Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace is presenting a never-before-seen version of the Tony Award-winning show. Based on the Academy Award-winning MGM film, the original Broadway show received a Tony nomination for Best Original Score in 1982 and the musical has been staged around the world, including Madrid and several successful London productions. This revamped version features contemporary dialogue and combines elements with both the 1982 Broadway production and the successful off-Broadway show produced at Paper Mill Playhouse.
Set in Oregon in 1850, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is the tale of Adam Pontipee, an outdoorsman who ventures into town looking for a bride. He finds Milly working in a restaurant and convinces her to marry him. Milly's joy quickly sours when she finds she is to also take care of Adam's six unkempt, burly brothers. Deciding to make the marriage work, Milly hatches a plan to marry off the brothers, which includes teaching them how to court women. This plan turns out to be much more difficult than originally anticipated and leads to a series of madcap events.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is directed by Bill Jenkins, Chair of Ball State University's Department of Theatre and Dance. Featuring an all-star cast led by Steve Blanchard as "Adam" (who played "The Beast" for eight years in Disney's Beauty and the Beast on Broadway, "Pa Ingalls" in the National Tour of Little House on the Prairie, and "Lancelot" in the National Tour of Camelot) and Abby Mueller as "Milly" (who played "Meg" in Marriott Theatre's Little Women and "Constance" in Chicago Shakespeare's The Three Musketeers),
The cast includes: Loren Connell as Carl; Matthew Crowle as Matt (Spamalot on Broadway, The National Tour of Dr. Doolittle); Jarret Ditch as Caleb (The Hot Mikado, Cabaret, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Mame at Drury Lane Theatre); Kyle Donahue as Joel; Jackson Evans as Jeb (Pinocchio at Marriott Theatre); Don Forston as Mr. Bixby (five time Jeff Award nominee); Karl Hamilton as the Preacher (Porchlight Music Theatre's Miracle on 34th Street); Katie Huff as Alice; Sean Michael Hunt as Luke (High School Musical at Drury Lane Oakbrook); Amanda Kroiss as Sarah (Hot Mikado at Drury Lane Theatre), and Amber Mak as Liza (Cabaret at Drury Lane Theatre).
Renee Matthews plays Mrs. Bixby (Jeff Award winner Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for The Full Monty, Over the River and Through the Woods). Hallie Cercone is Martha and Abby Mueller appears as Milly (Little Women at Marriott Theatre, The Three Musketeers at Chicago Shakespeare); Vanessa Panerosa as Dorcus (Sweet Charity at Drury Lane Oakbrook, Hairspray at Marriott Theatre); Cara Salerno as Ruth (Crazy for You at Theatre at the Center); Brandon Springman as Frank (Sugar at Drury Lane Theatre); Richard Strimer as Benjamin (Jeff Award winner for Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Singin' in the Rain at Drury Lane Evergreen Park); William Travis Taylor as Daniel (Sugar at Drury Lane Theatre); Wesley Tucker as Zeke; Chris Yonan as Ephraim, and Zach Zube as Gideon (High School Musical at Marriott Theatre.)
The production also features Joyee Lin, Kristy Luehm Hronick (Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular tour), and Andrea Prestinario (Jeff Award for Actress in a Principal Role for Side Show at Bohemian Theatre Ensemble.)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers runs through December 19 at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. For tickets, call the Drury Lane Theatre box office at 630.530.0111, call TicketMaster at 800.745.3000, or visit www.drurylaneoakbrook.com
SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS
Through December 19
Drury Lane Theatre
Oakbrook Terrace
630.530.0111
www.drurylaneoakbrook.com
