with ‘I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change’
By Jack Neary

Back in the 2002-2003 season, the Foothills Theatre made some pretty significant noise with its production of Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts’ world-wide phenomenon, the musical “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” Audiences responded so enthusiastically that Artistic Director Russell Garrett has booked the show to run again, from March 8 through March 30, 2008, on their stage at CitySquare in Worcester. Director Chip Phillips has a long history with the show.

“I acted in the entire 19 month run of “I Love You…” when it ran in Boston with wonderful people who remain my best friends in the world. I’ve traveled around the country with numerous one-night stands of the show ~ sit downs in Chicago, San Diego, Hartford, five weeks in Reno and from time to time, off-Broadway in New York.”

Phillips is known principally as an actor, and he’s performed many times on the Foothills stage, most recently playing the roles of Meyers in last season’s “Witness for the Prosecution” and Milo in “Sleuth” during the 2005-06 season. Actors need a change of pace every once in a while, however, and this particular gig seemed to come along at just the right time.
“I’m glad Russell suggested directing. I know the show inside and out and this is a great switch for me,” said Phillips.

This is Phillips’ first time working as a director with Mr. Garrett, though he has worked as an actor for him. He was rehearsing “Sleuth” when former Artistic Director Brad Kenney left to take on the producing reins at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Garrett assumed the Artistic Directorship that week.
“I seem to work at Foothills just as regimes change. Brad left after “Sleuth.” Bob [former Associate Producer Bob Dolan] left after “Witness for the Prosecution.” Everyone left after my nude scene in ‘Children’.”

The show’s universality appeals to the director, as he believes the show appeals to…well…everybody.

“I think just about everyone is guaranteed to recognize him or herself in one, if not many, of the scenes and songs. The show tries to honor the range of experiences we have in our continual struggles to connect with and love one another. The humor always comes with affection and humanity. It’s our common experience. People return to see the show, and it travels exceedingly well around this country and overseas. It feels so thoroughly American to me that I’m baffled and delighted at the success it’s had in adapting to other cultures and languages.”

Phillips plans to bring a thoroughly Worcester feel to this production of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.”

“I’d like to link this production to some personal stories of people in the community. I’m hoping that folks will share some of their personal stories that will be filmed and inserted between scenes of the show. I would arrange a time to meet and film a few responses to some simple questions about how they met their mate, the first date, first kiss, meeting the parents, the wedding day.”

­Tickets for “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the Foothills Theatre at (508)754-4018 or by visiting www.foothillstheatre.com.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 17th, 2008 at 2:53 pm and is filed under Entertainment, Vol. 2. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.