Slotnick, Yazbeck, Davi & More Star In Goodman Theatre's ANIMAL CRACKERS, Plays 9/18-10/25

Goodman Theatre launches its new 2009/2010 Season with tap dancing, acrobatics, tumbling, guitar- and ukulele-playing in an original take on the rarely-produced Marx Brothers classic musical Animal Crackers, written by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, with music and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. For the Goodman's revival of this family-friendly farce, Director Henry Wishcamper has restored a wealth of material originally cut from the 1928 Library of Congress version of the script; Chicago audiences will be treated to never-before experienced jokes, subtle plot twists, music, relationship detail-and virtuosic performances from nine of the country's leading comic actors, each of whom play up to five characters. Chicago native Joey Slotnick leads the antics as the African explorer Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding-the vaudevillian persona created by Groucho Marx for the 1928 stage original. Joining Slotnick in the roles originated by the other Marx Brothers are Molly Brennan as The Professor (Harpo); Jonathan Brody as Emanuel Ravelli (Chico); and Ed Kross as Horatio Jamison (Zeppo). Also featured in the ensemble cast are Ora Jones as Mrs. Rittenhouse; Jessie Mueller as Grace Carpenter; Tony Yazbeck as Wally Winston; Mara Davi as Arabella Rittenhouse; and Stanley Wayne Mathis as Hives. Animal Crackers runs September 18 - October 25, 2009 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre. Tickets ($25 - $76) are now on sale 312.443.3800 or www.GoodmanTheatre.org. Abbott, Mayer Brown LLP, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are Corporate Sponsor Partners for Animal Crackers and Goodman Theatre's Women's Board is the Major Production Sponsor.

"Henry Wishcamper, fresh from his first Goodman success with Horton Foote's Talking Pictures, approached me with the idea to stage Animal Crackers at the Goodman-but with one major conceptual change," said Artistic Director Robert Falls. "The dozens of society swells, butlers, attendants and miscellaneous party guests written into the original script would be played by an ensemble of just nine actors, in order to ramp up the farcical madness and underscore the comic heart of the play. It was an irresistible idea, and I know that Henry and his energetic cast and collaborators will bring contemporary vitality to what is now considered a classic in the musical farce genre."

Wishcamper enlisted two-time Tony Award-nominated choreographer John Carrafa and Clowning Director Paul Kalina of Chicago's 500 Clown to supply the company with the tools needed for inspired comic performances. Musical Director Doug Peck leads a live orchestra of five that brings to life favorites such as "Hello, I Must Be Going/Hooray For Captain Spaulding," "Who's Been Listening to My Heart" and "Show Me A Rose," among many others.

"Our production will be dynamic and surprising, but at the same time will maintain the Marx Brothers' integrity," said Wishcamper. "Bring the kids! The spontaneity and excitement of musical theater are perfect for families, and audiences of all ages should experience a show like this. As was its original production, Animal Crackers today remains an extraordinary antidote for the times we live in."

Special Events for Animal Crackers

"My mother loved children-she would have given anything if I had been one." (Groucho Marx) Bring the family to see the play and see the films as Chicago's famed Music Box Theatre joins forces with the Goodman in celebration of the revival of Animal Crackers. From September 12 - October 4, The Music Box presents Saturday and Sunday matinee screenings of the Marx Brothers' most memorable films, including: A Day at the Races (September 12 and 13 at 11:30am), Animal Crackers (September 19 and 20 at 11:30am; September 21 at 7pm), A Night at the Opera (September 26 and 27 at 11:30am) and Duck Soup (October 3 and 4 at 11:30am). Tickets are $7 and are available day-of show at The Music Box (3733 N. Southport).

