'Fiorello!' Extended Through July 20 at TimeLine Theatre

TimeLine Theatre Company Announces Extension
of its Award-Winning Productions of the
Musical Fiorello! – Now Playing Through July 20th

Lyricist Sheldon Harnick praises production for its "breadth and scope."

With the original 9-week run already sold out due to overwhelming ticket demand, TimeLine Theatre Company announces a 5-week extension of its critically acclaimed and award-winning production of Fiorello!, book by Jerome Weidman and George Abbott, music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, directed by Nick Bowling with musical direction by Doug Peck. The play, originally scheduled to close on June 15, will now continue through July 20, 2008, at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago.

Tickets for the extension are available online now at timelinetheatre.com. Sales by phone begin Tuesday, May 27 at 12 pm. by calling 773.281.TIME (8463).

Lyricist Sheldon Harnick, who contributed an all-new "The Name's LaGuardia" reprise for this production, attended opening night and had this to say: "When you write for the theatre, one of life's great pleasures is to see one of your creations come alive as you envisioned it. TimeLine Theatre's Fiorello! has given me that pleasure. The cast is uniformly strong, and under Bowling's astute and detailed direction every last bit of drama, romance and humor has been fully realized. Remarkably, TimeLine's Fiorello! has the breadth and scope of a large production. That this has been accomplished in such a small space is nothing short of astonishing! I am one happy writer."

Performance Schedule

The performance schedule is Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Sunday, July 20, 2008. Note that there will be no performances on Sunday, June 29 and Friday, July 4. Fiorello! runs approximately 2 hours 45 minutes, including one intermission.

Purchasing Tickets

Tickets for extension performances are $32 (Wednesday – Friday) or $42 (Saturday & Sunday). Student tickets for extension performances are $10 off regular price, with valid ID. Group rates for groups of 10 or more are available. Advance purchase is strongly recommended as performances are likely to sell out. To purchase tickets or for more information, call 773.281.TIME (8463) or visit timelinetheatre.com.

About Fiorello!

In May 2006, TimeLine's production of the musical Fiorello! became the fastest-selling show in the company's history and went on to receive four 2007 Joseph Jefferson Citations: Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Direction (Nick Bowling), Outstanding Musical Direction (Doug Peck) and Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role (Terry Hamilton).

Ahead of its time when it premiered in 1959 and often called a neglected masterpiece, Fiorello! is a classic Broadway musical that features heartbreaking ballads ("When Did I Fall in Love"), rousing chorus numbers ("Politics and Poker") and melodic showstoppers ("Little Tin Box") to tell the story of one small, honest man's struggle against corruption in big-city politics. With guts and perseverance, Fiorello H. LaGuardia put a bright, new shine on "The Big Apple" and became one of the most enduring figures of the 20th century. This remount features the entire original design team and much of the original cast, including TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers as the title character.

The cast of Fiorello! features Steve  Best (Ensemble), Rebecca Finnegan (Marie), Terry Hamilton (Ben Marino), Maris Hudson (Dora), Michael Kingston (Morris), Dan Loftus (Ensemble), Donica Lynn (Mitzi/Ensemble), Andy Nagraj (Ensemble), PJ Powers (Fiorello), Andrea Prestinario (Thea), Joe Savino (Ensemble), Alan Schmuckler (Neil), Sara R. Sevigny (Mrs. Pomerantz/ Ensemble), Thomas M. Shea (Ensemble), Vance Smith (Floyd) and Mindy Wetzel (Ensemble). Fiorello! marks TimeLine's first production presented under contract with Actors Equity Association.

The production staff for Fiorello! includes Brandon Magid (Assistant Musical Director), Linda Fortunato (Choreographer), Kevin Hagan (Scenic Design), Lindsey Pate (Costume Design), Keith Parham (Lighting Design), Mike Tutaj (Projections and Sound Design), Julia Eberhardt (Properties Design), Jason Harrington and Brennan Parks (Dramaturgs), John Kearns (Stage Manager), Seth Vermilyea (Production Manager), Monica Dionysiou (Assistant Director/Wardrobe Supervisor), Eva Breneman (Dialect Coach), Michael Smallwood (Technical Director), Julie Wilms (Master Electrician), Joseph Heaton (Assistant Stage Manager), Robert Coleman (Graphic Designer), James Keister (Lobby Display Designer), Lara Goetsch (Director of Marketing and Communications), PJ Powers (Artistic Director) and Elizabeth K. Auman (Managing Director).

Location/Transportation/Parking/Accessibility

TimeLine Theatre is located at 615 W. Wellington Ave., inside the Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ building, near the corner of Wellington and Broadway in Chicago's Lakeview East neighborhood. The CTA El stop at Belmont (Red/Brown/Purple lines) is nearby. CTA busses #36-Broadway, #76-Diversey, #77-Belmont, #22-Clark and #8-Halsted stop nearby. There is limited street parking, but several paid parking facilities are located nearby. Visit timelinetheatre.com for complete directions and parking information. There are two flights of stairs totaling 18 steps between the street and the theater space, with no elevator.

Audience Resources

Dramaturgical lobby displays, a production Study Guide and other information are available at timelinetheatre.com.

Sponsors

TimeLine's 2007-08 season is sponsored in part by Humana, Inc.

Also Playing

Opposite Fiorello!, TimeLine is also presenting Trumbo: Red, White and Blacklisted, by Christopher Trumbo, directed by Louis Contey and starring Tony Award nominee Howard Witt with TimeLine Company member David Parkes. Trumbo continues through June 2, 2008, with performances on Sundays and Mondays at 7 p.m., at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago. Tickets are $15. To purchase tickets, call 773.281.8463 or visit timelinetheatre.com.

About TimeLine Theatre Company

TimeLine was founded in April 1997 by six graduates of The Theatre School at DePaul University. The company's mission is to present stories inspired by history that connect with today's social and political issues. TimeLine's first 10 seasons featured 30 productions, including five world premieres and seven Chicago premieres. Recipient of the 2006 Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence, TimeLine has received 36 Joseph Jefferson Citations, including a Citation for Outstanding Production six of the past seven years: Not About Nightingales (2001); The Crucible (2002), Awake and Sing! (2003), Hannah and Martin (2004), This Happy Breed (2005) and Fiorello! (2007).

Company members are Nick Bowling, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Lara Goetsch, Juliet Hart, David Parkes, Maureen Powers, PJ Powers and Benjamin Thiem. TimeLine is a member of the League of Chicago Theatres, Theatre Communications Group and the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce.


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