HIGH FIDELITY...THE MUSICAL Makes Chicago Premiere at Route 66 Theatre, Begins Previews 8/8

After 17 years, Tony n' Tina are heading on their honeymoon. The Route 66 Theatre Company will present the Chicago premiere of HIGH FIDELITY...THE MUSICAL, in its first major production since its Broadway run in 2006. The show will preview tonight August 8, 2009; open Monday, August 17 at 7 p.m.; and run through October 4, 2009 at the Tony n' Tina's Wedding space at Pipers Alley Theater, 1608 N. Wells Street. Part rock concert and part offbeat romantic comedy, HIGH FIDELITY...THE MUSICAL is the fourth production from Chicago's newest Equity theatre company.

HIGH FIDELITY...THE MUSICAL is based on the 2000 film starring John Cusack. Originally a 1995 British novel by Nick Hornby, HIGH FIDELITY has become a cult classic around the world. The show features music by recent Tony Award winner Tom Kitt and Amanda Green and a book written by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire.

HIGH FIDELITY...THE MUSICAL follows Rob, the thirty-something owner of Championship Vinyl, a beloved Chicago record store. When his current relationship with girlfriend Laura goes south, Rob enlists the help of his two quirky clerks to expound on the intricacies of life and music while revisiting his former relationships to find out where he went wrong.

The Route 66 Theatre Company presents a "Flight of the Conchords" approach to the show, featuring the talents of Michael Mahler and Jonathan Wagner as "Dick" and "Barry" who will double as an onstage band with Derek Hasenstab (as T.M.P.M.I.T.W) and Jim Barclay on the drums. HIGH FIDELITY...THE MUSICAL also stars Jeff Award-winning actor and Route 66 Theatre Company Artistic Director Stef Tovar as Rob. The Pipers Alley Theater setting provides patrons with an intimate bar atmosphere to enjoy this Chicago premiere event.

Directed and choreographed by Peter Amster and with musical direction by Diana Lawrence, HIGH FIDELITY...THE MUSICAL features an all-star cast of Equity and non-Equity talent with Dana Tretta as Liz, Tricia Small as Laura, Michael Weber as Ian, Christin Boulette as Marie LaSalle/Sarah Kendrew, Blair Robertson as Alison Ashworth/Anna, Katie Jeep as Jackie Allen, Maggie Chambers as Charlie Nicholson, Kelli Maier as Penny Hardwick/Backup Singer and Kevin Crowley and Ian Paul Custer as Mohawk Guy and Futon Guy, respectively.

Angie Weber Miller heads the design team responsible for the transformation of the space with scenic design, Jesse Klug is the lighting designer and Toy Delorio is the sound designer. Ricky Lurie is the costume designer, Bobby Richards is the projections designer and the stage manager is Cori Kabat.

Peter Amster (Director) has directed and choreographed productions for most of the Chicago area's professional theatres and opera companies. He was nominated for Joseph Jefferson Awards for his direction of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE at Northlight Theatre, and for ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, THE ROTHSCHILDS and THE WORLD GOES ROUND, all for Apple Tree Theatre. He also directed M BUTTERFLYfor Apple Tree, as well as PRIDE THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP, ENTER THE GUARDSMAN, and the Jeff-winning production of MASTER CLASS for Northlight Theatre, the midwest premier of SHLEMIEL THE FIRST at Pegasus Players, and BLIND TASTING and ESCAPE for Live Bait. He has been a regular guest director at the prestigious Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where he directed TARTUFFE, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, TWELFTH NIGHT, THE ROYAL FAMILY, PRESENT LAUGHTER, IDIOT'S DELIGHT and ENTER THE GUARDSMAN, and at Indiana Repertory Theatre, where he directed SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE FINAL ADVENTURE, THE FANTASTICKS,OUR TOWN,THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA, DRIVING MISS DAISY, PRIDE & PREJUDICE, ARCADIA, STATE OF THE UNION, ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS, THE GIFTS OF THEMAGI, SHE LOVES ME and TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. He directed LONDON ASSURANCE at American Players Theatre in Spring Green and MASTER CLASS and BORN YESTERDAY at Peninsula Players in Door County. His long association with Lyric Opera of Chicago includes direction of DIE FLEDERMAUS, LA TRAVIATA, LA CENERENTOLA, and THE MAGIC FLUTE for the Opera Center, and choreography of THE VOYAGE OF Edgar Allan POE, DON QUIXOTTE and LA TRAVIATA for the main stage. He directed the first major revival of LADY IN THE DARK for Light Opera Works, as well as LA BELLE HELENE, H.M.S. PINAFORE, and DIE FLEDERMAUS. For Skylight Opera in Milwaukee he directed THE MIKADO, SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM and IRMA LA DOUCE; for Chicago Opera Theatre COSI FAN TUTTE and ELIXIR OF LOVE; and for DuPage Opera CARMEN, THE MAGIC FLUTE, THE MERRY WIDOW and TOSCA. Mr. Amster's choreography credits include THE GRAPES OF WRATH for Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, LaJolla, London and Broadway; FOUR SAINTS IN THREE ACTS and THE MOTHER OF US ALL for Chicago Opera Theatre; THE WINTER'S TALE, SHE ALWAYS SAID PABLO and THE GOOD PERSON OF SETZUAN for the Goodman Theatre, all directed by Frank Galati. He has taught theatre, opera and performance studies at Northwestern University, CalArts, LSU, Columbia College and Roosevelt University.

