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Play explores reaction to the big 'b' word -- baby

Three couples contemplate childbirth from very different perspectives in "Baby," opening May 14 at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights, under Lauren Rawitz's direction. With humor and tenderness, the musical by David Shire (music), Richard Maltby, Jr. (lyrics) and Sybille Pearson (book) charts the highs and lows of having a child when you think it's too soon or too late -- or when you feel as if it will never happen.

Katie Siri of Lake Zurich plays Lizzie who discovers that she and her boyfriend Danny, both still in college, are going to be parents. Siri described Lizzie as "very enthusiastic. She thinks very cosmically. She likes to think how everything in the universe is working, how it affects her and how she affects the universe."

That philosophy is reflected in the powerful act one closer the character sings, "The Story Goes On." "It's probably the song of my career so far -- the song I'm most excited to perform," Siri declared.

Playing the role has caused Siri to consider what it would be like to be pregnant. "I constantly see pregnant woman when I'm out and I kind of have this new radar -- 'Oh, my gosh, there's one. What is she thinking?' -- I have this newfound appreciation for anyone who's pregnant or recently had a baby," she said. "It's not a phase of my life that I'm into yet so to start thinking about that and wondering what it's like has been a really fun experience."

The phase of Siri's life that she is in is actively -- and successfully -- pursuing a career in Chicago theater. Siri earned a degree in musical theater at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis., studying in London her junior year. Since graduating in 2004, she has performed in three other shows at Metropolis, as well as in children's theater productions at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire and Drury Lane Water Tower, and in productions at Light Opera Works. "Chicago's been good to me," Siri said.

Like Siri, David Elliott of Morton Grove, is also a full-time actor. He plays Dean Webber and Ensemble Member 3, as well as understudying the role of Alan, half of the older couple who discover they are becoming parents again.

Dean Webber appears in the song "Fatherhood Blues." "He helps explain to the young guy who's going to have a baby, how great it is to have a kid," Elliott said. "You think you have plenty of money. Kiss it all goodbye. You're going to be extremely happy. The line is, 'It's unaccountable giddiness.' And so, my vision of Dean Webber is that he's very giddy himself."

Elliott noted that music director Micky York, who is working with a six-piece orchestra, "has taken the six ensemble members, who are playing the various roles, and added them as six other pieces of his orchestra. There's one point in the show where two people in love -- Lizzie and Danny, the young couple -- sing where it says, 'A heavenly choir joins them,' and we come in. York is having the heavenly choir participate in five or six other songs."

Elliott admitted that he had hoped to play the role of Alan. "What hooked me is a song that Alan sings called, 'Easier to Love.' It's a very touching song." Even though he didn't land the part he wanted, the actor is still happy to be part of this production, his eighth or ninth at Metropolis.

Elliott is an ensemble member of the Northbrook Musical Theatre for Young Audiences, currently playing Geppetto in "Pinocchio." He also performs in touring shows for young people with American Eagle Productions. On Sundays, he sings at Church of the Atonement in Chicago "as a hired gun."

Elliott lauded this production of "Baby." "There are a lot of great young performers in this show," the father of a 10-year-old said. "There's something very basic about having a child. It strikes a very strong emotional chord."