The book and lyrics are by Scott Urban, the music is by Bob Solone. The story is light-hearted, warm and humorous. Scott and Bob wanted to write the kind of musical they have always loved, with songs that you’ll remember long after the curtain comes down. We think they have done just that. There have been staged readings of the play in Schaumburg, Chicago’s Mercury Theatre, Lake Shore Theatre, and the Chicago Cultural Center.

Jason Fleece

Director

Jason A. Fleece holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Point Park University and an M.F.A. in Directing from The Theatre School at DePaul University.  As a director, Jason holds a particular interest in musicals and new play development.  Jason has directed the world premiere productions of Pound and Rain in the Hollows by Sean O'Leary, Touch and Go by Douglas Harmsen (winner: Outstanding Production and Outstanding Direction, Pittsburgh New Works Festival 2003), Out of Control by Bridget Harris, and Family by John-Paul Nickel, as well as several readings and workshops for Chicago Dramatists and Chicago Scriptworks.  Other favorite productions include Trial By Jury by Gilbert and Sullivan, Sexual Perversity in Chicago by David Mamet, Fuddy Meers by David Lindsay-Abaire, The Coming World by Christopher Shinn, No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre, Bobby Gould in Hell by David Mamet and The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown.

Tyler Beattie

Musical Director

Tyler Beattie is the director, composer, and book-writer of three original chamber musicals: Pinocchio, The Sandman, and Just So.  He has also worked extensively as a teacher of speech, drama, and piano at the Genesee Theater, Wilmette Theater, the Wisconsin Summer Forensics Institute and many other venues.  A recent graduate of Northwestern University, he directed the 66th annual Dolphin Show Carousel, received the school-wide 2007 Sandra Singer Creative Arts Award and was named one of Northwestern's Seniors to Watch: Stars in the Making by the Northwestern University Alumni Magazine.

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Since November of 2003, the play has been workshopped with the following team of Producers, Managers, Director and Musical Director:

Libby Adler Mages
Producer/Manager
Libby has produced or co-produced many shows in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Detroit. Among them are the original production of “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?” and the Chicago production of “On Golden Pond.” She produced the New York productions of “Three Tall Women” and “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” and co-produced the New York production of “Beau Jest.” Her productions have received a Pulitzer Prize and an Outer Critics Circle Award. Libby and her daughter, Mari, co-produced “Swing,” which received six Tony nominations. Their production of “Mneumonics” received the Dramatists Guild Award and the Lucille-Lortel Award for the most unique theatrical experience of 2001. They also produced “Over the Tavern” in Chicago and the “Swing” national tour. On Broadway, they recently produced the Tony Award shows, “Thoroughly Modern Mille” and “Say Goodnight Gracie.”

Tony D’Angelo
Producer/Manager
Tony D’Angelo was a producer and managing director of the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse and Forum Theatre for over 35 years. Tony produced over 300 shows, including five world premieres, five Midwest premieres and over 30 Chicago premieres. His productions have received 18 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Awards. Tony and Bill Pullinsi, have produced numerous Chicago hits including "Lyle," an original musical by Charles Strouse and "Little Shop of Horrors" at the Royal George Theatre. His association with Libby Mages and Mavin Productions began with the long-running, original production of "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?". “Over the Tavern” ran a very successful 13 months followed by “King o’ the Moon.” Recently he presented John Powers’ new play “Life’s Not Fair, So What!”.

William Pullinsi
Producer/Manager
Bill Pullinsi was the founder and producing director of Candlelight Playhouse and the Forum Theatre and has directed over 300 plays and musicals. He has received 18 Jeff awards, which include his favorites: “Follies,” “Nine,” “The National Health,” “Into the Woods,” and “Man of La Mancha.” He staged “Follies” for San Diego Light Opera, “Phantom” and “Singing’ in the Rain” at Westchester Broadway Theatre, “Into the Woods: at Marriot Theatre in Lincolnshire, “Strike up the Band” at Pegasus, “Mastergate” at Interplay, “Mere Mortals” and “Things We Do For Love” at Organic, and “Desert Song” at Light Opera Works. His “Over the Tavern” in Chicago ran over 13 months. He directed John Powers’ new play “Life’s Not Fair, So What!” and “King o’ the Moon.” Bill directed “Fiddler on the Roof” for Light Opera Works. He received a special Jeff Award in honor of his many contributions to Chicagoland Theatre.

David Perkovich
Director
David comes to “Love in the Middle Ages ” directly from “Grand Hotel” at Chicago’s Drury Lane Water Tower. He recently directed “Jolson & Company” and “Do I Hear a Waltz” at Theatre at the Center. He both directed and appeared in the award-winning Chicago production of “ Copenhagen”. His many directing credits include “Cabaret”, “Brigadoon”, “7 Brides for 7 Brothers”, “A Christmas Carol” (Candlelight Dinner Playhouse); “Rose Marie”, “Man of La Mancha” (Light Opera Works); “How I Learned to Drive”, “Shadowlands”, “Stevie”, “Easter’, “Woman in Black” (Illinois Theatre Center). As artistic director of Interplay, he directed more than 30 productions, notably “Breaking the Code”, “Equus”, “The Royal Hunt of the Sun”, and “Piaf”.

Margaret James

Musical Director

Margaret James has been Musical Director for "Anything Goes", "Lucky Stiff", "Music Man" (After Dark Award), "Fiddler on the Roof" (Jeff Award Nomination), "Kiss Me Kate", "Big: The Musical", and many others at Drury Lane Oakbrook.  "Sophisticated Ladies", "Hot Mikado", "A Chorus Line" (After Dark Award), "Hello, Dolly!", "Jerry's Girls", "West Side Story", and many others at Drury Lane Evergreen Park.  "Bells Are Ringing", "Finian's Rainbow", "Baby", "Sound of Music", and many others at Theatre at the Center.  "Rap Master Ronnie" (Jeff Award Nomination) at the Theatre Building, "Fear of Filing" at the Ivanhoe, and "Hey, Stay Awhile" at the Goodman.  She spent several weeks on set teaching Bill Murray to play the piano for his role in "Groundhog Day".  She has taught piano and theory at the Old Town School of Folk Music for nearly 20 years.

"The program was unique, creative, and funny. The subject matter was excellent and the pianist was excellent. I really connected with it."

"Great music and outstanding performance by all."

"Very funny and sad. Good acting, great script and music."

"Good blend of music and script. Lots of laughs."

"I would like to hear anything these guys write!"

"You’ve got a great property there. I put it on a par with Grease and Bye-Bye Birdie, but funnier. The music is great. Good variety of tempos, harmonies, key changes. And Scott’s script is a work of genius. Jean and I laughed and laughed. What a sense of humor, irony, pathos, wit. The coup de grace is the scene in Mary’s apartment where Mary and Joe reprise their earlier songs. Words, music: Bravissimo!"

"It is fabulous!!! We laughed through the entire show! It's well written and has a great cast. If you have the time and could use a couple hours of laughter, I recommend seeing it next Monday. It's free and personally, I think it's Broadway material!"

"Congratulations on a great performance last night! IMHO it is Broadway material. I'm confident that the show will get underwriters, and I am planning to see it as a paying customer"