BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID;X-RICAL-TZSOURCE=TZINFO:-//com.denhaven2/NONSGML ri_cal gem//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN VERSION:2.0 BEGIN:VEVENT DESCRIPTION:Big Noise Theatre Company closes its 2011-12 season with the effervescent musical biography\, LEADER OF THE PACK: THE ELLIE GREENWIC H MUSICAL\, opening April 27 and playing weekends through May 13\, 2012 . Performances will be held at the Prairie Lakes Theatre in Des Plaine s\, IL at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. on Saturdays an d Sundays.\nThe company is celebrating its 10th year of bringing top no tch\, live entertainment to the venue. LEADER OF THE PACK is directed by Nancy Flaster\, with choreography by Flaster and Ann Fink\, the tea m who brought the smash hit BEEHIVE to Prairie Lakes audiences in 2009. Robert Deason\, music director of Big Noise&rsquo\;s fall productio n of HOW TO SUCCEED&hellip\; returns as music director.\nOriginally pre sented on Broadway in 1985\, LEADER OF THE PACK was ahead of its time a s one of the first &ldquo\;jukebox musicals&rdquo\; ever created. The story follows Greenwich&rsquo\;s rise to fame and fortune\, from her hum ble beginnings to her collaboration with her writing partner and short- term husband\, Jeff Barry. Best known for writing some of the most sk yrocketing doo-wop songs of the sixties pop charts\, the musical&rsquo\; s score is punctuated with a virtual hit parade of Greenwich&rsquo\;s m usic: "Chapel of Love\," "Da Do Ron Ron\," "Be My Baby\," "Hanky Panky\ ," &ldquo\;Do Wah Diddy\," "And Then He Kissed Me" and\, of course\, th e title song.\nThe company first presented the musical back in 1995\, al so with Flaster at the helm. "The music is timeless\, and the story of this extraordinary woman is fascinating\,&rdquo\; says Flaster. &ldquo \;The casting requires such a strong ensemble of young singers and danc ers that it wasn't until now that I could imagine remounting it. We ha ve an extremely talented crop of people for this revival." The cast is headed by Christie Burgess (Kenosha\, WI) in the title role of Ellie G reenwich and Tommy Thurston (Chicago) as Jeff Barry.\nAudiences of Big Noise&rsquo\;s work may recognize a familiar face on the stage\, especi ally if they saw the 1995 production: Chicago&rsquo\;s Pascale M. Troui llot returns in the role of powerhouse vocalist\, Darlene Love. &ldquo\ ;To say that we are thrilled to have Pascale back in that role is an u nderstatement\,&rdquo\; states Flaster. Trouillot also appeared in Big Noise&rsquo\;s productions of ALL SHOOK UP and BEEHIVE.\nIn addition to Trouillot\, rounding out the cast is Linda Andrews (Palatine)\, Daniel le Davis (Chicago)\, Danae Ervin (Chicago)\, Mark Komiskey (Vernon Hill s)\, Kyle Kuhlman (Chicago)\, Kelly Maryanski (Mt. Prospect)\, Peter Ra sey (Chicago)\, Penny Shack (Bannockburn)\, Brent Walker (Chicago)\, Kr ysten Williams (Chicago) and featuring David Whitlock (Northbrook) as G us Sharkey.\nTickets are $24 for adults\, $22 for seniors and $16 for ki ds 12 and under\, and can be ordered by calling 847-604-0275 or online at www.bignoise.org. URL:http://desplaines.patch.com/events/big-noise-theatre-returns-to-the-6 0s-with-leader-of-the-pack SUMMARY:BIG NOISE THEATRE returns to the 60's with "\;Leader of the P ack"\; LOCATION:Big Noise Theatre at Prairie Lakes: 515 E Thacker St\, Des Plain es\, IL END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR