The 2012 — 2013 Season Includes the Mainstage Production of The Pajama Game, Musicals in Concerts and Artists in Concert
HIGHLAND PARK — Jessica Redish, founding artistic director of The Music Theatre Company (TMTC), Highland Park's Equity theatre, 1850 Green Bay Road, is proud to announce the company's fifth season. The 2012-2013 season features the mainstage production, in spring 2013, of the Tony Award-winning The Pajama Game, directed by Jess McLeod and choreographed by Founding Artistic Director Jessica Redish, three Musicals in Concert and five Artists in Concert. Season subscriptions for the Musicals in Concert series and single tickets for the 2012 — 2013 season are on sale now. To purchase subscriptions, single tickets or for more information call The Music Theatre Company at 847.579.4900 or visit www.themusictheatrecompany.org .
The Music Theatre Company's 2012-2013 season includes (full details follow):
Mainstage
The Pajama Game, April 18 — May 26, 2013
Musicals in Concert Series
Fugitive Songs in Concert, November 2 — November 11
Lucky Stiff in Concert, November 30 — December 9
The Baker's Wife in Concert, February 1 — 10, 2013
Artists in Concert Series
Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael, October 13
Heidi Kettenring in Concert, February 11, 2013
Jess Godwin in Concert with Janelle Kroll, February 23, 2013
Christine Mild in Concert, March 1, 2013
MAINSTAGE
Mainstage presentations are fully-realized productions at The Music Theatre Company. Musicals are given the time and space to be looked at with a fresh view - new life is breathed into existing titles in The Company's intimate 95-seat space.
The Pajama Game
Book by George Abbot and Richard Bissell
Music and Lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
Based on the novel 7 1/2 Cents by Richard Bissell
Directed by Jess McLeod
Choreographed by Founding Artistic Director Jessica Redish
April 18 — May 26, 2013
Previews: Thursday, April 18, Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 21 at 2 p.m.
Opening Night: Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m.
Regular Schedule: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Previews: Tickets $27 for Students with ID and Seniors (60+), $35 General Public;
Regular Run: $32 Students with ID and Seniors (60+), $40 General Public
The multi-award winning The Pajama Game tells the tale of Babe and Sid, who struggle to find love in the midst of a labor dispute and features the unforgettable music of Adler and Ross including "Hey There," "Hernandos's Hideaway" and "Steam Heat." Stripped down to its essence to reveal the heart of its story, The Company's production is a clever, truthful and poignant musical for our times. Directed by Jess McLeod, The Music Theatre Company's Mainstage Musical features choreography by Jeff Nominee and Founding Artistic Director Jessica Redish.
Musicals in Concert
The Musicals in Concert series presents musicals — rare, new or little seen titles — in a concert setting featuring live music and some of Chicago's finest performers. The entire narrative of each musical is performed during the evening.
Fugitive Songs in Concert
Music by Chris Miller
Lyrics by Nathan Tysen
Directed by Jess McLeod
Music Direction by Diana Lawrence
Friday, Nov. 2 — Sunday, Nov. 11
Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets $35
This innovative new song cycle spotlights people on the run while blending traditional folk music with contemporary pop and gospel sounds. TMTC's production features multi-talented artists playing instruments - a new sound for a restless America. The concert features Alan Schmuckler, Andrew Mueller, Sophie Grimm, Patrick Martin and Diana Lawrence.
Lucky Stiff in Concert
Book and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Directed by Jim Beaudry
Music Direction by Kory Danielson
Based on The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo by Michael Butterworth
Friday, Nov. 30 — Sunday, Dec. 9
Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets $35
This rarely produced musical farce is from the authors who brought you Ragtime, Once on This Island and Seussical the Musical. Lucky Stiff is a heart-warming musical of one man's madcap journey to find an inherited fortune on the shores of Monte Carlo.
The Baker's Wife in Concert
Book by Joseph Stein
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Directed by Dominic Missimi
Based on the film La Femme de Boulanger by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono
Friday, Feb. 1 — Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013
Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets $25
From the creator of Wicked, PIPPIN and Godspell, The Baker's Wife boasts a beautiful score featuring songs including "Meadowlark," "Where is the Warmth?" and "Proud Lady." TMTC welcomes Jeff Award-winning Director Dominic Missimi to direct this intimate musical.
Artists in Concert
The Artists in Concert series at TMTC is an opportunity for audiences to experience music from a variety of genres provided by local and nationally-recognized talent during one-night-only performances on The Music Theatre Company's stage.
Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael
Saturday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m.
Tickets $35
Chicago cabaret favorites Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael join TMTC for one night only performing the songs of George Gershwin and Irving Berlin.
Heidi Kettenring in Concert
Monday, Feb. 11 at 8 p.m.
Tickets $35
Chicago audience favorite Heidi Kettenring performs in solo concert at TMTC.
Jess Godwin in Concert with Janelle Kroll
Saturday, Feb. 23 at 8 p.m.
Tickets $25
Girl next door and singer/songwriter Jess Godwin joins TMTC with pop singer/songwriter Janelle Kroll recently of CW's "The Next."
Christine Mild in Concert
Friday, March 1 at 8 p.m.
Tickets $25
Chicago-based actress and singer Christine Mild, direct from the National tour of Nunset Boulevard, brings her powerhouse voice and ukulele tunes to TMTC, performing a mix of pop, folk and musical theatre songs.
ABOUT THE MUSIC THEATRE COMPANY
The Music Theatre Company explores the musical in the interest of expanding the canon of musical theatre through fully-staged productions, commissions of new works and musical experiments.
The Music Theatre Company production history includes: The Jeff-Nominated production of Merrily We Roll Along, PIPPIN, The 9/11 Report: A Bipartisan Musical Fantasia by Michael Mahler & Jessica Redish, Erika's Wall by Sophie Jaff & Kathy Tagg, B.R.A.T.T. Camp by Bobby Cronin, The Last Five Years in Concert, and a variety of readings of new musicals including new titles by Josh Schmidt, David Simpatico and Alan Schmuckler. The Company also annually presents its 48 Hour Musical project every August: four new fifteen-minute musicals written and rehearsed in 48 Hours.
ABOUT FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JESSICA REDISH
Since The Company's founding in 2008, Redish has directed and choreographed Merrily We Roll Along, The 9/11 Report: A Bipartisan Musical Fantasia by Michael Mahler (also conceiver) Erika's Wall and PIPPIN, for which she received a Jeff Nomination for Choreography. Redish also choreographed She Loves Me at Writers' Theatre in Glencoe and will be choreographing Sweet Charity at Writers' in Winter 2013. She recently choreographed RENT at American Theater Company/About Face Theatre directed by David Cromer, as well as Seussical at First Stage in Milwaukee. She served as movement director for the off-Broadway production of Adding Machine directed by Mr. Cromer, and directed and choreographed various productions for the New York Musical Theatre Festival and the NYFringe. She has served as a guest artist at Perry Mansfield, Roosevelt University, Hollins University and Northwestern University, her alma mater, and is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
The Music Theatre Company is located at 1850 Green Bay Road, Highland Park. Season subscriptions for the Musicals in Concert Series and single tickets for the 2012 — 2013 season are on sale now. To purchase subscriptions, single tickets or for more information call The Music Theatre Company at 847.579.4900 or visit www.themusictheatrecompany.org .
The 2012-2013 TMTC Season is partially supported by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.
