Feature: Casting Announced for I LOVE YOU BECAUSE at Our Productions Theatre Co.

By: Kyle Christopher West May. 06, 2016

Our Productions Theatre Co. continues it's 2016 Season - A Season with HeART, with a regional premier of the award winning musical, I Love You Because this summer for an extended five week run in both Lewisville and Addison.

Originally founded in Denton County in 1993, Our Productions Theatre Co. expanded to serve Dallas County in 2015. Co-Producer and Co-Artistic Director Stephanie Riggs joined artistic visions with Co-Artistic Director Mark Mullino, with Executive Producer, Scott Kirkham, continue the mission to produce new works, little known shows, and reimagine hit productions with BIG heart. The 2016 Season - A Season with HeART will continue in 2016 as we bring a brand new musical to D-FW for an extended five week run from August 4 - September 3, 2016.

I Love You Because will be presented in a series for both Dallas and Denton Counties with performances at the Studio Theatre at Addison Theatre Centre, 15650 Addison Road in Addison, Texas for Dallas following a week of sneak previews to be presented at the MCL Grand, 100 North Charles Street in Lewisville, Texas. It will be produced in conjunction with Actors' Equity Association and The Texas Commission on the Arts for the Addison production with additional sponsors The City of Lewisville and The Town of Flower Mound bringing the production to the MCL Grand.

I Love You Because, will be the NEW musical event of the year, as the regional premiere of the modern-day love story, from the Jonathan Larson Award winners as well as Drama Desk and MAC Award-nominated writers Joshua Salzman (music), and Ryan Cunningham (book and lyrics) runs in both locations.

I Love You Because was presented at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre Festival of New Musicals in 2005. This contemporary musical comedy is a modern twist on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Set in New York City, it centers around a young, uptight greeting card writer, whose life is changed when he meets a flighty photographer. Along with their eccentric friends and siblings, they learn to love each other not in spite of their faults, but because of them.

The production will be directed by Stephanie Riggs (Ordinary Days, Honk!, The Effects of Gamma Rays...), with musical direction by Mark Mullino (Ordinary Days, God of Carnage, A My Name is Alice).

It will star a multi-talented cast of six including Juliette Talley (previous Dallas-Fort Worth Critic's Forum Award for Best Actress) as Marcy, Rashaun Sibley as Austin, Monique Abry as Diana, Kyle Montgomery as Jeff, and Kathryn Taylor Rose and Joey Donoian as multiple characters.

The New York Times called the Off-Broadway production of I Love You Because "terrific refreshing fun...filled with wit and zest." The Voice called it, "A bouncy spirited show!"

Preview performances will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. on August 4, 5, 6, and 7 at the black box space of the MCL Grand in Lewisville.

Performances then move to Dallas and will be held select Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 2:00 p.m., August 11, 12, 13(*No 2 p.m. this day),19, 20, 26, 27, and September 1, 2, 3, 2016 at the Studio Theatre in Addison Theatre Centre.

Tickets are $35 for Adults and $30 for Seniors (55+). Advance Student/Industry tickets (must present valid ID at box office) are $20. VIP Reserved Seating available for member donors. All other seating general admission. Tickets may be purchased at www.ourproductions.org or by calling the Our Productions Box Office at 972-724-2147. Donor memberships available at the website, click 'Support.'

I Love You Because is for mature audiences and has adult language and subject matter.

Our Productions' 2016 Annual Campaign, continues for the non-profit theater company, which has a goal of raising $35,000 for 2016 to support an expansion in production offerings, including the longer run for the new musical work in Dallas. The campaign has currently reached nearly 30% of it's goal. Donors to the campaign are listed as VIP Member Donors and receive great perks to Our Productions events including VIP Reserved Seating, gift bags, cast meet and greets, and behind-the-scenes special events. The campaign needs to raise its funds by June 30, 2016 for the year's planned operations. Campaign donations and memberships can be made at www.ourproductions.org. Our Productions Theatre Co. (d.b.a. for Expressions Performing Arts) is a non-profit, professional theatre company recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization.

Production details at a glance -
Dallas Series: I Love You Because
Book and Lyrics by Ryan Cunningham
Music by Joshua Salzman
at the MCL Grand *August 4-7 & the Addison Theatre Centre *August 11 - September 3

Lewisville Sneak Preview Performances: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, August 4, 5, and 6 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 7 at 2:00 p.m. at the MCL Grand, 100 North Charles Street, Lewisville, Texas.

Addison Performances: Select Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 2:00 p.m., August 11, 12, 13(*No 2 p.m. this day),19, 20, 26, 27, and September 1, 2, 3, 2016 at the Addison Theatre Centre, 15650 Addison Road, Addison, Texas.

Ticket Prices and Box Office Information:
Single Tickets: $35 General Admission. $30 Senior Admission. $20 Student/Industry (must present valid ID at box office.) VIP Reserved seating available for member donors of Our Productions Theatre Co.

How to buy tickets: www.ourproductions.org or by phone 972-724-2147, or in person at the door beginning one hour prior to performance time.

www.ourdallasproductions.org
972-724-2147

About the Authors of I Love You Because
Ryan Cunningham (Book and Lyrics) is a native of Needham, MA, and he holds a B.A. in Theatre and Graphic Design from the University of Notre Dame, and an M.F.A. from NYU's Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. At Notre Dame Ryan wrote the book to Chance at Love with Composer/Lyricist Tommy Curtin, which toured nationally in the summer of 2001. With Composer Joshua Salzman, he wrote the book and lyrics for the Off-Broadway musical I Love You Because, for which he received a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Lyrics. Current projects include Queen Esther, a family musical based on the Jewish holiday of Purim, and an untitled song cycle. Also with Joshua Salzman, he makes his television writing debut this year creating songs for Disney's Johnny and the Sprites, starring John Tartaglia. Ryan is a member of The Dramatists Guild and the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop.

