A MARVIN HAMLISCH SONGBOOK Begins Tonight at Theo Ubique

Theo's summer cabaret will feature favorites and lesser-known gems by the Emmy-Grammy-Oscar-Tony winning composer Theo Ubique's summer cabaret of 2015 will turn to the songs of one of the best-loved composers of the 20th Century's later decades when it showcases the songs of Marvin Hamlisch from tonight, June 4 - July 12, 2015 at the No Exit Café, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave. in Rogers Park.

Music Director Aaron Benham (recently honored with three Jeff nominations for the 2014-15 season, including one for last summer's A Musical Tribute to the Andrews Sisters by Theo) is providing new arrangements for a program representing the full body of Hamlisch's work. Benham and a cast of six will perform numbers ranging from standards like "The Way We Were" and "Nobody Does It Better" through selections from his Broadway musicals (A Chorus Line, They're Playing Our Song, Sweet Smell of Success, The Goodbye Girl and Smile) and film scores (The Sting, Sophie's Choice). Courtney Crouse (of Theo Ubique's Chess) is the stage director and Chris Logan (of Theo's A Cole Porter Songbook and Bailiwick Chicago's Murder Ballad) is the choreographer.

The press opening will be Saturday, June 6 at 8 p.m., following previews tonight, June 4 at 7:30 p.m., and Friday, June 5 at 8 p.m.

The cast of six will include Caleb Baze (regional productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, Next to Normal, Shrek: The Musical, Godspell and All Shook Up), Patrick Byrnes (Griffin Theatre Company's Titanic, Kokandy Productions' Assassins), Stephanie Hansen (Theo's Aspects of Love and Drury Lane's Young Frankenstein ), Sarah Larson (Theo Ubique's A Musical Salute to the Andrews Sisters), Garrett Lutz (current Jeff Award nominee for Kokandy Productions' The Full Monty, Chicago Shakespeare's Short Shakespeare Macbeth) and Sarah Kelly-Wasserman (Light Opera Works' H.M. S. Pinafore, The Merry Widow and Gershwin's Greatest Hits). The design team includes Adam Veness (sets), Bill Morey (costumes), and Maya Michelle Fein (lighting).

Marvin Hamlisch had his first hit song a the age of 21 (Lesley Gore's recording of "Sunshine, Lollipops and Ranbows") and is one of just twelve people to date to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award. He became a celebrity in 1974 after winning three Oscars in one night (one for The Sting and two for The Way We Were) and rocked the entertainment world again in 1975 with his score for the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical A Chorus Line. He went on to write scores for another seven musicals and 32 films. Hamlisch also was principal conductor of the Pittsburgh Pops Orchestra from 1995 until his death at age 68 in 2013

Aaron Benham (Music Director/Arrangements) played Mark in a summer stock production of A Chorus Line ten years ago. Previously at Theo: Always, Patsy Cline; A Musical Tribute to the Andrews Sisters; A Cole Porter Songbook; Time After Time. Other Chicago Credits: The Wild Party, Carrie (Bailiwick Chicago); Melancholy Play (Piven); Sweet Smell of Success (Kokandy); We Three Lizas (About Face); Putting it Together (Porchlight); also work with American Theatre Company, New Colony, Timeline, Writer's. Teaching artist at Chicago Academy for the Arts, Roosevelt, Harper College, Chicago Opera Theater. BFA, Emerson College.

Courtney Crouse (Stage Director) a two-time Jeff Award winning actor, recently assisted Fred Anzevino on the Jeff Nominated A Kurt Weill Cabaret and last year's Jeff award winning production of Passion. Directing credits include 'S'Wonderful and Shout: the Mod Musical. Credits at the No Exit as an actor include Chess and Pump Boys and Dinettes.

Chris Logan (Choreographer) was recently seen in Bailiwick Chicago's Murder Ballad, and earlier this season in Theo Ubique's A Kurt Weill Cabaret and as performer, music director and choreographer of Raven Theatre's Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Goose. Chris has also appeared as an actor, singer and dancer in Theo Ubique's Passion and A Cole Porter Songbook. He has also worked with Marriott Lincolnshire, Paramount Aurora, The Music Theatre Company and BoHo. He was named one of the "Hot New Faces of Chicago Theatre, Class of 2012" by Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune.

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