OPENING: The Hypocrites Present Samuel Beckett’s ENDGAME Through 4/4

The Hypocrites Present 

Samuel Beckett’s

ENDGAME

Directed by Company Member Halena Kays

February 20 – April 4, 2015

I first became intrigued with Beckett's works during my college theatre days and can't wait to see The Hypocrites and Halena Kays put their unique spin on this classic. Endgame should be quite a departure from the trio of Gilbert and Sullivan musicals. Previews start tomorrow, Friday February 20th. Check them out at the fabulous Den Theatre Mainstage.

The Hypocrites are pleased to continue their 2014-15 season with Samuel Beckett’s comic masterpiece ENDGAME, directed by Company Member Halena Kays*, playing February 20 – April 4, 2015 at their new home, The Den Theatre Mainstage, 1329-1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets are currently available at www.the-hypocrites.com. 

ENDGAME will feature longtime Company Members Kurt Ehrman* as Hamm and Donna McGough* as Nell, joined by Brian Shaw as Clov and Sean Sineski as Nag.

Hamm is blind and cannot stand. His servant, Clov, cannot sit.  And then there’s his legless parents Nagg and Nell who live in trashcans.  Trapped in a tiny house by the sea after some sort of apocalyptic disaster, they trudge through an absurd, cyclical existence. In true Hypocrites fashion, the actors and audience alike share a full and lush visual world to experience Beckett’s classic comedy. 

“Endgame will allow me to play to the absurdity of life with the clowns I love,” comments Director Halena Kays. “Our design team is also full of long-time collaborators who will create an absurdest landscape that will involve and heighten the audience's experience with this classic.  It’s one of my favorite texts – physical, funny and beautiful – and there's no better group of artists to join me in exploring it,” adds Kays.

The production team includes: Elizabeth Bracken (scenic design), Jessica Kuehnau (costume design), Maggie Fullilove-Nugent (lighting design), Nick Keenan (sound design), Danielle Case (props design) and Justine B. Palmisano (stage manager).

Previews: Friday, February 20 at 8 pm, Saturday, February 21 at 8 pm, Sunday, February 22 at 3 pm and Tuesday, February 24 at 8 pm

Regular Run: Friday, February 27 – Saturday, April 4, 2015

Curtain Times: Mondays, Friday and Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 3 pm 

Tickets Prices: $28. Tickets are currently available at www.the-hypocrites.com.

About the Director

Halena Kays’ Chicago credits include: Ivywild, Six Characters in Search of an Author at The Hypocrites; The Magic Play at The Goodman, Lord of the Flies at Steppenwolf theatre company; Burning Bluebeard, 44 Plays for 44 Presidents, Daredevils, Daredevils Hamlet and Fake Lake at The Neo-Futurists (artistic associate); Roustabout at Concordia College; Buried in Bughouse Square at The University of Chicago. Kays is a former artistic Director of The Hypocrites, co-founder and former artistic director of Barrel of Monkeys, where she directed the majority of their public performances. She is The Hyprocrites’ Artistic Council, a founding member of the artistic collaborative The Ruffians, a UT-Austin and Northwestern grad, former member of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care unit and a visiting professor at North Central College.  Halena has been nominated for a Jefferson Citation for Best Supporting Actress and Best Direction, was the recipient of the prestigious 3Arts Award and was named one of the top 50 “players” in Chicago theater by Newcity. 

About The Hypocrites

Founding Artistic Director Sean Graney* created The Hypocrites in 1997. It is currently run by Artistic Director Sean Graney* and Managing Director Megan Wildebour*.  The Hypocrites are recognized as groundbreakers that defy the audience’s expectations. The company has grown significantly in the past 

few years, receiving acclaim for productions at the Steppenwolf Garage, Goodman Theatre, Museum of 

Contemporary Art, DCASE Storefront and Chopin Theater before moving to a residency at The Den Theatre Mainstage. The company’s smash-hit production of Our Town, directed by David Cromer, transferred in 2009 to Off-Broadway, Los Angeles and Boston. The Pirates of Penzance has appeared at Actors Theatre of Louisville and American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.). A.R.T. has also brought Romeo Juliet, 12 Nights and The Mikado (forthcoming). The American Theatre Wing, best known as the creator of the Tony Awards, presented The Hypocrites with one of the 2013 National Theatre Company awards in 2013. In June 2015, the critically acclaimed All Our Tragic, a 12 hour play adapting the 32 surviving Greek tragedies, will return. For more information, please visit www.the-hypocrites.com.

