Northlight Theatre Presents SNAPSHOTS, Closes 10/23

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, opens its 37th season with the Chicago premiere of Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by David Stern. Snapshots is directed by Ken Sawyer and runs September 16 - October 23, 2011. The press opening is Friday, September 23, 2011.

Snapshots blends together some of the best-loved music with some of the genuinely wonderful lesser known gems of renowned Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz, the creator of Wicked, Godspell, Pippin! and Working.

This touching romantic comedy exposes a marriage at a crossroads, as a couple reminisces how love brought them together and why life pushed them apart. Mr. Schwartz has rewritten many of the lyrics to even his most familiar songs to reflect the fascinating story and characters of this new work. Funny and bittersweet, Snapshots brings into focus all the wonders and frustrations of trusting your heart and believing your memories.

The cast includes Gene Weygandt in his third production with Stephen Schwartz, following Wicked and Working; and Susie McMonagle, the lead of the Mamma Mia! National Tour and direct from the Billy Elliott National Tour. Snapshots also features Tony Clarno, Nick Cosgrove, Jess Godwin and Megan Long.

Designers include Jack Magaw (set), Elizabeth Flauto (costumes); Jesse Klug (lights); Mike Tutaj (projections) and Lindsay Jones (sound). Rita Vreeland is the stage manager). The Music Director is Chuck Larkin. The Musical Supervisor and Arranger is Steve Orich (Tony nomination for Best Orchestrations, Jersey Boys).

"Stephen Schwartz is one of the greats of American Musical Theatre. Bringing Snapshots to Northlight is a great opportunity for local artists to work with this legendary composer, and for our audience to glimpse his favorite musical pieces in a new context." says Artistic Director BJ Jones. "Snapshots is the next step in Northlight's ongoing dedication to new work and long-standing commitment to new musicals, including the world premieres of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, A Marvelous Party, Studs Terkel's ‘The Good War', and most recently, Daddy Long Legs."

Relevant Theatricals and Cardboard Belt Productions have been developing this project for the past several years and most recently worked on the musical with David Stern, Stephen Schwartz and the creative team in preparation for its Chicago premiere.

"Stephen's work is unparalleled and, Snapshots, in particular, is a beautiful piece of musical theatre that features many of his best-loved songs. I couldn't be more thrilled about Northlight wanting to bring Snapshots to Chicago audiences," says Relevant producer Gigi Pritzker.

Stephen Schwartz (Composer/Lyricist) has contributed music and/or lyrics to Godspell, Pippin, The Magic Show, The Baker's Wife, Working (which he also adapted and directed), Rags, Children Of Eden and the current Broadway hit, Wicked. He collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on the English texts for Bernstein's Mass and wrote the title song for the play and movie Butterflies Are Free. For children, he has written songs for two musicals, Captain Louie and My Son Pinocchio. For films, he collaborated with Alan Menken on the songs for Disney's Enchanted as well as the animated features Pocahontas and The Hunchback Of Notre Dame and wrote the songs for the DreamWorks animated feature The Prince Of Egypt. He has released two CDs of new songs entitled Reluctant Pilgrim and Uncharted Territory. His first opera, Seance on a Wet Afternoon, premiered with Opera Santa Barbara in the fall of 2009. A book about his career, "Defying Gravity," has recently been released by Applause Books. Under the auspices of the ASCAP Foundation, he runs Musical Theatre Workshops in New York and Los Angeles, and is currently the President of the Dramatists' Guild. Mr. Schwartz has recently been given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Other awards include three Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards, four Drama Desk Awards, and a tiny handful of tennis trophies.

David Stern (Book Writer) began his career working on the Broadway productions of Miss Saigon, Nick & Nora and Big. He then wrote the plays Dreams & Stuff and Finders of Lost Luggage. After a small detour into directing with the NY revival of Starting Here, Starting Now and a stint with The American Project at Circle in the Square, he wrote for NPR's The 1990's Radio Hour and a Half. David then migrated west where has written numerous movies, including: Geppetto for the Wonderful World of Disney (nominated for four Emmy Awards), Open Season 2 (nominated for an Annie Award), Open Season 3 as well as the upcoming The Hotel Transylvania, and Henry & Me. He recently finished the stage adaptation of Geppetto entitled My Son, Pinocchio, and is currently writing and producing Turkeys-an animated feature starring Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson, due in theaters Thanksgiving 2012.

