SOUND OF MUSIC

DATES: October 13, 2011 - November 6, 2011
LOCATION: Drury Lane Theatre

Based on an inspiring true story, "THE SOUND OF MUSIC" is one of Rodgers and Hammerstein's most beloved musicals. Set in Austria on the brink of WWII, Maria a postulant, proves too high-spirited for the religious life and is dispatched to serve as governess for the seven children of a widowed naval Captain. Her growing rapport with the youngsters, coupled with her generosity of spirit, gradually captures the heart of the stern Captain.

MARY POPPINS

DATES: October 13, 2011 - November 6, 2011
LOCATION: Cadillac Palace Theatre

This high-flying musical returns, bringing its own brand of Disney magic back to Chicago! Featuring the irresistible story and unforgettable songs from one of the most popular Disney films of all time, plus breathtaking dance numbers and spectacular stage-craft, MARY POPPINS is everything you could ever want in a hit Broadway show! So get swept up in the fun of this dazzling musical the New York Post gives 4 out of 4 stars and calls "a perfect piece of musical theater."

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

DATES: November 22, 2011 - November 27, 2011
LOCATION: Auditorium Theatre

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is the Tony Award® -winning musical that has captured the hearts of people all over the world with its universal appeal. Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF has been lauded by critics again and again, and won the hearts of people all around the world. Filled with a rousing, heartwarming score, which includes "Tradition," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "If I Were A Rich Man" and "Sunrise, Sunset," FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is a timeless classic. No other musical has so magically woven music, dance, poignancy and laughter into such an electrifying and unforgettable experience. Relive a glorious tradition of the musical theatre with FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.

MEMPHIS

DATES: November 22, 2011 - December 4, 2011
LOCATION: Cadillac Palace Theatre

TURN UP THAT DIAL...From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, comes a hot new Broadway musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. Inspired by actual events, MEMPHIS is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves -- filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock 'n' roll. Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical, MEMPHIS features a Tony-winning book by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and a Tony-winning original score with music by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan. Directing is Tony nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu), and choreography is by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys).

THE ADDAMS FAMILY

DATES: December 13, 2011 - January 1, 2012
LOCATION: Cadillac Palace Theatre

Lurching back into Chicago for a return engagement, THE ADDAMS FAMILY is a smash-hit musical comedy that brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and, of course, Lurch to spooky and spectacular life. This magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, Drama Desk-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party), choreographer Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys) and Olivier Award-winning director/designers Phelim McDermott & Julian Crouch (Shockheaded Peter) with creative consultation by four-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Zaks. Come meet the family. We'll leave the lights off for you.

IN THE HEIGHTS

DATES: January 10th - January 15th, 2012
LOCATION: Oriental Theatre

IN THE HEIGHTS, this 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical is a moving, funny, and uplifting new show about a community of hard-working immigrants seeking a better life and trying to find their place - their home - in their new country. With a remarkable young cast, thrilling Tony® Award-winning dancing and a dynamic Tony® Award-winning score, In the Heights is an exhilarating journey into a vibrant Manhattan community - a place where the coffee is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. Experience the next chapter of the classic American story at the most joyous and exciting musical on Broadway.

COME FLY AWAY

DATES: January 10, 2012 - January 22, 2012
LOCATION: Bank of America Theatre

COME FLY AWAY is the new Broadway musical that brings together the legendary music of FRANK SINATRA and the creative vision of Tony Award-winner TWYLA THARP (Movin' Out).This one-of-a-kind experience combines the seductive vocals of "Ol' Blue Eyes" with the sizzling sound of a live on-stage big band and the visceral thrill of Tharp's choreography. As 15 of the world's best dancers tell the story of four couples falling in and out of love, you will experience the exhilaration of a first kiss, the excitement of a first dance, and the bittersweet moments of a first good-bye in a world of sparkling romance and astonishing beauty. COME FLY AWAY features a score of beloved Sinatra classics including "Fly Me to the Moon," "My Way," "New York, New York" and "Witchcraft."

