Photo Flash: Berkeley Rep Presents GIRLFRIEND

Romance unfolds in a new musical wound around the tender love songs of Matthew Sweet's landmark album, Girlfriend. Meeting in homeroom. Cruising through town. Holding hands. Cheering from the stands. That awkward first kiss. In the world premiere of Girlfriend at Berkeley Rep, boy meets boy. It's an eternal story turned upside down, a dual-Romeo duet directed by Les Waters that's innocent-and Sweet. "Girlfriend is the breathless testimony of a fool for love," raves Rolling Stone, "a rock ‘n' roll valentine that delivers subtle wisdom with an exhilarating kick." Fall in love with the boy next door at Girlfriend.

The Players
Matthew Sweet became a star when the title track from Girlfriend hit the Billboard Top 10-and today it's a tune on Guitar Hero 2. A protégé of Michael Stipe, Sweet left his native Nebraska in the ‘80s to become part of the music scene in Athens, Georgia. Among Matthew's 16 albums are 100% Fun (1995), Altered Beast (1993), Blue Sky on Mars (1997), Earth (1989), In Reverse (1999), Inside (1986), Kimi Ga Suki (2004), Living Things (2004) and Son of Altered Beast (1994). He has recorded two volumes of classic hit duets from the ‘60s and ‘70s, Under the Covers, with Susannah Hoffs, and his most recent solo album is Sunshine Lies (2008). Matthew is also a skilled potter. His handmade ceramics are available at etsy.com/shop/LolinaArtPottery. Visit matthewsweet.com.
Todd Almond's musicals include Kansas City Choir Boy in collaboration with director Sam Gold, On the Levee with playwright Marcus Gardley (premiering in June at Lincoln Center Theater) and We Have Always Lived in the Castle with playwright Adam Bock. Almond is currently adapting A Separate Peace with Tony-Award winning playwright Warren Leight and is recording a follow-up to Mexico City, his solo album of original songs. toddalmond.com

Les Waters is the associate artistic director of Berkeley Rep. In the last five years, his shows have ranked among the year's best in The New Yorker, New York Times, Time Out New York, Time Magazine and USA Today. He made his Broadway debut last fall with his acclaimed production of In the Next Room (or the vibrator play).

TIX & INFO: (510) 647-2949 - berkeleyrep.org - (888) 4-BRT-Tix (toll-free)

Photo courtesy of kevinberne.com

Ryder Bach and Jason Hite

Shelley Doty on lead guitar, Jean DuSablon on bass, ieela Grant on drums and Julie Wolf on rhythm guitar and keyboards

Ryder Bach

Jason Hite

Ryder Bach and Jason Hite

Jason Hite and Ryder Bach

Ryder Bach and Jason Hite