"BurgerTown: The Musical" Opening in Chicago

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 5/23/05 at 4:21pm

If you live in or around the Chicago area, or will be in the area between June 2 and June 19th, swing by Theatre Building Chicago on West Belmont and check out "BurgerTown: The Musical." Written by Jamey Strawn (Score/Musical Director) and Ken & Christine Jones (Concept/Librettist/Director and Lyrics, respectively), “BurgerTown” is a brand new musical set in the Windy City which tells the story of Dan O'Reilly, a timid fry cook who accidentally invents the hottest new craze in the fast food world. He takes the humble BurgerTown restaurant from its lowly place beneath the tracks of the Fullerton train station to soaring new heights. In this fun and cheeky new musical, our shy hero encounters bad guys, big business and burgers and struggles to hold onto his sanity as he chases his dreams for success, romance, and a fast-food fortune. “BurgerTown” was originally produced in 2004 as part of Northern Kentucky University's Summer Dinner Theatre, a professional summer production series, and makes its regional debut in Theatre Building Chicago’s South Theatre beginning June 2.

Chris Curcio of broadwaysbiggesthits.com had this to say,

“[Burgertown] is a cute little show with a simple plot about the evils of corruption and the temptations and allures of big franchise money… The score is…breezy and fun…The cast is solid and the show looks to have a future throughout America where we can relate to the concepts the show reminds us of so lovingly.”

The entire review of the Original Cast Recording can be read at:
http://www.broadwaysbiggesthits.com/cd_reviews.html
Scroll down right past “South Pacific” and “Simply Heaven.”

**UPDATE**Go to the following link to listen to clips from the show! http://studenthome.nku.edu/~wesselmanchr/

If you're looking for a fun time and lots of laughs, come check out “BurgerTown.”

Musical comedy served hot and fresh!

http://www.burgertown.net
http://www.theatrebuildingchicago.org

Updated On: 5/26/05 at 04:21 PM

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 5/23/05 at 4:29pm

I'll be there.

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 5/23/05 at 4:35pm

Awesome. Hey, the way I see it, if you can't get into Wicked, come see BurgerTown! Haha.

[shostakov]

Posted: 5/23/05 at 4:55pm

Hmmm...sounds interesting. I wanted to go to Chicago to see Wicked...hell, any excuse to go to Chicago and see great theatre sounds works for me! How much are tickets? What's the show about?

"Tell me more, tell me more!"

[sjustinterry]

Posted: 5/23/05 at 5:00pm

Hey, this sounds like a great show! I'll try my best to make it up there! I'll tell my buddies that live around Chicago to make it up there too. They love kooky humor. Later.

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 5/23/05 at 5:07pm

I hate it when shows are compared to other shows, but from the begining it's been common for the writers to refer to the show as "a mix between 'Little Shop,' 'Pump Boys and Dinettes,' and a little 'Urinetown' thrown in for good measure." The press realease (with a bit more of plot details) can be viewed here:

http://www.theatrebuildingchicago.org/bulletin_82.html

I didn't want to take up too much space. A full plot synopsis and some pictures from last summer's run can be found here:

http://www.burgertown.net/
Make sure to sign the guest book! Haha.

Thank you for your interest!

Updated On: 5/23/05 at 05:07 PM

[GregtheJunkie]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 1:02am

You say that it's a mix of Little Shop, etc etc, so does that mean you guys have obvious takes from those shows? I read the plot synopsis at burgertown.net and the lead characters sound an awful lot like Little Shop (Danny to Seymour, Jan to Audrey, and Sal to Mr. Mushnik), not to mention the ensemble of 'street people.' Is there some sort of self-referencing joke to this similarity? Or is it just a clever scheme to work upon an already existing idea? Is BurgerTown just Little Shop with a triangular shaped patty instead of a man-eating plant?

