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Chicago – “When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way … “ And there is no more appropriate way to lyrically pay tribute to a classic staging of the Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim musical, “West Side Story.” There is a new staging currently at Lyric Opera of Chicago, which runs through June 2nd, 2019. Click here for more details and tickets.

Play Rating: 4.5/5.0

The musical first opened in 1957, and its message of fearing the “other” – by adapting the universality of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” – will resonate as long as people suffer through their bigotry. Two rival gangs, girl-from-one-side-guy-from-another then meet/fall in love, tragedy ensues, and along the way are one of the greatest collections of songs/lyrics in one musical, so standard that they are practically in everyone’s DNA. It’s “West Side Story,” babies, and this latest adaptation at the Lyric Opera of Chicago is spot on entertaining.

Broadway Sessions partied like it was 1999 recently as we welcomed the cast of The New Group production of Clueless, The Musical. Cast members took the stage to perform their favorite 90's jams, tapping into the song book of Whitney, Mariah, Celine, Cher, Christina, Britney and even Hanson. Enjoy highlights from performances by Zurin Villanueva, Katie Goffman, Justin Mortelliti, L'ogan J'ones, Jeff Kuhr, Talya Groves, Brett Thiele and more. Plus special performances by our Rising Star, 16 year old Fiona Scott.

As BroadwayWorld recently reported,The New Group will soon present Clueless, The Musical by Amy Heckerling. This world premiere production, with choreography by Kelly Devine, directed by Kristin Hanggi, features Ephie Aardema, Lori Alan, Sara Andreas, Gilbert L. Bailey II, Dove Cameron, Will Connolly, Danielle Marie Gonzalez, Tessa Grady, Talya Groves, Chris Hoch, L'ogan J'ones, Darius Jordan Lee, Justin Mortelliti, Brett Thiele, Dave Thomas Brown and Zurin Villanueva with Scenic Design by Beowulf Boritt Costume Design by Amy Clark Lighting Design by Jason Lyons Sound Design by Gareth Owen Projection Design by Darrel Maloney Music Supervision, Arrangement and Orchestration by Ethan Popp and Music Direction by Matthew Smedal.

The New Group’s upcoming Off Broadway Clueless, The Musical – with Dove Cameron in the lead role of Cher – has announced the rest of its cast. Among the players: Dave Thomas Brown (as Josh), Ephie Aardema (Tai) and Zurin Villanueva (Dionne) – roles played in the 1995 film by Paul Rudd, Brittany Murphy and Stacy Dash, respectively.

Also in the cast: Lori Alan (Miss Geist/Ms. Stoeger), Sara Andreas (Heather), Gilbert L. Bailey II (Murray), Will Connolly (Travis), Danielle Marie Gonzalez (Lucy), Tessa Grady (Amber), L’ogan J’ones (Max), Chris Hoch, Darius Jordan Lee (Sean) and Justin Mortelliti (Christian). Ensemble/swing will include Tiffany Engen, Katie Goffman, Talya Groves, Jeff Kuhr and Brett Thiele.

Clueless, The Musical begins previews November 20, opens December 11, and runs through January 12 in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center.

Directed by Kristin Hanggi with book by Amy Heckerling, choreography...

The New Group has just announcedcomplete casting and the design team forClueless,The MusicalbyAmy Heckerling. This world premiere production, with choreography byKelly Devine, directed byKristin Hanggi, featuresEphie Aardema,Lori Alan,Sara Andreas,Gilbert L. Bailey II,Dove Cameron,Will Connolly,Danielle Marie Gonzalez,Tessa Grady,Talya Groves,Chris Hoch,L'ogan J'ones,Darius Jordan Lee,Justin Mortelliti,Brett Thiele,Dave Thomas BrownandZurin Villanueva withScenic Design byBeowulf Boritt Costume Design byAmy Clark Lighting Design byJason Lyons Sound Design byGareth Owen Projection Design byDarrel MaloneyMusic Supervision, Arrangement and Orchestration byEthan PoppandMusic Direction byMatthew Smedal.Previews beginNovember 20in advance of an Official Opening Night onTuesday, December 11. A limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated throughJanuary 12atThe Pershing Square Signature CenterThe Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre, 480 West 42ndStreet.