Head Over Heels
by Zach Theatre
Aug. 09 - Sep. 10, 2023
Wednesdays-Sundays
This laugh-out-loud love story about the outrageous escapades of a royal family is set to the music of the iconic 1980’s all-female rock band The Go-Go’s including the hit songs, “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Vacation,” and Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven is a Place on Earth” and “Mad About You.”
Head Over Heels
Songs by The Go-Go’s
Based Upon The Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney Conceived and Original Book by Jeff Whitty Adapted by James Magruder
There's an all-female band for the regional premiere of Head Over Heels with musical direction Rock-N-Roll Hall of Famer and Go-Go bassist Kathy Valentine. Written by Jeff Whitty and James Magruder with music and lyrics by 2021 Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Go-Go’s,this joyful Broadway hit follows a royal family on a quest from their Arcadian Kingdom to find love and to keep their famous “Beat.”
Review by Joe Gross for the Austin Chronicle, August 18, 2023
Casting for Head Over Heels includes Colin Trudell as Musidorias, Stephanie Jones as Pamela, Mariel Ardila as Philoclea, Ryan Everett Wood as Basilius, Jill Blackwood as Gyencia, Tyler Jones as Dametas, Hannah Lauren Wilson as Mopsa, Cecil Washington, Jr. as Pythio, and Misha Brown and Jade Kelly as Understudies.
The all-female band includes legendary female musicians Eve Monsees on guitar, Emily Gimble on piano, Kristy McInnison drums, with Kathy Valentine on bass. Full bios and headshots for the Head Over Heels band members can be found HERE.
Review by Sabrina Wallace for Austin Broadway World, August 17, 2023
ZACH360 is ZACH's artistic initiative creating dynamic theatre experiences that are intimate, revelatory, and fun. Actors are in close proximity to the audience and will create opportunities of active participation for patrons during the performance. Audience members are engaged in the storytelling, as ZACH takes a fresh approach to familiar work.
“I'm thrilled to be joining the ZACH production of Head Over Heels featuring the music of the Go-Go’s. As a band member and musical director, this is a very new and interesting twist on my Go-Go’s career,” said Kathy Valentine. “Bringing guitarist Eve Monsees, pianist Emily Gimble and drummer Kristy McInnis, alongside myself on the bass as the featured band for each performance has added a great and authentic Austin-centric take on the music. We are having a blast and can’t wait to get on stage with the cast and crew to bring Austin a really fun, hilarious and rocking show this summer.”
Kathy Valentine has been working as a musician and songwriter for more than 40 years. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, Kathy co-wrote the hit songs "Vacation" and “Head Over Heels.” Her widely acclaimed memoir, “All I Ever Wanted” was published in 2020 and landed on several best non-fiction, memoir, and music book lists. In addition to ongoing music and writing pursuits, she has found opportunities as a musical director, keynote speaker, spokesperson, and producer. Valentine resides in her hometown of Austin, Texas, is mother to a 20-year-old daughter, and plays guitar in local rock and roll band The Bluebonnets.
Head Over Heels is directed by Dave Steakley with musical direction of the band by Kathy Valentine and musical direction of the cast by Allen Robertson. Additional production team includes Cassie Abate as Choreographer, Michelle Ney as Scenic & Properties Designer, Christopher Evans as Projections Designer; Jeffrey Meek as Costume Designer; Serret Jensen as Hair & Makeup Designer; Sarah Maines as Lighting Designer; Daniel Lundberg as Sound Designer; Shannon Richey as Stage Manager; Casey Boriskie as Assistant Stage Manager; Ruben Cruz as Assistant Stage Manager; and Insha Iqbal as Assistant to the Director.
Music and Lyrics by The Go-Go’s
Conceived and Original Book by Jeff Whitty
Adapted by James Magruder
Based on The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney
Directed by Dave Steakley
Musical Direction of the band by Kathy Valentine
Musical Direction of the cast by Allen Robertson
Head Over Heels
by Jeff Whitty, James Magruder
Zach Theatre
August 09 - September 10, 2023
August 9 - September 10, 2023
Wednesdays through Sundays at 7:30 pm and some Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 pm.
Tickets: Start at $25 available at ZACH’s Box Office – 512-476-0541 x1, zachtheatre.org
Special Events in celebration of Head Over Heels:
- Pride Night on Thursday, August 10, 2023
- Champagne Opening Night – Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 7:30pm
- ASL/Open Captioned performance on Wednesday, September 6, 2023