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 1:59am

It's safe to say that, yes, there are some similarities in characters, especially the idea of having a set of equally-inept co-workers who love each other but can't seem to simply come out and say it. Not to mention our overbearing yet fatherly store owner. But these characters aren't subject to just Little Shop. It's safe to say that in theatre there are sets of cookie-cutter characters, but your job is to find plot and situation that's strikingly unique to the show they inhabit. I believe our show does just that. While we share some similar musical stylings to shows such as Little Shop as well, these are but brief snippits of the show and don't steal or mock or mimmick in anyway. Consider it an omage if anything. It's safe to say that while you may feel that the show is just Little Shop wrapped in a new package, BurgerTown offers an incredibly different theatrical experience. After all, our mechanical burger puppet is vastly superior to any Audrey II you've ever seen......that, of course, was a joke. Sorry if it wasn't funny. Of course, I leave the final judgement up to the viewer, as well all have our own tastes. Come see the show and decide for yourself, greg!

[IMsooHyprToday]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 3:04am

so do they cook real burgers on stage? that would be really neat if they did!

[GregtheJunkie]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 3:05am

Yes, it is true that we all have our own opinions and tastes. I'd consider going to see the show, but I'm in Texas this summer. Anyway you could email me some music or something? I did a search for the CD and found it at several places, like amazon.com, but they didn't have audio samples.

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 3:09am

lol, it's funny you should ask that. When we did the show last summer, we had a little electric grill behind our diner counter that they actually cooked a few burgers on during the show. it didn't work too well though. burgers are horrible about cooking on cue. a few cold, uncooked patty bites, 9 months, and one fire code later we find ourselves without the grill in Chicago, so we'll be swinging by some burger joint to pick up some, ahem, specially made props.

Updated On: 5/24/05 at 03:09 AM

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 3:10am

PM me, Greg. I'll see what I can do.

[GregtheJunkie]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 5:21am

can you just email me instead? [e-mail]
sorry to be a bother!

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 8:36am

Not a problem.

[aspiringactor]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 8:42am

Hey Shostakov, I believe tickets are about 19 or 20 bucks, and if you want show time information, go to theatrebuildingchicago.com. (it's playing in the theatre building)

Anyway, I'm totally seeing this show on Saturday June 11th (the evening performance not the matinee). My friends sister is the female lead or something (maybe miss Burgertown) anyway, I've never met her (friend's sister that is), but if she's as talented as Karen (freind), than she should be great!

Hey CJWesselman, do you think I should pre-order my tickets; I had planned on buying them at the door, but now that it's being talked about, I wonder if I should? (probably better to be safe than sorry I guess)

Anyway, I can't wait to see the show - I'm moving to Chicago on the 5th of June, and I've got a big line up of "shows to see" this summer - Burger Town was one of my first (although Wicked was my true first: already bought tickets for the 10th)

Well, It's great to hear some chatter about Burger Town, I'll have to tell Karen all about it.

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 8:48am

Nice to see someone's already heard of it. lol So is it Shannon you're coming to see? She's 'Miss BurgerTown." If I were you, I'd go ahead and buy your tickets now if you've got the money to do so. Just like you said, better to be safe than sorry. Looking forward to...well, performing for you, I guess.

[aspiringactor]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 9:10am

Yup, I'm going to see Shannon, and well I suppose I'll also be going to see one of my fellow broadwayworlders - CJWesselman.
I'm looking forward to the show - so do you think that it might be going further than the Theatre Building in Chicago (like possibly on to New York)? Would this show be considered to be in the "work shop" stage?

