“Nine,” November 16 through 19

Thursday, November 16, through Sunday, November 19

Augustana College's Brunner Theatre Center, 3750 Seventh Avenue, Rock Island IL

A critically acclaimed Broadway smash and modern musical classic making its very first appearance in the Quad Cities, composer Maury Yeston's and book writer Arthur Kopit's 1982 sensation Nine enjoys a November 16 through 19 run at Augustana College's Brunner Theatre Center, the show's original New York incarnation the winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, and its 2003 return awarded the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical.

Nine centers around Guido Contini, a famous Italian film director and ladies man. His last couple of movies have been panned by the critics, and Guido is under pressure to make a return to form with his latest film. However, there is one major problem: He hasn’t written a line of the script and has lost all inspiration. In the musical, Guido’s professional and personal lives becomes intertwined as he attempts to save both his career and his life with Luisa, who threatens to divorce the filmmaker unless he can pay more attention to their marriage. In an attempt to find peace and inspiration, Guido suggests that he and Luisa go to a luxury spa near Venice. However, he does not expect his whole film crew and production team to follow him, and as Guido struggles to find a storyline for his film, his mind becomes increasingly preoccupied, with fantasy and reality becoming inextricably intertwined.

With Nine based on iconic film director Federico Fellini's legendary work 8½, Augustana's latest production is being directed and choreographed in its Quad Cities debut by Shelley Cooper, the assistant director of theatre arts whose previous musicals for the college have included Cabaret, The Threepenny Opera, and Into the Woods, and who starred in this summer's production of Hello, Dolly! for Moline's Black Box Theatre. In another first, Associate Professor and Film Program Director Stacy Barton said this is the first time students in Augustana’s new film major,

launched last year, will have the opportunity to use their skills in filming a portion of an Augustana stage production. "As a filmmaker long influenced by the fusion of visual experimentation and narrative realism exhibited in Italian cinema," Barton said, "I'm ecstatic to partner on the filmed portions of Nine, particularly since it flips the script on Federico Fellini's semi-autobiographical 1963 film 8½, about a narcissistic womanizing film director!"

Cooper added, “I’m excited to collaborate with our new film program and thrilled to be working on a show with more female roles than male roles. Additionally, this will be the first time this show has been staged in the Quad Cities – that’s quite rare for our area!”

With Augustana's Dr. Amanda Sherill serving as Nine's music director and conductor, additional members of the shows creative team include: vocal music director Dr. Patrick McNally; stage manager Natalie Hansen; assistant stage manager .Jean Tegtmeyer; scenic, projections, and film designer (and Reader theatre reviewer) Roger Pavey Jr.; videographer Stacy Barton; costume designer Becki Arnold; tecnhical director and lighting designer Mike Turczysnki; assistant lighting designer Sean Halloran; sound designer Joe Burck; props master Ben Adams; assistant props master Rylon Hall; dance captain Rose Klinger; assistant choreographer Rose Klinger, rehearsal pianist .John Flannery; intimacy director Jacqueline Isaacson; costume shop manager Becki Arnold; light-board operator Jovany Gomez; sound board operator Leontien Heidemann; deck hand Christian Gonzalez; wardrobe head Mak Winkiel; and dramaturg Kerah Hipes.

Meanwhile, with Jack McCurdy as Guido and Abby Malina as Luisa (and castmates Jorge Mendez and Talia Martino as the roles' understudies), additional members of Nine's featured cast include: Maggie Caliendo; Ava Coussens; Brennan Hampton; Sylvia Hughes; Rose Klinger; Mukupa Lungu; Lisa Oliger; and Julie Tarling. The show's ensemble is composed of: Fiona Brady; Kalik Ewen; Georgie Feigley; Stephanie Gutierrez; Kaden Micklos; Maddy Overstreet; Sora Richter; Maya Smith; Jensen Stoneking; and Alice Sylvie.

Nine will be presented in Augustana College's Brunner Theatre Center from November 16 through 19, with performances Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Admission is $10-15, and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)794-7306 and visiting Augustana.edu/tickets.