BoHo Theatre Announces Directors for 2019 Season

BoHo Theatre announces the directors for its upcoming 2019 season, its first as a resident theatre at the Greenhouse Theater Center in Lincoln Park. BoHo is focused on bringing people together through an eclectic mix of musicals, dramas, and classic plays, inspiring its community to make caring, thoughtful relationships the highest priority.

BRIGHT STAR

Music, lyrics, and book by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell
Directed and choreographed by Ericka Mac
March 16 - May 5, 2019 at the Greenhouse Theater Center

BoHo Theatre's spring production of the new bluegrass-inspired musical BRIGHT STAR will be directed and choreographed by Ericka Mac. 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.

"For me, BRIGHT STAR is about how unconditional love and hope can overcome obstacles," says Mac. "How forgiveness can redeem a person/situation and create miracles." Similar to many recent BoHo productions, the music will be fully integrated into the storytelling by having actors play instruments to create a seamless, up-close musical experience.

Ericka Mac's 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). As a performer, Mac has been seen onstage at The Rosemont Theatre , The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare, Writer's Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Theatre at the Center, and Peninsula Players Theatre.

THE RIVER
By Jez Butterworth
Directed by Jerrell L. Henderson
June 8 - July 28, 2019 at the Greenhouse Theater Center

The second production of BoHo's 15th season, the haunting and complex new play THE RIVER, will be directed by Jerrell L. Henderson. Part thriller, part ghost story, this haunting play is a poignant tale of love, loss, and the cycles of pain inflicted over and over. "The characters in THE RIVER wrestle with the question of whether achieving or attaining love, actual love, is even possible," remarks Henderson. "The play's themes are eternal, universal, subtly epic, and devilishly playful. I can't wait to share this play with our community!"

Jerrell Henderson's recent directing credits include THE DARK AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS (Eclipse Theatre), SALT PEPPER KETCHUP (Passage Theatre and InterAct Theatre), RED SUMMER: A NEW AMERICAN PLAY WITH MUSIC and Andy White (IMPAACT Theatre & Fleetwood-Jordain Theatre), and THE FREAKS OF MERCY (Chicago Dramatists: The Saturday Series). Upcoming productions include UNTITLED with Inis Nua Theatre and SOMETHING LIKE A WAR with 11th Hour Theatre. As an assistant director, Henderson has worked with Victory Gardens Theater, The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, and Lookingglass Theatre. As an educator, he has taught and directed at several institutions including Illinois State University, Northwestern University, The University of the Arts, and Actor's Training Center. He received a BA in Theatre Arts from The Pennsylvania State University, an MFA in Directing from Northwestern University, is a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, and a member of Victory Gardens Directors Inclusion Initiative, 2017-2018.

BIG FISH

Music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, Book by John August
Directed by BoHo Artistic Director Stephen Schellhardt
September 28 - November 17, 2019 at the Greenhouse Theater Center

BoHo closes out its 2019 season with the larger-than-life musical BIG FISH directed by Artistic Director Stephen Schellhardt. Schellhardt previously earned acclaim with BoHo directing URINETOWN and choreographing DOGFIGHT. "This is a wonderful story about legacy, family secrets, and the bond between a father and son," says Schellhardt. "It emphasizes the enormous dreams we can create for ourselves and the realities we must face when those dreams don't turn out the way we envisioned."

BoHo is excited to introduce its audience to a new scaled-down and intimate version of the musical, written for just 12 actors. "When I look at a big musical like BIG FISH, I see an opportunity to make this show different than it's been done before," says Schellhardt. "I hope to bring our audiences a more earnest, raw, and intimate rendition of this story without losing the magic."

Stephen Schellhardt has been acting, directing, choreographing, producing, casting and teaching professionally for over a decade. He has appeared in numerous Equity productions in Chicago-area and regional theatres, receiving three Equity Jeff Award nominations, a Barrymore Award for acting, and Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations for directing URINETOWN and choreographing DOGFIGHT for BoHo. In Chicago, Stephen has worked with the Marriott Theater, Writers Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Mercury Theater Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, About Face Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Chicago's Lyric Opera, The Goodman Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, and the Ravinia Festival.

National Tours include ALTAR BOYZ. Stephen has also directed/choreographed at Porchlight Music Theatre, About Face Theatre, Writers Theatre, Timberlake Playhouse, The Summer Theatre of New Canaan, Ars Nova in New York City, The Casino Club Chicago, and Northwestern University. He is a founding member of the Chicago Artists Chorale, a Casting Associate at About Face Theatre, and most recently served as the Associate Producer and Casting Director for Writers Theatre in Glencoe. Currently, Stephen spends most of his time in Evanston where he is a full-time lecturer of musical theatre at Northwestern University and director of the annual WAA-MU SHOW. He is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University's Drama School and a proud member of Actors Equity.

Season Memberships On Sale Now

BoHo Memberships are unique subscription packages that allow for flexibility in choosing productions and dates, as well as reserved seating and invitations to exclusive events. Membership packages for BoHo's 2019 season are on sale now at www.BoHoTheatre.com or (866) 811-4111.

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