Porchlight Music Theatre Concludes Its "Season of Sondheim" with the Musical Comedy Classic A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM April 17 - May 24, at Stage 773

CHICAGO – Porchlight Music Theatre announces the final mainstage production in its 20th Anniversary “Season of Sondheim,” A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, April 17 – May 24, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Linda Madonia and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Previews are Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18 at 8 p.m., Sunday, April 19 at 2 p.m. and Monday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There is an added matinee performance Thursday, March 21 at 1 p.m. NOTE: *There are no Thursday 7:30 p.m. performances April 23 and March 21. Tickets are $35 for preview performances, $50 for the opening night performance and reception, $39 for Thursday performances, $45 for all other performances April 24 through May 10 and $48 for all performances May 14 - 24. Subscriptions or single tickets are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling 773.327.5252. Groups of ten or more may receive discounts on tickets purchased via Group Theater Tix at 312.423.6612 or grouptheatertix.com.

Inspired by the farces of the Roman playwright Plautus, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, tells the bawdy tale of the house slave Pseudolus (Bill Larkin) who yearns for freedom, while his young master (Miles Blim) pines for the pretty girl next door (Sarah Lynn Robinson). In exchange for his freedom, Pseudolus promises to find a way to unite the young lovers. But promises made are not easy to keep when a simple plan explodes in the wake of mistaken identities, frantic chases, lascivious husbands, men in dresses, long-lost children, mixed-up potions, all to the tunes of musical comedy – tonight! A Funny Thing…Forum marks the first collaboration of Artistic Director Michael Weber and Artistic Associates Linda Madonia and Brenda Didier.

Artistic Director Michael Weber noted “Not seen in the city of Chicago since a 1988 production at The Goodman Theatre, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum may just be the funniest musical comedy ever written. Featuring the first score with both music and lyrics by our season namesake, the great Stephen Sondheim, we have packed this production with some of the funniest musical actors working in the business today. We are very excited to announce that we have received exclusive permission from Stephen Sondheim personally to restore the rarely heard “Echo Song” to the score. This beautiful and quintessential Sondheim gem makes this new production even more unique for the die-hard “Forum-fan.” Porchlight audiences can expect to laugh heartily in the spring with this hilarious and tuneful classic.”

The full Chicago company of A Funny Thing…Forum includes: Bill Larkin (Pseudolus), Porchlight Artistic Associate Matthew Crowle (Hysterium), Lorenzo Rush Jr. (Marcus Lycus), Will Clinger (Senex), Caron Buinis (Domina), Miles Blim (Hero), Sarah Lynn Robinson (Philia), Greg Zawada (Miles Gloriosus), Anthony Whitaker (Erronious), Neala Barron (Gymnasia), Ariana Cappaccitti (Tintinabula), Erica Evans (Panacea), Britt-Marie Sivertsen (Vibrata), Jason Grimm, Andrew Lund and Jaymes Osborne (The Proteans).

The artistic/production staff includes: Megan Truscott (scenic design), Alexia Rutherford (costume design), Becca Jeffords (lighting design), Artistic Associate Thom Van Ermen (stage manager), Will Deleguardia (technical director) and Artistic Associate Aaron Shapiro (production manager).

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE

Porchlight Music Theatre, currently celebrating its 20th season, is nationally recognized for developing innovative new works, reimagining classic productions and showcasing musical theatre’s noted veterans and rising stars. Porchlight elevates the genre in Chicago by providing intimate and powerful theatrical experiences for our growing and diverse audience. With the vision of Artistic Director Michael Weber, Porchlight builds on its role as Chicago’s only Equity not-for-profit company exclusively specializing in music theatre. Porchlight’s rich history includes the staging of more than 60 productions with 13 Chicago premieres and five world premieres. Through Porchlight’s “Off the Porch” new works program, the musicals of the next generation are developed and given a first audience including our recent BEST MUSICAL! A Completely Improvised Musical Comedy! which enjoyed a smash engagement at The Second City. The School at Porchlight is Chicago’s new center for music theatre training in the areas of performance, writing and appreciation. The company’s many accolades includes 11 Black Theatre Alliance nominations and two awards, as well as, a total of 103 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations resulting in 31 Jeff Awards, most recently garnering the 2014 Jeff Award for Production – Revue, Director - Revue, Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and Artistic Specialization, Porchlight Artistic Associate Austin Cook and Costume Design – Midsize, Porchlight Artistic Associate Bill Morey, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Porchlight Music Theatre announces the final mainstage production in its 20th Anniversary “Season of Sondheim, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, April 17 – May 24, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Linda Madonia and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Previews are Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18 at 8 p.m., Sunday, April 19 at 2 p.m. and Monday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There is an added matinee performance Thursday, March 21 at 1 p.m. NOTE: *There are no Thursday 7:30 p.m. performances April 23 and March 21. Tickets are $35 for preview performances, $50 for the opening night performance and reception, $39 for Thursday performances, $45 for all other performances April 24 through May 10 and $48 for all performances May 14 - 24. Single tickets are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling 773.327.5252. Groups of ten or more may receive discounts on tickets purchased via Group Theater Tix at 312.423.6612 or grouptheatertix.com.

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Porchlight Music Theatre is partially supported by generous contributions from the Arts Work Fund at the Chicago Community Trust, the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the National Association of Realtors, Peoples Gas, and The Saints. The season program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.