7th House Theater's JONAH AND THE WHALE: A NEW MUSICAL Begins Tonight at the Guthrie

The Guthrie Theater presents the 7th House Theater production of Jonah and the Whale: A New Musical, a reimagining of the familiar Old Testament tale, set to original bluegrass and folk music.

Jonah and the Whale: A New Musical features a book by Tyler Mills, and music and lyrics by David Darrow and Blake Thomas. Under the direction of Emily King and Tyler Michaels, the cast features Gracie Kay Anderson, Cat Brindisi, Serena Brook, David Darrow, Mary Fox, Robert Frost, Derek Prestly, Matt Riehle, Grant Sorenson, Blake Thomas and Kendall Anne Thompson.

Jonah and the Whale: A New Musical will play December 19-28 in the Dowling Studio. Single tickets start at $22 ($15 for the December 19 preview), and are on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE, 612.225.6244 (Group Sales) and online at www.guthrietheater.org.

7th House will re-imagine one of the most peculiar but familiar stories in the Old Testament with this bluegrass/folk musical that appeals to all ages. Featuring 13 local performers and a completely original score, Jonah and the Whale is an unforgettable story of faith, loss and survival against unbeatable odds. Emily King and Tyler Michaels direct this grand ensemble adventure in the Guthrie Theater's Dowling Studio, overlooking the Mississippi River where much of the play unfolds.

The cast features the talents of Gracie Kay Anderson (Buoyant Group: Chief, 7th House Theater:Little Shop of Horrors), Cat Brindisi (Guthrie: My Fair Lady; Chanhassen Dinner Theatres: Hello, Dolly!), Serena Brook (Chanhassen Dinner Theatres: Fiddler on the Roof, 7th House Theater: debut), David Darrow (Guthrie: Crimes of the Heart, Skiing on Broken Glass), Mary Fox (Yellow Tree Theatre: Sylvia, 7th House: debut), Robert Frost (Sabes Jewish Community Center: Philly, 7th House Theater: Little Shop of Horrors), Derek Prestly (Chanhassen Dinner Theatres: Fiddler on the Roof, 7th House Theater: HAIR), Matt Riehle (Chanhassen Dinner Theatres: Jesus Christ Superstar, 7th House Theater: HAIR), Grant Sorenson (Frank Theatre: Threepenny Opera, 7th House Theater:Little Shop of Horrors), Blake Thomas (Yellow Tree Theatre: Stay Tuned, 7th House Theater: debut) and Kendall Anne Thompson (History Theatre: Radio Man, 7th House Theater: debut).

The artistic team for Jonah and the Whale: A New Musical includes Tyler Michaels and Emily King(Co-Directors), Mandi Johnson (Costume Designer), James Eischen (Lighting Designer), Nicholas Gosen (Sound Designer), Blake Thomas (Music Director) and Robert Frost (Vocal Direction).

Tyler Mills (Book) is a playwright and improviser living in the Twin Cities. His plays include Colored,Two Dead Boys and Hello Stranger, one of the most reviewed shows of the 2013 Fringe Festival. Mills performs weekly at HUGE Theater as a part of Bearded Men Improv and is a board member of the P.O.V. Film Collective and Newton Theatre. Jonah and the Whale marks his first book for a musical. He holds a degree in theater from Minot State University.

David Darrow (Music and Lyrics) is an actor and musician living and working in Minneapolis. He has been seen on stage at the Guthrie (Crimes of the Heart, Skiing on Broken Glass), Theater Latté Da, Ten Thousand Things, The Playwrights' Center, Sandbox Theater, and others. He composed the music and lyrics for Rip, a musical adaptation of "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving, for the Fringe Festival in 2012. He received a bachelor's degree in theater from Albright College, and is a former Acting Apprentice at the Actors Theater of Louisville.

Blake Thomas (Music and Lyrics) is a performing songwriter, composer, writer and actor. His original musical Stay Tuned (co-written with Mary Fox and Andy Frye) debuted in April 2013 at Yellow Tree Theatre. Other recent work includes: Constable Warren/musician in Our Town (Theatre Latté Da), and original scores for Known But To God (Normandale Theatre) and Peter Pan (The Duluth Playhouse). He lives in Duluth, Minn. where he produces a monthly live variety radio show and podcast titled "Take It With You."

Emily King (Co-Director) is a Twin Cities-based director, choreographer and performer. She has worked with The Moving Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Black Label Movement, Jon Ferguson, the Minnesota Opera, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, and Leigh Fondakowski, among others. She has devised and performed in several pieces with Live Action Set, including the Ivey Award-winning The 7 Shot Symphony. Ms. King's choreographic and directorial work has been featured in the Walker Art Center's Choreographer's Evening in 2009 and 2012, 7th House Theater's production of HAIR, and Hello, Stranger by Newton Theater, which was a 2013 Fringe favorite. King also styles photo shoots and arranges flowers for her business Prairie Fair.

Tyler Michaels (Co-Director) is a director, performer and improviser based in the Twin Cities. He has worked with the Guthrie (A Christmas Carol, My Fair Lady), Theater Latté Da (Cabaret), Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Illusion Theater, Flying Foot Forum, and Minneapolis Musical Theater as well as many others. Michaels has devised new works with Live Action Set and Newton Theater, and is a co-creator of Once Upon A Chalkboard one of 2013's Top 15 Fringe shows. He is also a founding member of Bearded Men Improv which performs weekly at HUGE Theater. Tyler received the 2014 Emerging Artist Ivey Award and the Mark Twain Comedic Performance Award from the Kennedy Center.

7TH HOUSE THEATER is dedicated to creating new, innovative and re-imagined stage productions with an emphasis on music as a theatrical element. Founded in 2013, 7th House seeks to get at the heart of the plays they produce by stripping them down to their bare essentials and focusing on the connection between actors, musicians and audience. 7th House productions include Hair, Cinephiliaand Little Shop of Horrors.

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