Off-Broadway Hit “The Bardy Bunch” Announces Casting for Chicago Run

Off-Broadway Hit "The Bardy Bunch" Announces Casting for Chicago Run 1 THE BARDY BUNCH: The War of the Families Partridge and Brady, the musical parody by Stephen Garvey that gained cult status during its Off-Broadway run in 2014, is excited to announce casting for its limited engagement in Chicago, September 15 through November 27, at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue. The show’s all-star cast will portray the Brady and Partridge families, just after the ABC Network ceased airing their chronicles in 1974, in a blood-soaked, vengeance-fueled, lust-filled crossover episode of Shakespearean proportions.

THE BARDY BUNCH: The War of the Families Partridge and Brady, the musical parody by Stephen Garvey that gained cult status during its Off-Broadway run in 2014, is excited to announce casting for its limited engagement in Chicago, September 15 through November 27, at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue. The show’s all-star cast will portray the Brady and Partridge families, just after the ABC Network ceased airing their chronicles in 1974, in a blood-soaked, vengeance-fueled, lust-filled crossover episode of Shakespearean proportions.

THE BARDY BUNCH stars Skyler Adams (The Adventures of Pinocchio at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Next to Normal at Drury Lane) as “Keith”, Brianna Borger (Erika’s Wall at The Music Theatre Company and Porchlight Music Theatre’s The King and I) as “Shirley”, Timothy Eidman (Pirates! (Or, Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder’d) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Muny) as “Chris”, Dan Gold (The Book of Merman at Mary’s Attic, Porchlight Music Theatre’s Side Show at Stage 773 and The Producers at Mercury Theater Chicago) as “Peter”, Cory Goodrich (Ring of Fire at Mercury Theater Chicago, The Addams Family at Mercury Theatre Chicago and Mary Poppins at the Paramount Theatre) as “Carol”, Tina Gluschenko (End Days at Windy City Playhouse, Rapture, Blister, Burn at Albert Ivar Goodman Theatre and Others at Royal George Theatre) as “Alice”, Callie Johnson (Next to Normal at Drury Lane Theater, State Street at City Lit Theater and Sirens at Citadel Theatre West Campus Theatre) as “Cindy”, Jeffery Max (It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s Superman at Drury Lane Theater, The Pirates of Penzance at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Theatre at the Center) as “Reuben”, Erin McGrath (City of Angels at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire and A Christmas Story at Paramount Theatre) as “Laurie”, Jake Nicholson (Assassins at Roosevelt University and Legally Blonde at Roosevelt University) as “Bobby”, Jared Rein (The Addams Family at The Mercury Theatre and Gypsy at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) as “Danny”, Olivia Renteria (The Who’s Tommy at Paramount Theatre, Brigadoon at Albert Ivar Goodman Theatre and Oliver! At Drury Lane Theatre) as “Marcia”, Mary-Margaret Roberts (Porchlight Music Theatre’s Far From Heaven at Stage 773 and Hey! Dancin’! Hey! Musical! At Prop Thtr) as “Tracy”, Sawyer Smith (Cats at Paramount Theatre, The Addams Family at The Mercury Theatre and The Producers at Mercury Theater Chicago) as “Greg”, Jake Stempel (Cabaret at Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College) as “Chris”, Stef Tovar (The Tin Woman at The Greenhouse Theatre Center, Big Fish at Theatre at the Center and No Wake at The Greenhouse Theater Center) as “Mike”, Bret Tuomi (Othello at Courtyard Theater at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Danceat Mercury Theater Chicago and A Christmas Carol at Albert Ivan Goodman Theatre) as “Sam”, and Annie Watkins (The Deathly Ones at Times Scare and The Bardy Bunch: The War of the Families Partridge and Brady at The Ellen Stewart Theater) reprising the role of “Jan”, for which she earned rave reviews in the Off-Broadway production at the Theatre at St. Clement’s.

Hailed as “irresistible” by The New York Times, THE BARDY BUNCH is a mash-up of a dozen Shakespeare plays set in the 1970s and featuring the two classic TV families when they were no longer under America’s watchful eye. The musical features 15 hit songs made famous on “The Partridge Family” and “The Brady Bunch,” including, “I Think I Love You,” “It’s a Sunshine Day” and “I Woke Up in Love This Morning,”

THE BARDY BUNCH premiered at the 2011 New York International Fringe Festival, where it won an Overall Excellence Award for Outstanding Ensemble. It went on to play a sold-out limited Off-Broadway run at the Theatre at St. Clement’s in the spring of 2014.

