ROOMS: a rock romance

(Midwest Premiere)
Book by Paul Scott Goodman and Miriam Gordon. Music & Lyrics by Paul Scott Goodman.
Directed by Benjamin Brownson, with Music Director by Austin Cook.
July - August 2013 at The Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee.

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The year is 1977, and the New Wave is sweeping the UK and America. Monica, an ambitious singer in search of fame at any cost, meets Ian, a reclusive rocker who prefers to be left alone with his guitar. Sensing a spark that may go beyond the music, these wailing wunderkinds team up, rock out, and travel from Glasgow to London to New York in their rise to stardom, only to be confronted with the hard choices that come with trying to have it all. BNT presented this electrifying musical following its successful runs in New York, Los Angeles, and London.

“The Surprise Hit of the Summer!”
- Chicago Sun-Times

Press for ROOMS: A ROCK ROMANCE…

★ ★ ★ 1/2. A fun-loving, flirtatious frolic. It’s the perfect way to jam out while falling in love.
— Chicago Theater Beat
What’s vital to our continued engagement with the tale are compelling songs, of which Goodman has a handful, and two very charming actors – which Broken Nose Theatre’s production lucky has in Marren and Deitchman.
— Time Out Chicago
Matt Deitchman and Hillary Marren’s musical performances as the leads provide an emotionally rich tribute to the new-wave era.
— Chicago Reader
Knockout Chicago Premiere … Propulsive direction … Galvanic Music Direction … Highly Recommended!

— Chicago Sun-Times
Director Benjamin Brownson and vocalists Matt Deitchmann and Hillary Marren attack their score with a full-throttle ebullience to awaken vivid memories of our own once-impetuous ambitions, their powerhouse vocals catalyzed by piano-man/music director Austin Cook and his stageside band.
— Windy City Times

PRODUCTION TEAM

  • BENJAMIN BROWNSON* | Director

  • PAUL SCOTT GOODMAN | Book/Music/Lyrics

  • MIRIAM GORDON | Book

  • AUSTIN COOK | Music Director

  • ELLEN WILLETT | Production Manager

  • KRISTINE LARIMORE | Stage Manager

  • JOHN WILSON | Scenic Designer

  • MAC VAUGHEY | Lighting Designer

  • RUSSELL GODDARD | Sound Designer

  • RACHEL S. PARENT | Costume Designer

  • ARIANNA SOLOWAY | Props Designer

  • TIM McCALISTER | Technical Director

  • JOHN KELLY | Master Electrician

  • KENDRA KARGENIAN | Dialect Coach

  • SAM BROWNSON | Guitarist

  • CHUCK ZAYAS | Bass Player

  • MATTHEW SITZ | Percussionist

  • WILLIAM MARQUEZ | Follow Spot Operator

  • RIKKA LEIGH | Follow Spot Operator

  • Producers were SPENSER DAVIS* & CODY BAUER

    * indicates BNT company members

CAST

  • HILLARY MARREN | Monica

  • MATTHEW DEITCHMAN | Ian

  • SCOTT JOHNSTON* | Ian U/S

  • RACHEL MORGAN | Monica U/S