Drury Lane Productions and veteran theatre owner Anthony DeSantis will unveil their new 549-seat state-of-the-art theatre May 2005. A season of contemporary plays and musicals "as well as classics from Broadway and beyond" will be seen at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place. The organization is under the leadership of producers James Jensen and Diane Van Lente, artistic director Michael Weber and artistic advisor Gary Griffin.
The gala opening of the new theatre will be May 18 at 7:30 PM, with the opening of David Yazbek and Terrence McNally's The Full Monty. Previews begin May 11. Performances continue to July 10.
Broadway veteran and four time Jeff Award-winner Jim Corti will direct and choreograph, with music direction by Tom Sivak.
The Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place schedule also includes Paul Osborn's Morning's at Seven July 20-Aug. 28. Steppenwolf associate artist Jessica Thebus directs the "heart-warming, humorous, and emotionally enchanting love letter to just plain folks is the story of an extended Midwestern family in 1939—four sisters, their husbands and childrens' dreams, hopes, foibles, and ultimate passion for each other."
The Tony Award-winning Grand Hotel - The Musical will begin previews Sept. 7 toward an opening Sept. 14. It continues to Nov. 6. Drury Lane Theatre artistic director Michael Weber directs with choreography by Tammy Mader and musical direction by Linda Slein. Book is by Luther Davis and the score is by Maury Yeston, George Forrest and Robert Wright. Plaid Tidings, the holiday followup to Forever Plaid, will make its Chicago premiere Nov. 16-Dec. 31. Written and directed by Stuart Ross, Plaid Tidings " is the holiday sequel to the record breaking Forever Plaid, the hugely popular musical about a 1950s four-part harmony group who, after an untimely demise, return from the beyond to stage their show that might have been. In Plaid Tidings, Jinx, Frankie, Smudge and Sparky are again sent back to Earth – as ordered by a heavenly phone call from Rosemary Clooney – this time to stage a nostalgic holiday extravaganza. Why, how and where eludes them until it all miraculously clicks together."
Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place will also present Theatre for Young Audiences mornings and afternoons. Shows, ticket prices and times will be announced soon.
Subscription series tickets for the 2005 season are on sale now. For subscription information call (312) 642-2000 or (630) 530-0111.
Individual tickets for The Full Monty will go on sale beginning April 12. At that time, tickets may be purchased at the box office (175 E. Chestnut Street), or by calling (312) 642-2000 or at www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information, visit drurylanewatertower.com.
