Broadway In Chicago and Porchlight Music Theatre proudly announce the all-Chicago cast for the 2023 Lortel Award-winning musical comedy TITANIQUE, directed by original off-Broadway director and co-creator Tye Blue, fresh off of new productions in London, Australia, and Canada, choreographed by Kasey Alfonso, and music directed by Michael McBride. The irresistibly funny and irreverent send-up of the blockbuster film “Titanic,” driven by the songs of pop icon Céline Dion, showcases the exceptional talent of local performers, led by Jeff Award Nominee Clare Kennedy McLaughlin as Céline Dion, Jeff Award Nominee Adam Fane as Jack, and Maya Rowe as Rose, with Jackson Evans as Victor Garber/Luigi, Rob Lindley as Ruth, Adrian Aguilar as Cal, Abby C. Smith as Molly Brown, Lorenzo Shawn Parnell as The Seaman/Iceberg, Eric Lewis as background vocalist, Caroline Lyell as background vocalist, Elaine Watson as background vocalist, and understudies Jordan Douglas Ellis and Kaitlin Feely.
TITANIQUE, originally produced by Tony Award®-winning producer Eva Price (Oklahoma! & Juliet), will play Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut St.) for a limited eight-week engagement, March 25 – May 18, 2025. Group tickets for 10 or more are on sale now by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. TITANIQUE is part of the Broadway In Chicago and Porchlight Music Theatre 2024 - 2025 subscription seasons and is presented by special arrangement with Eva Price. Ticket information is below.
Co-written by Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue, TITANIQUE celebrated its off-Broadway premiere in June 2022 at Asylum Theater, starring the musical’s co-authors Mindelle (Sister Act, Netflix’s “Special”) and Rousouli (Cruel Intentions, Hairspray) as Cé line Dion and Jack. After several sold-out extensions, the musical transferred to the Daryl Roth Theatre on November 20, 2022, and won seven major awards of the 2022-23 theater season, including the Lucille Lortel Award and off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical. The New York production recently celebrated its 1000th performance on December 10, 2024.
ABOUT TITANIQUE
All aboard NYC’s must-sea musical comedy! When the music of Céline Dion makes sweet Canadian love with the eleven-time Oscar®-winning blockbuster film “Titanic,” you get TITANIQUE, off-Broadway’s most award-winning splash hit, which turns one of the greatest love stories of all time into a hysterical musical fantasia. Want to find out what really happened to Jack and Rose on that fateful night? Just leave it to Céline Dion to enchant the audience with her totally wild take, recharting the course of Titanic ’s beloved moments and characters with her iconic song catalog. Sailing on fierce powerhouse voices in show-stopping performances of such hits as “My Heart Will Go On,” “All By Myself,” and “To Love You More” – backed by the unparalleled energy of a full live band – TITANIQUE is a one-of-a-kind theatrical voyage bursting with nostalgia, heart and campy chaos.
TITANIQUE’s storied history includes a smash hit live-streamed concert – TITANIQUE: The Maiden Voyage Concert – on the premium streaming service Stellar, on May 2, 2021, which followed sold-out pop-up concert engagements in Los Angeles and New York, earning the show a 2019 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Award. Upon the show’s off-Broadway premiere in 2022, The New York Times praised the musical as, “very funny! This TITANIQUE Musical Finds Its Sea Legs…. Near, far, wherever you are, Céline Dion will be there, in this camp reimagining of the maritime blockbuster that revs up into increasing absurdity.” Vulture raved, “TITANIQUE is f*cking great. Swim, Don’t Walk, to see this Céline Dion jukebox fantasia!” The New York Post hailed the show as, “Sensational, hilarious and deranged! TITANIQUE is , by a nautical mile, the funniest musical in town!” Upon the show’s reopening at the larger Daryl Roth Theatre, People magazine declared, “Just when you think it couldn't get better, TITANIQUE makes you love it more, with a glow-up that makes the show even more impactful and irresistible. Yet, there's still a scrappy, endearing ‘let's put on a show’ energy to it, that gives the musical its Titanic-sized charm. You're guaranteed to laugh your iceberg off.” TITANIQUE won seven major awards of the 2022-23 theater season, including three Lucille Lortel Awards (Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lead Performer: Marla Mindelle, Outstanding Costume Design: Alejo Vietti), the off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical, Las Culturistas’ Culture Award for Best Indoor Performance, and two Dorian Awards (Outstanding off-Broadway Production, Outstanding off-Broadway Performance: Marla Mindelle). The show earned an additional nine award nominations, including two 2023 Drama League Award nominations (Outstanding Musical, Distinguished Performance: Marla Mindelle), two Outer Critics Circle Award nominations (Book of a Musical, Lead Performer: Marla Mindelle), two Lortel Award nominations (Choreography, Featured Performer: John Riddle), and a Drama Desk Award nomination (Book of a Musical).
