Three new stage performances make for fun family outings

Summer is a great time to venture out of your normal neighborhood to experience something new and fun. Three area shows are ready to keep all members of your family entertained.

Brigadoon, one of the most anticipated revivals, opens at the Goodman Theatre this week. With permission of the Lerner and Loewe estates, the stage version directed by Rachel Rockwell created is said to be an updated version of the classic story. A previous stage version was described as a “ravishing” (The New Yorker) musical delight that will sweep you off your feet.

Those familiar with the movie know it’s about two American tourists, Tommy and Jeff, who get lost on vacation in Scotland. They stumble upon a magical village which only appears one day every 100 years. No outsider can stay in Brigadoon unless they fall in love with a villager. Because of the magic that protects the village, no villager can ever leave. Simply crossing the main bridge will cause the village to disappear and the villagers to die. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.goodmantheatre.org/brigadoon/ or call 312.443.3800. The show currently runs through August 10.

In conjunction with Brigadoon’s Goodman Theatre opening, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events will present a free screening of the original film during the City of Chicago Summer Film Series. The film begins at 6:30 p.m. Gene Kelly, Van Johnson and Cyd Charisse star in the Vincente Minnelli film. Visit CityofChicago.org/DCASE for more information.

Godspell, at the Marriott Theatre through August 10, is described as “a fresh, organic, intimate production, literally “illustrating” the parables of the New Testament and bringing its lessons to life on the Marriott stage. The brilliant recent Broadway arrangements and orchestrations will be delivered under the Musical Direction of Ryan T. Nelson.”

One of the things that makes Godspell so family-friendly is the cast. The fresh faced students contemplating big life questions through song and dance are barely older than your high school students. During the media previews, teens in the audience commented about how relatable the young actors were because they seemed like their friends.

The songs are familiar, but the performances are strong. When Devin DeSantis opens the first act singing as he walks through the aisle to the stage, there is the promise of a great musical. The other performers stand on his strong opening foundation.

Tickets for the show include student (aged 17 and under) and senior citizen (62 and older) discounts. For information about show dates or times, call the Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or visit www.MarriottTheatre.com.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, running through August 17, is a fun mix of scripted moments and improvisation. The set-up brings together six overachieving adolescents in a winner-takes-all spelling competition. The students represent every stereotype from the girl with the pushy parents to the boy with the unbreakable routine.

Director Scott Calcagno has to create a production where the actors know their parts, but the parts change a bit every show. Before each show, audience members are randomly chosen to participate in the spelling bee. The actors interact with these “contestants” in ways that build the excitement and humor.

The New York Times called The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee “I-r-r-e-s-i-s-t-i-b-l-e!” and USA TODAY exclaimed it is “A winning experience for everyone!” The Wall Street Journal raved the production “…perfect in every possible way – that rarity of rarities, a super-smart musical that is also a bona fide crowd-pleaser. An ingenious blend of simplicity and sophistication, it’s not merely funny, it’s wise.”

For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Drury Lane Theatre box office at 630.530.0111, call TicketMaster at 800.745.3000 or visit www.drurylane.com.