'WOMEN ON THE VERGE,' RING OF FIRE & More Set for Theatre at the Center 2014 Season

Building on their reputation for presenting quality theatrical productions that are simultaneously entertaining and enlightening, Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN announced today their exciting 2014 season, an unprecedented season full of never before seen Chicagoland premieres. The area premiere of RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF Johnny Cash, a unique musical about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and home and family runs February 20 to March 30. Another Chicago area premiere, MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET, a warm and humorous play about a working class family living in Buffalo, New York runs May 1 to June 1. Fans of the television hit The Beverly Hillbillies should mark their calendars for the World Premiere of THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, THE MUSICAL. Featuring many well-known and beloved characters from the series, the production runs from July 10 to August 10. In the first North American production since its Broadway debut at the Lincoln Center, the madcap musical WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWNbased on the Spanish film of the same name runs September 11 to October 19. For the holidays, the Chicago area premiere musical A CHRISTMAS MEMORY, based on Truman Capote's famous short story, runs November 13 to December 14.

RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF Johnny Cash makes its Chicago debut February 20 to March 30 in a reworked, more intimate version of the Broadway show. Created by Richard Maltby Jr. and conceived by William Meade, this adaptation features 38 of Johnny Cash's most famous songs. This version places a greater emphasis on the music as a way to illustrate the iconic singer's journey through life. Through words and music, RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF Johnny Cash animates the stories made famous in Cash's songs and celebrates the essence of an American experience. Directed by Brian Russell, the show features a talented cast of seven actor/musicians and such classic Cash songs as I Walk the Line, A Boy Named Sue, Sunday Morning Coming Down, and the title song.

The Chicago Area Premiere of MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET by Tom Dudzick (author of the Chicago area favorite, "Over the Tavern") runs May 1 to June 1. The comedic play, directed by William Pullinsi, follows the Nowak family as they cope with tested faith and adjust to life's surprises. Their Buffalo, New York neighborhood may be depressed, but not Clara, the family matriarch. She happily runs her soup kitchen and tends to the family heirloom - a twenty-foot shrine to the Blessed Mother which adjoins the house. Clara is waiting for the Pope to make her father's vision of the Blessed Mother an official Miracle, but daughter Ruth unveils her plan to write and star in a one-woman show about the family miracle so the "whole world will know!" The family reacts, to a heartfelt and hilarious result.

Theatre at the Center is thrilled to produce the World Premiere of THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, THE MUSICAL, running from July 10 to August 10. The book, adapted from some classic episodes of the show, is by David Rodgers and the lyrics and music are by Chicago composer Gregg Opelka. The show will be directed by David Perkovich. Fans of the smash hit television show by the same name, which ran for over 200 episodes and nine seasons, have much to look forward to. All the key characters from the beloved television show are here: the unexpected millionaire Jed Clampett, his daughter Elly Mae, his lumbering nephew Jethro, the conniving banker Mr. Drysdale, and of course, Granny Clampett.

WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, directed by William Pullinsi, comes to Theatre at the Center September 11 to October 19. The show was created by David Yazbek, music and lyrics, and Jeffrey Lane, book, the team behind "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", a past hit at the Theatre at the Center. Based on the Spanish film by noted director Pedro Almodovar, the musical features powerful women characters as they bemoan the unreliable men and their lives and seek a measure of revenge. Accompanied by heartfelt ballads and great wit, the colorful characters take the audience on a simultaneously uproarious and earnest journey.

Theatre at the Center rounds out 2014 with the Chicago premiere of A CHRISTMAS MEMORY, playing November 13 to December 14. The play, directed by William Pullinsi, is a labor of love for its Broadway veteran team of Duane Poole, book; Larry Grossman, music; and Carol Hall, lyrics. Based on a famous short story by Truman Capote, A CHRISTMAS MEMORY is an evocative musical memoir set in a small southern town. The show follows the comic adventures of two misfit cousins and celebrates the simple pleasures of life and the joys of giving. This festive and emotional story promises to put audiences in the holiday spirit, reminding us what Christmas, family and friendship are all about.

Performances for the 2014 season are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. and Fridays at 8:00 p.m. Saturday matinees begin at 2:30 or 4 p.m. with evening performances at 8 p.m. Sunday curtains are at 2:30 p.m. Season subscriptions are available for $150 or $160. SpecialSubscription Series Events include: the Wine & Theatre Series, the Dinner Theatre Series and the Opening Night Series. Also available are the complimentary Talkback Thursday post-show discussions and 2nd Saturday Symposium, to provide insight into the creative process. Meal packages are available for select matinee and evening performances, located right across from the theatre lobby. New 2014 Season Subscriptions will go on sale August 25, 2013 for renewals and on October 15, 2013 for new subscribers. Individual ticket prices for 2014 range from $40-$44 and will go on sale December 17, 2013. To purchase season tickets and/or individual tickets, call the Box Office at 219.836.3255or Tickets.com (for single tickets only) at 800.511.1552. Group discounts are available for groups of 11 or more and gift certificates are also available by calling the Box Office at 219.836.3255. For more information on Theatre at the Center visit TheatreAtTheCenter.com.

To post a comment, you must register and login.