"THUS WAS BORN A STAR"

“A STAR IS BORN” A musical that combines the stories of two legendary films *Early-bird tickets are available at a discounted price from June 2–6 A new musical, “A Star Is Born,” is being created for the Lithuanian theater stage, inspired by two iconic films—Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s “All About Eve” (1950) and Bradley Cooper’s “A Star Is Born” (2018). This original play, which weaves together themes from both works into a story relevant to today, will begin its national tour on October 8. The stage will feature prominent figures from the Lithuanian theater scene—Lina Rastokaitė, Jokūbas Bareikis, Simonas Storpirštis, Oneida Kunsunga, Paula Valentaitė, Adelė Šuminskaitė, Ainius Storpirštis, director Mykolas Vildžiūnas, and playwright Marija Juzentavičiūtė. A team of professional creators and actors will invite the audience behind the scenes of the theater, where ambition, love, jealousy, and the desire for recognition collide. “How a Star Was Born” is a story about real and fake relationships, power plays, the cost of creativity, and choices that can change not only careers but also people’s destinies. The play will remind us that the path to success often demands more than meets the eye. According to the play’s director, M. Vildžiūnas, the fact that the stories of the films *All About Eve* and *A Star Is Born* have been retold and reinterpreted for decades only confirms their relevance today. “All About Eve,” which premiered in 1950, continues to thrive on theater stages to this day, while “A Star Is Born” has seen several new interpretations since the first film was released back in 1937. This proves that these stories are still compelling and relevant. They explore people, relationships, manipulation, jealousy, human frailty, and selfishness. All of this leads to human drama, and human drama has been, is, and will remain one of the most powerful forms of storytelling,” says the director. The director emphasizes that not only drama but also music will play an important role in the production. “There will be a wealth of emotions leading to creativity and love. Songs from *A Star Is Born* will be performed, and their emotional and musical depth is exceptional. It will be both a play and a concert at the same time. It’s great that this story is being brought to life by a professionally seasoned cast, including the outstanding young actress Paula Valentaitė, with whom we’ve worked before, and the entire process is guided by the creators of the concept—the “Pepper Live” team, which has accumulated extensive stage experience and specializes in creating and producing unique musical projects. “I can’t wait to meet the audience not only as a director but also as one of the actors in the play. I believe that this encounter will be sincere and genuine,” says M. Vildžiūnas. Actress Paula Valentaitė, who plays one of the leading roles, says she was most intrigued by her character’s journey. “My character’s aspiration is very close to what I myself felt at the beginning of my own journey. It’s not so much the goal itself as the moment before it—when everything still seems like just a dream, when you doubt yourself, don’t know if you’ll succeed, but deep down you feel a very strong desire to move forward. I think it’s precisely this beginning of the journey that’s the most interesting, because what shapes a person isn’t where they ultimately end up, but all the choices that lead them there,” says the actress. According to her, these stories captivate audiences because they’re about growth and transformation. “People are always drawn to stories about how we become who we truly want to be. They’re also about the people who come into our lives at just the right time and sometimes believe in us more than we believe in ourselves,” says P. Valentaitė. OneidA KunsungąA says she was most impressed by the music that will feature in the upcoming production, as well as the human themes explored in it. “I was immediately captivated by the soundtrack of the movie *A Star Is Born* and the songs that will be featured in the play, as well as the characters created by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. It’s a human drama that reminds us of authenticity, love, hope, and faith,” says the actress. Meanwhile, Simonas Storpirštis makes no secret of the fact that what convinced him to join the production was the opportunity to work with a strong ensemble of actors. “What intrigued me the most was the team—the people with whom we’ll be creating this production. They are very talented and interesting actors. I was also intrigued by the very idea of combining two different stories into a single narrative,” says the actor. In his opinion, audiences are always drawn to the opportunity to witness a person’s transformation and the internal compromises they make. “It’s fascinating to see the journey from the lowest to the highest rung of the career ladder, to observe the price paid to get there, what a person is willing to sacrifice, and where their inner compromises begin,” says S. Storpirštis. “A Star Is Born” promises to be a unique theatrical experience that blends classic and contemporary drama with live musical performances. Doors open 1 hour before the start of the event Event duration: ~1 hour 45 minutes (no intermission) Children 6 years old and under are admitted free of charge, provided they do not occupy an additional seat There is no age restriction No discounts apply To purchase 10 or more tickets, please contact: [email protected] For more information, call +370 678 47601 or email [email protected] Organizer – TRENDIS UAB