Broadway in your Backyard

FREE

Select dates July 6 – September 19

Directed by Artistic Director Michael Weber
Music Directed by Linda Madonia

Porchlight’s FREE concert series held in parks throughout Chicago returns this summer! Pack a picnic, pull up a lawn chair and settle in with friends and family for a non-stop 60-minute concert right in your neighborhood. Broadway in your Backyard is sponsored by Chicago Free For All Fund (series) and features a cast of Chicago and PMT stage veterans Tafadzwa Diener, Nik Kmiecik, Juwon Tyrel Perry and Bethany Thomas.

Now in its sixth year, this free to the public summer series has become one of Porchlight’s most popular offerings with thousands of people filling the lawn to the tune of hits and beloved songs from the Broadway and Hollywood musical song books including Hello, Dolly!, Mary Poppins, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Toy Story, The Wiz and others.

And you don’t have to attend just one! Check out this year’s lineup and make it a Broadway night under the stars.

PERFORMANCES

Monday, July 6 at 6:30PM
Northcenter Town Square (4100 N. Damen Ave.)
This appearance also includes a performance from students of The Chicago Academy for the Arts.

Tuesday, July 7 at 6:30PM
Welles Park (2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.)
This appearance also includes a performance from students of The Chicago Academy for the Arts. Additionally, audiences may join Porchlight’s Education as they host a “Kids’ Day” at Welles Park with activities and treats for children, while supplies last.

Monday, July 13 at 6:30PM
Berger Park, Waterfront Cafe (6205 N. Sheridan Rd.)
This appearance also includes a performance from PMTeens, Porchlight’s teen performers enrolled in its summer education programming.

Tuesday, July 14 at 6:30PM
Washington Square Park (901 N. Clark St.)
This appearance also includes a performance from PMTeens, Porchlight’s teen performers enrolled in its summer education programming and Porchlight Young Professionals Associate Board hosting a “Picnic With PYP” at the performance. “Picnic With PYP,” additional details to be announced.

Saturday, Sept. 19 at 12:30PM
Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.)
Porchlight Music Theatre presents its popular Broadway in your Backyard program of family-friendly showtunes as it joins more than 110 artists and organizations for Navy Pier’s the annual celebration of Chicago’s vibrant arts and cultural community.

Performance dates and venues are subject to change.

 

Thank you to Broadway in your Backyard partial sponsor:

BETHANY THOMAS

Previously at Porchlight: Chicago Sings Broadway’s British Invasion, Marry Me a Little

Bethany (she/her) is an award-winning actor, singer and writer who’s been appearing on Porchlight’s stages for over 20 years (including Trousers, Nine, Ragtime and Marry Me A Little). She garnered recent acclaim for portraying rock guitar icon Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the play Marie and Rosetta; also Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday and Maria Callas in the one-woman show Songs For Nobodies. Bethany has worked at The Goodman Theater, Northlight Theater, Writers Theater, Milwaukee Rep, Second City, Court Theater and Chicago Shakespeare; with performance artist Grelley Duvall, musician Jon Langford, at The Metro, The Hideout, The Green Mill, The Lyric, Steppenwolf, Millennium Park and Ravinia; with the queer af dance troupe The Fly Honeys, and a season as “Madame Z” in Teatro ZinZanni Chicago. BT has released several collections of original music- the EP, “First;” and albums “BT/She/Her” and “Material Flats” (available on Apple Music, Bandcamp, Spotify, and everywhere else). IG: @BethanyT80

TAFADZWA DIENER

Previously at Porchlight: Chicago Sings Broadway Pop II, Anything Goes

Tafadzwa Diener is so excited to be joining Porchlight Music Theatre again! You may have recently seen her in Anything Goes and Chicago Sings Broadway Pop II with Porchlight. Other Chicago credits: A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre); Rock of Ages (Mercury Theater); 1919 (Steppenwolf Theatre); Sound of Music, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Marriott Theatre); An Educated Guess (Definition Theatre); MotherFreakingHood (Venus Cabaret). Regional: Ragtime, Pirates of Penzance (Utah Shakespeare Festival) TV: “Chicago PD.” She is represented by Big Mouth Talent. IG: @tafadzwadiener

NIK KMIECIK

Previously at Porchlight: Chicago Sings Broadway Pop II, Anything Goes

Nik is delighted to be back for his 5th year of Broadway in your Backyard. Porchlight credits include, Rent, Can-Can, Minnie’s Boys, and Call Me Madam. Other Chicago credits include, Waitress (Ogie), Once (Andrej), Paramount; Grease, Drury Lane; Twelfth Night, Writers Theatre; SS! Macbeth, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Henry V, Chicago Shakespeare; Hello Again, Theo Ubique. Nik is represented by Stewart Talent.

JUWON TYREL PERRY

Previously at Porchlight: Chicago Sings Broadway Pop II, Spring Awakening, New Faces Sing Broadway 1941, Chicago Sings Broadway Pop.

Juwon Tyrel Perry is a Southern-born, Chicago-based firecracker of a multidisciplinary artist—part storyteller, part showman, all heart. He stirs gospel, blues, rock and jazz into one intoxicating blend, served with a generous splash of theatricality that’s unmistakably his. His work has lit up stages from the Tony Award-winning Court Theatre to Goodman Theatre (The Color Purple), Paramount Theatre, North Carolina Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, and more. Whether he’s belting, acting or bringing a story to life, Juwon’s goal is simple: leave you feeling something you can’t shake. IG: @JuwonTyrelPerry