"Free Butterflies"

“FREE BUTTERFLIES” A two-act musical Cast: Mantas Jankavičius, Gabriele Malinauskaitė, Rimantė Valiukaitė / Asta Preidytė, Dainius Kazlauskas Director: Dainius Kazlauskas Costume Designer: Indrė Pačėsaitė Music: Mantas Jankavičius The legendary musical “Free Butterflies” is reborn—more mature, more musical, and even closer to today’s audience. It is a story about freedom, love, and the courage to be oneself—a story that has made thousands of viewers laugh, reflect, and believe that true freedom begins with the decision to live one’s own life. In a small New York apartment, a young man named Don Baker moves in on his own for the first time. These are his first steps toward independence—fragile, full of anxiety, but also filled with the courage to prove to himself and the world that he can live his own life. His daily routine is unexpectedly disrupted by his neighbor, Jill—a spontaneous, free-spirited young woman who lives without plans or rules. Their meeting becomes a turning point in both of their lives. However, their relationship faces a serious test: Don’s mother, who has protected her son his entire life, refuses to let him go. She believes that freedom can be dangerous, and love—painful. And there’s an important reason for that… This is a tender and uplifting story about the courage to choose—to stay safe or to finally dare to be free. In this production, Mantas Jankavičius’s live performances of songs create a particularly emotional experience. Many are familiar with the song “Drugeliai laisvi” (“Free Butterflies”), but not everyone knows that it was written specifically for the play “Laisvi drugeliai” (“Free Butterflies”). Of course, you’ll hear the song in this production as well—it has already become an integral part of the show. The audience will also hear new music by Mantas, which will enrich the story and allow them to immerse themselves in the characters’ inner worlds. “In my performances, I seek multilayeredness. A purely concert or purely theatrical format, in the traditional sense, no longer interests me as much. That’s why this production, like Mantas’s last theatrical work, *Two on the Roof*, which was extremely popular, will feature a live musical component. It will be both a play and a concert in one,” says Mantas. The play’s director, Dainius Kazlauskas, who also directed the original production, says: “Although the story remains the same, it takes on a new color and vitality. The set design, music, and moments in the play have changed; the actors have changed—they’re more mature—and this gives the production new energy. The spirit has remained the same, but it has gained a new inner maturity, color, and sound—just like Mantas’s songs, which have also evolved and matured for this production.” For six consecutive years, this production has drawn full houses at the Juozas Miltinis Drama Theater in Panevėžys and has become one of the audience’s favorite plays. Now the production will embark on a tour of Lithuania so that audiences in various cities across the country can experience this romantic, playful, and dramatic story. “Those butterflies really do fly. And it has nothing to do with a person’s age or other life circumstances. Everyone can experience this—love, carefree spirit, that energy that makes you do silly things and feel happy. The play allows us to show and remind people of this,” adds Mantas, inviting audiences to rediscover the story or see it for the first time. Premieres October 21 throughout Lithuania Doors open 1 hour before the show starts Running time: ~2 hours 30 minutes (with one 20-minute intermission) Children are not admitted free of charge Age rating: N-14 No discounts apply For purchases of 10 or more tickets, please contact: [email protected] For more information, call +370 676 10062 or email [email protected] Organizer: Meno upė, UAB