Casting has been announced for PrideArts season opening production - the Chicago premiere of the musical GIRLFRIEND, by Todd Almond and Matthew Sweet, based on Sweet’s album of the same name. Set in Nebraska in the 1990s, this heartwarming coming-of-age story is a celebration of friendship, love, and, of course, music. Will, a bit of a social outcast, and Mike, the popular baseball player, start to explore their relationship days after graduation, experiencing the awkwardness and intensity of first love. This romantic musical has been a hit in New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere since its premiere in Berkeley, CA in 2010. The WASHINGTON POST said of it, “All you need to know about the intensity of teenage crushes is captured...in GIRLFRIEND, the tenderly truehearted rock musical that seems primed for cult-hit status." GIRLFRIEND will open to the press on Monday, August 29, 2022, following previews from August 25-28, and will play through September 25th. GIRLFRIEND will be directed by PrideArts Artistic Director Jay Españo, with music direction by Jeff award-winner Robert Ollis, accompanied by a high-energy, onstage rock band that provides back-up vocals.
Left, lower: Peter Stielstra; Right: Upper: Joe Lewis. Photo by Jay Españo. Click on image to download high-res file.
Españo announced his cast today. Joe Lewis, who will play Will, was seen last season at PrideArts in CHRISTMAS KAROL: A HOLIDAY INTERVENTION and most recently in A 21ST CENTURY ROMANCE: THE LOVE STORY BETWEEN FAG AND HAG, his cabaret with Korinne Yonan. Some of Lewis’ other credits include SOMETHING’S AFOOT (Geoffrey), 1776 (Courier), THE DROWSY CHAPERONE (George) with MadKap Productions; ORDINARY DAYS (Warren), RAGTIME (Younger Brother) with Art 4; THE ADDAMS FAMILY (Lucas) with Williams Street Repertory; SOMETHING ROTTEN (Nigel), and SPRING AWAKENING (Hanschen) with Theatre Nebula. Appearing as the jock Mike will be Peter Stielstra, making his PrideArts debut. Stielstra is originally from San Francisco, where some of his favorite credits have included NEXT TO NORMAL (Dunes Arts Foundation), AS YOU LIKE IT: A NEW MUSICAL (San Francisco Shakespeare Festival), and POOL OF UNKNOWN WONDERS (Oakland Theater Project). Understudying the role of Will is Michael Christopher Radford, also making his debut at PrideArts. Radford’s credits include INTO THE WOODS, SISTER ACT, PINKALICIOUS THE MUSICAL (McLeod Summer Playhouse); A MUSICAL: ONE SINGULAR SENSATION (Six Flags St. Louis).
L-R: Joe Lewis, Peter Stielstra, Michael Christopher Radford.
Tickets to GIRLFRIEND are priced at $35 for regular performances (August 29 – September 25) and $25 for previews August 25-28. Seniors and students will receive a $5 discount for regular performances. Tickets will be on sale beginning July 25 at 10 am, at www.pridearts.org or by phone at 773-857-0222.
Left: Joe Lewis, Right: Peter Stielstra. Photo by Jay Españo.
LISTING INFORMATION
GIRLFRIEND
Book by Todd Almond
Music and Lyrics by Matthew Sweet
CHICAGO PREMIERE
August 25–September 25, 2022
Previews August 25-August 28
Press Opening Monday, August 29, 2022, at 7:30 pm
Regular run August 29-September 25, 2022
Curtain times Thursdays–Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 3 pm
Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago
Tickets $35 for regular performances, $25 for previews. Seniors and students receive a $5 discount off regular performance prices. Tickets and more information at www.pridearts.org or by phone at 773-857-0222.
The Chicago premiere of the musical GIRLFRIEND, by Todd Almond and Matthew Sweet, based on Sweet’s album of the same name. Set in Nebraska in the ’90s, Will, a bit of a social outcast, and Mike, the popular football player, figure out that there is more to life than what high school has taught them. Days after graduation they explore their relationship and begin to ask themselves where their lives begin.
BIOS
Jay Españo (PrideArts Artistic Director, Director). Born in Manila, The Philippines, he joined the prestigious Tanghalang Pilipino’s Actors Company in 1998, where he trained with acclaimed Filipino director Nonon Padilla. He acted in several commercials, television series and films. Notably, he was a regular cast member of Koko KwikKwak - a spin-off of Batibot (Philippine SESAME STREET). He toured The Philippines with that show’s mascots, performing for kids throughout the country. In 2000, Jay was one of many Filipino actors who were cast in the Action Theater Singapore’s hit musical CHANG AND ENG, which toured Asia for several years.