"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening-but this wasn't it." (Groucho Marx) On Monday, September 21 at 7pm at The Music Box (3733 N. Southport Ave), a special evening of Animal Crackers ensues, starting with a 7pm screening of the classic 1930 film version. Following the movie, members of the Goodman's production and other experts join a discussion, "You Bet Your Life: Marx Brothers Mayhem from Stage to Screen." Tickets are $10 ($5 for Goodman Subscribers and Students with Subscriber Card/Student ID) and are available day-of show at The Music Box. This event is part of Goodman Theatre Education and Community Programs' CONTEXT series, which uses themes from main stage productions to engage the community-both at the theater and at venues across the city-in conversations that explore particular issues raised within the plays and how they resonate in today's culture.

"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them...well, I have others." (Groucho Marx) The Goodman launches its new Artists Talk Series, featuring conversations with members of the creative team of each play. The first Artists Talk takes place on Wednesday, September 23 from 6-7pm at the Goodman. Admission is free for subscribers, $5 for the general public; call 312.443.3800 for reservations.

"Hello, I must be going" (Groucho Marx) to the Goodman's Season Opening Benefit on Friday, September 25. The evening begins at 5pm with cocktails and dinner at the Palmer House (17 E. Monroe), followed by an 8pm performance of Animal Crackers at the Goodman. Tickets are $1,000. Abbott is the Benefit Sponsor Partner and the Palmer House is the Event Sponsor. Abbott Vice President, Government Affairs and Goodman Trustee Elaine R. Leavenworth and Women's Board member Marcia S. Cohn are the Benefit Co-Chairs.

About Animal Crackers and the Marx Brothers

Chaos ensues at the Long Island estate of Mrs. Rittenhouse when a celebrated piece of art goes missing during a party honoring the African explorer Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding. The Marx Brothers unleash a series of comic antics as the guests set out to find the burglar, amidst two sets of love interests and a variety of madcap subplots.

Written as a vehicle for the Marx Brothers and widely remembered as one of the first in their series of now-classic films, Animal Crackers began its legendary life as one of the great Broadway musical successes of the 1920s. Bookwriters George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind and composers/lyricists Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar tailored Animal Crackers to showcase the brothers' unique talents: Groucho delivered his signature one-liners as Captain Spaulding, Chico utilized his Italian accent and piano skills as Emanuel Ravelli, Harpo played the silent Professor and Zeppo took on the role of the straight man, Jamison. The stage version of Animal Crackers premiered on October 23, 1928, and ran for a nearly unprecedented 191 performances; also featured in that original cast were the great Margaret Dumont (who had already achieved some fame as the Brothers' favorite foil) and future Hollywood choreographer Hermes Pan. The production toured the country, was captured on celluloid in 1930, and completed the ascension of the Marx Bros. to worldwide fame-but ironically, ended their stage careers. They moved to Hollywood the following year, never to return to Broadway; the stage version of Animal Crackers was consigned to the archives, considered unproduceable without its original stars. More than 50 years would pass before theater audiences would again see the play via a revival at Washington, D.C.'s Arena Stage. The show's brashness and charm bowled over critics and audiences, and sparked productions in Boston, Connecticut and the Lyric Theatre in London's West End.

Born in New York between 1887 and 1901-and spending nearly a decade in Chicago, beginning in 1910-the Marx Brothers (Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo) made their stage debuts in a vaudeville singing act, but soon discovered their true talents lay in comedy. As they shifted focus of their act, they developed their now-famous onstage personas and uniquely outrageous style of comedy. After years of honing shtick in vaudeville houses across the nation, the brothers earned an enviable booking at New York's Palace Theatre. In the mid-1920s, they left vaudeville to star in three Broadway shows: I'll Say She Is (1924), The Cocoanuts (1925) and finally Animal Crackers (1928). Paramount Pictures made both The Cocoanuts and Animal Crackers into films in which the brothers reprised their roles. After Animal Crackers, they left Broadway to focus exclusively on filmmaking; they starred in Horse Feathers, Monkey Business and Duck Soup with Paramount Pictures in the early 1920s. Despite the success of these films, Zeppo grew dissatisfied with his status as the least funny Marx Brother and left the act. Groucho, Chico and Harpo went on to make some of their best-known films with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, At the Circus, Go West and The Big Store. In the late 1940s, the brothers reunited for two more films, A Night in Casablanca and Love Happy. In the 1950s and '60s, the brothers went their separate ways, sometimes appearing on television: Groucho hosted the game show You Bet Your Life from 1950 to 1961, and Harpo made a memorable guest appearance opposite Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy.

