Chicago’s The Annoyance Theatre has a history of creating iconic comedic gems that audiences can’t get enough of. Over the years the company has been home to such long-running hits as “Co-Ed Prison Sluts”, “Shark Tank the Musical”, and “The Real Live Brady Bunch”.

A new comedy “The Little Orphan Boy” is promising to be the next big thing at The Annoyance. A musical parody of all orphans alone in the world making good stories such as “Annie”, “Oliver”, and “James and the Giant Peach”, this wacky comedic delight was such a hit that it's already on its second run and plans are in the works to bring it back again! Find out why!

On this episode of It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee, cast members Chris Dritsas, Andrew Freeland, and Zach Hacker join host Rikki Lee Travolta to describe what is making this show so popular! In addition to being in the cast, Chris and Zach are also co-writers of the script, with music by John Love.

“The Little Orphan Boy” plays at The Annoyance Theatre in Chicago every Saturday through May 25, 2024. For tickets visit www.TheAnnoyance.com.

Sarah Sapperstein is a premier leading lady in Chicago’s vibrant fine arts community. She has appeared in over 100 Chicago-area theatre, musical theatre, opera, and cabaret productions since transplanting to the Windy City.

On this episode of It's Showtime with Rikki Lee, the Life and Times Heartstrings Award-winning actress sits down with host Rikki Lee Travolta to explore her story as an artist. It’s a thought-provoking investigation that includes how she got her start, her approach to character development, and what attracts her to a project.

One area they also explore is how she is able to work in such diverse musical styles as musical theatre, opera, and rock opera. Of great importance in their talk is being true to yourself including when embracing nontraditional casting opportunities.

It's a fascinating interview with the star of such projects as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Doubt, Ragtime, Music Man, Into the Woods, Cabaret, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Take this opportunity to get to know the human side of one of Chicago's top talents.

"Steel Magnolias" is an American comedy-drama play about a group of women who congregate at the local hair salon in the south – Louisiana to be specific. It opened Off-Broadway in 1987 and had a star-studded film adaptation in 1989 featuring Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton, and Daryl Hannah.

Director Pat Henderson is now staging a dynamic production of "Steel Magnolias" at Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles, IL. Featuring some of the Chicago suburbs strongest talents, the production manages to succeed as both a gripping tear-jerker and a playful comedy.

"Steel Magnolias" runs Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at Steel Beam Theatre through May 12. For tickets visit www.SteelBeamTheatre.com.

On this episode of It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee, host Rikki Lee Travolta is joined by director Pat Henderson and two of the stars of "Steel Magnolias" – Alexus Buford and Julie Utrup-O’Nan.

The group discusses what goes into casting and producing a production like this, the character development process, and why this powerful interpretation of "Steel Magnolias" is going to be so rewarding to audiences.

Texas is known for its barbecue and prime meats. Celebrity chef Robbie Shoults of Bear Creek Smokehouse in East Texas is a key example of why.

Robbie is the third-generation owner of Bear Creek Smokehouse. He has been featured on the TODAY show and Rachel Ray. He is a five-time guest judge on The Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay. His recipes have been featured on Yahoo.com, Taste of Home, The Food Network, and Meat + Poultry. In short, Robbie knows his way around the kitchen.

Beyond being just a great cook and popular television personality, Robbie Shoults is an astute businessman. He has put the family smokehouse business on the map with the addition of a General Store that attracts shoppers from all over area. Online shoppers are just as ravenous in shopping for Bear Creek’s signature smoked meats and other delicacies and delights.

On this episode of It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee, Robbie discusses the many attributes of Bear Creek Smokehouse, its online store, specialty holiday smoked turkeys, and the Cottage at the Creek five-star vacation property.

For more information on Robbie Shoults and Bear Creek Smokehouse visit www.BearCreekSmokehouse.com.

And don’t forget to pick up a copy of Robbie’s cookbook: Bear Bottom Bliss featuring 80 years of family recipes.

Taking a well-known story and presenting it from an alternative point of view can result in great entertainment.

For its current production, Idle Muse Theater is presenting the original play "What the Weird Sisters Saw", an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”- as told from the perspective of the story’s witches.

On this episode of It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee, artistic director Evan Jackson sits down with host Rikki Lee Travolta to discuss the Idle Muse “graphic novel on stage” approach to theatre, the core actors that make up the company’s talented ensemble, and the current production of “What the Weird Sisters Saw” playing through April 14, 2024 at The Edge Off-Broadway.

It’s a very fun and informative half-hour getting to know one of Chicago’s premier theatre troupes and the process of reimagining the classics.

For tickets to “What the Weird Sisters Saw” visit www.IdleMuse.org or call the box office at (773) 340-9438.

