Press Release
CONTACT: John Olson Communications, Press Agent [email protected] • (773) 517-6962
BOHO THEATRE LAUNCHES 15TH SEASON WITH STEVE MARTIN AND EDIE BRICKELL’S “BRIGHT STAR”
CHICAGO (February 6, 2019) – BoHo Theatre begins its 2019 season with BRIGHT STAR, a new musical by playwright Steve Martin and musician Edie Brickell, directed by Ericka Mac. This production marks the company’s first as a resident company at Lincoln Park’s Greenhouse Theater Center and also the first under new artistic director Stephen Schellhardt. BRIGHT STAR was nominated for five Tony Awards and called “a shining achievement” by The New York Times. It received a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music and Outer Critics Circles Awards for Outstanding New Broadway Musical and Outstanding Score.
LISTING INFORMATION BRIGHT STAR Music, lyrics, and book by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell Directed and choreographed by Ericka Mac Music Direction by Julie B. Nichols March 16 – May 5, 2019 Performing at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago
PERFORMANCE TIMES Previews: Saturday, March 16 @ 8:00pm, Sunday, March 17 @ 2:00pm, Thursday, March 21 @ 8:00pm, and Friday, March 22 @ 8:00pm Press Opening / Opening Night: Saturday, March 23, at 8:00 pm **press invitation to follow Performance run: March 24 – May 5 Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm.
TICKETS General Tickets on sale February 19 at www.BoHoTheatre.com, (773) 975-8150, or the Greenhouse Theater Center box office. Tickets are $25 for previews and $35 for regular performances.
(more)
Stephen Schellhardt Meg Love Mailing Address: P.O. Box 409267, Chicago IL 60640 Artistic Director Executive Director Office: (773) 791-2393 • www.BoHoTheatre.com Press Release
CONTACT: John Olson Communications, Press Agent [email protected] • (773) 517-6962
BoHo Bright Star, Page 2 of 4 THE PLAY BoHo is proud to bring to Chicago this new work from Grammy, Emmy, and Academy Award-winner Steve Martin and Grammy Award-winner Edie Brickell. Inspired by a real event, BRIGHT STAR tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ‘40s. The story follows young writer Billy Cane, recently returned from World War II, and Alice Murphy, the editor who takes a chance on him. As Billy mines his childhood home for engaging stories, Alice sets out to explore the pain and mystery of her own small-town past. The overlapping secrets they uncover lead them a startling and heart-warming connection.
“For me, BRIGHT STAR is about how unconditional love and hope can overcome obstacles,” says director Ericka Mac. “How forgiveness can redeem a person/situation and create miracles.” Similar to many recent BoHo productions, the music in BRIGHT STAR will be fully integrated into the storytelling by having actors play their own instruments to create a seamless, up-close musical experience.
Steve Martin has been a prolific comedian, musician, and writer dating back to the 1960s, when he first came to public notice as a writer for THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS COMEDY HOUR. He began his playwriting career in 1993 with PICASSO AT LAPIN AGILE, and has also written THE UNDERPANTS, and METEOR SHOWER. A life-long banjo-player, he is a frequent collaborator with the bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers.
Edie Brickell is a singer-songwriter who first achieved fame with her band The New Bohemians in the 1980s with the single “What I Am.” She began a successful solo career beginning the in the 1990s and later founded the band The Gaddabouts in 2010. Martin and Brickell collaborated on the bluegrass/folk albums LOVE HAS COME FOR YOU and SO FAMILIAR prior to writing BRIGHT STAR. Their song “Love Has Come For You” won a Grammy Award for Best American Roots Song in 2013.
Ericka Mac is a Chicago-based director and choreographer. Her Chicagoland credits as choreographer/associate director include MAMMA MIA! (Jeff Award nomination for Best Choreography), SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! (Marriott Theatre), SHREW’D (First Folio Theatre), RIDE THE CYCLONE (Chicago Shakespeare, MCC Theatre (Off Broadway), & ACT Theatre (Seattle)), DIARY OF A WIMPY KID (World Premiere at The Children’s Theatre of Minneapolis), PARADE and COMPANY (Writer’s Theatre), WTTW’s NIGHT ON BROADWAY Gala featuring Heather Headley (WTTW/WFMT studios), SEUSSICAL (Drury Lane Oakbrook), MADAGASCAR and THE LITTLE MERMAID (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), ALICE’S ROCK & ROLL ADVENTURE (Chicago Children’s Theatre), and THE POLAR EXPRESS (Warner Bro’s./Rail Events).
(more) Press Release
CONTACT: John Olson Communications, Press Agent [email protected] • (773) 517-6962
BoHo Bright Star, Page 3 of 4
CAST Missy Wise as Alice, Rachel Whyte as Lucy, Josiah Robinson as Jimmy Ray, Dwayne Everett as Daryl, Jeff Pierpoint as Billy, Peter Robel as Daddy Cane Scott Danielson as Mayor Dobbs, John B. Boss as Daddy Murphy Kiersten Frumkin as Margo, Jenny Rudnick as Mama Murphy with Brittany Sue Hines, Max Kramer, Jennifer Ledesma, Kelan Smith, and Mike Weaver as the ensemble.
(more) Press Release
CONTACT: John Olson Communications, Press Agent [email protected] • (773) 517-6962
BoHo Bright Star, Page 4 of 4
PRODUCTION TEAM Produced by Meg Love Scenic Design by Lauren M. Nichols, Lighting Design by G. Max Maxin, Costume Design by Bob Kuhn, Sound Design by Joe Palermo, Properties Design by Lacie Hexom, Assistant Music Director by Andrea Swanson, Production Managed by Lindsay Brown, Stage Managed by Dalton Long.
###
BoHo Theatre tells stories examining and celebrating human relationships — focusing on the Bohemian pillars of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love — using bold, intimate theatrical stagings. Our vision is to create a shared community of artists and patrons in which all members are moved through art to make thoughtful, well-examined, caring relationships the highest priority in their lives.
BoHo’s 2019 mainstage season features BRIGHT STAR by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, directed by Ericka Mac; THE RIVER by Jez Butterworth, directed by Jerrell L. Henderson; and BIG FISH by Andrew Lippa and John August, directed by Stephen Schellhardt. BoHo is a resident company at the Greenhouse Theater Center in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.