PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE OPENS WITH

THE CULT MUSICAL FAVORITE

CANDIDE

CHICAGO—Porchlight Music Theatre will present the beloved musical satire Candide at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 West Belmont.  The witty operetta based on the 1759 French masterpiece by Voltaire previews September 13, opens Sunday, September 14 at 2:30 p.m. and runs through November 2, 2008.

Featuring a legendary score by Leonard Bernstein, Candide has become a beloved musical with a huge cult-like following of admirers.  Part sophisticated operetta, part wacky screwball comedy with shades
of Monty Python, this funny, irreverent satire is the perfect musical expression of Voltaire’s tongue-in-cheek send-up of optimistic philosophies.

In one lightning-paced act, the hapless Candide is expelled from home, drafted into the Bulgarian army, brought before the Spanish Inquisition, swindled out of a fortune, shipwrecked on a desert isle, and separated time and again from his true love Cunegonde. Through it all, Candide remembers the lesson of his dear master Dr. Pangloss: that “everything is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.”

Candide features a Tony-award winning book by Hugh Wheeler (Sweeney Todd), and one of the most sensational musical scores of
the 20th century by Leonard Bernstein.  The classic score features the famous ‘Overture’, ‘Glitter and Be Gay’ and the stunning ‘Make Our Garden Grow.’  In a dazzling choice, the Porchlight Music Theatre production will integrate the orchestra into the middle of the action.  Indeed the whole theater is being adapted to involve the audience and
the musicians more fully into the show.

This new version premiered at the Chelsea Theatre Centre in Brooklyn
in 1973, and moved to Broadway in 1974. The production went on to win three Tony Awards including Best Director and Best Book.  The 1997 Broadway revival earned four Tony Award nominations.

Jeff Award winning actor David Girolmo leads the cast of Candide as
Dr. Voltaire/Pangloss.  Mr. Girolmo was also featured in Candide on Broadway in 1997 under the original direction of Harold Prince.

Candide features Jeff Citation winner Ryan Lanning as the hapless Candide with newcomer Caitlin Collins as his beloved Cunegonde. 
Their adventures are misdirected by a tragically funny old lady (Kristen Freilich), their vain brother Maximilian (Jeremy Rill) and a saucy maid Paquette (Sarah Hayes).  The quick changing and hard working ensemble includes: Christin Boulette, Cameron Brune, Sean Effinger-Dean, Gerald Richardson, Shannon Strodel, Jennifer
Tjepkema, Joseph Tokarz and Daniel Waters. 

The show is directed by Porchlight Music Theatre’s Artistic Director, Jeff Award winner, L. Walter Stearns, with Music Direction by Jeff Award winner Eugene Dizon and Choreography by Andrew Waters.  Costume Design is by After Dark Award winner Bill Morey and Scenic Design by Kurt Sharp.

About Porchlight Music Theatre

Porchlight Music Theatre is Chicago’s music theater leader; producing award-winning interpretations of classic musicals and cutting-edge new works on intimate stages. The company has staged 36 shows including four world premieres, among them, The Teapot Scandals, its first work developed through Off the Porch, Porchlight’s new works program, as well as seven Chicago premieres. Porchlight earned the most Jeff awards of any Chicago music theater and the most After Dark Awards of any Chicago theater in 2007. An Equity theater since 2004, the company has already received a total of 24 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations resulting in 10 Jeff Awards.

Porchlight Music Theatre is partially supported by generous contributions from Alaron, the A.R.T League, the Arts Work Fund at the Chicago Community Trust, the William Blair & Company Foundation, Capri Capital Partners LLC, a City Arts Program 2 Grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency), the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Mummert Consulting Group, 900 North Michigan Surgery Center, Peoples Energy, and The Saints.

PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE’S 2008–2009 SEASON

Musical Journeys—A Season of Musical Destinations

Candide

Book by Hugh Wheeler

Lyrics by John Latouche, Richard Wilbur and Stephen Sondheim

Music by Leonard Bernstein

Based on the novel Candide by Voltaire

Previews September 13, Press Opening September 14, Performances to November 2, 2008

Special Matinee: Thursday, October at 2:00pm.

Pacific Overtures

Book by John Weidman

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Previews March 14, Press Opening March 18, Performances continue to
May 3, 2009

Special Matinees: Thursdays, March 2 10:00am, April 23 2:00pm

Once on This Island

Book and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens

Music by Stephen Flaherty

Based on the novel, My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy

Previews May 9, Press Opening May 11, Performances continue to June 28, 2009

Special Matinees: Thursdays, May 21 10:00am, June 18 2:00pm

Ticket Information

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:45pm and Sundays at 2:30pm.  Single tickets are $37 with discounts available for students and seniors.  Single Tickets may be purchased through the box office at Theatre Building 773.327.5252 or www.TicketMaster.com. Group Sales Discounts are available through Group Theater Tix at 312.423.6612 or
866.809.3075.