Skokie, Illinois – MadKap Productions is pleased to present the Midwest premiere of a the musical Falling For Make Believe for 19 live performances at the Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave in Downtown Skokie.  Sept 9 – Oct 16, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 2:00 pm, with a Wed. afternoon matinee at 1:30 pm on Sept 21.  Tickets are $45 general admission, $38 for seniors and students and can be purchased online at SkokieTheatre.org or by calling 847-677-7761

Falling For Make Believe tells the behind-the-scenes story of lyricist Lorenz Hart … his struggles with alcoholism, his sexual orientation, and his turbulent relationship with Richard Rodgers, all of which inspired the greatest love songs of Broadway.  Featuring 18 or their greatest hits including Bewitched, Where or When, Lady is a Tramp, Isn’t It Romantic, and Falling in Love with Love.

Starring Sean Michael Barrett as Lorenz Hart and Sean Caron as Richard Rodgers. Also starring Donaldson Cardenas, Nate Hall, Cheryl Szucsits, and Mandi Corrao as actress Vivienne Segal.

Rodgers and Hart worked together on 28 stage musicals and more than 500 songs from 1919 until Hart's death in 1943. Their songs have long been favorites of cabaret singers and jazz artists and are still considered standards of the Great American Songbook.

Playwright Mark Saltzman's most recent play, Romeo and Bernadette just closed off-Broadway after earning rave reviews and a Drama Desk Award nomination for best original book.  He won seven Emmy Awards for his television writing.  Mark is the author of Rocket City, Alabam'  as well as  Clutter: The True Story Of the Collier Brothers Who Never Threw Anything Out, which was the inaugural production for MadKap Productions.  His play Mr. Shaw Goes To Hollywood is currently being adapted into a movie for Dustin Hoffman.

The show is directed by Skokie Theatre’s Managing Director Wayne Mell, with musical direction by Aaron Kaplan and choreography by Susan Pritzker.  Lighting design is by Pat Henderson with costume design by Broadway World award-winner Patty Halajian.  Wendy Kaplan produces for MadKap Productions

For the safety and comfort of guests at the Skokie Theatre, a new state-of-the art air-filtration system has been installed.  All Skokie Theatre staff, cast, musicians, ushers and crew are fully vaccinated.

A four show subscription package is available for $99 which includes tickets for Falling For Make Believe, the Tennessee Williams classic Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, directed by the Goodman Theatre’s Steve Scott, the musical parody Book Of Merman, and Neil Simon’s Rumors.

For reservations or additional information, visit SkokieTheatre.org, or call the box office at 847-677-7761

About MadKap Productions

MadKap is celebrating its 9^th year at Skokie Theatre and is the recipient of the 2019 Artistic Excellence award from the Village of Skokie Fine Arts Commission.  Wendy Kaplan and Wayne Mell formed MadKap Productions in 2011 and have premiered ground-breaking new plays like Clutter: The True Story of the Collier Brothers Who Never Threw Anything Out and Mr. Shaw Goes To Hollywood,  and Side Effects May Include, the semi-autobiographical account of Seinfeld writer Marc Jaffe’s experiences with Parkinson’s Disease which toured nationally, raising funds for Shaking With Laughter and The Michael J. Fox Foundation.  MadKap Productions was formerly a resident production company at the Greenhouse Theater Center in Chicago.  In February of 2014, MadKap Productions took over management of the Skokie Theatre with the goal of establishing a full-time performing arts center. 

About Skokie Theatre

The Skokie Theatre was originally built in 1912 and served as the local movie theatre for the people who lived in the Skokie area.  The building fell into disrepair, until 2006 when the Skokie Valley Music Foundation spent over 1.2 million dollars to refurbish it and create a music hall that is unlike any other in the area.  Its 140 comfortable seats, perfect acoustics, and elegant art deco architecture makes it a Skokie landmark.  MadKap Productions took over management of the building in February, 2014 with the goal of establishing a full-time performing arts center.  When not presenting plays, audiences can experience cabaret and concerts, dance, and comedy acts.