World Premiere Musical: The Medium At Large

Village Players Performing Arts Center

Tony-Nominated Chicago Actor Returns Home for World Premiere Musical: The Medium At Large

Ghosts. Romance.Mischief. New York City, 1938. What if those who have passed on have never really left us at all?  It's possible!  Join Bruce, a medium-at-large, as he plays matchmaker for a pair of sisters in this world and the next, and set skepticism aside for an evening of romantic high jinks. As one sister says to the other, "You've dropped your friends, you're secretive, you're defensive, you're mysterious, you're hostile... it's got to be love."

Starring as Bruce is renowned Chicago actor and Tony Nominee John Herrera. Before moving to New York, John was seen in productions at the Goodman Theatre, Apple Tree Theatre, and Royal George, among others, earning numerous Jeff nominations along the way. His return to Village Players, where he first appeared 30 years ago, is a delightful homecoming for the theatre.

Joining Herrera in Chicago to develop this new musical are authors Julia Cameron, best-selling author of The Artist's Way, and Emma Lively. According to Lively, "This show began one enchanted evening at a dinner party in Los Angeles, when a friend who had just lost his partner encouraged us to write [a] musical about ghosts. I think the idea of ghosts is incredibly rich–leaving so much room for mystery, inspiration, and humor. Our goal with this unusual love story is to remind the audience that we're never alone, and those who have passed on are still a part of us."

Working with the authors on the project is Carl Occhipinti, Artistic Director of Village Players, who shares a fascination with the 'other side.' "I was drawn to this piece because I find it fascinating to explore intersections between physical and spiritual worlds, to see that they are just different forms of the same reality - like water, ice, and steam. I'm drawn to the idea that we can break through the veil that separates the two, and connect with someone we've lost." In fact, Occhipinti was selected over many New York directors to helm this World Premiere production.

Cameron adds that choosing a time period played a large part in the creation as well, "In writing this play, it was important to me that it be both light-hearted and serious. We chose our time period to capture an era when cynicism was not yet in Vogue and the exploration of Spiritualism was a part of popular culture."

The Medium at Large previews October 17 and runs from October 19 – November 16, 2008. Show times are 8 PM on Fridays & Saturdays, and 3 PM on Sundays.Tickets for regular performances are $25 for adults and $20 for Students & Seniors. Preview tickets are $15.

Presented in the Mainstage Theater of the newly renovated Village Players Performing Arts Center located at 1010 Madison St., Oak Park. Plenty of parking is available on the street. The theater is handicap accessible; please call ahead to arrange for special seating. More information is available at www.village-players.org or 866-764-1010.

Village Players Performing Arts Center offers an eclectic mix of entertainment that empowers and inspires while exploring the human condition.

John Herrera played Neville and was nominated for a Tony award in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Other Broadway credits include Che in Evita opposite Patti LuPone, the revival of 1776 playing Roger Sherman, Camelot with Richard Burton,  Man of La Mancha, The Threepenny Opera, Shogun, and Grease.   National tours include Anatoly in Chess (Carbonell Award), Les Miserables, Martin Guerre, Falsettos, Angels in America and singing the title song in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Music of the Night.   Regional credits: Santiago in Anna in the Tropics at Seattle Repertory and Jupiter Maltz Theater (Carbonell Award), Fredrik in A Little Night Music at the Goodspeed Opera House and Signature Theater/Arlington, VA, Working (Long Wharf Theater/New Haven, CT.) A former Chicagoan, he is best remembered for his performances as Che in Evita (Shubert Theater), George in Sunday in the Park with George (Goodman Theatre / Jefferson Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical), Romance, Romance (Apple Tree Theater / Jefferson Award nomination), Tito in Lend me a Tenor (Royal George Theater), Marvin in March of the Falsettos (Theater Building) and Harry Chapin: Lies & Legends (Apollo Theater) singing Harry's most famous song: Taxi. John appeared as John Dickenson in the Village Player's production of 1776 over 30 years ago.

JULIA CAMERON & EMMA LIVELY have collaborated since 1998. Currently, they are thrilled to be writing music and lyrics for Rue McClanahan's one-woman show, My First Five Husbands. Cameron and Lively have collaborated on four original musicals and two children's albums. Most recently, their work has been performed in NYC at The Vineyard Theatre, directed by Tony award-winner Jack Hofsiss.

JULIA CAMERON is the author of more than thirty books, fiction and nonfiction. Best know as the author of The Artist's Way, her best selling works on the creative process have been translated into more than thirty languages and have sold over three million copies worldwide. An award-winning playwright and poet, she has distinguished credits in theater, film and television.

EMMA LIVELY is a classically trained violist who turned her focus to composition a decade ago. Her postgraduate studies include conducting, orchestration, and composition (Conrad Cummings, the Juilliard School). As a violist, she was a founding member of the Khali string quartet, and holds a Masters in Music from SUNY/Stony Brook.

CARL OCCHIPINTI began his entertainment career as a drummer for cabaret performers, which soon led him into managing singers and before long into heading his own production company, Occhipinti Productions. His organization produced shows at Park West, Ambassador East & West, the Drake, the Playboy mansion, Navy Pier, Orphans and many other venues throughout the Chicago-land region. From there he moved on to manage a nightclub called Boombala's, and then branched into theater by co-founding the Absolute Theater Company. He has remained involved in theatre for the past thirty years as a producer and director, and more recently as an actor. Village Players has given Carl an outlet to use all of his talents and experience.