CASTING CALL: We Gotta Bingo #Chicago #Theatre

“WE GOTTA BINGO,” THE HILARIOUS INTERACTIVE DINNER THEATER EXPERIENCE,

BLOWS INTO THE WINDY CITY SUMMER 2015 

 

 

New Chicago Theater Works Venue Joins Belmont Theater District

Start warming up your vocal chords and get ready to shout “BINGO!” when the hilarious, interactive dinner theater experience “We Gotta Bingo,” makes its Chicago debut in June of 2015. In the spirit of “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding,” “We Gotta Bingo” invites guests to the new Chicago Theater Works (1113 W. Belmont)—located in the heart of the Belmont Theater District—for a night of raucous fun. This exciting new show, directed by Ross Young, allows guests to mix and mingle with a lively cast of characters while eating, drinking and playing bingo all night long!

“After years of searching for the perfect venue, we have finally found the right home to bring this truly unique show to life,” said “We Gotta Bingo” Creator and Producer Bill Collins. “Born and raised in Chicago, it has been a long-time dream of mine to introduce Chicago audiences to the hilarious, wacky cast of characters that were created from my own experiences growing up in the city and going to a catholic school with a mix of Irish and Italian families. This show fits so well into the Chicago culture and we are truly thrilled to be creating this brand new theater space in the Belmont Theater District, where innovative theater is continuously being produced.”

The fun, interactive premise of “We Gotta Bingo” allows audience members to be immersed in a dynamic, riotous show filled with music, comedy and of course, bingo! As guests enter into the German beer hall known as “Der Brew-Ha-Ha,” they are greeted by the lively house polka band as well as the rousing, colorful cast of characters that soon become their dinner dates and bingo partners for the evening. Guests soon learn that they are amongst two rival Chicago parishes, one Italian and one Irish, who are set to merge with one another—against their wishes—and are participating in this bingo bonanza in order to raise money for the imminent union. In between exhilarating games of bingo, all in attendance are treated to an Italian dinner, drinks, dancing, music, mayhem and more.

“We Gotta Bingo” was first presented by the Actors Theater of Minnesota in 2004. Since then, the show has played in various venues throughout the Midwest including Playhouse Square in Cleveland and has delighted more than 100,000 theatergoers of every age. The Star Tribune hails the show as “a hilarious night of Bingo and Beer. ‘We Gotta Bingo’ is great fun!” The Stillwater Gazette states that “We Gotta Bingo” is “a tremendous play” and Lavender Magazine calls it “a wild affair.”

“We Gotta Bingo” is currently casting the Chicago premiere. Please visit wegottabingo.com for more information.

Bill Collins, Creator and Producer
Bill Collins is the Chief Manager of N-42 Productions, Sole Member and Chief Manager of WGB Creative, LLC, and Creator/Producer/Writer of “We Gotta Bingo.” Collins co-founded Actors Theater of Minnesota in 1999 and serves as its Managing Director and Board Chair. Since then he has produced or co-produced over 50 professional stage productions.  He has numerous theatrical, commercial and corporate industrial credits to his name and has also worked as a consultant to NBC television where he took shows from pitch to pilot. He founded and currently is the majority shareholder in a very successful night club and cabaret in Saint Paul, Minnesota; Camp Bar & Cabaret.

Michael Dunne, General Manager
Michael Dunne’s introduction to the theater industry came in 1991. After spending more than 15 years in hospitality management and consulting, Dunne was contracted to develop an upscale urban bistro as part of a live theater/restaurant complex in Minneapolis called Hey City Stage and Café. Upon completion, Dunne stayed on at Hey City Stage Company as the Director of Business Operations. Over the course of 11 years with Hey City, Dunne held the positions of vice president and executive director for all Hey Companies and was responsible for the production of numerous theatrical presentations in several US cities, most notably, the runaway interactive hit, “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding,” which, under Dunne’s leadership enjoyed multi-year runs in Minneapolis, Portland, Oregon and Cleveland. Among Dunne’s other theatrical credits are “Forever Plaid,” “Beehive,” “The ‘60s Rock-n-Roll Musical,” “Smokey Joe’s Café,” “Nunsense A-Men” and “Triple Espresso.” After leaving Hey City in 2002, Dunne formed Amuse-Bouche, LLC, a highly specialized management company to the entertainment and hospitality industry. In 2005, Dunne came to the Actors Theater of Minnesota to assist in the development of “We Gotta Bingo.” He continues to operate Amuse-Bouche, LLC for a variety of hospitality and entertainment clients.

About Chicago Theater Works
The new Chicago Theater Works makes its home in the heart of the Belmont Theater District at 1113 W. Belmont. Designed by Obora and Associates with interior design by Matthew Murray, this versatile space will be transformed into a 200-seat German beer hall known as “Der Brew-Ha-Ha.” The space will be a new staple in the Chicago theater scene run by Bill Collins and Michael Dunne.

Performance and Ticket Information
“We Gotta Bingo” opens June 2015 at the new Chicago Theater Works (1113 W. Belmont). Shows are Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m.; Saturdays at 8:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 5 p.m. Tickets ($57 - $75) go on sale at a later date to be announced. Discounted tickets for groups of 16 or more are currently available at GroupTix by calling 773.327.3778 or visiting grouptix.net. For more information about “We Gotta Bing,” visit wegottabingo.com.
  

OPENING: The World Premiere of An Issue of Blood at Victory Gardens #Chicago #Theatre

Victory Gardens Theater presents

An Issue of Blood 

By Ensemble Playwright Marcus Gardley, 

Directed by Chay Yew

ChiIL Live Shows will be there for opening night, and we're greatly anticipating this world premiere. Check back with us after April 10th for our full review. In the meantime, save the dates, and we recommend ordering your tickets well in advance. Aside from consistently compelling content and extraordinary performances, Victory Gardens also does an excellent job of engaging the community with talk backs after every performance and a a slew of special events and presentations on topic, that run in conjunction with the show. Check out those listings below.

Victory Gardens Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Chris Mannelli, presents the World Premiere of An Issue of Blood by Ensemble Playwright Marcus Gardley, directed by Chay Yew. An Issue of Blood was penned by Gardley in response to recent events and social injustices. An Issue of Blood runs April 3 – May 3, 2015 at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

“While working on a new draft of A Wonder in My Soul in December, Marcus felt the need to respond to recent events and the current national conversation on race, class and identity and was urged by many to express the complex feelings of his community. When he reached out to me with this conundrum, I told him to follow his instincts and write a new play addressing his concerns," comments Victory Gardens’ Artistic Director Chay Yew. "As a theatre that creates and produces socially relevant plays, it is important that we respond to the times with our art and support our artists. And I'm glad Marcus is leading us in this vital national conversation." 

