Displaying items by tag: Escape to Margaritaville

Music Theater Works is proud to announce the cast and creative team for the third production of its 2026 season, Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville, in the North Theatre, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, October 8 - November 1. Escape to Margaritaville has a book by Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley, with music and lyrics by Jimmy Buffett. Music Theater Works’ production is directed and choreographed by Brenda Didier with co-director Sarafina Vecchio and co-choreographer Clayton Cross and music directed by Linda Madonia. Escape to Margaritaville includes a preview performance Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. The performance schedule is Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. (Post-show discussion), Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. (Post-show discussion), Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (ASL interpreted performance), Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct 31 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. Tickets are now on sale from $19.50 to $106 with tickets for guests 25 years old and younger available at half-price at MusicTheaterWorks.com or by calling the Music Theater Works box office at the North Shore Center, 847.673.6300. Memberships for the 2026 season are also available at MusicTheaterWorks.com and group discounts for 10 or more people are available by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Music Theater Works presents the first professional production of Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville in Chicago since its pre-Broadway run. Set sail for a tropical getaway with this feel-good musical packed with island vibes and beloved Buffett classics. This lighthearted romantic comedy follows Tully, a laid-back island singer, and Rachel, a career-focused tourist, as their worlds collide at a beachfront resort. With a story about adventure, self-discovery and living life to the fullest, Escape to Margaritaville is the ultimate musical vacation for Parrot Heads and newcomers alike.

The cast of Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville includes Brian Acker (he/him, Tully); Kate McQuillan (she/her, Rachel); Khaki Pixley (she/her, Tammy); Chase Grabowski (he/him, Brick); Dee Kimpel (she/her, Marley); Brian James (he/him, J.D.); Matt Frye (he/him, Chadd/ensemble/U/S Brick); Rachel Thomas (she/her, ensemble/U/S Rachel); Mackenzie Furlett (she/her, ensemble/U/S Tammy/dance captain); Andrew Faggion (he/him, Ted/ensemble/U/S Tully); Mikala Curless (she/her, ensemble); Ivan James (he/him, ensemble/U/S J.D./non-equity deputy); Jacob Merschel (he/they, Jamal/ensemble); Kelcy Taylor (she/her, ensemble); Kenny Miller (any with respect, ensemble/swing) and Juliet Lopez-Gutierrez (she/her, ensemble/swing).

Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville’s creative team includes Brenda Didier (she/her, director/choreographer); Sarafina Vecchio (she/her, co-director); Clayton Cross (he/him, co-choreographer); Linda Madonia (she/her, music director); Amber Wuttke (she/her, intimacy and violence choreographer); Kathy Logelin (she/her, dialect coach); Mack Finklea (she/they, stage manager); Ryker Blankenship (he/they, assistant stage manager); Bob Knuth (he/him, scenic designer); Ab Rieve (they/them, props designer); kClare McKellaston (she/her, costume designer); Kristen Brinati (she/her, wardrobe head); Melanie Saso (she/her, hair, wig and makeup designer); Carl Wahlstrom (he/him, sound designer); Kalyssa Montoya (she/her, assistant sound designer); Forrest Gregor (he/him, production sound engineer); Ben Lipinski (any, technical director); Liz Brachman (she/her, assistant technical director); Keely Vasquez (she/her, casting director); Chris Chase (he/him, production manager); Katie Meine (she/her, company manager) and Kyle Dougan-LeBlanc (any with respect, producing artistic director).

Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville’s orchestra includes Linda Madonia (she/her, keyboard/conductor); Cara Strauss (she/her, reed); Greg Strauss (he/him, trumpet); Eric von Holst (he/him, bass); Kyle Paul (he/him, guitar 1); Mike Lockler (he/him, guitar 2); Tina Laughlin (she/her, percussion) and Lindsay Williams (he/him, drums).

Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville Special Events

Post Show Discussions

Behind the Curtain with Thomas M. Shea

Audiences are invited to stay after the 2 p.m. performances on Sunday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 18 to join musical theater historian Thomas M. Shea, author of “Broadway’s Most Wanted,” for a post-show talk exploring the behind-the-scenes history of Escape to Margaritaville. Free with ticket, this engaging discussion is perfect for audiences to learn about the production, its history and more.

