THE FANTASTICKS, MIRACLE ON 34th STREET Set For Porchlight Season

Porchlight Music Theatre is growing-up. In celebration of its15th anniversary Porchlight Music Theatre announces a season of musicals exploring the challenges of growing-up: The Fantasticks, Miracle on 34th Street and Into the Woods. The season opens with the romantic charmer The Fantasticks, previewing September 11, 2009, opening September 13 at 2:30 p.m. and running through November 8, 2009.

The holidays will glow brightly with Miracle on 34th Street previewing November 14, 2009, opening November 22 at 2:30 p.m. and running through January 3, 2010. The season finale is Stephen Sondheim's fractured fairy tale, Into the Woods previewing April 3, 2010, opening April 11 at 2:30 p.m., and running through May 30, 2010.

Porchlight Music Theatre has established a national reputation for presenting grand stories in intimate settings, showcasing the brightest, up-and-coming talent and developing new music theatre work. The 2009-2010 Musicals of Innocence and Experience performs at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 West Belmont.

The Fantasticks is the longest-running musical in the world, and with good reason; it is a timeless fable of love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the same time. It is a moving tale of young lovers who become disillusioned, only to discover a more mature, meaningful love. The Fantasticks is filled with catchy, memorable songs, by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt including the haunting ‘Try to Remember.'

In a new holiday tradition, Porchlight Music Theatre presents a world-premiere production based on the classic story Miracle on 34th Street. When a white-bearded gentleman claims to be the real Santa Claus he brings about a genuine ‘Miracle on 34th Street,' spreading a wave of love throughout New York City, convincing a divorced, cynical single mother, her somber daughter, and the entire state of New York that Santa Claus is no myth. Miracle on 34th Street was adapted by Patricia Di Benedetto Snyder, Will Severin and John Vreeke with music by Will Severin.

The grand finale is a Porchlight favorite, Into the Woods. Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's fairy tale musical first played at Porchlight in 2000-2001 and received 4 Jeff Nominations, 1 Jeff Citation and 1 After Dark Award. When a Baker and his Wife learn they've been cursed with childlessness by the Witch next door, they embark on a quest for the special objects required to break the spell, swindling, lying to and stealing from Cinderella, Little Red, Rapunzel and Jack (the one who climbed the beanstalk). Everyone's wish is granted at the end of Act One, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results. What begins a lively irreverent fantasy in the style of "The Princess Bride" becomes a moving lesson about community responsibility and the stories we tell our children.

The 2009-2010 Season of Porchlight Musicals will be produced at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 West Belmont (at Racine). Season subscriptions are available by contacting Porchlight Music Theatre at porchlighttheatre@yahoo.com or (773) 325-9884.

About Porchlight Music Theatre

Porchlight Music Theatre is Chicago's music theatre leader; producing award-winning interpretations of classic musicals and cutting-edge new works on intimate stages. The company has staged 36 shows including four world premieres, among them, The Teapot Scandals, its first work developed through Off the Porch, Porchlight's new works program, as well as seven Chicago premieres. Porchlight earned the most Jeff awards of any Chicago music theater and the most After Dark Awards of any Chicago theater in 2007. An Equity theater since 2004, the company has already received a total of 29 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations resulting in 11 Jeff Awards.

Porchlight Music Theatre is partially supported by generous contributions from Alaron, the A.R.T League, the William Blair & Company Foundation, Capri Capital, LLC, a City Arts Program 2 Grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency), the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Nine North Michigan Surgery Center, and Peoples Energy.

PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE'S

2009-2010 SEASON

Songs of Innocence and Experience

The Fantasticks

Book by Tom Jones
Music by Harvey Schmidt
Lyrics by Tom Jones
Based on Les Romanesques by Edmond Rostand

Previews September 11, 2009

Press Opening September 13 at 2:30 pm

Performances continue through November 8, 2009

Miracle on 34th Street

A Chicago Premiere

Based on the novel by Valentine Davies

Adapted by Patricia DiBenedetto Snyder, Will Severin and John Vreeke

Music by Will Severin

Previews November 14, 2009

Press Opening November 22, 2009 at 2:30 pm

Performances continue through January 3, 2010

Into The Woods
Book by James Lapine
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Previews April 3, 2010

Press Opening April 11, 2010 at 2:30 pm

Performances continue through May 30, 2010

Ticket Information:

Single tickets are $37 with discounts available for students and seniors. For Single Tickets call Theatre Building Chicago's Box Office 773-327-5252, TicketMaster at 1-800-982-2787 or visit www.TicketMaster.com.

Subscriptions are available through the Porchlight Music Theatre Business Office 773-325-9884. Group Sales Discounts are available through Group Theater Tix at (312) 423-6612 or (866) 809-3075.

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