About the Company of Goodman Theatre's Revival

"Joey Slotnick will be playing Groucho playing Captain Spaulding," said Director Henry Wishcamper. "His performance won't be a carbon copy of Groucho's performance, or a museum piece where we're dusting off Groucho and putting him on stage. Joey's own unique personality and intelligence will inform the way that he plays the role-nobody's ever done it exactly the same." Joey Slotnick (Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding) is an ensemble member of Lookingglass Theatre Company, where his credits include Our Town co-directed by Anna D. Shapiro and Jessica Thebus, Wants & Needs, Great Men of Science Nos. 21 & 22 directed by Tracy Letts, Hard Times, Arabian Nights directed by Mary Zimmerman, The Master and Margarita, Up Against It and The Third Voyage. He appeared in Slotnick Katz & Lehr at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Fun and Nobody at Next Theatre Company. Slotnick's New York credits include Ethan Coen's Offices at Atlantic Theater Company and Coen's world-premiere play Almost an Evening off-Broadway at The Theatres at 45 Bleecker Street following a sold-out extended run at the Atlantic. His other New York credits include The Cartells at Comix and Nicky Silver's The Altruists at The Vineyard Theatre. Film credits include Brief Interviews With Hideous Men, Made in Romania, Jesus Cooks Me Breakfast, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, Hollow Man, Blast From the Past, Dinner and Driving, Twister, Since You've Been Gone, Judas Kiss and A League of Their Own. His television credits include Pushing Daisies, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Boston Legal, The Office, TNT's Pirates of Silicon Valley, CSI, Medium, Ghost Whisperer, Alias, nip/tuck, Boston Public and The Single Guy.

"Molly Brennan of Chicago's acclaimed 500 Clown and Chicago favorite Ora Jones will respectively play The Professor and Mrs. Rittenhouse, originally played by Margaret Dumont," said Wishcamper. "These two great comic actresses share the ability to capture the essence of the iconic performances of Harpo and Dumont while simultaneously making the roles uniquely their own." Molly Brennan (The Professor) makes her Goodman debut. She has appeared in productions at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Second City, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago Children's Theatre, Barrel of Monkeys, The Factory Theatre and The House Theatre of Chicago. She received a Jeff Award for her portrayal of Mikako in Curse of the Crying Heart at The House Theater. Her off-Broadway credits include Lady Macbeth and the Porter in Macbeth at The Mirror Repertory Company. As a company member of 500 Clown, Brennan has performed as Kevin in 500 Clown Macbeth, 500 Clown Frankenstein, 500 Clown Christmas and 500 Clown and the Elephant Deal at various venues in Chicago, as well as touring nationwide. Ora Jones (Mrs. Rittenhouse) returns to the Goodman, where her credits include A Christmas Carol, The Good Person of Setzuan, Proof, The Beard of Avon and Marvin's Room. She most recently appeared in Twelfth Night at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where she also appeared in A Flea in Her Ear (After Dark Award) and The Merry Wives of Windsor. She is a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company Ensemble, where her credits include Jessie Brewster in The Violet Hour (Jeff Award nomination), Aunt Mimi in The Unmentionables and Marilyn in Carter's Way (Jeff Award nomination).

