Christopher Pazdernik News

Porchlight Music Theatre continue its 25th Anniversary Season with its a?oelosta?? musicals in staged concert series Porchlight Revisits. Porchlight Revisits Call Me Madam, with book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and music and lyrics by Irving Berlin stars Donica Lynn as the titular socialite presented for three performances Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 21 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street

Porchlight Music Theatre's 25th anniversary season began with the 14th Annual Chicago Sings concert: Chicago Sings 25 Years of Porchlight, Monday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m., at The Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave, directed by Christopher Pazdernik and Artistic Director Michael Weber with music direction by David Fiorello and a band featuring Kelsey Boltz, Cara Hartz, John McCreary, Greg Strauss, Celeste Park and Jake Saleh.

Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a musical that retells the wonderful, family adventures of Huck Finn and the slave Jim, as they ride the Mississippi! Their shared journey of discovery proves humorous, suspenseful and heartwarming. This is a coming-of-age story about equality, acceptance, standing up for what is right, faith, heart, and freedom.

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce the 14th Annual Chicago Sings concert: Chicago Sings 25 Years of Porchlight, Monday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m., at The Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave, directed by Christopher Pazdernik and Artistic Director Michael Weber with music direction by David Fiorello. Reception begins at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour and light appetizers. Performances, awards ceremony and paddle raising begins at 7 p.m. in the Edlis Neeson Theatre. Tickets are on sale for $125 at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by calling 773.777.9884. Tickets at the door will be $150. The event has reserved seating and supports Porchlight Music Theatre's educational and artistic programming.

Porchlight Music Theatre announces that Peabody and multi-Emmy award-winning composer Larry Grossman of West Hollywood, California, has joined Porchlight's Advisory Board.Grossman partnered with Porchlight Music Theatre earlier in 2019 with Porchlight's popular music series Porchlight Revisits presenting Minnie's Boys, a 1971 Broadway musical about the early years of the Marx Brothersfeaturing music by Grossman.

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce that its final production in the 2018 - 2019 "lost" musicals in staged concert series Porchlight Revisits Minnie's Boys will now include a special event with Minnie's Boys composer Larry Grossman, "A Conversation with Larry Grossman," Thursday, May 23 at 4:45 p.m. and feature a new song added to this Chicago premiere.

Refuge Theatre Project announced today that it has begun a search for a new artistic director as current artistic director Christopher Pazdernik has stepped down from the position that he has held since 2016. During his tenure as artistic director, Pazdernik led the artistic vision of the company choosing  Refuge productions and directing many of them including the critically acclaimed productions of High Fidelity: The Musical (Jeff Awards for Best Director and Best Production of a Musical), The Spitfire Grill, The Last Session and Hands on a Hardbody. 

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce that its final production in the 2018 - 2019 'lost' musicals in staged concert series Porchlight Revisits MINNIE'S BOYS will now include a special event with MINNIE'S BOYS composer Larry Grossman, 'A Conversation with Larry Grossman,' Thursday, May 23 at 4:45 p.m. and feature a new song added to this Chicago premiere. Porchlight Revisits Minnie's Boys, book by Groucho Marx's son Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher, music by Grossman and lyrics by Hal Hackady with direction and choreography by Christopher Pazdernik and musical direction by Christie Chiles Twille, is presented for three performances Wednesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, March 23 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Each Porchlight Revisits production begins with the 'Behind the Show Backstory' multimedia presentation, created and hosted by Artistic Director Michael Weber, discussing that evening's production including the show's creative history, juicy backstage gossip and much more. Single tickets are $37 for the performance and 'A Conversation with Larry Grossman' is free to the public. Both are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight Music Theatre box office at 773.777.9884.

Jeff Award-winning director and HIV+ activist Christopher Pazdernik presents the 5th installment of Chris' Birthday Belt Fest, an annual benefit concert for Howard Brown Health, Monday, May 13 at 8 p.m. at Greenhouse Theatre Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.Tickets are $30, in advance; $40, at the door on the night of the performance, and are available at GreenHouseTheater.org or by calling 773.404.7336. The performance is suitable for all ages and runs two hours with one intermission.