Joshua Salzman (Composer) has current projects including Queen Esther, a family musical based on the Jewish holiday of Purim, and an untitled song cycle. With Ryan Cunningham, he makes his television writing debut this year creating songs for Disney's Johnny and the Sprites, starring John Tartaglia. Joshua holds an M.F.A. from NYU's Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program and degrees in composition and music education from Muhlenberg and Moravian Colleges. He has served in the music departments of Wicked and All Shook Up and is currently on faculty at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Memberships include The Dramatists Guild, AFM Local 802, and the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop.
Our Productions Performance Venue Addresses:

Addison Theatre Centre
Studio Theatre
15650 Addison Road
Addison, TX 75001

MCL Grand
Black Box
100 North Charles Street
Lewisville, TX 75057

Our Productions Contact Info:

Website: www.ourproductions.org

Email: info@ourproductions.org

Phone: 972-724-2147

Facebook: Our Productions Dallas

Twitter: @OurProductions

Address: P.O. Box 670013, Dallas, TX 75367
P.O. Box 271483, Flower Mound, TX 75027

About the Artistic Leadership of Our Productions
About Stephanie Riggs, Co-Producer/Co-Artistic Director/Resident Director

Stephanie Riggs holds a B.F.A. from Texas Christian University, where she studied under scholarship for theatre, musical theatre and radio/television/film. She is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association (AEA) and an award-nominated and winning, critically acclaimed actress and director in the D-FW Metroplex. She is the founder and a current Co-Artistic Director/Executive Producer of Our Productions Dallas and a Co-Producer/Educational Director of Our Productions Flower Mound-Lewisville and their educational conservatory, The Young Artist Training Program. She is the author of the musical Project Youth, with composer Jeff Kinman and lyricist Adam C. Wright. Stephanie has directed, choreographed and/or produced over 100 productions since Our Productions Denton County started in 1993 including the multi-award Leon Rabin nominated 2007 production of Honk!, where she was honored with a Best Director nomination. Under her leadership, Our Productions Theatre Co. is the only professional theatre company in Denton County and has been named to multiple "Top Ten Best of" lists in DFW including WFAA "Top 5 Best Theatres in North Texas" in 2009, "DFW's Ultimate Best List" for Pegasus News 2010, BroadwayWorld.com Top Ten Dallas Theater 2009 and Nickelodeon's Parent Pick "Best Theatre Group for Kids" in 2010.

As an actress, her favorite credits include GFour Productions: Motherhood, The Musical, Theatre Three: The Wild Party, I Love You You're Perfect Now Change, Uptown Players: Hello Again, Falsettos, A New Brain, WaterTower Theatre: Dogfight, Lyric Stage: Finian's Rainbow, Casa Mañana/Broadway at the Bass: Show Boat, Gypsy, Garland Summer Musicals: Crazy for You, and Our Productions Theatre: The Last Five Years, Adventures in Love, Into The Woods and Little Shop of Horrors among others.

About Mark Mullino, Co-Artistic Director/Resident Music Director

Mark Mullino has worked extensively throughout the Metroplex and the United States as a musical director and actor. Locally, Mark has musical directed/conducted at WaterTower Theatre, Dallas Theater Center, Uptown Players, Plano Repertory Theater, Lyric Stage, and Theater Arlington, as well as directed/musical directed many shows for Our Productions Theatre Co., including being nominated for a Leon Rabin award for Best Play and Best Director for Our Productions (then Theatre FMPAT's) 2006 production of Brighton Beach Memoirs. Mark has also received numerous other Column and Leon Rabin Awards.

He may also be seen playing for the weekly cabaret show "Mama's Party" and teaches musical theatre at KD College, Collin College and is a faculty member for Our Productions' Young Artist Training Program. He maintains a private studio and is an artist. He is the President and co-founder of Dallas Young Artists. Mark received his Bachelors in Music from Hardin-Simmons University.

About Scott Kirkham, Co-Producer/Technical Director/Resident Designer

Scott Kirkham happily serves in many aspects for Our Productions Theatre Co. He holds an M.F.A. in Scenic Design from Florida State University's School of Theatre and a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Texas A&M University. A Dallas native, Scott's career has taken him to Florida, Ohio, New York, California, and back to Dallas. An award-winning designer, his favorite shows in Dallas include Chicago, The Rocky Horror Show at Plano Repertory Theatre; Pump Boys and Dinettes at Contemporary Theater of Dallas; Macbeth at Bucket Productions, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest at Irving Community Theatre; Rehearsal for Murder, Another Murder, Another Show at Pegasus Theatre, and Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, Adventures in Love, Brighton Beach Memoirs, 'ART', Project Youth, Little Shop of Horrors, Greater Tuna/Red, White and Tuna, God of Carnage and Ordinary Days, Our Productions Theatre Co. Scott is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association.

About Our Productions Theatre Co. Dallas

Small shows with BIG impact.
Be moved. Be inspired. Be excited.
Yours. Mine. OURS. Together we can make magic.
Our Productions Theatre Co.

Our Productions Theatre Co. is a professional theatre company, under the umbrella of non-profit, IRS recognized 501 (c) 3 charitable organization, Expressions Performing Arts, whose mission is to develop cultural growth in North Texas. The new Dallas branch of Our Productions Theatre Co. kicked off its inaugural season in 2015.

Originally founded in Denton County in 1993, Our Productions Theatre Co. produces new works, little known shows and re-imaginings of hit productions with BIG heart in Dallas and Denton County.