PrideArts has announced its full cast for its Chicago premiere of the musical GAY CARD. PrideArts’ artistic director Jay Españo will direct the musical, with Robert Ollis providing musical direction and conducting a five-piece band. The choreographer is Britta Schicht, whose credits include choreography for productions with Blank Theatre, Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, and City Lit Theater. The score includes 21 lively songs blending pop, rock, and musical theatre styles as it tells the heartwarming story of Logan, a newly-out college freshman trying to determine where he fits in. He gets help from his long-time friend Melanie, his love-interest Graham, and various friends and bloggers. GAY CARD will open to the press on Monday, August 28 at 7:30 pm at the Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago; following previews from August 24, 2023. It will play through September 24, 2023.
Leading Españo’s cast as Logan is Ben Ballmer, who appeared at Citadel Theatre last holiday season in the title of JUNIOR CLAUS. Logan’s love interest Graham will be played by Freddy Mauricio, who recently completed the role of “The Chosen One” to be sacrificed in the musical AZTEC HUMAN SACRIFICE, which Españo directed for City Lit Theater. Logan’s long-time friend Melanie will be played by Sophie Murk, a Chicago actor and teaching artist who is a co-founder of Chicago’s Olde School Shakespeare Collective and has appeared in TITANIC, AS YOU LIKE IT, and A CHRISTMAS CAROL with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Rachel Carreras will be Danielle, a snarky diva who loves to party, but hates to let people see beyond her surface. Nathaniel Thomas has been cast as Justin, a boy who becomes involved in different ways with Melanie and Danielle. Joseph Alvey will play Cory, an intensely sexual bisexual guy and Maya Radjenovich will take the role of July, a Lesbian who practices new age spirituality. Radjenovich will also understudy the role of Danielle. Completing the cast as bloggers and understudying principal roles are Michael Idalski (Blog Trio, u/s Logan), Elijah Warfield (Blog Trio, u/s/ Graham), and Adelina Marinello (Blog Trio, u/s Melanie). Additional understudies are Haven Denson (u/s July, Blog Trio), and Kyle Johnson (u/s Blog Trio and Cory).
Top row L-R: Joseph Alvey, Ben Ballmer, Rachel Carreras, Haven Denson
Middle row L-R: Michael Idalski, Kyle Johnson, Adelina Marinello, Freddy Mauricio
Bottom row L-R: Sophie Murk, Maya Radjenovich, Nathaniel Thomas, Elijah Warfield
The production team for GAY CARD, in addition to Españo, Ollis, and Schlicht, includes Jordan Ratliff (Assistant Director, Assistant Choreographer), Brett Baleskie (Scenic Design, Technical Director), Shawn Quinlan (Costume Design), Kyle Anderson (Lighting Design), Eme Ospina-López (Projections Design), Val Gardner (Sound Deign), Hannah Dains (Properties Design), Garrett McCann (Intimacy Director), MaK Eddins (Lead Electrician), Miriam Campbell (Production Coordinator, Intern), and Dakota Allen (Stage Manager).
GAY CARD was written by NYU Tisch graduates Ryan Korell (music) and Jonathan Keebler (book/lyrics) and has enjoyed successful productions across the United States. A studio album featuring Broadway’s Derek Klena (ANASTASIA, JAGGED LITTLE PILL, MOULIN ROUGE) has been released. TRIANGLE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT in Raleigh North Carolina said of it, “This show is for everyone, regardless of sexuality, who has ever had to find themselves. The message is ultimately one of hope and a continuing promise of self-discovery.” More information on GAY CARD can be found at https://www.gaycardmusical.com/.
For PrideArts, Artistic Director Jay Españo has previously directed last season’s hit musical GIRLFRIEND, TOMMY ON TOP, 4000 DAYS, and THE THINGS I NEVER COULD TELL STEVEN. Elsewhere, Españo most recently directed the World Premiere musical AZTEC HUMAN SACRIFICE at City Lit Theater and BOEING-BOEING for the Dunes Summer Theater in Michigan City, Indiana. Robert Ollis, who has earned eight Jeff Award nominations and one win for his work with PrideArts and other Chicago companies, will return to Pride Arts as GAY CARD’s music director.
Performances will be at Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago
Tickets $35 for regular performances, $25 for previews. Seniors and students receive a $5 discount off all performance prices. Tickets are available at www.pridearts.org.
LISTING INFORMATION
GAY CARD
Music by Ryan Korell, book and lyrics by Jonathan Keebler
CHICAGO PREMIERE
Directed by Jay Españo
Music Direction by Robert Ollis
August 24 – September 24, 2023
Previews Thursday, August 24 through Saturday, August 26 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, August 27 at 3 pm
PRESS OPENING Monday, August 28 at 7:30 pm
Curtain times Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 3 pm. Wednesday “Industry Night” performance Wednesday, September 20 at 7:30 pm, Understudy performance Wednesday, September 13 at 7:30 pm.
Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago
Tickets $35 for regular performances, $25 for previews. Seniors and students receive a $5 discount off all performance prices. Tickets and more information at www.pridearts.org
GAY CARD is the hilariously heartwarming story of Logan Kapler, a one-friend loser who has never belonged. But now he's starting college with a trick up his sleeve: he's gay. Gay people are awesome; therefore, he will be awesome. Except his new college housemates don't agree. They revoke his "gay card" and deem him not-awesome-enough-to-be-gay instead. Determined to prove them wrong, Logan embarks on a quest to earn his gay card. But when his dream life leaves him lonelier than ever, he must learn that there are some insecurities you never grow out of — before he loses the only two people who truly love him.