The TITANIQUE creative team includes Tye Blue (he/him, director and co-creator); Kasey Alfonso (she/her/they/them, choreographer); Michael McBride (he/him, music director/conductor); Jeffrey D. Kmiec (he/him, scenic designer); Jos. N. Banks (he/him/they/them, costume designer); Greg Hofmann (he/him, lighting designer); Milo Blue (he/him, assistant scenic designer); Jessica Neil (she/her, associate light designer); Stephanie Farina (she/her, co-sound designer); Sarah Ramos (she/her, co- sound designer); Rita Vreeland (she/her, production stage manager, AEA); Drew Donnelly (he/him, assistant stage manager, AEA); John McTaggart (he/him, technical director); Danny Carraher (he/him, assistant technical director); Lydia Moss (she/her, scenic charge); Bette Schneider (she/her, costume director); Rachel West (she/her, lighting director); Riley Woods (they/them, assistant lighting director); Stark Winter (she/her/they/them, LX programmer); Morgan Dudaryk (she/her/they/them, audio and video director); Kim Carbone (she/her, A1); Ali Westendorf (she/her/they/them, assistant costume director/wardrobe supervisor ); Amanda May (she/her, hair and makeup director); Patrick McGuire (any with respect, properties director); Linda Madonia (she/her, music supervisor); Heather Gervasi (she/her, associate production manager); Majel Cuza (she/her, director of production); Frankie Leo Bennett (he/him, producing and casting associate) and Michael Weber (he/him, artistic director and resident director);
For more information about the show, visit www.TITANIQUEmusical.com.
@TITANIQUEMusical (IG) / @TITANIQUEMusical (FB)
TICKET INFORMATION & PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Group tickets for 10 or more are on sale now by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. Current subscribers can add this show to their season package today by calling 312-977-1717 at a special subscriber rate. Information about single ticket sales and the performance schedule will be announced later.
ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 25 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium.
For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
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ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE
Porchlight Music Theatre, currently celebrating its 30th season, is the award-winning center for music theatre in Chicago. Porchlight impacts tens of thousands of lives each season, bringing the magic of musicals to its theatre home at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts on the Gold Coast and to neighborhoods across the city as well as its expansive education and community offerings. Porchlight has built a national reputation for boldly reimagining classic musicals, supporting new works and young performers, and showcasing Chicago’s most notable music theatre artists, all through the intimate and powerful theatrical lens of the “Chicago Style.” Programming, classes and more at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org.
CREATIVE TEAM
EVA PRICE (she/her, Original Producer) is an NYCLU/ACLU honoree and a three-time Tony award-winning, and two-time Olivier Award®-winning producer. Her productions have garnered six Olivier Awards, two Grammy Awards®, two Emmy Awards®, and 19 Tony Awards. Current: & Juliet (Broadway, nine Tony nominations); TITANIQUE (off-Broadway, Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Musical) The Hip Hop Nutcracker (Touring Live Show, Disney +). Upcoming: Redwood (Broadway); Take the Lead (Paper Mill Playhouse). Selected credits: Redwood (La Jolla Playhouse), A Transparent Musical (Center Theatre Group); Mindplay (Arena Stage & Geffen Playhouse); Jagged Little Pill (two Tony Awards); Oklahoma! (two Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, Best Musical Revival, National Tour, West End); Tina - The Tina Turner Musical; What the Constitution Means to Me; Angels in America (Tony-winning Broadway Revival starring Nathan Lane and Andrew Garfield); Dear Evan Hansen ( six Tony Awards, three Olivier Awards); Peter and the Starcatcher (fiveTony Awards) with several solo shows and critically acclaimed concerts starring The Temptations & The Four Tops, Kathy Griffin, Lewis Black, Colin Quinn, and Hershey Felder.
