CST & Second City Extend ROB BLAGOJEVICH SUPERSTAR At Navy Pier Through 8/9

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) and Second City announced today that the hit musical Rod Blagojevich Superstar will be extending its run on Navy Pier through August 9th, due to tremendous demand and irresistible new source material provided daily by the former governor. The show plays in a cabaret-style setting in which audience members can enjoy drinks Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare and, following each performance, the cast improvises a 20-minute political comedy set based on audience suggestions. Rod Blagojevich Superstar is now running through August 9, 2009 Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare. Performance dates are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 3:00pm, 7:00pm and 9:30pm and Sundays at 3:00pm. All patrons receive a 40% parking discount. Tickets are $25 ($20 for groups of 10 or more) and may be purchased by visiting Chicago Shakespeare Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com or calling the CST Box Office at 312.595.5600.

Although Patti Blagojevich has left the country for the treacherous Costa Rican jungle on the show I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, Rod can't seem to escape the brutal Illinois political and media jungles as his saga continues to make headlines. As the Blagojevich scandal unfolds, the hit musical will continue to evolve including a completely improvised piece in which audience suggestions prompt the reason for dismissing the former first lady from the jungle. A brand new dance-mix of the federally released Roland Burris/Rob Blagojevich conversation will be featured before the improvisation set.

Rod Blagojevich Superstar follows the rise and fall of Rod Blagojevich with a 70s rock opera-like soundtrack and a story ripped straight from the headlines, and also stars all the key supporting players in the scandal including Roland Burris, Lisa Madigan, Patrick Fitzgerald, Patti Blagojevich and Richard Mell.

Rod Blagojevich Superstar marks Second City's third production with Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The two companies first worked together in 2001 to create the critically acclaimed production of Hamlet! the Musical, followed by Romeo and Juliet the Musical in 2004. With Rod Blagojevich Superstar, Chicago Shakespeare and Second City continue their long tradition of bringing classic theater together with contemporary satire.

The acclaimed cast of Rod Blagojevich Superstar includes Joey Bland (Rod Blagojevich), Lauren Dowden (Lisa Madigan), Randall Harr (Richard Mell/Pat Fitzgerald), Lori McClain (Patti Blagojevich) and Sam Richardson (Roland Burris).

Written by Ed Furman with Music & Lyrics by T.J. Shanoff, the production team includes Matt Hovde (Director), Boaz Reisman (Musical Director), J. Jackson Smith (Stage Manager) and Lisa McQueen (Chorographer).

Rod Blagojevich Superstar contains adult humor and language and is recommended for mature audiences.

Rod Blagojevich Superstar is now running through August 9, 2009 Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare. Performance dates are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 3:00pm, 7:00pm and 9:30pm and Sundays at 3:00pm. All patrons receive a 40% parking discount. Tickets are $25 ($20 for groups of 10 or more) and may be purchased by visiting Chicago Shakespeare Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com or calling the CST Box Office at 312.595.5600. For more information about Rod Blagojevich Superstar and other Second City Shows visit www.secondcity.com