It’s 1676 in Virginia – a time when class, not color, defined an American’s destiny. Historic figure and wealthy landowner Negro Mary believes a vile curse has been cast upon her family and land. But her plans to break the curse are thwarted by a secret wedding, an interracial love triangle, and a crime of passion. Can Mary cheat fate and change the course of history? Or will their lives end in division and destruction? In An Issue of Blood, Marcus Gardley (The Gospel of Lovingkindness) and Chay Yew look to a pivotal moment in our collective past to understand how we arrived in our tumultuous present.

DATES:

Previews: April 3 – April 9, 2015

Regular run: April 11 – May 3, 2015

Schedule: Tuesdays: 10:30 am (April 14 & 21); 7:30 pm (no shows April 14 & 21)

Wednesdays: 2:00 pm (April 22 only); 7:30 pm (no show April 22)

Thursdays: 7:30 pm (no show April 30)

Fridays: 7:30 pm 

Saturdays: 4:00 pm (April 18 & 25, May 2 only); 7:30pm

Sundays: 3:00 pm

Location: Victory Gardens Biograph Theater is located at 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, 

in the heart of Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood

Tickets: Previews:  $15 - $40 

Regular run: $15 - $60

Box Office: The Box Office is located at 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago.

773.871.3000; www.victorygardens.org

Full performance schedule

Previews of An Issue of Blood are April 3 - 9, 2015: Tuesday–Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 3 pm. Previews are $15-$40. Regular performances run April 11 – May 3, 2015: Tuesday at 10:30am (April 14 and 21 only) 7:30 pm (except April 14 and 21); Wednesdays 2:00 pm (April 22 only); 7:30 pm (no show April 22); Thursdays at 7:30 pm (no show April 30); Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturday at 7:30 pm; Saturday at 4 pm (April 18 & 25, May 2 only); Sunday at 3 pm. Regular performances are $15-$60.

Performances are at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, in the heart of Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.  For tickets and information, call the Victory Gardens Box Office, 773.871.3000, email tickets@victorygardens.org, or visit www.victorygardens.org.  Ask the Box Office about student tickets ($15), senior, Access, $20 under 30, and rush discounts.  For group discounts, call 773.328.2143.

Accessible Performances

ASL Interpreted performance: Friday, May 1 at 7:30pm

Word for Word (Open Captioning): Wednesday, April 22 at 2:00pm, Friday, May 1 at 7:30pm, and Saturday, May 2 at 4:00pm

Audio Description: Friday, April 24 at 7:30pm (Touch tour at 6:00pm), Sunday, May 2 at 3:00pm (Touch Tour at 1:30pm)

A full and updated schedule of special events, post-show discussions and presentations centered on performances of An Issue of Blood is available at www.victorygardens.org.  

All events are free unless otherwise noted, and a reservation is preferred. To RSVP, call 773.871.3000 or visit the Victory Gardens website. 

Public Programs is an event series designed to enhance your experience by exploring the themes and issues within Victory Gardens' Productions. Connecting our theater to the world beyond the stage and rehearsal room, Public Programs events bridge ideas, provoke dialogue, and deepen the relationship between our audiences and our productions.

AFTERWORDS

Post-show discussions with members of the artistic team will follow every performance of AN ISSUE OF BLOOD (unless otherwise noted)

SIDESHOW SIDE SERIES: AN ISSUE OF ANTIGONICK

Fri April 3rd, 2015 | Following a performance of Sideshow Theatre Company’s Antigonick

In Victory Gardens’ An Issue of Blood and in Sideshow’s Antigonick, issues of racial inequality are brought to life through dynamic historical lenses. How can Greek tragedies and the stories of America’s first slaves bridge the gap between our past and present? In partnership with Sideshow’s Side Series, join this post-show conversation with Human Rights Advocate Keisa Reynolds (We Charge Genocide) and participants of Victory Gardens’ We Must Breathe as we open old wounds to uncover new ways of healing.  

BLACK LIVES MATTER: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

Town Hall | Sun April 5th, 2015

Cries of “I can’t breathe” and #BlackLivesMatter have shed harsh light on our country’s struggle with race, discrimination, and police brutality. Systems of oppression and racial inequity date as far back as colonial America - before Ferguson, before Selma, even before slavery.  What do we do with a system we’ve inherited? Join us for a performance of Marcus Gardley’s historical drama, then stick around for this crucial town hall conversation as we unearth our roots and discover new ways of moving forward.

TAKE BACK THE MIC

Pre Show Spoken Word Performance Series | April 7th, 11th, 16th, 18th, and 24th, 2015 | 7:00 p.m.

Last December, you heard them slam at We Must Breathe - an evening of performance pieces created in the wake of the national outcry stemming from the deaths and verdicts of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and countless others. Now, select poets return to Victory Gardens to continue the conversation in the best way they know how—through their art. Join us for select pre-show performances in the lobby as these spoken word artists take the mic and share their truths.

RACE OUT LOUD

Wednesday Night Out | Wed April 8th, 2015

6:30pm cocktail get together at Victory Gardens | Special Afterwords following performance

Racial tension in Chicago’s queer neighborhoods is on the rise. Claims of “racism” and “white boys’ town” have surfaced more and more in the last decade. How do queer people of color find solace in deeply segregated Chicago?  In partnership with Center on Halsted, enjoy pre-show cocktails and free appetizers from Fiesta Mexicana, then stick around for this timely post-show conversation.

ARTIST TALK: BRINGING BLOOD TO LIFE

Special Afterwords | Thurs April 9th, 2015

When Victory Gardens announced a change in the season from A Wonder in My Soul to An Issue of Blood, it was born out of playwright Marcus Gardley’s need to respond to the recent deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and countless others. A historical drama set in the late 1600’s, An Issue of Blood critically examines our history to understand our present. Join Marcus Gardley (playwrights ensemble member) and Chay Yew (artistic director) as they discuss themes, ideas, and the new play process of bringing An Issue of Blood to life.

COLLEGE NIGHT: LOOK AT ME
Pre-show Performance | Special Afterwords | Thurs April 30th, 2015 | 6:30 p.m.

Though race and privilege on college campuses are often considered taboo topics, every college and university faces them. From misperceptions to underrepresentation, students of color are sometimes forced to navigate institutions that may not always protect them. Grab a pop and free pizza and watch young local artists respond at a pre-show performance, then stay for a special Afterwords conversation investigating race & privilege on college campuses. 

MY AMERICA

Encuentros | Fri April 17th, 2015

6:30pm cocktail get together at Victory Gardens | Special Afterwords following performance

All around the country, undocumented Mexican immigrants are working as indentured servants to ensure their place in America. Whether they’re cleaning houses or building them, the pay is less than adequate and the conditions are even worse. With no legal rights and nowhere to turn, how can these workers ensure their safety and survival? Come early for pre-show cocktails and free appetizers from Fiesta Mexicana, and stay for this special Afterwords conversation that hits close to home.

THE PLAYWRIGHT’S VOICE: ...AND JESUS MOONWALKS THE MISSISSIPPI 

Staged Reading | Mon April 20th, 2015 | 7:30 p.m.

