Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce a second date added to its Broadway in your Backyard special performance at Ambassador Chicago, a JDV by Hyatt Hotel, 1301 N. State Pkwy, Wednesday, Aug. 10. The new Wednesday performance was added due to the Thursday, Aug, 11 performance being sold out. Broadway in your Backyard at the Ambassador takes place on the hotel’s 17th floor Astor Terrace, which features both indoor and outdoor seating with sweeping views of the city’s magnificent skyline. Attendance is limited to only 60 people and guests are invited to enjoy a pre-show cocktail reception beginning at 6:30 p.m., which includes light appetizers, red and white wine and one signature cocktail, followed by the 90-minute show beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $55 and go on sale Friday, July 15 at 12 p.m. at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org.
“We are thrilled to once again join forces with our cherished neighbor, Porchlight Music Theatre, on this engaging and entertaining community event,” says Jenna Haymond, director of Sales & Marketing for Ambassador Chicago. “Last summer’s event was a resounding success, and we greatly look forward to welcoming back guests, community members, and Porchlight’s talented team for a lively and fun performance this summer.”
“People are still talking about how special last year’s performance at Ambassador Chicago was to them,” said Artistic Director Michael Weber. “From the performances to the Ambassador's view to the signature cocktail, it was a great night under the stars. Porchlihght is excited to be returning in August with a new program of Broadway favorites for additional memories with our neighbors.”
Since 2021, Porchlight Music Theatre has brought its popular Broadway in your Backyard outdoor concert series to audiences across Chicagoland. Since its outset, the series, directed by Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Director Michael Weber and music direction by Justin Akira Kono, has broken attendance records across the city. This August 11 performance includes songs from RENT, Hello, Dolly!, The Music Man, Grease, Six, The Little Mermaid and more, performed by members of its company that includes Lydia Burke*, Caitlin Dobbins*, Nik Kmiecik+, Justin Akira Kono+, Jennifer Ledesma*, Bryan McCaffrey+, Brandon Pisano+/^ and Lorenzo Rush Jr+. For the complete 2022 Broadway in your Backyard dates and locations, go to PorchlightMusicTheatre.org.
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 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.
About Ambassador Chicago, a JDV by Hyatt Hotel
With a rich history rooted in Chicago’s Jazz Age, Ambassador Chicago, a JDV by Hyatt Hotel, is the city’s original boutique hotel dating back to 1926. Located in the iconic Gold Coast neighborhood and recipient of the 2022 Travelers’ Choice Award by Tripadvisor famed Ambassador Chicago has been a destination for film and music celebrities, fashion icons, politicians and travelers from all over world. Nestled among stunning mansions in a quiet, gilded neighborhood tucked into the center of the Windy City, Ambassador Chicago offers incredible views of Lake Michigan, while providing easy access to Chicago’s main shopping boulevard, Michigan Avenue. Ambassador’s 285 spacious guest rooms and suites are individually furnished with taste and functionality. Over 9,000 sq. ft. of event space, a screening room and intimate bar area are designed to celebrate Ambassador Chicago’s history with a fresh, timeless look.
About Joie de Vivre Hotels
For over 30 years, the Joie de Vivre Hotels brand has made curating locally inspired and eclectic experiences its signature. Founded in San Francisco in 1987, the California-born, free-spirited boutique hotel brand encourages playful travel through neighborhood connections. The Joie de Vivre Hotels brand consists of distinct hotels, each reflective of its location, and today has a presence in California, Chicago, IL, Baltimore, MD, and New York. The brand is expanding internationally with the recently opened BEI Zhaolong Hotel, marking its debut in Asia. Follow @JDVHotels on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for news and updates. For more information, please visit www.jdvhotels.com.
About Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 20 premier brands. As of December 31, 2019, the Company's portfolio included more than 900 hotel, all-inclusive, and wellness resort properties in 65 countries across six continents. The Company's purpose to care for people so they can be their best informs its business decisions and growth strategy and is intended to attract and retain top employees, build relationships with guests and create value for shareholders. The Company's subsidiaries develop, own, operate, manage, franchise, license or provide services to hotels, resorts, branded residences, vacation ownership properties, and fitness and spa locations, including under the Park Hyatt®, Miraval®, Grand Hyatt®, Alila®, Andaz®, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Destination®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Ziva™, Hyatt Zilara™, Thompson Hotels®, Hyatt Centric®, Caption by Hyatt, Joie de Vivre®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Place®, tommie™, Hyatt Residence Club® and Exhale® brand names, and operates the World of Hyatt® loyalty program that provides distinct benefits and exclusive experiences to its valued members. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.
Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce a second date added to its Broadway in your Backyard special performance at Ambassador Chicago, a JDV by Hyatt Hotel, 1301 N. State Pkwy, Wednesday, Aug. 10. The new Wednesday performance was added due to the Thursday, Aug, 11 performance being sold out. Broadway in your Backyard at the Ambassador takes place on the hotel’s 17th floor Astor Terrace, which features both indoor and outdoor seating with sweeping views of the city’s magnificent skyline. Attendance is limited to only 60 people and guests are invited to enjoy a pre-show cocktail reception beginning at 6:30 p.m., which includes light appetizers, red and white wine and one signature cocktail, followed by the 90-minute show beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $55 and go on sale Friday, July 15 at 12 p.m. at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org
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 and Unity Park Advisory Council with in-kind donations by R&S Marching Arts and Screen Machine.
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.
The 2022 Broadway in your Backyard company includes Top row: Lydia Burke, Caitlin Dobbins, Nik Kmiecik, Justin Akira Kono, Bottom row: Jennifer Ledesma, Bryan McCaffrey, Brandon Pisano and Lorenzo Rush Jr.
Nik Kmiecik performing in 2021 at BROADWAY IN YOUR BACKYARD at Ambassador Chicago. Image Credit: Justin Kocher
The view from Ambassador Chicago's Astor Terrace