Ken Sawyer (Director) most recently directed the world premiere of Lovelace: A Rock Opera at the Hayworth Theatre, winning the LA Weekly Award for Best Director of a Musical. He directed Dracula (Winner 2 LA Ovation Awards, nominated Drama Critics and LA Weekly Awards) at NoHo Arts Center. His LA production of Woman in Black ran for over a year, setting box office records and winning five Ovation Awards and four Drama Critics Circle Awards. Other noteworthy productions include the new musical One Red Flower at Carnegie Mellon University and a subsequent production in LA starring Maureen McGovern, Hunter Parrish, David Burnham and Levi Kreis; and the LA premiere of Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus' adaptation of Crime & Punishment. As an accomplished sound designer, he has created original scores for most of the plays he has directed, including The Woman in Black, for which he won the Ovation and the Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Sound Design. Ken is a BFA graduate of The Juilliard School. He is also an alumnus of the Lincoln Center Director's Lab West and the LaMama Italy International Directors Workshop.

Tony Clarno (Daniel) Chicago credits include Grease (American Theater Company) Aladdin (Chicago Shakespeare Theater) and Stupid Kids (About Face Theatre). Regional credits include work at the Guthrie Theater, Jungle Theater, Portland Center Stage, Great River Shakespeare Festival and Pittsburgh Public. Film credits include Peaceful Warrior (Lions Gate). Television credits include Pandemic and Shark Swarm (The Hallmark Channel).

Nick Cosgrove (Danny) is making his Northlight Theatre debut. Off-Broadway credits include Encores! Where's Charley? (dir. John Doyle). He appeared in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph) at the New Theatre; The Sound of Music (Rolf) at the Engeman Theatre; Titanic (Fleet), Les Miserables (Joly), and Fiddler on the Roof (Chaim) at The Muny in St. Louis. He holds a BFA Acting/Music Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University.

Jess Godwin (Susan) Past theatre credits include Court Theatre (Carousel), Porchlight Music Theatre (Gypsy, A Wonderful Life, Sunday in the Park with George), Steppenwolf (Lady Madeline), Bohemian Theatre Ensemble (The Wild Party, Songs for a New World, The Life), and Pegasus Players (Tick...Tick...BOOM!). In the past two years, she has been focusing most of her performing energies towards writing, performing, and recording her own piano-based pop/soul music. Recent Chicago venues include Double Door, Mayne Stage, Schubas, Navy Pier, and Bottom Lounge. She has recently toured to New York, LA, Boston, Detroit, Atlanta, Toronto, Philadelphia and New Orleans. Jess will be releasing a new music video, "Out with the Old" in November.

Megan Long (Susie) Chicago credits include The Emperor's New Clothes, Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream at Chicago Shakespeare; Meet Me in St. Louis at Drury Lane Watertower; A Little Night Music at Light Opera Works; Always, Patsy Cline, Married Alive! Fox Valley Repertory; Little Women Marriott Theatre; Carter's Way at Steppenwolf; A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Oakbrook; and My Favorite Year at Bailiwick Repertory.

Susie McMonagle (Sue) appeared on Broadway as Fantine in Les Miserables. First National tours include Billy Elliot (Mrs. Wilkinson and Mum). Other National Tours include Mamma Mia (Donna), Les Miserables (Fantine), The Secret Garden and The Sound of Music. Regional credits include Rock n Roll at the Goodman, Man of La Mancha at Court, and Sideshow and At Wit's End at Northlight. Chicago credits include Indian Ink, Dirty Blonde, Spitfire Grill, Annie Get Your Gun, Miss Saigon, Anything Goes, Cats, Evita and Chess. She is the recipient of 9 Joseph Jefferson nominations, After Dark Awards and a Critics' Circle Award.

Gene Weygandt (Dan), a three-time Jefferson Award recipient, was most recently seen in Working, and previously as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in Wicked, both in Chicago and on Broadway. Also on Broadway, he created the role of Paul, the bad boyfriend, in big: the Musical. Regional credits include: The Music Man, My Old Lady, Taming of the Shrew, Me and My Girl, Little Me, Lend Me a Tenor, Little Shop of Horrors, and A Day in Hollywood, among others. Film: The Birdcage, The Babe, The Pager. Television: Murphy Brown, Home Improvement, Cybill, The Drew Carey Show, Ellen, Coach, University Hospital.

Tickets for Snapshots, $25-65, are available by phone at 847.673.6300, or online at northlight.org. Young Adult tickets (25 and under) are $10 (one per person with valid ID).

The Box Office is located at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Boulevard, in Skokie. Box Office hours are Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm, and Saturdays 12:00pm-5:00pm. On performance days, the box office hours are extended through showtime. The Box Office is closed on Sundays, except on performance days when it is open two hours prior to showtime.

