PRESS RELEASE
Press contact: Jay Kelly, L.C. Williams & Associates
jkelly@lcwa.com or 312.565.4623
Go to chicagochildrenstheatre.org/press/high-res-photos to download hi-res images for CCT’S 2013-14 season.
CAST ANNOUNCED FOR MR. CHICKEE’S FUNNY MONEY
JONATHAN BUTLER-DUPLESSIS (IN THE HEIGHTS), ALEXIS J. ROGERS (JEFF AWARDWINNER, LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL), TRAVIS TURNER (BUD, NOT
BUDDY), AND SOUL SINGER YAW AGYEMAN LEAD THE CAST FOR CHICAGO
CHILDREN’S THEATRE’S NEW R&B FAMILY MUSICAL, JANUARY 18-MARCH 2, 2014
(Top row) Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money, a new R&B musical from Chicago Children’s Theatre, will star Yaw Agyeman
as Mr. Chickee (photo credit: Tyler Core). (Bottom row, from left) The cast also boasts A-list Chicago actors
Jonathan Butler-Duplessis, Travis Turner, Alexis J. Rogers, and Bear Bellinger. Based on the best-selling book by
the Newbery Award-winning author Christopher Paul Curtis, this production will be directed by Derrick Sanders,
and features music and lyrics by Motown legend Lamont Dozier (and his son Paris Dozier (not pictured). Go to
http://chicagochildrenstheatre.org/press/high-res-photos/ to download hi-res versions of these photos.
CHICAGO, December 16, 2013 – Chicago Children’s Theatre has announced casting for its
world premiere of Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money, an all-new, rhythm and blues family musical
playing January 18 - March 2, 2014 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn,
Chicago. Press opening is Friday, January 24 at 7 p.m.
Jonathan Butler-Duplessis, critically acclaimed for his portrayal of Benny in Paramount
Theatre’s fall opener In the Heights and currently playing the Ghost of Christmas Present in A
Christmas Carol at Theatre at the Center, leads the A-list cast of Chicago’s top professional
musical theater performers as 10-year old Steven. Ashley Elizabeth Honore, seen in
Southbridge at Chicago Dramatists and Home at Court Theatre, plays Steven’s friend Richelle.
Travis Turner, who played the title role last season in CCT’s Bud, Not Buddy, and appeared in
Porgy and Bess, Tartuffe and The Misanthrope at Court Theatre, will play Steven’s friend
Russell. Acclaimed Chicago soul singer Yaw Agyeman is cast as Mr. Chickee. Alexis J. Rogers,
2013 Equity Jeff Award winner as Billie Holiday in Porchlight’s Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and
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Grill, will play dual roles – Steven’s mother Lynetta and Madame Director. Bear Bellinger, who
appeared in Paramount’s Miss Saigon and Court’s Porgy and Bess, will play Steven’s father,
Elmwood. Elena Flores, Lisa in the Broadway production and national tour of Mamma Mia,
will play Agent 2. Brian Grey, recently in The Wheel at Steppenwolf and a veteran of CCT’s
Bud, Not Buddy, plays Agent Fondoo. Puppeteer Sam Deutsch (Redmoon’s The Cabinet) will
bring fun, funky life to Steven’s loyal dog, Zoopy.
CCT’s newest family musical is adapted from the best-selling young adult book of the same
name by Christopher Paul Curtis, who also penned Bud, Not Buddy, the Newbery Awardwinning book which spawned Chicago Children’s Theatre’s 2013 smash hit play Bud, Not
Buddy. Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money features music and lyrics by Motown legend Lamont
Dozier and his son, co-music writer/lyricist Paris Dozier. The book is by David Ingber, with
musical supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Brian Usifer. Kevin Iega Jeff (cofounder and artistic director of Deeply Rooted Dance Company) will choreograph. Derrick
Sanders (director of CCT’s recent smash hits Bud, Not Buddy and Jackie and Me) will direct.
Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money follows the misadventures of 10-year-old Steven, a self-proclaimed
spy and president of the "Flint Future Detectives Club." At the heart of this whimsical story is a
highly intelligent, out-of-the-box thinker, and entrepreneurial boy, who discovers that family,
friends, imagination and determination are the true keys to success and that sharing
the spotlight with others can make one even richer. As Steven and his friends plot to save Flint
from financial ruin, Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money grooves to a diverse new set list of original
songs, all played by a live band and so high-energy and entertaining that kids won’t even know
they’re being treated to a celebration of contemporary African American music through the
decades, including Motown, disco, rap, rock, soul, jazz and hip hop. Mr. Chickee’s Funny
Money brings generations of music lovers together in an adventurous story of mystery.
Single tickets to Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money are on sale now, and start at $25. To purchase, visit
chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (872) 222-9555. For information on discounted group rates
for schools, playgroups, birthday parties and scouting organizations, visit GroupTix.net or call
(773) 327-3778. Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money is recommended for ages 6 and up.
Behind the Scenes of Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money
As a member of Holland-Dozier-Holland in the 1960’s, Lamont Dozier (music writer/lyricist) is
credited for being one of the primary architects of the Motown Sound, responsible for writing,
co-writing and producing more than 54 #1 hits for The Supremes, Four Tops, Marvin Gaye,
Smokey Robinson, Freda Payne and a host of others. His hits include Stop! In the Name of Love,
How Sweet It Is, Reach Out I’ll Be There, Where Did Our Love Go and more. Dozier has been
inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, from which he
received the 2009 Johnny Mercer Award, the highest praise a songwriter can achieve. He has
worked with such contemporary acts as Alison Moyet, Aretha Franklin, Simply Red, Phil
Collins, Boy George, Eric Clapton, Kanye West, Joss Stone, Solange Knowles, Dave Stewart, Sir
Cliff Richard, Phil Collins and George Benson. His music catalogue is one of the most sampled
to date by everyone from rappers Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Lil Wayne, Dr. Dre, The
Alchemist, Common, Lupe Fiasco and Three 6 Mafia, to soul icons Mary J. Blige, Nas and
Usher, and even alternative rockers Linkin Park.
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Paris Dozier (co-music writer/lyricist) is a native of Los Angeles. Dozier’s professional career in
music began when he was 15, writing songs for artists on Hollywood Records (Disney), where
he would be signed two years after as a singer/songwriter and producer. While at Hollywood
Records, Dozier was mentored by and produced an album with Rob Cavallo, most notably
regarded as the producer who discovered Green Day and is now the CEO of Warner Music
Group. Dozier later became musical theme writer for B-InTune Television on UPN 13. He
continues to write and produce for various artists in just about every genre of music.
Born in Flint, Michigan, Christopher Paul Curtis (author, Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money) was
always a great reader, but as a youth he could not find books “that were about me.” He spent
his first 13 years after high school on the assembly line of Flint's historic Fisher Body Plant #1,
hanging 80-pound car doors on Buicks. He wrote during his breaks to escape the noise of the
factory, while attending college at night. Curtis made an outstanding debut in children’s
literature with The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963. His second novel, Bud, Not Buddy, is the
first book ever to receive both the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Author Award.
His books include Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money, its sequel Mr. Chickee’s Messy Mission and
Bucking the Sarge.
Derrick Sanders (director) is Founding Artistic Director of Congo Square Theatre Company, a
Chicago Tribune Chicagoan of the Year in 2005, and winner of multiple Joseph Jefferson Awards
and Black Theater Alliance Awards. His most recent collaborations with Chicago Children’s
Theater – last season’s Bud, Not Buddy and the 2011 world premiere of Jackie and Me, written
by Steven Dietz, based on the book by Dan Gutman – both enjoyed widespread critical acclaim
and nearly sold-out runs at the Ruth Page. CCT’s version of Jackie and Me has since received
productions at Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, New York’s Atlantic Theatre
Company, and in Seattle, Houston and St. Louis. The script was recently published by Dramatic
Publishing.
Brian Usifer (music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements) was music director of Kinky
Boots on Broadway, associate music supervisor of The Book of Mormon on Broadway, and
played in the orchestra of Broadway and off-Broadway productions of The 25th Annual Putman
County Spelling Bee, Avenue Q, Altar Boyz, Sister Act, Wicked and Burnt Part Boys.
David Ingber (book) is a New York-based writer/composer. His musicals include Fantasy
Football: The Musical and Zombies Actually. He writes video content for the Major League
Baseball Fan Cave, and he has written for web series including ESPN’s Mayne Street with Kenny
Mayne and Microsoft’s Fasterpiece Theater.
The design team is Courtney O’Neill (scenic design); Rebecca Jeffords (lighting design); Ray
Nardelli (sound); Christine Pascual (costume design); Kevin Iega Jeff (choreography); Margaret
Goddard-Knop (properties design); and Sam Deutsch (puppet design). Dennis Conners is
production stage manager.
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Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money received its first staged reading at the Apollo Theater in February
of 2012 directed by Kim Rubinstein. It was workshopped in Summer 2013 at the American Music
Theatre Project at Northwestern University’s In the Works program, supported in part by an Arts
Work grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.
Chicago Children’s Theatre’s world premiere of Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money is presented in
association with Funny Money Enterprises and Bisno Productions. CCT’s world premiere of
Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money will be followed by a New York production at The Atlantic Theater
Company in Spring 2014.
Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money performance schedule
Previews of Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money are Saturday and Sunday, January 18 and 19 at 11 a.m;
and Tuesday through Friday, January 21-24 at 10 a.m. Press opening is Friday, January 24 at
7 p.m. Performances that weekend are Saturday, January 25 at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Sunday
January 26 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Performances continue through February 2: Tuesday at 10 a.m., Wednesday at 10 a.m. and
12 p.m., Thursday at 10 a.m., Friday at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 6 p.m., and Sunday at
11 a.m. Starting the week of February 3 through February 23, regular performance times are
Tuesday at 10 a.m., Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., Thursday at 10 a.m., Friday at 10 a.m.
and 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Sunday at 11 a.m.
*Please note: The Friday, February 14, 6:30 p.m. performance of Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money is
Autism-Friendly. The entire house is reserved exclusively for families with children on the
autism spectrum. This creates a safe, welcoming environment for children with autism,
where nobody needs to worry if a child gets loud or active. All seats are $25.
The final week of performances are Wednesday and Thursday, February 26 and 27 at 10 a.m.;
Friday, February 28 at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 1 at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.,
and Sunday, March 2 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Tickets are $25 for children and adults to Friday night performances. Tickets to weekend shows
are $28 for children, $38 for adults. To purchase, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call
(872) 222-9555. For discounted school, scout, playgroup, extended family and other group rates,
visit GroupTix.net or call (773) 327-3778. Running time is 75 minutes with no intermission.
What else is in store for Chicago Children’s Theatre’s 2013-2014 season?
Following Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money, Chicago Children’s Theatre’s 2013-14 season finale is
the return of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle Favorites performed by
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. The production plays April 25-26 at the North Shore Center
for the Performing Arts in Skokie, then moves to The Ruth Page for a run April 29 - June 1.
In response to having programming running for every aged child, CCT will also launch a new
series called Later Stage. The program will add four Friday night performances during the
spring 2014 run of The Very Hungry Caterpillar featuring work for older children (8 and up)
being created by smaller, cutting-edge companies Theatre Unspeakable and Manual Cinema.
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In addition to expanded mainstage programming, Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Red Kite
Project, the company’s ongoing series of theatrical experiences and summer theater camps for
children on the autism spectrum, will present the U.S. premiere of Jacqueline Russell’s new
show Red Kite/Blue Sky in February 2014 at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.
More about CCT’s home, The Ruth Page Center for the Arts
Chicago Children’s Theatre is presenting its second full season at the Ruth Page Center, 1016 N.
Dearborn St., conveniently located in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood, just steps
from the Magnificent Mile. Via public transit, the Ruth Page is a short walk from the CTA Red
Line Clark/Division and Chicago stops, and the Clark, Broadway, Division and Chicago Avenue
bus lines. Neighborhood street parking is available, and the Ruth Page offers discounted garage
parking with ticket validation at 1250 N. Dearborn ($10) and 1030 N. State ($12).
Nearby family-friendly restaurants include Chicago Q (1160 N. Dearborn), Epic Burger (40 E.
Pearson), Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria (1120 N. State), The 3rd Coast Café (1260 N. Dearborn), and
Dave and Busters (1030 N. Clark).
In addition to presenting its mainstage season at one location, CCT is fully equipped to host
birthday parties and other special events at its new home at the Ruth Page. CCT also has
expanded its children’s theater classes at Ruth Page, including Glee Club, song and dance for
ages 9 to 13, Mondays from 4 to 5:30 p.m; Dream Factory, acting and story creation for ages 6 to
10, Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m.; and Tiny Sparks, a story playtime for ages 3 to 5,
Saturdays from 11 to 11:50 a.m. Sign up for the winter or spring 2014 sessions at
chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (773) 227-0180 x 15 for more information.
About Chicago Children’s Theatre
Chicago Children's Theatre (CCT) focuses on the production of first-rate children's theatre, with
top writing, performing and directorial talent and high-quality design and production
expertise. CCT aspires to enrich our community through diverse and significant theatrical and
educational programming that engages and inspires the child in all of us. Launched in 2005,
Chicago Children's Theatre strives to provide affordable and accessible theatre for families and
area school children. To enhance the impact of any given production's themes, Chicago
Children's Theatre offers educational materials and programs for families and educators.
Led by Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell, and Board Chair Todd Leland, the company is
supported by a committed Artistic Council of Chicago-based actors, directors, musicians and
designers, and a dynamic Board of Directors comprised of dedicated individuals from the fields
of entertainment, philanthropy and business. Officers include David Saltiel, President;
Jacqueline Tilton, Vice Chair; Lynn Lockwood Murphy, Vice Chair and Secretary; and David
Chung, Treasurer.
Chicago Children's Theatre is sponsored in part by ComEd, Goldman Sachs Gives, JPMorgan
Chase and Target. For more information about Chicago Children's Theatre visit
chicagochildrenstheatre.org, call CCT's dedicated box office line, (872) 222-9555, or the
administrative office, (773) 227-0180.
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