LZP Productions brings Sondheim gem to the stage
LZP Productions brings Stephen Sondheim's rare musical gem, "Merrily We Roll Along," to Cutting Hall in Palatine beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 1.
It is a poignant and emotional story about friendships and the importance of staying true to one's ideals. The show travels back in time over the course of 20 years to reveal important life events of three close-knit friends. This show includes famous Sondheim classics such as "Not a Day Goes By," "Now You Know" and "Old Friends."
"This is a universal story," said Jessica Means of Schaumburg, who plays Mary Flynn. "We all move toward our dream, but along the journey we are faced with many paths. Some lead us to that dream, while others divert us into a completely different direction. We must make difficult choices and sometimes we end up asking, how did I get to be here?"
Terrence Sherrill, who plays Frank Shepherd, adds, "Sometimes we need to go back to the beginning to rediscover our focus and answer that very question. That's why 'Merrily We Roll Along' starts with Frank in a crisis and moves backward to key points in his life when he took a right turn when he should just 'Take a Left.'"
It seems appropriate that this musical journey about old friends is comprised of many old friendships. LZP Productions is run by husband and wife team Ken and Morra Priess of Lake Zurich, with Ken performing the role of Charley Kringas and Morra as the show's director.
Together they brought on Sherrill of Mount Prospect to portray the protagonist. Ken Priess and Sherrill have been friends since 1990 when they met performing in "As Time Goes By."
"Ken convinced me to suspend my retirement from theater to perform together in various shows, including this one," Sherrill said.
In 2006, he performed in LZP's production of "The Full Monty," where "I met my beautiful and much-too-good-for-me wife, Francesca."
Fittingly, Francesca portrays Frank's wife Beth in "Merrily." Parker, Francesca and Terrence's son, will also perform as Frank and Beth's son.
"Terrence and I will be celebrating our 10-year wedding anniversary this summer," Francesca Sherrill said, "so it is really nice to be taking a walk down memory lane, performing together and showing our son where it all started."
Also featured is Julie Koerner of Northbrook, Peter Rasey of Chicago, with an ensemble of Cristianna Formeller of Palatine, Josh Formeller of Palatine, Madeline Franklin of Palatine, Tyler Callahan of Tower Lake, Alma Lumabas of Buffalo Grove, Nathasha Laws of Buffalo Grove, Scott Skiple of Des Plaines, Rick Peter of Elk Grove Village and Kyle Downs of Long Grove.
The orchestra includes Kenneth Mullen of Palatine, Diane Hansen, Christian Moreno, Sean O'Donnell, Mike McCain and Ian McGarrie.
Shows are at 8 p.m. April 1, 7 and 8, and 3 p.m. matinee performances are April 2 and 9.
Tickets are at the Cutting Hall Box Office, 150 E. Wood St.; (847) 202-5222; or cuttinghall.org. They are $20, $18 for students and seniors; $3 more at the door.