'School of Rock,' 'Phantom' sequel part of Broadway in Chicago's 2017-18 season

Posted March 13, 2017 1:00 am

By Scott C. Morgan

"School Of Rock," seen here in its London production, will make its Chicago national touring debut at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in November. Courtesy of Tristram Kenton

Two recent musicals spearheaded by British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber - "School of Rock" and a sequel to "Phantom of the Opera" - are part of Broadway in Chicago's 2017-18 season of touring shows announced Monday.

The season offers:

• "School of Rock," a 2015 Broadway musical adaptation of the hit 2003 film comedy, plays at the Cadillac Palace Theatre from Nov. 1 to 19. This story of a wannabe rock star posing as a substitute teacher at a stuffy private school features 14 new songs by Lloyd Webber on top of music from the original film. Much is also made of the grade-school kids who all play their own instruments onstage.

• "Wicked," Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's blockbuster 2003 musical adaptation of Gregory Maguire's novel about the witches of Oz, returns for an extended holiday run at the Oriental Theatre from Dec. 6 through Jan. 21.

• "The Humans" had its world premiere in 2014 at Chicago's American Theater Company. Since then, playwright Stephen Karam's modern Thanksgiving-set family drama successfully transferred to New York, where it went on to win four Tony Awards including Best Play of 2016. This is a rare instance of a nonmusical touring, and it plays the Cadillac Palace Theatre from Jan. 30 to Feb. 11.

• "Love Never Dies" is Lloyd Webber's 2010 sequel to his 1986 global hit "The Phantom of the Opera," and it finally hits America after previous productions in the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany. "Love Never Dies" re-imagines many of the same "Phantom" characters meeting again many years later amid the tacky fairground glamour of early 20th century Coney Island. "Love Never Dies" plays the Cadillac Palace Theatre from Feb. 14 to March 4.

Subscribers will also have first access to purchase tickets to the off-season touring returns of "Motown The Musical" (Sept. 25 to Oct. 8) and "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" (Nov. 21 to Dec. 3), both at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. Season subscriptions go on sale starting Wednesday, March 29, though current subscribers can now renew subscriptions. For more information, call (312) 977-1717 or visit broadwayinchicago.com.

"School Of Rock," seen here in its London production, tells the story of a wannabe rock star who poses as a substitute teacher at a stuffy private school. Courtesy of Tristram Kenton

"Love Never Dies," composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's 2010 sequel to his hit musical "The Phantom of the Opera," will make its Chicago debut via a national tour at the Cadillac Palace Theatre from Wednesday, Feb. 14, through Sunday, March 4, 2018. Courtesy of Stage Entertainment Germany

A national tour of the Broadway musical "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" returns to Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre from Tuesday, Nov. 21, through Sunday, Dec. 3. Courtesy of Jeremy Daniel

Jessica Vosk stars as Elphaba in the national tour of "Wicked," which will return to Chicago for a holiday run at the Oriental Theatre from Wednesday, Dec. 6, through Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018. Courtesy of Joan Marcus

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