hamilton Archives | Broadway in Chicago

This fall, Broadway In Chicago has a number of upcoming shows that will offer you an unforgettable theatrical experience! Tickets for all of these productions are available for purchase on our website, at our phone line 800-775-2000 and at Broadway In Chicago box offices and Ticketmaster retail outlets. (Note: Hamilton tickets are only available for purchase in-person at The PrivateBank Theatre box office and cannot be purchased at any other retail outlets.)

Cheers Live on Stage is a faithful recreation of the television comedy classic featuring the iconic bar where everybody knows your name. Be sure to purchase VIP Access tickets for the chance to go on stage at intermission and have your photo taken while enjoying a beverage! The show begins performances September 20 at the Broadway Playhouse and runs through October 23.

HAMILTON is the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON is the story of America then, told by America now. Performances begin September 27 at The PrivateBank Theatre (18 W. Monroe).

A hilarious hit direct from London’s West End, Graeme of Thrones is inspired by TV’s hottest fantasy series and is sure to delight both fans and those unfamiliar with the show. Laughter is coming…to the Broadway Playhouse from November 1 through 13.

The true story of graphic novelist Alison Bechdel’s childhood became the 2015 Tony Award winner for BEST MUSICAL, Fun Home. This “exquisite” “emotional powerhouse” plays a limited run at the Oriental Theatre from November 2 through 13.

The classic musical featuring everyone’s favorite red-headed orphan and the eternal optimist anthem “Tomorrow,” Annie returns to the Cadillac Palace Theatre for one week only from November 9 through 13.

After a sold-out run last year, Emerald City Theatre’s A Charlie Brown Christmas returns to the Broadway Playhouse! Performances begin November 11, 2016 and continue through the holiday season until January 8, 2017.

The international sensation STOMP comes to the Broadway Playhouse for an extended holiday season run starting November 16, 2016 and continuing through January 1, 2017. Come and see what all the noise is about!

Discover the story that inspired ‘Peter Pan’ author J.M. Barrie in Finding Neverland, the new Broadway musical that will make you believe in magic! The winner of the Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for Best Musical will play from November 22 to December 4 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.

The 2015 Tony Award winner for Best Play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, is based on the popular novel and brings the acclaimed story of the exceptionally intelligent Christopher Boone to life on stage. See it for yourself at the Oriental Theatre from December 6 through 24!

The spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera makes its triumphant return to Chicago and will play the Cadillac Palace Theatre from December 14, 2016 through January 8, 2017. Make sure to sign up for our email newsletter to be the first to learn when tickets go on sale!

See you at the theatre!

2016 Tony Award Nominations – Best Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical/Play

Posted on: June 7th, 2016 by B.I. C. No Comments

Broadway In Chicago is beyond excited for the 2016 Tony Awards on Sunday June 12th 7-10PM CT! We’ll be highlighting the nominees in each category and filling you in on some fun facts each week leading up to the award ceremony.

Here are the actors and actresses in musicals and plays nominated for Best Performance in a Leading Role:

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Alex Brightman – “School of Rock – The Musical”

Danny Burstein – “Fiddler on the Roof”

Zachary Levi – “She Loves Me”

Lin-Manuel Miranda – “Hamilton”

Leslie Odom, Jr. – “Hamilton”

Fun Facts:

-Alex Brightman played “Zacky Price” in the original cast of Big Fish which originated here in Chicago at the Oriental Theatre April 2 – May 5, 2013.

-Although Lin-Manuel Miranda has gained so much recognition for his creation of Hamilton, he was well known before that as well for writing the music and lyrics for both In the Heights and Bring It On: The Musical, both which have toured through Chicago.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Laura Benanti – “She Loves Me”

Carmen Cusack – “Bright Star”

Cynthia Erivo – “The Color Purple”

Jessie Mueller – “Waitress”

Phillipa Soo – “Hamilton”

Fun Facts:

-Carmen Cusack was just recently in Chicago premiering the First Wives Club musical at the Oriental Theatre February 17 – March 29, 2015.

-Jessie Mueller won the 2014 Tony Award for her portrayal of Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical which was last seen at the Oriental Theatre December 1, 2015 – February 21, 2016 and will be returning to Chicago in the upcoming 2017 holiday season.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

Gabriel Byrne – “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”

Jeff Daniels – “Blackbird”

Frank Langella – “The Father”

Tim Pigott-Smith – “King Charles III”

Mark Strong – “A View from the Bridge”

Fun facts:

-You may recognize Jeff Daniels from movies such as The Martian, Steve Jobs and also the classic 1994 comedy, Dumb and Dumber.

-Both Frank Langella and Anthony Hopkins received Oscar nominations for portraying Richard Nixon: Hopkins for Nixon in 1995 and Langella for Frost/Nixon in 2008.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

Jessica Lange – “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”

Laurie Metcalf – “Misery”

Lupita Nyong’o – “Eclipsed”

Sophie Okonedo – “The Crucible”

Michelle Williams – “Blackbird”

Fun Facts:

-You’ll recognize Jessica Lange from movies such as Big Fish, Tootsie or Cape Fear, but most recently because of her work in the hit TV show American Horror Story.

