Photo Flash: Creators Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen Visit NOW. HERE. THIS. Chicago Premiere

The cast and staff oF Brown Paper Box Co.'s summer production of Now. Here. This. was surprised on Friday, August 5 by the show's original creative team, collaborators, and stars. Jeff Bowen (music and lyrics), Tony Award nominee Hunter Bell (book), and original director and choreographer Michael Berresse caught the Chicago premiere of their work and met with Brown Paper Box Co.'s team and Audience members following the performance. The cast, band, and staff took to social media to share the excitement - check out photos below!

From the award-winning writing team that brought you [title of show], Now. Here. This. - in its first production in or around Chicago - is a new musical tackling life's big questions with humor and humanity. In its Chicago premiere, the show follows the evolution and adventures of four friends in a natural history museum as they journey through time - from the present day museum, to their formative pasts, and back again. Inspired by various exhibits, the foursome share stories about friendship, hoarding, roller coasters, dying, middle school, and Archer the security guard in an attempt to step from the past into that elusive present moment...into the Now. Here. This.

The cast includes the reunited co-stars oF Brown Paper Box Co.'s Jeff Award nominated [title of show] - Neala Barron(Woman 1), Jeff Award nominee Matt Frye (Man 2), and Anna Schutz* (Woman 2) - with Nick Shoda* (Man 1) joining the cast. Chad Michael Innis (Male Understudy) and Kristi Szczepanek (Female Understudy) round out the team, withJustin Harner* (piano), Conor Foley (guitar), Matt Ulm (bass), and Jonathan Levitt (drums) comprising the Now. Here. This. band.

The production team includes M. William Panek* (Director), T.J. Anderson* (Musical Director), Justin Harner* (Asst. Musical Director), Margaret Baughman (Stage Manager), Sara Heymann* (Set/Prop Designer), Eric Vigo (Lighting Designer), Laura Wiley (Projection Designer), Jenna Schoppe* (Choreographer), Scott Wietrzykowski & Tom Swiderski (Sound Designer), Johnny Kyle Cook (Costume Coordinator), Damian Wille* (Production Manager), Charlie Sheets* (Graphic Designer), Emily Bradt (Box Office Manager), Zach Dries (Production Photographer), Craig E. Gordon (Voiceover), and John Lattanzi (Production Intern). Music & Lyrics by Jeff Bowen. Book by Hunter Bell & Susan Blackwell.

Now. Here. This. runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM now through August 21 at Rivendell Theatre (5779 N. Ridge Avenue). Ticketing information and more information can be found at www.BrownPaperBox.org.

Photos courtesy of Margaret Baughman, Neala Barron, Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen, M. William Panek, Kristi Szczepanek, and Brown Paper Box Co.

Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen and the NOW. HERE. THIS. cast

Hunter Bell, Margaret Baughman and Jeff Bowen

Jeff Bowen, Michael Berresse and Hunter Bell at Rivendell Theatre

Jeff Bowen and Nick Shoda

Kristi Szczepanek, Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen and Michael Berresse

Matt Frye, Eric Vigo and Hunter Bell

Matt Frye and Hunter Bell

Michael Berresse and M. William Panek

Neala Barron and Hunter Bell

TJ Anderson and Jeff Bowen

The NOW. HERE. THIS. cast, staff and band with Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen and Michael Berresse