The Regal and Gospel: Two Chicago Institutions Join Forces March 27

From its opening in 1928 through the late 1960s, Chicago’s Regal Theatre – then located at 47th and Parkway (King Drive) – was a nationally-recognized entertainment showplace.

All the greats in jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, doo wop, blues and soul played the Regal. In the 1930s, you could hear Duke Ellington and maybe catch a glimpse of boxing champ Joe Louis and his wife Marva in the crowd.

During the same period, Chicago’s south side also teemed with the sounds of the new, rhythmic gospel music. Joyful singing emanated from churches large and small, high school auditoriums, from radio and records, and eventually made its way on television.

On March 27, 2010, the twain shall meet.

That is when “ChiTown Tonight: The Gospel Hour Series” debuts at the Regal Theater, now located at 1645 East 79th Street.

Headliners will be Minister Donald “Buster” Woods & G3, Kenny Lewis & One Voice, and Leanne Faine. The evening’s host will be Larry Tabron; the lovely Yvonne Wesley will serve as co-host.

Rick McCoy, the Regal’s general manager, wanted to do something new and exciting with gospel music. He brought the concept to the theater’s event director, Andrew Griffin. Griffin knew a thing or two about gospel, having previously served as artist manager for Angela Spivey and Jennifer Hudson. McCoy and Griffin pulled together a team to organize a monthly gospel series at the Regal that would feature Chicago artists. March 27 is the series debut.

Project manager Wanda Ewing, president of WE Management, told TBGB that ChiTown Tonight is a chance to fuse the rich history of the Regal Theatre with the music birthed on the south side during the 1920s and 1930s.

“Chicago gospel music is very much alive,” Ewing said. “People have passion for the ministry and the music. We want to show that Chicago is still one of the greatest cities for gospel music and that the city has some of the most talented gospel singers in the world.”

The first half of ChiTown Tonight will showcase local choirs and feature the explosive singer Min. Tim White. The second half will belong to headliners Woods, Lewis and Faine.

“Gospel and the Regal is an awesome marriage that we can celebrate for years to come,” noted Ewing. “It is something we can hand over to the next generation.”

For more information on ChiTown Tonight: The Gospel Hour Series, contact Wanda Ewing at (708) 945-5368.

Tickets are available at the following locations:

The Regal Theater
1645 East 79th Street
Chicago, IL
(773) 768-9900

Pentecostal Word Explosion
7900 South Prairie
Chicago, IL
(773) 783-6441

New Sound Gospel
10723 South Halsted
Chicago, IL
(773) 785-8001