Drury Lane Theatre Presents Best Buddies & Buddy Holly B-day

 
Best Buddies Illinois will join the cast of Drury Lane Water Tower's production with cake and meet and greet after the show September 10
 
Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place will pair up with the Best Buddies of Illinois organization to celebrate the anniversary of the birthday of popular singer and songwriter Buddy Holly on September 10th, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.  Following the performance of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Best Buddies Illinois will join the cast for a meet and greet and to help Justin Berkobien, who stars as "Buddy" blow out the candles on his birthday cake. The mission of Best Buddies is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-on-one friendships and integrated employment. This performance is also open to the public.  Tickets may be purchased by calling the Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Box Office at 312.642.2000 or at www.ticketmaster.com.
 
The most successful rock 'n' roll musical of all time, playing to over 20 million delirious fans, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, will be presented at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut Street Chicago, IL 60611. Following its sold out run at Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace, the production will preview September 10 and run through November 2. First seen in London's West End in 1989, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, has since toured the world and continues to prove how irresistible Buddy Holly's songs and style still remain today.  Directed by Tammy Mader with Musical Direction and Re-Orchestrations by Malcolm Ruhl, Justin Berkobien will star as Buddy Holly.
 
Critics and audiences alike have raved about Drury Lane's electric production, starring Justin Berkobien as "Buddy Holly". 
 
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story is a rock 'n' roll journey through the life of the legendary singer/songwriter Buddy Holly, who shot to stardom in 1957, only to be tragically killed in a plane crash two years later on the day legend says "the music died."  Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story features a score full of over twenty classic toe-tapping tunes from Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens including "Peggy Sue," "That'll Be the Day," "La Bamba" and "Chantilly Lace". From his first recording contract and move to New York to his fatal tour of Midwest America, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story explains how, in just three short years, he changed the face of popular music forever.
 
Executive Producer Kyle DeSantis is excited to follow the tradition that his grandfather, Anthony DeSantis, started, staging successful productions at multiple Drury Lane locations. "We are a creative family that has a deep appreciation and passion for the arts", said DeSantis, "Our goal is to support the local arts by producing great musicals that employ local actors, designers and musicians."
 
Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place features an intimate 549-seat performance space and spacious lobby. Presenting contemporary plays and musicals as well as classics from Broadway and beyond, Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place is under the leadership of Producers Kyle DeSantis and Jim Jensen, Artistic Director William Osetek and Artistic Advisor Gary Griffin.
 
Previews are Wednesday, September 10 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. ($40.00), Thursday, September 11 at 7:30 p.m. ($40.00), Friday, September 12 at 8:00 p.m. ($50.00), Saturday, September 13 at 2:00 p.m. ($50.00), and 8:00 p.m. ($50.00), and Sunday, September 14 at 2:00 p.m. ($50.00), and 6:00 p.m. ($40.00).  The regular schedule for all shows is Wednesday matinees at 2:00 p.m. ($45.00), Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. ($45.00), Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. ($45.00), Fridays at 8:00 p.m. ($55.00), Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. ($55.00), and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. ($55.00) and 6:00 p.m. ($45.00).  Dinner packages are available at various popular Chicago restaurants in close proximity to the theater. Discount parking rates are available at nearby garages starting as low as $10; for details visit www.drurylanewatertower.com.  Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place is located at 175 E. Chestnut Street Chicago, IL 60611. Discounts for groups of 15 or more are available. Individual tickets may be purchased at the Box Office (175 E. Chestnut Street), by calling 312.642.2000 or at www.ticketmaster.com.