Guests | The Play FREE BUTTERFLIES

The legendary musical play “Free Butterflies” returns to Panevėžys—the city where this story first took shape! In response to the special interest shown by the people of Panevėžys, we are announcing an additional performance. “Free Butterflies” returns to Panevėžys, where the story first began. From 2012, the play filled the Juozas Miltinis Drama Theatre in Panevėžys for six consecutive years and became one of the audience’s best-loved plays. Now renewed, it will tour Lithuania so audiences in cities across the country can see this romantic, playful and dramatic story. This time, the legendary musical play will be different—more mature, more musical and even closer to today’s audience. It is a story about freedom, love and the courage to be yourself, which has made thousands of audience members laugh, reflect and believe that true freedom begins with the decision to live your own life.

In a small New York apartment, young Don Baker moves out on his own for the first time. These are his first steps towards independence—fragile and full of anxiety, but also marked by the courage to prove to himself and the world that he can live his own life. His everyday routine is unexpectedly disrupted by his neighbour Jill, a spontaneous, free-spirited young woman who lives without plans or rules. Their meeting becomes a turning point in both their lives. But their relationship faces a serious challenge: Don’s mother, who has protected her son all her life, does not want to let him go. She believes freedom can be dangerous and love can hurt. And there is an important reason for that… This is a tender, uplifting story about the courage to choose—to stay safe or finally dare to be free.

The songs performed live by Mantas Jankavičius create a special emotional experience in this play. Many people know the song “Drugeliai laisvi” (“Butterflies Free”), but not everyone knows that it was written specifically for “Free Butterflies”. Of course, you will hear it in this production too—it has become an inseparable part of the play. Audiences will also hear new music by Mantas, enriching the story and allowing them to immerse themselves in the characters’ inner worlds.

“I look for multiple layers in performances. A purely concert or purely theatrical format, in the traditional sense, is no longer as interesting to me. So this play, like my latest theatrical work, the hugely popular ‘Dviese ant stogo’ (‘Two on the Roof’), will feature live music. It will be a play and a concert in one,” says Mantas.

Dainius Kazlauskas, the director of the play and of its first production, says: “Although the story remains the same, it takes on a new colour and breath. The set, music and moments in the play change; the actors have changed too—they are more mature, and that gives the play new energy. Its spirit has stayed the same, but it has gained new inner maturity, colour and sound—just like Mantas’s songs, which have also changed and grown for this play.”

“Those butterflies really do fly. And it has nothing to do with a person’s age or other circumstances in life. Anyone can experience it—love, being carefree, that energy that makes you do silly things and feel happy. The play lets us show and remind people of that,” adds Mantas, inviting audiences to rediscover the story or see it for the first time.

Premiere from October 21—across Lithuania.

Cast: Mantas Jankavičius, Gabrielė Malinauskaitė, Rimantė Valiukaitė / Asta Preidytė, Dainius Kazlauskas
Director: Dainius Kazlauskas
Costume designer: Indrė Pačėsaitė
Music: Mantas Jankavičius