The Hypocrites’ 18^th season is supported in part by The Alphawood Foundation, The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, Negaunee Foundation, Scholl Foundation and Venta.

*Denotes The Hypocrites Company Members.

⁺Denotes The Hypocrites Artistic Associates 

GARRETT POPCORN SHOPS® WILL DONATE 10% OF ALL FEBRUARY 2015 GOURMET TIN SALES TO BLACK ENSEMBLE THEATER AND PROMOTE BLACK ENSEMBLE’S GREATEST HITS CD IN SHOPS

Black Ensemble Theater’s Greatest Hits CD 

to be sold at all U.S. Garrett Popcorn Shops® throughout February 

with all proceeds benefitting the Theater

In honor of Black History Month, Garrett Popcorn Shops^® will donate 10 percent of all in-shop and online gourmet Popcorn Tin sales, from February 1 – February 28, 2015, up to $20,000, to Black Ensemble Theater.  Additionally, during the month of February, Black Ensemble’s Greatest Hits Volume 1 CD will be on sale at Garrett Popcorn Shops^® in Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, Detroit and Atlanta ($19.95, plus tax) with 100 percent  of proceeds benefitting Black Ensemble Theater.

For more information on the partnership, or to purchase a Tin, please visit: www.garrettpopcorn.com or www.blackensembletheater.org        

“Black Ensemble Theater is so proud and extremely excited to have such a wonderful partnership with the one and only Garrett Popcorn Shops^® - a Chicago tradition,” says Black Ensemble Theater’s Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor.  “Black Ensemble Theater will once again be recognized as a national company through the selling of our Black Ensemble Greatest Hits CD’s in Garrett Popcorn Shops across the country including Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, Detroit and Atlanta.  Thanks to Garrett Popcorn, audiences can enjoy  handcrafted, gourmet Popcorn while experiencing the greatest music in the world as performed by the Black Ensemble Theater.”

Garrett Popcorn Shops®

Garrett Popcorn Shops, a Chicago tradition since 1949, serves only the finest, handcrafted Popcorn. Every small batch of Garrett^® is hot air popped throughout the day for ultimate freshness. Using only the highest quality, wholesome ingredients, cooks coat every kernel with their secret family recipes in old-fashioned copper kettles. Their Signature Flavors include: CaramelCrisp^® (which can be selected with almonds, pecans, macadamia or cashews), CheeseCorn, Buttery, Plain and the famous Garrett Mix^® – which blends CaramelCrisp's sophisticated sweetness with the savory goodness of CheeseCorn.

Like no other, Garrett Popcorn enchants adoring fans around the world. In Chicago, their Shops are located at 625 North Michigan Ave., 151 North Michigan Ave. (Millennium Park), Navy Pier food court, Merchandise Mart (2nd floor), 26 West Randolph St., 4 East Madison St., 27 West Jackson Blvd., 737 East 87th St., O’Hare International Airport, in Terminals 1 and 3, Citigroup Center at 500 West Madison St. (2nd floor), and Water Tower Place at 835 North Michigan Ave. (Level 7). Garrett also brings a taste of Chicago to its Shops in New York City (at Penn Plaza between 7th & 8th), Las Vegas (Miracle Mile Shops), Detroit (Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi), Atlanta (Lenox Square Mall), Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.

For more information and to share Garrett in the United States and Canada visit www.GarrettPopcorn.com. 

The Black Ensemble Theater

Founded in 1976, by the phenomenal producer, playwright and actress Jackie Taylor, Black Ensemble Theater is the only African American theater located in the culturally, racially and ethnically diverse north side Uptown community. Through its Five Play Season of Excellence, The Black Ensemble Theater dazzles audiences locally, nationally and internationally with outstanding original musicals that are entertaining, educational and uplifting. The Black Ensemble Theater has produced more than 100 productions and employed over 5,000 artists.

On November 18, 2011, The Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center opened and is able to accommodate larger-scale productions, bigger audiences and a wider range of educational programming. The new facility includes amenities such as a 299-seat main stage theater (double the capacity of the original venue); 14 offices, classroom space, rehearsal hall, dance studio, scene shop, costume shop, and wardrobe rooms; seven dressing rooms; rehearsal room for musicians; front lobby space with concession areas; and an indoor parking garage.  The completion of a 150-seat theater, which will serve as an experimental stage for the work of the Black Playwright Initiative (BPI), is expected in to begin construction by General Contractor Norcon Inc. in January 2015 with a September 2015 opening.