-Lupita Nyong’o won an Oscar in 2014 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in the movie 12 Years a Slave.

-Michelle Williams starred as Sally Bowles in the Cabaret revival on Broadway, which then toured through Chicago recently at The PrivateBank Theatre February 9 – 21, 2016 with Andrea Goss in the leading role.

2016 Tony Award Nominations – Best Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical/Play

Posted on: June 2nd, 2016 by B.I. C. No Comments

Here are the actors and actresses in musicals and plays nominated for Best Performance in a Featured Role:

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Daveed Diggs – “Hamilton”

Brandon Victor Dixon – “Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed”

Christopher Fitzgerald – “Waitress”

Jonathan Groff – “Hamilton”

Christopher Jackson – “Hamilton”

Fun facts:

-Brandon Victor Dixon was the “Harpo” replacement in The Color Purple touring production which came through Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre April 17 – September 30, 2007.

-Christopher Fitzgerald is the only actor who has played both “Billy Flynn” AND “Amos Hart” in the Broadway production of Chicago.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Danielle Brooks – “The Color Purple”

Renee Elise Goldsberry – “Hamilton”

Jane Krakowski – “She Loves Me”

Jennifer Simard – “Disaster!”

Adrienne Warren – “Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed”

Fun Facts:

-Jennifer Simard played “Rona Lisa Peretti” in the touring production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee which played at the Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place March 28, 2006 – September 2, 2007.

-Adrienne Warren played “Danielle” in Bring It On: The Musical also at the Cadillac Palace Theatre March 6 – 25, 2012 and also “Lorrell” in Dreamgirls which also played at the Cadillac Palace January 19 – 31, 2010.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Reed Birney – “The Humans”

Bill Camp – “The Crucible”

David Furr – “Noises Off”

Richard Goulding – “King Charles III”

Michael Shannon – “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”

Fun facts:

-You might recognize Reed Birney from the acclaimed political thriller House of Cards as the major recurring character, “Donald Blythe.”

-Michael Shannon was awarded the 2013 Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Principal Actor in a Play for Simpatico at the “A Red Orchid Theater” here in Chicago.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Pascale Armand – “Eclipsed”

Megan Hilty – “Noises Off”

Jayne Houdyshell – “The Humans”

Andrea Martin – “Noises Off”

Saycon Sengbloh – “Eclipsed”

Fun Facts:

-Megan Hilty is well known for being the first “Glinda” replacement after Kristin Chenoweth in the Broadway production of Wicked.

-Andrea Martin won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of “Berthe” in the recent Pippin revival that played at the Cadillac Palace Theatre July 29 – August 9, 2015.

2016 Tony Award Nominations – Best Book of a Musical / Best Original Score / Best Orchestrations

Posted on: May 20th, 2016 by B.I. C. No Comments

Here are the 4 writers nominated for Best Book of a Musical:

BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL

“Bright Star” – Steve Martin

“Hamilton” – Lin-Manuel Miranda

“School of Rock – The Musical” – Julian Fellowes

“Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed” – George C. Wolfe

Here are some fun facts:

-Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the book for “Hamilton” after reading Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton. Miranda then read Hamilton’s letters and works and visited sites important to the American Revolution in New York City to add further factual information into the core of the show’s book.

-Julian Fellows who wrote the book for “School of Rock – The Musical” is also famously well known for being the creator, writer and executive producer of the multiple award-winning British television series “Downton Abbey” from 2010 – 2015.

These are the individuals nominated for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre:

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (MUSIC AND LYRICS) WRITTEN FOR THE THEATER

“Bright Star” – Music: Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Lyrics: Edie Brickell

“Hamilton” – Music and lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda

“School of Rock – The Musical” – Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics: Glenn Slater

“Waitress” – Music and lyrics: Sara Bareilles

Some more fun facts:

-In 2014, Steve Martin and Edie Brickell won a Grammy for the title track to their Bluegrass album Love Has Come for You. It was that album that inspired them to write the music together for “Bright Star.”

-The first song Sara Bareilles wrote for “Waitress” was She Used to Be Mine being inspired by the main character Jenna and her character arc after viewing the film. That song then served as her portal into the world of writing the rest of the music for the show.

Here are the musicians and composers nominated for this year’s Best Orchestrations Tony Award:

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS

August Eriksmoen – “Bright Star”

Larry Hochman – “She Loves Me”

Alex Lacamoire – “Hamilton”

Daryl Waters – “Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed”

Here are some more fun facts:

-Larry Hochman provided orchestrations for “The Addams Family” which last played Chicago November 13, 2009 – January 10, 2010 at the Oriental Theatre. He also is known for his Tony Award winning orchestrations for “The Book of Mormon.”

-Daryl Waters won the 2010 Best Orchestrations Tony Award for “Memphis” which played at the Cadillac Palace Theatre November 22 – December 4, 2011.