MOTHERHOOD THE MUSICAL Opens In Philly

Motherhood the Musical®, a musical comedy highlighting the universal blessings and perils of being a mother, premieres in Philadelphia today through Nov. 13 at the Society Hill Playhouse. Produced by the team who brought Menopause The Musical® to sold-out audiences around the world, Motherhood the Musical® will be performed in five cities across the U.S. in 2011: Tampa, Fla.; Fort Worth, Texas; Richardson, Texas; Atlanta and Philadelphia. While a national production, the 90-minute musical features a local cast in each city. The official press opening is Friday Oct. 14 at 8:00 pm.

The Philadelphia cast will include Ilona Ahearn as 'Brooke,' Donnie Hammond as 'Tasha,' Ellie Mooney as 'Amy' and Suzanne Smart as 'Barb.' Understudies will include Philadelphian Ashley Fleming (Barb/Brooke) and Amanda Huxtable (Amy/Brooke).

Tickets at $45 are on sale now, and may be purchased at www.comcasttix.com or at the Society Hill Playhouse box office (215-923-0210), 507 South Eighth Street, Philadelphia . Group tickets can be purchased by calling (215) 923-0211, (888) 440-6662 ext 1, or groups@gfourproductions.com. Performances include: Wednesday & Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm; Friday & Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm; matinees Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday afternoons at 2:00 pm. For further ticket and show information visit: www.societyhillplayhouse.org.

Ellie Mooney (Amy) grew up in Doylestown, PA and is a graduate of Central Bucks High School East. Her recent highlights include the Broadway national tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Violet/Assoc.Choreographer), Amadeus, Forbidden Broadway, and My Way at the Walnut Street Theatre.

Suzanne Smart (Barb) is a native of Drexel Hill, PA, where she graduated from Archbishop Predergast High School and now resides in Lansdowne, PA. She is a single mom whose son was recently deployed to Afghanistan with the US Marines. Suzanne was also one of the original cast members of Menopause The Musical that played at the Society Hill Playhouse from 2004 - 2008. Theatre credits include Sweeney Todd, The Sound of Music, Nunsense, and TV credits include 'Law & Order,' 'SVU' and' Law & Order: CI.'

Ilona Ahearn (Brooke) is a 20-year native ofd Lawrenceville, NJ and a graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she earned her Masters in Music Education. Ilona started singing opera as a waitress at The Victor Café in South Philly. She lived in Italy for 2 years where she she was sthe head Cantor at the main Catholic Church in Rome and performed weddings at the Vatican. She is currently the main cantor at St. Johns the Evangelist Church in center city. Ilona was last seen in the Broadway national tour of Cats as 'Jellylorum'. Regional credits include: Anything Goes, Les Miserables at the Walnut Street Theatre (Barrymore Award for Best Ensemble).

Donnie Hammond (Tasha) was born and raised in the Mt.Airy area of Philadelphia and currently resides in West Philadelphia. She graduated from Bishop McDevitt High School. Her stage credits include: Rent, Respect:The Musical, Hair, Jamaica, High School Musical, and the European tour of The Original USA Gospel Singers.

A resident of Bryn Mawr, PA, (understudy) Ashley Fleming is a 'twin mommy' and an avid triathlete. Her 'motherhood' experiences include raising her 2 ½ year old twins, and membership in Moms Connection and Main Line Moms of Multiples! She originated the Off Broadway role of 'Erin' in Richard Maxwell's Showy Lady Slipper, and has also appeared in Grease (Frenchy), Just So and The Secret Marriage. (Understudy) Amanda Huxtable, the only non-Philadelphian in the cast, is a native of London, Ontario, Canada, where she earned a BFA in Musical Theatre from Otterbein University. She is currently living in the Bella Vista/Southwark area of Philadelphia. Amanda recently finished the national tour of In The Mood: A 1940's Musical Revue.

Motherhood the Musical® is a four-woman show from author and songwriter Sue Fabisch, a mother who understands that sometimes the best way to cope with the joys and trials of motherhood is to share the experience with other moms. The musical shares the humorous and loving journey of Amy, a soon-to-be first-time mom; Barb, an over-worked, underpaid, stressed-out mother of five; Brooke, a lawyer who works too much and barely sees her kids; and Tasha, a single mom struggling to balance work, family and a divorce.

"Motherhood the Musical® is the rare show that audiences not only relate to - they actually can 'see' themselves on stage through the cast's portrayal of common experiences all moms have," said Kathi Glist, Motherhood the Musical® producer and co-founder of GFOUR Productions. "From being pregnant to succumbing to driving a minivan, from facing an empty nest to anxiously awaiting one's first grandchild, the musical really covers the entire wonderful, crazy journey of being a mom." Anyone who has ever been a parent--fathers as well as mothers-- can relate to this show."

Following a successful sold-out premiere run in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., in fall 2010, where the show was named "Best Musical" by the Broward-Palm Beach New Times.

For more information about the show, including ticket information and local cast bios, please visit www.motherhoodthemusical.com.

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