Drury Lane Theatre announces casting for Crazy For You
Drury Lane Theatre brings romance and warmth to Chicago this winter with the song-and-dance extravaganza Crazy for You, featuring music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and book by Ken Ludwig, directed and choreographed by the Jeff Award-nominated director/choreographer Matt Crowle. Drury Lane’s production stars Broadway power couple, Clyde Alves and Robyn Hurder as love interests Bobby and Polly. Crazy for You runs November 3, 2016 – January 8, 2017 at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.
Winner of three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the romantic Gershwin musical Crazy for You is a dance spectacular guaranteed to wow audiences this holiday season. Directed and choreographed with modern flare by the Jeff Award-winning Matt Crowle, audiences will enjoy watching Broadway stars Clyde Alves and Robyn Hurder, along with a stellar cast, perform memorable Gershwin numbers like “I Can’t Be Bothered Now,” “I Got Rhythm,” “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.” This vivacious production filled with mistaken identity, plot twists, and fabulous dance numbers is perfect for the whole family.
“Matt Crowle is an exceptional dancer and choreographer whose knowledge of tap is unparalleled. His unique perspective and deep passion for the art form makes him the perfect person to lead our phenomenal cast,” says Kyle DeSantis, President of Drury Lane Productions.
The cast of Crazy for You includes Clyde Alves (Bobby Child), Robyn Hurder (Polly Baker), Larry Adams (Bela Zangler), Roger Mueller(Everett Baker), Hollis Resnik (Lottie Child), Holly Stauder (Patricia Fordor), Erica Stephan (Irene Roth) and Rod Thomas (Lank Hawkins).The ensemble includes Alex Aguilar, William Carlos Angulo, Julie Baird, Justin Brill, Joe Capstick, Courtney Cerny, Harter Clingman, Erica Evans, Rachel Hafell, Mark David Kaplan, Ashley Lanyon, Kristina Larson, Ryan Naimy, Hanah Rose Nardone, Anthony Norman, Doug Pawlik, Laura Savage, Aaron Umsted and Lucy Zukaitis.
The creative team for Crazy for You includes Jeff Kmiec (Scenic Design), Caitlin McLeod (Costume Design), Heather Gilbert (Lighting Design) and Ray Nardelli (Sound Design). Adrian Aguilar is the Associate Director/Fight Choreographer, Courtney Cerny is the Associate Choreographer and Larry Baker is the Production Stage Manager.
About the Artists
Matt Crowle (Director/Choreographer) is pleased to be returning to Drury Lane where his choreography was seen in Singin’ In The Rain (Jeff nomination) and in last season’s White Christmas (Jeff nomination). At Porchlight Music Theatre, where Crowle is a proud artistic associate, he directed and choreographed the Midwest premier of Double Trouble. As a performer, Chicago and regional highlights include Patsy in Spamalot, Cosmo Brown in Singin’ In the Rain, and Albert Peterson in Bye Bye, Birdie, all here at Drury Lane. Hysterium (Jeff Award) in A Funny Thing Happened…, Porchlight Theatre; Bert in Mary Poppins, Paramount Theatre; Leo Bloom in The Producers, Mercury Theater Chicago; Frederick Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein, St. Michael’s Playhouse; and Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly!, Gateway Playhouse. He also performed in the Broadway company of Monty Python’s Spamalot under the direction of Mike Nichols, and tap danced across the country with Tommy Tune in the national tour of Doctor Dolittle. Matt earned his BFA in music theatre under the guidance and mentorship of Dr. Bruce Kirle. He dedicates this production to Kirle and to his other brilliant mentors: Judy Heidenreich, David Sly, and Ray Hesselink.
Clyde Alves (Bobby) makes his Drury Lane Theatre debut with Crazy for You. Broadway shows include On The Town (Ozzie, Astaire Award nomination), Bullets Over Broadway, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Anything Goes, Wicked, Hairspray, Oklahoma!, and The Music Man(Tommy Djilas) for which he won an Astaire Award. He reprised his performance as Tommy Djilas in ABC’s The Music Man with Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth. National/ International Tours: A Chorus Line (Mike). He has performed Off Broadway in Altar Boyz (Juan) and New York City Center Encores in Follies, Anyone Can Whistle, and Bells Are Ringing. Regional Theatre: Nice Work If You Can Get It (Jimmy Winter) Music Theatre Wichita, Oklahoma! (Will Parker) at The Muny, Kiss Me, Kate (Bill Calhoun) Shakespeare Theatre Company for which he won a Helen Hayes Award. He recently reprised his performance inOn The Town with the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas. Clyde is also a passionate singer-songwriter and guitarist who is heard playing his original music throughout New York where he so happily resides with his wife and son.
Robyn Hurder (Polly) was most recently seen as Lois Lane in Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of Kiss Me Kate for which she received the 2016 Helen Hayes Award for Best Supporting Actress in a musical. NEW YORK: Broadway: Nice Work If You Can Get It (Jeannie Muldoon), Grease (Marty), Chicago (Mona), Wedding Singer (Holly u/s), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Violet). NYCC Encores!: Paint Your Wagon(Cherry Jourdell). Off Broadway: Play It Cool (Lena Starling). NYMF: The Broadway Dolls-Tour De Fierce. NATIONAL TOURS: A Chorus Line(Cassie), Spamalot, Starlight Express (Pearl). REGIONAL: Ogunquit Playhouse: Victor Victoria (Norma Cassidy), Mason Street Warehouse: Chicago (Roxie). Most challenging and rewarding role to date? Mother of Hudson.
Season and Subscription Information
Drury Lane’s 2016 – 2017 season will conclude with a revised version ofSaturday Night Fever, based on the popular ‘70s film with music by The Bee Gees, January 19, 2017 – March 19, 2017.
Drury Lane Theatre’s 2017-2018 season will open with the iconicChicago. The season continues with the Pulitzer-winning play The Gin Game featuring Chicago theatre legends John Reeger and Paula Scrofano, followed by the powerhouse musical tribute to the 1980s Rock of Ages. For the holiday season Drury Lane will stage tap favorite 42ndStreet and then close its 17-18 season with the beloved Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor™ Dreamcoat. The 2017/2018 season runs March 30, 2017 through March 11, 2018 at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.
Subscriptions for the 2017 – 2018 Season are priced from $144.60 to $175.80. Subscribers receive special offers on dining, flexible ticket exchanges and early notification and priority seating for added events and concerts. For more information, visit DruryLaneTheatre.com.
The performance schedule for all productions is as follows: Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.Student group tickets start as low as $30 and Senior Citizens start at $40 for matinees. Dinner and show packages are also available. For individual ticket on-sale dates and ticket reservations, call the Drury Lane Theatre box office at 630.530.0111, TicketMaster at 800.745.3000 or visit DruryLaneTheatre.com.
About Drury Lane Theatre
Under the leadership of President Kyle DeSantis and Artistic Director William Osetek, Drury Lane Theatre is a major force in the Chicagoland theatre scene, presenting world-class productions in collaboration with some of the nation’s leading actors, artists, writers and directors. Over the past 30 years, Drury Lane has staged more than 2,000 productions and has been nominated for more than 350 Joseph Jefferson Awards. Drury Lane is committed to breathing new life into beloved classics and introducing audiences to exciting new works.
Throughout its 30-year history, Drury Lane has employed more than 7,500 actors and 10,000 musicians, designers and crewmembers to entertain upwards of nine million audience members. Originally founded by Anthony DeSantis, Drury Lane Theatre remains a family-run organization known for producing breathtaking Broadway classics, top-rated musicals, bold new works, hilarious comedies and unforgettable concert events.