April 30, 2024

Broadway In Chicago- 2019 Summer Concert

Tonight, despite the weather forecast, the annual  FREE BROADWAY IN CHICAGO SUMMER CONCERT, sponsored by ABC 7 Chicago and hosted by Janet Davies, ABC 7 Chicago’s entertainment reporter and host of the entertainment and lifestyle program 190 NORTH, took place at 6:15 p.m. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph St). The Broadway In Chicago Summer Concert at Millennium Park is presented with the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. This year, performances include COME FROM AWAY; DEAR EVAN HANSEN; FROZEN; HAMILTON; JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR; MEAN GIRLS; MY FAIR LADY; ONCE ON THIS ISLAND; SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL; THE BAND’S VISIT; and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.

The Broadway In Chicago Summer Concert is presented in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events as part of Millennium Park Presents. Millennium Park proudly presents symphonic music, dance, opera, Broadway hits and more—performed by some of Chicago’s best-loved cultural institutions. For full calendar information, visit millenniumpark.org. For exciting facts about the Park, program updates and weather cancellations, follow Millennium Park on Twitter (@Millennium_Park), Instagram (Millennium_Park) and Facebook (@MillenniumParkChicago).

Editor’s note: We arrived a bit after 6:15 and because of the weather, the BIC people along with the  employees, moved the start time to 6 p.m. We missed a song, but the evening was such a delight, that in spite of the weather and the terrible traffic to get done to the city, we had a wonderful evening.

This is a very special event for the City of Chicago. There are a great number of citizens who might never get to a live theater production, and thru the Broadway In Chicago program, on this special evening, they are seeing some of the best of Broadway, right in their city at no charge. Seeing the grass lined with people of all ages and ethnicities makes one feel proud of what our theater community offers to this city. Two hours of sparkling music and a preview of the old and new shows that will be either leaving or coming to one of our theaters. One of the featured shows, “Six” has been playing at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and is now going to be at The Broadway Playhouse on Michigan Avenue for several months.

Other shows are either re-incarnations of hits we have seen before or shows on their first “road” presentations ( “Summer” is very new as is “Frozen” to Chicago).

The rain held off for most of the audience members. Those in the Pavillion area were dry, but as the show ended, we could see that t0 the South, the rain was heavier. I for one didn’t care. I was on a musical “High” from the wonderful performances I had just witnessed and the hostess with the “mostess”, Janet Davies. Oh what a night! It comes around the same time each year, so when August rolls around, go to www.BroadwayInChicago.com and make sure that you never miss this event. It is a delightful experience that will make you happy! It did me!