Theatre at the Center Announces 2014 Season of Premieres

Theatre at the Center boldly presents five
premiere shows never before seen on Chicagoland stages

Chicago, IL- Building on their reputation for
presenting quality theatrical productions that are simultaneously entertaining
and enlightening, Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN announced
today their exciting 2014 season, an unprecedented season full of never before
seen Chicagoland premieres. The area premiere of RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH, a unique musical about love
and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and home and family
runs February 20 to March 30. Another Chicago area premiere, MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET, a warm
and humorous play about a working class family living in Buffalo, New York runs
May 1 to June 1. Fans of the television hit The
Beverly Hillbillies should mark their calendars for the World Premiere of THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, THE MUSICAL. Featuring
many well-known and beloved characters from the series, the production runs
from July 10 to August 10. In the first North American production since its
Broadway debut at the Lincoln Center, the madcap musical WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN based on the Spanish film
of the same name runs September 11 to October 19. For the holidays, the Chicago
area premiere musical A CHRISTMAS MEMORY,
based on Truman Capote’s famous short story, runs November 13 to December 14.

RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC
OF JOHNNY CASH makes
its Chicago debut February 20 to March 30 in a reworked, more intimate version
of the Broadway show. Created by Richard Maltby Jr. and conceived by William
Meade, this adaptation features 38 of Johnny Cash’s most famous songs. This
version places a greater emphasis on the music as a way to illustrate the
iconic singer’s journey through life. Through words and music, RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH animates
the stories made famous in Cash’s songs and celebrates the essence of an
American experience. Directed by Brian Russell, the show features a talented cast
of seven actor/musicians and such classic Cash songs as I Walk the Line, A Boy Named
Sue, Sunday Morning Coming Down, and the title song.

The
Chicago Area Premiere of MIRACLE ON
SOUTH DIVISION STREET by Tom Dudzick (author of the Chicago area favorite,
“Over the Tavern”) runs May 1 to June 1. The comedic play, directed by William
Pullinsi, follows the Nowak family as they cope with tested faith and adjust to
life’s surprises. Their Buffalo, New York neighborhood may be depressed, but
not Clara, the family matriarch. She happily runs her soup kitchen and tends to
the family heirloom – a twenty-foot shrine to the Blessed Mother which adjoins
the house. Clara is
waiting for the Pope to make her father’s vision of the Blessed Mother an
official Miracle, but daughter Ruth unveils her plan to write and star in a
one-woman show about the family miracle so the "whole world will
know!" The family reacts, to a
heartfelt and hilarious result.

Theatre
at the Center is thrilled to produce the World Premiere of THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, THE MUSICAL, running from July 10 to
August 10. The book, adapted from some classic episodes of the show, is by
David Rodgers and the lyrics and music are by Chicago composer Gregg Opelka.
The show will be directed by David Perkovich. Fans of the smash hit television
show by the same name, which ran for over 200 episodes and nine seasons, have
much to look forward to. All the key characters from the beloved television
show are here:  the unexpected
millionaire Jed Clampett, his daughter Elly Mae, his lumbering nephew Jethro,
the conniving banker Mr. Drysdale, and of course, Granny Clampett.

WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A
NERVOUS BREAKDOWN,
directed by William Pullinsi, comes to Theatre at the Center September 11 to
October 19.  The show was created by
David Yazbek, music and lyrics, and Jeffrey Lane, book, the team behind “Dirty Rotten
Scoundrels”, a past hit at the Theatre at the Center. Based on the Spanish film
by noted director Pedro Almodovar, the musical features powerful women
characters as they bemoan the unreliable men and their lives and seek a measure
of revenge. Accompanied by heartfelt ballads and great wit, the colorful
characters take the audience on a simultaneously uproarious and earnest
journey.

Theatre
at the Center rounds out 2014 with the Chicago premiere of A CHRISTMAS MEMORY, playing November 13 to December 14. The play,
directed by William Pullinsi, is a labor of love for its Broadway veteran team
of Duane Poole, book; Larry Grossman, music; and Carol Hall, lyrics. Based on a
famous short story by Truman Capote, A CHRISTMAS MEMORY is an evocative
musical memoir set in a small southern town. The show follows the comic
adventures of two misfit cousins and celebrates the simple pleasures of life
and the joys of giving. This festive and emotional story promises to put
audiences in the holiday spirit, reminding us what Christmas, family and
friendship are all about.

Performances
for the 2014 season are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. and Fridays at
8:00 p.m.  Saturday matinees begin at
2:30 or 4 p.m. with evening performances at 8 p.m. Sunday curtains are at 2:30
p.m. Season subscriptions are available for $150 or $160. Special
Subscription Series Events include: the Wine
& Theatre Series, the Dinner
Theatre Series and the Opening Night
Series. Also available are the complimentary Talkback Thursday
post-show discussions and 2nd Saturday Symposium,
to provide insight into the creative process. 
Meal packages are available for select matinee and evening performances,
located right across from the theatre lobby. New 2014 Season Subscriptions will
go on sale August 25, 2013 for renewals and on October 15, 2013 for new
subscribers.  Individual ticket prices
for 2014 range from $40-$44 and will go on sale December 17, 2013.  To purchase season tickets and/or individual
tickets, call the Box Office at 219.836.3255 or Tickets.com (for single
tickets only) at 800.511.1552. Group
discounts are available for groups of 11 or more and gift certificates are also
available by calling the Box Office at 219.836.3255.
For more information on Theatre at the
Center visit TheatreAtTheCenter.com.