Podcast appearances and mentions of theo ubique

Sondheim is the best and these days Tribute Reviews are the thing to do especially since the Sondheim estate has allowed theater companies to craft individualized reviews (unlike the Pre-existing Side by Side by Sondheim, for example), subject to certain restrictions (Sondheim must have written both music and lyrics, no more than 3 songs from any one show and no show dialogue […]

In this new podcast, Paul goes behind the curtain with the cast and director of: “Passing Strange”: now playing at Theo Ubique Theater in Evanston through July 30th. Joining the conversation are Jordan DeBose (playing Stew the narrator), Jenece Upton (playing Mother) and director Tim Rhoze. This Broadway show is reimagined in an intimate way that only […]

Friday Oct 7 at 1230pm-130pm CST at Center On HalstedMODERATOR : Rev. Todd Atkins-Whitley aka Blessya Hartz Programs - Spiritual Care  Oakland, CA(He/Him)( She/Her)As a cisgender, male-identified, white, gay person born into two dominant religions (America and Christianity), I engage the art of drag to help heal the wounds of toxic masculinity and misogyny upon my body and spirit while also transgressing patriarchal, sexist notions of God that bring harm to queer people. Drag is a new form of spirituality for me and I have found it so far to be liberating. It has also allowed me, as a religious leader, to hold space with folx who have been traumatized by purveyors of toxic religion.PANELIST: Coco Sho-Nell was born in a small town outside of Gary, Indiana. And that town was called Chicago! Coco has been in existence for 13 years but as a theatre actor she has been performing for over 20 years. Coco is a theatre camp queen through and through. Coco is current cast member on season 4 of Camp Wannakiki on OUTtv. She also has been fortunate to have worked with some great Theatre companies in the Chicagoland area. Most notable are Theo Ubique, Fox Valley Repertory, Northlight, Red Tape Theatre and Hell in a Handbag Productions, just to names a few. Most recently Coco was named runner up as Chicago reader's best drag entertainer of 2020 and was named the grand Marshall for the Buffalo Grove pride parade in 2022PANELIST: "Nancy Nogood is what you get if Pussy Riot headlined the Grand Ol Opry. Born out of a mind corrupted by downtown Manhattan, she's appeared on stages and screens across the country with her signature blend of drag and performance art. Nancy is the product of Philip Calabro, a queer artist born and raised as a Roman Catholic in the American South. He was going to be a priest but, meh. Here we are now. "PANELIST: Juan Pablo HerreraLogistics Committee ChairChicago, ILhe/himJuan Pablo is Pastor of Discipleship at Urban Village Church. He is currently imagining a new faith community that is bold, inclusive, and relevant but centered around Latinx voices as part of his work at Urban Village.https://www.dragandspirituality.com

This week Paul goes behind the curtain with two great Chicago area shows. Leading off the show is Black Ensembles Theater's current production: Jackie Taylor's “It's Just Like Coming to Church.” This show is unlike the traditional grand often biographic shows presented by BET. This show kicks off a season of healing and joy by […]

This week, Paul goes behind the curtain for three great shows going on right now in Chicagoland. First, re-live the 1970's (or at least experience them if you weren't around in that decade) with “8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s” at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre in Evanston. These great songs of the 1970s cover 50 […]

This week, Paul goes behind the curtain with Theo Ubique Theater's artistic director Fred Anzevino and new managing director Christopher Pazdernik. It's been a long road and they weren't sure Theo would survive the pandemic. But fortunately for Chicago, they did. This unique Chicagoland experience (located in Evanston) provides a show-themed dinner with a great […]

The critics discuss Alex’s new engineers and coin counters, their politically charged B’nai Mitzvah essays, Perry’s involvement with John Williams and “the Star Wars Musical”, and review Michael John LaChiusa’s titanic fan fic musical “Hello Again” after seeing the Theo Ubique production. (This episode is from 2019) 36:00 for the review --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sondtime/support

This week in a very special Behind the Curtain Paul talks with Tony Award Winning playwright Steven Levenson about the creation of the incredible show “Dear Evan Hansen,” TV’s Fosse/Verdon Mini-series ,  and “IF I Forget” currently playing at Victory Gardens Theater thru July 7th. Steven is  candid as he shares the true events behind […]

