Christopher Pazdernik News

Permoveo Productions, in association with Pride Films & Plays, presents the world premiere production of The CiviliTy of Albert Cashier playing at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., August 31 - October 15, starring former Glee Project star and America's Got Talent Contestant Dani Shay. Watch Shay perform 'Bullet In a Gun' from the show below!

Today, The Hawk Chicago announced nominations for the inaugural Chicago Theatre Awards, a contest in which all winners are chosen entirely by audience vote. The first round, which invited write-in submissions, ended June 23rd. The official nominees were decided by almost 1,600 voters.

Permoveo Productions, in association with Pride Films & Plays, presents the world premiere production of The CiviliTy of Albert Cashier playing at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., August 31 - October 15, starring former Glee Project star and America's Got Talent Contestant Dani Shay. The production is co-composed and directed by Keaton Wooden, co-composed by Joe Stevens, written by Jay Paul Deratany and is music directed by Jon Schneidman.

Permoveo Productions, in association with Pride Films & Plays, presents the world premiere production of The CiviliTy of Albert Cashier playing at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., August 31 - October 15, starring former Glee Project star and America's Got Talent Contestant Dani Shay.

"At the Table", Michael Perlman's drama of scintillating conversation between diverse friends during a weekend in the country, took home the most honors on Monday, June 5, during the 44th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony recognizing excellence in non-union Chicago theatre. 

The fourth installment of Pride Films and Plays' His & His.'  cabaret series - entitled 'Broadway at the Broadway' will be performed on Thursday, June 8 in The Broadway at the Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway. The His and His series follows the development of LGBT characters on Broadway, and celebrates the artists who wrote the great works of musical theater.

The Jeff Awards announced, via a special video presentation, a total of 127 nominations in 26 categories for the 44th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2017.  Hosting the video presentation were Alexis Roston and Lillian Castillo, who will be this year's Mistresses of Ceremonies at the Awards event on June 5 at The Athenaeum.

Check out the top stories from Chicago you might have missed this week and more! Roundup: Check Out The Top Stories From Chicago You Might Have Missed 4/21 - PASCAL and RAPP in High School Rent!

Jeff Award-nominee and HIV+ director/producer Christopher Pazdernik is pleased to announce the 3rd annual CHRIS' BIRTHDAY BELT FEST, a benefit concert for Howard Brown Health on Monday, May 15 at 8 pm at Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway in Chicago. Featuring 40 award-winning musical theater performers from across Chicago and musical direction by Aaron Benham, this year's benefit will feature a record number of performers and a brand new theme: Duets! Tickets, priced at $25, are currently available at uptownunderground.net or by calling (773) 867-1946. Uptown Underground is a 21+ venue; advance reservations strongly recommended.

Elya Faye *IS* Ruthie Henshall will play one night only on Wednesday, May 3, 8 PM, at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret, 1383 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago.  Chicago music theater performer Elya Faye Bottiger will make her cabaret debut this one-woman show about British music theater performer Ruthie Henshall. Tickets are available by calling (773) 278-1830 or by visiting davenportspianobar.com.

The third installment of Pride Films and Plays' His & His.' cabaret series will be performed on Tuesday, April 11 in The Broadway at the Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway. Over the course of this season, His and His has followed the development of gay characters on Broadway. If you missed the first two parts, no worries. Chris will catch you up on what you need to know.

The current remount of Refuge Theatre Project's enormously successful 2016 production of High Fidelity: The Musical, originally scheduled to close on March 6, 2017, has been extended three weeks to Saturday, March 25, 2017.

The second installment of Pride Films and Plays' His & His.'  cabaret series will be performed on Valentine's Day, Today, February 14 in The Broadway at the Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway. The His and His series follows the development of LGBT characters on Broadway, and celebrates the artists who wrote the great works of musical theater.

Artists Giving Back, a local not-for-profit that specializes in fundraising through the arts, is throwing a benefit concert called AGB Presents: Songs of Healing a Benefit for Donica Lynn.

The second installment of Pride Films and Plays' His & His.'  cabaret series will be performed on Valentine's Day, Tuesday, February 14 in The Broadway at the Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway. The His and His series follows the development of LGBT characters on Broadway, and celebrates the artists who wrote the great works of musical theater.

A venue has been announced for the remount of Refuge Theatre Project's enormously successful 2016 production of High Fidelity: The Musical.

A venue has been announced for the remount of Refuge Theatre Project's enormously successful 2016 production of High Fidelity: The Musical.

Refuge Theatre Project has announced leadership changes and programming for its third season, according to company co-founder Ross Egan. Christopher Pazdernik, who directed and choreographed the company's breakout production of High Fidelity: The Musical in February 2016 and more recently directed the Chicago premiere of Wicked City by Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar for Chicago Theatre Workshop, has been named Artistic Director, a position previously held by Egan. Egan, who founded the company two years ago with Morgan Egan, will move to Executive Director, a new position. Morgan Egan will continue as Managing Director.

Pride Films and Plays celebrates its first holiday season in the Pride Arts Center with three special LGBT-themed cabaret/musical variety events in December. All three events will be staged in The Broadway, at 4139 N. Broadway.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of End of the Rainbow, tonight, November 4, through December 4, featuring music from the songbook of Judy Garland, written by Peter Quilter, starring Angela Ingersoll as 'Judy Garland,' direction by Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Director Michael Weber, music direction by Jon Steinhagen, who also appears as 'Anthony,' at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!