Delve further into the mythical worlds of Marcus Gardley at this staged reading of … And Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi. Presented in association with Congo Square Theater, this 2010 hit is a riff on a familiar Greek tale. Set on the banks of the Mississippi River during the Civil War, a lynched African American man named Damascus is immediately resurrected as a woman named Demeter. With only three days to find her daughter Po'em, she must transmit her song before she has to return to death. 

HOW DO YOU FEAR ME

Special Afterwords | Wed April 23rd, 2015

Since September 11, 2001, the rate of hate crimes against Muslims in the United States has quintupled. In 2015 alone, three Muslim American students were shot in the head in Chapel Hill, North Carolina; an Arab American man was brutally attacked by two white men at a supermarket in Dearborn, Michigan; police in Austin, Texas arrested a man for threatening to bomb an Islamic center - and the list goes on and on. In a culture of prejudice and fear against Muslim Americans, how do we hold each other accountable for shattering the stigma? Engage in this special Afterwords conversation shedding light on one of the most widely misunderstood communities in America. 

SOUTH ASIA SPEAKS: THE NEW IMMIGRANT 

Special Afterwords | Friday April 24th, 2015

The issue of immigration in America is complex - at best. Though immigration itself can be traced as far back as Irish and African indentured servants in colonial America, the vast majority of South Asian immigrants didn't come to the US until after 1970. With Mexican immigration most commonly in the limelight - how can we illuminate the stories of South Asians? What other stories aren't being told? Following the performance, join us for this special Afterwords conversation shedding light to immigration in the South Asian community. 

THE PLAYWRIGHT’S VOICE: THE GOSPEL OF LOVINGKINDNESS 

Staged Reading | Mon April 27th, 2015 | 7:30 p.m.

Last season’s hit by Marcus Gardley returns to the Victory Gardens stage for one night only! After Emanuel is murdered for his new pair of Air Jordans, his mother, Mary, rebuilds her life in the Bronzeville neighborhood she calls home. As fervent and poetic as a gospel hymn, this potent drama about faith, family and loss was inspired by true events. Join us as we celebrate the launch of the Gospel tour, which continues this May  with performances in Pilsen at the National Museum of Mexican Art (in partnership with JDEF Peace Project), and at a local Englewood high school auditorium (in partnership with iGrow Chicago).

LET FREEDOM RING
Special Afterwords | Tue April 28th, 2015

Earlier this month, the Jewish community celebrated Passover - an eight-day festival commemorating the emancipation of the Israeli slaves in ancient Egypt. What does it mean to celebrate this holiday in America, a country with deep roots in slavery? How has a history of oppression shaped American and Jewish culture?  Join us for this timeless post-show conversation addressing old wounds and new waves. 

COLLEGE NIGHT: LOOK AT ME
Pre-show Performance | Special Afterwords | Thurs April 30th, 2015 | 6:30 p.m.

Though race and privilege on college campuses are often considered taboo topics, every college and university faces them. From misperceptions to underrepresentation, students of color are sometimes forced to navigate institutions that may not always protect them. Grab a pop and free pizza and watch young local artists respond at a pre-show performance, then stay for a special Afterwords conversation investigating race & privilege on college campuses. 

Season Sponsors:        Diane and Steve Miller

Lead Production 

Sponsor: The Joyce Foundation

Production Sponsors: The Pendexter Family; Jeff Rappin and Penny Brown; Betty Bradshaw, Harold and The Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust

Student Matinee Sponsors: Exelon, AllState

Travel Sponsor: Southwest Airlines

Marcus Gardley is an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Artists in Residence at Victory Gardens Theater.

About Victory Gardens Theater

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Christopher Mannelli, Victory Gardens is dedicated to artistic excellence while creating a vital, contemporary American Theater that is accessible and relevant to all people through productions of challenging new plays and musicals.  With Victory Gardens’ first new Artistic Director in 34 years, the company remains committed to the development, production and support of new plays that has been the mission of the theater since its founding, continuing the vision set forth by Dennis Zacek, Marcelle McVay, and the original founders of Victory Gardens Theater.

Victory Gardens Theater is a leader in developing and producing new theatre work and cultivating an inclusive Chicago theater community. Victory Gardens’ core strengths are nurturing and producing dynamic and inspiring new plays, reflecting the diversity of our city’s and nation’s culture through engaging diverse communities, and in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, bringing art and culture to our city’s active student population.  

Since its founding in 1974, the company has produced more world premieres than any other Chicago theater, a commitment recognized nationally when Victory Gardens received the 2001 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater includes the Zacek-McVay Theater, a state-of-the-art 259-seat mainstage and the 109-seat studio theater on the second floor, named the Richard Christiansen Theater.

In 2012, Victory Gardens appointed new Ensemble Playwrights Philip Dawkins, Marcus Gardley, Samuel D. Hunter and Tanya Saracho, for seven-year residencies. The Playwrights Ensemble Alumni includes Claudia Allen, Lonnie Carter, Steve Carter, Gloria Bond Clunie, Dean Corrin, Nilo Cruz, Joel Drake Johnson, John Logan, Nicholas Patricca, Douglas Post, James Sherman, Charles Smith, Jeffrey Sweet and Kristine Thatcher.

For more information about Victory Gardens, www.victorygardens.org.  Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/victorygardens and Twitter @VictoryGardens.

Victory Gardens Theater receives major funding from Alphawood Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, The Leo S. Guthman Fund, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The William and Orli Staley Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, and The REAM Foundation. Additional funding is provided by: Abbot Downing & Wells Fargo, Alliance Bernstein, Allstate Insurance, Berghoff Catering, The Charles H. and Bertha L. Boothroyd Foundation, a City Arts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, The Conant Family Foundation, Exelon, The Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation, The Fry Foundation, John R. Halligan Charitable Fund, Illinois Arts Council (a state agency),  Illinois Tool Works, Italian Village Restaurants, James S. Kemper Foundation, Mayer Brown LLP, The McVay Foundation, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, LLP, Negaunee Foundation, The Prince Charitable Trusts, The Seabury Foundation, Charles & M.R. Shapiro Foundation, Southwest Airlines, The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Whole Foods and Wrightwood Neighbors Conservation Association.

OPENING: BILLY ELLIOT IGNITES THE STAGE AT DRURY LANE THEATRE APRIL 10

Tickets On Sale Now For The Regional Premiere of the Critically Acclaimed Musical 

Several years back, we had the great pleasure of reviewing the Broadway touring production of Billy Elliot and it remains one of our favorites. We can't wait to see Drury Lane's take on this extraordinary musical. Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows we've been wowed in the past by Drury Lane's high production values and professionalism. Get your tickets as soon as possible for best seats and range of dates.