BIOS
Jay Españo (PrideArts Artistic Director, Director GAY CARD). Born in Manila, The Philippines, he joined the prestigious Tanghalang Pilipino’s Actors Company in 1998, where he trained with acclaimed Filipino director Nonon Padilla. He acted in several commercials, television series and films. Notably, he was a regular cast member of Koko KwikKwak - a spin-off of Batibot (Philippine SESAME STREET). He toured The Philippines with that show’s mascots, performing for kids throughout the country. In 2000, Jay was one of many Filipino actors who were cast in the Action Theater Singapore’s hit musical CHANG AND ENG, which toured Asia for several years.
Since moving to the Chicago area, Jay has worked with storefront theater companies such as Silk Road Rising, Prologue, Ghostlight, Halcyon, and PrideArts. Most recently, he directed City Lit Theater’s world premiere musical AZTEC HUMAN SACRIFICE. He has played the role of the King in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I with various theater companies in the US and in Canada.
Robert Ollis (Music Director, GAY CARD) served as Music Director for PrideArts’ productions of GIRLFRIEND, THE THINGS I COULD NEVER TELL STEVEN, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, SOUTHERN COMFORT, YANK!: A WW II LOVE STORY, THE NANCE, PRISCILLA: QUEEN OF THE DESERT, THE BOY FROM OZ, SONGS FROM AN UNMADE BED, A HISTORY OF SUMMER, and THE BOOK OF MERMAN, plus the premiere of Leo Schwartz's award-winning UNDER A RAINBOW FLAG. He served as Music Director for Underscore Theatre’s musical HAYMARKET: A NEW FOLK MUSICAL. Robert received a Jeff Award for musical direction of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, in addition to his nominations for seven other shows. Robert is the music director and co-creator of JUDY AND LIZA: THE LONDON PALLADIUM CONCERT — A TRIBUTE and accompanies other notable cabaret performers in New York City, Palm Springs, CA, and Chicago venues.
Britta Schlicht (Choreographer) is elated to create with PrideArts! Chicago choreographic credentials include SPRING AWAKENING, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, NINE (Blank Theatre); AZTEC HUMAN SACRIFICE (City Lit); THE LITTLE MERMAID, GYPSY, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, NEVERMORE (Jedlicka); and BEERS (Prop Thtr).
RYAN KORELL (Composer, GAY CARD). Ryan Korell is a musical theatre composer, arranger, and orchestrator whose work has been featured around the globe, including at Feinstein's/54 Below, at the Spoleto Festival, and on adult contemporary radio. An alumnus of the Johnny Mercer Writers Colony, he has also been recognized as a Finalist for the MAC Wallowitch Awards and the Jonathan Larson Grants.
His Broadway work includes THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and HONEYMOON IN VEGAS along with the film adaptation of THE LAST FIVE YEARS. Among Ryan’s most notable writing credits are GAY CARD (with Jonathan Keebler), MEET AND RUN (with Jonathan Keebler and Gia Mongell), REASONS I HATE GOING TO THE GYM BUT GO ANYWAY (with Jonathan Keebler and Kevin Wiczer), and LOVE IN NY (with Matthew Russell and Sven Jähnert). He also served as orchestrator, music director, and music producer on GAY CARD (Original Studio Cast Recording) and MEET AND RUN (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).Ryan has studied with generation-defining theatre makers Jason Robert Brown, William Finn, Michael John LaChiusa, and Marsha Norman.
JONATHAN KEEBLER (Book writer, lyricist GAY CARD) is a New York City-based book writer and lyricist. His musicals include GAY CARD (music by Ryan Korell), TRUTH OR LIE (music by Bob Kelly), MEET AND RUN (music by Ryan Korell), THE SOPHOMORES (music by Jamie Lee Jacobs), and THE GOOD CHILD (music by Insoo Oh), as well as short works including WORLDS APART (music by Ryan Korell) and the short musical film, A MOST AVERAGE MUSICAL (screenplay by Talia Berger, music by Bob Kelly).
ABOUT PRIDEARTS
PrideArts tells queer stories on a variety of platforms, including both live and virtual performances. Since its founding in 2010, PrideArts has had several chapters, including operating as an itinerant theater for their first six seasons, and as the developer and primary tenant in the Pride Arts Center from 2016 to the present.
The company produces full seasons of plays and musicals, as well as events including cabaret, and more. The company has earned 39 Jeff Awards and nominations, and six nominations in the 2019 ALTA Awards from the Alliance of Latinx Theater Artists of Chicago. Programming has reflected the diversity of queer communities by including work made by and illuminating the experiences of women, gay men, transgender people, and BIPOC.
PrideArts is supported by Illinois Arts Council, a State Agency; City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Alphawood Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Arts Work Fund, Driehaus Foundation, The Saints.
PrideArts is a member of Buena Park Neighborhood Association, Uptown United, Northalsted Merchants Association, League of Chicago Theaters, Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, Lakeview East Merchants Association.
For more information and to donate, visit www.pridearts.org or call 1.773 857 0222.