Remy Bumppo Theatre Company is pleased to announce the cast, creative and production teams for Love Song, written by John Kolvenbach and directed by Artistic Director Marti Lyons, March 21 – April 21, 2024 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Previews are Thursday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 24 at 2:30 p.m. with press opening Monday, March 25 at 7 p.m. Regular performances run Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. with additional matinees Saturday, March 30 at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, April 4 at 2:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 13 at 2:30 p.m. Single tickets are $10 - $52 and on sale now at RemyBumppo.org. Groups of 10 or more may call the Theater Wit Box Office at 773.975.8150 to receive group discounts and make reservations.
Beane has always been different. Joan, his sister, is his only real bridge to the outside world, but she is consumed with her own life, climbing the corporate ladder and sparring with her husband, Harry. When Beane falls madly in love with Molly, Beane’s world suddenly expands, and the seismic shift forces all of them to reexamine their own relationships and discover new facets of human connection. An off-kilter romantic comedy, Love Song by John Kolvenbach is a quick-witted exploration of the countless complexities of love and the endless capacity of the heart.
“I first saw a production of Love Song in London in 2006 and I was so moved that I bought the script in the lobby. John Kolvenbach’s use of language and his comic sensibility won me over immediately. I loved that his “rom com” explored so many kinds of love: romantic love, familial love, marital love and self-love. Now, 17 years later, I am delighted to direct Love Song at Remy Bumppo. Together, with a magnificent team of artists, we will create a laugh-out-loud comedy that tugs at the heartstrings,” said Artistic Director Marti Lyons.
The cast for Love Song features Ensemble Member Terry Bell* (he/him/his, Beane); Sarah Coakley Price (she/her/hers, Joan); Isa Arciniegas (she/her/hers, Molly) and Ryan Hallahan* (he/him/his, Harry/Waiter).
* Denotes member of Actors Equity Association
The creative and production team for Love Song includes Artistic Director Marti Lyons (she/her/hers, director); Maddy Brown (she/her/hers, assistant director); Melody Contreras (she/her/hers, dramaturg); Joe Schermoly (he/him/his, scenic designer); Kotryna Hilko (she/her/hers, costume designer); Liz Gomez (she/her/hers, lighting designer); Christopher Kriz (he/him/his, sound designer); Amanda Herrmann (they/them/theirs, props designer);Courtney Abbott (they/them/she/hers, violence and intimacy designer); Abby Letscher (they/them/theirs, assistant lighting designer); Addoris Davis (they/them/she/her, production manager); Harrison Ornelas (he/him/hers, technical director); Emily Altman (she/her/hers), scenic charge artist); Nick Chamernik (he/him/his, head electrician); Matthew Meyer (he/him/his, they/them/theirs), wardrobe supervisor); and Christina Casano (she/her/hers, creative producer).
ABOUT JOHN KOLVENBACH, PLAYWRIGHT
John Kolvenbach- Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight premiered in LA, played at American Blues in Chicago, then in Paris and at the Huntington Theatre. On the West End: Love Song (Olivier nomination, Best New Comedy, directed by John Crowley) and On an Average Day (with Woody Harrelson and Kyle MacLachlan, also directed by Mr. Crowley.) Love Song premiered at Steppenwolf in 2006, directed by Austin Pendelton. It has been produced in New York, Zurich, Melbourne, Sydney, Wellington, Seoul and Rome. There have been over fifty productions in the U.S. Average Day was produced in Los Angeles by VS. (with Johnny Clark and Stef Tovar) and in Chicago by VS. and Route 66. Average Day has been produced in Tel Aviv, Buenos Aires, and Lisbon. Goldfish premiered at South Coast Repertory, then at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco, directed by Loretta Greco. The play was done in repertory with Mrs. Whitney, which was directed by the author. Reel to Reel received its premiere at the Magic. Sister Play received its premier at The Harbor Stage Company and at the Magic, both productions directed by the author. Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight opened in the summer of 2021 at The Harbor Stage and, simultaneously, in Los Angeles with VS. and Circle X. The LA production went on to American Blues, in Chicago and then to Paris. Other plays include: Fabuloso, (Premiered at WHAT, subsequent productions in San Juan and Zurich, in Spanish and Swiss German) Bank Job (Amphibian Stages) and Marriage Play or Half 'n Half 'n Half (Merrimack Rep.) Film: Clear Winter Noon, an original screenplay, was selected for the Blacklist in 2008.
