Venice Theatre Opens Musical John & Jen April 17

April 9, 2021 – Venice

Venice Theatre is delighted to continue a series of spring shows in its Jervey Theatre with the contemporary musical John & Jen. The showabout a brother and sisterstars real-life siblings Casey and Kiley Berkery, high school students who have been performing and studying at Venice Theatre since they were young children. John & Jen opens on Saturday April 17, 2021 and runs for seven performances ending on Sunday April 25, 2021. Seats are $25 and must be purchased at least 24 hours in advance at VeniceTheatre.org. Patrons with gift certificates, vouchers, or general questions may email info@venicetheatre.net or call 941-488-1115. Due to Covid-19 protocols, the box office is not open for walk-up business.

John & Jen is an intimate two-person musical about the relationship between a brother and a sister … and then, between a mother and her son. The story follows the lives of the title characters from the 1950s through the 1990s, taking a close look at the complexities of familial relationships in a changing America. The show premiered off-Broadway in 1995 and was revived in 2015 for a 20th anniversary production. With music by Andrew Lippa, lyrics by Tom Greenwald and a book by Greenwald and Lippa (Lippa is known for his work on the revival of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; The Wild Party; The Addams Family and Big Fish) John & Jen is a favorite of contemporary musical theatre lovers. Entertainment Weekly said of the 2015 revival, “The warmth of John & Jen wraps around you like a blanket.”

Venice Theatre Producing Executive Director Murray Chase explains, “While our Covid safety protocols are still in place, we need to produce shows featuring smaller casts. John & Jen is a perfect choice, especially since Casey and Kiley live in the same household. It’s also a chance for Casey, who will be leaving for college in the fall, to tackle a challenging piece as his swan song before graduating.”

Director Brad Wages who has worked with both actors before, beams, “I am extremely proud of how mature Casey and Kiley are as performers. They’re exploring themes of love, healing and letting go; taking their characters from childhood to adolescence through adulthood. And they make their hard work look easy!”

John & Jen is one of several shows the theatre is presenting this spring. Also on sale are added performances of Elvis tribute artist Dwight Icenhower, seats for The Folk Legacy Trio, and subscriptions for the 2021-2022 season. Single seats for the shows in the 2021-2022 season will go on sale June 1, 2021. More information and seats are available at VeniceTheatre.org. Venice Theatre is located at 140 Tampa Ave. W. in Venice, Florida.