Black Button Eyes Productions is pleased to announce casting for its fall production of the popular internet musical Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, an authorized fan production to benefit the Chicago charity Season of Concern.
The cast includes Kevin Webb as Dr. Horrible, Tommy Thurston as Captain Hammer, Stephanie Fongheiser as Penny and Joshua Servantez as Moist with North Homewood, Caitlin Jackson, Josh Kemper, Peter Ruger and Maiko Terazawa. Understudies: David Lipschutz and Mikaela Sullivan.
The cast of Black Button Eyes Productions’ Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog includes (top, l to r) Stephanie Fongheiser, North Homewood, Caitlin Jackson, Josh Kemper, Peter Ruger and Joshua Servantez (bottom, l to r) Maiko Terazawa, Tommy Thurston, Kevin Webb, David Lipschutz and Mikaela Sullivan.
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog will play October 8 – November 6, 2021 at The Edge Theater (mainstage), 5451 N. Broadway Ave. in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. Written by Joss Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, Jed Whedon and Zack Whedon, this live stage version of the award-winning online sensation is directed by Producing Artistic Director Ed Rutherford with music direction by Micky York and choreography by Derek Van Barham. Ticket are currently on-sale at drhorriblechicago.eventbrite.com. The press opening is Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 7:30 pm.
Through his webcam, supervillain wannabe Dr. Horrible shares his grand plans to crush his nemesis Captain Hammer, win the affection of the girl of his dreams and join the Evil League of Evil. Released in 2008 as a web series starring Neil Patrick Harris, this beloved show took the internet by storm.
Comments Artistic Director Ed Rutherford, “Safety remains a top priority for our artists and audiences. While we're optimistic that rescheduling won't be necessary, we will only proceed with the productions on the current timetable if Illinois and Chicago remain in phase five at the start of performances – otherwise we will postpone.”
The production team includes Jeremiah Barr (scenic design, technical director), Rachel Sypniewski (costume design), Liz Cooper (lighting design), Robert Hornbostel (sound design), G. "Max" Maxin IV (video and projection design), Brendan Hutt (violence design) and Cecilia Koloski (stage manager).
About Season of Concern
Season of Concern understands the difficulties that arise if a theater artist can’t work. That’s why we are proud to offer emergency financial assistance to Chicago theater makers for health-related issues. Season of Concern was founded in 1987 to support Chicago theater practitioners afflicted with AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses. Thankfully as the AIDS crisis has become more manageable, we are able to expand our services to meet the day-to-day needs of theater artists who are impacted by any illness, injury or health related issue that prevents them from working, excluding loss of income for other reasons. For more information, visit seasonofconcern.org.
PRODUCTION DETAILS:
Title: Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
Written by Joss Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, Jed Whedon and Zack Whedon
Directed by Producing Artistic Director Ed Rutherford
Music Director: Micky York
Choreographer: Derek Van Barham
Cast (in alphabetical order): Stephanie Fongheiser (Penny), North Homewood (Ensemble), Caitlin Jackson (Ensemble), Josh Kemper (Ensemble), Peter Ruger (Ensemble), Joshua Servantez (Moist), Maiko Terazawa (Ensemble), Tommy Thurston (Captain Hammer) and Kevin Webb (Dr. Horrible).
Understudies: David Lipschutz and Mikaela Sullivan.
Location: The Edge Theater (mainstage), 5451 N. Broadway Ave., Chicago
Dates: Previews: Friday, October 8 at 7:30 pm
Press performance: Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 7:30 pm
Regular run: Sunday, October 10 – November 6, 2021
Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm. Please note: there will be an added performance on Tuesday, October 19 at 7:30 pm.
Tickets: $30. Tickets are currently available at drhorriblechicago.eventbrite.com.
About the Artists:
Ed Rutherford’s (Director) directing credits for Black Button Eyes include Whisper House, Ghost Quartet (Jeff Nomination: Best Director of a Musical), Evil Dead the Musical (Jeff Nomination: Best Director of a Musical), his script Nightmares & Nightcaps: The Stories of John Collier, Nevermore, Shockheaded Peter, Amour, Goblin Market, and Coraline. He is an artistic associate with Promethean Theatre Ensemble, where he directed The Liar, his own adaptation of Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn, Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle and the company's inaugural production, Christopher Durang’s Beyond Therapy. Directing with Brown Paper Box Co: The Baltimore Waltz. As an actor, he's performed with Drury Lane Oakbrook, Porchlight, Theater Wit and many others. A graduate of Northwestern's theater program, he also completed his MBA at Kellogg.
Micky York (Music Director) is excited to be back behind the piano with Black Button Eyes after last year's production of Whisper House. Other Chicagoland credits include Call Me Madam (Porchlight Revisits); Peter and the Starcatcher, Young Frankenstein, Spamalot, ...Spelling Bee (Metropolis PAC); Happy End (After Dark Award – Outstanding Music Direction) and Jacques Brel (Brown Couch); Make Me a Song (Eclectic); Pr0ne (Underscore); and Sarita (Halcyon).
Derek Van Barham (Choreographer) is the Producing Artistic Director of Kokandy Productions, and a member of the Red Tape Theatre ensemble. Recent directing credits: Head Over Heels (Kokandy), The View Upstairs (Circle), Poseidon (Hell in a Handbag) and Taylor Mac’s A Walk Across America for Mother Earth (CCPA/Roosevelt). Black Button credits include Ghost Quartet, Evil Dead The Musical (Jeff nomination), Coraline the Musical, Goblin Market, Amour, Nevermore and Shockheaded Peter. He has also choreographed for The Plagiarists, Inappropriate Theatre, The Ruckus, Brain Surgeon Theatre and Salonathon. He was named one of Windy City Times 30 Under 30, recognizing individuals from Chicago's LGBTQ community. www.derekvanbarham.com
About Black Button Eyes Productions
The 2021-22 season continues Black Button Eyes Productions' mission to bring to Chicago premieres and seldom-seen works containing elements of fantasy, in which the magical and surreal invade reality. The company was founded in 2014 with the acclaimed Midwest premiere of the musical Coraline, followed by Goblin Market, Amour, Shockheaded Peter, Nevermore-The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe, the world premiere Nightmares and Nightcaps: The Stories of John Collier, the smash hit Chicago Storefront Premiere of Evil Dead the Musical, and most recently the Chicago premieres of the musicals Ghost Quartet and Whisper House.