Option Up!

Chris Pazdernik, co-creator of "Option Up!" describes the monthly gathering at Stage 773's Box Theater as a "Live Musical Theater Talk Show." It's certainly that, but much more than one might think from such a simple description. It's a cozy evening down a wonderfully nerdy rabbit hole of love for all things musical theater in general, and Chicago musical theater in particular.

The show first debuted in February 2014 and returned in August after a June/July hiatus. Pazdernik hosts, with co-creator and frequent collaborator Aaron Benham manning the piano (he's a supremely talented accompanist) and providing color commentary. The wealth of knowledge at their fingertips is well-deployed in segments like "Book Club," in which Pazdernik chooses a deep cut recording, a movie and a book (this month, these were, respectively, "Things to Ruin" by Joe Iconis, the 2012 documentary "Carol Channing: Larger Than Life" and Peter Filichia's "Broadway MVPs: 1960-2010"), as well as the fierce competition of audience participation trivia.

The first of the September guests was Stephanie Stockstill, who'll make her equity production debut as Johanna in Porchlight's "Sweeney Todd," opening October 3. She was followed by returning guest Sarah Bockel, whose run as Lucille Frank in BoHo Theatre's production of "Parade," literally opens next door a little later in October at Theater Wit. The final guest was Neala Barron, who'll also be opening at Theater Wit in October as Alice Beane in "Titanic."

The interview segments were well-paced and blended performer biography with interesting insights into the upcoming productions themselves. Combined with Pazdernik's enthusiastic intro, individual songs from the each of the guests and a trio performance, this portion of the show was a lovely paean to the unique intimacy of musical theater done Chicago storefront style.

Post-trio (a selection from "Dreamgirls" paired with Pazdernik waxing rhapsodic during the "Flops" segment, featuring a 30-second snippet from "Side Show"), the hosts slipped into their alter egos, Patti Lupone and Carol Channing, to give the audience a duet. The show proper closed with an extended interview with Chicago favorite Mark David Kaplan whose performance as Th�nardier at Drury Lane is up for a best musical supporting actor Jeff.

Bookended by two performances (a rollicking rendition of "Josephina, Please No Lean on the Bell" and an absolutely heart-breaking "What More Can I Say?" from "Falsettos"), Kaplan's interview wandered through his varied career, beginning in upstate New York, proceeding through a long stretch touring with "The Lion King," and always coming back to Chicago for its sense of community, wholly different from anything he's experienced elsewhere.

The audience for the show, according to Pazdernik, is primarily those in the Chicago theater community. This decidedly adds to the show's charm and interest, though. The vibe is casual, welcoming and supportive, which was especially evident in the post-show open mic where people shared music, called out lyrics and generally encouraged the hell out of everyone.

"Option Up!" runs on the second Sunday monthly at Stage 773 in The Box Theater, 1225 W. Belmont in Chicago. For tickets or information, call 773-327-5252 or visit www.stage773.com.