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Posted: 4/15/06 at 9:58pm
The Illinois Theatre Center of Park Forest will conclude its 2005-2006 season with the Chicago Area Premiere of the musical comedy BY JEEVES, opening Friday, April 21. This lively show is based on Britsh writer P.G. Wodehouse’s popular stories of dim-witted London bachelor Bertie Wooster and his unflappable valet Jeeves. The stage adaptation and lyrics are by prolific playwright Alan Ayckbourn, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the most popular theatre composer in the world.
The characters of Bertie and Jeeves first appeared in print in 1917, and went on to appear in 35 short stories and 11 novels over the next 57 years. The name “Jeeves” has become synonymous with the image of the proper British butler or valet, and in the 1990’s an internet search engine known as “AskJeeves.com”, with a cartoon version of Jeeves as its mascot, made its debut on the worldwide web. There have been numerous film and television adaptations of the Jeeves stories, including a recent BBC series starring Hugh Laurie as Bertie.
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, born 1881, was a comic writer who enjoyed enormous popular success for more than seventy years. He eventually went to Hollywood, where he worked as a screenwriter. Many of his novels were serialized in magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post. Although Wodehouse and his novels are considered quintessentially English, from 1924 on he lived in France and the United States, and in 1955 he became an American citizen. Wodehouse died in 1975.
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, born 1948, is the most popular theatre composer of the late 20th Century. He has composed over a dozen musicals, as well as numerous concert works. His PHANTOM OF THE OPERA recently surpassed his CATS as the longest running show in Broadway history – now in its 18th year. Other popular works include JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, EVITA, STARLIGHT EXPRESS and SUNSET BOULEVARD.
Sir Alan Ayckbourn, born 1939, is frequently cited as being the second most-performed English language playwright, after Shakespeare. He has written over 60 full-length plays. Major successes include HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES, ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR, THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, BEDROOM FARCE, A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL, and HOUSE AND GARDEN.
The ITC production features Joe Lehman as Bertie and David Perkovich as Jeeves. Mr. Lehman has previously appeared in ITC’s productions of GIFTS OF THE MAGI, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, and MR. DOOLEY’S GILDED AGE. Mr Perkovich has acted and/or directed over two dozen shows at ITC over the past 29 years. Recent appearances include ART, MERCY OF A STORM, and OLEANNA.
The cast also includes David Boettcher, Mary Jane Guymon, Ed Rutherford, David Lipschutz, Jeny Wasilewski, Billy Vitucci, Paige Jarvie, and David Tibble. The production is directed and choreographed by Frank Roberts. Jonathan R. Billig serves as Musical Director and on-stage pianist.
BY JEEVES runs Friday, April 21 through Sunday, May 7. Performances are Wednesday throguh Saturday evenings at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2:30 & 7:30 PM. Tickets are priced at $20 on Fridays and Saturdays, $18 all other times. There is a $1 discount for students and seniors. The Illinois Theatre Center is located at 371 Artists Walk in Downtown Park Forest - off Indanwood Blvd, across from Village Hall. For tickets, call 708-481-3510.
The characters of Bertie and Jeeves first appeared in print in 1917, and went on to appear in 35 short stories and 11 novels over the next 57 years. The name “Jeeves” has become synonymous with the image of the proper British butler or valet, and in the 1990’s an internet search engine known as “AskJeeves.com”, with a cartoon version of Jeeves as its mascot, made its debut on the worldwide web. There have been numerous film and television adaptations of the Jeeves stories, including a recent BBC series starring Hugh Laurie as Bertie.
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, born 1881, was a comic writer who enjoyed enormous popular success for more than seventy years. He eventually went to Hollywood, where he worked as a screenwriter. Many of his novels were serialized in magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post. Although Wodehouse and his novels are considered quintessentially English, from 1924 on he lived in France and the United States, and in 1955 he became an American citizen. Wodehouse died in 1975.
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, born 1948, is the most popular theatre composer of the late 20th Century. He has composed over a dozen musicals, as well as numerous concert works. His PHANTOM OF THE OPERA recently surpassed his CATS as the longest running show in Broadway history – now in its 18th year. Other popular works include JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, EVITA, STARLIGHT EXPRESS and SUNSET BOULEVARD.
Sir Alan Ayckbourn, born 1939, is frequently cited as being the second most-performed English language playwright, after Shakespeare. He has written over 60 full-length plays. Major successes include HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES, ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR, THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, BEDROOM FARCE, A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL, and HOUSE AND GARDEN.
The ITC production features Joe Lehman as Bertie and David Perkovich as Jeeves. Mr. Lehman has previously appeared in ITC’s productions of GIFTS OF THE MAGI, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, and MR. DOOLEY’S GILDED AGE. Mr Perkovich has acted and/or directed over two dozen shows at ITC over the past 29 years. Recent appearances include ART, MERCY OF A STORM, and OLEANNA.
The cast also includes David Boettcher, Mary Jane Guymon, Ed Rutherford, David Lipschutz, Jeny Wasilewski, Billy Vitucci, Paige Jarvie, and David Tibble. The production is directed and choreographed by Frank Roberts. Jonathan R. Billig serves as Musical Director and on-stage pianist.
BY JEEVES runs Friday, April 21 through Sunday, May 7. Performances are Wednesday throguh Saturday evenings at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2:30 & 7:30 PM. Tickets are priced at $20 on Fridays and Saturdays, $18 all other times. There is a $1 discount for students and seniors. The Illinois Theatre Center is located at 371 Artists Walk in Downtown Park Forest - off Indanwood Blvd, across from Village Hall. For tickets, call 708-481-3510.
Updated On: 4/21/06 at 09:58 PM