LEGALLY BLONDE

DATES: January 18th - April 1st, 2012
LOCATION: Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre

The hilarious MGM film is now a smash hit musical! When college sweetheart and sorority queen, Elle Woods, gets dumped by her boyfriend she is determined to get him back. So she grabs her Chihuahua, puts down her credit cards, hits the books and sets out to go where no other Delta Nu has gone before - to join him at Harvard Law School. The verdict is that this much fun should not be legal! From sunny California to the Harvard Halls of Justice this all-singing, all-dancing feel good musical will be the highlight of your year.

MAMMA MIA!

DATES: January 24th - January 29th, 2012
LOCATION: Oriental Theatre

MAMMA MIA! is the ultimate feel-good show that has audiences coming back again and again to relive the thrill. Now the Broadway sensation is coming to Chicago’s Oriental Theatre and it’s your turn to have the time of your life at this smash-hit musical that combines ABBA’s greatest hits, including "Dancing Queen," "S.O.S.," "Super Trouper," "Take A Chance on Me" and "The Winner Takes It All," with an enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship. Whether it’s your first visit or your fourteenth, see the show that has the whole world coming back for more, because every time feels like the first time at MAMMA MIA!.

AMERICAN IDIOT

DATES: February 7th - February 19th, 2012
LOCATION: Oriental Theatre

Direct from Broadway, the smash-hit musical AMERICAN IDIOT tells the story of three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia. Based on Green Day's GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum album and featuring the hits "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "21 Guns," "Wake Me Up When September Ends," "Holiday" and the blockbuster title track, AMERICAN IDIOT boldly takes the American musical where it's never gone before. With direction by Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening), choreography by Steven Hoggett (Black Watch) and orchestrations and arrangements Tom Kitt (Next to Normal), the result is an experience Charles Isherwood of The New York Times declares "thrilling, emotionally charged, and as moving as any Broadway musical I've seen this year!"

RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN'S SOUTH PACIFIC

DATES: February 14th - February 26th, 2012
LOCATION: Cadillac Palace Theatre

SOUTH PACIFIC is based on James Michener's Pulitzer Prize winning book Tales of the South Pacific, Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, a book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan. "Simply Wonderful Beguiling Theatrical Magic!" hails the New York Post for Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC. This breathtaking new production of SOUTH PACIFIC is based on the 2008 Tony Award® winning Lincoln Center Theater production, directed by Bartlett Sher. Set on a tropical island during World War II, the musical tells the sweeping romantic story of two couples and how their happiness is threatened by the realities of war and by their own prejudices. The beloved score's songs include "Some Enchanted Evening," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair," "This Nearly Was Mine" and "There is Nothin' Like a Dame." USA Today cheers, "★★★★! Gorgeous SOUTH PACIFIC doesn't just float; it soars!"

BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL

DATES: March 6th - March 25th, 2012
LOCATION: Cadillac Palace Theatre

BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL is the explosive new musical comedy that raises the stakes on over-the-top high school rivalries. Set against the world of competitive cheerleading, this powerhouse new show hilariously proves that winning isn’t everything when it means losing something - or someone - you really care about. BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL has brought together some of the freshest and funniest creative minds on Broadway, including Tony Award-winning writer Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q); Tony Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (In The Heights); Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning composer Tom Kitt (Next to Normal) and lyricist Amanda Green (High Fidelity); Tony Award-winning orchestrator Alex Lacamoire (Wicked); and Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler (In The Heights). This entirely original musical comedy combines an exciting new sound, gravity-defying choreography, and a thrilling story to create a total theatrical event worth cheering for. Game On!