The mission of the Black Ensemble Theater Company is to eradicate racism and its devastating effects upon society through the theater arts.  For more information on the Black Ensemble Theater Company, please visit www.BlackEnsembleTheater.org or call 773-769-4451.

OPENING: The World Premiere Drama THE TRIAL OF MOSES Fleetwood Walker at BET

BLACK ENSEMBLE THEATER PRESENTS

the World Premiere DRAMA 

THE TRIAL OF MOSES Fleetwood Walker  

WRITTEN BY ERVIN GARDNER 

PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY JACKIE TAYLOR

WITH LIVE MUSICIANS AND A CAST OF 22 CHICAGO ACTORS

THROUGH MARCH 15, 2015

Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor presents the World Premiere non-singing musical drama The Trial of Moses Fleetwood Walker, written by Ervin Gardner, produced and directed by Jackie Taylor and featuring live musicians and 22 actors.  The Trial of Moses Fleetwood Walker will be presented at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago, now through March 15, 2015. 

If asked, “Who was the first Black major league baseball player?” most people would say, ”Jackie Robinson”— and most people would be wrong. The first Black baseball player was Moses Fleetwood Walker and he played for the Toledo Blue Stocking in 1884 in the major leagues.  However this is not a story about baseball.  This is the trial of a Black man who was as popular in his time as Michael Jordan is in ours. Moses is accused of murdering a white man in a time when Blacks were traditionally lynched without a trial for far less crimes such as looking directly in the eyes of a white man. This is a powerful true story and speaks directly to the mission of the Black Ensemble Theater—to eradicate racism.  

The Trial of Moses Fleetwood Walker represents the most culturally diverse and largest cast in the history of the Black Ensemble Theater with a cast of 19 people playing a total of 24 characters. Andre Teamer stars as Moses Fleetwood Walker.  Other cast members include: Casey Hayes, Jack Birdwell, Trey Hobbs, Lawrence Garner, Joey Swift, Joseph Galizia, James Shinkle, Colin Reeves, Tamarus Harvell, Terry Gallagher, Gregory Fenner, Christopher McMorris, Leslie Wells, Sean Dolan, Creg Sclavi, Joshua Wheeler, Nick Ferrin and Leslie Collins. 

The Trial of Moses Fleetwood Walker

PHOTO CREDIT: Danny Nicholas 

Ferrin, Hayes, Teamer, Collins: Nick Ferrin (Harrison Hoyt), Casey Hayes (A.C. Hancock), Andre Teamer (Moses Fleetwood Walker), Leslie Collins (Arabella Walker)

The Trial of Moses Fleetwood Walker is a drama with live music representing the era of the play, which takes place in 1891. The music is composed by Jackie Taylor. The Music Director and Arranger is Robert Reddrick. The musicians are Gary Baker (guitar), Justin Dillard (keyboard/conductor), Vinnie Roofe (guitar), Samuel “Savoirfaire” Williams (violin 1) and Lennette Neal (violin 2).

                                                                             

Title: The Trial of Moses Fleetwood Walker 

Written by: Ervin Gardner

Produced and Directed by: Jackie Taylor

Music Composed by: Jackie Taylor

Music Director and Arranger: Robert Reddrick

Dates: Through March 15, 2015

Schedule:  Thursday: 7:30 p.m.

                 Friday: 8:00 p.m.

                Saturday: 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

                 Sunday: 3:00 p.m.

Location:  Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street.

Valet parking is available.

Ticket prices: $55 on Thursdays, and Saturday matinees; and $65 on Fridays, Saturday evenings, and Sunday matinees. A 10% discount is available for students, seniors, and groups.

Box Office: Buy online at www.blackensemble.org or call (773) 769-4451

The Trial of Moses Fleetwood Walker

PHOTO CREDIT: Danny Nicholas 

Teamer, Collins: Andre Teamer (Moses Fleetwood Walker), Leslie Collins (Arabella Walker)

“There is a question that has come out of the circumstances surrounding the killings of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Trayvon Martin in Florida, and Eric Gardner in New York, and that question is, ‘Do Black lives matter?’  That question was answered in 1891 through a true story related to the trial of Moses Fleetwood Walker,” explains Jackie Taylor.  “The mission of the Black Ensemble Theater is to eradicate racism and The Trial of Moses Fleetwood Walker works toward that mission.  This is a vitally important story that is greatly needed especially during these very troubling times.  Of course Black lives matter – all lives matter – and that becomes perfectly clear when you experience The Trial of Moses Fleetwood Walker. This play’s riveting messages will bring hope to all those who choose to share in its uplifting experience.” 

