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PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE CONTINUES ITS “LOST” MUSICALS IN STAGED CONCERT SERIES,
PORCHLIGHT REVISITS WITH
COLE PORTER’S CAN-CAN,
THREE PERFORMANCES ONLY AT RUTH PAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, MARCH 6 AND 7
The High Kicking Montmartre Musical Features Book by Abe Burrows and Stars Porchlight Veterans Keely Vasquez, Devin DeSantis, David Girolmo and Kayla Boye in the role
Ben Brantley said "made Gwen Verdon a star."
Porchlight Music Theatre continues its “lost” musicals in staged concert series with Porchlight Revisits Can-Can, music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Abe Burrows with direction by Adrian Abel Azevedo, musical direction by Linda Madonia and choreography by Shanna VanDerwerker. Porchlight Revisits Can-Can is presented for three performances-only Wednesday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, March 7 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Two-show discounted subscriptions and single tickets for $37 are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight Music Theatre box office at 773.777.9884.
Set in Paris in 1893, it’s the story of Pistache, a café owner who decides to feature the then-scandalous and illicit dance, the Can-Can, on the stage of her establishment. Meanwhile, Aristide Forestier, a young, newly-appointed and over-zealous magistrate, decides to undertake a reform movement and sets his sights to clean up Paris, starting with a prohibition of the titillating dance. Will Pistache’s defiance of the law end her business—and her love life? Featuring the hit Cole Porter songs “I Love Paris,” “C’est Magnifique” and “It’s All Right with Me,” Can-Can is a romantic, dancing, musical classic.
Devin DeSantis & Keely Vasquez
The cast of Porchlight Revisits Can-Can includes: Devin DeSantis, “Aristide ;” Keely Vasquez, “Pistache;” Kayla Boye, “Claudine;” Nik Kmiecik, “Boris;” Laz Estrada, “Theo;” Tony Cater, “Hilaire;” Ariel Triunfo, “ensemble/dancer;” Mollyanne Nunn, “ensemble/dancer;” Liz Conway, “ensemble/dancer;” Maya Kitayama, “ensemble/dancer;” Parker Guidry, “featured ensemble;” Isaiah Silvia-Chandley, “featured ensemble/assistant choreographer;” and David Girolmo, “Judge Paul Barriere.”
The production team includes: Adrian Abel Azevedo, director; Linda Madonia, music director; Shanna VanDerwerker, choreographer; Casey Wood, costume designer; Rachel West, lighting designer and Kaitlin Moser, stage manager.
ABOUT KEELY VASQUEZ, “Pistache”
Keely Vasquez returns to Porchlight, where she last was seen as “Gussie” in Merrily We Roll Along. Her Chicago theatrical credits include: Dee Snider's Rock and Roll Christmas Tale at the Broadway Playhouse, In the Heights at the Paramount Theatre and Hairspray at the Drury Lane Oakbrook theatre, as well as roles at Theatre at the Center, The Mercury Theatre and The Goodman Theatre. Vasquez spent eight years performing in Las Vegas with Barry Manilow and touring with him to more than 50 US cities, several countries and appearing on television shows such as "Ellen,” "The Today Show,” "Good Morning America,” "The Emmy Awards,” "The American Music Awards,” "Dancing With The Stars,” PBS' "A Capitol Fourth" and six DVD concert specials. She will next be seen starring in Next to Normal at Writers Theatre.
ABOUT DEVIN DESANTIS, “Aristide”
Devin DeSantis returns to Porchlight, where he last was seen as “Buddy” in Side Show. Chicago credits include “Prince Eric” in The Little Mermaid, “Tommy” in The Who’s Tommy (Paramount Theatre), “Dr. Frederick Frankenstein” in Young Frankenstein (Drury Lane Oakbrook), “Judas” in Godspell (Marriott Theatre), The Three Musketeers (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) and “Matthew” in Altar Boyz (Broadway Playhouse).
ABOUT KAYLA BOYE, “Claudine”
Kayla Boye returns to Porchlight, where she was last seen in Billy Elliot, the Musical. At Porchlight she also has performed in Porchlight Revisits Little Me and New Faces Sing Broadway 1969. Recent Chicago credits include South Pacific (Drury Lane Theatre), Pippin, Mary Poppins (Mercury Theater Chicago) and Anything Goes, Gypsy and Mame (Music Theater Works, formerly Light Opera Works).
