Photo Flash: Haven Theatre's & About Face Present THE TOTAL BENT

Haven Theatre, in association with About Face Theatre, presents the Midwest premiere of THE TOTAL BENT, a dynamic new rock show about fathers, sons, social upheaval and the choice between salvation and selling out. Directed by Jeff Award-winning director Lili-Anne Brown with music direction by Jermaine Hill, the new musical features text by Stew and music and lyrics byStew and Heidi Rodewald, the creative team behind the Tony Award-nominated Best Musical Passing Strange. THE TOTAL BENT will playFebruary 7 - March 10, 2019 at The Den Theatre's Janet Bookspan Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at haventheatrechicago.com. The press opening is Tuesday, February 12 at 8 pm.

THE TOTAL BENT features Breon Arzell, Robert Cornelius, Gilbert Domally, Frederick Harris, Jermaine Hill, Eric Lindahl and Michael Turrentine. Musicians include Kamille Dawkins, James Garcia, Christian Moreno and Anthony Rodriguez.

When a British record producer arrives in Montgomery, Alabama to hook Marty Roy, a young black musical prodigy, he launches us back into Marty's tumultuous upbringing. The son of a gospel star and self-proclaimed healer, Marty spent his childhood writing the songs that have made his charismatic father famous. But in a nation on the verge of social upheaval, with the rising heat from the street guiding his pen, Marty finds himself at odds with his spiritually forceful father as he strives to create a masterpiece that will change America - no matter the cost. A funny, fiery, one-of-a-kind show, The Total Bent is about the passions that divide a father and son as they make their music and make their choice between salvation and selling out.

Comments Haven Artistic Director Josh Sobel, "Ever since seeing their Tony Award-winning Passing Strange in 2008, I have deeply desired to present a work of Stew and Heidi's, and as such The Total Bent - fresh out of New York's venerated Public Theatre - is a true dream come true. I am beyond grateful to Megan Carney, Alana Parvey Zalas and everyone at About Face Theatre for their support and partnership in helping us realize the creative vision of this inspiring and provocative piece of new music theatre. All of us at Haven are thrilled to be working with such an iconic Chicago arts institution in presenting this strikingly urgent work, one that challenges all of us on issues of race, faith, politics and family in a Christian America."

Comments About Face Artistic Director Megan Carney, "Haven is an ideal creative partner for us at About Face Theatre because we are two companies committed to looking forward and creating change. We share the beliefs that theatre can lead the way and that innovative partnerships are essential. Josh Sobel, Lili-Anne Brown and the phenomenal team on this show have a truly inspired vision and we are proud to be a part of it."

The production team for THE TOTAL BENT includes: Arnel Sancianco (scenic design), Christine Pascual (costume design), Jason Lynch(lighting design), David Samba (sound design), Emily Boyd (props design), Joe Burke (projection design), Abhi Shrestha (dramaturg), Breon Arzell (choreographer), Adam Goldstein (dialect coach), Ian Damont Martin (assistant director), Lewis Rawlinson (assistant music director),Marika Mashburn (casting director), Angela Salinas (production manager), Josh Prisching (technical director), Uriel Gomez (assistant costume design), Blake Cordell (audio assistant), Razor Wintercastle (stage manager) and Corbin Paulino (assistant stage manager).

Photo Credit: Austin D. Oie