Illusion Theater Presents ALWAYS AND FOREVER, 8/22

When the first production of ALWAYS & FOREVER was on stage at Illusion Theater in 1996, it played to standing-room-only crowds for more than three months. After nearly 15 years of audience requests, Illusion Theater is pleased to announce the return of the hit musical revue, created by Richard D. Thompson, Sanford Moore and Garry Q. Lewis. Always and Forever, starring original cast members T. Mychael Rambo and Dennis Spears, will run August 22-October 3, 2010, at the Illusion's 8th floor theater, 528 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis (previews to be held Friday and Saturday, August 20-21).

Set in a 1970's urban neighborhood barbershop, the play gives audiences a view of various aspects of love through the eyes and experiences of four African American men as they relate their stories through popular R&B songs of the 60s and 70s, including tunes by The Jackson Five, Percy Sledge, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smoky Robinson and Earth, Wind & Fire.

T. Mychael Rambo returns to play Durius Wright, the wise and worldy barbershop owner singing, "You Send Me," "Do You Love Me?" and "Betcha By Golly Wow." Also returning to the role he created, Dennis Spears will stalk the stage as Leviticus Tucker singing, "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Baby," "Tears of a Clown" and Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On." The revue will be presented with a live five-member band led by Sanford Moore.

The world premiere of Always & Forever was presented as part of Illusion Theater's 1996 Season. Richard D. Thompson and Sanford Moore developed the show together after working at Illusion on the revue, Blues in the Night. Producing Director Michael Robins asked Moore and Thompson "if they might be interested in constructing a musical revue as a response [to Blues in the Night] revealing the male point of view about relationships." First, they constructed the characters and then found songs to illustrate the different men's perspectives about love and loving. Sanford Moore said, "We picked songs purely from what the lyrics said...I found so much of this music to be so poetic and so passionate."

Receiving rave reviews, Always & Forever was sold out for more than three months and extended its run to accommodate the demand. The Minneapolis Star Tribune said, "It's the music, which always colors the characters, that is the charming heart of this show...energizing this guy show is the smooth, street-smart choreography of Garry Q. Lewis. Don't miss this one." Drama-Logue wrote, "Always and Forever creates its own brand of theatrical magic, and it's impossible to resist being drawn into its warm and love-filled embrace." From City Pages came, "Always and Forever might be the best thing of its kind to come to town since Solid Gold Soul radio."

Following the sold-out shows at Illusion, the Omicron Boulé invited Illusion to do a special encore performance of Always & Forever when its national conference was held in the Twin Cities in 2000. Always & Forever was presented for one night only in the old Guthrie Theater, followed by a limited run in Illusion's theater in September 2000.

Single tickets for Always & Forever are $15-40 and are now on sale at the Illusion Theater Box Office, 528 Hennepin Avenue, 8th floor, by calling 612-339-4944 or online at www.illusiontheater.org. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for a group discount.

The Illusion Theater is located on the 8th floor of the Hennepin Center for the Arts at 528 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis. The building is on the corner of 6th Street and Hennepin Avenue, just one block from Metro Transit's Hiawatha Light-Rail Line. Construction for the Shubert Theater renovation project will continue throughout the summer and fall, but the doorway to the Hennepin Center for the Arts and Illusion Theater is wide open for audiences.

Photo credit: Lauren B Photography

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