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Articles tagged with: Michael Weber

Chicago theater mid-season preview, Part 2: Ahead at Porchlight, American Blues, Raven

Jan 19, 2019 – 11:05 am
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Preview: Chicago’s turn into real winter comes with the consolation of intriguing theater just ahead. Think of it as warming countermeasures. Porchlight offers the musical farce “The Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” while Raven plots Paula Vogel’s now-classic memory play “How I Learned to Drive.” American Blues jumps into the season’s second half with Steven Dietz’s “On Clover Road.” If a play synopsis that begins “At an abandoned motel on a desolate road” sounds more like a chiller, at least it will unfold in a snug place.

‘Sweeney Todd’ at Porchlight: Indulge yourself with the best meat pie in Chicago; it’s deep dish

Oct 22, 2014 – 9:25 pm
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Review: The demon barber of Fleet Street is a bad one, that’s for sure; and Porchlight Music Theatre has a good one in David Girolmo. But the crucial ingredient of Stephen Sondheim’s macabre musical is that demonic purveyor of meat pies, Mrs. Lovett – and in Rebecca Finnegan, Porchlight boasts a beaut. ★★★★★

Theater 2013-14: Chicago premiere leads off Porchlight’s exploration of musical landscape

Aug 15, 2013 – 6:57 pm
The Aguilar brothers - Adrian and Alexander - play a couple of song and dance men on deadline in 'Double Trouble' (Brandon Dahlquist)

Fourth in a series of season previews: Porchlight Music Theatre prides itself on taking a new approach to classic musicals, “as if the script just came across the desk,” says managing artistic director Michael Weber. Opening with the Chicago premiere of the two-hand farce “Double Trouble,” Porchlight’s 2013-14 season reflects that spirit of approaching a show “with an understanding that we can stretch it and explore it in a different way.”

Opportunist meets shrewd socialite, and his match, in Porchlight’s vivacious ‘Pal Joey’

May 1, 2013 – 5:39 pm
Adrian Aguilar as Joey Evans and Susie McMonagle as Vera Simpson in Pal Joey produced by Porchlight Music Theatre credit Brandon Dahlquist

Review: ★★★★

Your drama is waiting: Chicago Theatre Week offers citywide smorgasbord at savory prices

Jan 6, 2013 – 1:33 pm
Chicago Theatre Week 2013

Report: Tickets will be $15 and $30.

The New Season: It isn’t pizza in Porchlight’s oven, but well-spiced musicals Chicago-style

Aug 3, 2012 – 12:28 am
Michael Weber at center with the company of Porchlight Music Theatre

Third in a series of season previews: A rethought, more visceral Porchlight Music Theatre rolls out its 18th season with two Chicago premieres to be followed by a searing portrait of the faded Billie Holiday and “Pal Joey,” Rodgers and Hart’s anti-hero driven drama on the dark side of the human comedy.