Warrenville actor Garrett Ard is appearing in CHICAGO at Wheaton Drama’s Playhouse 111.
In real life, Mr. Ard is a criminal defense attorney with the Public Defenders Office of DuPage County. In CHICAGO, he plays master of the “Razzle Dazzle”, the flashy attorney Billy Flynn. The role, Ard says, is not too much of a stretch. Although the story comes from a very different legal world, there are enough little similarities for me to sink my teeth into.”
This is Garretts first time on the Playhouse 111 stage, but he brings a vast array of theatrical experience from his acting days at the University of Chicago, where his roles included: Pippin in Pippin, Jack in Into the Woods, Pseudolous in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Orestes in Orestes.
Garrett was prodded to audition for CHICAGO by a friend who is scheduled to play in the shows pit orchestra. I had heard that the people at Wheaton Drama were a dedicated group, explains Garrett, and I was really quite ready to jump back into the theatre after a seven years absence. Ive really missed performing and am quite glad to have the chance to work on such a great show with such talented people.
With music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, CHICAGO is a Tony Award winning musical based on the 1926 play Chicago by Maurine Dallas Watkins, based in turn on real-life stories she covered as a Chicago Tribune reporter.
Loaded with iconic songs and sassy dance, CHICAGO is a satirical look at the outrageous doings of 1920s celebrity criminals. For Garrett, and for audiences,”it’s not a legal procedural, but instead an incredibly amusing night at the theatre.”
Performances of CHICAGO are May 28 through June 20, 2010. Shows are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $21 each, except Thursdays, which have a special price of $18 per ticket.
CHICAGO is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Due to adult content, audience discretion is advised.
Following CHICAGO at Playhouse 111 is the summer studio show, Sylvia. This comedy by A.R. Gurney plays July 9 through July 18. Tickets are just $10 and are on sale now. Audiences are advised that Sylvia also contains adult language and themes.
Wheaton Dramas 2010-2011 season will include Little Women, Twentieth Century, All My Sons, and 1776. The season will open with the community theatre premiere of a Tony Award winning musical comedy. Check the Wheaton Drama website after June 28 for more details!
At play since 1931, Wheaton Drama’s quality productions are staged at Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale Street in downtown Wheaton. Excellent restaurants and free parking are within walking distance of the Playhouse.
Article by Joseph Maier and Jo-Ann Ledger for Wheaton Drama publicity. Contact: publicity@wheatondrama.org.
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