TYE BLUE (he/him, Director/Co-Creator) is the Lortel Award-winning co-author and director of the original New York City production of TITANIQUE, and he is thrilled to be spending the next year directing new companies in Australia, Canada, London, Chicago, and who knows where else! Theatre: TITANIQUE (NYC, West End, Montreal, Toronto, Sydney, Chicago). Rocky Horror Picture Show, Estelle Show (Rockwell Table & Stage), Spring Awakening (Studio School Mainstage), The Drowsy Chaperone, Little Shop of Horrors (Houston Academy of Dramatic Arts). Parody adaptations of Mean Girls, The Devil Wears Prada, Troop Beverly Hills, The Big Lebowski, Hocus Pocus (Rockwell Table & Stage). Artistic Director of Short+Sweet Theatre Festival. In Development: Fowl Play (Billy Recce & Yoni Weiss), Tipsy Whisper (Tenealle Farragher) , Channing/Tatum (Adam Overett), The Mentor (Tim Murray) TV & Film: Four seasons on the Emmy-winning casting team of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “Project Runway,” “Nailed It,” “Say, I Do!,” “Snoop Dogg’s Jokers Wild!”, “The Real Housewives,” “Catfish” Music & Recording: Rumer Willis' Cafe Carlyle debut and Over the Love Tour. Concerts for Isabela Moner, Brian Justin Crum, Houston Pride, and the long running For the Record series in LA Awards: Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical (TITANIQUE). Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk nominations Training: Berklee College of Music (Voice & Saxophone), Sam Houston State University (Theatre). IG:@TyeBlue1 W:TyeBluePresents.com
KASEY ALFONSO (she/her/they/them, Chorographer) is thrilled and honored to join the creative team of TITANIQUE! A performer, choreographer, and educator, her choreography has been seen at Paramount Theatre, Drury Lane, Teatro Vista, Northwestern University, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Chicago, Griffin Theatre, Firebrand Theatre, Kokandy Productions, Grelley Duvall, Willow Pill, and The Fly Honeys. UPCOMING: CATS (Paramount Theatre, May 2025). Love to Max, Banksy, + Gobi. IG: @Kase_Face89
DR. MICHAEL MCBRIDE (he/him, Music Director/Conductor) is a Chicago-based Jeff Award-winning music director, internationally performed composer, performer, and educator. International: The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale (GWB Productions, New Zealand) Chicago: The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale, Sinister (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Revolution(s) (Goodman Theatre), Grease (Drury Lane Theatre), Big Fish (Boho Theater, Jeff Award — Best Music Direction), The Choir of Man (Apollo Theater Chicago), Rent (Porchlight Music Theatre), Passing Strange (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre), Billy Elliot, Brigadoon, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Carousel (Music Theater Works). Regional: The Scarlet Pimpernel (John W. Engeman Theater, NY), We Will Rock You, Legally Blonde, Escape to Margaritaville, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Robber Bridegroom, Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin, Man of La Mancha, Mamma Mia!, Into the Woods, The Little Mermaid (Timber Lake Playhouse). Academic: Ride the Cyclone (DePaul University), Yeast Nation (North Park University), The Old Man and the Old Moon, Fun Home, Violet, Cabaret, Tintypes, She Loves Me, Spring Awakening, Hot Mikado, Urinetown (Loyola University Chicago). Composer: The Boys and The Nuns Education: DM Composition, Northwestern University. IG: @TheRealMcBride
THE CAST
CLARE KENNEDY McLAUGHLIN (she/her, Céline Dion) is a Chicago-based actor and vocalist. Previous credits include: Frozen (Paramount Theatre); Beehive: The 60's Musical (Marriott Theatre); Beautiful (Paramount Theatre); Blues in the Night (Alabama Shakespeare Festival; Porchlight Music Theatre - Jeff Award Nomination). She is a proud Northwestern University music theatre alumnus and is represented by Stewart Talent. W: ClareKennedy.me IG:@ClareKMcl