"Jonathan Brody has, among a host of other gifts, a wonderful talent on the piano; he can play just like Chico could," said Wishcamper. Jonathan Brody (Emanuel Ravelli) was last seen in Chicago in Theda Bara & the Frontier Rabbi in 1992. He has appeared on Broadway in Monty Python's Spamalot and the original companies of Titanic, Me and My Girl and Sally Marr...and Her Escorts opposite Joan Rivers. Off-Broadway credits include Gimpl Tam (in Yiddish), Eating Raoul and Pirates of Penzance. Brody has toured with Spamalot, Funny Girl and My Fair Lady and appeared regionally in Hamlet, I Hate Hamlet, The Dybbuk, Irma Vep, Urinetown, Groucho: A Life in Revue and many productions of Forever Plaid.

"Every member of this nine-person company is going to be a star. It's going to be fun!" said Wishcamper.

Ed Kross (John Parker/Horatio Jamison) has appeared in Stalag 17, Scapin, The Threepenny Opera, Below the Belt, A Lie of the Mind and Augusta at American Theater Company. Other Chicago credits include Transference at Mercury Theatre, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Pheasant Run Theatre, three years in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at the Royal George Theatre and Enter the Guardsman at Northlight Theatre. He shared one-on-one scenes with Tom Hanks in Road to Perdition and George Clooney in Ocean's 12. He has appeared in more than 60 commercials and is an 11-year member of the American Blues Theater ensemble. Mara Davi (Arabella Rittenhouse/Mrs. Whitehead)'s Broadway credits include Janet Van De Graaff in The Drowsy Chaperone and Maggie Winslow in the original revival cast of A Chorus Line. Her New York credits include Nanette in No, No Nanette and Miss Emily Benson in Of Thee I Sing, both at New York City Center Encores! Regionally, Davi originated the role of Gabrielle Gerard in Dancing in the Dark at The Old Globe Theatre. Regional credits include Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie at Sacramento Music Circus, Judy Haynes in Irving Berlin's White Christmas at The Ordway and Gabrielle Gerard in a workshop of The Band Wagon. Stanley Wayne Mathis (Hives/Chandler) returns to the Goodman having last appeared in Randy Newman's Faust. His Broadway credits include Wonderful Town, Kiss Me Kate, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Lion King, Jelly's Last Jam and Oh Kay. His regional credits include Death of a Salesman at Yale Repertory Theatre, Radio Golf at The Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Of Mice and Men at Dallas Theater Center, Blues for an Alabama Sky at the Cleveland Play House, St. Louis Woman at New York City Center, Fences at Bristol Riverside Theatre and You Can't Take It With You at Pioneer Theatre Company. Jessie Mueller (Grace Carpenter/Mary Stewart) makes her Goodman debut. Other Chicago credits include the recent regional premiere of Curtains at Drury Lane in Oakbrook; The Bowery Boys, All Shook Up and Shenandoah at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire; and Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel at Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre, for which she received a Jeff Award and Connecticut Critics Circle Award. Tony Yazbeck (Wally Winston/M. Doucet) just completed his run as Tulsa in Gypsy on Broadway (Outer Critics Circle nomination). Broadway credits include Al in A Chorus Line, Never Gonna Dance, Oklahoma and Gypsy with Tyne Daly. His off-Broadway credits include Charles in Fanny Hill at The York Theatre Company and City Center Encores! productions of On the Town, Pardon My English, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Apple Tree and Gypsy. He has toured nationally with Thoroughly Modern Millie, Annie Get Your Gun and Doctor Dolittle.

