Casting Announced for Black Button Eyes’ AMOUR
Black Button Eyes Productions is pleased to present the Chicago premiere of the Tony Award-nominated musical AMOUR, with music by Michel Legrand, directed by Ed Rutherford, music direction by Nick Sula and choreography by Derek Van Barham. AMOUR will play September 2 – October 8, 2016 at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at amourchicago.com or by calling (773) 935-6875.
AMOUR will feature Brian Fimoff as Dusoleil and Emily Goldberg as Isabelle with an ensemble including Scott Gryder, Matt McNabb, Mikaela Sullivan, Tommy Thurston, Kevin Webb, Missy Wise and Greg Zawada.
Adapted from the short story “Le Passe-Muraille” by beloved French author Marcel Aymé, AMOUR tells the story of Dusoleil, a shy clerk working in a dreary office in post-World War II Paris. One day he discovers he has the ability to walk through walls, and embraces a life of romance and adventure. With music by multiple Oscar and Grammy Award-winner Michel Legrand and adapted into English by Jeremy Sams from the French Libretto by Didier van Cauwelaert, AMOUR was nominated for multiple Tony awards when it played on Broadway in 2002.
Under the music direction of Jeff Award-winner Nick Sula, AMOUR will include a full band bringing Legrand’s delightful music to life with Sula at the keys along with clarinet, saxophone, flute and percussion.
“Amour is an extremely charming work of fantasy, loaded with moments of magic, romance and humor,” comments director Ed Rutherford. “I’m excited for the chance to bring this piece to Chicago for the first time, and to develop effective ways to portray the fantastical events in the show using a story theater aesthetic.”
The production team for AMOUR includes: Michael Lewis (scenic design), Beth Laske-Miller (costume design), Chazz Malott (lighting design), Joe Palermo (sound design), Rachelle “Rocky” Kolecke (props design) and Lexi Berkowitz (stage manager).
About The Creative Team
Ed Rutherford (Director) most recently directed Goblin Market and the Midwest Premiere of the musical Coraline with Black Button Eyes Productions. A proud graduate of Northwestern’s theater program, he has also directed his own adaptation of the Peter S. Beagle fantasy novel The Last Unicorn with Promethean Theatre Ensemble, where he is an artistic associate. For Promethean, he has also directed Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle and their inaugural production, Christopher Durang’s Beyond Therapy and their upcoming production of The Liar. As an actor, he has performed with Drury Lane Oakbrook, Porchlight, Theater Wit and many others. He is also currently pursuing his MBA at Kellogg.
Nick Sula (Music Director) is a pianist, arranger and award-winning music director for theater and cabaret. He is proud to return to Black Button Eyes where he performed as music director for Coraline. Other theater credits include music direction at Porchlight Music Theatre, Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, Chicago Theatre Workshop, Chicago Opera Vanguard and Light Opera Works. Nick is an instructor, music director and vocal coach at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. He is also an active member of the Chicago Cabaret Professionals, performing with vocalists at local venues such as Davenport’s, Uptown Underground, Stage 773, Victory Gardens, The Twisted Vine and the Park West. Recent cabaret projects include musical direction and arrangements for Boys in Briefs (Pride Films and Plays), vocal trio With a Twist!, Say You Love Me: Fleetwood Mac Turns 40, and WOZ, a rock/pop retelling of The Wizard of Oz. www.nicksula.com
Derek Van Barham (Movement Director/Choreographer) is the Artistic Director of The Ruckus and an Artistic Associate with Pride Films & Plays. Directing: Miracle! (Hell in a Handbag), Angry Fags (PFP/Steppenwolf Garage), Some Men (with David Zak), Kill Your Boyfriends (an original piece), and Songs from an Unmade Bed (Jeff nomination). Movement: Coraline the Musical (Black Button Eyes), La Chingada (Inappropriate Theatre), Matawan (The Ruckus) and pieces for Salonathon. This year, Derek was named one of Windy City Times’ “30 Under 30,” honoring individuals from Chicago’s LGBTQIA communities. He currently improvises at iO Chicago with the team Baby Wine. He holds an MFA from CCPA/Roosevelt University.
About Black Button Eyes Productions
AMOUR continues Black Button Eyes Productions’ mission to bring to Chicago premieres and seldom-seen works containing elements of fantasy, in which the magical and surreal invade reality. The company was founded in 2014 with the acclaimed Midwest Premiere of the musical Coraline, and continued in 2015 by producing the musical Goblin Market in its first Chicago production in over 15 years, attended by the author, Chicago native Polly Pen. For additional information visit amourchicago.com.
AMOUR was originally produced on Broadway by The Shubert Organization,
Jen Doumanian Productions, Inc., and USA Ostar Theatricals
and subsequently produced for Goodspeed Musicals
by Michael P. Price, Executive Director.