Chicago - Official Visitors Guide - (Page 43) Send My Regards to Chicago! 1 Outside of the Big Apple, Chicago has little competition when it comes to Broadway shows. The city has become a magnet for Broadway shows as they embark on national tours. Three different Tony-award-winning tours raise their curtains at theaters around the city this fall. The ever-popular Wicked continues its open run chronicling the life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West at the Ford Center for Performing Arts. Jersey Boys (page 18) makes its Chicago debut with Frankie and the boys bringing their irresistible 60s pop to LaSalle Bank Theatre. The indelible Phantom of the Opera opens October 31 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. For more information and tickets, visit www.broadwayinchicago.com. Off the Cuff Chances are, your favorite comedian got their start with The Second City (1616 N. Wells St.). This long-running, respected — did we mention hilarious — improvisational comedy troupe has been a proving ground for some of the world’s most beloved funny guys and girls for nearly 50 years. To name a few, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Shelley Long, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert all got their start on the Second City stage in Old Town, where they still crank out the laughs seven nights a week. Audience participation is key for a gut-busting night at the improv, especially when the brave comedians of ComedySportz Theatre (777 N. Green St.) are going head to head to see who can make you laugh harder. Moderated by a referee, the Red and Blue teams battle it out in hilarious sketches based entirely on audience suggestion. In the end, you decide who wins! 3 Homegrown 4 Chicago theater is more than just big-name Broadway tours. Throughout the city, there are a number of top-notch, regional theaters whose ensembles bring the house down each night. It’s here where the next generation of household names perfect their craft performing both classic and cutting-edge contemporary works. Perhaps the best known in this crop of proving-ground powerhouses is the Steppenwolf Theatre (1650 N. Halsted St.). Started in 1976 by the likes of Gary Sinese and John Malkovitch, among others, the Steppenwolf is consistently regarded as one of the best regional theatres in the country. Right in stride, the Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn St.) and Lookingglass Theatre (821 N. Michigan Ave.) continue to push the boundaries of the theatre experience. Also, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier (pictured) presents the works of William Shakespeare in a courtyard-style theatre. pg 43
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