City Lit Theatre Presents THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, 11/27-1/3

The second production of City Lit Theaters thirtieth anniversary 2009-2010 season, Kenneth Grahames classic novel for all ages The Wind in the Willows, in a musical adaptation by playwright and composer Douglas Post, will begin previews at City Lit Theater on Friday, November 27, 2009 and open for the press on Tuesday, December 1. The production, directed by Post, runs through Sunday, January 3, 2010.

The Wind in the Willows centers on the exploits of Mr. Toad, an amphibian obsessed with motor cars, and his steadfast friends Rat, Mole and Badger, who attempt to break him of his terrible habit. It also concerns a class struggle in the Wildwood between these creatures and the weasels, ferrets, and stoats.

Post uses story theater techniques to preserve pieces of Grahames narrative, humor to heighten the absurdity of an animal community that carries on like Edwardian gentlemen, and an eclectic score made up of rock, reggae, tin-pan alley, spirituals, and a Gilbert and Sullivan send-up. Posts adaptation received its world premiere at the old Organic Lab Theater in Chicago in 1985, and had Chicago revivals in 1986 and 1989. Since then, it has received over 200 productions around the world. In the U.S. it has been produced at Theater Off Park in New York, The Cleveland Play House, Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities in Colorado, and Lambs Players Theatre in California. It has also been produced in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and, most recently, Shanghai, China. It has not been seen in Chicago for twenty years. The Wind in the Willows begins previews on Friday, November 27, 2009, and runs through Sunday, January 3, 2010. Press opening is Tuesday, December 1, 2009, at 7:00 pm.

The cast for The Wind in the Willows is Jessica Anne Cook, Anthony Di Pisa, BJ Englehardt, Harmony France, Jennifer T. Grubb, Michael Herschberg, Megan Keach, Edward Kuffert, Katie Mack, Annie Passanisi, Ed Rutherford, Thomas M. Shea, and Jeremy Trager. The musical arrangements are by Kevin O'Donnell, vocal direction and additional vocal arrangements by Andra Velis Simon. The show's choreography is by Brenda Didier. The designers are Matthew Cummings (props), Alan Donahue (set), Sarah Hughey (lighting), and Ricky Lurie (costumes).

The Wind in the Willows performs Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 3:00 pm. There are also three Thursday performances, December 17, 24 and 31 at 8:00 pm. There is no show Friday, December 25.

Tickets range in price from $18-$25 and can be purchased by calling 773-293-3682 or online via www.brownpapertickets.com.

City Lit Theater is located in the historic Edgewater Presbyterian Church building at 1020 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, one block west of Sheridan Road and a block and a half east of the Bryn Mawr Red Line L stop. The 84 Peterson bus, the 147 Lake Shore Express bus, and the 151 Sheridan bus all stop near City Lit. Valet parking and discounted self-parking are available for theatre customers.

City Lit specializes in literate theatre, including stage adaptations of literary material. Its 30th Anniversary Season is funded in part by the Alphawood Foundation; the Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development; the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; the City of Chicago Office of Cultural Affairs CityArts program; the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; and a passel of individual donors.

 

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