The International smash-hit musical BILLY ELLIOT makes its regional premiere at Drury Lane Theatre on April 10 – June 7, 2015. Opening night is scheduled for April 16, 2015 at 8 p.m.  Heralded as “A triumph! The #1 show of the year!" by Time Magazine and “Thrilling! Impossible to resist!" by The New York Times, BILLY ELLIOT follows a young boy as he trades in his boxing gloves for dancing shoes. In an unforgettable story set in a small mining town in the English countryside, a dance teacher finds a diamond in the rough when she discovers Billy—a young boy with a passion for dance who inspires the entire community. The musical phenomenon is set to an explosive score by Elton John, celebrating Billy’s journey against the odds to make his dreams come true.

BILLY ELLIOT is directed by multiple Jeff Award-winner Rachel Rockwell (Ragtime, West Side Story, at Drury Lane Theatre, Brigadoon at The Goodman Theatre), with Musical Direction by Jeff Award-winner Roberta Duchak (Les Miserables and Sweeney Todd at Drury Lane Theatre, vocal coach for Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman for the Academy Award-winning film Les Miserables). One of the most celebrated musicals on stage today, BILLY ELLIOT has been dazzling London's West End since 2005. The production is the winner of 10 Tony Awards and 10 Drama Desk Awards, including Best Musical. The production features a score by Elton John (The Lion King, Aida) with book and lyrics by Lee Hall, who wrote the screenplay for the Academy Award-nominated film that inspired the musical.

“BILLY ELLIOT is an incredibly emotional journey of a struggling community, a shifting country and, most importantly, a father and son relationship and my role is to tell this story in the most truthful way possible,” says Director Rachel Rockwell. “One of my main goals is to showcase this cast, in particular our two young actors playing Billy, by nurturing their raw talent to help them transform into this multi-dimensional character.”

After an extensive search, Drury Lane is pleased to announce that the title role of “Billy” will be played by two very talented Chicago natives, Nicholas Dantes and Kyle Halford. "When the casting process began we asked ourselves: are Billy Elliot's found or made?” says Artistic Director William Osetek. "After months of auditions it was clear that one must be created. The search required a young actor who brought incredible raw talent, but needed to be cultivated to stand up to the impossible task of performing the role of a young boy whose dance ability leaves one breathless.”  The two boys playing Billy have worked for months, honing skills in ballet, acrobatics and tap (not to mention acting and vocal lessons).

Nicholas Dantes                                                        Kyle Halford

Also starring is Jeff Award-winner Susie McMonagle as “Mrs. Wilksinson” (Broadway: Les Miserables at the Imperial Theatre, National Tours: Billy Elliot and Mamma Mia! and Next to Normal at Drury Lane), Ron E. Rains as “Dad” (BIG, The Musical and 1776 at Drury Lane, Goodman Theatre’s A Christmas Carol), Maureen Gallagher as “Grandma” (Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Goodman Theatre), and Liam Quealy as “Tony” (My Fair Lady at Paramount Theatre, Pirates of Penzance at Marriott Theatre). The cast also features Michael Harp as “Michael” (The Sound of Music at Lyric Opera, Chicago, Billy Elliot in St. Louis), Brooke MacDougal (Member of The Performer’s School ensemble, professional debut) and Peyton Schaffer (Les Miserables and Seussical at Drury Lane,) as “Debbie Wilkinson,” Terry Hamilton as “George” (Airline Highway at Steppenwolf Theatre), Brianna Borger as “Mum” (The King and I and Into The Woods at Porchlight Theater), Rhett Gutter as “Older Billy” (West Side Story at Drury Lane, Brigadoon at The Goodman Theatre) and Bret Tuomi as “Mr. Braithwaite” (West Side Story at Drury Lane, A Christmas Carol at The Goodman Theatre). 

Rounding out the cast are William Carlos Angulo, Julia Baker, Cody Bolithon, Johnson Brock, Grier Burke, Gary Carlson, Michael Di Leo, Abigail Dudich, Samantha Erne, Allison Graves,
Sage Harper, Hannah Clare Horner, Raymond Interior, Amelia Grace Kuhlman, Princess Isis Z. Lang, Emily Leahy, Iris Lieberman, Ingrid Clare Lowery, Katie Malchow, Mia Moore,
Ava Morse, Ashton Schaffer, Peter Scharbrough, Steven Spanapoulos, Brandon Springman, Holly Stauder, Zachary Uzarraga, Jonathan Weir, and Fred Zimmerman.

As the first regional production, an incredible artistic team has been assembled to bring this story to life, led by Artistic Director William Osetek (Next to Normal, Young Frankenstein and Spamalot at Drury Lane). Scenic design for BILLY ELIOTT was created by Kevin Depinet (Associate Designer for Tony Award winning August Osage County on Broadway, Camelot at Drury Lane) with Lee Fiskness as Lighting Designer (Resident lighting director Santa Fe Opera, Young Frankenstein at Drury Lane), Costume Coordination by Maggie Hofmann (Camelot, The Game's Afoot, and Young Frankenstein [Co-design with Erika Senase] at Drury Lane), Garth Helm as Sound Designer (Tony nomination for Pippin on Broadway, West Side Story at Drury Lane), Nick Heggestad as Properties Designer (Resident properties designer at Drury Lane) and Penny Lane Studios (Samantha Umstead and Coral Gable) as Wig and Hair Designer (Steppenwolf, Lookingglass, Writers Theatre). Additionally, Christine Adair is the Dialect Coach (Broadway and First North American Tour productions of Mary Poppins) and Matt Hawkins is the Fight Choreographer (Les Miserables at Drury Lane Theatre and The Wheel and Belleville at Steppenwolf Theatre Company).

Tickets for BILLY ELLIOT are on sale now and available by calling the Drury Lane Theatre box office at 630.530.0111, TicketMaster at 800.745.3000 or visiting www.drurylane.com. The performance schedule is as follows: Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. ($45), Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. ($45) and 8 p.m. ($55), Fridays at 8 p.m. ($60), Saturdays at 5 p.m. ($60), and 8:30 p.m. ($60), and Sundays at 2 p.m. ($60), and 6 p.m. ($55). Student group tickets start as low as $30 and Senior Citizens start at $40 for matinees. Dinner and show packages are also available.

For more information on BILLY ELLIOT and the rest of the 2015-2016 theatrical season, please visit www.drurylane.com.

About Drury Lane Theatre

Drury Lane is a beautiful, unique and versatile facility that combines ideal location, functionality and elegance to make it one of Chicagoland's finest facilities. As the premier destination for dining, theatre and events, Drury Lane is home to the nation’s most spectacular Broadway – quality theatre productions. For more information about Drury Lane, please visit its website or Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest pages.

THE WAREHOUSE FILM LAUNCH PARTY THE UNDERGROUND TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 5PM

THE WAREHOUSE

GROUNDBREAKING CHICAGO CLUB WHERE 

HOUSE MUSIC WAS BORN

To kick-off THE WAREHOUSE film production, the producers will host a launch party and Frankie Knuckles Foundation (FKF) Benefit at The Underground (56 W. Illinois St), at 6pm on Tuesday, March 31.  Tickets start at $20 and include a two hour cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception from 6 PM to 8 PM.  Limited VIP tables are available.  To purchase tickets, visit www.TheUndergroundChicago.com.  100% of ticket proceeds to benefit the FKF.