ASL Interpreted Performance

The Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. performance will be ASL interpreted.

Escape to Margaritaville Partnerships

TicketREACH

Music Theater Works supports more than 25 local nonprofits and community organizations and 18 area public libraries through distribution of a minimum of 600 free tickets for every production. TicketREACH is sponsored by Wintrust Financial and Northbrook Bank and Trust.

Jimmy Buffett’s Foundations

Music Theater Works is pleased to be promoting two of Jimmy Buffett's foundations, Singing for Change and Save The Manatee, through informational exhibits in the inner lobby of the theater during Escape to Margaritaville. Singing for Change "turns good vibes into good deeds" by honoring Jimmy Buffett’s spirit of giving, helping others and having fun along the way by offering grant support to thousands of nonprofits across the United States, including five organizations in Chicagoland. The mission of Save The Manatee is to protect manatees and their aquatic habitats for today and for future generations.

ABOUT BRENDA DIDIER, DIRECTOR and CHOREOGRAPHER

Brenda Didier is thrilled to make her Music Theater Works debut with this fun show! Didier is a freelance director and choreographer based in Chicago. Credits: Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Goodman, Marriott, Paramount, Royal George Theatre, Theatre at the Center, Chicago Theatre, Theatre Wit, Porchlight Music Theatre, Mercury Theater Chicago, Second City, Theo Ubique, City Lit, Six Flags and Busch Gardens theme parks and many others. Tours: The Kenny Rogers Christmas Tour and Cirque Shanghai-Navy Pier’s Skyline Stage with engagements at the Tropicana Resort in Atlantic City, Harrah’s in Las Vegas and The New Victory Theatre in New York’s Broadway District. Didier made her TV choreography debut with T-Mobile’s national commercial “Home for the Holidays”. She is a multiple Jeff Award recipient in both direction and choreography (Equity and Non-Equity wing), Guy Adkins Award recipient and artistic director/founder of the Lincolnshire Academy of Dance, now in its 29th Season. Upcoming: Jekyll and Hyde (Kokandy Productions/Broadway Playhouse), Christmas Carol at Paramount Theatre and Dead Outlaw with Porchlight Music Theater/Theater Wit. 

ABOUT SARAFINA VECCHIO, CO-DIRECTOR

Sarafina Vecchio is thrilled to be making her Music Theater Works debut! She is a director and actor in Chicago, as well as an educator at Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and Acting Studio Chicago. Chicago performing and directing credits include: Chicago Shakespeare, Lakeside Shakespeare, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Metropolis, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Timeline, Shattered Globe, Drury Lane, Invictus, Janus Theatre, The Other Theatre Company, North Central College, Elgin Community College and CCPA. Film: “Let's Start a Cult,” “Flatchested,” “North of the 10,” “Once Upon A Christmas Wish,” “Finding Hope” and “Coyote.” TV: “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago Justice” and “Toon In With Me.” She is proud to be a member of SAG-AFTRA and is represented by Paonessa Talent. 

ABOUT CLAYTON CROSS, CO-CHOREOGRAPHER

Clayton Cross works nationwide as a choreographer, performer and dance instructor. Cross appeared in the ensemble of White Christmas at Paramount Theatre, as well as ensemble and dance captain of Rock of Ages with Mercury Theater Chicago and with Drury Lane in the ensemble and dance captain in Grease and ensemble in Evita. Cross choreographed West Side Story, Guys and Dolls and Brigadoon at Music Theater Works (MTW) and was last seen on the MTW stage as “Scuttle” in Disney’s The Little Mermaid and in the ensemble of Mamma Mia, and as choreographer for Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and Billy Elliot the Musical. He was choreographer in residence with Music Theater Works under the direction of Rudy Hogenmiller for seven seasons where he choreographed and/or performed in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as “Benjamin;” Hunchback of Notre Dame; How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; Into the Woods; Anything Goes as ensemble; Pirates of Penzance as ensemble; Peter Pan as“Nana/Croc;” Gypsy as “Tulsa,” Mame as ensemble; Candide; Guys and Dolls; My Fair Lady; Die Fladermaus; The Fantastiks as “Mute” and Damn Yankees as “Eddie;” and was also in A Chorus Line as “Greg” with Porchlight Music Theatre. Cross also performed at Marriott Theatre in La Cage as “Mercedes.” Cross is an instructor and choreographer for M.A. Dance Nation, a Texas based traveling convention circuit, where he has been choreographing, teaching and judging since 1999. Cross has five times been a consultant and contributed choreography for the Capital One Bowl’s All American Halftime Show. Throughout his 25 year career as a dancer he has worked with Robert Battle, Fernando Bujones, Sherry Zunker, Paul Taylor and Anne Reinking. Cross’s television credits include “Every Dancer Has a Story,” a PBS special on the River North Chicago Dance Company, where he was a company member for 10 seasons and toured nationally and internationally. Cross is originally from Midland, TX where he received his early training from La Petite Dance Co., Coleman Academy and the Midland Community Theatre as a member of the Pickwick Players. Cross holds a double B.F.A. in ballet and modern dance from Texas Christian University.

