The Brown Paper Box Co.
presents

PROUD AT MARY'S: A June Cabaret
an evening of Pride-based stories and songs

Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14, 2014
Mary's Attic in Andersonville

Following our successful run of William Finn's A New Brain, we're thrilled to announce our next cabaret series: PROUD AT MARY'S: A June Cabaret. Ticketing information for this evening of Pride-based stories and songs can be found at www.brownpaperbox.org. Tickets on sale now!

It's Pride month 2014 and The Brown Paper Box Co. is ready to celebrate! PROUD AT MARY'S emphasizes taking pride in our identities and sharing our personal stories during such a monumental month in Illinois—June 1st being the first day every county in the state will recognize same-sex marriages. PROUD AT MARY’S is a mix of pop songs, show tunes, personal monologues, and stories about being gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, questioning, and straight.

"After the successes of our first two cabarets in Wicker Park, we wanted to bring a brand new show to Andersonville," says Brown Paper Box Co. executive director and show coordinator M. William Panek. "Musical Director Justin Harner and I are working with amazingly gracious past Brown Paper Box Co. participants to form a touching and fun evening of personal insight and killer musical numbers."

The set list is comprised of surprise song selections from Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lippa, Carole King, Stephen Schwartz, and more ... as well as original numbers! Tickets for the 7:30 P.M.  performances on 6/13 and 6/14 are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Additional information is posted at www.BrownPaperBox.org.

The cast includes Jeanne T. Arrigo (Godspell, The Brown Paper Box Co.; Eastland, Lookingglass Theatre), Johnny Kyle Cook (A New Brain, The Brown Paper Box Co.; Folk Bound, Duplicity Ensemble), Pamela Mae Davis (Aloha, Say the Pretty Girls, The Brown Paper Box Co.; Miss Marx, Strawdog Theatre Company), Megan Ensley (Godspell and 2012's Reefer Madness!, The Brown Paper Box Co.), Justin Harner* (A New Brain and Aloha, Say the Pretty Girls, The Brown Paper Box Co.; The Voodoo Chalk Circle, The State Theatre), David Lipschutz* (The Birds [currently u/s], Hell in a Handbag; The Glorious Ones, Illinois Theatre Center), M. William Panek* (A New Brain, Godspell, To Tree, The Brown Paper Box Co.), Stephanie Rohr* (Aloha, Say the Pretty Girls and Godspell, The Brown Paper Box Co; La Boheme, OperaUpClose), Anna Schutz* (A New Brain, Aloha, Say the Pretty Girls, and Reefer Madness!, The Brown Paper Box Co.; Circle Mirror Transformation, Oil Lamp Theatre), Nick Shoda* ( A New Brain and Godspell, The Brown Paper Box Co.; Pacific Overtures, Porchlight), and Daniel Spagnuolo* (Godspell and A New Brain, The Brown Paper Box Co.; How to Succeed..., Porchlight).

Justin Harner is the evening's pianist and musical director. M. William Panek serves as the evening's host. Original poster design by Charlie Sheets*

*Denotes Brown Paper Box Co. company member.

Reefer Madness! The Musical was not only our first full-length musical back in 2010, but it also formed the creation of our 4/20 remounts at Studio BE and Stage 773 the following 2 years.

These amazing cast members have become trusted collaborators, life-long friends, and even company members.

Happy anniversary, all!

Full name? Anna Elizabeth Schutz

Where you were born/where you were raised? Born in Evanston, raised in Skokie

Your role within the A NEW BRAIN family? Waitress and Nancy D.

How would you describe your character? Waitress - charming, enthusiastic, scatter-brained. Nancy D. - driven, detail-oriented, composed.

In 5 words, how do you describe A NEW BRAIN? The musical episode from Scrubs

How would you describe Bill's writing? Personal and unfiltered

Fill in the blanks: ____cursing_____ + _____7 part harmony_____ = a song.

