Through June 2, 2013 Bank of America Theatre 18 W Monroe St, Chicago 800.775.2000 BroadwayInChicago.com or BookofMormontheMusical.com
Straight No Chaser to bring spirited sounds to Chicago The monumental success of Straight No Chaser over the last six years, one might say, was the happiest of accidents. Thanks to the Internet and YouTube, the male a cappella group jumped into the musical spotlight in 2006 and has remained a large draw on stages worldwide and with television audiences. Original member Randy Stine, of Chicago, says the group was initially established in 1996 at Bloomington’s Indiana University. “We just thought we’d get out and sing for whoever was interested,” Stine says. “We sang at school for fun.” The original ten members performed concerts at the college and around the Bloomington area while they remained students. (Today, an undergrad group also known as Straight No Chaser still exists at IU.) However, it wasn’t until 2006, when the original members, who had already graduated, got together for a reunion concert, that everything changed. Along with that concert, they decided to post a video of their “The 12 Days of Christmas” performance on YouTube and the video went viral. They got the attention of not only the public, but the head of Atlantic Records—and the rest is history. Fans of Straight No Chaser will have the opportunity to hear what the excitement is about when the group performs December 9 at the Chicago Theatre. “We like to keep our audiences surprised,” says Stine about their shows. They always mix up the set lists with a blend of “older to contemporary” music and some humor thrown in. Concertgoers will always hear everything from new twists on the Great American Songbook to pop tunes from decades ago as well as some of today’s biggest hits in a Straight No Chaser show.
Stine says vocal music and a cappella sounds are hip today with all ages. “With the popularity of television shows like American Idol, The Voice and The Sing-Off, more people are attracted to it,” Stine says. “[A cappella] is a sound that draws people in. There’s an unusual quality about it.” The group’s latest tour, titled the #SNCLive Fall 2012 Tour, is a nod to its Internet success and presence. The tour continues through December 23 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Stine says the Chicago Theatre show will largely be a Christmas-themed concert featuring songs from their hit holiday R CDs Christmas N O CH A S E S T R A IGH T d 8 pm . Dec 9 Cheers and 3 an Theatre Holiday Spirits. The Chicago Chicago t, S te ta “Christmas 175 N S 00 800.745.30 music has a special place in our shows. People look forward to it every year,” he says. Fans can expect something new across the airwaves from Straight No Chaser soon. “We have a new album coming out in February,” Stine says, adding it will feature special guests who haven’t yet been announced to the general public. Stine looks forward to bringing SNC’s show to the Chicago Theatre. “We’ve done five sold-out shows at the Chicago Theatre and I’m crossing my fingers that we’ll sell out again,” he says. A native of Naperville, Ill., who still calls Chicago home, Stine says the iconic theater is a special place. “I’m excited to come back. And we have a signing line after every show where people can come to say hello to us.” -ELOISE MARIE VALADEZ
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THE BOOK OF MORMON PRESENTED BY BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
hit harmonies
DECEMBER 2012/JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013
Trey Parker: “It just became ridiculously obvious that we should team up and do something about Mormons. So we said, ‘No, let’s do it together.’” And now, after opening in New York on Broadway in March 2011, the musical is the winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score (Parker, Lopez, Stone), Best Book (Parker, Lopez, Stone), Best Direction (Nicholaw and Parker), Best Featured Actress (Nikki M. James), Best Scenic Design (Scott Pask), Best Lighting Design (Brian MacDevitt), Best Sound Design (Brian Ronan) and Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus). While the New York production on Broadway is still going strong with an open run, in August 2012, the first national tour launched. However, Chicago’s production is its own original standing run production mounted by Parker, Lopez and Stone in conjunction with Broadway in Chicago. As for the question, “How would you describe the show to someone who is a traditional musical theater fan?” Lopez knows just how to answer. “The musical is a machine that’s designed to bring you down and raise you up, and to give you a positive, uplifting experience,” Lopez says. “I want the musical to show people the nadir of human experience. For this musical, it’s about faith. It’s about religious feeling. And I think we show a character that loses his faith, and we give his faith back to him in a better way at the end. And I hope that the experience of the audience mirrors that, whether it’s a religious experience or just feeling entertained.” -PHILIP POTEMPA