Porchlight Presents SUNDAY IN THE PARK, 9/10-10/31

Porchlight Music Theatre presents the Tony and Pulitzer Prize Award winning Stephen Sondheim musical Sunday in the Park with George at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont, from September 10 through October 31, 2010. The Press Opening is Tuesday, September 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Porchlight Music Theatre has become Chicago's foremost interpreter of Stephen Sondheim musicals. Artistic Director L. Walter Stearns directs this twelfth Sondheim musical for Porchlight Music Theatre. According to Walter:

"In a way, we have been preparing for this show for the past 15 years. We are a more accomplished and mature company today and are now better prepared for the emotional and technical complexity of this astonishing musical. I anticipate that this will be our greatest Sondheim musical to date."

This production features a sophisticated multi-media design created by the collaboration of Liviu Pasare (video projections), Amanda Sweger (scenic designer), Mac Vaughey (lighting designer), Joseph Fosco (sound designer) and Mina Hyun-Ok Hong (costume designer). Sunday in the Park with George centers on an artist experimenting with a new form of expression. This new production reflects this experimentation, using 21st century video projection.

Porchlight's production is led by award-winning musical director, Eugene Dizon, now celebrating his 30th musical at Porchlight.

Inspired by Georges Seurat's masterpiece, A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, this haunting musical imagines the life of the artist and his relationships with the people he painted. The story begins with the discord between Seurat and his mistress/model during the creation of the painting, and follows the surprising ways their lives and decisions echo through time. Stephen Sondhiem's intricate and emotional score includes "Finishing the Hat," "Children and Art" and "Move On."

At turns heart-breaking and humorous, the ever-thoughtful Sunday in the Park with George explores the tension between life and art, and the choices we all must make as we weigh our personal ambitions with the demands placed on us by those we love.

The New York Times called Sunday in the Park with George "Truly enchanting!" and Variety raved that the production is "Exquisite... an experience to be savored." Nominated for ten Tony Awards, the musical won the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, numerous Drama Desk Awards, the 1991 Olivier Award for Best Musical and the 2007 Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production. Sunday in the Park with George has enjoyed several major revivals, including a 2005-06 UK production and its subsequent 2008 Broadway transfer.

Sunday in the Park with George stars Brandon Dahlquist (from Porchlight's Assassins and The Teapot Scandals) as George and Jess Godwin (from Porchlight's Gypsy and A Wonderful Life) as Dot/Marie. The production also features Shaun Nathan Baer, Cameron Brune, Kelly Hackett, Sarah Hayes, Bil Ingraham, Michael Pacas, Hillary Patingre, Douglas Pawlik, Sara Stern, Jennifer Tjepkema, Heather Townsend and Dan Waters. Jenn A. Kincaid is the stage manager and Michael Driscoll is the assistant director.

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 is recognized for providing nurture and challenge for stars-in-the-making as well as veteran performers. 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. An Equity theater since 2004, the company has already received a total of 33 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 Arts Work Fund at the Chicago Community Trust, the William Blair & Company Foundation, 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, the National Association of Realtors, and Peoples Energy.

Sunday in the Park with George previews September 10, 2010 and runs through October 31, 2010. The Press Opening is Tuesday, September 14 at 7:30 p.m. The performances are Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Single tickets are $38.00, and discounts for seniors, students and groups are available. Tickets may be purchased through the Stage 773 box office at 773.327.5252 or at www.stage773.com. Group Sales Discounts are available through www.GroupTheaterTix.com at 866.809.3075.

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