WHO: The producers of The Warehouse film Bob Teitel (Men of Honor, Barber Shop),  Billy Dec (Rockit Ranch/Elston Films), Randy Crumpton (The Truth) and Joe Shanahan (Metro/Smartbar/Double Door) 

WHY: To kick-off The Warehouse film production efforts and honor one-year anniversary of Frankie Knuckles’ untimely death

WHERE: THE UNDERGROUND,  56 W. Illinois St

ABOUT THE WAREHOUSE

A new feature film, The Warehouse, will celebrate Chicago’s legendary Warehouse afterhours club, where the internationally recognized House Music genre was born, pioneered by owner Robert Williams and the Godfather of House Music, GRAMMY Award-winning Frankie Knuckles (1955-2014).  The film will be produced by Bob Teitel (Men of Honor, Barber Shop), Billy Dec (Rockit Ranch/Elston Films), Randy Crumpton (The Truth) and Joe Shanahan (Metro/Smartbar/Double Door). 

The film will pay tribute to the life story of The Warehouse owner Robert Williams and the legacy of Knuckles’ timeless artistry.  Williams’ Warehouse, shortened to “House” by its loyal followers, is where House Music got its name.  The Warehouse club inspired a movement, transforming the music scene with a unique mix of pulsating rhythm and beats, combined with classic disco, soul, gospel and rock, creating modern dance music’s global DJ culture. 

OPENING: OUR BAD MAGNET at Mary-Arrchie Theatre at Angle Island

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar:

Mary-Archie Theatre Presents
OUR BAD MAGNET

Directed by Carlo Lorenzo Garcia

Featuring Dan Behrendt, Lane Flores, Layne Manzer & John Ross Wilson (U/S Christopher Acevedo **Performing April 9-12)

March 26th through April 26th, 2015

Thur-Sat at 8pm - Sun at 7pm
$10 previews/$20-25 regular run

On the shores of Scotland, three 9 year old boys begrudgingly befriend a troubled young outsider, a gifted but tormented child who harbors the ability to spin magical, often fable-like fairy tales. The boys, now men, reunite years later to try to piece together the circumstances that led to the mysterious disappearance of their childhood fascination.

Playwright Douglas Maxwell, one of Scotland’s brightest young writing talents, uses his own unique brand of dark humor to take us on a magical journey in which the boundaries between fantasy and reality merge with unpredictable results.

The production team for OUR BAD MAGNET includes: Thad Hallstein (scenic advisor), Stefin Sterberl (costume design), Matthew Gawryk (lighting design), Joe Court (sound design), Allison Goetzman (stage management advisor), Mike Sanow (technical director), and Anthony DeMarco (stage manager).

Click here for more info and ticket availibility.

Angel Island Theatre

735 W. Sheridan Rd. 

Chicago, IL 60613 

Phone: 773-871-0442

SAVE THE DATES: Victory Gardens Theater 2015-2016 Season

Victory Gardens Theater announces its 2015-2016 Season

including the Midwest Premiere of Sucker Punch by Roy Williams, directed by Dexter Bullard; Never the Sinner by John Logan, directed by Gary Griffin;

the World Premiere of Cocked by Sarah Gubbins, 

directed by Associate Artistic Producer Joanie Schultz;

the World Premiere of Hillary and Clinton by Lucas Hnath, directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew; and the Midwest Premiere of The House That Will Not Stand

by Ensemble Playwright Marcus Gardley, directed by Chay Yew.

Victory Gardens Theater, under the continued leadership of Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Christopher Mannelli, announces the lineup for its 2015-2016 Season. Victory Gardens’ 41^st Season will include the World Premieres of Cocked by Sarah Gubbins, directed by Associate Artistic Producer Joanie Schultz and Hillary and Clinton by Lucas Hnath, directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew; the Midwest Premieres of Sucker Punch by Roy Williams, directed by Dexter Bullard and The House That Will Not Stand by Ensemble Playwright Marcus Gardley, directed by Chay Yew; and Never the Sinner by Ensemble Playwright Alumnus John Logan, directed by Gary Griffin. 

"I'm thrilled to welcome old friends and new to our 41^st Season at Victory Gardens Theater,” notes Artistic Director Chay Yew. “We kick off next fall with Roy Williams’ Oliver Award-nominated, searing boxing drama Sucker Punch, directed by Dexter Bullard. In November, our Playwright Ensemble alumnus John Logan and director Gary Griffin return to Victory Gardens with a new play classic Never the Sinner, a Chicago courtroom drama about the infamous Leopold and Loeb murder case. Fresh from our IGNITION Festival of New Plays last year, we present the world premieres of Cocked by Chicago playwright Sarah Gubbins and Hillary and Clinton by Lucas Hnath. It is always exciting to see our IGNITION plays make their way to the mainstage. The 2015-16 Season will conclude with the award-winning play, The House That Will Not Stand, by our Ensemble Playwright Marcus Gardley. Featuring some of the finest and boldest voices in the theatre today, these electric and provocative plays promise a continuation of great dialogue with our Chicago audiences about gender and sexuality, gun ownership and violence, crime, race relations and presidential politics as we enter an election year." 

The 2015-16 Victory Gardens Season up close:

The Midwest Premiere of

Sucker Punch

By Roy Williams

Directed by Dexter Bullard

September 18 - October 18, 2015

It’s the 1980s, Michael Jackson rules the radio waves and Conan the Barbarian is the box office king at the movies. Aspiring black boxers, Leon and Troy, both have promising futures in the ring. When race riots explode in their London neighborhood, these two friends are forced to make a tough decision. Years later, they square off, facing each other and the men they have become. An electric knockout, the much lauded and award-winning playwright Roy Williams' Sucker Punch takes an unflinching look at family, friends and the world of boxing.

Never the Sinner

By Ensemble Playwright Alumnus John Logan

Directed by Gary Griffin

November 6 - December 6, 2015

Chicago, May 21, 1924 – Two handsome and wealthy college students, Nathan Leopold and Robert Loeb, are accused of violently murdering a 14-year-old boy. Are these two successful men capable of murder? What demons could drive this pair to commit such a brutal act? Never the Sinner, a suspenseful courtroom drama from Victory Gardens’ Playwrights Ensemble Alumnus John Logan (The Last Ship and Tony Award for Red on Broadway) and directed by Gary Griffin (The Color Purple on Broadway, Appropriate), explores a complex and twisted relationship between two men in search of passion and intellect. 

The World Premiere of

Cocked

By Sarah Gubbins

Directed by Associate Artistic Producer Joanie Schultz

February 12 - March 13, 2016

Attorney Taylor and her journalist girlfriend Izzie live a comfortable life in Andersonville. Their apartment, relationship and strong anti-gun beliefs are shattered when Taylor’s troubled brother Frank crashes, uninvited, into their lives. As secrets and betrayals rise to the surface, the line between self-defense and safety is blurred. Cocked, a timely world premiere thriller from Chicago playwright Sarah Gubbins and directed by Victory Gardens’ Associate Artistic Producer Joanie Schultz (Rest, The Whale), returns to Victory Gardens after gripping audiences at the 2014 IGNITION Festival of New Plays. 

