Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, opens its 2021–2022 season with Songs for Nobodies, written by Joanna Murray-Smith, directed by Rob Lindley, with music direction by Andra Velis Simon, and featuring Bethany Thomas. Songs for Nobodies runs September 23 – October 31, 2021 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. The press opening is Friday, October 1, 2021 at 8pm.
This one-woman tour-de-force celebrates the iconic work of Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf and Maria Callas. Share in the unexpected encounters between these legendary divas and the ordinary women whose lives were changed by their brushes with fame. Featuring such favorites as “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “Crazy,” and “Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do,” Songs for Nobodies illuminates the power of song to share a story, heal a heartbreak, and inspire a dream.
Songs for Nobodies features Bethany Thomas. The creative team includes Jeffrey D. Kmiec (Scenic Design), Mieka van der Ploeg (Costume Design), Jesse Klug (Lighting Design), and Lindsay Jones (Sound Design). The production stage manager is Rita Vreeland.
“Over the last year and a half, we have streamed and zoomed our way into your homes through computers, ipads, or cell phones. But we are artists that have dedicated our careers to live performance, and though it was briefly enjoyable to put our work into the ether, we were missing the most important ingredient in our work–the audience! We missed the laughter, the gasps, the murmurs of audiences beginning to unwind the dramatic knot the playwright has tied. We missed the applause of appreciation for our work, and the observations at post-show discussions. It is the interaction between audiences and artists that fuels our passion for this art form; it is our oxygen, and in the last year and a half we have been fighting for breath,” comments Artistic Director BJ Jones. “We return joyously with the amazing Bethany Thomas whose artistry is thrilling and in Songs for Nobodies, her talents are on full display. It’s a perfect and uplifting way to gather in our theatre. See you in the lobby!”
Northlight’s production of Songs for Nobodies is supported in part by Avidor Evanston and the Zunamon-Cunniff Family.
Bethany Thomas is making her Northlight debut. Credits include Into the Woods, A Moon for the Misbegotten (Writers Theater); Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Songs For Nobodies, The Color Purple (Milwaukee Rep); The Tempest (Chicago Shakespeare); Marry Me a Little (Porchlight Music Theater); and Porgy and Bess (Court Theater). She’s also frequently entangled with The Neo Futurists, Steppenwolf, Second City, The Fly Honeys, The Paper Machete, and The Hideout. As a singer/songwriter, BT tours and records with Jon Langford, and recently released an album with Tawny Newsome entitled Material Flats, and a solo album entitled BT/She/Her. Find Bethany’s music on iTunes, Bandcamp, Spotify, and everywhere else.
Rob Lindley’s directing credits include Far From Heaven, How to Succeed in Business…., Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, A Wonderful Life (Porchlight Music Theatre); and 50 Shades!: The Music Parody (Off-Broadway and National Tour). Rob also directs many cabaret evenings from intimate club engagements to large-scale galas for many Chicago organizations including Court Theatre, Porchlight Theatre, Northlight Theatre and the Chicago Humanities Festival. As an actor, Northlight audiences might remember Rob from his performance in Funnyman. Other acting credits include: Monsieur André in the National Tour of Phantom of the Opera; Fun Home (Victory Gardens); The Tempermentals (About Face Theatre); Candide (Goodman); The Secret Garden, Angels in America, Caroline or Change, James Joyce’s The Dead, Carousel (Court Theatre); and Oh Coward! (Writers Theatre) for which he won a Jeff Award for Best Actor in a Revue.
Andra Velis Simon is making her Northlight debut. She works extensively in Chicago and around the country as a music director, adapter/arranger, pianist, educator, and vocal coach. Regionally, her work has been seen at Actors Theatre of Louisville, A.R.T. in Cambridge, Berkeley Rep, Brooklyn Academy of Music, NYU’s Skirball Center, Olney Theatre Center in Maryland, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Pasadena Playhouse, and Three Oaks in Michigan. In Chicago, she has had the pleasure of collaborating with Chicago Children’s Theatre, Firebrand Theatre, Goodman Theatre, The Hypocrites, Steppenwolf, Theater Wit, Writers Theatre, and dozens of others. She is a Practitioner in Residence at Columbia College Chicago, where she has taught musical theatre performance since 2008.