RIVERDANCE

DATES: March 13th - March 18th, 2012
LOCATION: Oriental Theatre

FAREWELL TOUR! EXPERIENCE THE ORIGINAL! Now in its 17th phenomenal year, RIVERDANCE, the internationally acclaimed celebration of Irish music, song and dance that has touched the hearts of millions around the world is coming to Chicago’s Oriental Theatre for one week only. "A phenomenon of historic proportions!" raves The Washington Post. "An explosion of sight and sound that simply takes your breath away," cheers the Chicago Tribune. "A family evening unlike anything else!" declares The London Times. Discover why nothing in the world compares to the original! Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, there is no better way to experience the magic of magic of RIVERDANCE with your family.

FELA!

DATES: March 27th - April 8th, 2012
LOCATION: Oriental Theatre

FELA!, the joyous dance, theater, music spectacle, has thrilled audiences in three continents. The Tony Award® winner, directed and choreographed by Bill T. Jones explores the extravagant world of Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti. FELA! comes to Chicago’s Oriental Theater following its sold-out run at London’s prestigious National Theatre where The Guardian’s Michael Billington exclaimed, "It breaks down conventional barriers between stage and auditorium and joins passion and politics. The dancing is ecstatic, the music lifts the spirits, and the stage is alive with movement." After Ben Brantley of the New York Times raved, "There should be dancing in the streets!" Bill T. Jones earned a Tony Award® for Best Choreographer. He was also given the Astaire Award and received a 2010 Kennedy Center Honor along with Oprah Winfrey.

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

DATES: April 4th - June 10th, 2012
LOCATION: Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre

Stash the gold! Guard the women! Hide the rum! The "Pirates" have arrived! Set sail across our open stage on this swashbuckling Gilbert and Sullivan adventure loaded with enough laughs to fill Davey Jones’ locker. It follows the fortunes of Frederic, a young lad who is mistakenly apprenticed to the Pirate King. When Frederic falls for the lovely Mabel, whose father is the very model of a modern Major General, a tempest brews on the sea of love. Full of roving rogues and dazzling damsels in distress, it’s a treasure chest full of mischievous musical mayhem.

JERSEY BOYS

DATES: April 5, 2012 - June 2, 2012
LOCATION: Bank of America Theatre

***CAUTION: LANGUAGE MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AUDIENCES***
Worldwide, more than 13 million people have seen JERSEY BOYS. And now, the show that broke records and made critics and audiences cheer every night is "Working Its Way Back" to CHICAGO! JERSEY BOYS, is the Tony® , Grammy® and Olivier Award-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. JERSEY BOYS features their hit songs "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Rag Doll," "Oh What a Night" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." "IT WILL RUN FOR CENTURIES!" proclaims Time Magazine. The JERSEY BOYS creative team comprises two-time Tony Award® -winning director Des McAnuff, book writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, composer Bob Gaudio, lyricist Bob Crewe and choreography by Sergio Trujillo.

HAIRSPRAY

DATES: April 12th, 2012 - June 17th, 2012
LOCATION: Drury Lane Theatre

"You Can't Stop the Beat" to this family friendly show that is piled bouffant-high with laughter and romance. Hairspray is an irresistible bebop musical that tells the fun, flouncing story of Tracy Turnblad, a large girl with big hair and a kind heart who only has one passion—to dance. Doing whatever it takes to fulfill her lifelong dream, she wins a spot on the popular TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show" and is quickly transformed into a teen celebrity. She then successfully sets out to vanquish the program's reigning princess, win the heart of the super handsome Link Larkin, and racially integrate the television show. Songs include: "You Can't Stop the Beat", "Good Morning Baltimore" and "Big, Blonde and Beautiful".

CATS

DATES: May 1st - May 6th, 2012
LOCATION: Cadillac Palace Theatre

The show that revolutionized musical theatre, CATS, is coming to Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre for one week only! In October of 1991 CATS became the longest continuously touring show in American theatre history. Five continents, 26 countries, over eight and a half million audience members and almost 30 years later, CATS is still America’s most loved family musical. Celebrating not only its Broadway touring legacy but the birth of the musical spectacular, CATS is still revolutionary and awe inspiring. Now that it was been seen by millions of audience members worldwide, it is time to celebrate with the whole family the magic, the mystery, the wonder of CATS. Create a special 'memory’ one more time.