Since moving to the Chicago area, Jay has worked with storefront theater companies such as Silk Road Rising, Prologue, Ghostlight, Halcyon, and PrideArts. He has played the role of the King in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I with various theater companies in the US and in Canada. Since joining PrideArts as Artistic Director in 2021, he has directed the company’s productions of THE THINGS I NEVER COULD TELL STEVEN, 4000 DAYS, CHRISTMAS KAROL: A HOLIDAY INTERVENTION, and TOMMY ON TOP.
Robert Ollis (Music Director) served as Music Director for PrideArts’ productions of THE THINGS I COULD NEVER TELL STEVEN, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, SOUTHERN COMFORT, YANK!: A WW II LOVE STORY, THE NANCE, PRISCILLA: QUEEN OF THE DESERT, THE BOY FROM OZ, SONGS FROM AN UNMADE BED, A HISTORY OF SUMMER, and THE BOOK OF MERMAN, plus the premiere of Leo Schwartz's award-winning UNDER A RAINBOW FLAG. He served as Music Director for Underscore Theatre’s musical HAYMARKET: A NEW FOLK MUSICAL. Robert received a Jeff Award for musical direction of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, in addition to his nominations for seven other shows. Robert is the music director and co-creator of JUDY AND LIZA: THE LONDON PALLADIUM CONCERT — A TRIBUTE and accompanies other notable cabaret performers in New York City and Chicago venues.
Matthew Sweet (Music and Lyrics) is an American alternative rock/power pop singer-songwriter and musician who began his career in the burgeoning music scene in Athens, Georgia, during the 1980s performing with the likes of R.E.M.’s Michael Stipes. His first solo albums, released in 1986 and 1989 were critical hits, though unsuccessful commercially. His 1991 album GIRLFRIEND was widely considered an artistic breakthrough. It quickly garnered impressive U.S. sales, spawning a Top 10 single with the title track. In 2021, Sweet released CATSPAW, his 15th studio album, and the first to feature Sweet playing all lead guitar parts.
Todd Almond (Bookwriter). Todd Almond is a composer, lyricist, and playwright. For The Public Theater/Shakespeare in the Park, he wrote the music and lyrics for the Public Works production of THE TEMPEST at the Delacorte Theater (a production in which he also starred as Ariel). His musicals include GIRLFRIEND (Berkeley Rep., and Actors Theatre of Louisville, with songwriter Matthew Sweet, dir: Les Waters); MELANCHOLY PLAY (13P, with playwright Sarah Ruhl, dir: Davis McCallum); WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE (Yale Repertory Theater, with playwright Adam Bock, dir: Anne Kauffman); ON THE LEVEE (LCT3, dir: Lear deBessonet); THE ODYSSEY (The Old Globe, dir: Lear deBessonet) and Iowa (Playwrights Horizons, 2015, with playwright Jenny Schwartz, dir: Ken Rus Schmoll). Almond music-directed and arranged Sherie Rene Scott's hit show PIECE OF MEAT (54 Below and Hippodrome in London) and can be heard on Laura Benanti's live album IN CONSTANT SEARCH OF THE RIGHT KIND OF ATTENTION. He has released two solo albums: MEXICO CITY, and MEMORIAL DAY.
ABOUT PRIDEARTS
PrideArts tells queer stories on a variety of platforms, including both live and virtual performances. Since its founding in 2010, PrideArts has had several chapters, including operating as an itinerant theater for their first six seasons, and as the developer and primary tenant in the Pride Arts Center from 2016-21.
The company produces full seasons of plays and musicals, as well as events including cabaret, film, and more. The company has earned 39 Jeff Awards and nominations, and six nominations in the most recent (2019) ALTA Awards from the Alliance of Latinx Theater Artists of Chicago. Programming has reflected the diversity of queer communities by including work made by and illuminating the experiences of women, gay men, transgender people, and BIPOC.
PrideArts is supported by The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at The Richard Driehaus Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, City of Chicago’s City Arts Fund, the Elliott Fredland Charitable Trust, The Pauls Foundation, The Heath Fund, The Service Club of Chicago, the AmazonSmile Foundation, Arts and Business Foundation, Tap Root Foundation, Arts and Business Council, and Alphawood Foundation.
PrideArts is a member of the Smart Growth Program of the Chicago Community Trust. PrideArts is a member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, Northalsted Business Association, Lakeview East, Uptown United, and The League of Chicago Theatre.
For more information and to donate, visit www.pridearts.org or call 1.773 857 0222.