Emmy Winner John Markus to Helm Virginia Repertory Theatre's THE FABULOUS LIPITONES

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of The Fabulous Lipitones a new play by John Markus and Mark St. Germain on Friday, September 18 at Hanover Tavern, 13181 Hanover Courthouse Road. The show runs through Sunday, October 25, 2015.

In this hilarious regional premiere, a barbershop quartet loses their lead singer to a heart-stopping high "B-Flat". As they desperately search for a new tenor the typically parochial mid-westerners defy convention to welcome Bob, an Indian, as the unlikely replacement. In a recent interview with Goodspeed Musicals, Markus talked about the show. "Our vision was to celebrate, and yet shake up the cultural comfort zone of these characters, not spoon feed the audience with messages. Our goal is to make an audience laugh at the characters and situations, and that they'll find both to be truthful." Featuring favorite upbeat tunes, this new musical is an uproarious comedy of misunderstanding, stereotypes and the path to perfect harmony.

Virginia Rep is delighted to welcome John Markus as the director of The Fabulous Lipitones. Markus is an Emmy Award-winning writer, television producer, and playwright and is best known for his work as the head writer and co-executive producer for The Cosby Show. He wrote or co-wrote 67 episodes, earning an Emmy, a Peabody back-to-back Humanitas prizes, and a People's Choice award for "The Greatest Sitcom of All Time." Markus also co-created the Cosby spin-off A Different World and produced the Larry Sanders Show on HBO. Markus is thrilled to be in Richmond working on the production. "Hanover Tavern is the perfect home for this show, since the one main standing set is a finished basement where these men have rehearsed for 30 years. I am over-the-moon with the entire cast and the musical comedy talent in Richmond. The three actors playing the surviving Lipitones, are absolutely perfect for their parts and Levin is an accomplished and gifted actor."

Markus is also the creator of the television hit BBQ Pitmasters, which features Richmond's Tuffy Stone as a judge. Stone has won numerous national competitions and locally owns and operates Q Barbecue, Cool Smoke Competition Cooking School and along with his wife Leslie, A Sharper Palate Catering Company. He is the co-owner of the new restaurant, Rancho Ts. Markus and Stone will join forces for a Championship Rib event to benefit the theatre and kick off the new season on September 20 at Legend Brewing. Details below.

Virginia Rep welcomes Levin Valayil in his debut at Virginia Rep. Valayil is an MFA graduate from the Boston Conservatory. Recent roles include Post Boy at Williamstown Theater Festival and Hairspray and It's a Wonderful Life at Wheelock Family Theater. Local favorites Joe Pabst (Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Equivocation, Music Man for Virginia Rep), Ford Flanagan (A Lugs Nuts Christmas, Seussical for Virginia Rep) and Stephen Boschen (Pageant, The Holiday Stops for Richmond Triangle Players) round out the cast.

Direction & Design

Direction
Music Direction Scenic Design Lighting Design Costume Design

Cast List

Bob Howard

John Markus Stephen Rudlin Terrie Powers BJ Wilkinson Sarah Grady

Levin Valayil Steve Boschen

Wally Ford Flanagan Phil Joe Pabst

The Fabulous Lipitones

Ticket Information

Box Office 804-282-2620
www.va-rep.org
Full Price Tickets: $40
Discounted Group Rates and Rush tickets available.
U-Tix for college and high school students $15. Available day of show by phone or in person. Student ID required.

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