ABOUT LINDA MADONIA, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Linda Madonia is thrilled to be back at Music Theater Works for Margaritaville where she has previously music directed West Side Story, CATS, Guys and Dolls, Shrek, Mamma Mia and Camelot. Other recent projects include Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages and Sister Act at Mercury Theater Chicago. Anything Goes, Cabaret and A Chorus Line at Porchlight Music Theatre. Madonia also serves as the contractor for the Chicago Federation of Musicians for Porchlight Music Theatre and Music Theater Works. She is the vocal coach for the master’s degree program in Music Theatre Pedagogy at Carthage College and owns American Eagle Productions, which has been at the forefront of Theatre Education in the Chicago area for the past 35 years.

ABOUT MUSIC THEATER WORKS

Music Theater Works is a resident professional not-for-profit music theater founded in

1980. During its 45-year history it has presented more than 150 productions and intimate presentations. Music Theater Works is a professional theater company whose mission is to present works for the musical stage including historic repertoire, revitalizing the Golden Age of Broadway and earlier works, celebrating the Great American Songbook and introducing modern classics. 

In reviewing Jimmy Buffett’s new musical Escape to Margaritaville I was seated in the last row of the Oriental Theatre but since the row was reserved and nearly empty, I settled in for a nice relaxing show with no one coughing on me or knocking my elbow off the armrest. The show began and a few minutes later two smiling, enthusiastic, knee tapping men came in and sat next to me on the aisle.
They were whispering excitedly back and forth and one of the men, who was small-framed with glasses, took out his cellphone and began typing into it every few minutes.

They seemed like such excited fans, as the phone activity continued. I didn't want to say anything but finally buckled and leaned over and gently brushed his hand, smiling like "Hey, that's a no- no." But he just smiled at me and moments later kept typing. After another ten minutes or so, I again leaned over and said, "Darlin', I know you're super excited to be here (and I pointed to my Press Kit), but I'm trying to review this show." The bouncy, Larry David lookalike laughed and said, "Darlin', I’m Jimmy Buffett!" I didn’t recognize him in the dark! 

We laughed together and naturally I told Jimmy to take as many notes as he needed! And thus began a wonderful night of celebrating this Broadway bound production based on Jimmy Buffett's life. 
The script written by Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley (with book also by Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia) tells a classic story of romance between Tully, a handsome singer/songwriter living the island life, and drifting from one cute tourist to another without falling in love. Tully's world is changed however when a beautiful, intelligent, but over worked, scientist named Rachel visits the resort with her best friend Tammy who is about to be married - to the wrong man. On this island the word “work” is identified as a " dirty word" and Rachel is warned gleefully by Tully that if she says it too often her mouth will be "rinsed out with tequila!" 

The book includes original music and at least twenty-seven of Buffett's classic hits including "Come Monday", "Volcano", "Cheeseburger in Paradise", and a hilarious PG-rated version of "Let's Get Drunk (And Screw)”. 

The two youthful leads, Tully played by Paul Alexander Nolan - and Rachel (Alison Luff), have very nice chemistry, rich voices and give the rowdy, drunken fun of the play a real love story to ground it and make you care about the characters despite the constant joking around. 

