Corn Stock Theatre Presents the Funny, Charming and Refreshing The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) as the Final Show in Its 2021 Summer Showcase
Corn Stock Theatre proudly invites you to attend the live performances of The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) every Thursday through Sunday, opening on August 19th and closing on September 5th at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $22 for adults and $17 for students. In this hilarious satire of musical theatre, one story becomes five delightful yet short musicals, each written in the distinctive style of a different master of the form, from Rodgers & Hammerstein to Stephen Sondheim. The basic plot: June is an ingénue who can’t pay rent and is threatened by her evil landlord. Will the handsome leading man come to the rescue? The variations are: a Rodgers & Hammerstein version, set in Illinois in August, complete with a dream ballet; a Sondheim version, featuring the landlord as a tortured artistic genius who slashes the throats of his tenants in revenge for not appreciating his work; a Jerry Herman version, as a splashy star vehicle; an Andrew Lloyd Webber version, a rock musical with themes borrowed from Puccini; and a Kander & Ebb version, set in a speakeasy in Chicago.
Longtime Corn Stock staples Greg and Sarah Blume are co-directing the show, and believe the primary reason folks should enjoy a night of live theatre under the big-top tent is to enjoy the stellar cast of actors. Reflected the Blumes, “We haven’t laughed out loud this much in a very long time. Our cast are truly wonderfully, talented and funny people!”
Take for example one of the cast members, Laura Weaver Hughes – who has been active in central Illinois theatre since 1998 both on stage and serving as musical director for over 30 local shows. “It’s been over a decade since I have been a cast member (versus the music director) and this show has been the ideal experience to get my “chops” back. I didn’t realize how my soul has craved involvement in live theatre, but when I stepped back into the Tent for the first rehearsal, it momentarily took my breath away. Each rehearsal has given me a few hours to not take myself so darn seriously. My hope- as well as my fellow cast mates- is that our audiences will be allowed that same type of escape.”
Other cast members include Dan Challacombe, Kenney Delaney, Sagan Drake, Chris Ennis, and Sandra Iadiopalo. The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) premiered at the York Theatre Company in New York City and then moved to a commercial off-Broadway production at the Dodger Stages in 2005. To purchase your tickets, go here. For questions, call our Box Office at (309) 676-2196.
Corn Stock Theatre will continue following State & Federal guidelines in place for the COIVD-19 pandemic:
- If you are fully vaccinated, we highly encourage you to wear a mask. If you are not fully vaccinated, we are asking that you wear a mask. Extra masks will be available upon request.
- Please practice social distancing by keeping six feet between you and others not in your party and by following all single direction and spacing markers.
- Please practice regular hand hygiene during your visit. Hand sanitizing and/or disinfectant wipes stations are provided throughout the venue.
During intermission, patrons should remain seated with their groups unless utilizing the restrooms. We encourage all patrons to leave their seats during the performance using Ramp 1 (between North and East section) and Ramp 2 (between East and South section) when they need the facilities.