Henry Wishcamper (Director), Drama League Directing Fellow, is the Artistic Director of Katharsis Theatre Company in Brooklyn, New York, where he recently directed his own play The Polish Play, A Conflation of Macbeth by William Shakespeare and Ubu Roi by Alfred Jarry. His recent directing credits include Port Authority (Atlantic Theater Company), The Seafarer (Hartford TheaterWorks) and The Good Thief (Portland Stage Company); Speech and Debate (Hartford TheaterWorks); The Mystery of Irma Vep (The Old Globe); The Mound Builders (Julliard); Talking Pictures (Goodman Theatre); Flags (59E59 Theaters); Elvis People (New World Stages); Pullman Car Hiawatha (Keen Company (Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Revival of a Play)); So Frightful an Event I Single in the History of Man (McGinn-Cazale Theater (commissioned by Maine Humanities Council)); The Flying Doctor and The Imaginary Cuckold (The Roundtable Ensemble); and 'Tis Pity She's a Whore (HERE Arts Center). He served as the assistant director on the Broadway productions of August: Osage County, Shining City directed by Robert Falls, Absurd Person Singular and Match directed by Nicholas Martin. He has served as the Artistic Director of the Maine Summer Dramatic Institute in Portland, Maine, and as the Artistic Associate of Keen Company.

Bio information for John Carrafa (Choreographer), Paul Kalina (Clown Director), Doug Peck (Music Director/Additional Arrangements and Orchestrations), Robin Vest (Set Designer), Jenny Mannis (Costume Designer), Matthew Richards (Lighting Designer) and Richard Woodbury (Sound Designer) is available through Goodman Theatre's Publicity Office.

Tickets to Animal Crackers ($25 - $76) are currently on sale at GoodmanTheatre.org. Tickets can also be purchased at the box office (170 North Dearborn) or by phone at 312.443.3800. Mezztix are half-price mezzanine tickets available at 12 noon at the box office, and at 10am online (promo code MEZZTIX) day of performance; Mezztix are not available by telephone. 10Tix are $10 mezzanine tickets for students available at 12 noon at the box office, and at 10am online on the day of performance; 10Tix are not available by telephone. Valid student I.D. must be presented when picking up the tickets. Limit four per student with I.D. All tickets are subject to availability and handling fees apply. Discounted Group Tickets for 10 persons or more are available at 312.443.3820.

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Named the country's "Best Regional Theatre" by Time magazine (2003), Goodman Theatre is a leader in the American theater, internationally recognized for its artists, productions and educational programs since its founding in 1925. Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer's forward-thinking leadership has earned the Goodman unparalleled artistic distinction, garnered hundreds of awards-including the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre (1992) and Pulitzer Prizes for Ruined by Lynn Nottage and Glengarry GLen Ross by David Mamet-and moved dozens of plays from Chicago to stages in New York and abroad. Central to its commitment to the reinvestigation of classics and development of new plays and artists is the Goodman's Artistic Collective, including Brian Dennehy, Frank Galati, Henry Godinez, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, ReGina Taylor and Mary Zimmerman. The largest not-for-profit theater in Chicago, the Goodman moved in 2000 into a brand new state-of-the-art complex which houses two principal theaters: the 856-seat Albert Ivar Goodman Theatre and the 400-seat flexible Owen Bruner Goodman Theatre. Board Chairman-Elect is Patricia Cox and Karen Pigott is President of the Women's Board. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre.

The 2009/2010 Season includes Animal Crackers, book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, music and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, directed by Henry Wishcamper (September 18 - October 25, 2009); Brian Dennehy in the Broadway-bound double-bill of Hughie by Eugene O'Neill, directed by Robert Falls and Krapp's Last Tape by Samuel Beckett, directed by Jennifer Tarver (January 16 - February 21, 2010); the world premiere of A True History of the Johnstown Flood by Rebecca Gilman, directed by Robert Falls (March 13 - April 18, 2010); The Good Negro by Tracey Scott Wilson, directed by Chuck Smith (May 1 - June 6, 2010); The Sins of Sor Juana by Karen Zacarías, directed by Henry Godinez (June 19 - July 25, 2010) which launches the Goodman's fifth Latino Theater Festival (offerings TBA). Offerings in the Owen Theatre include Stoop Stories written and performed by Dael Orlandersmith, directed by Jo Bonney (September 12 - October 11, 2009); High Holidays, by Alan Gross, directed by Steven Robman (October 31 - November 29, 2009) and The Long Red Road by Brett C. Leonard, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman (February 13 - March 14, 2010).

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