Porchlight Music Theatre Kicks Off Its 21st Season with Chicago Sings The Best of Motown

PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE KICKS OFF ITS 21ST SEASON WITH CHICAGO SINGS THE BEST OF MOTOWN,

MONDAY, AUGUST 17 AT CITY WINERY

Porchlight Music Theatre Announces the 10th Anniversary Chicago Sings Concert Saluting the Best of Motown, Conceived and Directed by

Porchlight Artistic Associates Rob Lindley and Doug Peck

and Featuring Chicago’s Top Music Theatre Talents

CHICAGO – Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce Chicago Sings The Best of Motown, Monday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m., at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St. Single tickets are on sale now at citywinery.com or by calling the City Winery Box Office at 312.733.9463.

The annual launch to the Porchlight Music Theatre season, 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 salutes the best of Motown and acts as a kick off party to a season that culminates in the “supreme” theatrical achievement, Dreamgirls. In addition to Lindley and Peck, the performers scheduled to appear* include Adrian Aguilar, E. Faye Butler, Felicia P. Fields, Rebecca Finnegan, Marya Grandy, ‪Sharriese Hamilton, James Earl Jones II, Lynne Jordan, 
Donica Lynn, Christine Mild, Meghan Murphy, Alexis J. Rogers, Lorenzo Rush Jr., Joey Stone, Bethany Thomas, 
Christina Thomas-Englund, Katherine Thomas and Lina Wass.

Chicago Sings The Best of Motown promises to delight audiences with the explosive and electrifying songs of the Motor City performed by Chicago’s finest music and theatre artists. All the melody and all the emotion will be discovered anew during this evening of the songs that transformed a generation and became the soundtrack of America.

“Rob and I always look forward to this concert and this year in its new location, with the music of Motown, Chicago Sings will be the biggest concert in our history. The hardest part in creating this concert is deciding which songs from Motown these incredible performers should perform. The Motown legacy includes so much great music including the Temptations, Diana Ross, the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, the Jacksons, Martha and the Vandellas and the list goes on and on. It will definitely be an unforgettable night with unbeatable music,” said Peck.

*Performers may change without notice.

All proceeds from this special event go towards Porchlight Music Theatre’s educational and artistic programming.

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE

Porchlight Music Theatre, now in its 21st season, is nationally recognized for developing innovative 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 audience. 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 13 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 103 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations resulting in 31 Jeff Awards, recently garnering back to back Best Production awards for A Class Act (2103) and Ain’t Misbehavin’ (2014).

Porchlight Music Theatre’s 10th anniversary Chicago Sings concert, Chicago Sings The Best of Motown, Monday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m., at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St. Single tickets are on sale now at citywinery.com or by calling The City Winery Box Office at 312.733.9463.

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Porchlight Music Theatre is partially supported by generous contributions from the A.R.T League, the Arts Work Fund at the Chicago Community Trust, the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Lester & Hope Abelson Fund, the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the National Association of Realtors, Peoples Gas, and The Saints. The season program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Photo by Brandon Dahlquist, Cast of Chicago Sings Disney 2014.