Porchlight Music Theatre Launches 22nd Season with CHICAGO SINGS THE BEATLES

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce the 11th Annual Chicago Sings concert; Chicago Sings The Beatles, Monday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m., at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St, directed by Rob Lindley and music directed by Doug Peck. In addition to the performances, Chicago Sings includes auctions, as well as tableside food and drink service at an additional charge. Single tickets are $75 and are on sale now at citywinery.com or by calling the City Winery Box Office at 312.733.9463. Sales from this one-night-only performance benefit Porchlight Music Theatre’s educational and artistic programming.

Chicago Sings is a one-night-only fund raising celebration honoring artists and organizations that have made music that changed the world. Created by Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Associates Rob Lindley and Doug Peck, this year’s Chicago Sings pays homage to the “Boys from Liverpool,” The Beatles and also serves as the kick off party to Porchlight’s 2016 – 2017 season.

The Beatles, the best selling band in history, leaders of the counter culture movement and according to Time, “One of the Most Influential People of the 20th Century” formed in 1960. Over the next decade John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr created songs that varied from pop ballads, psychedelia, hard rock, Broadway standards, Indian classics and others. Chicago Sings The Beatles includes everything from “Can’t Buy Me Love” to “Let it Be,” from “Yesterday” to “Eleanor Rigby.”*

In addition to Lindley and Peck, more than a dozen leading Chicago talents perform new and traditional versions of the Beatles’ hits, performers currently include Adrian Aguilar, Brianna Borger, Rebecca Finnegan, Foiled Again (Allison Bazarko, Rob Lindley and Anne Sheridan Smith), Marya Grandy, Christine Mild, Bethany Thomas and Katherine Thomas with additional names to be added.*

“There is not another band that we can think of that has influenced more people or may be more well known than The Beatles,” said Peck. “Rob and I are looking forward to bringing our friends and colleagues together for another unforgettable night of music with Chicago Sings. Our plan is to present this music in a new way with each performer taking a song and making it their own.”

Lindley added, “Doing research for this special concert, I was fascinated to see the depth of the Beatles’ catalog. There are really no “hidden gems” or “forgotten favorites,” each song the Beatles created became a hit. Their B-sides included “Yesterday” and “Across the Universe.” It will be one of the most fun concerts to create because the audience will be so familiar with each title and, of course, have their own memories of the songs.”

*Songs performed and artists may change without notice.

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE

Porchlight Music Theatre, beginning its 22nd season, is nationally recognized for developing new works, reimagining classic productions and showcasing musical theatre’s noted veterans and rising stars. Porchlight elevates the genre in Chicago by providing intimate and powerful theatrical experiences for its growing and diverse audiences. With the vision of Artistic Director Michael Weber, Porchlight builds on its role as Chicago’s only Equity not-for-profit company exclusively specializing in music theatre. Porchlight’s rich history includes the staging of more than 60 productions with 15 Chicago premieres and five world premieres. Through Porchlight’s “Off the Porch” new works program, the musicals of the next generation are developed and given a first audience. The School at Porchlight is Chicago’s new center for music theatre training in the areas of performance, writing and appreciation. The company’s many accolades include 11 Black Theatre Alliance nominations and two awards, as well as a total of 114 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations resulting in 35Jeff Awards including three consecutive Best Production awards for Sondheim on Sondheim (2015), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (2014) and A Class Act (2013) as well as Sondheim on Sondheim being named to the Chicago Tribune’s list of the “Best Theatre of 2015.”

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce the 11th Annual Chicago Sings concert; Chicago Sings The Beatles, Monday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m., at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St, directed by Rob Lindley and music directed by Doug Peck. In addition to the performances, Chicago Sings includes auctions, as well as tableside food and drink service at an additional charge. Single tickets are $75 and are on sale now at citywinery.com or by calling the City Winery Box Office at 312.733.9463. Sales from this one night only performance benefit Porchlight Music Theatre’s educational and artistic programming.

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Porchlight Music Theatre is partially supported by generous contributions from the Actors’ Equity Foundation, the Arts Work Fund at the Chicago Community Trust, the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Prince Foundation, the National Association of Realtors, the Bloomberg Philanthropies, James P. and Brenda S. Grusecki Family Foundation, Cooper’s: A Neighborhood Eatery and The Saints. The season program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency.