"Marry Me a Little" by Stephen Sondheim: March 10-21 2009

GroundWorks Theatre announces its first musical production, the Nashville premiere of Stephen Sondheim's "Marry Me a Little." A joint production with the Boiler Room Theatre, "Marry Me a Little" is a collection of Sondheim originals which shapes the story of a young man and young woman who are neighbors and possibly soulmates, but who have never met.

Craig Lucas and Norman Rene', who wrote and directed "Reckless" and "Prelude to a Kiss," respectively, created "Marry Me a Little" using songs that Stephen Sondheim had written for other shows. Through the 18 songs, we see an evening in the lives of the two lonely singles, as they reveal their work, lives, dreams, and heartaches, all while oblivious to the proximity of the other. The songs were originally created for some of Sondheim's most famous works, including "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Company," "Follies," and "A Little Night Music." Several were cut on the road, several were re-written and appeared in other forms. Lucas, himself a multiple Tony- and Drama Desk Award nominee, conceived the format for the show while working with Sondheim as a chorus member in the original Broadway production of "Sweeney Todd."

Mike Baum and Megan Murphy will play the two tenants. They are longtime favorites of the Boiler Room Theatre, having appeared in the last year in "Plaid Tidings / Nuncrackers," "Damn Yankees," and "Assassins." Megan Murphy directed the GroundWorks premiere of "The Pillowman," and has appeared onstage in GWT's "Tape," "Blackbird," and "Enchanted April."

Darkhorse veterans Brian T. Hill and Jack E. Chambers take directing duties. Brian is the Executive Director of ACT 1, and has over 20 years of music directing experience in Nashville, including work with ACT 1, Circle Players, and Actors' Playhouse. Most recently, he directed the ACT 1 production of "Miss Gulch Returns." Jack just completed a revival production of Lee Blessing's "Chesapeake" for GroundWorks, and has also appeared in the GWT productions of "Tape," "Blackbird," "Closer," and "The Pillowman."

This production is the 2nd joint production between GroundWorks Theatre and the Boiler Room Theatre, and will play for one week in each venue -- March 10-15 at the Boiler Room in the Factory at Franklin, and March 17-21 at the Darkhorse Theater.

IMPORTANT: Ticket prices and show times vary by venue!

Boiler Room Theatre: March 10-15 (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 8pm; Sunday 2pm). All tickets $15. For tickets, visit www.boilerroomtheatre.com or call 615.794.7744.

Darkhorse Theater: March 17-21 (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 7:30pm). All tickets $15, except for Tuesday $10. For tickets, visit www.groundworkstheatre.com or call 615.262.5485.

Marry Me a Little: The Basics!

Full details are forthcoming, but here's the basics for the GWT/BRT joint production of Stephen Sondheim's "Marry Me a Little." The show will run March 10-15 at the Boiler Room Theatre in Franklin, then March 17-21 at the Darkhorse Theater in Nashville. Show times and ticket prices will vary by venue, and tickets MUST be purchased through the appropriate venue. Mike Baum and Megan Murphy star in this Nashville premiere!

GroundWorks Theatre Announces 2008-2009 Season

GroundWorks Theatre proudly announces their 2008-2009 season, including a one-man show, original Christmas story, the company's first musical, and an incisive look at the Middle East. Since 2004, GWT has presented a slate comprised exclusively of Nashville premieres at the Darkhorse Theater, including four world-premiere productions.

The new season opens October 3 with Lee Blessing's one-man-show "Chesapeake," directed by company co-founder Robert A. O'Connell and starring Jack E. Chambers.

"Basically, we'd like to be able to say three words and leave it at that. Art. Politics. Dogs. Anyone who finds each word intriguing on its own and the three irresistible together should be transported by the shaggy Blessing story." (Newsday)

The company continues its run of original holiday entertainment with the premiere production of O'Connell's own "The Road To Bethlehem" (which he will also direct), a light-hearted yet tender look at some lesser-known characters from the story of the original Christmas -- two shepherds, a drunk, another newborn child, a Roman Centurion, an inkeeper, and a certain little drummer boy.

March 2009 brings GroundWorks' first-ever musical offering, Stephen Sondheim's "Marry Me A Little," a collection of outtakes and lesser-known songs from the acknowledged master of the modern American musical theatre. The songs were collected and assembled by Craig Lucas (who also wrote "Prelude to a Kiss") and Norman Rene, and tell the story of a young man and woman living in the same apartment building, each unaware of the other, whose lives are more interconnected than they could know. Jack E. Chambers will direct the production, with Brian T. Hill providing the musical direction.

The season closes in May with A. R. Gurney's "O Jerusalem," a seriocomic take on diplomatic and interpersonal relationships in the modern-day Middle East, centered around a novice diplomat who falls in love with a woman whose son is a member of Hamas. The New York Times called it "deeply touching in [its] urgency." Melissa Bedinger Hade will direct the production.

GroundWorks also announces the addition of online ticket sales (through a partnership with BrownPaperTickets.com), and the introduction of season tickets in the form of 4-ticket FlexPasses, which will be available at the Box Office and through www.groundworkstheatre.com.



Contact Information

Robert A. O'Connell -- Co-Founder, Artistic Director -- home 615-262-1832
Jack E. Chambers -- Marketing Director -- home 615-300-5560