Northlight Theatre Presents Chicago Premiere Of THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES 9/17-10/25

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, opens its 35th Season with the hit musical The Marvelous Wonderettes, written and directed by Roger Bean with music direction by Brian Baker and choreography by Janet Miller. The Chicago premiere runs September 17-October 25, 2009, at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

When the entertainment doesn't show up for the Class of 1958 prom, The Wonderettes step in to save the day. Between belting out 50s and 60s favorites like "It's My Party," "Mr. Sandman" and "Dream Lover," the girls trade gossip about high school hijinks and teenage romance as they vie for the title of Prom "Queen of Your Dreams." This nostalgic pop musical is currently one of the biggest hits off-Broadway.

"To commemorate Northlight's 35th Anniversary, we are throwing a bit of a party to kick-off the season," says BJ Jones. "Northlight's loyal audience is certainly a secret to our success and we wanted a production that involved them, something that offered a joyous and ebullient reminiscence, and The Marvelous Wonderettes is certainly all of that."

Writer and director Roger Bean, who was inspired by his mother (a varsity song leader and a member of a singing trio), adds, "I didn't want a songbook featuring the music of only one band, group, or composer, but a full scrapbook of musical memories that people would recognize from their youth. I wanted to take people back to a time when our hopes and dreams were wide-eyed and just a little bit simpler."

The all-Chicago cast includes Cat Davis (Suzy), Dina DiCostanzo (Cindy Lou), Laura Taylor (Missy) and Tempe Thomas (Betty Jean).

The designers are Michael Carnahan (Set Design), Bobby Pearce (Costume Design), Jeremy Pivnick (Lighting Design) and Cecil Averett (Lighting Design). The stage manager is Rose Marie Packer.

Roger Bean (Writer/Director) created and directed the original Milwaukee Rep, Laguna Playhouse, Los Angeles and New York productions of The Marvelous Wonderettes. He received two Los Angeles Ovation Award nominations for Best Director of a Musical for both The Marvelous Wonderettes and Winter Wonderettes, and The Marvelous Wonderettes received the 2007 Los Angeles Ovation Award for Best Musical. In New York City The Marvelous Wonderettes received a 2009 Drama League award nomination for Distinguished Production of a Musical as well as a Broadway.com Audience Award nomination for Favorite New Off-Broadway Musical. Other musicals and revues created by Bean, commissioned and premiered at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, include The Andrews Brothers (Musical Theatre West, Fullerton CLO, Cabaret Oldtown, Cabrillo Music Theatre); Route 66 (Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Phoenix Theatre, Moonlight Avo Playhouse, Oregon Cabaret, Art Station Theatre); Why Do Fools Fall In Love? (Rocky Mountain Repertory, Venice Little Theatre); Life Could Be A Dream (Majestic Theatre, Texas Family Musicals); and the holiday sequel to this show: Winter Wonderettes (Delaware Theatre Company, Laguna Playhouse, Water Tower Theatre, Great Plains Theatre Festival, El Portal Theatre). He has directed for the Delaware Theatre Co., Laguna Playhouse, Utah Shakespearean Festival, Milwaukee Rep, Madison Rep, Florida Studio, Oregon Cabaret, Skylight Opera, and numerous stages in-between. Visit www.rogerbean.com or www.steelespring.com for more about Bean and his other musicals.

Cat Davis (Suzy) Chicago area appearances include: Gabriella in High School Musical (Marriott Theatre), Much Ado Bout Nothin' and How Can You Run with a Shell On Your Back? (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Adela in Bernarda Alba: The Musical (Boho Rep), Edwin Drood in Mystery of Edwin Drood (Noble Fool), Mabel in Mack and Mabel (Circle Theatre - Jeff Citation Award, Actress in a Principal Role), and Gina in Kama Sutra: The Musical (Royal George).

Dina DiCostanzo (Cindy Lou) has been seen on stage in and around Chicago as Maria Elena in Buddy:The Buddy Holly Story, The Mistress in Evita, and Miss Benson in Of Thee I Sing (Drury Lane Oakbrook); Buddy:The Buddy Holly Story and Flaemmchen in Grand Hotel (Jeff Nomination-Drury Lane Water Tower); Janet in Rocky Horror Show Live! (Mercury Theatre); Brooke in Water Coolers (Lakeshore Theatre); Jemima/Jennyanydots in Cats, Frenchy in Grease, and Mary Kenney in Do Black Patent Leather... (Theatre At The Center); and God and Country (Victory Gardens).

Laura Taylor (Missy) has appeared in national tours of Beauty and the Beast, Oklahoma! and Clifford, LIVE! Local credits include The Producers (Theatre at the Center); Sweet Charity (Drury Lane Oakbrook); and Nunsense, The Producers and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Marriott Theatre). Laura appeared in the Kennedy Center production of Mame and in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

Tempe Thomas (Betty Jean) last appeared at Northlight as Little Edie in Grey Gardens. Favorite roles include Marty in Grease and Estelle in Full Monty (Marriott Theatre), Maria Elena in The Buddy Holly Story (Drury Lane Oakbrook and Water Tower), Percy in Spitfire Grill (Provision Theatre), and Brooke in Water Coolers (Lakeshore Theatre, Riverfront Theatre). She has toured with Classical Kids Live and appeared in the New York Music Theatre Festival production of River's End (TAM Award Winner).

Tickets for The Marvelous Wonderettes, $39- $54, are available by phone, 847.673.6300, or online at northlight.org. Young Adult tickets (25 and Under) are $10 (one per person with valid ID). Tickets for the opening night performance and post-show reception with the cast on Sunday, September 27, are $75.

The Box Office is located at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Boulevard, in Skokie. Box Office hours are Monday-Friday 10:00am- 6:00pm, and Saturdays 12:00pm-5:00pm. On performance days, the box office hours are extended through showtime. The Box Office is closed on Sundays, except on performance days when it is open two hours prior to showtime.

Curtain times are: Tuesdays at 7:30pm (except September 22, October 6 and 13); Wednesdays at 1:00pm and 7:30pm; Thursdays at 7:30pm; Fridays at 8:00pm; Saturdays at 2:30pm (except September 19) and 8:00pm; Sundays at 2:30pm and 7:00pm (except September 27, October 4 and 25).

Northlight is supported in part by generous contributions from The Allyn Foundation; the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; ComEd, An Exelon Company; Ernst & Young; First Bank & Trust of Evanston; Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; Kirkland & Ellis Foundation; The Lehman Family American Experience Series; The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; McKinsey & Company; National Endowment for the Arts; The Pauls Foundation; Sanborn Family Foundation; Dr. Scholl Foundation; The Shubert Foundation; the Skokie Fine Arts Commission; the Sullivan Family Foundation; The Chicago Community Trust; and Tom Stringer Design Partners.

Northlight begins its 35th season in 2009-2010 as one of the largest non-profit theatres in Chicago. Dedicated to enhancing the cultural life of the North Shore and Chicago, Northlight presents theatrical works which reflect and challenge the values and beliefs of the community it serves while continuing to grow its reputation for launching world premieres, new musicals, classic plays and intelligent dramas.

In its 35-year history, the organization has mounted over 160 productions, including over 33 world premieres, and garnered 140 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations and 27 Awards. As one of the area's premier theatre companies, Northlight is a regional magnet for critical and professional acclaim, as well as talent of the highest quality.

For more information on The Marvelous Wonderettes and Northlight Theatre, visit northlight.org.

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