Marlo Thomas Stars in Elaine May's "George is Dead" at Brooks Atkinson Theatre in 2011

Marlo Thomas, shown here in 2011 starring in her friend Elaine May's stage work "George is Dead," is a familiar theater face for many, including a 1992 run in the title role of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

Rachel York as Reno Sweeney in Cole Porter's "Anything Goes" Produced by Roundabout Theatre Company

Rachel York stars as Reno Sweeney, here in the "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" number, in Cole Porter's "Anything Goes," produced by Roundabout Theatre Company and at Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago until May 5, 2013.

"Priscilla Queen of the Desert" National Tour Cast Musical Number

Costumes and spectacle rival the talent featured in the national Broadway tour of "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" now in Chicago through Saturday.

"Priscilla Queen of the Desert" Bus with Actor Joe Hart

Bryan West as Adam, Scott Willis as Bernadette, Joe Hart as Bob and Wade McCollum as Tick share a bus moment in the Broadway tour of "Priscilla Queen of the Desert," as Brit West, Emily Afton and Bre Jackson float above as the Flying Divas.

"I Love the Nightlife" Musical Number from "Priscilla Queen of the Desert"

Wade McCollum as Mitzi, Scott Willis as Bernadette, and Bryan West as Felicia in the musical number "I Love the Nightlife" in the national stage tour of "Priscilla Queen of the Desert."

Nic Rouleau as Edler Price in "The Book of Mormon" Chicago Run

Actor Nic Rouleau is calling Chicago home while playing the lead role of Elder Price in Broadway in Chicago's smash hit run of "The Book of Mormon," now playing until Sept. 8, 2013 at Bank of American Theatre in Chicago.

Nic Rouleau (center) and the Cast of "The Book of Mormon" Broadway in Chicago Run

Nic Rouleau (center) and the Chicago cast for "The Book of Mormon" second national touring production worked hard to perfect the timing and choreography for the many of the hit musical comedy's popular song sequences.

"The Book of Mormon" Chicago Cast Lead Nic Rouleau

Nic Rouleau is in the Chicago cast of "The Book of Mormon," direct from Broadway to reprise his role of Elder Price.

Cast of the National Broadway Tour of "Sister Act"

Hollis Resnik as Mother Superior and Ta'Rea Campbell as Deloris Van Cartier lead the cast of "Sister Act" for the musical finale.

Actor Sean Palmer as Prince Eric in the 2008 Broadway Musical Disney's "The Little Mermaid"

Actor Sean Palmer, shown here as as Prince Eric in the "The Little Mermaid" musical, will depart from the lead in "Singin' in the Rain" on Sunday at Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook because of an injury, according to the show's publicist.

Hollis Resnik plays Mother Superior opposite Ta Rea Campbell as Deloris Van Cartier in "Sister Act" for the National Broadway Tour

Hollis Resnik plays Mother Superior opposite Ta Rea Campbell as Deloris Van Cartier in the new national Broadway tour of "Sister Act" playing Auditorium Theatre in Chicago Nov. 13 to Dec. 2.

National Tour of Broadway's "CATS" at Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago Through Sunday, May 6, 2012

'CATS,' the Broadway hit from Andrew Lloyd Webber, continues at Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago.

National Tour of Broadway's "CATS" at Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago Through Sunday, May 6, 2012

'CATS,' the Broadway hit from Andrew Lloyd Webber, continues at Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago.

Bring It On

Ariana DeBose, left, is one of the performers in 'Bring It On: The Musical' at Chicago Cadillac Palace Theatre.

Actress Cathy Foy-Mahi as "Bloody Mary" in the National Broadway Tour of 'South Pacific'

Actress Cathy Foy-Mahi stars as "Bloody Mary," giving one of the classic characters of American musical theater some of her own personal performance touches for a new national Broadway tour.

John-Michael Zuerlein (left to right), John Bisom and Paul DeBoy

Left to right, John-Michael Zuerlein, John Bisom and Paul DeBoy star as the men on a mission of fatherhood in the national tour of 'Mamma Mia!' stopping in Chicago for a short run Jan. 24 to 29 at Oriental Theatre.

