Aurora's Garrett Lutz getting 'goofy' for Kokandy's 'Full Monty'

For Garrett Lutz, there's more to playing the lead in Kokandy Productions' “The Full Monty” than just shedding his shorts.

The musical, based on the 1997 hit British film, is about a group of unemployed guys who create a male strip show to make ends meet. But it's their back stories, not their back ends, that made the show resonate.

“This show is not actually about the stripping, but really about everything that happens before it,” said Lutz, who grew up in Aurora. “All the main protagonists, they're fighting to hold on to something and rebuild themselves.”

Lutz went through his own rebuilding process as a kid after leaving Michigan for Chicago when he was 10. Growing up in Aurora, he discovered that acting could actually become a full-time job.

“My neighbor was in a high school show and encouraged me to audition,” Lutz said. “I got the part, and it was after that where me and my family were like, 'OK, well, maybe he could do this in a real-life sense.'”

A steady acting career in Chicago theater followed, including a performance internship at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Lutz lit up when he got the call from Kokandy Productions.

“I've always wanted to work with them ever since I saw them do 'Assassins' (in 2014),” he said. “I went through two callbacks and got the email reaching out saying they wanted me! I feel extremely lucky to be a part of this group.”

Lutz stars in the lead role as Jerry Lukowski, an out-of-work, American steel-mill employee looking to mend relations with his son. With nowhere else to turn, he and five other guys form a male striptease act to put food on the table. But the show is less of a burlesque show than it is a story of strength, sacrifice and the willingness to expose oneself — in more ways than one.

“For me, it's really refreshing to see a storyline that isn't about a guy trying to get a girl,” Lutz said. “There's no other show like this out there. You've got these six misfits, down on their luck, choosing to strip down to achieve their goals — there's something very enduring about that.”

“Even though the show takes place in the '90s, I don't think anyone will see it as dated, because the themes are still relevant and so universal,” said director John D. Glover. “These guys all have their own journeys, and I think there'll be people in the audience who will relate to different members of the group based on what their own adventure looks like.”

In terms of direction, Lutz proved to be a perfect fit for the show's demands.

“Garrett is a trip! I didn't know him when he came in to audition, and we really liked his vocal style and 'realness,'” Glover said. “It's not an easy show to sing, and we needed to find an actor whose vocal endurance would be able to make it through the run of the show.”

And while the show has its dramatic moments, the comedic elements are never lost.

“There's a striking balance between humor and heart,” Glover said.

And during the club scenes, the cast will venture into the audience, Glover said.

“Our naked bodies are going to be no less than 4 feet away from every able-bodied person in the crowd,” laughed Lutz. “At first I was wary, but now I can't wait. We're going to get pretty goofy!”

“The Full Monty”

<b>Location:</b> Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, (773) 975-8150, <a href="http://kokandyproductions.com">kokandyproductions.com</a>

<b>Showtimes:</b> 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, through April 12

<b>Tickets:</b> $38