Windy City Midwifery: Birthing the New Musical in Chicago

HowlRound: Chicago’s vibrant musical theatre community champions the newborn, including those examined in publically mounted readings, economical storefront productions, and full-out, well-resourced and talent-driven creations in Chicago’s big houses. A new mover and shaker on the scene is FWD Theatre Project. Shaped by a veritable brain trust of performers, directors, choreographers, and award-winning songwriters, FWD supports weeklong workshops between writers, first-tier performers, and their team, culminating in a semi-staged concert reading. The Chicago Musical Theatre Festival (CMTF) may be in its infancy, but its second summer season burgeoned in offerings and audience attendance. Chicago’s larger AEA theatres have always been ready for the challenge of new works, but now the dinner theatres in Chicago’s suburbs, the last bastions of Supper Club-style entertainment, are jumping into the ring.