The World Premiere of

Hillary and Clinton

By Lucas Hnath

Directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew

April 1 - May 1, 2016

Imagine that in an alternate universe, very much like our own, is another world where a woman named Hillary is trying to become president of a country called the United States of America. In a hotel room in New Hampshire in 2008, Hillary is poised to lose her last Primary Election. When her husband Bill arrives in the middle of the night to offer support, he turns the campaign upside down. Fresh from the IGNITION Festival of New Plays, Lucas Hnath’s Hillary and Clinton is a fast-paced, no-holds-barred glimpse into a political storm of another world. Chay Yew directs Hnath’s 2008 Primary Election fantasy, exploring the extraordinary sacrifices one is willing to make in order to gain ultimate power. 

The Midwest Premiere of

The House That Will Not Stand

By Ensemble Playwright Marcus Gardley

Directed by Chay Yew

June 10 - July 10, 2016

Victory Gardens’ Ensemble Playwright Marcus Gardley (An Issue of Blood, The Gospel of Lovingkindness) returns with another stirring portrait of historic America. This time Gardley unearths a story of 1836 New Orleans where free women of color are permitted to enter into common-law marriages with wealthy white men. The home and life that Beartrice has built for herself and three daughters, on a foundation of money, freedom and secrets, threatens to collapse after her husband mysteriously dies. Told through Gardley’s signature poetic voice and directed by Chay Yew, The House That Will Not Stand is a powerful and bewitching family drama filled with desire, jealousy, murder and voodoo.

Subscriptions

Subscriptions start at just $80 for the 5-play Season plus access to resident theater productions, many rental company productions, and all additional public programming at the theater. Subscriptions will be on sale March 18 at www.victorygardens.org and by phone at the Victory Gardens Box Office at The Biograph, 2433 N. Lincoln, 773.871.3000.

Victory Gardens Theater is located at 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, in the heart of Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Benefits of subscribing include convenient parking; easy access via CTA, ticket exchange privileges; invitations to special events; discounted series for seniors, educators, younger audiences and persons with disabilities and pre- and post-show deals at nearby restaurants and businesses.

About Victory Gardens Theater

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Christopher Mannelli, Victory Gardens is dedicated to artistic excellence while creating a vital, contemporary American Theater that is accessible and relevant to all people through productions of challenging new plays and musicals.  With Victory Gardens’ first new Artistic Director in 34 years, the company remains committed to the development, production and support of new plays that has been the mission of the theater since its founding, continuing the vision set forth by Dennis Zacek, Marcelle McVay, and the original founders of Victory Gardens Theater.

Victory Gardens Theater is a leader in developing and producing new theatre work and cultivating an inclusive Chicago theater community. Victory Gardens’ core strengths are nurturing and producing dynamic and inspiring new plays, reflecting the diversity of our city’s and nation’s culture through engaging diverse communities, and in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, bringing art and culture to our city’s active student population.  

Since its founding in 1974, the company has produced more world premieres than any other Chicago theater, a commitment recognized nationally when Victory Gardens received the 2001 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater includes the Zacek-McVay Theater, a state-of-the-art 259-seat mainstage and the 109-seat studio theater on the second floor, named the Richard Christiansen Theater.

In 2012, Victory Gardens appointed new Ensemble Playwrights Philip Dawkins, Marcus Gardley, Samuel D. Hunter and Tanya Saracho, for seven-year residencies. The Playwrights Ensemble Alumni includes Claudia Allen, Lonnie Carter, Steve Carter, Gloria Bond Clunie, Dean Corrin, Nilo Cruz, Joel Drake Johnson, John Logan, Nicholas Patricca, Douglas Post, James Sherman, Charles Smith, Jeffrey Sweet and Kristine Thatcher.

For more information about Victory Gardens, visit www.victorygardens.org.  Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/victorygardens and Twitter @VictoryGardens.

Victory Gardens Theater receives major funding from Alphawood Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, The Leo S. Guthman Fund, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The William and Orli Staley Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, and The REAM Foundation. Additional funding is provided by: Abbot Downing & Wells Fargo, Alliance Bernstein, Allstate Insurance, Berghoff Catering, The Charles H. and Bertha L. Boothroyd Foundation, a City Arts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, The Conant Family Foundation, Exelon, The Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation, The Fry Foundation, John R. Halligan Charitable Fund, Illinois Arts Council (a state agency),  Illinois Tool Works, Italian Village Restaurants, James S. Kemper Foundation, Mayer Brown LLP, The McVay Foundation, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, LLP, Negaunee Foundation, The Prince Charitable Trusts, The Seabury Foundation, Charles & M.R. Shapiro Foundation, Southwest Airlines, The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Whole Foods and Wrightwood Neighbors Conservation Association.

OPENING: Chicago Premiere of Red Handed Otter at A Red Orchid #opening

A RED ORCHID THEATRE PRESENTS 

THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF

RED HANDED OTTER

BY ETHAN LIPTON

DIRECTED BY ENSEMBLE MEMBER DADO

APRIL 9 – MAY 24, 2015

ChiIL Live Shows will be there... will you?! Check back with us early and often. Our full review will be up after the press opening on April 13th. 

A Red Orchid Theatre continues its 22^nd Season with the Chicago premiere of Red Handed Otter, written by Ethan Lipton and directed by Dado.  The production runs April 9 – May 24, 2015 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. 

Not long ago, Paul had a girlfriend, a cat, and few complaints. Now? Well, at least he’s got his health. In between shifts at their security guard posts, Paul’s work buddies try to cheer him up. In this comedy by one of New York’s hottest emerging playwrights, Paul’s friends’ awkward (and hilarious) attempts to console him may just prove that some comforts only come on four legs. 

Red Handed Otter premiered at Cherry Lane Theatre in NYC, 2012.

Dates: Previews: April 9 – 12, 2015

Regular Run: April 16 – May 24, 2015

Schedule: Thursdays: 8:00 p.m.

Fridays: 8:00 p.m.

Saturdays: 8:00 p.m. 

Sundays: 3:00 p.m. 

Location: A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells Ave.

Tickets: $15 previews, $30-$35 regular run.  ($30Thurs, $35 Fri, Sat, Sun)

Box Office: Located at 1531 N. Wells Ave, Chicago, (312) 943-8722; or online www.aredorchidtheatre.org 

The cast of Red Handed Otter includes A Red Orchid Ensemble Members Mierka Girten and Guy Van Swearingen with Bob Kruse, Luce Metrius and Ashley Neil. 