ABOUT MARTI LYONS, DIRECTOR
Marti Lyons is the artistic director of Remy Bumppo and most recently directed the world premiere of Jessica Dickey’s Galileo’s Daughter at Remy Bumppo. She also has recently directed Little Women at Seattle Repertory Theatre, soon to transfer to Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. Lyons has directed Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon at Northlight Theatre, the co-world premiere of Wife of a Salesman by Eleanor Burgess at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Sense and Sensibility adapted by Jessica Swale at American Players Theatre and the world-premiere of John Proctor is the Villain by Kimberly Belflower at Studio Theatre in D.C. Lyons’s other productions include The Niceties by Eleanor Burgess at Writers Theatre; Cymbelineat American Players Theatre; The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe and both the stage and audio productions of Kings by Sarah Burgess at Studio Theatre; the world-premiere of How to Defend Yourself by liliana padilla, a Victory Gardens and Actors Theatre of Louisville co-production; Cambodian Rock Band by Lauren Yee at Victory Gardens and City Theatre; Witch by Jen Silverman at Geffen Playhouse and Writers Theatre (LA Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Direction); Native Gardens by Karen Zacarías at Victory Gardens; Botticelli in the Fire by Jordan Tannahill at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company; I, Banquo at Chicago Shakespeare Theater; Title and Deed by Will Eno at Lookingglass Theatre Company; Laura Marks’s Bethany and Mine at The Gift Theatre. Marti is an ensemble member at The Gift Theatre and a proud member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
ABOUT REMY BUMPPO THEATRE COMPANY
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company expands and enriches their community’s view of the world, and their own, by producing both the great plays of the past and the important plays of today. As an ensemble-driven theater company, Remy Bumppo authors a more humane culture that listens to, and seeks to understand, the voices, the ideas and the stories of one another.
PRODUCTION DETAILS:
Love Song
Written by: John Kolvenbach
Directed by: Artistic Director Marti Lyons (she/her/hers)
Assistant Directed by: Maddy Brown (she/her/hers)
Website link: RemyBumppo.org/shows/LoveSong/
Cast (in alphabetical order): Isa Arciniegas (she/her/hers, Molly); Terry Bell* (he/him/his, Beane); Sarah Coakley Price* (she/her/hers, Joan); Ryan Hallahan* (he/him/his, Harry/Waiter); Raphael Diaz (he/him/his, Beane U/S); Will Burdin (he/him/his, Harry/Waiter U/S); Gloria Imseih Petrelli (she/her/they/them, Molly U/S); Dina Monk(she/her/hers, Joan U/S)
* Denotes member of Actors Equity Association
Top row (L to R) Isa Arciniegas, Terry Bell and Sarah Coakley Price Second row (L to R) Ryan Hallahan, Director Artistic Director Marti Lyons and Playwright John Kolvenbach
Stage Manager: Anna Vu (she/her/hers)
Assistant Stage Manager: Cassidy Wray (she/her/hers)
Dramaturg Melody Contreras (she/her/hers)
Scenic Designer: Joe Schermoly (he/him/his)
Costume Designer: Kotryna Hilko (she/her/hers)
Lighting Designer: Liz Gomez (she/her/hers)
Sound Designer: Christopher Kriz (he/him/his)
Properties Designer: Amanda Herrmann (they/them/theirs)
Intimacy/Fight Designer: Courtney Abbott (they/them/she/hers)
Assistant Lighting Designer: Abby Letscher (they/them/theirs)
Production Manager: Addoris Davis (they/them/she/her)
Technical Director: Harrison Ornelas (he/him/his)
Scenic Charge Artist: Emily Altman (she/her/hers)
Head Electrician: Nick Chamernik (he/him/his)
Wardrobe Supervisor: Matthew Meyer (he/him/his, they/them/theirs)
Creative Producer: Christina Casano (she/her/hers)
Location: Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60657
Dates: Previews: Thursday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 24 at 2:30 p.m.
Press/Opening Performance: Monday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m.
Run Time: 90 minutes without an intermission
Regular Run: March 28 - April 21, 2024; Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.;
Matinee Performances (other than Sundays): Saturday, March 30 at 2:30 p.m.; Thursday, April 4 at 2:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 13 at 2:30 p.m.
Post Show Discussions: Post-show discussions will be held after the following performances: Sunday, March 24 at 2:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 30 at 2:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 7 at 2:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 14 at 2:30 p.m.
Audio Description/Touch Tour Performance: Saturday, March 30 at 2:30 p.m.
Open Caption Performance: Saturday, April 13 at 2:30 p.m.
Single Tickets:
Previews: $30.00
Regular Run: $36.00 - $52.00
Industry Tickets: $15.00, available for Thursday and Friday performances using code INDUSTRY
Student Tickets: $10.00, available for all performances
Group Discounts: For groups of 10 or more, call the Theater Wit Box Office at 773-975-8150.
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company’s season sponsors are Brenda and James Grusecki, Lynne Simon and Charlotte Toerber.
