Porchlight Revisits They’re Playing Our Song

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Book by Neil Simon. Music by Marvin Hamlisch. Lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager. Direction and Choreography by Christopher Carter and Music Direction by Andra Velis Simon, starring Sharriese Hamilton and Lorenzo Rush Jr. A romantic musical comedy about the affair (both professional and romantic) of a wisecracking composer and an aspiring, offbeat lyricist. Creatively, their relationship works great, but personal trials and tribulations lead them toward finding a new way to make harmonious music together in this laugh-a-minute romantic charmer.

Featuring the hits: “Fallin’,” “If He Really Knew Me” and “Just For Tonight.”

Meet The Cast!

Anastasia Arnold is thrilled to be back at Porchlight Music Theatre! She was last seen in New Faces Sing Broadway 1959! Other Chicago credits include: Elephant and Piggie’s and We are in a Play (Northbrook Theatre), Gypsy (Music Theater Works), Big Fish (Big Noise Theatre), and Bare (Refuge Theatre Project). Some regional credits include: The Fantasticks and Gypsy (Festival 56), and Pinkalicious (Timber Lake Playhouse). She received her BFA in Musical Theatre at Millikin University. Much love and thanks to her constantly supportive family and friends!

Kiersten Frumkin – Porchlight debut! Chicago credits include Mamma Mia! (Sophie Sheridan): Paramount Theatre, Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey): Williams Street Repertory, 1980 (Or Why I’m Voting for John Anderson) at Jackalope Theatre, Sleeping Beauty at the Marriott Theatre, and Mill Girls (Agnes) at both ETOPiA and the CoreSeries at ATC. She spent last summer as a company member at Timberlake Playhouse. Kiersten is a graduate of CCPA and is represented by the awesome ladies at Shirley Hamilton Talent.

Sharriese Hamilton hails from Okemos, Michigan with a B.A. in Theatre from Michigan State University. Chicago credits include On a Clear Day, How To Succeed, Ain’t Misbehavin, Pal Joey, A Class Act (Porchlight Music Theatre); Sleeping Beauty, Sister Act, The Velveteen Rabbit, Madagascar ( Marriott Theatre) Rock of Ages, James and the Giant Peach (Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre) Wonderful Town (Goodman Theatre), Thaddeus and Slocum (Lookingglass Theatre) Pericles (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) The Wild Party, See What I What I Wanna See, and Passing Strange (Bailiwick Chicago); All Shook Up (Theatre at the Center) Jesus Christ Superstar (Theo Ubique), and We Three Lizas (About Face Theatre). Regional Credits include HAIR (McLeod Summer Playhouse) Spamalot, Working, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Timber Lake Playhouse).

Yando Lopez is overjoyed to be working with Porchlight again after appearing in In the Heights, Sondheim on Sondheim and Bells Are Ringing. He was last seen in his Jeff-nominated role of Lin-Manuel Miranda in Spamilton and in The Christians at Steppenwolf. Favorite credits include In the Heights (Paramount Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (American Blues Theatre) and Barney the Elf  (The Other Theatre Company). Yando is a Northwestern alum and AEA member.

Billy Rude is proud to join such a great team for his Porchlight debut. Some favorite Chicago-credits include Altar Boyz (Theo Ubique), The Civility of Albert Cashier (Stage 773), and Glory Days (Refuge Theatre Project). Other regional credits include “Jerry Lee Lewis” in Million Dollar Quartet, and Anything Goes (Maples Repertory Theatre). Billy would like to thank his family and loved ones for constant support and adventures. Find him online at www.billyrude.com

Lorenzo Rush Jr. – I’M BACK HOME BABY! #Porchlight4Life. Chicago credits include: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Jeff Award Nomination), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Porchlight Music Theater), Five Guys Named Moe (Court Theater), Jesus Christ Superstar (Paramount Theater), Dreamgirls, City of Angels (Marriott Theater), Little Shop of Horrors (American Blues Theater), and Parade (BoHo Theater). TV/Film credits include: Sirens on USA. Lorenzo received his BFA in Musical Theater at Western Illinois University. For Samantha and Phoebe. Proverbs 18:16.

Tyler Symone is a currently a junior in the BFA Musical Theatre Performance Program at Columbia College Chicago. She is so excited to return to Porchlight, where she was previously seen in Little Me. Other credits include A New Brain (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre), High Fidelity (Refuge Theatre Project) and Tonya and Nancy: The Rock Opera (Underscore Theatre Company).

Koray Tarhan makes his Porchlight debut eager and excited to share his love for performing and story-telling! Hailing from Los Angeles, Koray is a Columbia College graduate with a passion for combining his expertise in music (guitar/vocals), physical theatre, and acrobatics. Koray has experience in several parts of the country but most notably as “The Unknown Man” in the World Premiere of The Boy Who Danced on Air, “Emcee” in Cabaret at The Lewis Family Playhouse, and “Roger” in Columbia College’s Production of Rent. He most recently completed an acting internship with the Cincinnati Playhouse with roles in Jane Eyre, A Christmas Carol (Dick), and A Prayer for Owen Meany (Buzzy). He would like to thank his family, friends, and lovely girlfriend, Josephine, for their continued love and support!