CHICAGO—It doesn’t get much better than spending an evening relaxing on lawn chairs or on a blanket on a grassy turf as you unwrap cold chicken and salad, pour out a glass of wine, and view a sunset over a city park. Indeed, a picnic in a garden square with friends and family is a lovely way to enjoy summer twilight. It gets even better if you add Broadway show tunes to the al fresco experience, which is what Chicago’s Porchlight Music Theatre has done with its “Broadway In Your Backyard” music series.
The idea for the outdoor dining and entertainment event started in 2021 during the COVID-19 clamp down when many theaters closed their doors. Porchlight’s artistic director Michael Weber thought that if people couldn’t gather in its inside auditorium, the theater would bring the magic of music outdoors to neighborhood parks.
Now in its fourth year, Porchlight, in association with Chicago Park District’s “Night Out in the Parks,” is bringing its musical talent to neighborhoods. Once again, they’re not charging admission. The musical celebration, which is becoming a popular Chicago tradition, is free.
Directed by Frankie Leo Bennett, the one-hour outdoor presentation moves easily from one fantastic song to another. The show features 21 well-known classics from beloved Broadway hits such as “Hello Dolly,” “Funny Girl,” “Hairspray,” “All Shook Up,” and many more. Some of the most memorable and exquisite musical numbers include “Another Openin’, Another Show” from “Kiss Me Kate,” “Something’s Coming” from “West Side Story,” “Ya Got Trouble” from “The Music Man,” and “We Go Together” from “Grease.”
While most of the show tunes are adult oriented, the family-friendly show has plenty to offer everyone, even the kids. For the younger set the performers belted out the charming “Be Our Guest” from “Beauty and the Beast,” the heartfelt “Over the Rainbow” from the “Wizard of Oz,” and the comic show stopper “Supercalifragilistic” from “Mary Poppins.”
Furthermore, because of superb sound design by Morgan Dudaryk and music director Linda Madonia’s masterful touch with orchestration, the songs come through loud and clear with perfect pitch melody. But what makes “Broadway In Your Backyard” such an engaging and spirited entertainment are the exuberant performances from a talented ensemble of singers.
On the evening I attended a production, I couldn’t help but notice how much fun everyone seemed to be having. One couple looked to be reliving their teen years as they jitterbugged on the grass to “Grease,” one of the little tots jumped up and down to “I’m a Believer” from “Shrek, The Musical,” and an elderly couple sat quietly in their chairs holding hands.
“Broadway In Your Backyard” is the kind of joyous event that may remind you that some of the best things in life are free.
