THEATRE REVIEW: "Yank! A World War II Love Story" at the Pride Arts Center (Chicago, IL)

      In early 2018, my dad and I went to see the Chicago Premiere Production of the Joseph Zellnik / David Zellnik musical "Yank! A World War II Love Story" at the Pride Arts Center in Chicago, IL.  The production starred John Marshall Jr., William Dwyer, Molly Lecaptain, Matthew Huston, Marc Prince, Tommy Thurston, Xavier Euzzarraga, Nate Strain, Will Kazda, Brian Kulaga,  Raymond Goodall, and Parker Guidry.  The production was directed by David Zak, with musical direction by Robert Ollis.  Tbe scenic designer for this production was Roger Wykes.




     The characters in "Yank!" are fictitious but are inspired by actual veteran accounts in the book "Coming Out Under Fire" by Allan Berube.  "Yank!"had its off-Broadway premiere in February 24th, 2010 and ran until that April.  I thought the Chicago Production was great.  I liked how the lobby of the Pride Arts Center was decorated in a theme that complemented the show.  The theatre itself was small and an in-the-round configuration.  I think my dad and I were in the third row.  




     I had never heard of the Pride Arts Center until one day when I was reading an issue of the Windy City Times and came across an article, and then an ad, for "Yank!"  First I told my mom about the show, and then my dad, and before long, my dad and I had two tickets to one of the performances.  This was before I started entering the ticket lotteries through Broadway in Chicago.  I wish I could remember what day we saw this show.  Anyway, a little while after my dad and I saw "Yank!" the Pride Arts Center extended the run due to popular demand.  The production was originally scheduled to run from January 11th through February 18th, 2018.  Then the production was extended about five extra weeks to March 18th.
     




     The Chicago Production of "Yank!" ran longer than the off-Broadway production in New York.  That production was presented by The York Theatre Company and ran from February 16th through March 21st, 2010 at The Theatre at St. Peter's Church.  That production starred Nancy Anderson, Jeffry Denman, Ivan Hernandez, and Bobby Steggert.  The scenic designer for the New York production was Ray Klausen.  






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