Ron Todorowski in the national tour of Twyla Twarp's "Come Fly Away"

Talented Ron Todorowski, resident director for the new national tour of Twyla Tharp's "Come Fly Away" plays bartender Marty for this 80-minute tribute to Frank Sinatra playing Bank of America Theatre in Chicago through Jan. 22.

Ron Todorowski in 'Come Fly Away'

Ron Todorowski, here in the role of 'Chanos,' also portrays the character 'Marty' in 'Come Fly Away,' Twyla Tharp's new song and dance stage musical saluting Frank Sinatra.

Actor George Hamilton Stars in National Broadway Tour of "La Cage Aux Folles"

Hamilton is headlining the new national Broadway tour of the musical comedy stage favorite 'La Cage Aux Folles,' playing through Jan. 1 at Chicago's Bank of America Theatre.

"Donny & Marie Osmond Christmas in Chicago" 2011 Concert Tour

Donny and Marie Osmond are sharing their December with Chicago audiences performing "Donny & Marie Christmas in Chicago" concerts at the Oriental Theatre through Dec. 24, 2011.

Michelle Aravena plays Anita and Ali Ewoldt is Maria in Broadway's "West Side Story"

Michelle Aravena plays Anita (left) and Ali Ewoldt is Maria in Broadway's "West Side Story" now on national tour and playing the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago through Aug. 14.

Latest 'Beauty and the Beast' offers fun Disney diversion

Belle, played by Emily Behny, is serenaded by a cast of suddenly animated household objects, including candelabra Lumiere, center, played by Michael Haller, during the song "Be Our Guest" in Broadway's "Beauty and the Beast."

Beauty and the Beast Enchanted Objects

Actor Michael Haller (center) stars as Lumiere, once a butler and now magically transformed into a candelabra as part of the enchanted spell of Broadway's "Disney's Beauty and the Beast," playing a six-week run in Chicago through Aug. 7 at the Oriental Theatre.

Beauty and the Beast

Dane Agostinis plays the Beast to actress Emily Behny's Belle in the national Broadway tour of "Beauty and the Beast," playing a six-week run through Aug. 7 at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago.

Next To Normal Broadway Musical

Actress Alice Ripley plays Diana, whose mental struggles are managed by husband Dan, played by Asa Somers, as their concerned son Gabe, played by actor Curt Hansen keeps close watch in Broadway's "Next to Normal."

Hair

Turning on, dropping out: Free-wheeling Tribe ringmaster Berger (center) played by Steel Burkhardt, quickly recovers from his expulsion from high school in the "Goin' Down" number in "Hair."

9 to 5

Actress Dee Hoty (center) plays Violet, opposite Diana DeGarmo (left) as Doralee and Mamie Parris as Judy in the new Broadway national tour of "9 to 5: The Musical" directed by Jeff Calhoun.

Office Space

A return to the day of bell-ringing typewriters and blinking push-button multiple phone lines sets the stage for the new Broadway national tour for "9 to 5: The Musical," playing a two week run in Chicago at Bank of America Theatre from Jan. 18 to Jan. 30, 2011.

All for one

Actress Dee Hoty (center) plays Violet, opposite Diana DeGarmo (left) as Doralee and Mamie Parris as Judy in the new Broadway national tour of "9 to 5: The Musical" directed by Jeff Calhoun.

Dolly and Jeff Today

Singer Dolly Parton and stage director and choreographer Jeff Calhoun pause for the camera during a break in September 2010 during the tech rehearsals in Nashville for the national Broadway tour of "9 to 5: The Musical." The duo first worked together nearly three decades earlier, both appear…

All Tied Up

Diane DeGarmo plays the Dolly Parton character Doralee, who resorts to rodeo lasso measures to control her handsy boss, played by Joseph Mahowald, in the national Broadway tour of "9 to 5: The Musical" playing Jan. 18 to Jan. 30, 2011 at Bank of America Theatre in Chicago.

Dee and Dolly

Actress Dee Hoty, who plays Violet in the Broadway national tour of "9 to 5: The Musical," strikes a pose with the new stage show's creator Dolly Parton, who starred in the original 1980 film.

The Green Scene

ON THE RISE - - The young witch Elphaba, played in the national Broadway tour of "Wicked" by actress Jackie Burns, finds herself ascending to power in the Land of Oz in the hit musical which is playing Chicago through Jan. 23 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.

