Stage 773 Artistic Director Forms Street Tempo Theatre

Stage 773 Artistic Director Brian Posen announces the launch of a new musical theatre company, Street Tempo Theatre, debuting at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. Street Tempo Theatre is committed to creating raw, intimate, thought-provoking musical theatre in Chicago. Joining Posen's team for the launch of Street Tempo Theatre is Resident Director Kyle Trent and Resident Music Director Kory Danielson. Their 2011-2012 season includes Let My People Come, by Earl Wilson, Jr., Little Fish by Michael John LaChiusa and Hedwig and the Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell. Let My People Come runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. through December 31 (excluding Thanksgiving Thursday, Nov. 22). Tickets are $28 and may be purchased at www.stage773.com, by phone at 773.327.5252 or in person at the Stage 773 box office. Senior, student and group discounts are available. For more information on Street Tempo Theatre visit www.streettempotheatre.com.

"I am looking forward to releasing Street Tempo Theatre on Chicago. We will showcase work that has never, or rarely, been seen in Chicago and put a fresh spin on old classics," said Artistic Director Brian Posen and founder of Street Tempo Theatre. "This company is an amazing step forward for the theater scene in Chicago. Let My People Come, Little Fish and Hedwig are perfect examples of what we will be bringing to Stage 773: musical theatre with an edge while maintaining high production values."

Street Tempo Theatre's 2011 - 2012 Season Includes:
Let My People Come written by Earl Wilson, Jr.
Thursday, Nov. 10 - Saturday, Dec. 31: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Directed by Brian Posen • Musical Director: Kory Danielson • Assistant Director: Kyle Trent
Opening Night: Saturday, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
Closing Date: Saturday, Dec. 31 at 8 p.m.

Tickets: $28 (Preview tickets are $10. Group, senior and student discounts available.)
Let My People Come is the Grammy-nominated musical that took New York by storm in 1974 breaking Off-Broadway attendance records and becoming an international hit. The musical touches upon all forms of human sexuality in this thought-provoking, suggestive and outrageously refreshing production. Posen's direction leads his cast of 13 in a fun, touching and light-hearted rendition of this 1970's cult classic.

Street Tempo Theatre is proud to collaborate with Matter Dance on the choreography for Let My People Come. Matter Dance has been voted the Chicago Reader Reader's Choice for "Best Dance Company in Chicago" for four consecutive years (2008 - 2011) and Let My People Come will feature choreography from Niki Wilk, Gail Adduci Gogliotti, Jessica McVay, Mike Ford and Carisa Barreca (winner of the Ann Barzel Award for Comedy/Entertainment in Dance award).
Evan Lasko is the Stage Manger for Let My People Come and the cast includes: Jenny Oakley, Teressa LaGamba, Hannah Corneau, Danae Ervin, EliAnna Stone, Danni Parpan, Bryna Berezowska, Will Hoyer, Nathan Cooper, Jared Grant, Matt Payne, Kyle Kuhlman and Dan Beno.

Little Fish written by Michael John LaChiusa
Monday, April 2 - Sunday, May 13, 2012
Directed by Brian Posen and Kyle Trent • Music Director: Kory Danielson
Previews: Monday, April 2 - Saturday, April 7 at 8 p.m.
Opening Night: Sunday, April 8 at 8 p.m.
Closing Night: Sunday, May 13 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $28 (Preview tickets are $10. Group, senior and student discounts available.)
A stylish new musical, Little Fish translates the sort of neurotic, sidewise narrative associated with The New Yorker's fiction into terms of musical comedy, telling the lively story of what it means to feel lifeless in contemporary Manhattan. LaChiusa's score blends the jazzy feel of what is conventionally called the symphony of the city. Evan Lasko is the Stage Manager for Little Fish and the cast will be announced at a later date.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Saturday, June 23 - Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012
Written by John Cameron Mitchell with music by Stephen Trask
Directed by Brian Posen and Kyle Trent • Music Director Kory Danielson
Opening Night: Saturday, June 23 at 10 p.m.
Closing Night: Saturday, Aug. 4 at 10 p.m.
(Production runs on Saturdays at 10 p.m. only)
Tickets: $28 (Preview tickets are $10. Group, senior and student discounts available.)
The groundbreaking, Obie-winning, Off-Broadway smash tells the story of, in her own words, the "internationally ignored song stylist" Hedwig Schmidt. This outrageous and unexpectedly hilarious story stars the dazzling Hedwig backed by her hard-rocking band "The Angry Inch." This production is a thrilling and beautiful ride - ultimately inspiring to anyone who has ever felt under-appreciated. The cast will be announced at a later date.
PerformInk has called Artistic Director Brian Posen one of the most influential people in the Chicago theater scene & New City named Brian as one of the top 30 Players who really perform in Chicago. Posen is the Artistic Director of Stage 773, Street Tempo Theatre & Liminality Theatre. He in the founder and Executive Producer of The Annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival ("A raging Lakeview comedic beast" -Chicago Tribune), as well as the founder and director of The Cupid Players ("Best Sketch Comedy Group in Chicago"-Chicago Reader). Posen has been active in the Chicago theater scene for over 20 years as an actor, producer, director, and teacher. Posen's past theater company has received several awards including ‘Jeff' and ‘After Dark' awards. He is program head at the Second City Training Center, where he has been teaching improvisation since 1993, as well as teaching at Columbia College Chicago since 1994. Posen has also taught in countless number of institutions, including Actors Theater in Louisville and Steppenwolf Theater. He has performed in and directed hundreds of productions. Posen received his MFA in Acting from the University of Illinois. He is a member of SAG and AFTRA. Brian is also an ordained Minister.
Kyle Trent (Resident Director) is a Chicago based theatre director, born and raised in Detroit. Having attended Columbia College Chicago, he has had the privilege of being trained by theatre artists such as David Cromer, Sheldon Patinkin, Kimberly Senior, Sean Graney and Brian Posen. Directing credits include Hello Again, Dames at Sea, and Heights. Assistant Directing credits include Pirates of Penzance, Cabaret, Pippin, A Midsummer Nights Dream and Our Town.
Kory Danielson, resident music director and founding member of Street Tempo Theatre, will be serving as Music Director for this season's productions of Let My People Come, Little Fish, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Danielson is a staff accompanist for both the Theatre and Music Departments at Columbia College Chicago where he has served as MD/AMD for such shows as The 25th Annual Spelling Bee, Hello Again, Chicago, Pirates of Penzance, LaChiusa's Wild Party, and Bernarda Alba. In the city, Danielson has worked with Bailiwick Chicago, Chicago Children's Theatre, Hell in a Handbag (Poseidon, Rudolph, Trogg!), and most recently served as the Music Director for The Music Theatre Company's Young Artist Program as well as their 48 Hour Musicals. Danielson is also a private vocal coach, audition accompanist, and arranger in the city.

The 2011-2012 Street Tempo Theatre season begins with Let My People Come, November 10 - December 31. Previews are Thursday, Nov. 10 - Saturday, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. Preview tickets are $10. Press opening/opening night is Sunday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. Regular performance days are Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range are $28 and may be purchased at www.stage773.com, by phone at 773.327.5252 or in person at the Stage 773 box office, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. For more information on Street Tempo Theatre visit www.streettempotheatre.com.

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