Curtain times are: Tuesdays at 7:30pm (September 20 and October 11 only); Wednesdays at 1:00pm (except October 5) and 7:30pm (except October 12); Thursday at 7:30pm; Fridays at 8:00pm (except Opening on September 23, at 7:30pm); Saturdays at 2:30pm (except September 17) and 8:00pm; and Sundays at 2:30pm and 7:00pm (except September 25, October 2 and October 23).

Northlight is continuing its three popular special event series in conjunction with each production. All events are free for subscribers and ticket holders.

Casual Friday is an informal evening of conversation and socializing for the after-work crowd. The evening includes a pre-show cash bar, mingling with artists, and a short presentation and Q&A, followed by the evening's performance at 8:00pm. Casual Friday for Snapshots will be held September 30 at 6:30pm.

Salon Series is a series of panel discussions led by local experts for audience members to gain deeper insight into each of the five plays-including historical context, playwright background and influences and much more. Salon Series is held prior to select Sunday matinee performances. The Salon for Snapshots will be held at 1:00 pm October 2 at 1:00pm. Reservations are required, specialevents@northlight.org or 847.679.9501 x3555.

Backstage with BJ is a mid-day discussion with Artistic Director BJ Jones, featuring special guest artists, actors, directors and designers, offering behind-the-scenes insight into each production while it is still in rehearsal. Backstage with BJ for Snapshots will be held on September 16 at 12:00pm and will last approximately one hour. Reservations are required, specialevents@northlight.org or 847.679.9501 x3555.

Northlight Theatre aspires to promote change of perspective and encourage compassion by exploring the depth of our humanity across a bold spectrum of theatrical experiences, reflecting our community to the world and the world to our community.

Now in its 37th season, the organization has mounted nearly 190 productions, including over 40 world premieres. Northlight has earned 151 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations and 28 Awards. As one of the area's premier theatre companies, Northlight is a regional magnet for critical and professional acclaim, as well as talent of the highest quality.

Northlight is supported in part by generous contributions from The Allyn Foundation; Blackman Kallick Bartelstein, LLP; the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; ComEd, An Exelon Company; Edgerton Foundation for New American Plays Award; Ernst & Young; Evanston Community Foundation; Harris Bank; Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; The Irving Harris Foundation; The Joyce Foundation; Kirkland & Ellis Foundation; The Lehman Family American Experience Series; The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; MetLife Foundation; McKinsey & Company; Modestus Bauer Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; North Shore Center for the Performing Arts Foundation; Nuveen Investments; The Offield Family Foundation; The Pauls Foundation; Sanborn Family Foundation; Dr. Scholl Foundation; Shubert Foundation; Sullivan Family Foundation; and the Theatre Communications Group.

This touching romantic comedy exposes a marriage at a crossroads, as a middle-aged couple reminisces how love brought them together and why life pushed them apart. Mr. Schwartz has rewritten many of the lyrics to even his most familiar songs to reflect the fascinating story and characters of this new work. Funny and bittersweet, Snapshots brings into focus all the wonders and frustrations of trusting your heart and believing your memories.

Title: Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook
Music & lyrics: Stephen Schwartz
Book by: David Stern
Conceived by: Michael Scheman and David Stern
Additional music & lyrics by:
David Crane, Seth Friedman, Marta Kaufman, Alan Menken and Charles Strouse
Directed by: Ken Sawyer
Musical Direction by: Chuck Larkin
Musical Staging by: Karl Christian
Musical Supervisor & Arranger: Steve Orich

Cast: Tony Clarno, Nick Cosgrove, Jess Godwin, Megan Long, Susie McMonagle and Gene Weygandt

Designers: Jack Magaw (set), Elizabeth Flauto (costumes); Jesse Klug (lights); Mike Tutaj (projections) and Lindsay Jones (sound)

Dates: Previews: September 16-22, 2011
Press opening: September 23, 2011
Regular run: September 24-October 23, 2011

Schedule: Tuesdays: 7:30pm (September 20 and October 11 only)
Wednesdays: 1:00pm (except October 5) and 7:30pm
(except October 12)
Thursdays: 7:30pm
Fridays: 8:00pm
(except Opening on September 23, at 7:30pm)
Saturdays: 2:30pm (except September 17) and 8:00pm
Sundays: 2:30pm and
7:00pm (except September 25, October 2 and October 23)

Location: Northlight Theatre is located at the North Shore Center for
the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie.

Tickets: Previews: $25-$45
Regular run: $25-$65
Tickets for those 25 and under are $10, any performance, (subject to availability)

Box Office: The Box Office is located at 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie.
847.673.6300; northlight.org