Grease Tour 2

Actor Eddie Mekka has been touring with a national production of the hit musical "Grease" since September 2010, playing the dual roles of DJ Vince Fontaine (pictured here) and the crooning Teen Angel. (Joan Marcus)

Grease Tour

Actor Eddie Mekka, of TV's "Laverne & Shirley" fame is starring as the crooning Teen Angel in a national tour of the hit musical "Grease," produced by Troika Entertainment and playing Chicagoland dates in December 2010. (Photo by Joan Marcus)

Drive In

A new tour of the hit musical "Grease" produced by Troika Entertainment includes all of the favorite hit songs from both the original 1971 stage production and the popular 1978 film version. (Photo by Joan Marcus)

Broadway's 'Wicked' finally flying in for Chicago holiday stage engagement

GETTING ALONG - - Actress Jackie Burns (left) plays a young Wicked Witch of the West opposite Chandra Lee Schwartz as a novice Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, in the national Broadway tour of "Wicked" playing a Chicago holiday run Dec. 1 to Jan. 23, 2010.

Broadway's 'Wicked' finally flying in for Chicago holiday stage engagement

GREEN ENVY - - Green becomes the embraced color of identity for the witch Elphaba in the musical "Wicked," as she finds her skin and power are eventually both feared by all in the Land of Oz.

Broadway's 'Wicked' finally flying in for Chicago holiday stage engagement

FEELING GREEN - - Actress Jackie Burns plays the misunderstood witch Elphaba, who one day becomes the Wicked Witch of the West of "Wizard of Oz" fame in the Broadway musical "Wicked," which will return to Chicago for a nearly two-month holiday run, opening Dec. 1, 2010.

Up to Something

UP TO SOMETHING - - The sardonic and deviously cunning "Scar" is wonderfully played by actor J. Anthony Crane in the national tour of "The Lion King" running in Chicago through Nov. 27. (Photo by Joan Marcus / NOT for sale via The Times or NWI.com)

Stage Royalty

STAGE ROYALTY - - Andre Jackson who plays Simba in Disney's "The Lion King" performs "He Lives On in You" during the national Broadway tour. (Photo by Joan Marcus / NOT for sale via The Times or NWI.com)

Female Felines

FEMALE FELINES - - Marja Harmon stars as Nala, shown here with the ensemble of stage lionesses in Disney's "The Lion King" now on a national Broadway tour in Chicago through Nov. 27. (Photo by Joan Marcus / NOT for sale via The Times or NWI.com)

Rock On

'American Idol' finalist Constantine Maroulis plays Drew, the lead in the Broadway musical 'Rock of Ages,' which is launching a new national tour with September 2010 performances in Chicago. (Photo by Joan Marcus / NOT for sale via The Times and NWI.com)

Fractured Fairy Tales

Pinocchio leads a storybook who's who of favorite characters in the musical number "Story of My Life" in "Shrek the Musical" playing a limited eight-week run at Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago through Sept. 5, 2010 prior to a national tour.

Sitting it Out

SITTING IT OUT - - Actor Kevin Anderson stars in the world premiere play "A Guide For the Perplexed" at Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago, opening July 19 and playing through Aug. 14.

Three for all

THREE FOR ALL - - Shrek (played by Eric Petersen), Donkey (Alan Mingo, Jr.) and Princess Fiona (Haven Burton) share a fairy tale friendship in the new national Broadway tour of "Shrek the Musical" now playing an exclusive eight-week run in Chicago through Aug. 31, 2010.

What a pair

WHAT A PAIR - - Shrek (played by Eric Petersen) and his sidekick Donkey (Alan Mingo Jr.) lead a cast of fairy tale favorites for the new Broadway national tour of "Shrek the Musical," which recently launched in Chicago for a run through Aug. 31, 2010.

Half baked

HALF BAKED - - Todd Buonopane plays the vertically challenged villain Lord Farquaad, who leads a cast of fairy tale favorites, including Gingy the Gingerbread Boy, for the new Broadway national tour of "Shrek the Musical," which recently launched in Chicago for a run through Aug. 31, 2010.