What was your must-see TV show as a kid? Anything on "Snick"

If you could be best friends with any cartoon character in the real world, who would it be? Princess Anna of Arendelle from Frozen

Who would play you in the Lifetime movie of your life? Zosia Mamet

Special hidden talent? Finding something to worry about, no matter what the situation.

Something you're REALLY bad at? Staying warm

Favorite Chicago neighborhood? Lakeview

Current local show you have been recommending to friends? Cock at Profiles featuring lots of U of I alums!

Most played song on your iPod? "Migratory V" by Audra McDonald

Pop culture guilty pleasure? Shark Tank on ABC

Three things you can't live without? iPhone, Phil, theatre.

"I'll never understand why… sweatpants are not socially acceptable work/daytime attire."

Tickets are now on sale for The Brown Paper Box Co.'s upcoming production, ALOHA, SAY THE PRETTY GIRLS, by award-winning playwright Naomi Iizuka. The play will run Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM from May 30-June 16 at the Heartland Studio in Rogers Park (7016 North Glenwood Avenue, Chicago, IL 60626). Tickets can be purchased through www.brownpaperbox.org.

In this quirky comedy, a group of twentysomethings change careers, geographical borders, and even species in a quest to find a place for themselves. ALOHA, SAY THE PRETTY GIRLS questions the nature of love, identity, and evolution in this wild and wonderful world. The play received its world premiere at the 1999 Humana Festival of New American Plays at The Actors Theatre of Louisville.

"This show has some very absurd elements," explains director M. William Panek (Godspell, To Tree, The Brown Paper Box Co.). "People turning into animals and vice-versa, outlandish locales, and cross-gender casting. But the absurd is juxtaposed with these incredibly honest relationships, relatable characters, and natural dialogue. It's hilarious, but then it hits you with really poignant, poetic moments." These seemingly incongruous combinations led The Brown Paper Box Co. to produce the play.

The cast includes Pamela Mae Davis (Failure: A Love Story, Victory Gardens; Cymbeline, RIFF Collective; As You Like It, (re)discover theatre), Luke Michael Grimes (Teddy Ferrara, Goodman Theatre; Fate and Ed, ARCitext Play Festival; Macbeth, TheMASSIVE), Justin Harner (I Begin, Walkabout Theater; WILD, Kid Brooklyn Productions; Caesura: A Butchery, The Plagiarists), Christopher Hart (To Tree, The Brown Paper Box Co.; The Sandman, Oracle Theatre), Derek Herman (Almost, Maine, Chicago College of Performing Arts; Speech & Debate, Artists Repertory Theatre; Landscape of the Body, Profile Theatre), Stephanie Rohr* (Godspell, The Brown Paper Box Co.; Reservoir Dogs, Roundhouse Productions; Jesus Camp: The Musical, The Cornservatory), Anna Schutz* (Reefer Madness, The Brown Paper Box Co.; Epic Proportions, Project 891), and Bob Skosky (Sleeping with Straight Men, Ludicrous Theatre; Our Town, Blank Page Theater; Aesop's Fables, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse).

The production team comprises M. William Panek* (director), Sheila Gleason (set designer), Ian James Anthony* (properties master), Cat Wilson (lighting designer), Laura Wiley (assistant lighting designer), Patrick J. Butterfield* (production assistant), Michelle Kritselis* (dramaturg), and Charlie Sheets* (graphic designer).

About The Brown Paper Box Co.
Founded in 2010 and based in Chicago, The Brown Paper Box Co. creates thought-provoking and accessible theatrical experiences without the glitz of overproduction. This scaled-down approach allows our artists to deliver an elevated focus on the text.

*Denotes Brown Paper Box Co. company member.

One behalf of The Brown Paper Box Co. and the cast of Character Breakdown: A Miscast Cabaret - Andrew Lund, Anna Schutz, Daniel Spagnuolo, Katherine Glavin, Megan Ensley, Michelle Kritselis, Nick Shoda, Stephanie Rohr, T.J. Anderson, and M. William Panek - we'd love to thank everyone who made it out to Davenport's Piano Bar on March 23rd.

