Monty Python, A Christmas Story, On Golden Pond, Tim Burton and Elvis Presley come together, with a little help from William Shakespeare, in Theatre at the Center's upcoming season of movie tie-ins.
Ever since the Marx Brothers shows of the 1920s, Broadway shows have been turned into movies. Today, it more often goes the other way around. But any way you look at it, the artistic and commercial links between the stage and the silver screen have always been strong. Theatre at the Centre will spend its entire 2015 season celebrating this fruitful convergence.
The popular Chicagoland theater will open its 2015 season with On Golden Pond, the 1979 Broadway hit by Ernest Thompson that went on to become a classic 1981 film starring Katherine Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda. The movie won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, and received 10 Academy Award nominations, with both Henry Fonda (in his final film role) and Katherine Hepburn winning Oscars.
Next up is the Broadway musical Big Fish, based on Daniel Wallace's novel and Tim Burton's film starring Ewan McGregor, Jessica Lange, Albert Finney, Marion Cotillard and Billy Crudup. The Andrew Lippa/John August musical, which revolves around a traveling salesman's tall tales and relationship with his adult son, premiered in Chicago last spring with a cast that included Norbert Leo Butz and Brad Oscar before going on to a brief Broadway run in the fall of 2013.
All Shook Up! The Music of Elvis Presley is inspired by the King's music and movies – and also loosely based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. It includes 24 Elvis classics as it follows a young girl who dreams of hitting the road and a charismatic roustabout who changes the town forever when he brings it the gift of rock and roll in 1955.
The musical comedy Spamalot is based on the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. With book and lyrics by Eric Idle and a score by Idle and John Du Prez, the wacky show opened on Broadway in 2004 and played over 1,500 performances, winning three Tony Awards and going on tour the world.
Theatre at the Center's 2015 season wraps up in December with a BB-gun bang – specifically, Phil Grecian's theatrical adaptation of the classic 1983 film A Christmas Story, brightening holiday spirits in the chilly vicinity of the Windy City. For ticket information visit Theatre at the Center's website or call 219-836-3255.
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