Soulstice Theatre Presents CHESS

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Soulstice Theatre launches its 2010/2011 season with "Chess", a musical which Time in 1988 praised as "one of the best rock scores ever produced." Featuring lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA, and performed by one of the most accomplished Soulstice casts in its musical history, "Chess" starts off a season dedicated to the theme of “exploring what divides us.” Performance dates are July 29 through August 14 in the Marian Center Auditorium.

"Chess" is a metaphor for romantic and political rivalries during the Cold War. At the center is a love triangle: the ill-mannered American Grandmaster (Freddie), the intense Russian champion who plans to defect (Anatoly), and the Hungarian-American female chess second who finds her loyalties and her love tested from both sides (Florence). Elements of the story and characters were inspired by American Grandmaster Bobby Fischer and Russian grandmasters Viktor Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov.

From Bangkok to Budapest, the players, lovers, politicians, and spies all struggle to get the upper-hand. Hit songs from "Chess" include the memorable “One Night in Bangkok” and “I Know Him So Well.”

The show is co-directed by Jillian Smith (Soulstice: Love Song) and Char Manny (Wit), with Brian Myers (Aida) as Music Director.

Myers, who has sung at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and at Carnegie Hall with the Philadelphia Singers, also plays the leading role of Anatoly.

Lisa Golda (Florence) is a Teaching Artist for Chicago Opera Theatre and has an MM in Vocal Performance from the prestigious Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. A regularly featured Milwaukee actress, Lisa has also sung for Portland Opera and Seattle Opera.

Returning to Soulstice are Erin Walton (Soulstice - Joseph) as Svetlana, Stephen Pfisterer (Joseph) as Molokov, Josh Perkins (Wit) as the Arbiter, and Tom Boehm (Joseph) as Walter. Performing with Soulstice for the first time is Patrick Fennelly as Freddie.

The cast will be joined by several of the Soulstice Theatre Arts School (STARS) students this summer. Playing the role of Young Florence is Maggie Roemer, a four year veteran of the school.

Part of Soulstice’s mission is to give back to the community by donating a percentage of its box office to a charity chosen by the cast and production team during the rehearsal process. For "Chess", Soulstice has chosen the Peace Learning Center of Milwaukee www.peacelearningcentermilwaukee.org

The Marian Center auditorium is located in the south building at 3211 S. Lake Drive. Located on the third floor of the building, it can be accessed by stairs or elevator at the southwest entrance.

Thursday, July 29 - Pay What You Can Preview

Friday/Saturday, July 30/31, August 6/7, 13/14

All shows: 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $15/$12 (Package deals are available)

Tickets available online at www.soulsticetheatre.org or by phone at 414-431-3187.