Goodman Theatre Extends ANIMAL CRACKERS Through 11/1

Goodman Theatre proudly extends Animal Crackers through November 1, 2009. Director Henry Wishcamper's production of this rarely staged Marx Brothers classic musical has been hailed "pure pleasure" (Time Out Chicago) in which "not a minute goes by when the audience isn't being awed by the spectacle (and) astonished by the breakneck comic mayhem." (Daily Herald). Casting note: for all performances during the extension week, Mara Davi and Tony Yazbeck will be replaced by their understudies, Katie Spelman and Patrick Sarb. Production Sponsors for Animal Crackers include Abbott, Mayer Brown LLP, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Goodman Theatre's Women's Board.

Added performances of Animal Crackers include:

Wednesday, October 28 at 7:30pm
Thursday, October 29 at 2pm and 7:30pm
Friday, October 30 at 8pm
Saturday, October 31 at 8pm
Sunday, November 1 at 2pm (closing)
In Animal Crackers, chaos ensues at the Long Island estate of Mrs. Rittenhouse when a celebrated painting 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 by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, with music and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, Animal Crackers at the Goodman features a virtuosic cast of nine: 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.

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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