Pictured: David Sajewich

Mercury Theater Chicago has announced the cast for Stephen Sondheim’s COMPANY, which will open their new venue, the Venus Cabaret Theater. Audiences at COMPANY are to be immersed into Bobby’s 35th Birthday Party, complete with appetizers, a cash bar, and birthday cake. The production will be directed by L. Walter Stearns and music directed by Eugene Dizon.

Featuring songs such as “Another Hundred People,” “Marry Me a Little,” “The Ladies Who Lunch,” and “Being Alive,” COMPANY won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Music and Lyrics (Stephen Sondheim) and Best Book (George Furth) when it debuted in 1970.

The Venus Cabaret production will feature David Sajewich as “Bobby,” with Nicole Armold, Jenna Coker-Jones, Nicole Cready, Hannah Dawe, Greg Foster, Frederick Harris, Derek Self, Steve Silver, Ryan Stajmiger, Heather Townsend, Kyrie Courter, Kiersten Frumkin and Allison Sill. The costume design is by Robert Kuhn, lighting design is by Dustin L. Derry and projection design is by Liviu Pasare. The stage manager is Richard Lundy.

The Venus Cabaret is housed in the former Cullen’s Bar & Grill space in the Mercury’s building, which also houses the restaurant Grassroots. The new venue is set to open after two years of construction at a $1 million price tag, seating 80 people in a flexible theater/dining space. The renovation was designed and built by Trent Zilmer (Z Design Build Group) with interior décor by Dianne Green Moen and theatrical technology by Mike Ross and Matt Gajowniczek (Sound Production and Lighting).

COMPANY runs April 5 – June 3. Individual tickets are $65, and include appetizers and dessert. For more info, visit mercurytheaterchicago.com.