Photo Flash: First Look at Chance Theater's LYSISTRATA JONES

Chance Theater presents the first show of its 16th Anniversary Season - the hilarious modern musical adaptation of Aristophanes' classic comedy, Lysistrata Jones, with music by Tony Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane, music and lyrics by Lewis Flinn, and direction by Kari Hayter. Lysistrata Jones will preview through February 14, open February 15 and continue through March 9 at the new Chance Theater. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action!

Lysistrata Jones moves the classic comedy from Ancient Greece to Athens University, which is in the midst of a thirty-year losing streak. So Lyssie J. and her girl-power posse won't "give it up" to their basketball-playing boyfriends until they win a game. The hilarious dialogue and upbeat score from five-time Tony nominated playwright Douglas Carter Beane and Lewis Flinn is an electric combination of Mean Girls, Glee and Pitch Perfect.

The production quickly moved to Broadway in November 2011, where it only had 34 previews and 30 regular performances before closing in January 2012. According to Playbill, "The usually powerful chief critic of the New York Times raved about it downtown and uptown, penning a genuine 'money' review for its commercial transfer, but, ultimately, there was not enough box-office interest to support the starless musical." The short Broadway run, however, was long enough for the Tony's to take notice, nominating the show for Best Book. The Off-Broadway production was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Best Book.

Lysistrata Jones features Choreography by Chance resident artist Kelly Todd (Ovation & LADCC Award nominee for Triassic Parq - The Musical, Jerry Springer: The Opera, and HAIR), Music Direction by Rod Bagheri, Scenic Design by Resident Artist Christopher Scott Murillo (Ovation Award nominee for HAIR), Lighting Design by Matt Schleicher (Ovation Award nominee for Triassic Parq), Sound Design by Ryan Brodkin, Costume Design by Bradley Lock, Props Design by Daniel Bravo, and Dramaturgy by Sarah DuVal.

The production will feature Devon Hadsell, J.D. Driskill, Camryn Zelinger (Ovation Award nominee for Triassic Parq), Ashley Arlene Nelson, Robert Wallace, Klarissa Mesee, Chelsea Baldree, Danielle Rosario, resident artist Jackson Tobiska, Darian Archie, Michael Dashefsky and Ricky Wagner.

The Associate Producer for Chance Theater's production of Lysistrata Jones is Mary Kay Fyda-Mar.

Photo Credit: Thamer Bajjali, True Image Studio (unless otherwise specified)

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