I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE Extends in Chicago

Broadway In Chicago has announced that I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE, the brand new hit musical stage show adapted from the longest-running and most beloved television program in history, starring Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel: America's favorite foursome, is extending by popular demand at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 East Chestnut St.). Tickets for performances Dec. 29, 2012 - March 3, 2013 are on-sale now.

Returning to the lead iconic roles are BroadwayWorld Chicago Award Winner (Best Actress in a Touring Production) Sirena Irwin (Spongebob Squarepants; San Francisco's Love's Labours Lost) and BroadwayWorld Award Winner Bill Mendieta (Smash; The Hunchback of Notre Dame) as the infamous Ricardo couple. Local Chicagoans Curtis Pettyjohn (Chicago production of Shear Madness; My Fair Lady) and JoAnna Daniels (LADCC's Becky's New Car) continue to star as neighbors Fred and Ethel Mertz.

Ashley Braxton (Pinkalicious: The Musical), Lauren Creel (Romeo and Juliet), Gregory Franklin (Divorce! The Musical), Karl Hamilton (The Three Musketeers), George Keating (Off-Broadway's Schoolhouse Rock Live!), Peter Kevoian (TATC's Little Shop of Horrors), Ed Kross (Animal Crackers at The Goodman Theatre), Debbie Laumand-Blanc (Drury Theatre's Oklahoma), Doug Pawlik (Eastland: A New Musical at Lookingglass Theatre Company), Rebecca Prescott (Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical National Tour), Sara Sevigny (Assassins), Holly Stauder (Annie at Paramount Theatre) and Richard Strimer (West Side Story) complete the cast.

Imagine stepping back in time and into the Desilu Playhouse soundstage! It's 1952 and you are a member of the studio audience awaiting the filming of two hilarious and oh so familiar "I Love Lucy" episodes. A charming host entertains and enlightens you to the behind-the-scenes filming process, the 1950's hi-fidelity technology, and this brand new thing called 'television'. The episodes begin and you witness, firsthand, the side-splitting antics of that crazy redhead in the Ricardo's New York apartment and thrill to the Cuban sounds of "The Ricky Ricardo Orchestra" at the famed Tropicana Nightclub. In between scenes? The Crystaltone Singers perform live advertising jingles of the show's newest sponsors in perfect 50s style harmony. Can you say 'Brylcreem'?!

The iconic television hit sitcom "I Love Lucy" was most recently honored in September 2012 as the "Best TV Show Of All Time" and the "Greatest TV Comedy" by People Magazine and ABC's "20/20" special "Best in TV: The Greatest TV Shows of Our Time." I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE is produced under license from CBS Consumer Products.

The Chicago Tribune says I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE is "A big variety show for your money! A risk-free evening of music & familiar comedy!" The Chicago Sun-Times exclaims the show is "A sweet 95-minute musical comedy! Those nostalgic for 1950s America will have their internal time clocks rewound!"

I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE is produced by Stephen Kahn (Executive Producer), David George (Executive Producer) and Hyra George (Producer), Kim Flagg (Co-Adaptor/Producer), Allan Williams (Executive Producer), Dede Harris (Producer), Sharon Karmazin (Producer), and David Carpenter (Associate Producer). Staged, directed and co-adapted for the stage by Rick Sparks, the creative team also includes Aaron Henderson (Set Designer), Wayne Moore (Musical Supervision, Arrangements and Special Lyrics), Peitor Angell (Original Music Composer), Noah Mitz (Lighting Designer), Shon LeBlanc (Costume Designer), Cricket S. Myers (Sound Designer), Diane Martinous (Hair /Wig Designer), and Alan Bukowiecki (Music Director).