This Equity-affiliated made-for-Chicago production will be helmed by original Director Jay Stern, Choreographer Lorna Ventura, and Music Director Logan Medland. Mike Timoney and Disappearing Dog, LLC produce.

THE BARDY BUNCH will run September 15th through November 27, 2016 at the Mercury Theater Chicago, with performances on Wednesdays at 8 pm, Thursdays at 3 pm and 8 pm, Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 3 and 8 pm, and Sundays at 3 pm. Tickets are available now atMercuryTheaterChicago.com, or over the phone at 773-325-1700. For more information, visit TheBardyBunch.com.

STEPHEN GARVEY (Writer) Stephen’s “Cut Me Down” and “Dead Fathers” have enjoyed several theatrical productions, and his musical “Plunge” is in development with Skyward Productions in D.C. His short film “Boy-Next-Door” premiered at HBO’s U.S. Comedy Arts Festival and has screened at over a dozen festivals. His screenplay “Chasing Disasters” is currently under option. He grew up relating to Bobby, then Peter, then Greg, and is now enjoying the Mike phase of his life with his lovely ladies: wife Donna and daughters Harper and Lea. Stephen is a proud member of Dramatist Guild of America.

JAY STERN (Director) Recent theater work includes the world premiere of Gary Apple’s musical “Hell is for Real,” and “20th Century Photograph,” a devised piece co-created with director Veronica Wigg. Jay’s feature films “Spirit Cabinet” and “The Adventures of Paul and Marian” are currently making the festival rounds. Jay is a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab and a founder of the World Wide Lab, an international collective dedicated to collaborations between directors. With the World Wide Lab, Jay co-created “Alien Attack” at Teatro Due in Rome, Italy, and was the co-artistic director of the Lab’s season at the Apollo Theater in Syros, Greece. Jay is also a producer and co-host of the Iron Mule Short Comedy Film Festival, which has been screening monthly in NYC since 2002.

LORNA VENTURA (Choreographer) is an actress/director/choreographer, working in theatre, film and television. Some of her Broadway credits include associate choreographer to Christopher Ashley on “All Shook Up!” and George C. Wolfe on “Harlem Song” and an SDC observer ship with Kathleen Marshall on “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” Her performance credits include the original Broadway cast of “Wicked,” the 1994 Broadway Revival of “Grease!” and the first national company of the 2011 revival of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Ms Ventura’s choreography was featured Off-Broadway in “Hell is for Real” for the 2015 FringeNYC, “Drop Dead Perfect” at St. Clement’s Theatre, “Fabulous Lipitones,” book John Marcus and Mark St. Germain, directed by Peter Flynn, “Hopper,” with music and lyrics by Jonatha Brooke and book by Anton Dudley and she was the Assistant Choreographer for the Off-Broadway production of “Trip of Love.” Her choreography on film and television includes “Kate And Leopold,” “It Runs In The Family,” “The Dancer Chronicles,” seasons one through five of “Gossip Girl” and the first two seasons of “Carrie Diaries.” Lorna’s choreography for “Frog Kiss,” a musical, received an Honorary Mention for Outstanding Choreography NYMF Awards 2011 and she was chosen as one of Dance Break’s Emerging Choreographers 2011 and BC beats showcase 2013.

LOGAN MEDLAND (music director/vocal and piano arrangements) Logan Medland is the author and composer of “Fingers and Toes” (NYMF 2010), which has since had regional productions at the Merry-go-Round Theater in Auburn NY, the Plaza Theatre in Florida, and The Ivoryton Theatre. As a music director, he has performed in “Jersey Boys” (associate MD -Toronto production and 1st and 2nd National tour), “Cats” (conductor National tour), “A Christmas Story” (Supervisor U.S tour), “Chicago,” and “Crazy for You.” Most recently, Associate MD – “Superfly” workshop and Associate MD – “A Bronx Tale” workshop for Dodgers and Tommy Mottola.

MIKE TIMONEY (Producer) was a cast member of “THE BARDY BUNCH” in both the New York Fringe Festival and Off-Broadway companies. Along with Garvey, Stern and Ventura he produced the sold-out cabaret version of Bardy that was performed at Broadway’s Supper Club 54 BELOW, as well as the by-special-request encore performance. As an actor he has performed in films, commercials, voice overs, soap operas and onstage at, among others, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He can currently be seen in the web series “He’s With Me” as the husband of Debra Jo Rupp. He has worked with Jerry Zaks, Harold Prince, Scott Ellis, Bryan Cranston, Jeremy Irons, John Cullum, Arvin Brown, Cady Huffman, George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, Bruce Willis, Clare Bloom and Leonard Nimoy. Michael produced the New York segment of “Telecom Asia 1997.” He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Fairfield University.

