GFour Productions, producers of MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL® and Tony-nominated FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, today announced that they will present their new play MIDDLETOWN® at The Apollo Theater from February 27 - March 22, 2020. The cast will star SANDY DUNCAN, known for her portrayal of Peter in PETER PAN; DONNY MOST, known for his role as “Ralph Malph” in the hit TV show HAPPY DAYS; and ADRIAN ZMED, best known for his starring roles in the BACHELOR PARTY and TV’s T.J. HOOKER. The cast will also feature Chicago actress and multi Jeff Award winner KATE BUDDEKE (Broadway: Superior Donuts, Carousel, Death of a Salesman with Brian Dennehy, Gypsy with Bernadette Peters and A Streetcar Named Desire with Natasha Richardson).
An exhilarating and universal depiction of love and friendship, MIDDLETOWN® follows the story of two couples who endure the roller coaster of life together, including the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Staged without a set or props, the stars read directly from scripts, as if reading from the book of their own lives — and ours.
“I wanted to tell a relatable ‘every-person’s’ story in a direct and straightforward manner where human emotions are front and center – without bells, whistles, special effects, or props,” said writer Dan Clancy, best known for his play THE TIMEKEEPERS, which ran off-Broadway and in Israel for 13 years. “I wanted the words to speak for themselves.”
The initial workshop of MIDDLETOWN received a Carbonell nomination for “Best New Work” in 2017 and was originally presented at the Jan McArt Reading Series and West Boca Theatre Company. In 2019, MIDDLETOWN® premiered to critical acclaim in Las Vegas, Bucks County, Pa., and Wilmington, Del.
As the New Hope Free Press describes, “Like Love Letters, the ‘play’s the thing,’ as Shakespeare might say. The show has four podiums downstage where the actors stand with scripts before them. … For all intents and purposes, this is just the actor telling you their stories with no blocking. This only works if the stories are worth telling and the actors are good enough to tell them. And the answer is a resounding YES!”
Tickets are $65 and may be purchased at The Apollo Theatre, 2540 North Lincoln, or by phone at 773-935-6100 or online at www.apollochicago.com. Visit the website for full performance schedule.
CRITICS PRAISE MIDDLETOWN:
“MIDDLETOWN is a universal depiction of love and loss … A compelling, funny and heartfelt story … a chronicle of friendships that survive challenges, changes, and calamities. It is a welcome beacon of light and warmth.”
— Talkin’ Broadway
"MIDDLETOWN is emotional gold!”
— Las Vegas Voice
“If you were charmed by LOVE LETTERS, get ready for MIDDLETOWN. It makes you smile and sometimes cry over how rich and beautiful a good friendship can be.”
— New Hope Free Press
For more information and cast bios, visit middletownplay.com
and on Facebook at facebook.com/middletownplay
GFOUR PRODUCTIONS (Producer)
Proud producers of some of the nation’s highest caliber shows, from regional theatre to Broadway including MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL®, now in its 18th year, and 15th as the longest-running musical in Las Vegas history. It can be seen nightly at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip as well as on tour around the U.S. and internationally in Australia, Brazil, South Korea, Slovenia, and the U.K. Seen by more than 17 million fans, it has played every state in the continental U.S. and more than 500 cities in 17 countries worldwide, has been translated into nine languages, and is touring in Australia, Canada, Croatia, France, Hungary, New Zealand and Slovenia in 2020. Other recent productions include THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG on Broadway, winner of London’s Olivier Award for Best Comedy, now also on tour in the U.S.; THE INHERITANCE and TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL both currently on Broadway; SIX THE MUSICAL opening on Broadway in 2020; the Tony Award®-nominated production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF on tour in the U.S.; AMERICAN SON starring Kerry Washington, and adapted for Netflix; and the premiere of David Mamet’s BITTER WHEAT, starring John Malkovich in the West End. Other selected highlights include winning the 2013 Tony Award® for their 50th anniversary production of Edward Albee’s WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF; co-financing the 5-time Tony Award®, 5-time Drama Desk Award, and 7-time Olivier Award winner for Best Musical, MATILDA THE MUSICAL; and producing the popular 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, and RING OF FIRE the Johnny Cash Musical Show. Their combined shows have been nominated for 121 Tony Awards®, winning 44 and 110 Drama Desk Awards, winning 56. For more information, visit GFourProductions.com.
DAN CLANCY (Playwright)
Dan’s plays have been performed regionally, off-Broadway, and in 12 foreign countries. His play THE TIMEKEEPERS had an extended Off-Broadway run and was performed in Israel for 13 years. Its South Florida premiere received six Carbonell Awards. VOLUNTEER MAN won an Obie Award and received a GLAAD nomination for Best New Play. TWO SISTERS won the Joseph Kesslering Playwrighting Award and the initial workshop of “MIDDLETOWN” received a Carbonell nomination for best new work in 2017. AT HOME, workshopped at the Jan McArt Reading Series, opens in Tel Aviv in the fall of 2019. His musicals include “108 WAVERLY,” with music by Lynn Portas; and THE PERFECT DAY, with lyrics and music by Julie Gold. Dan is a member of the Dramatists Guild and ASCAP and is represented by the Barbara Hogenson Agency in New York City.
SETH GREENLEAF (Director)
A Tony Award® winner for his work on the 50th anniversary production of WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF, Seth would be the first to tell you that he’s lived a theatrical life. A graduate of UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film and Television, he was bitten early by the entertainment bug and has worked in theatre and film ever since. Some of his favorite highlights include producing 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL on Broadway with Dolly Parton, co-financing the Tony Award® and Olivier Award-winning musicals THE BOOK OF MORMON and MATILDA THE MUSICAL, and directing the award-winning documentary F(L)AG FOOTBALL (FlagFootballTheMovie.com). He currently has THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG, THE BOOK OF MORMON, THE INHERITANCE and TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL running on Broadway, and SIX THE MUSICAL opening in February 2020; and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG on national tour in the U.S. Seth is also a founding member of the Broadway Green Alliance, helping to green the Great White Way, for more information on that effort please visit www.BroadwayGreen.com.
THE APOLLO THEATER
The Apollo Theater, located in the heart of Chicago’s Lincoln Park since 1978, has been home to many of the city’s biggest hits, including Million Dollar Quartet, which holds the record for the longest-running Broadway musical in Chicago history. Recently renovated and fully accessible, the Apollo Theater’s intimate 430-seat mainstage continues to deliver world-class theater as one of the city’s premiere off-Loop houses.