You Asked For It (Maybe): Musicals Return

By Justin Sondak in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 13, 2006 5:42PM

As sure as the return of the fully-unveiled Bean draws fresh hordes of gawking tourists and grateful photographers, the return of reliable cash-cows to the stage draw pieces of that same audience back for a familiar good time. We’ve already covered the return of the anti-musical musical that is Urinetown, bunking at the Mercury Theater for the foreseeable future. A few old favorites follow their lead downtown:

Rent is back, at the Cadillac Palace through Tax Day. It’s sure to please the pseudo-bohemian cult who have emblazoned Seasons of Love lyrics on their office cubicle or cramped studio walls. Jonathan Larsen’s recreation of 90s Manhattan slum-chic feels really dated, not so bad considering the advances in HIV treatment, and we could’ve done without the pat Gen X melodrama. But it’s an otherwise satisfying couple of hours.

The hip junkies hit the road next week to make way for Monty Python’s Spamalot. Chances are you have a friend or two slipping references to The Spanish Inquisition, Ministry of Silly Walks, lumberjack songs and Brave Sir Robin into everyday conversation. If you find their half-assed imitation of sly British humor charming, you’ll really get a kick out of this professional rendition.

Movin’ Out, the tribute to Billy Joel we didn’t ask for but got anyway, returns to Chicago this summer for a limited run at the Auditorium Theater. Find out if modern dance lends any new meaning to Scenes from an Italian Restaurant. At least the show draws mostly from his sharper ‘angry young man’ period.

Rent plays at the Cadillac Palace Theater, 151 W. Randolph, through April 15. Tickets are $22.50 – 68. Spamalot plays there April 19 – June 4, tickets are $30-85. Movin’ Out prances through the Auditorium Theater, 50 E. Congress Pkwy., June 28 – July 9. Tickets are $18-80. More information about each show at the Broadway in Chicago website.

Images via Broadway in Chicago.