Chitty Chitty Bye-Bye: Show canceled after poor sales
Poor ticket sales have forced the Equity tour of the Broadway musical "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" to cancel its Chicago stint. The 2002 stage adaptation of the 1968 Dick Van Dyke film musical based upon Ian Fleming's 1964 novel was to have played the Chicago Theatre from Wednesday, Feb. 11, through Sunday, Feb. 15. Ticket refunds are available at point of purchase.
In other theater news, Academy Award-winner Estelle Parsons has been confirmed for the national tour of Tracy Letts' drama "August: Osage County."
Parsons is currently starring as the venomous matriarch Violet Weston in the Broadway production of the 2008 Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play. "August: Osage County" had its world premiere in 2007 at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, of which Letts is a local ensemble member.
The tour starts in July in Denver before heading to San Francisco in August. "August: Osage County" returns to Chicago next year for a two-week run at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theatre from Feb. 2-14, 2010.