Charlie Babbo

Drury Lane Theatre Young Audiences presents Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach the exciting tale of adventure and friendship perfect for the whole family, featuring words and music by Broadway's hottest duo, Academy Award-winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land,Dear Evan Hansen) - and a charming new book by Timothy Allen McDonald.

Under the direction of Lee Blakeley at Lyric Opera (who originally staged this production for Paris's Theatre du Chatelet in 2014), Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical THE KING AND I is heightened to the lavish and beautiful spectacle it deserves. This story of British school teacher Anna Leonowens who arrives in Siam to instruct the many children of the King has moments of sweeping grandiosity but also many of emotional intimacy-the Lyric's production makes the full emotional arc a delight to watch. Visually, the creative team captures every inch of the musical's opulence. Sue Blane's costume designs are breathtakingly elaborate and incorporate an inspiring display of color; Anna's magnificent hoop skirts are definitely a highlight. Jean-March Puissant's set design also captures the grandiosity of a royal palace with many intricate details, while also giving the performers the space they need to execute Peggy Hickey's choreography, and Rick Fisher's lighting adds to the decadent atmosphere.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents a stunning production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, featuring Broadway starsKate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam. Lyric Opera's The King and I runs April 29 through May 22 (press opening April 30), with 25 performances at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Tickets start at $29 and are available at lyricopera.org/king or at 312-827-5600. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

Audio of a performance of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's 'The King and I', starring Kate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban, will be broadcast on WFMT on Sunday 1 May, 7:00pm (CDT). Listen online here: http://www.wfmt.com/listen/

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents its grand-scale production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, featuring Broadway stars Kate Baldwinand Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam. Additional Broadway artists Ali Ewoldt (Tuptim), Alan Ariano (The Kralahome) and Rona Figueroa (Lady Thiang) join the cast, along with Sam Simahk (Lun Tha) and Chicagoland artists Charlie Babbo (Louis Leonowens), Jomar Ferreras (Interpreter), John Lister(Captain Orton), David Parkes (Sir Edward Ramsay), Peter Sipla (Phra Alack) and Matthew Uzarraga (Prince Chulalongkorn). All but Lister make their Lyric debuts with The King and I.  In the video, cast members talk about the show.  Check it out below!

Lyric Opera of Chicago released today new behind-the-scenes rehearsal images from its grand-scale production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's THE KING AND I, featuring Broadway stars Kate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam. The production runs April 29 through May 22 (press opening April 30) at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Lyric Opera of Chicago announced today an all-Chicagoland children's ensemble for its grand-scale production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, featuring Broadway stars Kate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam.

Lyric Opera of Chicago's grand-scale production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, featuring Broadway stars Kate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam, runs April 29 through May 22 (press opening April 30) at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Check out a first look at the pair in costume below!

Lyric Opera of Chicago announced today casting for the remaining principal roles in its grand-scale production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, featuring Broadway stars Kate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam. Additional Broadway artists Ali Ewoldt (Tuptim), Alan Ariano (The Kralahome) and Rona Figueroa (Lady Thiang) join the cast, along with Sam Simahk (Lun Tha) and Chicagoland artists Charlie Babbo (Louis Leonowens), Jomar Ferreras (Interpreter), John Lister (Captain Orton), David Parkes (Sir Edward Ramsay), Peter Sipla (Phra Alack) and Matthew Uzarraga (Prince Chulalongkorn). All but Lister make their Lyric debuts with The King and I.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Excitement grows for 'La Revolution Francaise!' Also, Black Ensemble Theater and Raven Theatre take on more recent history, and 'Spamalot' opens northwest and southeast. 'Triassic Parq' and 'Goblin Market' play the city, 'Shrek' and 'Avenue Q' play the 'burbs, and 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' and 'My Little Red/Green Coat' sing from small screens!

Paramount's Aurora Theatre presents the eye-popping, song-and-dance-filled, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious production of Disney and Cameron Macintosh's Mary Poppins at the beautiful Paramount Theatre in downtown Aurora, now thru Jan. 1. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the show below!

Here's how to celebrate the holidays in the most delightful way: take the entire family to an absolutely eye-popping, song-and-dance-filled, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious production of Disney and Cameron Macintosh's Mary Poppins at the beautiful Paramount Theatre in downtown Aurora, now thru Jan. 1.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'The Grinch' opens, Fox Valley bookends Christmas, new shows 'A Christmas Memory' and 'Christmas On The Air,' 'It's A Wonderful Life' times three, plus 'Nutcracker,' 'Nut Cracking,' 'Mary Poppins' and the latest on 'Peter Pan Live!'

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Monday night's Jeff Awards at the Drury Lane, and 'Amazing Grace' at the BOAT! Plus 2014's other Broadway In Chicago shows, The Grinch at the Chicago Theatre, local productions of 'Parade,' 'Camelot' and 'Mary Poppins,' the new 'A Christmas Memory,' and the sold-out Humanities Festival tribute to the Tonys!

Here's how to celebrate the holidays in the most delightful way: take the entire family to an absolutely eye-popping, song-and-dance-filled, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious production of Disney and Cameron Macintosh's Mary Poppins at the beautiful Paramount Theatre in downtown Aurora.

In celebration of their 30th Anniversary, Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents the legendary musical LES MISERABLES, now running through June 8, 2014. Check out a first look below!

In celebration of their 30th Anniversary, Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents the legendary musical Les Miserables, which opened last night, Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. and runs through June 8, 2014. Directed by multi-Jeff Award winner Rachel Rockwell (Ragtime, The Sound of Music, Sweeney Todd, and Oliver! at Drury Lane Theatre), the cast is led by Ivan Rutherford ("Jean Valjean" in over 2,000 performances of Les Miserables on Broadway, as well as in the 20th anniversary Broadway Revival and The National Tour ofLes Miserables, and Titanic on Broadway); Jeff Award-winner Quentin Earl Darrington as "Javert" (Ragtime on Broadway and at Drury Lane Theatre, Memphis: A New Musical on Broadway and The National Tours of The Lion King, The Color Purple, and Memphis: A New Musical); and Jennie Sophia as "Fantine" (The National Tour of The Lincoln Center's South Pacific and Oliver! and The Sound of Music at Drury Lane Theatre).

In celebration of their 30th Anniversary, Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, will present the legendary musical LES MISERABLES, opening tonight, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. and running through June 8, 2014.