CHICAGO – BoHo Theatre brings its 2018 season to a close with the classic musical romance 110 IN THE SHADE with music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones (the songwriting team of THE FANTASTICKS and I DO! I DO!), and book by N. Richard Nash, based on his play THE RAINMAKER. The production marks the final show for director Peter Marston Sullivan as BoHo Theatre’s Artistic Director, a position he has held since 2010. For BoHo, Sullivan has also directed such hits as DOGFIGHT, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, FLOYD COLLINS, and BIG RIVER. 110 IN THE SHADE will be choreographed by Aubrey Adams (Jeff Award winner for BoHo’s URINETOWN) with music direction by Ellen K. Morris (NEXT TO NORMAL, DOGFIGHT).

In a drought-stricken farming and ranching community somewhere in the American Southwest during the Depression, independent-minded farm woman Lizzie Curry fears remaining unmarried for the rest of her life. BoHo’s Lizzie will be Neala Barron, who earned raves earlier this year for her leading performance as Mary Flynn in Porchlight’s MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG and is also remembered for her work as Daisy in THE ADDING MACHINE with The Hypocrites. Lizzie’s best prospect for romance is Sheriff File, to be played by Denzel Tsopnang, a Jeff Award nominee this year for his Coalhouse Walker, Jr., in Griffin’s RAGTIME. Tsopnang also gained attention for his portrayal of Mr. Bones in Porchlight’s THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS. Cast as Bill Starbuck, the stranger who comes to town promising to end both the rain drought and Lizzie’s romantic drought, is Tommy Thurston, who appeared as The Professor in Pride Films and Plays’ YANK! and played Edward Bloom in Big Noise Theatre’s 2017 production of BIG FISH.

Sullivan’s cast also includes Peter Robel (Jeff nominated for BoHo’s I AM MY OWN WIFE) as Lizzie’s father H.C. Curry; Billy Dawson (Maximillian in Music Theater Works’ CANDIDE) as older brother Noah; and Christopher Ratliff (FOREVER PLAID at Theater at the Center) as younger brother Jimmy. Mariah Copeland, who appeared in EVER IN THE GLADES at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, will be Jimmy’s love interest Snookie. Also in the cast are Laz Estrada, Dan Gold, Parker Guidry, Max Kramer, Elissa Newcorn, Emily Senkowsky, and Sana Selemon.

The production team for 110 IN THE SHADE will be Meg Love (Producer), Patrick Ham (Scenic Design), G. Max Maxin (Lighting Design), Theresa Hamm (Costume Design), Anthony Churchill (Sound Design), Emily Boyd (Properties Design), Lindsay Brown (Production Manager), Dalton Long (Stage Manager).

110 IN THE SHADE will open to the press on Saturday, November 3 at 8 pm., following previews from Sunday, October 28 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Tickets will be on sale beginning October 1 at www.BoHoTheatre.com .

LISTING INFORMATION for 110 IN THE SHADE

Music by Harvey Schmidt Lyrics by Tom Jones Book by N. Richard Nash

Directed by Peter Marston Sullivan Music Direction by Ellen K. Morris Choreography by Aubrey Adams October 28 – December 16, 2018

Performing at Theater Wit, 1229 W Belmont Ave, Chicago

PERFORMANCE TIMES

Previews: Sunday, Oct 28 @ 5pm; Thursday, Nov 1 @ 8pm; Friday, Nov 2 @ 8pm

Press Opening / Opening Night: Saturday, November 3, at 8:00 pm **press invitation to follow Performance run: November 4 – December 16

Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. (No show Thanksgiving Day, November 22)

 

TICKETS

General Tickets on sale October 1 at www.BoHoTheatre.com or (773) 975-8150. Tickets are $25 for previews and $35 for regular performances.

THE PLAY

Based on N. Richard Nash’s own hit play THE RAINMAKER, 110 IN THE SHADE is set in the hard years of the Depression-era Dust Bowl. Saddled to a failing cattle ranch, the only woman in a family of menfolk, Lizzie Curry has just about given up hope of finding love and escape. But when a charming trickster named Starbuck breezes into town promising to bring rain for $100, Lizzie’s father gives the man the last of the family’s savings, knowing that what he has to offer them, and Lizzie, is more than just rain. 110 IN THE SHADE is a rousing musical about recognizing the beauty and potential locked away inside all of us.

THE PRODUCTION

“I have been in love with this show for years and have been advocating for BoHo to produce it for some time,” says director Peter Marston Sullivan. BoHo’s production of 110 IN THE SHADE will take an intimate and naturalistic approach to the material. The show caps Sullivan’s tenure as Artistic Director of BoHo Theatre, during which the company has reinterpreted a number of large-scale musicals such as FLOYD COLLINS, PARADE, and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC using intimate staging. Sullivan has said that he wishes to highlight the characters and the heart of this story, which can often get lost in extravagant orchestrations and production designs. “This production of 110 IN THE SHADE will be very grounded and gritty,” says Sullivan, “and really reflect the reality of life during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl era.” The production will infuse music through every element of the show, with the performers providing percussion on many of the songs.

Peter Marston Sullivan (director) has been Artistic Director of BoHo Theatre since 2010, where he directed DOGFIGHT, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (Jeff Award nomination for Direction), FLOYD COLLINS, BIG RIVER (Jeff Award nomination for Direction), PIPPIN, ICARUS, GHOSTS, I AM MY OWN WIFE (co-director), and M. BUTTERFLY. Peter earned a BA in Theatre and an MA in Teaching at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and an MFA in Directing at Illinois State University. He also directed THE PAJAMA GAME at the Northwestern University; BLACK COMEDY at Piccolo Theatre, and CRY HAVOC at Bailiwick. He has also worked with the Marriott Theatre for over twelve years, including his current position as Associate Artistic Director.

Ellen K. Morris (music director) has previously provided musical direction for BoHo Theatre on NEXT TO NORMAL, DOGFIGHT, and PARADE (Assistant Musical Director), as well as BoHo’s cabaret series since 2017. Other credits include THE HOUSE OF MARTIN GUERRE and ADDING MACHINE with The Hypocrites, VELVETEEN RABBIT, with (Marriott Theatre), NORTHANGER ABBEY with Lifeline Theatre, FANATICAL with the Chicago Musical Theatre Festival. Ellen also teaches and directs at Harper College, Northwestern University, and the Wilmette Park District.

BoHo Theatre’s mission is to create bold theatre that challenges convention through innovative storytelling and unites artist and audience in the examination of Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Love through the lens of human relationships. Its vision is to create a shared community of artists and patrons in which all members are moved through art to make thoughtful, well-examined, caring relationships the highest priority in their lives.

BoHo’s 2018 season featured CYRANO, a new translation of Edmond Rostand’s play by Michael Hollinger and Aaron Posner, at Theater Wit; A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler at the Greenhouse Theater Center; and 110 IN THE SHADE by Harvey Schmidt, Tom Jones, and Richard Nash at Theater Wit. BoHo’s upcoming 2019 season will include BRIGHT STAR by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, THE RIVER by Jez Butterworth, and BIG FISH by Andrew Lippa and John August.