Regional Tryout | Chicago Shakespeare Theater | Opened on May 24, 2025 (Investment)

Creative Team

This 1980s-inspired synth-pop musical features a book, music, and lyrics by multi-award-winning British writer Jack Godfrey. The production is steered by director and dramaturg Ellie Coote, alongside orchestrator and musical supervisor Joe Beighton (celebrated for his work on SIX). The high-flying creative squad also includes choreographer Alexzandra Sarmiento, scenic designer Milla Clarke, and Olivier Award-winning video designer Andrzej Goulding.

Synopsis

Based on an unbelievable true story from July 1982, the show follows Larry Walters, a truck driver who has spent twenty years dreaming of the open skies after being rejected by the Air Force due to poor eyesight. With the fierce support of his devoted girlfriend, Carol Van Deusen, Larry secures $15,000, 42 helium-filled weather balloons, and a standard Sears lawn chair. Defying all odds and FAA regulations, he launches from a suburban backyard and soars to a staggering 16,000 feet over Los Angeles. Sung completely through in a contemporary "chamber-theater" style, the musical charts the exhilarating ascent to fame and the grounded, poignant reality of what happens after a lifelong ambition is achieved.

UK Production History

Before crossing the Atlantic, 42 Balloons was nurtured in the UK by Global Creative and Perfect Pitch. Following highly successful early workshops, the show held a strictly limited, acclaimed developmental season at The Lowry in Salford from April 18 to May 19, 2024. Backed by powerhouse producers Kevin McCollum (Oh, Mary!, Rent), Sonia Friedman Productions, and Andy and Wendy Barnes (SIX), the world premiere engagement earned rave reviews for its infectious, nostalgic score and inventive storytelling, setting the stage for its international transfer.

Cast Highlights

For its North American premiere at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater (running May 24–June 29, 2025, in The Yard), the production brought over its brilliant original UK stars to anchor the company:

• The Leads: West End stars Charlie McCullagh (Bonnie & Clyde) and Evelyn Hoskins (Waitress) beautifully reprised their critically lauded roles as the charmingly obsessive Larry Walters and his fiercely supportive partner, Carol.

• The American Company: The premier UK actors were surrounded by a formidable Broadway-caliber ensemble, including powerhouse Broadway veteran Lisa Howard (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) as Carol's skeptical mother Margaret, Akron Watson (The Color Purple) as Larry's loyal friend Ron Richland, and Daniel Assetta (& Juliet) as the Air Traffic Controller.