May 2, 2024

Route 66 celebrates ten years with major bash

One of the beautiful parts of the Chicago Theater Scene is the love that is shared between its members. Last Friday night, at The Mayne, a marvelous little club/theater in Rogers Park, performers from the greater Chicago area joined with the members of Route 66 Theatre Company to celebrate the 2018 Mile Markers benefit ( fund- raiser) and present the marvelous “Laurel Canyon- Chicago artists sing California songs”. After all, Route 66 is the road that joins Chicago to California and in fact, hoe this theater company was named.

While this is a one-time event and over for this year, I tell you so that when the next benefit is advertised you will clear your calendar and find a way to attend. Directed by Tammy Mader, with music directed by the incredible Michael Mahler, the talent assemble is some of the finest of Chicago ( and a few who came from other states to help celebrate ten wonderful years). Being held on a Friday night, when many theaters are open, there were many great talents, who often give their time and talent to help this company, unable to attend, but the audience who came out was given one of the best of the best nights of musical entertainment possible!

The music was that of : The Eagles -“Take It Easy”, Jackson Browne -“Doctor, My Eyes”, James Taylor -“Fire and Rain” and “You’ve Got A Friend”, Joni Mitchell – “Rain”, Carly Simon-‘You’re So Vain”, Joni Mitchell-“Both Sides Now”, Carole King “Natural Woman” and “I Feel The Earth Move”,  The Mamas and The Papas – “Dream A Little Dream of Me”, and many more from that era and the singers that most of the audience grew up on.

Talent! Cassie Slater, Colette Todd (her “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” was amazing), Don Forston, Audrey Billings, who truly made the earth move, Andrew Mueller and his parents, Jill Shellabarger and Roger Mueller who did a great number with Dara Cameron and Michael Mahler-“Teach Your Children”, Lara Filip, Missy Aguilar, Susan Moniz, Ben Barker, Alex Goodrich, Christopher Weng, Adam Michaels, Laura Savage, Stef Tovar (the founder of Route 66 Theatre Company), Liz Chidester, Camille Robinson, Evan Tyrone Martin and  Jacquey Rosati- some of our finest and surely an evening to remember.

They have this every year. Get on their mailing list-www.route66theatre.org

make sure you don’t miss the next concert- they are stupendous!

There are special drinks and many silent auction items to bid on. Bottles of fine wine, dinners, Cubs tickets. Maybe you have something to donate to this fine theater company. They will gladly have you participate.