Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents a WorldStage Event from Scotland, ISLANDER the Musical.
ISLANDER captivates with its unique storytelling. Human song and spoken word mingle together with the clicks and pulsed calls of whales. Two performers, Lois Craig and Julia Murray, tell the tale onstage with a couple microphones, a soundboard, minimal scenery and ample talent. Craig plays Eilidh, a young girl struggling as her community breaks apart. Island residents are fleeing to the Scottish mainland. When she befriends a beached whale and a mysterious girl, the discovery leads her on a fantastical journey of revelation.
Conceived and directed by Amy Draper, ISLANDER won Best New Musical at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Draper orchestrates the tightly-packed story with two performers playing multiple characters and whales. The experience is created in real time onstage nightly. The demanding vocal work have Craig and Murray rotating performances with Stephanie Macgaraidh and Sylvie Stenson.
Craig and Murray are astonishing. They duet in haunting harmonies (music and lyrics by Finn Anderson). They seamlessly move from character to character to whale. Aided by Stewart Melton’s clever book, the duo have hilarious exchanges as gran and granddaughter. Later, they bond together as two friends looking for redemption.The humor, heart and action never stops as they unravel the story of hope, loss and community.
Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience! Get your tickets now! Bravo to the cast and crew, ISLANDER the Musical is selling out performances fast! I highly recommend doing whatever it takes to experience ISLANDER.
Running Time: Ninety minutes with no intermission
Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier
Book by Stewart Melton
Music and lyrics by Finn Anderson
Conceived and directed by Amy Draper
Associate directed by Eve Nicole
Performances are selling out fast!
Thru December 17th
For more information or tickets
Production photos by Steve Tanner
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