Drury Lane Theatre (Illinois)

Last updated

The Drury Lane Theatres were a group of five theatres in the Chicago metropolitan area founded by Tony DeSantis. The playhouses were named after the historic Theatre Royal Drury Lane, built in London in the 17th century. The five locations all provided affordable dinner theatre that was appropriate for families. [1] Two have since closed, two others were later sold and operate under new names, and one as of 2007 still operated as a Drury Lane Theatre.

Contents

DeSantis opened the Martinique Restaurant in Evergreen Park and began producing plays in 1949 in a tent adjacent to the restaurant to attract customers. [2] The enterprise was successful, prompting him to build his first theatre.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois</span> Suburb of Chicago

Oakbrook Terrace is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, and is a suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 2,751. It is the smallest town in DuPage County, in terms of area and population.

Dinner theater is a form of entertainment that combines a restaurant meal with a staged play or musical. "Dinner and a show" can also refer to a restaurant meal in combination with live concert music, where patrons listen to a performance during a break in the meal. In the case of a theatrical performance, sometimes the play is incidental entertainment, secondary to the meal. In the style of a night club, the play may be the main feature of the evening, with dinner less important or optional. Dinner theater requires the management of three distinct entities: a live theater, a restaurant and, usually, a bar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Playhouse Square</span> United States historic place

Playhouse Square is a theater district in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is the largest performing arts center in the US outside of New York City. Constructed in a span of 19 months in the early 1920s, the theaters were subsequently closed down, but were revived through a grassroots effort. Their renovation and reopening helped usher in a new era of downtown revitalization in Cleveland, and was called "one of the top ten successes in Cleveland history."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disney Theatrical Productions</span> Subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company

Disney Theatrical Productions Limited (DTP), also known as Disney on Broadway, is the stageplay and musical production company of the Disney Theatrical Group, a subsidiary of Disney Entertainment, a major division and business unit of The Walt Disney Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theater in Chicago</span> Theater performed in Chicago, Illinois

Theater in Chicago describes not only theater performed in Chicago, Illinois, but also to the movement in Chicago that saw a number of small, meagerly funded companies grow to institutions of national and international significance. Chicago had long been a popular destination for touring productions, as well as original productions that transfer to Broadway and other cities. According to Variety editor Gordon Cox, beside New York City, Chicago has one of the most lively theater scenes in the United States. As many as 100 shows could be seen any given night from 200 companies as of 2018, some with national reputations and many in creative "storefront" theaters, demonstrating a vibrant theater scene "from the ground up". According to American Theatre magazine, Chicago's theater is "justly legendary".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois Technology and Research Corridor</span> Region of commerce and industry along Interstate 88 in the Chicago metropolitan area

The Illinois Technology and Research Corridor is a region of commerce and industry located along Interstate 88 in the Chicago metropolitan area, primarily in DuPage, Kane, and DeKalb Counties. The corridor is home to the headquarters or regional centers for many Fortune 1000 companies, several office and industrial parks, colleges and universities, research and scientific institutions, medical centers, government centers, and abundant shopping, dining, lodging, and entertainment amenities. In addition to the I-90 Golden Corridor, the I-94 Lakeshore Corridor, and the I-55 Industrial Corridor, the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor is one of the principal economic centers in suburban Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oakbrook Center</span> Shopping center in Oak Brook, Illinois

Oakbrook Center is a shopping center located near Interstate 88 and Route 83 in Oak Brook, Illinois. It was originally opened in 1962. It is the second largest shopping center in the Chicago metropolitan area by gross leasable area, only surpassed by Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois. It is one of the top shopping centers in the country – both in terms of sales per square foot and total asset value. Current anchor stores include Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Macy's.

Gary Griffin is an American theater director.

<i>Annie Warbucks</i> 1993 Off-Broadway musical

Annie Warbucks is a musical with a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Martin Charnin. A sequel to the 1977 Tony Award-winning hit Annie, based on Harold Gray's Little Orphan Annie comic strip, it begins immediately after Annie ends.

Anthony DeSantis, KStJ was an American entrepreneur and theater owner in Chicago, Illinois. He is most well known for the foundation of the area's Drury Lane theatres. During DeSantis' lifetime, his empire included six separate theaters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Sidney Bembridge</span> Musical artist

Brian Sidney Bembridge is an American scenic, lighting, and costume designer for theater and film. His work has been seen on stages and screens throughout the country and Internationally in Australia, Germany, Prague, Ireland, and Great Britain. Mr. Bembridge has also taught and lectured at many universities across the country. He holds a BFA from University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place is operated by Broadway In Chicago, a Nederlander subsidiary. Located at Water Tower Place in Chicago, Illinois, it was formerly known as Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place. It was reopened in 2004 and seats 549.

Summer Naomi Interior is an American actress and singer. Smart has won two Joseph Jefferson Awards, one in 2008 and one in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queens Theatre in the Park</span>

Queens Theatre, formerly Queens Theatre in the Park and before that Queens Playhouse, is an American professional theatre, located in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York City, New York. Artistic and Executive Directors have included Joseph S. Kutrzeba, founder and producer; Robert Moss, Sue Lawless, Jeffrey Rosenstock and Ray Cullom, formerly Managing Director of Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, CT, and currently, Taryn Sacramone, former Executive Director of Astoria Performing Arts Center.

Rachel Rockwell was an American theater director, choreographer and performer.

Prince of Central Park is a 1989 Broadway musical with music by Don Sebesky, lyrics by Gloria Nissenson and a book by Evan H. Rhodes. It is based on Rhodes' 1974 novel The Prince of Central Park and its 1977 television movie adaptation which starred Ruth Gordon and Brooke Shields. The musical was a notorious flop, losing nearly $2 million and closing after only four performances. Today, it is best remembered for a humorously negative review by Frank Rich in The New York Times.

Sean Allan Krill is an American actor and singer who has appeared in film and television, on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and at prestigious regional theaters across the country. Krill made his Broadway debut as Sam Carmichael in 2008 in Mamma Mia!. He originated the role of Steve Healy in the Alanis Morissette musical Jagged Little Pill for which he was nominated for the 2020 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, and the cast album of the critically-acclaimed show was the recipient of the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

References

  1. Jones, Chris: Chicago Tribune, June 7, 2007 - Mr. Theater in Chicago, Section 1, Page 1
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Abarbanel, Jonathan: "PerformInk Online". Archived from the original on 2007-11-11. Retrieved 2008-07-15. PerformINK stories: April 29, 2004- Tony DeSantis and His New Drury Lane Theatre
  3. Munson, Nancy: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, June 19, 2003-Wal-Mart to Replace Dinner Theater in Evergreen Park, IL