Kokandy Productions Presents THE FULL MONTY

Kokandy Productions is pleased to open its 2015 season with the hilarious and heartfelt musical comedy THE FULL MONTY with music and lyrics by David Yazbek, book by Terrence McNally, direction by Co-Artistic Director John D. Glover, choreography by Danny Spagnuolo and music direction by Resident Music Director Kory Danielson. THE FULL MONTY will play March 10 – April 12, 2015 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.kokandyproductions.com, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office.

THE FULL MONTY features a cast of 20 including: Garrett Lutz as Jerry Lukowski, Scott Danielson as Dave Bukatinsky, Marsha Harman as Georgie Bukatinsky, Laura McClain as Pam Lukowski, Eric Lindahl as Harold Nichols, Colette Todd as Vicki Nichols, George Toles as Malcolm MacGregor, Randy Johnson as Noah “Horse” T. Simmons, Greg Foster as Ethan Girard, Kyle Klein II and Seth Steinberg as Nathan Lukowski and Caron Buinis as Jeanette A. Burmeister with Dana Anderson, Neala Barron, Matt Frye, Royen Kent, Elizabeth Morgan, Jake Morrissy, Charlie Rasmann and Sarah Simmons.

Based on the Fox movie of the same name, the hit musical THE FULL MONTY tells the story of a group of unemployed American male steel-mill workers who venture into stripping to provide for their families. In the process, they learn to let go of prejudices, insecurities, and even their self-definitions –baring their hearts and souls as much as their skins.

“We are thrilled to announce this extremely talented ensemble of performers – the first non-Equity cast to perform this show in Chicago. And within the intimate confines of Theater Wit, we are excited to connect with audience members up close and take them with us on this joyous roller coaster ride,” comments director John D. Glover.

The production team for THE FULL MONTY includes: Ashley Ann Woods (scenic design), Angela Enos (costume design), Cat Wilson (lighting design), Mike Patrick (sound design), Johnny Buranosky (props design), Gordon Granger (technical director), Erin Rourke (wardrobe head), Michael Mulhearn (assistant director), Kasey Alfonso (assistant choreographer) and Kait Samuels (stage manager).

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: THE FULL MONTY

Music and Lyrics: David Yazbek

Book: Terrence McNally

Director: Co-Artistic Director John D. Glover

Music Director: Resident Music Director Kory Danielson

Choreography: Danny Spagnuolo

Cast (in alphabetical order): Dana Anderson (Joanie Lish), Neala Barron (Susan Hershey), Caron Buinis (Jeanette A. Burmeister), Scott Danielson (Dave Bukatinsky), Greg Foster (Ethan Girard), Matt Frye (Reg Willoughby, Repo Man 1), Marsha Harman (Georgie Bukatinsky), Randy Johnson (Noah “Horse” T. Simmons), Royen Kent (Teddy Slaughter, Minister), Kyle Klein II (Nathan Lukowski 1), Eric Lindahl (Harold Nichols), Garrett Lutz (Jerry Lukowski), Laura McClain (Pam Lukowski), Elizabeth Morgan (Estelle Genovese), Jake Morrissy (Tony Giordano, Marty, Repo Man 2), Charlie Rasmann (Buddy Walsh/Police Sergeant, Gary), Sarah Simmons (Molly MacGregory, Dolores, Dance Instructor), Seth Steinberg (Nathan Lukowski 2), Colette Todd (Vicki Nichols) and George Toles (Malcolm MacGregor).

Location: Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago

Dates: Previews: Tuesday, March 10 at 8 pm and Wednesday, March 11 at 8 pm and Thursday, March 12 at 8 pm

Regular run: Friday, March 13 – Sunday, April 10, 2015

Curtain Times: Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 pm; Saturdays at 3 pm & 8 pm; Sundays at 3 pm

Tickets: Previews $25. Regular run $38. Tickets are available at www.kokandyproductions.com, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office.

About THE FULL MONTY Creative Team

David Yazbek (Music & Lyrics) has enjoyed a varied career as a recording artist, Emmy-winning TV and film writer, music producer and pianist. His three Broadway shows, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, received a combined 25 Tony Award nominations with Yazbek being nominated three times for Best Score. The Full Monty won him the Drama Desk Award for Best Music. As a recording artist, Yazbek is responsible for five albums: The Laughing Man (winner NAIRD award, Best Pop Album of the Year), Tock, Damascus, Tape Recorder and the recent Evil Monkey Man. He also produced the original cast albums of his three Broadway shows, two of which were nominated for Grammy Awards.

Terrence McNally (Book) received a 2001 Tony Award nomination for his book of The Full Monty. He won a Tony Award in 1998 for his book of Ragtime (music and lyrics by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens); a Tony Award in 1996 for his play Master Class; the 1995 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Play as well as the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best American Play for Love! Valour! Compassion!; and the 1993 Tony for his book of the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman (music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb). His other musicals include: The Visit, A Man of No Importance, Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life and Catch Me If You Can. His other plays include: Corpus Christi, A Perfect Ganesh, Lips Together, Teeth Apart, The Lisbon Traviata and It’s Only a Play, all of which began at the Manhattan Theatre Club.

John D. Glover (Director) most recently directed Kokandy’s Sweet Smell of Success (Jeff Nomination - Best Production of a Musical). For six years, John was responsible for the artistic and fiscal direction of the Theater Company of Purdue University and has directed regionally in Ohio and Indiana including directing the grand opening production of the Theatre at the Center in Munster. John is the recipient of several Northern Indiana Excellence in Theater Foundation awards (NIETF), including Best Direction of a Musical for Pump Boys and Dinettes at Purdue Theater Company and Best Direction of a Musical for Floyd Collins at the Towle Theater, as well as the NIETF Award for Lifetime Achievement in Regional Theater. In the “real world,” John is the Chief Operations Officer of a not-for-profit, faith-based senior living ministry.

About Kokandy Productions

Founded in 2010, Kokandy Productions seeks to leverage the heightened reality of musical theater to tell complex and challenging stories, with a focus on contributing to the development of Chicago-based musical theater artists, and raising the profile of Chicago’s non-Equity musical theater community.

The company’s artistic staff is comprised of John D. Glover (Co-Artistic Director), Allison Hendrix (Co-Artistic Director), Scot T. Kokandy (Executive Producer), Kory Danielson (Resident Music Director) and Jonathan Goldthwaite (Production Assistant).

For additional information, visit www.kokandyproductions.com.