The creative team for A Red Handed Otter includes Jim Moore (Scenic Design), Karen Kawa (Costume Design), Matt Gawryk (Lighting Design), Mikey Moran (Sound Design), Linda Sherfick (Props Master), Seth Henrickson (Video Director), David Wooley (Fight Director), Christa van Baale (Stage Manager), Arianna Soloway (Assistant Director) and Kyle Stoffers (Assistant Stage Manager).

About the Artists

Ethan Lipton (playwright)’s plays have been produced in New York, Los Angeles, Edinburgh, Boston, and Chicago (Luther at Steep). His Obie-Award winning song cycle No Place to Go premiered at the Public Theater’s Joe’s Pub in 2012 and was later produced by Two River Theatre (Red Bank, NJ) and the Gate (London). No Place to Go has since been presented in concert in more than 25 cities around the US and UK. Ethan was a member of the Public’s Emerging Writers Group and a Playwrights Realm Page One Fellow.  He is an associate artist of Clubbed Thumb and has received playwriting grants and commissions from NYFA, the NEA, Playwrights Horizons, NYSCA, True Love and Barrington Stage Company.  He has been a Kesselring nominee, a Kleban finalist and a Drama-Logue winner.  He has also worked with Elevator Repair Service (Gatz), Laurie Anderson and Matt Berninger. 

Dado (Director) is an ensemble member at A Red Orchid Theater and appeared on stage earlier this season in Strandline. She directed Simpatico here and more recently A Night Out for AROT's Incubator series. Other A Red Orchid productions include Megacosm, The Unseen, The Hothouse, The Seahorse, Fastest Clock in The Universe, and The Grey Zone. Dado is a Maggio Fellow and directed Fahrenheit 451 for Steppenwolf's Youth series as well as Coyote on a Fence and High Life for Shattered Globe at Victory Gardens.  Dado directed and acted in Hellcab at Famous Door and has been seen on stage at Trapdoor in First Ladies and Overweight, unimportant: Misshape - A European Supper, at Steppenwolf in The Duel and Pot Mom, and on television in an episode of Chicago Fire, Early Edition, Missing Persons, Turks and was edited out of an episode of Cupid . On the big screen she has been seen in US Marshalls and Payback.  Dado received an MFA in Visual Art from the University of Chicago.

Mierka Girten (Estelle) is a member of the Artistic Ensemble at A Red Orchid where she was most recently seen in Mud Blue Sky, Trevor and Simpatico.  Off-Broadway, she was seen in Mistakes Were Made with Michael Shannon and Sam Deutsch, after doing the world premiere right here at home. Also at A Red Orchid: Abigail’s Party, Weapon of Mass Impact, The Meek, Kimberly Akimbo and The Treatment. Other Chicago credits include: her one woman show With or Without Wings and work with Rivendell Theatre Company, Roadworks, The Hypocrites, Strawdog Theatre, Appletree, Circle Theatre, Livebait, Illinois Theatre Center, Provision, and Cobalt Ensemble.  Mierka toured the country in The Secret Garden and has been heard nationally, as an announcer and jingle singer on many radio and television commercials. Film credits include: The Manson Family, The Lake at Evening and The Drunk. Mierka is the founder of The Mookie Jam Foundation, benefiting artists with Multiple Sclerosis - because she is a daily warrior against the disease.

Bob Kruse (Randy) makes his first appearance with A Red Orchid.  He has previously worked with Vintage Theatre, Strange Tree Group, Eclipse, Wildclaw, Victory Gardens, Steppenwolf Garage, The Gift and The House Theatre. Bob is a graduate of Circle in the Square.

Luce Metrius (Donald) made his A Red Orchid Theatre debut earlier this season in Accidentally Like a Martyr.  Other recent Chicago credits include All Our Tragic with The Hypocrites and Buzzer at The Goodman Theatre.  Luce understudied roles in Raisin in the Sun at TimeLine Theatre and was seen on stage in The March at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Iphigenia at Next Theatre Company, and Romeo & Juliet at Crowded Tub Collective. Mr. Metrius received his BA in acting from of Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

Ashley Neil (Angela) makes her A Red Orchid debut and is an ensemble member with Rivendell Theatre. She was most recently seen in The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argile at Steep Theatre and before that in Men Should Weep with Griffin Theatre where she also did Stage Door.  Other Chicago credits include Reverb at Redtwist, 25 Saints with Pine Box, Living Newspaper at Jackalope and Christmas is for Fools with Step Up Productions.  With Rivendell Theatre Ashley has performed in Wrens, 26 Miles, The Walls, These Shining Lives and more.  Ashley is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf and Columbia College.

Guy Van Swearingen (Paul) is an Ensemble Member and the founding Artistic Director at A Red Orchid Theatre, where he was last seen in Simpatico.  He has appeared in 14 other productions, including the World Premiere of The Opponent; first here at home and then in its remount Off-Broadway at 59E59th Theatre.  Guy has worked with many theaters in Chicago, including Steppenwolf, Lookingglass, Plasticene, Defiant Theatre, and Mary-Arrchie. Television credits include Chicago Fire, Underemployed, Detroit 1-8-7, The Beast, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, Early Edition and TURKS. Film: The Dilemma, Take Shelter, Janie Jones, Public Enemies, The Merry Gentleman, Mad Dog & Glory, The Negotiator, Ali, The Weatherman and Adam Rapp’s Blackbird.  Guy is also a Lieutenant for the Chicago Fire Department.

About A Red Orchid 

A Red Orchid Theatre has served as an artistic focal point in the heart of the Old Town community of Chicago since 1993.  Chicago Magazine named Red Orchid Chicago’s Best Theatre Company of 2010. Over the past 22 years, its Resident Ensemble has welcomed into its fold an impressive array of award winning actors, playwrights and theatre artists with the firm belief that live theatre is the greatest sustenance for the human spirit. A Red Orchid is well known for its highly-acclaimed experimental and cutting edge productions. In addition to its professional season, the company also maintains an exciting youth programming wing.

A Red Orchid Theatre is: Lance Baker, Kamal Angelo Bolden, Dado, Mike Durst, Jennifer Engstrom, Kirsten Fitzgerald, Joseph Fosco, Steve Haggard, Mierka Girten, Larry Grimm, Karen Kawa, Karen Kessler, Danny McCarthy, Shade Murray, Brett Neveu, Michael Shannon, Guy Van Swearingen, Doug Vickers and Natalie West.

OPENING: La Bete at Trap Door Theatre #Theatre #Chicago

Trap Door Theatre Presents:

LA BÊTE

March 19th - April 25th, 2015

  Written by: David Hirson   

Directed by: Kay Martinovich

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm

$20 on Thursdays and Fridays, $25 on Saturdays, 

Special 2-for-1 Admission on Fridays

$30 on this Saturday, March 21st for talkback with director Kay Martinovich. Wine and cheese reception to follow!

________________________________

La Bête is a rollicking play, written in rhyming couplets, and inspired by the life of the French comic master, Molière. In the play, Elomire (an anagram for Molière) is the leader of an acting troupe, which according to their patron, the Princess, has gone stale and listless. She decrees that they must now hire a new company member, the bombastic, vulgar street performer Valere. A standoff between Elomire and Valere ensues and their lively debate is both funny and dramatic, hilarious and tragic.

