Evening Star Productions presents GUTENTBERG! THE MUSICAL!

Evening Star Productions will leap even farther back into history, jumping from William Shakespeare (their recent production of A Midsummer Night's Dream played to appreciative audiences for three weeks in August) to Johannes Gutenberg when they produce Anthony King and Scott Brown's Gutenberg! The Musical! which will open on September 15th, and run through October 2nd at Boca Raton's Sol Theatre.

This uproarious spoof tells the story of two passionate musical theatre writers - desperate and bravely untalented - who perform a backer's audition for their new musical about the inventor of the printing press. With an unending supply of enthusiasm, the two authors sing all the songs and play all the parts in their crass historical epic.

Gutenberg! The Musical! opened at the Actor's Playhouse in January 2007; it was nominated for the 2007 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical and the 2007 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical, and its authors were nominated for the 2007 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical.

Gutenberg's director, Ben Sandomir, explains the play this way: "Bud and Doug are putting on a backer's audition for their new musical about the inventor of the printing press, Johannes Gutenberg. Since research materials on Johannes are "scant" they fill in the blanks with "historical fiction".

"Bud and Doug are played by two local South Florida actors, Robyn Eli Brenner and Alex Weiss," he continues. "They also play all 18 characters in the musical, a mighty but fitting task for a play about two artists shooting for the stars. As the director, I've spent the last few months trying to figure out how Bud and Doug can transport the audience to the word of their magnum opus on a shoestring budget inside a small black box theatre. I think our audiences will laugh and be entertained and fall in love with these hopeless optimists, as I have."

"As an actor you always want the opportunity to do something like Gutenberg - a two-man, full length musical." Robyn Eli Brenner says. "And I'm extremely proud and honored to be doing such a funny piece of theatre - one that audiences probably wouldn't get to see if it weren't for this production."

Alex Weiss, who plays Doug, agrees: "I'm so excited to be working with this extremely talented cast and crew on Gutenberg! The Musical!" he says. "With Ben's direction and unique perspective, I really think we will be bringing something to South Florida that's never been done before. Plus, I get to play a variety of different characters including a woman named after a font. It's the little things!"

Weiss has also offered a thought from the enthusiastic perspective of his character, Doug Simon: "I can't wait to bring our musical to the people! Bud and I have always wanted to be on Broadway and I truly feel like this is the first and only step that we will need to get there."

Gutenberg! The Musical! will run from September 15 - October 2 at Sol Theatre in Boca Raton. Tickets are $25 and $10 for students. Group rates are also available. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased by calling 561-447-8829 or on line at www.eveningstarproductions.org.

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