Porchlight Music Theatre presents THE FANTASTICKS from September 11 through November 15

Porchlight Music Theatre will open its 15th Anniversary 2009-2010 season with the romantic comedy classic The Fantasticks at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 West Belmont. The production begins previews September 11, opens September 13 at 2:30 p.m. and runs through November 15, 2009. Sean Kelly directs the musical, which has been a worldwide phenomenon for almost 50 years.

A timeless and universal fable, The Fantasticks is the quintessential celebration of love in all its gorgeous simplicity and heartbreaking complexity. Two scheming fathers attempt to spark a romance between their teenagers by faking a feud. The fathers enlist the aid of a mysterious stranger to add an unexpected tangle to their matchmaking web. The starry-eyed boy and girl next door fall in love, yearn for the dangerous attractions of the world outside, then opt instead for fulfillment in each other's arms and in hearth and home.

The bewitching comedy is based on the tale Les Romanesques by Edmond Rostand and features music by Harvey Schmidt and a book and lyrics by Tom Jones. Its exhilarating score includes the classic songs "Try to Remember" and "Soon It's Gonna Rain."

The Fantasticks is in the Guinness Book of Records as the World's Longest-Running Musical; its original 1960 off-Broadway production ran a total of 42 years and over 17,000 performances. In 1991, the show received the Tony Award for Excellence in Theater. The Fantasticks has been performed in over 11,000 productions in every U.S. state, and more than 700 productions have been staged in 67 nations around the world.

The Fantasticks cast includes Sean Effinger-Dean (from Porchlight's Candide) as Matt, Dan Ferretti as Hucklebee, Ryan Lanning (Porchlight's Candide) as Bellomy, Tanya McBride as The Mute, Jeff Parker (Jeff Nominated for his performance in Porchlight's Nine) as El Gallo, William Raffeld as Henry-the old actor, Rus Rainear (Porchlight's Gypsy) as Mortimer, and Emma Rosenthal as Luisa.

The artistic team is led by Director Sean Kelly. Musical Direction is by Eugene Dizon, Choreography is by Andrew Waters, Costume Design is by Izumi Inaba, and Scenic Design is by Ian Zywica.

Porchlight Music Theatre is honored to present William Raffeld in The Fantasticks. Bill has led the University of Illinois at Chicago's Department of Theatre for the past 45 years. He has been a mentor to director Sean Kelly and Porchlight's Artistic Director, Walter Stearns.

The Fantasticks is the opening of Porchlight's 15th Anniversary Season. The celebration features a season of musicals exploring the challenges and rewards of growing-up: The Fantasticks, Miracle on 34th Street and Into the Woods.

Porchlight Music Theatre is Chicago's music theatre leader; producing award-winning interpretations of classic musicals and cutting-edge new works on intimate stages. The company has staged 36 shows including four world premieres, among them, The Teapot Scandals, its first work developed through Off the Porch, Porchlight's new works program, as well as seven Chicago premieres. Porchlight earned the most Jeff awards of any Chicago music theater and the most After Dark Awards of any Chicago theater in 2007. An Equity theater since 2004, the company has already received a total of 29 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations resulting in 11 Jeff Awards.

Porchlight Music Theatre is partially supported by generous contributions from the A.R.T League, the William Blair & Company Foundation, Capri Capital, LLC, a City Arts Program 2 Grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency), the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Nine North Michigan Surgery Center, and Peoples Energy.

The Fantasticks previews September 11, opens September 13, and runs through November 15, 2009 with performances on Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Single tickets are $37 with discounts available for students and seniors. Single Tickets may be purchased through the box office at Theatre Building 773.327.5252 or www.TicketMaster.com. Group Sales Discounts are available through Group Theater Tix at 312.423.6612 or 866.809.3075.

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