Lost Note Theater's CARNIVAL! to Play Strawdog Theatre, 3/22-29

Lost Note Theater Company, dedicated to presenting concert readings of obscure and forgotten musicals, is pleased to present CARNIVAL! with music and lyrics by Bob Merrill, book by Michael Stewart, based on material by Helen Deutsch, directed by Stephen Murray and musical direction by Charlotte Rivard-Hoster. CARNIVAL! will play three performances only March 22 - March 29, 2014 at Strawdog Theatre Company's Hugen Hall, 3829 N. Broadway in Chicago.

Tickets are currently on sale at brownpapertickets.com. Last season, Lost Note Theater Company, presented its hit inaugural production, I Can Get It For You Wholesale.

CARNIVAL! will feature Jeffrey Gitelle, Rachel Klippel, Paul G. Miller, Amanda Newman, Annie Passanisi, Brian Rooney and Ed Rutherford.

CARNIVAL! is a 1961 musical based on the 1953 movie Lili and Paul Gallico's novella "Love of Seven Dolls." When Lili, a sheltered orphan, runs off with the Cirque de Paris her romantic fantasies are challenged by a seedy reality. She soon finds herself wooed by a lecherous magician, a troupe of friendly puppets and their unseen puppeteer. The score includes "Her Face," "Mira" and "Love Makes the World Go Round."

Additional production credits for CARNIVAL! include Amanda Newman (choreography), Sean Ewert (puppet consultant), Brett Schneider (magic consultant), Bethany Schrader (stage manager) and Paul G. Miller (artistic producer).

CARNIVAL! will play Strawdog Theatre Company's Hugen Hall, 3829 N. Broadway, 2nd Floor, Chicago. Dates/Curtain Times: Saturday, March 22 at 3 pm, Wednesday, March 26 at 7 pm and Saturday, March 29 at 3 pm. Tickets: $20; $10 senior and industry. Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com.

About the Artists:

Bob Merrill (Music and Lyrics) During the late 1940s and 1950s, Bob Merrill was a popular songwriter with a string of hits including "Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania," "My Truly, Truly Fair," "Sparrow in the Tree Top," "Love Makes the World Go 'Round" and "Mambo Italiano." Later returning to Broadway, Merrill scored his biggest hit with the Streisand vehicle Funny Girl, which in addition to "People," also launched the perennial "Don't Rain on My Parade." In 1964, Merrill won the New York Drama Critics award for his work on Carnival and New Girl in Town.

Michael Stewart (Book) Michael Stewart scored on Broadway the first time out when he won a Tony Award for his Bye Bye Birdie libretto. He was also the librettist for Carnival! (Drama Critics Circle Award) and Hello, Dolly!, which won him both Tony and Drama Critics prizes. He also wrote the books for 42nd Street (with Mark Bramble, Tony Award nomination), George M!, Mack and Mabel and The Grand Tour; both book and lyrics for I Love My Wife; and lyrics for Barnum.

Stephen Murray (Director) Stephen F. Murray is a freelance-director who's credit's include Laer's Last Prayer (Ghostlight Productions); The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The Fall of the House of Usher (City Lit Theater); Spring Awakening, Our Country's Good (Promethean Theatre Ensemble); Dramatic Twerp (Links Hall & Oracle Theatre); Mark Twain: Patriot, Teacher, Philosopher (St. Sebastian Players); and Cat & Dick (Speaking Ring Theatre - winner of the Critic's Pick 2005 Vitality Festival). His work has been seen at the New York International Fringe Festival where he directed The Darling Children. Other companies he has worked with include 500 Clown, 2nd Story and Bailiwick Repertory. Currently he serves on the Advisory Committee for the Chicago Chapter of Arts in Sacred Places and is an Associate of the Side Project.

Lost Note Theater Company, now in its second season, is dedicated to presenting concert readings of obscure and forgotten musicals. For more information, visit paulgmiller.wix.com/lostnotetheatrecompany or facebook.com/LostNoteTheatreCompany.

Pictured: Rachel Klippel and Brian Rooney. Photo by Emily Schwartz.