Fox Valley Rep heats up the Pheasant Run Mainstage with "Bikinis" musical

Fox Valley Repertory is celebrating the good ‘ole days as they continue their 2015 theater series with the beach party musical, The Bikinis. Directed and choreographed by Kyle Donahue, performances will place at the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage from June 11 – August 16, 2015 (4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL; tickets 630-584-6300 or www.foxvalleyrep.org).

Tickets are priced at $32 on Fridays (and limited Thursday performances), and at $42 on Saturdays and Sundays. Dinner packages, group discounts and overnight rates are also available.

Back together after 20 years, the hit 60’s girl group The Bikinis is ready to relive their fun in the sun, revive their Jersey Girl heydays, and rekindle their long lost friendships – all to raise money for the good folks at Sandy Shores Mobile Home Beach Resort. Celebrate the good ‘ole days with Folk rock n’ roller Annie, passive aggressive Jodi, no-holds barred Barbara and fun-loving Karla.

The Bikinis is written and created by Broadway directors/producers James Hindman and Ray Roderick and features music arrangements by Joseph Baker. While this musical features a few new creations, it mostly celebrates a collection of nostalgic hits such “Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,” “Heat Wave,” “I Will Survive,” and more. The story travels through the 1950s and into the ‘70s, and so do the songs, from psychedelic sounds to protest songs and into disco.

“There are a lot of songs people know and love in the show from the ‘60s and the ‘70s. I love that era of music, absolutely adore it. In some respects, I grew up with it. I love the pop genre of those times because it changed so radically,” said Co-creator Ray Roderick of the musical. “I wanted to do this world of music and this journey of a country and (the members of the girl group) coming of age at the same time. We start very innocent in the ‘60s when they’re teenyboppers. As they grow up, so does our country, in so many respects.”

The cast of The Bikinis features: Kyrie Anderson, Kristine Burdi (previously in Fox Valley Rep’s Winter Wonderettes and Nunsense), Alexandra Gonzalez, and Colette Todd.

The Bikinis runs Thursday, June 11, 2015 through Sunday, August 16, 2015. Show times are: Fridays & Saturdays @ 8pm, and Sundays @ 2pm. Special Thursday performances are June 11 & 18 @ 8pm, and July 9, 16 & 30, and August 6 @ 2pm.

This program is partially supported by the St. Charles Visitors Cultural Commission, Daily Herald, Culver’s of St. Charles, and MCC Technology.

The rest of Fox Valley Repertory’s 2015 Theater Series includes the romantic comedy, Maybe Baby It’s You (August 27 – October 25, 2015) and the holiday musical revue, A Christmas Survival Guide (November 5 – December 27, 2015). Three-show season subscriptions start at $60 (discounted dinner-show subscriptions also available) and are currently available by calling Pheasant Run at 630-584-6300.

Pheasant Run Resort is located at 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL. For tickets and additional information, call Pheasant Run at 630-584-6300 or visit www.foxvalleyrep.org.