ADAM FANE (he/him, Jack) feels like the king of the world to be returning to Porchlight with TITANIQUE! Credits include: Rock of Ages (National Tour); Disney’s The Little Mermaid (MUNY); Frozen, The Full Monty, Into The Woods and Mel Brooks’ The Producers (Paramount Theatre); Jim Hensen’s Emmet Otter (Studebaker Theater); Ms. Blakk for President (Steppenwolf Theatre); Shrek the Musical, Gypsy and Ride the Cyclone - United States premiere (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Jersey Boys (Norwegian Cruise Line); Billy Elliot: The Musical (Porchlight Music Theatre); Chicago (Mason Street Warehouse); First Date - Chicago premiere (Royal George Theater); Sex Tips (Chicago premiere/Edinburgh Fringe Festival) and Jersey Boys, Spamalot, Pippin and Avenue Q (Mercury Theater Chicago). Film: “Canal Street” and TV: “Chicago PD”. Jeff Award nomination for Actor in a Principal Role - Musical (Princeton / Rod) "Avenue Q". Repped by DDO. IG: @AlmostFanemous
MAYA ROWE (she/her, Rose) is honored to be making her Porchlight Music Theatre/Broadway In Chicago debut in this famous (spoiler alert) shipwreck of a show! Favorite regional credits include: “Sonya” in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (Writers Theatre); “Sally Bowles” in Cabaret (The Studio Theatre TDS), “Babette” in Beauty and the Beast (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); “Gingy” in Shrek (Drury Lane); “Clara” in The Light in the Piazza (AGPA Festival); “Sibella” in A Gentleman’s Guide… and “Sister Mary Downy” in Disaster! ( Rocky Mountain Rep); Marilyn Wald and U/S “Cynthia/Carole” in Beautiful! (Marriott Theatre); “Ursula” and U/S “Frau Schmidt/Maria” in The Sound of Music (Paramount Theatre) and “Charlotte” in A Little Night Music (Theo). You can also catch her in “Tankhouse” on AppleTV! Love to Gabe, Felix & Cadbury chocolate. IG: @MayaLRowe
JACKSON EVANS (he/him, Victor Garber/Luigi) is nervous he might get seasick. Chicago credits: Anything Goes (Porchlight Music Theatre, Jeff Nomination); Falsettos (Court/Timeline Theaters) The Full Monty, School of Rock, Beauty and the Beast (Paramount, Jeff Nomination); Guys and Dolls, Matilda, Spamalot (Drury Lane); Ride the Cyclone (Chicago Shakespeare); Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady (Lyric Opera); Boys in the Band (Windy City Playhouse); Singin' in the Rain, A Christmas Story (Marriott); Avenue Q, Bunny Bunny (Mercury Theater). Touring: The Realish Housewives (Second City). Regional: Peninsula Players, Milwaukee Rep, First Stage. Film: “Christmas is Canceled” TV: "Paper Girls," "Chicago PD," and "Sirens”. This show is dedicated to the biggest Céline fan he knows- his brilliant mother.
ROB LINDLEY (he/him, Ruth) is pleased to be returning to Broadway In Chicago after touring with Phantom of the Opera and returning to Porchlight Music Theatre after serving as an artistic associate for many years, appearing in Children of Eden, Sweeney Todd, A New Brain and Closer Than Ever and directing A Wonderful Life, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, How to Succeed… and Far From Heaven. Rob is also one of the co-creators of Porchlight's "Chicago Sings" annual fundraising concert. Other Chicago acting credits include The Little Mermaid (Drury Lane); Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Oh Coward!, Bach at Leipzig (Writers Theatre); Andy Warhol in Iran, Funnyman (Northlight Theatre); Sound of Music (Marriott Theatre); Fun Home (Victory Gardens); Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Secret Garden, James Joyce's The Dead, Caroline or Change, Carousel (Court Theatre). Rob's directing credits include the off-Broadway production of 50 Shades! The Musical Parody; Two Pianos Four Hands and Songs for Nobodies (Northlight Theatre); two star-studded concerts with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia Festival and countless galas for practically every Chicago arts organization. Rob is a graduate of the Second City Training Center, a Jeff Award-winner, host and creator of the (Queer) Sacred Space Salon and his favorite role to date was playing Susan Sarandon as “Jackie Harrison” in Stepmom - Live in the Old Ethan Allen Space at Steppenwolf.
ADRIAN AGUILAR (he/him, Cal) has performed on stages and screens all over the country in his 20-year career, but he will always call Chicago his home. Born and raised in the burbs, he chose to come back to Chicago to start his career and family, rather than the typical path to New York City. Adrian has been married to the woman of his dreams, Brianna Borger, for nearly 14 years, and they live a quiet life in Evanston with their perfect son, Ian, and their perfectly imperfect meatball of a pittie, Ahsoka Doggo. Adrian considers himself to be the luckiest person on the planet.
