Caddick.  The tour’s creative team includes Tour Director Anthony Lyn, Associate Choreographer Geoffrey Garrett, and Music Director Daniel Bowling. 

ABOUT MARY POPPINS WORLDWIDE

MARY POPPINS received its worldwide premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre in the West End in December 2004.  Following its successful three-year London run, the production launched an acclaimed U.K. tour.   The Broadway production of MARY POPPINS officially opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on November 16, 2006, recouping its initial Broadway investment within 52 weeks of its premiere.  MARY POPPINS is the only show from the 2006-2007 theatrical season still in performance.   MARY POPPINS can also be seen in Scheveningen, Netherlands (outside of Amsterdam at the Circus Theatre) and Sydney, Australia (at the Capitol Theatre).  Productions of MARY POPPINS have also been mounted in Finland, Denmark and the Czech Republic.    

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE AND TICKET INFORMATION

The Chicago performance schedule for MARY POPPINS is as follows:

Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m.

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

Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.

Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sundays at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

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

Individual tickets are on-sale now and ticket prices start as low as $25. 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), 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 (including Hot Tix and select Carson Pirie Scott, Coconuts and fye stores), and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Groups of 15 or more may receive a discount on most shows by calling (312) 977‐1710. Gift certificates, which can be redeemed for any production or for season ticket packages, can be obtained at Broadway In Chicago box offices, www.BroadwayInChicago.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 775‐2000.

ROCK OF AGES Tickets On Sale Friday, SEP. 9, 2011

FIVE-TIME TONY AWARD® NOMINATED

SMASH-HIT MUSICAL!

COMING TO ROCK CHICAGO!

ONE WEEK ONLY, NOV. 8-13, 2011

Individual Tickets Go On Sale Friday, Sep. 8 at 10 a.m.

CHICAGO (Sep. 6, 2011) Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that the five-time Tony Award® nominated musical ROCK OF AGES is coming to Chicago’s very own Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph St.) for one week only, Nov. 8 – 13, 2011. Individual tickets go on sale Friday, Sep. 9 at 10 a.m.

In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small-town girl met a big-city dreamer – and in L.A.’s most legendary rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80’s. It’s ROCK OF AGES, a hilarious, feel-good love story told through the hit songs of iconic rockers Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, Pat Benatar, Whitesnake, and many more. This five-time Tony nominated musical, with a star studded motion picture in the works, is rockin' its way across the USA. Don't miss this awesomely good time about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on!

ROCK OF AGES is a worldwide phenomenon with smash hit productions in Australia, London, South Korea and still rockin' on Broadway, featuring 28 classic rock tunes including “Don't Stop Believin'”, “We Built This City”, “The Final Countdown”, “Wanted Dead or Alive”, “Here I Go Again”, “Harden My Heart”, “Can't Fight this Feeling”, “Renegade” and “I Want To Know What Love Is.” 

ROCK OF AGES is directed by Tony Award Nominee Kristin Hanggi (Bare, Pussycat Dolls on the Sunset Strip) and choreographed by Kelly Devine (Jersey Boys – Associate Choreographer).  With a book by Chris D’Arienzo (writer and director of the film Barry Munday), original arrangements by David Gibbs (Counting Crows, Film: That Thing You Do) and the Music Supervision, Arrangements & Orchestrations by Ethan Popp (Tarzan; Europe: We Will Rock You, Mamma Mia).

ROCK OF AGES  features set design by Beowulf Boritt (Spelling Bee, LoveMusik), costume design by Tony Nominee Gregory Gale (Cyrano, The Wedding Singer), lighting design by Jason Lyons (The Threepenny Opera), sound design by Craig Cassidy (Phantom, Mamma Mia), and projection design is by Zachary Borovay (A Catered Affair).  ROCK OF AGES is produced by PHOENIX ENTERTAINMENT. 

The performance schedule for ROCK OF AGES is as follows:

Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Individual tickets range from $18 - $90 and go on sale Friday, Sep. 9, 2011 at 10 a.m. A select number of premium seats are also available. 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), 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 (including Hot Tix and select Carson Pirie Scott, Coconuts and fye stores), and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Groups of 15 or more may receive a discount on most shows by calling (312) 977-1710.  Gift certificates, which can be redeemed for any production or for season ticket packages, can be obtained at Broadway In Chicago box offices, www.BroadwayInChicago.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 775-2000. Please note: Ticket prices and performance schedule are subject to change.