FACT SHEET
Title: Songs for Nobodies
Written by: Joanna Murray-Smith
Directed by: Rob Lindley
Music Direction by: Andra Velis Simon
Featuring: Bethany Thomas
Dates: Previews: September 23 – September 30, 2021
Press Opening: Friday, October 31, 2021 at 8pm
Regular run: October 2 – October 31, 2021
Creative Team: Jeffrey D. Kmiec (Scenic Design), Mieka van der Ploeg (Costume Design), Jesse Klug (Lighting Design), Lindsay Jones (Sound Design), and Rita Vreeland (Production Stage Manager)
Schedule:
- Tuesdays: 7:30pm (Sep 28 and Oct 19 only)
- Wednesdays: 1:00pm (except Oct 27); and 7:30pm
- Thursdays: 7:30pm
- Fridays: 8:00pm
- Saturdays: 2:30pm (except Sep 25); and 8:00pm
Sundays: 2:30pm; and 7:00pm (Sep 26 and Oct 10 and 17 only)
An Open Caption and Audio Described performance will be held on Saturday, October 16 at 2:30pm.
Socially Distanced performances with limited capacity will be held on Sunday, October 10 at 7:00pm or Wednesday, October 27 at 7:30pm.
Northlight’s ongoing Backstage with BJ series continues in a virtual format, with a behind-the-scenes discussion with Artistic Director BJ Jones, Director Rob Lindley, and Bethany Thomas. This free program is accessible at https://youtu.be/RmGO6j82jbs.
Location: Northlight Theatre is located at the North Shore
Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie
Tickets: Previews: $30-$61
Regular run: $30-$89
Student tickets are $15, any performance (subject to availability)
Box Office: The Box Office is located at 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie.
847.673.6300; northlight.org
- Songs for Nobodies was originally scheduled for an extended run in the spring of 2020. Eighteen months later, Northlight is pleased to welcome audiences for this fitting production that illuminates the power of song to share a story, heal a heartbreak, and inspire a dream.
- Bethany Thomas recently released two albums of original rock music- BT/She/Her (solo) and Material Flats (w/Tawny Newsome) and has been hosting a DIY music venue in her backyard since the shutdown. She is the co-founder of the new artists' collective Murmuration Records. She and Rob Lindley will co-host the Chicago Humanities Festival Gala, in October.
Subscriptions are available and range in price from $117-$275. With its wide range of ticket prices, discounted subscription packages and complimentary parking, Northlight remains of one of the best theatrical values in Chicagoland. Package options include traditional 5-Play Packages and Flex Packages. Subscriptions are available at northlight.org/subscribe or 847.673.6300.
Northlight is proud to be among a coalition of Chicago theatres in our unified mask and vaccination policies. Please visit our Health & Safety page for the latest information.
Northlight Theatre aspires to promote change of perspective and encourage compassion by exploring the depth of our humanity across a bold spectrum of theatrical experiences, reflecting our community to the world and the world to our community.
Founded in 1974, the organization has mounted over 220 productions, including more than 40 world premieres. Northlight has earned 208 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations and 36 Awards, as well as ten Edgerton Foundation for New Play Awards. As one of the area’s premier theatre companies, Northlight is a regional magnet for critical and professional acclaim, as well as talent of the highest quality.
The 2021-2022 Season is supported in part by BMO Harris Bank and season lighting sponsor ComEd, An Exelon Company.
Northlight is supported in part by generous contributions from Allstate Insurance; the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; BMO Harris Bank; Bulley and Andrews; Byline Bank; The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; CoBank; ComEd, An Exelon Company; Eckenhoff Saunders; Evanston Arts Council; Evanston Community Foundation; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; Full Circle Foundation; The Gross Foundation; Gruman Butkus Associates; John R. Halligan Fund; Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; Illinois Humanities; Katten Muchin Roseman LLP; Kirkland & Ellis Foundation; The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Modestus Bauer Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; Niles Township; NorthShore University HealthSystems; Northwestern University; The Offield Family Foundation; The Pauls Foundation; PNC Bank; Polsinelli; Ralla Klepak Trust for the Performing Arts; Room & Board; Sanborn Family Foundation; The Saints Foundation; Dr. Scholl Foundation; The Shubert Foundation, Inc.; The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust; The Sullivan Family Foundation; and Tom Stringer Design Partners.