WILD WOMEN OF PLANET WONGO Invades Chicago

"Wild Women of Planet Wongo" (Wongo) invades Chicago starting June 8 at the Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division, following a long-term successful New York run. This immersive sci-fi musical comedy spoofs madcap 60s B movies while placing the audience into the middle of the experience. "Wild Women of Planet Wongo" was written by Ben Budick, Steve Mackes and Dave Ogrin and is directed by David Rigano. The first block of tickets are on sale on April 20 for shows June 8 through July 14. Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. The show is recommended for those over 16-years-old except for Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. which is strictly 21-years-old and over. Tickets range from $20 to $40. Visit www.PlanetWongo.com for tickets and information.

In "Wild Women of Planet Wongo", the audience encounters a world of Amazonian warrior women and their alluring Queen who first meet men when two bumbling astronauts crash onto their purple and green planet. While the guys think they've discovered paradise, hilarity ensues as the Wongo women plan surprises for their captive guests. This zany musical comedy is performed in three acts with no seats or stage. Audience members are encouraged to come dressed up in purple and green and to engage with the actors as they move around the space. During the two intermissions, audience members can further become part of the show by participating in the Wongo Game Shows where they can win prizes, while others can simply observe the fun, dance or replenish their green Wongotini cocktails.

"Wild Women Of Planet Wongo" was originally presented in NYC at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, premiered at the New York Musical Theatre (NYMF) and then ran successfully at the Red Barn Theatre in Key West, Florida. In 2015, Composer Dave Ogrin reconceived and produced Wongo as an immersive experience in Brooklyn at Brooklyn Fireproof and later at Parkside Lounge in New York City, where it ran for 10 months. The New York Theatre Review called Wongo "a retro-futuristic immersive musical, this delightful romp wields zany charm and a healthy dose of good old-fashioned escapism....silly and sophisticated."

Ogrin is bringing this immersive version to Chicago, hiring an all Chicago-based cast and crew. In his career prior to the theater, Ogrin worked as a producer, writer, musician and engineer with musicians such as The Beastie Boys, Paul Simon and Public Enemy. He has since turned his talents to writing musicals which have been produced at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, the NY Fringe Festival, the O'neill Musical Theater Conference and at various theatres around the country. Rigano, who directed the show in Brooklyn and Manhattan is directing the Chicago production. "Wild Women of Planet Wongo" features Jen Connor (Queen Rita), Freya Falkenstein (Croquette), Sabrina Harms (Annette), Takesha Meshe Kizart (Barbette), James Mann (Louie), Sissy Ann Quaranta (Game Show Host), Michael Hayden Sprenger (Ric) and Katherine Wettermann (Georgette).

The crew includes production manager Greg Kolack, stage manager Daniel Parsons, assistant stage manager Molly Weaver, technical director Nic Belanger, musical director Kyra Leigh, associate choreographer Chelsea Ward, set designer Alec Long, lighting designer Michael Rathbun, assistant lighting designer Jake Engram, sound and video designer Robert Hornbostel, animations Rudy Agresta, wig construction Keith Ryan, costume construction Kate Setzer Kamphausen, and makeup designer Sydney Genco.

The Chicago Premiere of "Wild Women of Planet Wongo" is June 8 at the Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division. The first block of tickets are on sale on April 20 for shows June 8 through July 14. Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. The show is recommended for those over 16-years-old except Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. which is strictly 21-years-old and over. Tickets range from $20 to $40. Visit www.PlanetWongo.com for tickets and information.

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