Parrotheads will love the free living, take it easy on yourself moral of the story, which simply put echoes Buffett's own successful take on "living life in the moment to the fullest, and loving the one you are with.

I really love the way Rachel's character is written as both very intelligent and nature loving. The entire audience loved the way her best friend Tammy is encouraged to go ahead and EAT "the cheeseburger she desires whether she fits into her wedding dress or not and then has her literally flying across the stage (Peter Pan style) when she frees herself from the critical and unappreciative man she was about to marry before being rescued by Tully's funny, free living, best friend. 

Walt Spangler created a beautiful sparkling set full of water and sunny blue skies. The only thing I wanted to see more of in this wonderful, constantly changing island paradise set was palm trees and green. But this already winter-weary Chicago audience was delighted by the many hues of clear blue water, colorfully lit Tiki Huts and cloudless skies, nonetheless. 

The lesser known, but deeply touching Buffett songs “We are the People Our Parents Warned Us About”, “Love and Luck”, “He Went to Paris” and “License to Chill” were used to nice effect to deepen and round out the overall feelgood, life's a party feeling of the show, especially when the audience realizes even the seemingly shallow Tully understands there is something very important missing from his idyllic island lifestyle when he meets Rachel and finally feels true love for the first time. 

Opening night attendees were treated to a real Buffett experience when Jimmy joined the cast for the show’s final few numbers.

After the show I got to speak with Buffett and his fans a little more in depth at the Maragaritaville-themed after party. We laughed again at my own "work, work, work" uptightness even as Jimmy apologized profusely for having to take notes on his phone during the show and he asked me if I noticed his mature adult fans gleefully swaying and dancing in their seats. 

I DID come to the realization after talking with Parrotheads from twenty to eighty-years-old at the party, that although I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, I had no idea how vast and successful the Jimmy Buffett brand has become and stayed over past decades. I really got a sense of how happily devoted his fans are to him as a musical artist and his never give up - do it yourself lifestyle guru, if you will.  

I know the play needs to move along and stay fictional to a degree, but I would have loved to have seen a few scenes about Buffett's real-life tales of trying and failing at a music career in NY and Los Angeles. Those years of being rejected while trying to find his niche which caused him to say, "Screw You" to record execs and move his whole life to the "the farthest key in Florida", finally building his own internationally loved and recognized brand in true maverick style with his own fans from Key West. These true tales of overcoming small-minded criticisms and his so-called failures along the way are so inspirational I wish they had been addressed in this production. 

Since there is still time to tweak this fun-tastic production before it moves on to Broadway and on tour, I have to say I agree with other reviewers who were put off by the dance numbers by the dead insurance salespeople, the "LSD flashbacks" dreamt up by Tully's sidekick during stressful moments. The choreography in these dance numbers was great but the creepy, scary, gray and white ash covered insurance salespeople (whom he was told died in a volcanic eruption on the island) would have been better spent on dance numbers for the main cast members or more of the bikini and swimsuit clad vacationers to keep the fun, psychedelic friendly mood coming without interruption. 

Loved it. I highly recommend this fun loving, musically delightful production to remind everyone to SLOW DOWN, and stop towing the line at "work, work, work!" thereby letting their dreams of love and romance die a slow, painful death. Buffett's philosophy of living and acting spontaneously reminds the audience in a wonderful way that life changing chances at love (like the one when he met his wife) come and go which might never come again. 

Once I realized I was seated next to Jimmy Buffett himself during the show, I couldn't help noticing the touching way he sang along quietly to himself with his own music, these are his babies after all, and the foundation of a hugely successful $500 million dollar plus industry of restaurants, vacation cruises and music, etc., that his devoutly loyal fans, the Parrotheads, have enjoyed for thirty years. As I watched Jimmy Buffett's fans dance around their "leader in paradise" at the after party and the screams of laughter and joy during the show as beach balls came raining down on them from above, I became certain that they will continue to honor Buffet's legacy and frequent his now very real "Margaritaville" for the rest of their lives. 

Escape to Margaritaville is being performed at Oriental Theatre through December 2nd. For more show information visit www.broadwayinchicago.com.