Seventy-seven songs, and every one a winner. Discover (and rediscover) seventy-seven consecutive years of American music through the varied songs that have garnered the Academy Award—in a one-night-only, five-hour spectacular. The first act, “Days of Wine and Roses,” features gems from 1934 to 1970, tunes that have become part of the Great American Songbook and every crooner’s dream material: “Over the Rainbow,” “When You Wish upon a Star,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” and more. The second act, “A Whole New World,” captures the era’s striking shifts in songwriting, from the Shaft theme and “The Way We Were” to “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.” The biggest and brightest stars of the Chicago theater and cabaret scenes, including E. Faye Butler, Ross Lehman, Hollis Resnik, and the trio Foiled Again, as well as special guests and lively surprises throughout, conspire to make an ambitious tour of American musical history a singular, don’t-miss experience. We anticipate a casual, festive concert atmosphere and a snack-length intermission.
The team behind this Chicago Humanities Festival adventure is Rob Lindley and Doug Peck, partners in life and art, who brought you last year’s Follies. Peck (Porgy and Bess and Caroline, or Change) is the winner of four Jeff Awards for Best Musical Direction and Lindley, who won the 2010 Jeff Award for his performance in Oh, Coward!, is a director, improviser, actor, and cabaret performer. Their work has been seen and heard at CHF, Court Theatre, Writers’ Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Porchlight, Drury Lane Oakbrook, and the Marriott Lincolnshire.
Read the CHF blog series on Academy Award-winning songs.
Blog Series Part One: "Moon River"
Blog Series Part Two: "Secret Love"
Blog Series Part Three: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
Blog Series Part Four: "The Oscar That Got Away"
Blog Series Part Five: "The Way We Were"
This program is generously underwritten by a generous gift from Greta Wiley Flory in memory of her late husband Bill, a longtime friend and supporter of the Festival.
Partnership support is provided by the Chicago International Movies and Music Festival.
Advance tickets are no longer available online or by phone for this program. Tickets will be available at the door. A $5 surcharge applies to all door tickets.