Gary welcomes 4-time Jeff Award winner Danni Smith to the Booth this week, in a lively discussion of her career,  growing up in Indiana, her recent lauded performances in Jesus Christ, Superstar, Man of La Mancha, and the currently-running Mamma Mia at the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre. Gary and Roscoe first encountered Danni at the Theo Ubique, where she was just marvelous in the role of Mary Magdalene. Not only was she a highlight of the show, she was also our table server at the intimate space. Oh, what fine actors do to make it in this business! Danni treasures the time she spent doing five shows at Theo Ubique. The "bolt of lightning" description is a quote from a Broadway World rave review of her performance in Man of La Mancha. Ever since playing a Munchkin in a grammar school performance of The Wizard of Oz, Danni has been smitten with the theatre. She attended Ball State University to study musical theatre. (Other Ball State alumni include David Letterman, Steadman Graham and John Schnatter, founder of Papa John's Pizza.) We chat about her inspirations, aspirations and dream roles. You can view a clip of Danni's performance in Mamma Mia here. The latest news in our recurring watch of the world's elephant community is about the cold weather sweeping across northern India and threatening the health and well-being of these gentle mammals at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Center. Big-hearted local villagers have begun knitting giant sweaters to keep the pachyderms warm. These colorful new duds take about 4 weeks to create. But it's well worth the effort to keep these animals happy and comfortable, especially considering all the hardships they've been through. Click here to see great photos of the locals knitting with the elephants and some of the finished products. You can knit your own sweater and send it to them! Learn about other ways to help at http://wildlifesos.org/donate-2-2/. About a year ago, Danni co-founded, with Artistic Director Harmony France, a new Chicago theatre company called Firebrand Theatre, the first "equity feminist musical theatre company" committed to employing and empowering women by expanding opportunities on and off the stage. The inaugural season includes 9 to 5 The Musical and Lizzie, a rock musical based on the true-life story of accused axe-murderess Lizzie Borden(!). Plus a kick-off benefit concert called Nothin' Like a Dame: A Celebration of Women in Musical Theatre. That February 27th performance featuring 28 singers was sold-out! Congratulations, Firebrand, and best of luck in your new exciting venture. Gary gives a shout-out to the Goodman Theatre's production of Uncle Vanya, adapted by Annie Baker and directed by Artistic Director Robert Falls. This is one of the finest examples of ensemble acting we've seen in some time, and beautifully captures the humor and existential pathos of Chekhov's brilliant play. Danni discusses her starring role in the independent feature Curtain, a horror thriller film from 2015, in which something sinister lurks behind the bathroom tiles in her shower, and things start to mysteriously disappear. Chaos ensues, of course.  You can also view the trailer here. In Episode 52, we wondered aloud whether Glenn Close might be awarded a second Tony for her performance in the new revival of Sunset Boulevard. Thank you to loyal listener Robbie Young for writing to let us know that one cannot win twice for the same role, even in different productions. Yul Brynner's 1985 Tony was awarded as a "special" honor and not specifically for his reprise as The King in The King and I. Perhaps the same situation will come up again at this year's ceremony. Most of the photos of Danni you see in these notes were taken during a portrait session with genius photographer Joe Mazza at Brave Lux. Gary and Roscoe have done a photo session with him and he is definitely a creative force to be reckoned with.

Gary and Roscoe announce their upcoming appearances at the 35th Annual Taste Of Chicago on July 8 & 10. See the complete Taste Daily Schedule here. Iconic silent screen child star Baby Peggy is profiled with a very personal viewpoint and in-depth analysis from Roscoe. Read full article The Northwest Chicago Film Society has a new home and announces their 2015 line-up of films, from Technicolor to 80’s realism. Read more The Tony Awards are over and we recap the 69th annual awards show. The Tonys In our Cultural Update segment, Gary and Roscoe review the Theo Ubique production of A Marvin Hamlish Songbook .  And take a trip to Chicago Shakespeare Theatre to hear about their new original musical Sense and Sensibility. Read more Kiss of Death A moment of silence for screen legend Christopher Lee and actor Ron Moody, the definitive Fagin in Oliver! on stage and film.  James Last – A titanic, Teutonic Mantovani! The Guardian Vincent Musetto – NY Post Editor who wrote the most anatomically evocative headline in the history of American journalism.

Kyle Greer is southern boy with classical training turned northern lad. He has an extensive background in both music and theatre. In Chicago, he has performed with theatres such as the Jeff Award-winning Theo Ubique and The National Pastime Theatre. He's also performed as a solo singer/songwriter and with his band, Fatally Cool (who were recently asked to audition for America's Got Talent!) at venues such at Mary's Attic, Red Line Tap, Ace Bar, Park West, and The Abbey Pub.

This week on the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast Tom Williams talks with Jeremy Ramey- the music director for Theo Ubique's Smokey Joe's Cafe and Jeff Award winner for Light in the Pizza- he talks about the challengers of music direction as well as being a conductor/musician and his career from child protege to Doctorate from Juilliard School of Music.

On this week's episode of the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast, Tom Williams talks with Austin Cook, the music director of Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre's Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein. He talks about what he did with the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein and about his classical background.

This week, Anne Nicholson Weber interviews Fred Anzevino, the Artistic Director and one of the founders of Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. They talk about Theo Ubique's development and history, the current show (a revue of the music of Harold Arlen called Sweet and Hot), and cabaret theatre in general.