Porchlight Theatre’s ‘Broadway in your Backyard’ free concert series returns this summer

Kayla Samoy, Chicago Tribune
·1 min read

Porchlight Music Theatre is back with its “Broadway in Your Backyard” free concert series. The family-friendly events will visit various parks around Chicago this summer on Tuesday evenings. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets or chairs and pack a picnic with food and nonalcoholic beverages to enjoy while they listen to classic and new Broadway songs.

Each outdoor concert is about an hour long and will include tunes from iconic musicals like “Rent,” “Hello, Dolly!” “The Music Man,” “Grease,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Six” and others. The shows are directed by artistic director Michael Weber with music directed by Justin Akira Kono, while the rotating cast features Lydia Burke, Vasily Deris, Caitlin Dobbins, Carisa Gonzalez, Nik Kmiecik, Justin Akira Kono and Bryan McCaffrey.

The 2022 concert dates are:

  • Wicker Park (1425 N. Damen Ave.) July 19 at 6 p.m.

  • Unity Park (2636 N. Kimball Ave.) July 26 at 6 p.m.

  • Portage Park (4100 N. Long Ave.) Aug. 2 at 6 p.m.

  • Munroe Park (2617 W. 105th St.) Aug. 9 at 6 p.m.

  • Washington Square Park (901 N. Clark St.) Aug. 16 at 6 p.m.

  • Park No. 534 (1300 S. St. Louis Ave.) Aug. 23 at 6 p.m.

  • Gill Park (825 W. Sheridan Rd.) Aug. 30 at 6 p.m.

  • Ellis Park (3520 S. Cottage Grove A) Sept. 6 at 6 p.m.

The series is presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, which brings cultural events to the city’s parks throughout the year.

Performances, performers and dates subject to change. More information at porchlightmusictheatre.org/events/broadway-in-your-backyard

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