Schaumburg stage performer returns to his roots for Prairie Center's 'Broadway Rocks'
Many artistic performers from the Schaumburg area have cited their experience at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts as a steppingstone toward a professional career in the business. But for Jon Cunningham, who appears there November 11 and 12 in "Broadway Rocks," the Prairie Center has been a welcome homecoming time and again for over two decades as a celebrated singer and actor.
"Playing here lets me lead my full life," says Cunningham of Schaumburg, where he and his wife Michelle raise their three children Liam, Kyle, and Veronica.
It's also where he had his first professional gig, working for the Schaumburg Park District's Street Theatre company while still in high school. Although his nontheatrical liberal arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign provided career security in the finance industry, Cunningham never strayed far from the theater spotlight, where his clean, powerful tenor voice and natural stage charisma kept him in demand as a performer. With unwavering support from his family, Cunningham has appeared in over 75 productions throughout the Chicago area for Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Drury Lane Theatre in Oak Brook, Bright Side Theater in Naperville, Big Noise Theatre in Des Plaines, Music Theater Works (formerly Light Opera Works) in Evanston, and other companies. His resume boasts an impressive roster of starring roles: the title character in "Jesus Christ Superstar," Seymour in "Little Shop of Horrors," the Devil Applegate in "Damn Yankees," Nicely Nicely Johnson in "Guys and Dolls," and most notably Charley Kringas in Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along," where he was nominated for a prestigious 2005 Chicago Jeff Award Actor in a Principal Role (Musical).
Along the way, Cunningham would etch out time to perform at the Prairie Center regularly enough to be looked upon as its unofficial resident artist, appearing in the center's popular Mystery at the Theatre series, Schaumburg Youth Orchestra concerts, and more recently as guest artist in Schaumburg Summer Theatre's 2018 production of "Ragtime."
His latest offering at the Prairie Center, "Broadway Rocks," has Cunningham belting out tunes from rock musicals spanning the last five decades, including "Hair," "Spring Awakening," "Hamilton," and "Catch Me if You Can." Rounding out the show's cast, backed by a full band led by Marc Beth, is Angela Carrington, Sarah Inendino, Michael Pirovano, Danielle Smith, and Chris Zeglin.
By now, Cunningham has perfected the balancing act between career, family, and performing, which has had a profound effect on his theatrical work.
"It's only gotten better," says Cunningham. "There's no more performance anxiety. From the moment I step on the stage until bows, I'm having a great time."
Part of that balance includes Cunningham's current stints as assistant director for Schaumburg High School's musicals, as well as a seat on Schaumburg's Cultural Commission board.
And the shows keep coming. As a continuing testament to his theatrical versatility, Cunningham will go from rock musicals to Borscht Belt comedy this winter when he stars as Felix Ungar in Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple" in Naperville early next year.
Just another little blast of fun in the balancing act.
Broadway Rocks plays 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11 and Saturday Nov. 12, at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts. Tickets, $28 ($22 for students and seniors), can be purchased online at www.prairiecenter.org or by calling (847) 895-3600.
The Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts is located at 201 Schaumburg Court in Schaumburg, IL.
"Broadway Rocks" is a production of Schaumburg's Department of Cultural Services.