Ella

Northlight Theatre continues its 33rd season, celebrating Artistic Director BJ Jones’ 10th Anniversary season, with the Midwest premiere of Ella, book by Jeffrey Hatcher, conceived by Rob Ruggiero and Dyke Garrison. The production will run from November 28, 2007 to January 6, 2008, at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

Northlight has a tradition of producing musicals about th American experience, most recently Fire on the Mountain, It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues and Dinah Was. In Ella, the year is 1966 and the place is a concert stage in Nice on the French Riviera. Ella Fitzgerald, “The First Lady of Song,” rehearses for an upcoming concert to be taped for posterity. Her producer requests that she add more “patter” about her life to the show. This theatrical event weaves myth and memory, mystery and music, and features more than 20 of her greatest hits, including “That Old Black Magic” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me”. Ella will take you inside the heart and soul of the world’s greatest jazz singers.

“With Ella, Northlight continues its tradition of producing joyous American musical pieces reflecting our audience’s passion for jazz and blues,” says Artistic Direcotr BJ Jones. “Chicago legend E. Faye Butler, leads an all-Chicago cast to bring to life the story of an American legend.”

Tickets for Ella range in price from $38-$58 and are available by phone, 847-673-6300, or online at www.northlight.org.