It's Showtime with Rikki Lee

Amber Mak, one of Chicago’s most sought-after and respected musical theatre directors, discusses the upcoming production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story at Marriott Theater. The award-winning regional theater is known for the top-level talent it secures for each of its productions.

Mak is both directing and choreographing this premier of an original interpretation of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story derived from the best elements of the varied scripts that have been performed to date including Broadway, Australia, and West End. It details the life of one of the most influential musicians to pioneer rock n’ roll.

The singer/songwriter was responsible for some of his era’s biggest hits including Peggy Sue, That’ll Be the Day, Not Fade Away, Rave On, and Oh Boy. Tragically, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper all died in a fiery plane crash on the way to a concert appearance together at the height of their careers on February 3, 1959. Holly was only 22 years old.

In the It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee interview, Mak and host Rikki Lee Travolta discuss the extensive research the director/choreographer undertook to do justice to the life story of one of rock’s earliest and most influential stars. The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, and Bruce Springsteen all credit Holly with being a key influence on their approach to music.

Mak’s recent directorial and choreography credits include The Sound of Music, Rock of Ages, Hairspray, and The Wizard of Oz at Paramount Theatre and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. She also has multiple creative choreographer and assistant director credits with Drury Lane Theatre and an impressive slew of regional performing experience. She has received Jeff Award nominations as a director and as a choreographer.

Music Theater Works producing artistic director Kyle A. Dougan guests on It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee to discuss the company’s new, innovative mounting of the Broadway gem Pippin.

Music Theatre Works is a resident professional, not-for-profit music theatre company operating out of the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL just outside of Chicago. Dougan it the ultimate full-circle theatrical success story. He began his career as an intern with the company fresh out of college and returned to head the company as producing artistic director in 2018.

The Pippin revival has been creatively reimagined into a 1990s setting and features music direction by Justin Akira Kono and  choreography by Mollyanne Nunn and Kaitlyn Pasquinelli.

Let’s face it. If you live in the suburbs of Chicago or even just the outskirts, the prospect of traveling into the heart of the city can be daunting. Even those who love the brilliant theater that you can only experience downtown are sometimes wary of making the trip because of things like distance, traffic, and parking. Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles has the solution – importing smash theater from the city into the suburbs. Steel Beam is always providing new and exciting entertainment options – attracting audiences from the suburbs and the city. This weekend St. Charles is offering the first stop on the tour of the award-winning hit one-woman romantic comedy The Princess Strikes Back, along with the comic stylings of Any Suggestions? Improv – one of the funniest improv troupes in the Chicagoland area. Steel Beam Theatre’s Managing Director Catie Early joins host Rikki Lee Travolta on this episode to discuss all the great shows coming to this suburban Chicago theatre including Star Wars Comedy Weekend.

The Princess Strikes Back is an incredible one-woman show starring Victoria Montalbano that deals with love, relationships, and the

May is Star Wars Month. To celebrate, Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles, IL is bringing the hit touring theatrical comedy The Princess Strikes Back to the suburbs as a part of Star Wars Comedy Weekend May 19 through 21st. Bringing professional theatre to the Chicago suburbs.

In this episode of It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee, host Rikki Lee Travolta sits down with the multi-talented Victoria Montalbano to discuss all the great fun that audiences will have at upcoming performances of The Princess Strikes Back at Steel Beam Theatre and then around the country.

To make plans to see The Princess Strikes Back at Steel Beam Theatre visit www.SteelBeamTheatre.com.

For more information on host Rikki Lee Travolta visit ⁠www.RikkiLeeTravolta.com⁠ or ⁠www.LifeandTimes.biz⁠.

Everyone has a story to tell. Some are happy. Some are sad. Some are inspirational. And, some incorporate all those elements.

Felicity Nicole has lived a harrowing life going from a dysfunctional childhood into a toxic marriage, but she is a survivor. She faced her demons and proved that there is no point of no return and that you can survive, recover, and thrive. On this episode of It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee, host Rikki Lee Travolta sits down with Felicity to discuss her highly anticipated memoir Pieces of Me.

For more information on Felicity Nicole including Pieces of Me visit www.SheIsYouMag.com.

For more information on host Rikki Lee Travolta visit www.RikkiLeeTravolta.com or www.LifeandTimes.biz.

On this episode of It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee, host Rikki Lee Travolta is joined by singer/songwriter Susannah B who has had success in multiple musical genres. Her album Girl Gone Wilder! was named one of the best jazz releases of 2020 by LA Jazz Scene. She has also had success with pop, rock, and funk.

A celebrated vocalist and songwriter, Susannah B comes by her musical talents naturally. She is the daughter of Broadway composer and lyricist Carol Hall whose credits include The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Free To Be You & Me.

Susannah B’s upcoming new album POV, is produced in partnership with keyboardist Mike Farrell who also works closely with Alanis Morrisette whose album Jagged Little Pill was adapted into a Broadway smash musical. The Susannah B POV album also features the talents of drummer Victor Indrizzo, bass player Sean Hurley, and guitarist Dave Levita. Guest artists on POV include saxophonist Sal Lozano, known for work with Lady Gaga and Frank Sinatra.

In the 1990s, Rikki Lee Travolta had seven callbacks to replace Adam in the Broadway cast of RENT. On one of those trips to New York, Rikki Lee got the chance to see Adam perform the role. Getting to see Adam perform live was an amazing experience for Rikki Lee – sparking a career long admiration for the Broadway and film star.

In this classic episode of It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee, Adam sits down with Rikki Lee to discuss his career. (original air date January 2021)

Host Rikki Lee Travolta was 25 when he first heard the Broadway cast recording of Jekyll & Hyde featuring the iconic Robert Cuccioli in the dual lead roles. Complimenting him on the recording are the stunning Linda Eder and the equally gifted Christiane Noll. Cuccioli has been one of Travolta’s idols ever since.

In this episode of It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee that originally aired in February 2021, the Tony-nominated star discusses how he got his start in theater, his Broadway debut as Javert in Les Misérables, his work as a director, and of course the process for developing the characters of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde.

The musical Chicago is known throughout the world. It has won Tony awards on Broadway and Academy Awards for its film adaptation starring

In this episode of It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee, host Rikki Lee Travolta is joined by the stars of Chicago – The Play: Jocelyn Adamski who