Silk Road's CABARET: BROADWAY SINGS THE SILK ROAD Features Popular Broadway Tunes, Runs 10/21-11/1

Silk Road Theatre Project completes its 2009 season with the World Premiere of Silk Road Cabaret: Broadway Sings the Silk Road, conceived and curated by Silk Road Theatre Project's Artistic Director Jamil Khoury, directed by Elizabeth Margolius, with musical direction by Gary Powell. The production runs October 21 - November 1, 2009, in Pierce Hall at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St, Chicago. The press opening is Sunday, October 25, 2009, at 4:00 pm.

Silk Road Cabaret: Broadway Sings the Silk Road features songs from popular Broadway musicals that are set along the Silk Road. From Pacific Overtures to Jesus Christ Superstar to Bombay Dreams to Kismet to The King and I to Zorba to Miss Saigon, and many more in between. This bold and harmonious East-West interplay blends music with personal anecdotes and showcases performers of diverse backgrounds as they claim, reclaim, subvert, and poke fun at a host of old favorites from the Broadway repertoire.

According to Silk Road Theatre Project Artistic Director Jamil Khoury, "Silk Road Cabaret is a playful and ironic twist on our commitment to showcasing playwrights of Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean backgrounds. I'm calling it a ‘departure piece.' The composers and lyricists who created these Broadway musicals were not of Silk Road backgrounds. And yet, for millions of Americans, they created what became these ‘iconic representations' of Silk Road peoples. Whether steeped in historical reality or whimsical fantasy, cultural authenticity or crude caricature, these beloved musicals continue to influence our perceptions of the Silk Road, be that for better or for worse. With Silk Road Cabaret we are once again reclaiming the mantle of representation. Armed with a few dozen original cast recordings, I have selected some of my favorite songs and handed them over to the capable hands of director Elizabeth Margolius and a stellar group of musical artists. In making each song our own, the plan is to dig deep and have a blast!"

Silk Road Cabaret features a seven person ensemble: Christine Bunuan, Dipika Cherala, Katherine L. Condit, Joseph Anthony Foronda, Erik Kaiko, Govind Kumar, and David Rhee. The design team includes Lee Keenan (Set Design) and Chris Feurig (Lighting Design). The stage manager is Michelle Dane.

The production runs October 21 - November 1, 2009. The opening press performance is Sunday, October 25 at 4:00 p.m. Curtain times are Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m., Thursdays at 8:00 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 4:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the Silk Road Theatre Project box office by phone, (312) 857-1234 ext. 201; and online, www.srtp.org. Groups of ten or more receive a twenty percent (20%) discount. For group sales call (312) 857-1234 ext. 205 or email groupsales@srtp.org.

Discounted parking is available for $6 at System Parking, just 3 blocks from the theatre, at 230 W. Washington Street.

Silk Road Theatre Project showcases playwrights of Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean backgrounds, whose works address themes relevant to the peoples of the Silk Road and their Diaspora communities. Through the creation and presentation of outstanding theatre, we aim to promote discourse and dialogue among multi-cultural audiences in Chicago.

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