“[title of show],” November 10 through 19

Friday, November 10, through Sunday, November 19

St. Ambrose University's Studio Theatre, 2101 North Gaines Street, Davenport IA

Praised by the Star-Ledger as "a sharp, entertaining look at the agonies and ecstasies of making theater today" and by the New York Daily News as a musical that "has far more savvy and soul than a few flashier shows combined," [title of show] enjoys a November 10 through 19 run at St. Ambrose University's Studio Theatre in Davenport, this Tony-nominated hit also lauded by the Associated Press as "a slyly funny yet surprisingly sweet-tempered look at following your dreams and remaining true to yourself."

As [title of show] begins, struggling writers Jeff and Hunter hear about a new musical theatre festival whose deadline for submissions is a mere three weeks away. With nothing to lose, the pair decides to try to create something new with the help of their friends Susan, Heidi, and Larry, and with the cast in place, Jeff and Hunter begin a conversation about what to write about. Eventually, Jeff suggests they write about what to write about, making a pact to write up until the festival's deadline and dream about the show changing their lives. [title of show], its title taken from the space on the festival's application form which asks for the "[title of show]," consequently follows Hunter, Jeff, and their pals on a journey through the gauntlet of creative self-expression. Over the span of 90 minutes, they write and perform their show at the festival and learn lessons about themselves as people, friends, and artists in this a love letter to the musical theatre – a uniquely American art form – and the joy of collaboration.

Directing and choreographing [title of show] for St. Ambrose in Thomas Alan Taylor, whose previous area credits include helming How I Learned to Drive and Dead Man's Cell Phone for the QC Theatre Workshop, as well as starring in the area docu-drama Sons & Daughters of Thunder and productions of A Green River for the Workshop and Augustana College in 2013. With Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse favorite Bobby Becher (Escape to Margaritaville, Irving Berlin's White Christmas) serving as music director, additional members of Taylor's creative team include stage manager Miranda Richards; assistant stage manager Bella Vitale; lighting and scenic designer Aaron Hook; costume designer Maria Saucedo; and props designer Grace Bickie. The cast, meanwhile, is composed of Tommy Ratkiewicz-Stierwalt as Jeff, Zach Ulmer as Hunter, Julia Beltz as Heidi, and Megan Rohn as Susan, with Esther Windt and Bella Ruseitti as understudies, and Colin Evers providing musical accompaniment as the central quartet's pal Larry.

[title of show] runs in St. Ambrose University's newly expanded and renovated Studio Theatre from November 10 through 19, with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Admission is $15, and more information and tickets are available by calling (563)33306151 and visiting the production's Facebook page.