Refuge Theatre Project to Open Second Season with HIGH FIDELITY

Refuge Theatre Project's second season will open on January 29, 2016 with High Fidelity - the musical based on Nick Hornby's 1995 novel and on Stephen Frears' 2000 feature-film adaptation that starred Chicago natives John Cusack, Joan Cusack and Lili Taylor. The musical, with a score by Tom Kitt (Next to Normal, Bring It On The Musical, If/Then), book by David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole, Shrek the Musical, Good People) and lyrics by Amanda Green (Bring It On The Musical, Hands on a Hardbody) is the story of Rob, the owner of the vintage record shop Championship Vinyl. Rob tries to make sense of his recent split with girlfriend Laura by reviewing the "top five breakups" of his life. High Fidelity takes place mostly in Rob's record store and the Refuge Theatre Project's staging will be performed in a store created especially for this production: the aptly-named "Refuge Records" at 666 W. Hubbard St., Chicago.

High Fidelity will be directed and choreographed by Christopher Pazdernik, whose previous credits include directing Porchlight's Anyone Can Whistle and Miracle on 34th Street as well as Jedlicka Performing Arts Center's A Streetcar Named Desire. Pazdernik has also choreographed Bailiwick Chicago's Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson and produced and directed a series of successful cabarets at Davenport's saluting Broadway's greatest songwriters. John Cockerill will be music director.

Leading the cast as Rob will be Max DeTogne, who earned a Jeff Award nomination in 2015 for the title role in Theo Ubique's Jesus Christ Superstar. Laura will be played by Chicago singer/songwriter/actress Liz Chidester, whose debut album "People Pumping Pedals" was released in 2014 under the Chicago Acoustic Underground's label CAU Dog Records. She was nominated for "Best Female Vocalist" in the Chicago Music Awards 2015. Appearing as Rob's buddies Dick and Barry will be Stephen Garrett (Quest Ensemble's A Christmas Carol: The Musical) and Nick Druzbanski (Henry VIII at Chicago Shakespeare). Also in the cast are Caitlin Jackson, Britain Gebhardt, Kelly Baskin, Will Wilhelm, Noah Berman, Jacob Fjare, Tony Carter, Amy Stricker, Lissie Schwartzrock, Lewis Rawlinson, Stephanie Rohr and Bradley Halverson.

The design team and production staff include Michelle Manni (set and props design), Derrick Valenti (costume design), Richard Schroeder (sound design), Jessica Doyle (lighting design) and JC Widman (stage manager).

Preview performances will be Friday, January 29, 2016 and Saturday, January 30 at 8 pm both nights. Press opening will be Sunday, January 31 at 6 pm. All seats for previews are $15.00 plus applicable ticketing fees. Performances will be Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through February 28th. All seats for the regular run are $20.00 plus applicable fees. Tickets may be ordered online at www.refugetheatre.com .

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