For more information ON ROCK OF AGES visit www.broadwayinchicago.com or www.rockofagesontour.com. 


I have not seen this show but have heard nothing but great things about it and would LOVE to see it.  If you've seen it, I'd love to hear what you thought!

Disclosure: I have not been compensated for sharing this information but have an ongoing working relationship with Broadway in Chicago.

MARY POPPINS at Cadillac Palace Theatre on Sale NOW!

                                           

  

 

RETURNS TO THE CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE FOR FOUR WEEKS ONLY

OCTOBER 13, 2011 – NOVEMBER 6, 2011

Public On Sale Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011 at 10 a.m.

CHICAGO (August 9, 2011) – Broadway In Chicago and producers Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh announced today that tickets will go on sale to the public for the long-awaited return production of MARY POPPINS on Sunday, August 14, 2011 at 10 a.m.  Chicago’s most eagerly awaited return production will begin performances at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) on October 13, 2011 for a limited engagement of four weeks through November 6, 2011.  The show’s 18-week premiere engagement in 2009, which was heralded by the Chicago Sun-Times as, “a whimsical, continually ingenious musical”, entertained over 300,000 theatre patrons during 141 performances. 

With four productions currently running on three continents, MARY POPPINS is one of the biggest stage musical successes to emerge from London or New York in recent years.  Worldwide to date, the six productions of the show have grossed over $521 million, welcomed 7 million guests and cumulatively run 12 years.  The musical is the winner of 36 major theatre awards around the globe, including Tony®, Olivier and Evening Standard awards.

The entire original creative team has reunited to bring this magical story of the world’s most famous nanny to audiences around North America.  The MARY POPPINS North American Tour began performances in Chicago on March 25, 2009 and has played to 1.5 million delighted theatergoers in 30 cities to date.

MARY POPPINS, a co-production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, opened on Broadway on November 16, 2006.  Based on P.L. Travers' cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film, MARY POPPINS the stage play features the Academy Award®-winning music and lyrics of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman.  The stage production has been created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes, who has written the book, and the Olivier Award-winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who have composed new songs and additional music and lyrics.

Olivier Award-winning director Richard Eyre leads the award-winning creative team, with co-direction and choreography by Tony® and Olivier Award winner Matthew Bourne.  MARY POPPINS features set and costume design by TonyÒ Award winner Bob Crowley, co-choreography by Olivier Award winner Stephen Mear, lighting design by Howard Harrison, orchestrations by William David Brohn, and music supervision by David Caddick.  The tour’s creative team includes Tour Director Anthony Lyn, Associate Choreographer Geoffrey Garrett, and Music Director Daniel Bowling. 

ABOUT MARY POPPINS WORLDWIDE

MARY POPPINS received its worldwide premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre in the West End in December 2004.  Following its successful three-year London run, the production launched an acclaimed U.K. tour. 

The Broadway production of MARY POPPINS officially opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on November 16, 2006, recouping its initial Broadway investment within 52 weeks of its premiere in 2006.  MARY POPPINS is the only show from the 2006-2007 theatrical season still in performance. 

The MARY POPPINS North American tour has garnered continuous critical praise and achieved box office success since its launch in Chicago in March 2009. 

MARY POPPINS can also be seen in Scheveningen, Netherlands (outside of Amsterdam at the Circus Theatre) and Sydney, Australia (at the Capitol Theatre).  Productions of MARY POPPINS have also been mounted in Finland, Denmark and the Czech Republic.              

In Chicago, MARY POPPINS will play Oct. 13, 2011 through Nov. 6, 2011. Ticket prices start as low as $25. A select number of premium seats are also available for many performances. Tickets are available now for groups of 15 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977 1710.

For more information, please visit MaryPoppins.com or www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

WISHFUL DRINKING Starring CARRIE FISHER On-Sale Aug. 10 at 8 a.m. {Chicago}

 AWARD-WINNING HIT WISHFUL DRINKING COMES TO CHICAGO

2 WEEKS ONLY OCT. 4 – 16

TICKETS GO ON SALE WEDNESDAY, AUG. 10 AT 8 A.M.

