Photos: NOW. HERE. THIS. In Rehearsal

The Chicago premiere of Now. Here. This. opens Saturday, July 23, and runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 2:00 PM through August 21 at Rivendell Theatre in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood (5779 N. Ridge Avenue). A preview is scheduled for Friday, July 22, along with a special Monday night performance on July 25, both of which begin at 7:30 PM. For more information and tickets, please visit www.BrownPaperBox.org.

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. H-e-r-e. This.

"The chance to follow up [title of show] with Now. Here. This. is an amazing opportunity which timed itself out perfectly," says director M. William Panek. "Not only did we want to recreate 2015's excitement with this special opportunity, but we also wanted to highlight the writers' collaborative nature with designers and actors who really have a handle on who these people are. I'm thrilled to see how these artists have grown, and welcome new faces on the journey - both onstage, backstage, and in the audience!"

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, with Justin 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 Wiertzykowski & 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), and John Lattanzi (Production Intern).

Now. Here. This. is made possible in part by The Saints.

Check out photos of the company in rehearsal below: