Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce the cast for the return of its free concert series Broadway in Your Backyard, July 19 - September 6, as part of Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, supported by the Mayor’s Office and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Broadway in your Backyard is directed by Artistic Director Michael Weber+ and music directed by Justin Akira Kono+. This 60-minute outdoor concert features a rotating company including Lydia Burke*, Vasily Deris+, Caitlin Dobbins*, Carisa Gonzalez*, Nik Kmiecik+, Justin Akira Kono+ and Bryan McCaffrey+ performing favorites and hidden gems from the Broadway canon including songs from RENT, Hello, Dolly!, The Music Man, Grease, Six, The Little Mermaid and more. Broadway in your Backyard is suitable for all ages and audiences are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to enjoy the concerts. For more information go to PorchlightMusicTheatre.org.
The FREE Broadway in your Backyard 2022 concert dates as part of Night Out in the Parks include:
Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen Ave.
- Tuesday, July 19 at 6 p.m.
Unity Park, 2636 N. Kimball Ave.
- Tuesday, July 26 at 6 p.m.
Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave.
- Tuesday, Aug. 2 at 6 p.m.
Munroe Park, 2617 W. 105th St.
- Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 6 p.m.
Washington Square Park, 901 N. Clark St.
- Tuesday, Aug. 16 at 6 p.m.
Park No. 534, 1300 S. St. Louis Ave.
- Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 6 p.m.
Gill Park, 825 W. Sheridan Rd.
- Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m.
Ellis Park, 3520 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
- Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m.
Note: Performances, performers and dates subject to change.
The 2022 Broadway in your Backyard production team includes Artistic Director Michael Weber+, director; Justin Akira Kono+, music director; Frankie Leo Bennett+, producing artistic associate; Alex Rhyan+, production & operations director; Matthew R. Chase+, production coordinator and Johnnie Schleyer*, technical supervisor.
ABOUT NIGHT OUT IN THE PARKS
Porchlight Music Theatre’s Broadway in your Backyard is presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, supported by the Mayor’s Office and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Celebrating 10 years, the 2022 Night Out in the Parks program presents cultural events year-round in neighborhood parks throughout the city. The Chicago Park District in partnership with over 100 local artists and organizations, present engaging events and performances that enhance quality of life across Chicago and amplify the artistic and cultural vibrancy in every neighborhood. Through multiple disciplines, which include theater, music, movies, dance, site-specific work, nature programs, and community festivals, the series aims to support Chicago-based artists, facilitate community-based partnerships and programs, cultivate civic engagement and ensure equity in access to the arts for all Chicagoans.
ABOUT MICHAEL WEBER+, director
Michael Weber is the artistic director at Porchlight Music Theatre and most recently directed Sunset Boulevard and Gypsy for Porchlight Music Theatre as well as the Porchlight Revisits production of 1776 and Broadway by the Decade for PorchlightOnline. His productions of Gypsy, End of the Rainbow, Side Show, ...Forum, Sweeney Todd, Pal Joey and Assassins at Porchlight, Grand Hotel at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place and She Loves Me at Theatre at the Center were each nominated for the Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Production— Musical. Other directing credits include “Living the History-125 Years of the Auditorium Theatre” (starring Patti Lupone, John Mahoney and stars of Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and others), Fifth of July and Talley’s Folly at the Oak Park Festival Theatre, The Petrified Forest at Theatre at the Center, Beauty and the Beast at Marriott Theatre, Over the River and Through the Woods at Mercury Theater and Cirque du Symphony at Sears Center Arena. The recipient of two Joseph Jefferson Awards, he has written and directed 15 Joseph Jefferson Awards ceremonies. Weber’s regional acting credits include The Merry Widow and The Sound of Music at Lyric Opera, 42nd Street at Paramount, Annie Get Your Gun and Gypsy (both starring Patti LuPone) at Ravinia, Disney’s My Son Pinocchio at First Stage Milwaukee, Around the World in 80 Days at Cleveland Playhouse, The Winter’s Tale and Henry V at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Angel Street at First Folio Shakespeare and The Gifts of the Magi at Indiana Repertory. He served previously as artistic director of Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place (now The Broadway Playhouse) and Theatre at the Center. Weber is proud to serve as a pledge host with WTTW, Channel 11.
