“We’ve been searching for our whole lives.”
THE LIGHT CHASERS
by Andrew Hungerford
music & lyrics by Craig Minowa
story by Andrew Hungerford & Jess Hutchinson
based upon the album Light Chasers by Cloud Cult
April 5 – 28, 2024
Teenage science whiz Nic is stuck on Earth with her practical mom while her beloved dreamer of a father is ten years into an improbable mission to the stars. Nic vows to defy what she’s always been told is possible to bridge light years, get a message to her dad, and reunite her family.
Coming to Know Theatre: The Light Chasers, an epic, world-premiere theatrical adventure based upon the album Light Chasers by indie orchestral-rock band Cloud Cult.
The Light Chasers is the final MainStage production of the Know’s 26th season, as well as the final show of Andrew Hungerford’s decade-long tenure as Producing Artistic Director.
This emotional, life-affirming journey to the stars – and to all the life on the far side of loss – was developed by Andrew alongside Chicago theatre-maker Jess Hutchinson, and is produced in partnership with the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) Department of Acting.
Who is this show for?
The Light Chasers is for anyone searching for hope in a broken world.
It’s for anyone who’s been separated from a loved one. It’s for those of us who know what it is to miss, and to grieve, and to heal.
It’s for fans of CCM and rising new talent.
It’s for fans of musicals. It’s for people who loved the Know’s production of Hundred Days or Lizard Boy and want in on the next new thing.
It’s for fans of music. It’s for fans of the band Cloud Cult, and for the people who are about to become fans when they hear the band’s sweeping orchestral indie-rock.
It’s for fans of science fiction, for people who love the thought of a future close enough to reach out and touch.
It’s for anyone who longs to find out what’s possible.
It’s for you.
Let’s go on an adventure:
Leading our cast is an ensemble of young performers from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, all making their Know MainStage debuts: Gabi Adams stars as Nic, with co-stars Staylie Brunner, Nico Graves, Evan Kupersmith, Carson Mehlbauer, Cassandra Reeves, and Lilia Villaflor.
James Creque plays Nic’s space-explorer father. James’s previous Know appearances include Hearts Like Fists (2015), Hundred Days (2015), The Fisherman’s Wife (2016), Mercury (2019), All’s Faire (2021), The Twunny Fo’ (2022), and Bankers (2023).
Montez O. Jenkins-Copeland appears as Mshauri, the teacher guiding Nic and her peers. Montez was also seen at the Know in Moby Dick (2014), Girlfriend (2016), Red Bike (2019), and Theatre: A Love Story (2021).
Rounding out the cast in her Know Theatre onstage debut is Sarah Summerwell as Chris, Nic’s down-to-earth mom who’s trying to keep the family together. Sarah has previously served as vocal and dialect coach on shows including Dickless (2023), and serves on the faculty at CCM.
The Light Chasers features movement choreography by CCM faculty member L. Lucía Duque, whose previous work with the Know includes Ensemble & Movement Director for All-One! The Dr. Bronner’s Play (2023).
The Light Chasers is based on the album Light Chasers by Minnesota orchestral-indie-folk-rock band Cloud Cult, fronted by Craig Minowa. Cloud Cult eschews recording with conventional labels, instead independently releasing music via their environmentally-conscious record label Earthology Records. Hailed as one of the Top 10 Green Bands by Rolling Stone, the band’s philosophical lyrics and unique sound has been praised by critics as “insane genius” (Pitchfork) and “an invocation of the lifeforce” (New York Times).
Jess Hutchinson joins Andrew Hungerford to co-direct The Light Chasers. Jess is a Chicago-based director, dramaturg, educator, and producer whose work has been seen across the country. She was the artistic director of Chicago’s New Leaf Theatre from 2007 to 2012 and co-founded groundswell, a new play development company, in 2015; she’s also taught at DePaul University, Northern Illinois University, and North Park University.
producing Director Andrew Hungerford had this to say,
“This show is a dream project for me, one ten years in the making. It encompasses nearly everything I love about theatre: connection and music and movement and broad and deep collaboration. I’m so grateful to Craig Minowa of Cloud Cult for letting us run with his epic music, to my collaborator Jess Hutchinson, and the whole cast and production team for coming together to make an adventure to remember. We can’t wait to share it with you.”
The Light Chasers runs April 5 – 28. Tickets are available on our website, knowtheatre.com, or by calling our box office at 513-300-5669.
Special Note: Evening performances at the Know for Season 26 are at 7:30! Our Underground Bar will open at 6:30 for evening shows this season; come by early for specialty cocktails and conversation before or after your show.
CAST
- Gabi Adams as Nic
- Staylie Brunner as Robin
- James Creque as the Pilot
- Nico Graves as Charlie
- Montez O. Jenkins-Copeland as Mshauri
- Evan Kupersmith as Blake
- Carson Mehlbauer as Ellis
- Cassandra Reeves as Kai
- Sarah Summerwell as Chris
- Lilia Villaflor as Quinn
PRODUCTION TEAM
- Directors: Andrew J. Hungerford & Jess Hutchinson
- Asst. Directors: A.J. Baldwin & Becca Anderson
- Scenic & Lighting Designer: Andrew J. Hungerford
- Costume Designer: Noelle Wedig-Johnston
- Props Designer: Danielle Robison
- Sound & Projections Designer: Douglas J. Borntrager
- Orchestrator & Music Director: Rob Stark
- Movement Director: L. Lucía Duque
- Technical Director: Jim Stark
- Stage Manager: Grace Wohlschlegel
AT A GLANCE
Production: The Light Chasers, by Andrew Hungerford. Music & lyrics by Craig Minowa
Dates: April 5 – 28, 2024. Wed-Saturday at 7:30 pm. Saturday April 6 & 27, Sundays at 3:00pm.
Where: Know Theatre, 1120 Jackson Street in Over-the-Rhine.
Livestreaming on select dates beginning April 10.
Themes: sci-fi · adventure · hope · family · indie rock
Tickets: Know is general admission, with Pay What You Wish tiered ticket pricing. Low cost admission is $25, standard ticket price is $35 and audiences may opt to support the Know’s initiative to pay all artists and employees a living wage by selecting the $45 Living Wage Ticket.
On Wednesdays, as part of a program we call “The Welcome Experiment,” tickets are $10 in advance, or FREE at the door.
Know Theatre is Cincinnati’s Theatrical Playground. The Know showcases unexpected voices, new works, and plays that embrace the inherent theatricality of the live experience. Know Theatre seeks to be a place where artists and audiences feel welcome to take artistic risks, creating work that is cutting edge and accessible.
Know Theatre’s work is made possible, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.
The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Know Theatre with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
Know Theatre is also supported by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which provides a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving
Know Theatre is a member of Theatre Communications Group and an Associate Member of the National New Play Network.
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