“Jersey Boys” – the stage musical dramatization of the story of the popular singing group The Four Seasons – took Broadway by storm in 2005. It went on to win the Tony Award for Best Musical and ran for over a decade.

It’s the story of four working-class youths from New Jersey who used talent and determination to make it in the world as singing sensations. With such hits as “Sherry”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Walk Like a Man” and “Oh What a Night”, they achieved immortality via worldwide fame.

“Chicago is kind of like New Jersey,” notes L. Walter Stearns – one of the two co-directors of a brand-new production of “Jersey Boys” at Mercury Theater in Chicago. Stearns points this out in reference to how the Mercury Theater production is the first in Chicago to originate in Chicago with Chicago talent.

On this episode of It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee, Stearns and co-director Brenda Didier share the process of developing this homegrown interpretation of the Broadway hit for Chicago audiences. They share casting details and how they went about creating the look and sound of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.

Didier and Stearns are two of the most decorated directors in Chicago theatre. In addition, Stearns is the executive director of the Mercury Theater. The production stars Jason Michael Evans (Nick Massi), Andrew MacNaughton (Bob Gaudio), Michael Metcalf (Frankie Valli) and Adrian Aguilar (Tommy DeVito).

Much to their credit, one point both directors agree on is to value the input of all the members of the production team and then pick the best options to pursue. Captained by host Rikki Lee Travolta, this episode is an incredible opportunity to learn from two of the city’s top creative talents.

“Jersey Boys” is scheduled through May 19, 2024. For tickets visit www.MercuryTheaterChicago.com or call the box office at (773) 360-7365.

And – for additional insights into the Chicagoland theater world, visit our sister internet publications www.LifeandTimes.biz – your guilty pleasure for entertainment news, views, and reviews.

On this episode of It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee, heralded director Elizabeth Swanson joins host Rikki Lee Travolta to discuss “A Streetcar Named Desire” running through April 21, 2024, as a part of Paramount Theatre’s BOLD Series in downtown Aurora, just outside Chicago.

Swanson, who recently completed tenure as the artistic director of BoHo Theatre, co-directs the American classic with Paramount artistic director Jim Corti. During the interview, Swanson describes working with the Chicago theatre legend and the process of bringing Tennessee Williams’ most famous work to Paramount’s Copley Theatre.

Corti and Swanson have not taken a passive approach with “A Streetcar Named Desire.” The interpretation Swanson describes has the exciting potential to be a game-changer and truly historic.

One of Chicago’s premier directing talents, Swanson explains the path that brought them to this point in their career. Swanson also relates how those experiences flavor and influence their approach to helming a production. They especially go into detail on how they collaborated with Corti and a cast that includes Amanda Drinkall, Casey Hoekstra, and television’s Alina Taber to create characters that are true to the text yet fresh, impactful, and perhaps even genius.

Order tickets now to what promises to be an emotionally moving and thought-provoking roller coaster of angst, passion, love, lust, hopes, sorrows, and struggles for power. This show will be the stuff of legends.

For tickets call the box office at (630) 896-6666 or visit www.ParamountAurora.com.

Alcoholism is a powerful subject. As the backdrop for movies like "A Star is Born", "Leaving Las Vegas", and "Barfly", it is apparent that alcoholism can make for vivid storytelling.

Alcoholics Anonymous is an organization that has saved the lives of millions of addicts by helping them to get and stay sober. "Bill W and Dr. Bob" is a renowned play coming to Chicago that captures on stage the very start of AA – as two alcoholics come together to support each other and then offer that support out into the world for all others who want to get sober.

On this episode of It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee, actor and director Ronnie Marmo joins host Rikki Lee Travolta to discuss what is expected to be a big hit in Chicago: "Bill W. and Dr. Bob." The show opens March 7 and is playing at the Biograph Theater in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.

In addition, on his nights off, Ronnie is also appearing in the smash hit “I’m Not a Comedian….I’m Lenny Bruce” under the direction of Joe Mantegna. The two must-see plays are running in repertoire at the Biograph Theater.

It’s a fascinating episode with lots of great insights into the torments of addiction, the saving grace of AA, and the brilliance of entertainment.

Ronnie Marmo has a lot of interesting things to discuss about bringing these two hit shows to Chicago – so be sure to listen.

For tickets to “Bill W. and Dr. Bob" go to www.BillWandDrBobOnStage.com

For tickets to “I’m Not a Comedian…I’m Lenny Bruce” go to www.LennyBruceOnStage.com.

We also encourage you to read our sister publication LifeandTimes.biz – your guilty pleasure for entertainment news, views, and reviews.