Jamal Howard News

Porchlight Music Theatre invited audiences to take another bite of musical theater history with Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick’s THE APPLE TREE. The musical, composed of three one-acts centered on the theme of temptation, was the season opener for the Porchlight Revisits series. As usual, Porchight Artistic Director Michael Weber introduced the show with a brief educational talk on THE APPLE TREE’s history.

The American Theatre Guild will present the North American debut of R.E.S.P.E.C.T., an electrifying tribute celebrating the legendary Aretha Franklin. This production is part of the BROADWAY AT THE FOX IN RIVERSIDE SERIES and will take the Fox Performing Arts Center stage Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.

The American Theatre Guild will present the North American debut of R.E.S.P.E.C.T., an electrifying tribute celebrating the legendary Aretha Franklin. This production is part of the BROADWAY IN SANTA BARBARA SERIES and will take The Granada Theatre stage January 3–4, 2022.

BoHo Theatre will close out its 2022/2023 season with TICK, TICK…BOOM!, with music, lyrics, and book by the late Jonathan Larson, and directed by Bo Frazier. This production marks the company’s first musical since BIG FISH in 2019.

Porchlight Music Theatre begins its ninth season of Chicago's “lost” musicals series with Porchlight Revisits The Apple Tree, book and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, book and music by Jerry Bock with additional material by James Coopersmith.

Kings Theatre is hosting the national tour of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. - the ultimate tribute to the legendary Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, October 6 – 8, 2022.

This year's show is Directed by the incredible Jamal Howard and features youth performers ages 4-18. Audiences will be dazzled by acts of: juggling, unicycle, German wheel, hula hoop, lasso, aerial silks, stilts, clowning, balance, mini trampoline, tightwire, Lyra and partner acrobatics.

Presented by Right Angle Entertainment, this journey to find love runs January 13 – February 13, 2022 at Apollo Theater Chicago, located at 2550 N Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. The press opening is January 19, 2022 at 7:30pm.

Jamal Howard, director and choreographer of the company's show for the holiday season, 8-TRACK, has announced his cast and creative team for this sung-through musical built around hit songs from the 1970s.

It's Pompeii meets Heathers as New American Folk Theatre continues its “season of audio theatre” with a new studio recording of its 2018 hit comedy Hot Pink, or Ready to Blow, written Joanie Drago, directed by Derek Van Barham and featuring the full original cast.

The season will conclude in the summer of 2022 with a 50th Anniversary production of Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak’s musical GODSPELL, directed by the company’s newly appointed Managing and Casting Director Christopher Pazdernik and choreographed by Jeff award-winner Jenna Schoppe (She/Her).

New American Folk Theatre presents The Summer of Daisy Fay, the inaugural production of NAFT's “season of audio theatre,” featuring new recordings of three of the company's past productions.

Chicago Immersive, in collaboration with interactive travel agency First Person Travel, has announced the new interactive walking tour WANDER: Lincoln Squarea?"A Chicago Walking Experience, September 19 a?" November 1, guided tours are given weekly Thursdays through Sundays, in Lincoln Square. This guided tour of the North Side neighborhood includes live agents and prerecorded historical scenes to facilitate exploration of the town's present with the discovery of its past. Each showing will include up to 20 socially distanced ticket holders and will last approximately 65 minutes. Tickets are $25 and are available at ChicagoImmersive.com or by calling the Chicago Immersive office, 773.236.2172. Ticket holders will receive information on Wander's app and where to meet at the beginning of the tour. 

Jonathan Tolins' look at gay life in the 1990s - THE LAST SUNDAY IN JUNE a?" will be performed via Zoom by a cast of socially-distanced actors on the actual last Sunday of June 2020 a?" the day on which Chicago's Pride Parade was set to take place before its cancellation due to the city and state's COVID-19 restrictions prohibiting large gatherings. Michael Rashid, an ensemble member of Hell in a Handbag, will direct.

Full cast and crew have been announced for Pride Films and Plays' Chicago premiere of I PROMISED MYSELF TO LIVE FASTER, an intergalactic gay extravaganza featuring closeted extraterrestrials, high-stakes pursuits, and nuns from outer space.

TUTA Theatre will present the world premiere adaptation of Hedda Gabler: A Play with Live Music, adapted and directed by Artistic Director Jacqueline Stone, with original music and music direction by Wain Parham, based on the play by Henrik Ibsen. Hedda Gabler will play February 25 - March 29, 2020 at Strawdog Theatre Company, 1802 W. Berenice Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.tutatheatre.org. The press opening is Thursday, February 27 at 7:30 pm.

TUTA Theatre is pleased to announce casting for its world premiere adaptation of HEDDA GABLER: A Play with Live Music, adapted and directed by Artistic Director Jacqueline Stone, with original music and music direction by Wain Parham, based on the play by Henrik Ibsen.

TUTA Theatre is pleased to present the world premiere adaptation of HEDDA GABLER: A Play with Live Music, adapted and directed by Artistic Director Jacqueline Stone, with original music and music direction by Wain Parham, based on the play by Henrik Ibsen. Featuring TUTA company member Lauren Demerath in the title role of Hedda, HEDDA GABLER will play February 25 a?" March 29, 2020 at Strawdog Theatre Company, 1802 W. Berenice Ave. in Chicago. Full casting will be announced shortly. Tickets go on sale Sunday, December 1 at www.tutatheatre.org. The press opening is Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 7:30 pm.

Emerald City Theatre (ECT) concludes its 2018 - 2019 Season this spring with the Chicago premiere of Corduroy, a new stage adaptation by Barry Kornhauser of Don Freeman's classic books, directed by ECT Artistic Associate Jamal Howard. Corduroy runs Friday, March 1 - Saturday, April 20 at the Athenaeum Theatre Main Stage, 2936 N Southport Ave.

New American Folk Theatre is pleased to present the world premiere of SCRAPS, the story of the Patchwork Girl of Oz, many years after her celebrated adventures in L. Frank Baum's Oz book series. Written by Co-Artistic Director Anthony Whitaker* and directed by Co-Artistic Director Jamal Howard*, SCRAPS will play September 1 - 29, 2018 at The Den Theatre (2A), 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.