ABOUT DAVID GIROLMO, “Judge Paul Barriere”
David Girolmo returns to Porchlight, where he was last seen as the title role in Sweeney Todd. Broadway credits include War Paint and Candide. Chicago credits include work with Drury Lane Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Porchlight Music Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Ravinia Festival, Theatre at the Center, Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, Mercury Theatre, Mayfair Theatre, Metropolis Performing Arts Center and Oak Park Festival. Girolmo received a Jeff Award for Phantom and is a multiple nominee in both musical and play categories. Film and television credits include “Death of a President,” “ER,” “Crisis,” “Chicago P.D.” and “Empire.”
ABOUT PORCHLIGHT REVISITS
Continuing to forge its role as “Chicago’s Music Theatre,” Porchlight launched the exciting new series Porchlight Revisits in 2013; especially created for the die-hard music theatre aficionado. Each season, Porchlight Music Theatre shares with audiences the rare opportunity to visit three musicals that opened on the Great White Way but have since gone “unsung.” The finest music theatre artists in Chicago dust off these neglected treasures and, with script in hand and minimal staging, escort audiences to a world of Broadway long past. Previous Porchlight Revisits productions include:
(2018/19) 1776
(2017/18) Do Re Mi, They’re Playing Our Song, Woman of the Year;
(2016/17) The Rink, Little Me, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever;
(2015/16) Chess, Applause, Babes in Arms;
(2014/15) Bells Are Ringing, City of Angels, Mack & Mabel and
(2013/14) Anyone Can Whistle, Golden Boy, Fade Out-Fade In.
ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE AS RUTH PAGE ARTIST IN-RESIDENCE
Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to be a member of the vibrant Ruth Page Center for the Arts community and an Artist In-Residence. Central to the Ruth Page Center for the Arts’ programming is the Artists In-Residence program, which is designed to serve organizations looking for a home base while they grow or expand their artistic and organizational capabilities. The Center is committed to nurturing and assisting dance and other performing artists, allowing for exchange and collaborative relationships to develop within the artistic community. The Ruth Page Center for the Arts is a destination for quality performing arts, accessible to a wide community regardless of race, gender, age, education or disability. An incubator of artistic energy and excellence, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts carries forward the vision of its founder, legendary dance icon Ruth Page, to be a platform for developing great artists and connecting them with audiences and community.
ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE
As Chicago’s home for music theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre enters its 24th season and its second as an Artist In-Residence at the historic Ruth Page Center for the Arts in Chicago’s Gold Coast. Porchlight Music Theatre is nationally recognized for reimagining classic productions, developing new works and showcasing musical theatre’s noted Chicago veterans and rising stars. Porchlight elevates the genre by providing intimate and powerful theatrical experiences of music theatre through the lens of the “Chicago Style.” Porchlight’s rich history includes the staging of more than 60 productions with 15 Chicago premieres and five world premieres. Through Porchlight’s “Off the Porch” new works program, the musicals of the next generation are developed and given a first audience. The School at Porchlight is Chicago’s center for music theatre training in the areas of performance, writing and appreciation including a youth summer “Make Your Own Musical” camp and a Saturday morning youth program. The company’s many accolades include 28 Black Theatre Alliance nominations and twelve awards, as well as a total of 151 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations resulting in 42 Jeff Awards including five consecutive Best Production awards for The Scottsboro Boys (2017), Dreamgirls (2016), Sondheim on Sondheim (2015), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (2014) and A Class Act (2013).
Porchlight Music Theatre continues its “lost” musicals in staged concert series with Porchlight Revisits Can-Can, music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Abe Burrows with direction by Adrian Abel Azevedo, musical direction by Linda Madonia and choreography by Shanna VanDerwerker. Porchlight Revisits Can-Can is presented for two-nights-only Wednesday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, March 7 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Two -show discounted subscriptions and single tickets for $37 are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight Music Theatre box office at 773.777.9884.
Porchlight Music Theatre is supported by generous contributions from Actors’ Equity Foundation, Bayless Family Foundation, Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation, Chapman | Spingola, Attorneys at Law, Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Elegant Events Lighting, James P. and Brenda S. Grusecki Family Foundation, Harris Family Foundation, Hopsmith, MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Prince Foundation, Daniel and Genevieve Ratner Foundation, The Saints, Stuart Family Foundation and Topfer Family Foundation.
The season program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency, and by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.
