“Bill W. and Dr. Bob,” produced by Theatre 68 and directed by and starring Ronnie Marmo, is returning to the Chicago area – opening Friday, May 30 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts (9501 Skokie Blvd.) and running through June 8. This critically acclaimed production, written by Samuel Shem and Janet Surrey, portrays the powerful, funny and profoundly inspirational true story of the two founders of Alcoholics Anonymous: New York stockbroker Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, a surgeon from Ohio. Tickets, starting at $69, are available at www.billwanddrbobonstage.com.
“Bill W. and Dr. Bob” captivated both audiences and critics alike during its sold-out 11-week run at the Biograph Theater in Lincoln Park last year, with the Chicago Tribune calling it “a moving gathering of the like-minded,” WTTW hailing the production as “a piercing and honest look at the origin story of a pair of broken men who became heroes of healing” and the Chicago Reader calling it “engaging and thoughtful.”
The performance schedule is as follows:
- Friday, May 30 – 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, May 31 – 2 p.m. | 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, June 1 – 2 p.m.
- Friday, June 6 – 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, June 7 - 2 p.m. | 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, June 8 – 2 p.m.
Ronnie Marmo will be playing the role of Bill W. with Rick Yaconis starring alongside him as Dr. Bob. Katherine Wettermann will play Bill W.’s wife Lois Wilson while Elizabeth Rude will take on the role of Dr. Bob’s wife Anne Smith. Sharing the stage with them are Phil Aman in the role of Man and Marla Seidell as Woman. Understudies include Joe Red (Dr. Bob), Phil Aman (Dr. Bob), Cynthia Suarez (Anne Smith), Sara Copeland (Woman), Joe Bushell (Man), and Janelle Marmo occupying an understudy role for Lois Wilson.
About “Bill W. and Dr. Bob”
In 1929, famous New York stockbroker Bill Wilson crashes along with the stock market and becomes a hopeless drunk. Dr. Bob Smith, a surgeon from Ohio, has also been an alcoholic for 30 years, often going into the operating room with a hangover. Through an astonishing series of events, the two meet and form a relationship, each helping the other to stay sober. The play tells the remarkable and humorous story of the two men who pioneered Alcoholics Anonymous, as well as the story of their wives, who founded Al Anon.
Artfully illustrating the two men’s journey from the pain and isolation of alcoholism to the hope and inspiration they find in sobriety and helping others, the play originally opened at the New World Stages off-Broadway in New York, to outstanding critical acclaim and has been staged over 350 times in theaters, and at AA conventions and special engagements over the last two decades.
"I first walked through the doors of an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting at 17, and I can say without question that it saved my life,” said Marmo. “The story of its founders is nothing short of extraordinary—a profound testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of connection. Their work has touched and healed millions since the 1930s, and it’s an honor to bring their journey to life for Chicago audiences."
Variety called the show “a remarkable story… By sheer dint of intelligent writing, a leavening of humor and the innate power of its biographical storytelling, this play touches its audience.” LA Weekly hailed Marmo’s direction, saying it “sensitively guides the action,” while Backstage West raved "passion is felt in the urgency, honesty, and power of this simple staging.” The production was also described as “an endearing portrait of friendship uplifted by warm humor” by The New Yorker, with the Huffington Post calling it “a reminder that there is power in community.”
The play is written by Samuel Shem and Janet Surrey and is produced and directed by Ronnie Marmo. Janelle Marmo is the assistant director. The set is designed by Danny Cistone with lighting design by Cortney Roles.
About Ronnie Marmo
Ronnie Marmo is currently on a national tour for two productions, "Bill W. and Dr. Bob," which is making its return to the Chicago area by way of Skokie after an 11-week sold out run in Chicago this past Spring 2024, and his critically acclaimed one-man show, “I’m Not A Comedian... I’m Lenny Bruce,” directed by Chicago's own Joe Mantegna which just celebrated seven years and 452 performances. Marmo directs and stars in the production of “Bill W. and Dr. Bob” and wrote and stars in “... Lenny Bruce.”
Marmo is an acclaimed playwright, director and actor who has starred in more than 80 feature films and television shows, most recently guest starring on "FBI: Most Wanted," "Ghosts" and “Criminal Minds,” and has guest starred on shows like "JAG" and "The Young and the Restless." Marmo enjoyed a three-year run on ABC’s “General Hospital” as Ronnie Dimestico. On film, he starred in “Ammore E Malavita (Love and Bullets),” an Italian musical film which won the David di Donatello for best picture (the Italian equivalent to an Academy Award).
Other credits include “Back in the Day” (streaming on Netflix now), “Deuces Wild,” “Crocodile Dundee in LA,” “West Of Brooklyn,” “Pizza With Bullets,” “Death Of A Tree,” “Irish Eyes (aka Vendetta),” and more. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor by the Indie Soap Awards for his role as Crotch in the comedic series, “Adults Only.” On stage, he has starred in more than 40 plays. Marmo voiced the audiobook in which he portrays Lenny Bruce in Lenny’s autobiography, “How to Talk Dirty and Influence People.” He continues to serve as the proud Artistic Director of Theatre 68 in Los Angeles and New York City for the last 24 years.