ABOUT JUSTIN AKIRA KONO+, music director
Justin Akira Kono is a percussionist, pianist, conductor and orchestrator of uncommon range. Originally from Darien, Illinois, Justin has run the gamut of being a freelance musician in the Chicagoland area. After studying at DePaul and Northwestern Universities, he started transitioning into leadership and music direction roles in and out of the theater scene. He frequently works with Porchlight Music Theater and has music directed Spring Awakening, their traveling show Broadway In your Backyard, and has played drums for Sophisticated Ladies, Chicago Sings Broadway Rock and Roll, Billy Elliot the Musical, the ICONS Gala 2022 and Porchlight Revisits Do Re Mi. Other regional credits include All Shook Up, Freaky Friday (Williams Street Rep), Legends of the 50s and 60s, Mamma Mia (Music Theater Works) and Kiss Me Kate (The Marriott Theater). He will be music directing Zorro with Music Theater Works in August 2022 along with Jekyll and Hyde for the Chicagoland Theater Fund in September 2022. He has also music directed and accompanied at The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. When not in the theater, He serves as the instrumental music director at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Downers Grove. He is the piano player for the midwest's premiere ABBA tribute band, Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute and also plays drums in Piano Man: A Tribute to Elton John and Billy Joel.
ABOUT LYDIA BURKE*, performer
Lydia Burke returns to Porchlight where she was seen as “the Danseuse” in Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies, New Faces Sing Broadway 1956 and Chicago Sings Rock and Roll Broadway. Other recent Chicago credits include Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Sister Act (Mercury Theater Chicago), The Sound of Music and Junie B. Jones the Musical (Marriott Theatre), “Sarah” in Ragtime (Music Theater Works), Groundhog Day and Kinky Boots (Paramount Theatre), Roald Dahl’s Matilda (Drury Lane Theatre), and Ghost: The Musical (Theatre at the Center).
ABOUT VASILY DERIS+, performer
Vasily Deris is a SAG/AEA actor born and raised in the Chicagoland area. You may recognize him from playing the "Big Bopper" in American Blues Theater’s Jeff award winning production of The Buddy Holly Story and many productions out at the Paramount Theater in Aurora, IL. Vasily has also been on your TV appearing on "Shameless" (Showtime), "Chicago Fire" (NBC), "Shining Girls" (Apple TV+) and "The Bear" (FX).
ABOUT CAITLIN DOBBINS*, performer
Caitlin Dobbins is originally from Tennessee and graduated from Columbia College Chicago in Musical Theatre. Caitlin is represented by Gray Talent Group. Recent Chicago credits are: “Rhetta/Prudie” Swing, Pump Boys and Dinettes at Porchlight Music Theatre; "Nora," Notes and Letters and "Luci," Wife Material (Underscore Theatre); “Audra U/S," Laced (About Face Theatre); “Olivia U/S," Fireflies (Northlight), “Nora” U/S, A Doll’s House (Raven Theatre); "The Witch," Big Fish (Boho Theatre), “Ensemble/Pamela U/S,” Head Over Heels" (Kokandy Productions at Underscore Theatre) and “Tina Turner/Gina,” Beehive The Musical (Metropolis Theatre).
ABOUT CARISA GONZALEZ*, performer
Carisa Gonzalez is stoked to be back at Porchlight having last been in Porchlight's New Faces Sing Broadway 1939! Recent Chicago credits include at Paramount Theatre: "Regina" in Rock of Ages, "Debbie" in Groundhog Day and in the company of Kinky Boots and The Secret of My Success (world premiere). Gonzalez has had the pleasure of working in many of Chicago's storefronts such as Lifeline Theatre, Underscore Theatre and Bohemian Theatre Ensemble. She also happens to be the co-owner of The Bare Naked Pole (TheBareNakedPole.com), a pierogi Pop-Up, listed in ChicagoEater.com as one of the ten best places to get pierogi in Chicago.
