'Ovations' for Chi
Theater to stage three productions annually
The Auditorium Theater Council has announced that it will stage three productions annually, choosing at first from shows already restored by Gotham's City Center series. Hitherto entirely a road venue, the nonprofit Auditorium is sinking about $1.3 million into the three-show series -- $300,000 must still be raised.
The huge Chi house has put together a large advisory committee to steer the project, including reps from Alan Wasser & Associates, the Goodspeed Opera House and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as Judith E. Daykin of City Center. With Marc Robin as artistic director, musical direction for the new Chi season comes from Kevin Stites (currently in the pit for the new version of "Martin Guerre").
With several new road houses competing for product, the Auditorium has had a tough time staying lit of late. Although the Cameron Mackintosh blockbusters played the historic Loop house for multiyear runs in the past decade, the lack of any connection to Pace/SFX has meant that the 3,660-seat house has sunk in the road pecking order. So exec director Jan Kallish has decided to do her own thing.
"This is coming out of disappointments at all the cancellations," Kallish said. "But we think the combination of Broadway stars, local talent and the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra will sell a lot of tickets."
Series begins in February. The first show has not yet been decided.
