Underscore to Present BORDERLANDS: THREE CHORDS AND THE TRUTH

Underscore Theatre Company has announced the world-premiere production of Borderlands: Three Chords and the Truth, with book and lyrics by L.C. Bernadine and music and additional lyrics by Erik Olsen, directed by Underscore's Artistic Director, Alex Higgin-Houser. Based on the book A Guitar and a Pen: Stories by Country Music's Greatest Songwriters, Borderlands will be Underscore's first production eligible for the non-equity Joseph Jefferson awards. Additionally, Underscore is proud to be among the first residents of Jackalope's newly renovated Frontier Stage. Press is invited to the opening performance and celebration with beverage sponsorship from Revolution Brewing on Wednesday, June 3rd at 8pm.

A new musical, Borderlands asks: how do you change your story? Do you re-write history? Catch a different train? Or just throw yourself headlong into the life you think you want? Borderlands follows the ups and downs of a group of musicians and songwriters, gathered to trade tales in a beat-up bar, and to toast the return of a mysterious friend. Connected in more ways than they can count, they do their best to shore each other up and cheer each other on-all the while taking care not to reveal too many secrets as they stumble to find their own "three chords and the truth."

Originally developed from the short musical "Mr. Munch Has a Murmur," Borderlands began as an Underscore mentored production and the top-selling show in the 2014 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival. Funny, fractured and absurd, Borderlands lets the actors accompany themselves on folk instruments through a rich score, while they move seamlessly into various roles in order to look at the reckless things we do on the divide between success and failure, as we strive to hit our marks, and change our stories once and for all.

"Borderlands marks the first full-length production to come out of the Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, and its beginnings and evolution are a result of Underscore's commitment to fostering the new musical theatre creator community," says director Alex Higgin-Houser. "As a work of art, it stands apart from your traditional musical in so many ways-actors acting as their own folk band, the genre-bending memoirs of the source material, and ultimately, the show's dogged adherence to telling stories that are honest, that ring true to the reality of the life of an artist. We could not be more proud to have Borderlands as our first-ever Jeff-eligible production."

A cast photo is attached: Sarah Beth Tanner (Ellie), Demi Michalopoulus (Marie), Mike Mazzocca (Sanders), Ian Knox (Hicks), Jon Penick (Ryan), Aaron Davidson (T.J.) and Julia H Merchant (Tara). Photo Credit: Zane Rerek.

Borderlands: Three Chords and the Truth will perform at the Jackalope Frontier Stage, at 1106 W Thorndale Ave, with preview performances at 6 pm on May 31st, 8 pm June 1st, and opening on June 3rd. Join us at our opening night performance at 8 pm for a reception with beer provided by Revolution Brewing and stay for a jam session after the show! Actors and local musicians will play after select performances throughout the run, and members of the audience are invited to play or sing along. Tickets are $20, and they are available at underscoretheatre.org.

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