Music Theater Works
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BRIDGET McDONOUGH
ehind the glitz and glam of musical productions often follows a dedicated team of actors, stage managers, producers, directors, choreographers, set and costume designers, as well as technicians. These dedicated teams backing musical productions also consists of board members and staff who oversee the production of shows and see to the inner workings of the theater year round.
At Music Theater Works, Bridget McDonough is one of these ultra-dedicated board members. McDonough co-founded [originally Light Opera Works] Music Theater Works in 1980, and lead the move from Evanston to Wilmette through, with a mission to bring Broadway caliber productions to our community in the North Shore. Fast forward forty years and a strong community of fervent supporters, donors, season ticket holders and patrons have become a part of the family at Music Theater Works. Throughout the past several decades McDonough has nurtured an extremely family oriented community at Music Theater Works. Despite the family atmosphere at Music Theater Works the quality of the musical productions is not compromised in the least. The actors, who range from seasoned Broadway veterans to young adults just beginning their professional musical career, help to create productions on par with any musical production downtown or on or off-Broadway. When commenting on what makes Music Theater Works different McDonough adds that ac-
tors are hired who can sing the roles well, and the full musical orchestrations are done as well. This is exactly what sets Music Theater Works a part from others, the balance of community investment coupled with high quality musical productions in our own North Shore backyard. The craft is taken very seriously at Music Theater Works, and McDonough’s passion for the dramatic arts shines through her dedication to the community and to Music Works Theater. After a strong forty years on as General Manager at Music Works Theater, McDonough will be retiring after the 2019 season. When asked what she would like to leave behind after her forty-year tenure, she hopes that those patrons, donors, and audience members who have been apart of the Music Theater Works community thus far can share and pass on the gift of musicals with younger generations. It is truly remarkable how Bridget McDonough has assisted in fostering a professional theater community that can be enjoyed by everyone in the family. On behalf of our community, thank you Bridget for your endless commitment to bringing excellent stage productions to the North Shore, and for valuing the community around you. For tickets to Music Theater Works’ upcoming productions of Lerner and Loewe’s Greatest Hits (October 4-13) or Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (December 21-31), go to www.musictheaterworks.com. EVANSTONWOMAN.COM
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