Route 66 does “The Who’s TOMMY” a one night spectacular!

A Super night at the theater!  Many theater patrons are aware of our smaller companies that have made some headlines- one of these is Route 66 Theatre Company , who has taken a local premiere ( a Chicago based play) to New York’s “off-Broadway” and nurtures young playwrights to bring their creative works to our area stages ( they have no real home of their own, YET). In order to get reaction to these plays, they have what they call “The Monthly Reading Series” which takes place at Mrs. Murphy’s Irish Bistro located on Lincoln Avenue. FYI-The next one is May 20th – to get info and reserve your spot, visit www.route66theatre.org

What I want to make you aware of from this company is also the experience that I had this evening at Stage 773 on Belmont, a staged “live Concert reading of The Who’s “Tommy” and what a special evening this was.Chicago’s finest musical theater performers gave up their evening to raise funds for Route 66, but of greater importance, band together as a family to produce one of the finest concerts of this music and one of the best Monday nights I have had in a long tome. The theater was “rocking”!

The concept of  bringing this concert to the stage was conceived by Michael Mahler ( one of THE finest , multi-talented performers in town) who was the music director and starred as “Tommy”. While this is called a “reading” Mahler and many others never looked at the music stands before them. They knew it all and performed to perfection, making the building at Stage 773 move from its foundation ( or so it seemed). Rachel Rockwell ( one of our rising stars) directed the action. In addition, on the tech side, Julia Zayas-Melendez ran the show and the lights were handled by Nick Belley and Greg Hoffman. Great job- and then there is THE Talent!

The fabulous Christine Sherrill, Rod Thomas, Adrian Aguilar, Derek Hasenstab, Bethany Thomas, Stef Tovar, Skyler Adams, Emily Rohm, George Andrew Wolff and Jim Barclay ( drums),Matt Deitchman ( guitar) Devin DeSantis and Sophie Grimm as Ensemble .

These are names that you see on programs at Marriott,Drury Lane,Chicag Shakespeare, Light Opera Works, Stage 773 ( Porchlight Musical Theater) among others. This was a night to remember and guess what, all it cost was a $10 donation, so I promise you that when the next one is announced, I will let you know so if you don’t see it, you will only have yourselves to blame. Better yet, why not join the mailing list at Route 66, www.route66theatre.org  and get “your kicks with Route 66!