 

SHAKESPEARE SITCOM MASH-UP “THE BARDY BUNCH” BRINGS ALL-STAR CAST TO THE MERCURY THEATER THIS SEPTEMBER

THE BARDY BUNCH: The War of the Families Partridge and Brady, the musical parody by Stephen Garvey that gained cult status during its Off-Broadway run in 2014, is excited to announce casting for its limited engagement in Chicago, September 15 through November 27, at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue. The show’s all-star cast will portray the Brady and Partridge families, just after the ABC Network ceased airing their chronicles in 1974, in a blood-soaked, vengeance-fueled, lust-filled crossover episode of Shakespearean proportions.

THE BARDY BUNCH stars Skyler Adams (The Adventures of Pinocchio at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Next to Normal at Drury Lane) as “Keith”, Brianna Borger (Erika’s Wall at The Music Theatre Company and Porchlight Music Theatre’s The King and I) as “Shirley”, Timothy Eidman (Pirates! (Or, Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder’d) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Muny) as “Chris”, Dan Gold (The Book of Merman at Mary’s Attic, Porchlight Music Theatre’s Side Show at Stage 773 and The Producers at Mercury Theater Chicago) as “Peter”, Cory Goodrich (Ring of Fire at Mercury Theater Chicago, The Addams Family at Mercury Theatre Chicago and Mary Poppins at the Paramount Theatre) as “Carol”, Tina Gluschenko (End Days at Windy City Playhouse, Rapture, Blister, Burn at Albert Ivar Goodman Theatre and Others at Royal George Theatre) as “Alice”, Callie Johnson (Next to Normal at Drury Lane Theater, State Street at City Lit Theater and Sirens at Citadel Theatre West Campus Theatre) as “Cindy”, Jeffery Max (It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s Superman at Drury Lane Theater, The Pirates of Penzance at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Theatre at the Center) as “Reuben”, Erin McGrath (City of Angels at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire and A Christmas Story at Paramount Theatre) as “Laurie”, Jake Nicholson (Assassins at Roosevelt University and Legally Blonde at Roosevelt University) as “Bobby”, Jared Rein (The Addams Family at The Mercury Theatre and Gypsy at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) as “Danny”, Olivia Renteria (The Who’s Tommy at Paramount Theatre, Brigadoon at Albert Ivar Goodman Theatre and Oliver! At Drury Lane Theatre) as “Marcia”, Mary-Margaret Roberts (Porchlight Music Theatre’s Far From Heaven at Stage 773 and Hey! Dancin’! Hey! Musical! At Prop Thtr) as “Tracy”, Sawyer Smith (Cats at Paramount Theatre, The Addams Family at The Mercury Theatre and The Producers at Mercury Theater Chicago) as “Greg”, Jake Stempel (Cabaret at Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College) as “Chris”, Stef Tovar (The Tin Woman at The Greenhouse Theatre Center, Big Fish at Theatre at the Center and No Wake at The Greenhouse Theater Center) as “Mike”, Bret Tuomi (Othello at Courtyard Theater at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Danceat Mercury Theater Chicago and A Christmas Carol at Albert Ivan Goodman Theatre) as “Sam”, and Annie Watkins (The Deathly Ones at Times Scare and The Bardy Bunch: The War of the Families Partridge and Brady at The Ellen Stewart Theater) reprising the role of “Jan”, for which she earned rave reviews in the Off-Broadway production at the Theatre at St. Clement’s.

Hailed as “irresistible” by The New York Times, THE BARDY BUNCH is a mash-up of a dozen Shakespeare plays set in the 1970s and featuring the two classic TV families when they were no longer under America’s watchful eye. The musical features 15 hit songs made famous on “The Partridge Family” and “The Brady Bunch,” including, “I Think I Love You,” “It’s a Sunshine Day” and “I Woke Up in Love This Morning,”

THE BARDY BUNCH premiered at the 2011 New York International Fringe Festival, where it won an Overall Excellence Award for Outstanding Ensemble. It went on to play a sold-out limited Off-Broadway run at the Theatre at St. Clement’s in the spring of 2014.

This Equity-affiliated made-for-Chicago production will be helmed by original Director Jay Stern, Choreographer Lorna Ventura, and Music Director Logan Medland. Mike Timoney and Disappearing Dog, LLC produce.