ABOUT NIK KMIECIK+, performer
Nik Kmiecik has been seen at Porchlight Music Theatre in Broadway in your Backyard, Chicago Sings Rock and Roll Broadway, Chicago Sings Stephen Sondheim, "Kenneth" in Porchlight Revisits Call Me Madam, "Chico Marx" in Porchlight Revisits Minnie’s Boys, "Boris" in Porchlight Revisits Can-Can and a 2017 New Faces. Other Chicago credits include: Once (Paramount Theater), Twelfth Night (Writers Theatre), Love’s Labour’s Lost, Henry V (Chicago Shakespeare), A Christmas Carol (Drury Lane), The Hundred Dresses (Chicago Children’s), Hello Again (Theo Ubique), Pinocchio, Edward Tulane (Filament Theatre) and Skates the Musical (Royal George).
ABOUT BRYAN MCCAFFREY+, conductor
Bryan McCaffrey is thrilled for the opportunity to collaborate with this incredible group of creatives and Porchlight Music Theatre! Originally from Scotland, he has worked as a music director across Chicagoland. Select credits include: Christmas Karol (Pride Arts), The Addams Family (Williams Street Repertory), Spring Awakening and Something Rotten (Theatre Nebula) and Company (Wheaton).
ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE
Porchlight Music Theatre is the award-winning center for music theatre in Chicago. Through live performance, youth education and community outreach we impact thousands of lives each season, bringing the magic of musicals to our theatre home at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts in the Gold Coast and to neighborhoods across the city. Porchlight has built a national reputation for boldly reimagining classic musicals, supporting new works and young performers, and showcasing Chicago’s most notable music theatre artists, all through the intimate and powerful theatrical lens of the “Chicago Style.”
Now in its 27th season, Porchlight's quarter-century production history includes more than 70 mainstage works with 15 Chicago premieres and five world premieres. Porchlight’s commitment to the past, present and future of music theatre led the company to develop the Porchlight Revisits and New Faces Sing Broadway program series, both quickly becoming audience favorites.
Porchlight's education and outreach programs serve schools, youth of all ages and skill levels and community organizations, most notably the ongoing collaboration with Chicago Youth Centers. Porchlight annually awards dozens of full scholarships and hundreds of free tickets to ensure accessibility and real engagement with this uniquely American art form.
The company’s many honors include 178 Joseph Jefferson Award (Jeff) nominations and 45 Jeff awards, as well as 33 Black Theatre Alliance (BTA) nominations and 12 BTA awards. In 2019, Porchlight graduated to the Large Theatre tier of the Equity Jeff Awards, and was honored with eight nominations in both technical and artistic categories and won three awards in its inaugural year in this tier, most notably Best Ensemble for Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies.
Through the global pandemic, Porchlight emerged as one of Chicago’s leaders in virtual programming, quickly launching a host of free offerings like Sondheim @ 90 Roundtables, Movie Musical Mondays, Porchlight by Request: Command Performances and WPMT: Classic Musicals from the Golden Age of Radio. Porchlight launched its first summer performance schedule in 2021 that included a sold-out performance of New Faces Sing Broadway 1979 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, the premiere of its outdoor music series Broadway in your Backyard, performed throughout Chicagoland and special appearances at Sundays on State and Navy Pier’s Chicago Live Again.
Broadway in your Backyard is part of Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, supported by the Mayor’s Office and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and is partially sponsored by Byline Bank.
Porchlight Music Theatre is partially supported by generous contributions from Actors’ Equity Foundation; Allstate; Michael Best & Friedrich LLP; Chapman | Spingola, LLP; Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation; Gen Ops Plus; Elegant Event Lighting; Glimpse Vision; James P. and Brenda S. Grusecki Family Foundation; Hearty Boys; A.L. and Jennie L. Luria Foundation; The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity and the Arts at Prince; the Pritzker Traubert Foundation; Ryan and Spaeth, Inc.; Daniel and Genevieve Ratner Foundation; The Saints and Dr. Scholl Foundation.
The season program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency, and by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.
Porchlight Music Theatre wishes to thank members of the Matching Gift Corporate Program including Abbvie; Allstate; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; Peoples Gas; Pepsico; Polk Bros Foundation and The Saints.
Broadway in Your Backyard Performance at Welles Park in 2021. Image Credit: Justin Kocher
(L to R) Bethany Thomas, Nik Kmiecik, Lorenzo Rush Jr and Michelle Lauto perform at BROADWAY IN YOUR BACKYARD 2021. Image Credit: Justin Kocher
Nik Kmiecik performs at BROADWAY IN YOUR BACKYARD 2021.Image Credit: Justin Kocher