I Love Lucy, War Horse, Sister Act, Peter Pan and Kinky Boots Confirmed for Broadway In Chicago

By Kenneth Jones
02 Apr 2012

Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper

Broadway In Chicago's season of national touring shows and special events includes the previously reported pre-Broadway engagement of the new musical Kinky Boots, plus the newly announced I Love Lucy Live On Stage, Sister Act, War Horse, Peter Pan and more.

I Love Lucy Live On Stage is a "musical stage show adapted from the longest-running and most beloved television program in history," making its Midwest premiere in Chicago. According to production notes, "It's 1952 and you are a member of the studio audience awaiting the filming of two hilarious and familiar 'I Love Lucy' episodes. A charming host entertains and enlightens you to the behind-the-scenes filming process, the 1950s hi-fidelity technology, and this brand new thing called 'television.'

The episodes begin and you witness, firsthand, the side-splitting antics of that crazy redhead in the Ricardos' New York apartment and thrill to the Cuban sounds of The Ricky Ricardo Orchestra at the famed Tropicana Nightclub. In between scenes? The Crystaltone Singers perform live advertising jingles of the show's newest sponsors in perfect '50s style harmony."

The show is produced under license from CBS Consumer Products. Chicago performances will play Sept. 12-Nov. 11 at Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

In addition to I Love Lucy, the subscription series includes Kinky Boots, based on the film comedy about a shoe factory that is revitalized when it switches to the manufacture of fetish footwear, featuring music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper and a libretto by Harvey Fierstein, directed by Jerry Mitchell (beginning in October at Bank of America Theatre); Sister Act, the film-inspired musical about a nightclub singer who hides out in a convent, with songs by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater (Nov. 13-Dec. 2 at Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University); Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical (Dec. 5-16 at Cadillac Palace Theatre); War Horse, the London and Broadway hit in which puppeteers conjure life-sized horses in a World War I-set story (Dec. 18, 2012-Jan. 5, 2013, at Cadillac Palace Theatre); Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan, in a touring revival of the Broadway musical (Jan. 30-Feb. 10, 2013 at Cadillac Palace Theatre).

Shows being offered as non-subscription titles include Rock of Ages (June 5-Aug. 5 at Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place); Stuffed and Unstrung, an improv comedy with puppets produced by WestBeth Entertainment and Henson Alternative (June 12-17 at Bank of America Theatre); Rain — A Tribute to the Beatles (June 26-July 1 at the Oriental Theatre); Les Miserables, the freshly conceived 25th anniversary tour of the musical (Nov. 14-Dec. 2).

New subscriptions will be available on Friday, April 27 for the 2012 Fall Season. Current subscribers may renew now by calling (312) 977-1717. Tickets are available now for groups by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. Individual tickets will go on sale at a later date.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.