The Boys from Syracuse

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David Bell’s brand new adaptation of the classic Richard Rodgers (The King & I, South Pacific, The Sound of Music) and Laurence Hart hit The Boys from Syracuse, will make its Chicago Premiere August 7, open August 14 and run through September 28 at Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Premiering in 1938 and based on Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors, The Boys From Syracuse was the first musical written based on a Shakespeare play. The Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace production will star Rod Thomas as Antipholus of Ephesus and Timothy Gregory will star as Antipholus of Syracuse.

The Boys from Syracuse revolves around the escapades and romantic mix-ups of long-separated identical twins Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse, whose servants, the two Dromios, are also long-separated identical twins. Complications arise when the wives of the Ephesians, Adriana and her servant Luce, mistake the two strangers for their husbands. The ironic tale of these separated brothers is a hilarious take on the classic Shakespearean story. This runaway Broadway hit combines Richard Rodgers’ rich melodies and Laurence Hart’s witty lyrics in the classic score, including “Falling in Love with Love,” “Sing for Your Supper,” and “This Can’t be Love.” The Boys from Syracuse is as entertaining, vibrant, and riotous as when it first took Broadway by storm.

After brief runs at the Schubert Theatres in New Haven and Boston, The Boys from Syracuse opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on Nov. 23, 1938. The Boys from Syracuse ran on Broadway for nearly 11 months (235 performances) before closing on Oct. 6, 1939. The production has returned to New York twice since, in 1963 Off Broadway at Theatre Four it ran for over 500 performances, and again to Broadway in 2002 at the American Airlines Theater.

The Boys from Syracuse stars Anne Acker, Melody Betts, Gary Carlson, Devin DeSantis, Jarret Ditch, Jackson Evans, Michael Glazer, Mallory Green, Tim Gregory, Kent Haina, Sean Michael Hunt, George Keating, Andrew Keltz, Dorrey Lyles, Susan Moniz, Kelli Morgan, Max Quinlan, Ryan Reilly, Cara Salerno, Laura Scheinbaum, Katie Spellman, Joey Stone, Peter Terry, Rod Thomas, Emily Thompson, Tiffany Topol, Sean Walton and Bernie Yvon.

The artistic team for The Boys from Syracuse is led by director and choreographer David Bell with musical direction by Keith Dworkin. Set Design is by Sally Weiss, Costume Design is by Tatjana Radisic, Lighting Design is by Jesse Klug and Properties Design is by Gregory Isaacs.

The performance schedule is as follows: Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. ($28), Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. ($28) and 8 p.m. ($31), Fridays at 8:30 p.m. ($33), Saturdays at 5 p.m. ($33) and 8:30 p.m. ($33) and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. ($33) and 6 p.m. ($31). Season subscriptions start as low as $95 for 5 shows. Dinner packages range from $42.75 to $54 (depending on the day of the week). A special family four pack offer is available for $95 to select performances. Inquire at box office or website for details and prices. For reservations, phone (630) 530-0111 or call TicketMaster at 312-559-1212. You may also visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.drurylaneoakbrook.com.