THE BARDY BUNCH will run September 15th through November 27, 2016 at the Mercury Theater Chicago, with performances on Wednesdays at 8 pm, Thursdays at 3 pm and 8 pm, Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 3 and 8 pm, and Sundays at 3 pm. Tickets are available now atMercuryTheaterChicago.com, or over the phone at 773-325-1700. For more information, visit TheBardyBunch.com.

STEPHEN GARVEY (Writer) Stephen’s “Cut Me Down” and “Dead Fathers” have enjoyed several theatrical productions, and his musical “Plunge” is in development with Skyward Productions in D.C. His short film “Boy-Next-Door” premiered at HBO’s U.S. Comedy Arts Festival and has screened at over a dozen festivals. His screenplay “Chasing Disasters” is currently under option. He grew up relating to Bobby, then Peter, then Greg, and is now enjoying the Mike phase of his life with his lovely ladies: wife Donna and daughters Harper and Lea. Stephen is a proud member of Dramatist Guild of America.

JAY STERN (Director) Recent theater work includes the world premiere of Gary Apple’s musical “Hell is for Real,” and “20th Century Photograph,” a devised piece co-created with director Veronica Wigg. Jay’s feature films “Spirit Cabinet” and “The Adventures of Paul and Marian” are currently making the festival rounds. Jay is a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab and a founder of the World Wide Lab, an international collective dedicated to collaborations between directors. With the World Wide Lab, Jay co-created “Alien Attack” at Teatro Due in Rome, Italy, and was the co-artistic director of the Lab’s season at the Apollo Theater in Syros, Greece. Jay is also a producer and co-host of the Iron Mule Short Comedy Film Festival, which has been screening monthly in NYC since 2002.

LORNA VENTURA (Choreographer) is an actress/director/choreographer, working in theatre, film and television. Some of her Broadway credits include associate choreographer to Christopher Ashley on “All Shook Up!” and George C. Wolfe on “Harlem Song” and an SDC observer ship with Kathleen Marshall on “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” Her performance credits include the original Broadway cast of “Wicked,” the 1994 Broadway Revival of “Grease!” and the first national company of the 2011 revival of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Ms Ventura’s choreography was featured Off-Broadway in “Hell is for Real” for the 2015 FringeNYC, “Drop Dead Perfect” at St. Clement’s Theatre, “Fabulous Lipitones,” book John Marcus and Mark St. Germain, directed by Peter Flynn, “Hopper,” with music and lyrics by Jonatha Brooke and book by Anton Dudley and she was the Assistant Choreographer for the Off-Broadway production of “Trip of Love.” Her choreography on film and television includes “Kate And Leopold,” “It Runs In The Family,” “The Dancer Chronicles,” seasons one through five of “Gossip Girl” and the first two seasons of “Carrie Diaries.” Lorna’s choreography for “Frog Kiss,” a musical, received an Honorary Mention for Outstanding Choreography NYMF Awards 2011 and she was chosen as one of Dance Break’s Emerging Choreographers 2011 and BC beats showcase 2013.

LOGAN MEDLAND (music director/vocal and piano arrangements) Logan Medland is the author and composer of “Fingers and Toes” (NYMF 2010), which has since had regional productions at the Merry-go-Round Theater in Auburn NY, the Plaza Theatre in Florida, and The Ivoryton Theatre. As a music director, he has performed in “Jersey Boys” (associate MD -Toronto production and 1st and 2nd National tour), “Cats” (conductor National tour), “A Christmas Story” (Supervisor U.S tour), “Chicago,” and “Crazy for You.” Most recently, Associate MD – “Superfly” workshop and Associate MD – “A Bronx Tale” workshop for Dodgers and Tommy Mottola.

MIKE TIMONEY (Producer) was a cast member of “THE BARDY BUNCH” in both the New York Fringe Festival and Off-Broadway companies. Along with Garvey, Stern and Ventura he produced the sold-out cabaret version of Bardy that was performed at Broadway’s Supper Club 54 BELOW, as well as the by-special-request encore performance. As an actor he has performed in films, commercials, voice overs, soap operas and onstage at, among others, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He can currently be seen in the web series “He’s With Me” as the husband of Debra Jo Rupp. He has worked with Jerry Zaks, Harold Prince, Scott Ellis, Bryan Cranston, Jeremy Irons, John Cullum, Arvin Brown, Cady Huffman, George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, Bruce Willis, Clare Bloom and Leonard Nimoy. Michael produced the New York segment of “Telecom Asia 1997.” He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Fairfield University.