ABBY C. SMITH (she/her, Molly Brown) is thrilled to board the ship of dreams for Chicago’s TITANIQUE, which combines some of her favorite things: musical theater, gay pop culture and stupidity. She saw “Titanic” in the movie theater four times in 1998. Theater credits: The SpongeBob Musical (OBC); Paramount, Marriott, MSMT, Fulton, Mason Street, Theater Aspen, Arkansas Rep, Lyric OKC and Arrow Rock. TV credits: “Orange is the New Black,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Blue Bloods” and “Search Party.” This one is for all my besties. I love you! W: AbbyCSmith.com IG: @AbbyCSmith
LORENZO SHAWN PARNELL (he/him, The Seaman/Iceberg) Originally hailing from Rochester, New York, tenor LORENZO SHAWN PARNELL is thrilled to be making his debut performance with Porchlight Music Theatre. Regional credits include: “Macy's Manager/ Charlie” in Elf: The Musical (Drury Lane Theatre); “Lola” in Kinky Boots (Shea’s 710); “Mayor/Ja Keith” in Rock of Ages (Kavinoky Theatre); “Coalhouse Walker Jr” in Ragtime (Musicalfare); “Lt. Eddie Souther” in Sister Act: The Musical (Lancaster Opera House) and “Tom Robinson” in To Kill a Mockingbird (GEVA Theatre). After today's performance you can see him next in New Philharmonic’s production of L’elisir d’amore. He currently lives in Edgewater with his partner Jim and their sassy (yet fluffy) bunny, Viper.
ERIC A. LEWIS (he/him, Background Vocalist) is excited to be back at Porchlight Music Theatre to join the cast of TITANIQUE. Previous productions include Rent and Dreamgirls, for which he received a Jeff Award. He has toured around the country in the national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar and is so proud to be back on stage in his hometown of Chicago. Other Chicago area credits include: 5 Guys Named Moe and Gospel at Colonus at Court Theater, In The Heights and Tommy at Paramount Theater, Sister Act and Ragtime at Marriott Theater. Eric would like to thank his amazing partner Garrett and his entire family for all their love and support throughout his career in theater.
CAROLINE LYELL (she/her, Background Vocalist) is thrilled to be returning to Porchlight after appearing in New Faces Sing Broadway 1951. Previous credits include: The Little Mermaid and Ragtime (Music Theater Works); Pride and Prejudice (Theater for the New City); In to America (Griffin Theatre) and Atlantic: A Scottish Story (RCS/AMTP). Proud graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Rep: Shirley Hamilton Talent. W: CarolineLyell.com
ELAINE WATSON (she/her, Background Vocalist) is so grateful for the opportunity to play with this project. New to the Chicago area post-national tour (Jagged Little Pill), she has been lucky enough to perform at Chicago Shakespeare (Sinister Workshop); Drury Lane (The Little Mermaid) and now Porchlight Music Theatre. All her thanks go to the Stewart Chicago team, her friends and family (old and new) and the TITANIQUE creatives for the faith, trust and pixie dust. Enjoy the show!
JORDAN DOUGLAS ELLIS (he/him, U/S Jack/Cal/Victor/Ruth/Background Vocalist) is beyond excited to take part in his first Chicago production! After a decade in New York, this Wisconsin boy is happy to be back in the Midwest. National/International Tours: In the Mood (U.S. & Australia); Cirque Dreams Holidaze (U.S.); Regional: Pelagius - A New Musical (“Pelagius”); Smokey Joe’s Cafe (“Adrian”); Godspell (“Telly”); Chicago (U/S “Mary Sunshine”). You can also find Jordan sailing the high seas as a guest entertainer with The Company Men and in his Carpenters tribute show, I’ve Only Just Begun. Lots of love to my family for their constant and unwavering support. IG: @JordanDouglasEllis
KAITLIN FEELY (she/her, U/S Céline/Molly/Rose) is thrilled to be making her debut with Porchlight Music Theatre! Most recent credits: Mary Poppins: A Staged Concert (Metropolis); It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Athenaeum Center Theatre); Avenue Q (Williams Street Repertory); “Audrey” in Little Shop of Horrors (Ramsey Theatre Company); “Kira” in Xanadu (Skylight Music Theatre); “Ilona” in She Loves Me (Citadel Theatre). Kaitlin has a BFA in music theatre and a minor in Mathematics from Illinois Wesleyan University. Many thanks to her wonderful cast and team and her exceptional family and friends. IG: @KaitlinFeely