Marriott Theatre In Lincolnshire Celebrating 40 Years
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A suburban theater is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Like the song from its current production, "La Cage Aux Folles," for the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, the best of times is now.
Executive producer Terry James said the Marriott is the Chicago area's longest-running and most subscribed musical theater. It began in 1975 when the Marriott corporation wanted to buy the land for a resort.
"Tony DeSantis, who was really one of the patriarchs of Chicago theater, really invented suburban musical theater; and he owned the land, and Mr. Marriott wanted to build a resort and Tony said, 'You can build a resort but, you have to have a theater,'" James said.
Now 40 years old, the Marriott not only stages time-tested shows, but originates its own work, such as an upcoming musical adaptation of the film "October Sky."