Stef Tovar (Artistic Director and "Rob") is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Route 66 Theatre Company, where he starred along with Johnny Clark in the critically acclaimed and Jeff Award Recommended ON AN AVERAGE DAY by John Kolvenbach. Stef currently can be seen as Kenneth Tally in FIFTH OF JULY with the Oak Park Festival Theatre and has been back in Chicago since 2006. His recent credits include Knute Rockne in KNUTE ROCKNE: ALL AMERICAN at Theatre at the Center; Marty in the world premiere of Lisa Dilman's HALF OF PLENTY, George in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: THE RADIO PLAY and Michael in I DO! I DO! alongside Heidi Kettenring. Some of Stef's other Chicago credits include Dobbit in BELOW THE BELT (After Dark Award), Raff in A STONECARVER, Macheath in THE THREEPENNY OPERA, Michael Fitzsimmons in the world premiere of PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED the musical at Marriott Lincolnshire; Mike Depki in DO PATENT LEATHER SHOES...? at the Marriott and Candlelight; Studs Turkel's THE GOOD WAR at Northlight; Czolgosz in ASSASSINS, Valentin in KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN and Vinal in BLADE TO THE HEAT-all directed by Gary Griffin for Apple Tree, the latter of which earned Stef a Jeff Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Play. In Los Angeles in addition to critically acclaimed, sold out run of ON AN AVERAGE DAY, Stef's LA credits include Jamie in the LA premiere of THE LAST FIVE YEARS, George in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (Ovation nomination), Homer in FLOYD COLLINS, Kip in WONDER OF THE WORLD, Che in EVITA and Rudy in WRONG FOR EACH OTHER. On Television: JUDGING AMY, films such as EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH (directed by Mitch Rouse) THE GYMNAST (directed by Ned Farr) and numerous television commercials for products such as Nexium, Travelocity, Walgreens, Midwest Airlines & AT&T. He currently splits his time between Chicago and Los Angeles.

About The Route 66 Theatre Company

Founded in February of 2008, The Route 66 Theatre Company produces theatre that knowingly encounters risk and embraces the American spirit of exploration. Committed to their home base in Chicago where the historic Route 66 began and collaborating with their artists in Los Angeles, Route 66 connects cultural divides by giving life to the vibrant stories that link America together.

The Route 66 Theatre Company is currently running the Jeff-Recommended THE K OF D: an urban legend through July 12, 2009 at A Red Orchid Theatre. Its previous productions include ON AN AVERAGE DAY and I'M SPIRITUAL DAMMIT!

Previews for HIGH FIDELITY will be Thursdays, Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Preview tickets are $25. The press opening is Monday, August 17 at 7 p.m. (tickets are $40 and price includes post-show reception.) The regular schedule is Thursdays, Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets range in price from $29.50-$39.50. For tickets or more information visit www.route66theatre.org or call Pipers Alley Theater at (312) 664-8844.

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