CHICAGO (Aug. 8, 2011) Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that Hollywood film star, best-selling novelist, acclaimed screenwriter and newest Jenny Craig spokesperson Carrie Fisher is bringing her award-winning WISHFUL DRINKING to the Bank of America Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.) for a limited two-week engagement Oct. 4 – 16, 2011. The archly funny one-woman show is created and performed by Carrie Fisher.  Individual tickets for WISHFUL DRINKING go on sale Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 8 a.m.

In WISHFUL DRINKING, Carrie Fisher recounts the true and intoxicating tale of her life as a Hollywood legend, told with the same wry wit she poured into bestsellers like Postcards from the Edge and The Best Awful. The daughter of Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Carrie became a cultural icon when she starred as Princess Leia in the first Star Wars trilogy at 19 years old. Forever changed, Carrie’s life did not stay picture perfect.  Carrie is the life of the party in this uproarious and sobering look at her “Hollywood hangover”.

The New York Times raves that WISHFUL DRINKING is, “Extremely funny full-frontal confession. Carrie Fisher makes you feel like you’ve arrived for a slumber party to swap confidences. You’re going to like it. A Lot.” Variety exclaims, "Winning and Hilarious! Carrie Fisher is witty, likable, acerbic, clever and wryly forthcoming about the warped reality of life in the celebrity bubble.”

WISHFUL DRINKING premiered in 2006, in Los Angeles, and has since completed sell-out runs in theatres across the U.S., culminating in a wildly successful engagement at Broadway's Studio 54 from October 2009-January 2010, winning the prestigious 2010 Outer Critics' Circle Award. Carrie received a 2010 Grammy Nomination in the Best Spoken Word Album category for her bestselling memoir Wishful Drinking.

Wishful Drinking the book, based on the Broadway play, was on the New York Times bestseller list for 14 weeks, and is available in paperback from Simon & Schuster.

An HBO documentary special based on WISHFUL DRINKING was taped at the South Orange Performing Arts Center in New Jersey in June of 2010. It features portions of her stage show, archival footage and interviews with friends and family and is currently nominated for a 2011 Emmy Award. 

Individual tickets for WISHFUL DRINKING go on sale Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 8 a.m. A select number of premium seats will also be available. Tickets will be available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), 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 (including Hot Tix and select Carson Pirie Scott, Coconuts and fye stores), and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977 1710. 

#              #              #

BIOGRAPHY

CARRIE FISHER (Creator, Performer).  Since her feature debut opposite Warren Beatty in Shampoo in 1975, Carrie Fisher has been a compelling force in the film industry.  She attained international recognition as Princess Leia, a role that made her a cultural icon, in the box office sensation Star Wars and the smash hit sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Other acting credits include The Blues Brothers, Garbo Talks, When Harry Met Sally and Austin Powers, to name a few.

Carrie became a sensation with The New York Times bestseller, Postcards from the Edge, for which she won the Los Angeles Pen Award for Best First Novel. Three additional bestselling novels, Surrender the Pink, Delusions of Grandma and Wishful Drinking followed. Fisher also wrote the screenplay based on her bestseller Postcards from the Edge, which starred Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine.

Ms. Fisher’s fourth novel, The Best Awful, received rave reviews and she is currently adapting The Best Awful for Lifetime and Sony with producers Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks.

Carrie Fisher’s experience with mental illness and addiction has made her a very popular speaker on the lecture circuit as well.  She has appeared on the Senate floor urging state legislators to increase government funding on medication for people living with mental health issues. She has received dozens of various awards for her courage and commitment to fighting mental illness and the stigmas that are associated with it.

She resides in Los Angeles with her daughter, Billie, and other occasional house-guests (like you care):  Sean Lennon, Craig Bierko, Michael Rosenbaum, Garret Edington, Mary French, Marianne Faithful, Francois Ravard, Charlie Wessler, Griffin Dunne, Edgar & Rachael Phillips, James Blunt,

…And

Greg Stevens

Oh…and her mother lives next door to her, as well.

Disclosure: While I did not receive any compensation for sharing this particular information I do regularly work with Broadway in Chicago.