Playwright Ervin Gardner brings to life this outstanding and touching story. He is a member of Black Playwrights Initiative (BPI) – a group created by Jackie Taylor for the sole purpose of writing plays specifically for the Black Ensemble Theater. This is Gardner’s first full length play. 

The Black Ensemble Theater 

Founded in 1976, by the phenomenal producer, playwright and actress Jackie Taylor, Black Ensemble Theater is the only African American theater located in the culturally, racially and ethnically diverse north side Uptown community. Through its Five Play Season of Excellence, The Black Ensemble Theater dazzles audiences locally, nationally and internationally with outstanding original musicals that are entertaining, educational and uplifting. The Black Ensemble Theater has produced more than 100 productions and employed over 5,000 artists.

On November 18, 2011, The Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center opened and is able to accommodate larger-scale productions, bigger audiences and a wider range of educational programming. The new facility includes amenities such as a 299-seat main stage theater (double the capacity of the original venue); 14 offices, classroom space, rehearsal hall, dance studio, scene shop, costume shop, and wardrobe rooms; seven dressing rooms; rehearsal room for musicians; front lobby space with concession areas; and an indoor parking garage.  The completion of a 150-seat theater, which will serve as an experimental stage for the work of the Black Playwright Initiative (BPI), is expected in to begin construction by General Contractor Norcon Inc. in January 2015 with a September 2015 opening. 

The mission of the Black Ensemble Theater Company is to eradicate racism and its devastating effects upon society through the theater arts.  For more information on the Black Ensemble Theater Company, please visit www.BlackEnsembleTheater.org or call 773-769-4451.

OPENING: The Other Place at Profiles Theatre

                       

 Profiles Theatre continues 26^th Season

with the Chicago Premiere of

The Other Place 

by Sharr White

Directed by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus

  

Profiles Theatre continues its 26^th Season with the Chicago premiere of The Other Place by Sharr White, directed by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus. The production runs February 13 – April 5, 2015 at Profiles Theatre’s The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway. 

In Sharr White’s acclaimed new drama The Other Place, Juliana Smithton, a successful neurologist, finds her life coming apart at the seams. Her husband filed for divorce, her daughter eloped with a much older man and her own health hangs in jeopardy. But in this brilliantly crafted work, nothing is as it seems. Piece by piece, a mystery unfolds as fact blurs with fiction, past collides with present and the elusive truth about Juliana boils to the surface.

Title: The Other Place

Playwright: Sharr White

Directed by: Joe Jahraus

             

Dates:

Previews: February 13, 14, 17, 18 at 8 pm, February 15 at 7 pm

Regular Run: February 19 – April 5, 2015

Schedule: Thurs., Fri.: 8:00 p.m. 

                Saturday: 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 pm

                Sunday: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Profiles Theatre, The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway

Parking is available for $14 - $16 at 4100 N. Clarendon

(One block east of the theatre at the corner of Clarendon and Belle Plaine)

Ticket prices: Previews: $20

Regular Run: Thursdays are $35, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are $40; Students and Senior Citizens receive a $5 discount on all performances; Group rates are available.

Box Office: Buy online at www.profilestheatre.org

or call (773) 549-1815

The Other Place received its world premiere Off-Broadway at MCC Theater in 2011. The production, starring Laurie Metcalf, was nominated for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play from the Outer Critics Circle Awards. It later premiered on Broadway in a production by Manhattan Theatre Club in 2013, also starring Metcalf, who received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. The Other Place won the 2010 Playwrights First Award and the 2011 Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation’s Theatre Visions Fund Award. White’s plays have been developed or produced at theatres across the country, including South Coast Repertory, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Marin Theatre Company, Lincoln Center Theater’s Directors Lab and Key West Theatre Festival.

Directed by Profiles Artistic Director Joe Jahraus, the cast of The Other Place features guest artist Lia D. Mortensen as Julianna. Lia was most recently seen in Pericles with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and was seen last season at Profiles in their Midwest premiere of Annapurna. Also featured are guest artists George Infantado, Matt Maxwell, Nina O’Keefe, Steve Silver and Autumn Teague.  

