CHICAGO FOLKS OPERETTA brings Kurt Weill's and Paul Green's rarely heard anti-war parody JOHNNY JOHNSON to Chicago for its long overdue local premiere.  Gabriel di Gennaro makes his CFO debut in the title role JOHNNY JOHNSON.  He will be joined by Lyric Opera of Chicago's Robert Morrissey and  Christine Steyer. CSO's Mary Lutz-Govertsen will be making her company debut along with  Kaitlin Galetti, William Dwyer, Maxwell Seifert, Jonathan Zeng, Teaira Burge, Joshua L. Smith, Robert Nunez, and Dennis Kalup.  CFO veterans Nich Radcliffe, Erica Maureen Wilens and Joseph Frantzen will return to the CFO stage.

The 15-piece CFO orchestra  will be led by Maestro Anthony Barrese (CFO Music Director).

JOHNNY JOHNSON will be directed by George Cederquist in his company debut.  Joining George in their company debuts will be Eric Luchen (set designer) , Shanna Philipson (costume designer), and C. Elias Nelson (Stage MGR.).  CFO veterans Erik Barry (lighting designer) and Josh Prisching (technical director) round out the outstanding production team.

OPERETTA AND THE GREAT WAR- Our long awaited concert on the unique role that Operetta played as a vehicle for the propaganda of nations.  Don't miss this special two night performance as we re-discover the shows that didn't make it "across the pond." This extraordinary show will feature a narrator, images of the war, and the work of visual artists who were affected by the war. Four  singers and a pianist perform selections of the music of Emmerich Kálmán, Leo Fall, Edmund Eysler, Ivor Novello, H. Fraser-Stimson, Henri Christine and Charles LeCoque.