Hear the voices from the Broadway and opera stages at two free concerts in Chicago’s Jay Pritzker Paviion at Millennium Park
First, and this comes quickly on the calendar, is the Broadway In Chicago Summer Concert, Aug. 13 at 6:15 p.m. So grab a blanket for the grass or get there early for a seat to hear songs from the following shows on the Broadway tour:
“The Book of Mormon,” “Hello Dolly,” “A Bronx Tale: The Musical,” “ Ronald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Anastasia,” “ Miss Saigon,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Cats,” “ Falsettos” and “Come From Away.”
Hosted by ABC 7 Chicago entertainment reporter Janet Davies Pre=Broadway “Tootsie” star Santino Fontana, the concert is sponsored by Channel 7 and presented by the City of Chicago department of cultural Affairs and Special Events.
The Jay Pritzker Pavilion is at 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago but it’s a can’t miss venue because of its billowing steel ribbons topping The Pavilion was designed for Millennium Park by award-winning architect Frank Gehry. For more information visit Broadway In Chicago.
The next preview is a mere few weeks later in early September. Presented by the Lyric Opera of Chicago it is the 18th annual stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park, Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Presented with the Chicago department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the concert will feature Act II from Puccini’s “La boheme” that includes the Chicago Children’s Choir and excerpts from Verdi’s “Il trovatore” and “La traviata” plus Mozart’s “Idomeneo” which are in the Lyric’s upcoming season. In addition, there will be other numbers from Verdi, Puccini and Saint-Saens.
On stage will be opera stars Maria Agresta,Danielle de Niese, Michael Fabiano, Zachary Nelson, Adrian Sampetran, Jake Gardner and Elizabeth DeShong as well as current Ryan Opera Center ensemble members, Ann Toomey, Mario rojas, José Rivera and Whitney Morrison. Program conductor is Domingo Hindoyan who will conduct Lyr’s season opener, “La boheme.”
The concert is a Lyric Unlimited program, for more information visit Lyric Unlimited.
Jodie Jacobs