"I'm thrilled to have my play The Other Place in Chicago, and with Profiles Theatre,” says playwright Sharr White. “The Other Place is about the smartest woman in the world who discovers nothing she knows is true. It takes both technical skill and emotional depth to pull off and I'm excited the artists at Profiles are taking it on just one season after producing my play Annapurna.”

The designers for The Other Place are Keenan Minogue (set), Claire Chrzan (lights), Jeffrey Levin (sound and original music), Raquel Adorno (costumes) and Smooch Medina (projections).

Profiles’ fifth show of the season, the world premiere production of Genius by Kate Walbert, begins previews on March 13, 2015 at The Alley Stage, 4147 N. Broadway. The 2014-15 season concludes with the Midwest premiere of Our New Girl by Nancy Harris.

Tickets for The Other Place are $35 for Thursdays, $40 for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are available by phone, (773) 549-1815, or online, www.profilestheatre.org. Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 5:00 and 8:00 pm, Sundays at 7:00 p.m.

ABOUT PROFILES THEATRE

Profiles Theatre, founded in 1988 by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus, joined shortly thereafter by Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox, was formed as an actor-driven theatre ensemble dedicated to creating provocative and emotionally truthful productions. Passionate about shaping an original vision for new works, they focused on performing World, American and Midwest premieres as well as rarely performed plays. Critically acclaimed hits, such as BLACKBIRD, FAT PIG, GRACELAND and the multiple Jeff Award-winning KILLER JOE, established Profiles as a destination for challenging and edgy theatre. Their unique collaboration with playwright Neil LaBute led the ensemble to perform an entire season of his plays in 2007-2008. Now a Resident Artist at Profiles, LaBute remains an unequivocal artistic influence on the ensemble.

After performing at 4147 North Broadway for more than two decades, Profiles acquired an adjacent theatre at 4139 North Broadway in 2012. Profiles’ new theatre, The Main Stage, with its larger seating capacity, increased performance space and higher ceilings, accommodates more ambitious and technically demanding productions. Their long-time venue, renamed The Alley Stage, continues as the home for plays strengthened by a more intimate staging. Driven by an undiminished appetite for creating honest and resonant theatre, Profiles still seeks to present work that illuminates the determination and resiliency of the human spirit.

 For more information about Profiles Theatre, visit www.profilestheatre.org.

Red Bud at Signal Ensemble Theatre Through Feb 28th

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we've long been fans of Brett Neveu's dark comedies and psychological dramas. We had to reschedule reviewing his latest, Red Bud, because of the blizzard, but it's high on our must see list. We hope to be reviewing soon. Get your tickets while you can. Red Bud closes February 28th. 

Brett Neveu knows how to write stage combat, and he's got an endearing, edgy streak of the macabre. From what we've read, it sounds like Red Bud continues in that vein. Like many before him, this Chicago based playwright had to move to LA for fame and acclaim, but Brett turned the tables on this cliche by moving his family back to Chicago. We're eager to see his latest endeavor, brought to life on stage by Signal Ensemble Theatre. 

RECOMMENDED - "Brant Russell's production for Signal Ensemble brings out the best in Neveu's drama: the performances are strong and subtle, and the pacing is just leisurely enough for us to feel the fear and quiet desperation that grips them all." - Chicago Reader

RECOMMENDED - "The hyper-realism that permeates this production affects, alienates and engrosses the audience all at once." - Newcity Chicago

RECOMMENDED - "This intriguing play is really about those undercurrents and how we avoid addressing them." - Crain's Chicago Business

"Fleet and hard hitting performances...the cast dives into the nasty pyrotechnics with zest."- Chicago Tribune

★ ★ ★ - "[T]he production, ably directed by Brant Russell and well performed by a very solid cast is one that has no flaws" - Around The Town Chicago

A group of forty-somethings take their annual trip to "Red Bud," a championship motocross race. The group has nearly wrung their mutual friendship dry and uses the overnight camping party to relive past glories, play asinine games and beat the holy hell out of each other. The fly in the ointment is the eighteen year old "girlfriend" of one of the forty-somethings. Frustration, weirdness and old baggage rapidly comes to the surface and old friendships die hard.

Click here for more information and to book your tickets.