MEDIA CONTACT: Judy Moore at (847) 491-4819 or jkm229@northwestern.edu

September 16, 2003

Theatre Season Features Variety of Offerings

EVANSTON --- Northwestern University’s 2003-04 Mainstage Theatre Season features award-winning comedies, dramas and musicals, a dance program that will show off the talents of the University’s Dance Program, and a family-oriented play.

All of the following productions will be held on the Evanston campus.

As a special bonus, for those who missed the 2003 Summer Theatre world premiere performances in July and August of “Pop-Sical,” the musical revue will be repeated this fall. Conceived and directed by Northwestern faculty member Dominic Missimi, who was recently nominated for a Jeff Award for his direction of “Funny Girl” at the Marriott-Lincolnshire Theatre, Missimi’s new revue features a cast of 30 singers and dancers who perform some of the most popular music created for the Broadway stage. ”Pop-Sical” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25, Sept. 26 and Sept. 27 and 2 p.m. Sept. 28, at the Ethel M. Barber Theatre, 30 Arts Circle Drive.

The 2003-04 Mainstage Theatre Season begins with Tom Stoppard’s “The Real Thing,” directed by Craig Kinzer. Winner of the 1984 Tony Award for Best Play and the 2000 Tony Award for Best Revival, this engaging backstage comedy portrays an articulate and romantically idealistic playwright whose second wife is trying to merge worthy causes with her art as an actress. “The Real Thing” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31 and Nov. 1; 2 p.m. Nov. 2; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6, Nov. 7 and Nov. 8; and 2 p.m. Nov. 9, at the Ethel M. Barber Theatre.

One of the most explosive movie musicals in recent memory will burst onto the live stage in the Chicago area premiere of “Footloose.” Directed and choreographed by Lara Teeter, this musical rocks to the rhythm of its Oscar- and Tony-nominated top 40 score (augmented with dynamic new songs), while telling the true story of a town’s ban on dancing and the spirited teen who seeks to lift it. “Footloose” celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people and guiding them with a warm heart and an open mind. The music is by Tom Snow, Eric Carmen, Kenny Loggins and Sammy Hager, and the story is based on a book by Dean Pitchford. “Footloose” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 and Nov. 15; 2 p.m. Nov. 16; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20, Nov. 21 and Nov. 22; and 2 p.m. Nov. 23, at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St.

Northwestern will present the world premiere of “Irving Berlin’s American Vaudeville,” a new musical revue created, directed and choreographed by David H. Bell, one of the Chicago area’s most talented and innovative musical theatre directors. This exciting premiere explores America in its most volatile era of social, political and ideological change. The production will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 and Jan. 31; 2 p.m. Feb. 1; 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5, Feb. 6 and Feb. 7; and 2 p.m. Feb. 8, at the Josephine Louis Theatre, 20 Arts Circle Drive.

Winner of the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature, Luigi Pirandello was one of the most original and powerful dramatists of his time -- the playwright “par excellence” of the conflict between illusion and reality. His play “Six Characters in Search of an Author” is filled with humor and despair and is considered his greatest work. First performed in 1921, Pirandello’s play focuses on six family members embroiled in their own human drama who come to a theatre and demand that the manager and his actors stage their life story. Northwestern’s production will be directed by theatre faculty member Bud Beyer and will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 and Feb. 14; 2 p.m. Feb. 15; 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19, Feb. 20 and Feb. 21; and 2 p.m. Feb. 22, at the Ethel M. Barber Theatre.

“Danceworks 2004” is an annual showcase that features the finest choreography of Northwestern University’s Dance Program, which this season celebrates its 25th anniversary. Billy Siegenfeld, artistic director of the Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, and a member of Northwestern’s dance faculty, returns to direct this year’s show, which includes new choreography by dance faculty members and guest artists. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27 and Feb. 28; 2 p.m. Feb. 29; 7:30 p.m. March 4, March 5 and March 6; and 2 p.m. March 7, at the Josephine Louis Theatre.

Barry Kornhauser’s family play “This is Not a Pipe Dream” explores the dreams and wishes of artist Rene Magritte as a young boy. As a youngster his father tells him that his desire to become a painter is merely a “pipe dream.” Magritte perseveres and becomes a painter who works with the style of surrealism to understand the world and communicate with it. The production is suitable for audience members aged 8 and older. Directed by Lynn Kelso, it will be performed at 7:30 p.m. April 15 and April 16; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. April 17; and 2 p.m. April 18, at the Ethel M. Barber Theatre.

“The Birds” is considered one of Aristophanes’ finest comedies. It tells the story of two Athenians, in search of “elsewhere,” who arrived in the land of the Birds. Thus begins a comedic and provocative encounter between humans, birds and Gods as wildly different worlds collide. The contemporary reworking of Aristophanes classic comedy, conceived and directed by Leslie Buxbaum, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. April 23 and April 24; 2 p.m. April 25; 7:30 p.m. April 29, April 30 and May 1; and 2 p.m. May 2, at the Josephine Louis Theatre.

Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning playwright Tony Kushner’s adaptation of Joachim Neugroschel’s “The Dybbuk” explores the themes of lust and desire, of worship and holiness, and corruption and sin. A “dybbuk” is a wandering soul that enters another person’s body and holds fast. A haunting tale of Jewish mysticism and transcendental love, “The Dybbuk” tells the story of two ill-fated lovers -- a penniless, but devout student of Jewish mysticism and the young woman he adores. “The Dybbuk” will be directed by David Winitsky and will be performed at 7:30 p.m. May 14 and May 15; 2 p.m. May 16; 7:30 p.m. May 20, May 21 and May 22; and 2 p.m. May 23, at the Ethel M. Barber Theatre.

Northwestern’s 2003-04 Mainstage Theatre Season will be among the events taking place during a 15-month celebration of the University’s School of Communication’s 125th anniversary.

An eight-show series subscription is $127 for the general public; $110 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $63 for full-time students.

Theatre fans can add a ninth show (“Pop-Sical”) to their series subscription for an additional $20 for the general public; $18 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $10 for full-time students.

Single ticket prices for “The Real Thing,” “Six Characters in Search of an Author,” “Danceworks 2004,” “This is Not a Pipe Dream” and “The Birds” are $17 for the general public; $15 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $9 for full-time students.

Single ticket prices for “Footloose,” “Irving Berlin’s American Vaudeville,” “The Dybbuk” and “Pop-Sical” are $24 for the general public; $20 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $11 for full-time students.

Northwestern’s 2003-04 Mainstage Theatre Season is generously supported by the Sara Lee Foundation.

For more information or to order tickets by phone, call the Barber Theatre box office at (847) 491-7282 or visit the box office (open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday) to order subscriptions or individual tickets.

Online ticket sales for Northwestern Mainstage productions are also available through TicketWeb.com by going to the Northwestern Theatre and Interpretation Center Web site at http://www.tic.northwestern.edu/tickets.html and clicking the TicketWeb icon.