Winter Is... Over? THRONES! THE MUSICAL PARODY Extends for Final Time Into Spring

The watch must finally come to an end for "Thrones! The Musical Parody," announcing today the fourth and final extension at Apollo Theater (2540 N. Lincoln Ave). The "Game of Thrones" send-up will close March 19, 2017 after an eight-month run at the Lincoln Park theater.

"Thrones!" is written by the team behind "Baby Wants Candy," "Shamilton: The Improvised Musical" and "50 Shades! The Musical Parody." A cast of six Chicago actors recount plot highlights throughout all six seasons, complete with more than 40 characters and 21 original songs ranging in style from hip hop to traditional Broadway.

Tickets ($36 - $59) for performances beginning February 16 through March 19 go on sale Monday, January 23 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at the Apollo Theater Box Office by calling 773.935.6100 or visiting Ticketmaster.com.

A second production of "Thrones! The Musical Parody" continues its West Coast run at Hudson Theater Mainstage (6539 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles), through February 26, 2017. For more information and tickets for the West Coast run, visit ThronesMusical.com.

"After workshopping this production in July, opening in September and now playing through spring, we are thrilled that "Thrones!" continues to make our audiences laugh night after night," said Executive Producer Rob Kolson. "While all good things must come to an end, 'Thrones!' has been an incredible production for the Apollo, and we are sure of its continued success around the country as the television show thrives."

As Spencer, Brad, Hayden, Ross, Kelly and Tom gather for the season finale of "Game of Thrones," they soon discover the ultimate travesty: that Brad does not watch the show. Over the course of 90 minutes, the group bands together to act out all six seasons (read: spoilers) for Brad, including dashing men battling White Walkers, ravishing women riding fire-breathing dragons, and the infamous "Walk of Shame." "Thrones! The Musical Parody" debuted to completely sold-out performances at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was hailed as "darkly humorous and beautifully vulgar" (Edinburgh Festival Magazine) and "a resounding success!" (Sunday Times), followed by a sold-out, limited run at London's Leicester Square Theatre. In its run in here in Chicago, "Thrones!" is a "hilarious ride that never slows down" (BuzzNews Chicago) and "unfailingly witty and deliciously irreverent" (Performink). The cast of "Thrones! The Musical Parody" includes Caitlyn Cerza, Dan Gold, Madeline Lauzon, Beau Nolen, Victoria Olivier and Christopher Ratliff.

"Thrones! The Musical Parody" is written by Chris Grace, Zach Reino, Al Samuels and Dan Wessels. The production is directed by Hannah Todd, choreographed by Tyler Sawyer Smith and produced by Emily Dorezas, Rob Kolson and Al Samuels. The creative team includes Thomas O. Mackey III (Set Designer), Eric Backus (Sound Designer), Amanda Gladu (Costume Designer), Patrick Ham (Prop Designer), Clare Sangster (Light Designer) and R&D Choreography (Violence Design). Dakota Hughes and Mike Danovich are the production understudies.

The performance schedule is as follows: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. For ticket inquiries for groups of 10 or more, call Group Theater Tix at 312.423.6612. To learn more about "Thrones!" visit the website, and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

"Baby Wants Candy" has performed more than 2,000 completely improvised musicals to thousands of fans from Chicago to New York to Singapore to Scotland. Currently, "Baby Wants Candy" runs in Chicago at the Apollo Theater, in Los Angeles at UCB Sunset and tours internationally. A cutting edge theatrical experience, the performance features a revolving cast of A-list comedic performers and a full band.

"Baby Wants Candy" begins with the cast asking the audience for a suggestion of a musical that has never been performed before. Accompanied by a full band, the first title that the group hears becomes the title and theme for that evening's 60-minute show, featuring a roller coaster ride of spontaneously choreographed dance numbers, rhyming verses and witty, jaw-dropping comedy. Each performance is its own opening and closing night, and by design every show is completely unique and a once-in a lifetime premiere.

"Baby Wants Candy" has received rave reviews in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Onion, Chicago Sun-Times, TimeOut New York and more, and has received numerous awards including the winner of FringeNYC's Outstanding Unique Theatrical Experience, Best Improv Ensemble by Chicago Magazine, the Best Visiting Comedy Ensemble by TimeOut New York, the recipient of the Ensemble of the Year Award at the Chicago Improv Festival, and a rare Sixth Star Award Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

"Baby Wants Candy" has included several notable performers including Peter Gwinn of "Colbert Report;" Rachel Dratch and Aidy Bryant of "Saturday Night Live;" Stephnie Weir of "MadTV;" Nicole Parker of "MadTV" and Elphaba in "Wicked" on Broadway; Jack McBrayer of "30 Rock;" Al Samuels and KEVIN FLEMING of "Sports Action Team;" Thomas Middleditch of "Silicon Valley;" Garry W. Tallent of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band; Mark Pender of The Max Weinberg 7 and Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band; and Johnny Pisano of the Jesse Malin Band and The Marky Ramone Band. Members of "Baby Wants Candy" have recently written the hit off-Broadway show "50 Shades! The Musical Parody" and "Shamilton: The Improvised Musical."

The Apollo Theater, located in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park since 1978, has been home to many of the city's biggest hits including the recent "Million Dollar Quartet," which holds the record for the longest-running Broadway musical in Chicago history. Resident companies of the Apollo Theater include Emerald City Theatre Company and "Baby Wants Candy," and many up-and-coming companies can be seen nightly in the theater's 50-seat downstairs studio. Recently renovated and fully accessible, the Apollo Theater's intimate 435-seat mainstage continues to deliver world-class theater as one of the city's premiere off-Loop houses.

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