HERO: A NEW MUSICAL

DATES: June 20th - August 19th, 2012
LOCATION: Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre

Aspiring comic book artist Hero Batowski lives anything but a superhero’s life - he’s 28 years old, works in his family’s comic book shop, and still lives at home with his dad. A long-ago tragedy left Hero unable to move on with his life. When a series of unexpected events occur, Hero must decide whether he is ready to finally face his fears and get his life on track. This quirky new musical by writers Michael Mahler and Aaron Thielen explores those extraordinary moments in ordinary life when there are no superheroes to the rescue.

DREAMGIRLS

DATES: August 22nd - November 4th, 2012
LOCATION: Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre

All you have to do is dream! This Tony Award winning musical is a true Broadway spectacle…a splashy tour de force of razzle-dazzle…taking you into a world of platinum records, high pressure promotion and overnight stardom. Full of onstage joy and backstage drama you’ll follow the rags to riches story of a female 1960s Motown group from Chicago…"The Dreams." Featuring the unforgettable hits "And I am Telling You I’m Not Going" and "One Night Only" this is a musical that "strikes with the speed and heat of lightning" - The New York Times.

MY ONE AND ONLY

DATES: November 7th, 2012 - January 13th, 2013
LOCATION: Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre

The roaring '20s are back in this Gershwin tap dance extravaganza. An aviator has one ambition…to be the first man to fly non-stop to Paris. But when he meets the girl of his dreams, the dazzling star of the touring European Aquacade, their romantic pursuit gets sidetracked by a series of misadventures. In the end love conquers all. The incomparable George and Ira Gershwin score including "Funny Face" and "Strike Up the Band" will have your entire family humming "'S Wonderful…’S Marvelous" all the way home.

COMEDY SPORTZ

DATES: Continuous Run
LOCATION: Comedysportz Theatre

Unlike "Standup Comedy" in which one performer tells pre-planned jokes to the audience, improvisational comedy involves a whole group of performers making up scenes and playing games on the spot based on audience suggestions.

Unlike most other forms of performance comedy, ComedySportz is great for all ages. The audience of a typical ComedySportz match contains everyone from kids to college students to parents to grandparents. Everyone has a good time and no one gets offended, and if an athlete steps beyond the boundaries of good taste, the "brown bag foul" (a brown paper sack placed over the offending player's head) will be called to set things straight. If you think "clean" is boring, you owe it to yourself to check us out. It's anything but boring.

MEDIEVAL TIMES

DATES: Continuous Run
LOCATION: Schaumburg, IL

Medieval Times is a unique venue for families, friends, corporate parties and group outings. Set inside an 11th century-style castle, the royal tournament begins as your family and friends feast on a bountiful four-course meal. Then, cheer for brave knights on horseback competing in medieval games of skill, exciting sword battles and an authentic jousting tournament. Witness the pageantry and beauty of Andalusian stallions and the majesty of our soaring falcon. Enjoy a cold beverage from one of our three full-service bars, peruse the pewter and crystal in our gift shops, and explore the depths of our Dungeon Museum with replicas of torture devices from the middle ages. It's guaranteed to be a "knight" to remember!

BLUE MAN GROUP

DATES: Continuous Run
LOCATION: Briar Street Theatre - Chicago

Blue Man Group is best known for its award winning theatrical productions which critics have described as "ground-breaking," "hilarious," "visually stunning" and "musically powerful." These performances feature three enigmatic bald and blue characters who take the audience through a multi-sensory experience that combines theatre, percussive music, art, science and vaudeville into a form of entertainment that is like nothing else.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

DATES: Continuous Run
LOCATION: Apollo Theatre Chicago

On December 4, 1956, an auspicious twist of fate brought together Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley. The place was Sun Records' storefront studio in Memphis. The man who made it happen was the "Father of Rock-n-Roll" Sam Phillips, who discovered them all. The four legends-to-be united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording session that embodied the birth of rock n' roll and has come to be known as one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time.