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 9:41am

I think last summer was really it's true workshop. Ken and Jamey had a chance to see the show on it's feet for the first time and we were lucky enough to have sold out audiences every night of the run (which is more than most new york workshops can say), so they really had a chance to see what worked and what didn't, what they audience thought was funny and what they didn't get. They've spent the last 9 months making cuts and changes and what have you. Our rehearsal process for the next week and a half is basically adjusting to those changes and get comfortable with the show again. This will be the final product for the show as far as Ken and Jamey's plans go. Pretty much their sole purpose for this run in Chicago is to get publishing companies (like Samuel French, who Ken's been published through before) to pick up the show. It's not a Broadway show. Not because it's not good enough, but because it doesn't play well in broadway houses. it's a very small, intimate show. Ken and Jamey want this show to have a life as a Regional/Community/University Theatre show (where they can actually make more money off it anyway, lol) if we did go to broadway, chances are it wouldn't click with audiences as well, which is what happened to shows like the Little Shop revival. Now that being said, we do have broadway producers on tap to come see the show. We've gotten word that Rick Steiner (producer of Hairspray, among others) will be attending. he actually came to see one of our most recent shows at NKU (which oddly enough starred half of the BT cast, including myself, and was also directed by Ken, lol), so we're thrilled he's interested enough to come to chicago to some see this one. If they have enough interest and faith, then yes, they could very well take the show off-broadway or onto broadway. i think it could make it off-broadway and be a success there, but with the way things work now, if it were a success off-broadway, then they'd try and move it on broadway and I don't know if it would keep it's same charm and likeability in those big houses. but who knows, i could be totally wrong! but that's just my opinion. it's all up to fate now. lol wow, I'm so long-winded today....hope i answered your questions.....i better have. lol

[birdlives]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 10:01am

Hey, is Michael King really Mike King, the professor?

If so, he gave me my first professional job. What a cool guy.

And, I saw one of Ken's other plays, I think it's called DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, or something like that. Oh, and I saw LIFELINES at NKU when I was going to school in Cincinnati. It was pretty good, I remember. This one sounds like a lot of fun.

Best of luck to you!

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 10:09am

It is indeed the one and only Mike King. Singing and dancing (sort of) with the rest of us. If you'd like I can give him a message for you? Just PM me your name if you don't want to give it out on the net. You got Ken's play right, Darkside it is. That's his most successful work to date. Lifelines was one of the first musicals he and Christine wrote together, but it was with another composer. Troy Hitch, I believe. Who, oddly enough, is the man who designed our new posters for the Chicago run and hooked us up with some good publicity. What a small word it turns out to be. Thank you for your support!

[birdlives]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 10:17am

Yes, please tell Mike King that Mickey Fisher says "hello". If he has trouble remembering, tell him from Jenny Wiley, class of 92. :)

Thanks, CJ. Did you go to NKU, or are you a Chicago actor?

And, this is smart promotion. I went to see THE FULL MONTY a couple weeks ago because of someone's posting here.

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 10:22am

Ha. This show sounds great. I'm totally there. (I also happen to TOTALLY live by the Theatre Building, which doesn't hurt:)) And you're right, since I can't get into Wicked - despite my best efforts to win that stupid lottery (damn the girls with the dyed green hair and homemade Defying Gravity shirts who flock there!) so I'll be heading to BurgerTown:)

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 10:37am

Mickey,
I'll be sure to tell Mike you say Hi. His memory isn't as bad as he thinks it is, he's proving that at our rehearsals now. lol I'm currently a student at NKU, working towards my BFA in Musical Theatre (2 more years.....2 more years....lol.) The whole cast is either NKU students, alumni, or in Mike's case, faculty. We had two casting changes from last summer, with our lead actress departing the show for a much better paying job working at Dollywood. One our ensemble girls got promoted to the lead role and we brought in another student for the ensemble. I think that's really the most amazing thing about this show...we're not a big-name school (yet) and still we manage to do what a)we've never done before and b)what few other schools (regardless of caliber) do period. Can you tell I'm biased? lol Thank you for your support!

Magic,
Thank you very much! I told myself that if I was gonna be a publicity whore I better damn well get some people to come to the show! lol It really is a great show (once again, yes I am biased, lol) and we have a blast doing it. Is Wicked totally sold out except for the lottery? if so, I may put some serious contemplation into an agressive, "Can't get into Wicked? Come see BurgerTown!" campaign, which I've had the idea to do for quite some time. lol It'll be a delight to have your presence in the audience! Thank you so much again and, hey, tell some friends! Spread the word, BurgerTown is on it's way!

[jecyde]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 2:54pm

This show sounds like a lot of fun! I will be there!

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 3:52pm

Haha, thank you! You all better keep your word!

By the by, I don't think I ever mentioned that tickets are available through Ticketmaster as well, not just through Theatre Building Chicago's Box Office.

https://www.ticketmaster.com
https://www.theatrebuildingchicago.org