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Natucket Petersburg

The Source

Jacksonville’s home-grown musical comedy will make its way to Petersburg on July 8, 9 and 10, as Ken Bradbury and John Love’s “The Boys from Nantucket” makes its out-of-town debut before move to Springfield’s Hoogland Center later in the summer. The two-act musical features script by Bradbury and music by John Love, and stars John Love and Petersburg’s Jim Yale. Tickets at $12 with senior citizens in at $10 can be obtained online at Centralillinoistickets.com or by calling 217.965.5042. Petersburg’s Salem on Seventh Theatre is located on the west side of the downtown Petersburg square, and is an intimate art deco renovation that’s become popular with many performers. “It’s like being in an old-time Vaudeville house,” said Bradbury. “Chandeliers and all.” “The Boys from Nantucket” is the story of a successful Broadway playwright (Jim Yale) who has lost his long time partner due to an unfortunate accident with his falling piano, so he advertises for a partner and young Richard (John Love) shows up, fresh out of the Julliard School of Music and with bright, fresh ideas. . .just the thing that the older writer doesn’t want. Bradbury says that the play is written to give the actors a workout. “It’s no easy job to hold the stage alone for two guys and this script demands that they give it all they’ve got.” “The Boys from Nantucket” had its premiere performance at the Playhouse on the Square last year where it played to large audiences.