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Book by James Macgruder, Music by
Jeffrey Stock, Lyrics by Susan Birkenhead
ITC PRESENTS MUSICAL “TRIUMPH
OF LOVE”
The charming and romantic
musical TRIUMPH OF LOVE rings in the holiday season at the Illinois
Theatre Center in Park Forest. This “perfect blend of highbrow and
lowbrow” musical comedy is filled with mistaken identities, slapstick
comedy, and delightful songs and dances. The production opens Friday,
November 30th for a three week run.
TRIUMPH OF LOVE is based on
the 18th Century comedy by French playwright Marivaux.
Though rarely performed in America, the play has been popular with
French audiences for over 200 years. The musical version, translated and
adapted by James Magruder, with music by Jeffrey Stock and lyrics by
Susan Birkenhead, premiered on Broadway in 1997.
This charming tale tells of a
princess who disguises herself as a man in order to infiltrate the
guarded compound where a young man she has admired from afar dwells.
She soon learns that the man is in fact the deposed prince whose parents
were killed by hers many years ago. He has grown up with his aunt and
uncle, devoting his life to studying philosophy and planning for the day
he will slay the princess and reclaim his throne. The princess must hide
her true identity from the deposed prince and his aunt and uncle until
she can win his love and give him back his throne.
The cast features ITC
favorites Iris Lieberman and Bill Scharpen as the prince’s stern aunt
and uncle. Ms. Lieberman was last seen at ITC in THE ENTERTAINER.
Previous roles include leads in PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE and 110 IN THE
SHADE. Mr. Scharpen’s ITC credits include STARS IN YOUR EYES and BLOOD
BROTHERS. Both are veteran musical theatre performers, having appeared
in numerous productions at theatres throughout the Chicago area. In
2005 they played husband and wife in the musical BABY at Theatre at the
Center in Munster, Indiana, where they were previously paired up as the
leads in BELLS ARE RINGING.
Laura Grene makes her ITC
Mainstage debut as the princess. A recent graduate of Roosevelt
University, she played lead roles in ITC’s Summerfest productions of HOW
TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS… and A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE
FORUM. Riley Thomas makes his ITC debut as the prince. His Chicago
area stage credits include roles with Red Orchid Theatre, Bailiwick
Repertory, and Red Orchid Theatre. Frank Roberts, David Zizic, and
Laura Sturm portray the servants who aid the princess in her quest, and
provide witty commentary along the way. The production is directed by
Etel Billig.
TRIUMPH OF LOVE runs from Friday,
November 30 through Sunday, December 16. Performances are Wednesday
through Saturday evenings at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2:30 & 7:30 PM.
Tickets are $21 on Fridays and Saturdays, $19 at all other times. There
is a $1 discount for students & seniors. The Illinois Theatre Center is
located in Downtown Park Forest at 371 Artists Walk (off Indianwood
Blvd, next to Village Hall). For tickets, call (708) 481-3510.
November
30th to December 16th, 2007 |