Porchlight Music Theatre's final production in its 2018 - 2019 'lost' musicals in staged concert series is Porchlight Revisits Minnie's Boys,  with book by Groucho Marx's son Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher, music by Larry Grossman and lyrics by Hal Hackady with direction and choreography by Christopher Pazdernik and musical direction by Christie Chiles Twille.  Porchlight Revisits Minnie's Boys is presented for three performances Wednesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, March 23 at 2 p.m. and  7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street.

In HANDS ON A HARDBODY, now making its Chicago premiere with Refuge Theatre Project, the mobility offered by that titular hardbody truck is not just of the wheeled variety. Instead, the contest among 10 working class Texans to be the last to have their hands on that Nissan truck also becomes a rather obvious symbol of the American Dream.

Refuge Theatre Project is proud to announce the cast and production team for its second production in its 2018 - 2019 season, Hands on a Hardbody, March 15 - April 27, book by Doug Wright, with lyrics by Amanda Green,  and music by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green, directed by Refuge Theatre Project's Artistic Director Christopher Pazdernik and music directed by Jon Schneidman.  

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce its 25th Anniversary season that includes the 2019 - 2020 Mainstage, Porchlight Revisits and New Faces Sing Broadway productions.. Porchlight's Mainstage and Porchlight Revisits return to the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street.  

Refuge Theater Project is proud to announce the cast and production team for its second production in its 2018 - 2019 season, Hands on a Hardbody, March 15 - April 27, book by Doug Wright, with lyrics by Amanda Green,  and music by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green, directed by Refuge Theatre Project's Artistic Director Christopher Pazdernik and music directed by Jon Schneidman.  

Refuge Theater Project is proud to announce the cast and production team for its first production in its 2018 - 2019 season, The Last Session, October 26 - December 2, book by Jim Brochu, with music and lyrics by Steve Schalchlin, additional lyrics by John Bettis and Marie Cain directed by Refuge Theatre Project's Artistic Director Christopher Pazdernik and music directed by Erik Pearson. The Last Session runs  Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. at Atlas Art Studio, 4809 N Ravenswood Ave. Previews are Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. with opening/press night Sunday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. There are two additional performances Monday, Nov. 12 and 26 at 8 p.m. Preview tickets are $15, regular run tickets are $30 each and available at RefugeTheatre.com.

Porchlight Music Theatre announces the 2018 - 2019 New Faces Sing Broadway series: New Faces Sing Broadway 1964, with host WGN's Paul Lisnek, November 19 and 20; New Faces Sing Broadway 1941, February 26 - 28 and New Faces Sing Broadway NOW, April 29 and 30.

Refuge Theater Project is proud to announce the cast and production team for its first production in its 2018 - 2019 season, The Last Session

Refuge Theater Project has announced its 2018 - 2019 season including The Last Session, October 25 - December 2 and Hands on a Hardbody, March 29 - May 5, 2019. Artistic Director Christopher Pazdernik will direct both productions. Tickets are $30 each and are now on sale at RefugeTheatre.com. Details on each production are included below.

Terrific but little known musical theatre gems will be given the spotlight in Chris & David's Top 40 Showtunes You've (Probably) Never Heard, performed at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret from July 9-30 on Mondays at 8 PM.  Reservations can be placed at davenportspianobar.com.

Pride Films and Plays has announced a series of discussions in conjunction with its American premiere of PINK ORCHIDS -  a British play in which five eloquently interwoven and often funny monologues explore the experience of living with HIV from the perspectives of those living with the virus and those who care for and care about HIV+ persons. Staff members from Test Positive Awareness Network (TPAN) and other HIV activists will lead the weekly discussions about living with in a world with HIV - either as someone who has tested positive for the virus or is vulnerable to it.