The Brown Paper Box Co. presents CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: A Miscast Cabaret this Saturday, March 23 at 8pm. This one-night cabaret will feature appearances from The Brown Paper Box Co. artistic associates and former cast members performing as characters they would never play due to age, gender, voice type, race, etc.

We're keeping the playlist secret, but you can expect song selections from all the musicals pictured below!

As seating has been filling up, we urge you to reserve your tickets ahead of time on Davenport's website! Hope to see you there!!!

The Brown Paper Box Co. presents CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: A Miscast Cabaret on Saturday, March 23 at 8pm. This one-night cabaret will feature appearances from The Brown Paper Box Co. artistic associates and former cast members performing as characters they would never play due to age, gender, voice type, race, etc.

Get to know Artistic Associate and Managing Director ANNA SCHUTZ (Godspell, The Brown Paper Box Co.; Epic Proportions, Project 891; You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown!, La Costa Theatre).

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Q. What's the first word that comes to mind when you hear 'miscast?'
A. Awkward

Q. Have you ever been miscast?
A. I was miscast as someone who can dance, but I was glad to have the chance to try!

Q. Without giving too much away, what can our audience expect with your number?
A. Laughter, confusion and candy

Q. Upon first glace when you walk into an audition, what is your character 'type?'
A. Jewish Ingenue 

Q. But what people don't know about you is .......
A. I have some sassy, character actor in me

Q. Last good movie you saw?
A. Life of Pi

Q. Current show running in town you're recommending to friends?
A. I haven't seen it yet, but I really am looking forward to seeing The Birthday Party at Steppenwolf. Anyone want to go with me?

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Come see Anna in The Brown Paper Box Co.'s CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: A Miscast Cabaret on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret.  Please visit www.davenportspianobar.com for reservations and additional information. Tickets are $15 + a two-drink minimum.

Bailiwick Chicago presents Rock Show(tunes), an evening of classic Broadway showtunes reimagined as modern rock songs. This event takes place one day before Bailiwick officially launches its 2012/13 season with the much-anticipated rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.

Rock Show(tunes) features performances by Collective Members Lili-Anne Brown, Danny Bernardo, Harmony France, Kathleen Gibson, Michael Harnichar, Aaron Holland, Ryan Lanning and Rus Rainear with guest artists Bethany Thomas, Sharriese Hamilton and Jayson Brooks of JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound. Collective Member Aaron Benham serves as Music Director and Arranger. The evening begins with performances from our current production of Godspell, as well as Assassins and NightBlue’s Avenue Q.

The inspiration for Rock Show(tunes) came when Collective Member Danny Bernardo was working on a song from The King & I with his vocal coach and mused, “What if Green Day wrote this song?” He shared the showtune/rock song mashup with Artistic Director Lili-Anne Brown, who recalled a similar experience jamming a song from Guys & Dolls in the style of R&B artist Jill Scott. Sparked by this shared inspiration, the two collaborated on curating an evening that would give hardcore rock and musical theatre fans alike something new and innovative.

The Brown Paper Box Co. will be performing:

"Turn Back, O Man" as sung by Stephanie Rohr, Andrew Lund, and the ensemble, with Stephanie Rohr and Pavi Proczko on the piano.

"O Bless the Lord, My Soul" as sung by Michelle Limon and the ensemble, with Veronica Garza & Jeanne T. Arrigo on guitar and Jake Mahler on banjo.

It's going to rock.

When: Wednesday, October 3rd
Where: Underground Lounge, 952 West Newport Avenue
Cost: $10 advance tickets, $15 at the door

For those who might have missed it, here's William Panek (Director) and Andrew Lund (Jesus) chatting about GODSPELL with Gay Chicago TV's Jenny Milkowski for "Replay."