Route 66 Theatre Company Presents MILE MARKERS 2011, 6/14

Route 66 Theatre Company will hold its annual benefit, Milemarkers on June 14, 2011 at 7:30PM at the Mercury Theater, the current home of its critical and box office smash A Twist of Water, which plays through June 26. This is a one night only event on June 14.

In addition to a silent and live auction, cash bar, and appetizers, the evening will feature the talents of Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler, two of the brightest stars in the Chicago musical theater scene. They will be joined by guest artists Marya Grandy, James Earl Jones II, Dara Cameron, and Bethany Thomas, and will be backed up by the band of Alex Goodrich, Derek Hasenstab and Jim Barclay.

Some of the items in the silent and live auction will include dinners for two, tickets to shows (including a special A TWIST OF WATER package), a headshot session with Route 66 Company member Brandon Dahlquist, a Cubs rooftop package, a special all-inclusive dinner cooked at your home by Route 66 Consigliere John Mohrlein, and much more. Plus, Artistic Director Stef Tovar will reveal plans for their third and final show of the 2010-2011 season.

The Route 66 Theatre Company is officially three and half years old. A TWIST OF WATER marks its sixth production in that span of time-all Chicago premieres with three World premieres, employing over nineteen Equity contracts. Come celebrate and support this vibrant, young company with a special evening of music with some of Chicago's brightest stars in the musical theater scene.

Michael Mahler currently can be seen in Working at the Broadway Playhouse. Previous credits include: Frank Galati's production of 12 Angry Men (Maltz Jupiter Theatre, FL); Tony Kushner's The Illusion (Court Theatre); Magnolia (The Goodman); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and The Producers (Theatre at the Center, Munster IN); High Fidelity (Route 66 at Piper's Alley); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Shenandoah (Marriott Lincolnshire); Tomorrow Morning (Greenhouse Theater - Chicago Cast Recording); The Buddy Holly Story (Drury Lane Oakbrook); Forbidden Broadway: SVU (Royal George); My Favorite Year (Bailiwick - Jeff Citation Award); Assassins (Porchlight); A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Noble Fool); Sweet Smell of Success (Circle Theatre); Joe! the Musical (Equity Library); Urinetown (Mercury Theater); You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Plaid Tidings (Drury Lane Water Tower). Michael is the composer/lyricist of How Can You Run with a Shell on Your Back? (with Alan Schmuckler), Knute Rockne: All-American (with David H. Bell), The 9/11 Report and Painted Alice. He is a proud member of Actor's Equity, Barrel of Monkeys, Provision Theater and The Music Theatre Company.

Alan Schmuckler currently can be seen in Murder For Two at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where his acting credits include: Short Shakespeare! The Taming of the Shrew, The Two Noble Kinsmen, and Much Ado About Nothing. His musical credits at Chicago Shakespeare Theater include The Emperor's New Clothes (music and lyrics; book by David Holstein) and How Can You Run with a Shell on Your Back? (book, music and lyrics with Michael Mahler), which both received critically acclaimed world premieres. Other Chicago credits include: Sugar (Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace, Jeff Nomination); A Minister's Wife (Writers' Theatre, Jeff nomination); Merrily We Roll Along (The Music Theatre Company); Fiorello! (TimeLine Theatre); Buddy: the Buddy Holly Story (Drury Lane Water Tower Place); Shenandoah and others (The Marriott Theatre); as well as work with Lookingglass Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Provision Theater and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Regional credits include work at Indiana Repertory Theatre and Wagon Wheel Theatre. Mr. Schmuckler is a graduate of Northwestern University and a member of AEA and ASCAP.

Milemarkers 2011 is a special, one night only event. Tickets are $35 in advance ($45 at the door) and may be purchased by going to www.route66theatre.org. Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Route-66-Theatre-Company/48070173928?ref=ts

About Route 66
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 artists in Los Angeles, Route 66 connects cultural divides by giving life to the vibrant stories that link America together. Route 66, founded in 2008, has produced five Equity productions in less than three years-including five Chicago premieres, three world premieres and one production produced in two cities. They have been nominated for Los Angeles Critic's Circle Awards, L.A. Ovation Awards and three Jeff Awards, winning the Jeff Award for Best Sound Design for their production of The K of D: An Urban Legend in 2009. 2010-2011 is their first full season of work, which debuted with the Jeff Award-recommended, world premiere of McMeekin Finds Out, and now continuing with the world premiere of A Twist of Water. Their final show of the season is to be announced soon.

Route 66 is led by Artistic Director Stef Tovar, Literary Director Erica Weiss, and Consigliere John Mohrlein. Company members are Matt Bonaccorso, Brandon Dahlquist, John Mohrlein, Blair Robertson, Jacquey Rosati ,and Rita Vreeland. Route 66 is a member of the League of Chicago Theatres and the Producers Association of Chicago Area Theatres.

CURRENT PRODUCTION:

Title: A TWIST OF WATER
Written by: Caitlin Montanye Parrish
Directed by: Erica Weiss
Dates: Open run through: June 26, 2011
Schedule: Thursday: 7:30pm
Friday: 8pm
Saturday: 4 and 8pm
Sunday: 4pm
Location: Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport, Chicago
Tickets: $38.50-$44.50
Box office: (773) 325-1700
http://www.mercurytheaterchicago.com/

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