Grab a chair

Wonder what Jerry Springer thinks?

After 609 performances in London from April 2003 to February 2005 and a lucrative tour of the United Kingdom, "Jerry Springer: The Opera" has jumped the pond, swum Lake Michigan and is ready for American audiences with its Chicago debut at Bailiwick Repertory in Chicago.

This production, which opens 7 p.m. May 14, is directed by Bailiwick Founder and Artistic Director David Zak and features a nonequity cast.

Described by Zak as "hilarious and heartbreaking," the musical showcases a series of unusual characters who are desperate for their "Jerry Springer moment."

Written by Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee, Zak says the show is "familiar territory."

"Chicago audiences are familiar with Jerry's presence in the NBC towers downtown right here in the city," Zak said.

"In Act 1, Jerry's guest is a man with a fiance, a lover and another lover with a secret. In Act 2, we find Jerry hosting in a very different place and the guests take the level of debate to operatic heights."

Tickets are $30 to $45 and available at www.bailiwick.org or (773) 883-1090.

In 2004, actor David Soul played the part of Springer in the London run, which became notorious for controversy. In fact, when the BBC broadcast the show in January 2005, the airing was said to have generated 55,000 complaints, ranging from charges of blasphemy to outrage about the more than 8,000 uses of profanity.

In 2004, "Daily Variety" reported the show's producers planned to open a Broadway New York run, following a short preview in San Francisco. Backing apparently lacked and the whole idea was shelved, even though both Harvey Keitel and Kevin Kline reportedly had been courted to play Springer.

As for the real Springer, last year, country singer Sara Evans said when she participated in ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," one of the best friends she made was fellow hoofer Springer, 63, who even joined her on stage during her 2006 performance at Star Plaza Theatre to sing a few country tunes.

In March 2006, Springer donated $200,000 to the new Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.

"The generous donation from Jerry Springer will help us create entertaining and educational exhibits and will help us build a truly world-class broadcast museum," said Bruce DuMont, museum founder and president.

Springer, the former mayor of Cincinnati, is a graduate of Tulane University and Northwestern University Law School. He also hosts a daily syndicated radio program on Air America and is a generous donor to many worthy charities.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

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