Featuring: Marzena Bukowska, Casey Chapman, Kevin Cox, Jesse Dornan, Skye Fort, Bill Gordon, Kelly Jean,Meghan Lewis, Mike Mazzocca & Ann Sonneville

David Hirson (Playwright) is an American playwright born into a show business family. He attended Yale and Oxford and his two well known-plays (La Bête and Wrong Mountain) deal with the issues surrounding the “creative process,” culture, and art vs. entertainment. La Bête, his first play, was produced on Broadway in 1991 where it infamously closed after only 25 shows despite the John Gassner Playwriting Award of the Outer Critics Circle for its author. The next year, it was produced at London’s West End garnering both critical and commercial success and winning the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. The play got its second chance on Broadway in 2010 with great success, which was repeated at London’s West End. Hirson’s plays have received nominations for multiple Tony and Drama Desk Awards. Kay Martinovich (Director) works as a freelance director based in Chicago. Most recently she directed Down Range by Jeffrey Skinner at Genesis Productions and A Skull in Connemara By Martin McDonagh at Northern Illinois University, where she is an Assistant Professor in Acting. Last year she directed Winsor McCay by Laura Marks (TEN Festival) at The Gift Theater and Anything of Value by Brett Neveu (RIPPED Festival) at American Blues. As Associate Artistic Director of Irish Repertory of Chicago (1999-2006), she directed the American premieres of Marina Carr’s By the Bog of Cats… and Brian Friel’s The Yalta Game, among others. She is a proud member of The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC).

Stage Manager Allison Goetzman / Set Designer Carolyn Voss / Lighting Designer Richard Norwood /Costume Designer Rachel Sypniewski / Sound Designer Steve Labedz / Movement Kendra Holton/Dramaturg Milan Pribisic / Graphic Designer Michal Janicki /

To help celebrate Trap Door Theatre’s 21st Anniversary, Jane’s Restaurant is offering a complimentary glass of wine with purchase of your entree! Just show your ticket to your server and enjoy! Jane’s is located in the front of the Trap Door building at 1655 W. Cortland Ave. www.janesrestaurant.com

OPENING: STRANGE BEDFELLOWS THEATRE PRESENTS THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD PREMIERE OF BADFIC LOVE AT THE DEN THEATRE #BadFicLove

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS THEATRE

PRESENTS THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD PREMIERE OF

BADFIC LOVE

WRITTEN BY ADAM PASEN, DIRECTED BY AARON HENRICKSON

AT THE DEN THEATRE, APRIL 3 – MAY 2, 2015

INTEGRATED PROJECTS FOR BADFIC LOVE INCLUDE:

A COMIC BOOK ADAPTATION BY DON EDWARDS,

PRE-SHOW “WIZARD ROCK,” AND CUSTOM BEER FROM DARK SAGE BREWERY

Here at ChiIL Live Shows we're looking forward to this one. Who's in?! Strange Bedfellows Theatre + The Den. And the synopses...  Save the dates, grab your friends, get your tixs, and check back with us the first week of April for our full review. You had me at Badfic and Dark Sage!

Strange Bedfellows Theatre, known for its integrated, experiential approach to producing theatre, proudly announces the Professional World Premiere of Badfic Love by Adam Pasen and directed by Aaron Henrickson. Badfic Love will be presented at The Den Theatre, 1333 N Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago, for 15 performances, April 3 – May 2, 2015. Tickets, priced at $20, are on sale at strangebedfellowstheatre.com.

Dates: April 3 – May 2, 2015

Schedule: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm

Location:The Den Theatre, 1333 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago

773-697-3830, thedentheatre.com

Tickets: $20 (general admission)

Website: www.strangebedfellowstheatre.com

            

By day Kyle is a lowly sales associate at Staples, but by night he is part of an elite organization that scours the internet to keep it safe from the writers of bad fanfiction. When he becomes obsessed with a Harry Potter badfic and falls for the group's public enemy #1, his love life and the fate of the entire plot continuum are at stake. Meanwhile, inside the badfic, the characters formerly known as Harry and Draco race to understand who they are as their narrative goes increasingly off the rails. Part Pirandello and part Joss Whedon, Badfic Love asks the question: "what if the writer telling your story never disappeared, but is just really, really, REALLY terrible?"

In 2012 playwright Adam Pasen was awarded the WordBRIDGE Playwrights Laboratory Fellowship by the Kennedy Center to develop Badfic Love at Center Stage in Baltimore with dramaturg George Brant (Grounded).  Badfic Love was also a finalist for the 2015 Steppenwolf Garage Rep, as well as a semifinalist for the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference and The Dionysos Cup Festival of New Plays.

The Strange Bedfellows are proud to have a number of talented partners for the Integration Projects on Badfic Love, bringing together musicians, visual artists and local businesses in creating an integrated environment surrounding the performance.

• A comic book adaptation of the Badfic Love script has been put to page by artist Don Edwards (creator of Unemployed Duck, Ultrakyle, and STIK comics).  More information about Don can be found at www.donedwardsart.blogspot.com. The comic will also feature the art of several guest artists, such as Jay Taylor, Chris Merkley, and J Tinman, among others.
• Local “Wizard Rock” bands will perform Harry Potter-inspired rock music before all performances of Badfic Love (doors open at 7:00 pm). Bands scheduled to appear include Tonks and the Aurors, Hawthorn & Holly, Diagon Alley and more.
• Dark Sage Brewery has created two custom craft beers for Badfic Love - Diagon Delight, a butterscotch ESB, and Amurican Red, a Locavore American Red Ale. The beer was sold exclusively at Strange Bedfellows Theatre’s fundraising event, One Night Stand: A Celebration of the Arts (And Bite-Sized Convention), at The HQ (1914 N Milwaukee Ave) on Saturday, February 28.

The cast of Badfic Love includes Cristiana Barbatelli (Michelle), David Flora (Benny), Chris Fowler (Kyle), Katie Hunter (Cynthia), Jovan King (Jared), Connor Konz (Harry), Stephanie Shum (Dale), and Jake Szczepaniak (Draco).

The creative team includes: Jeff Chaney (Scenic), Barbara Little (Costumes), Zoe Mikel-Stites (Lighting), Petra Cantzler (Production Manager), Danielle Moore (Stage Manager), Eric Backus (Sound / Composer), Paul Deziel (Projections), Jeremiah Barr (Props), Alex Farrington (Fight Choreographer), and Kyle Encinas (Asst. Fight Choreographer).  

Badfic Love will be presented at The Den Theatre, 1333 N Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago, for 15 performances, April 3 – May 2, 2015. Performances will be held Thursdays thru Saturdays at 7:30 pm. Tickets, priced at $20, are now on sale at strangebedfellowstheatre.com or dime.io/events/badfic-love.

For more information about Badfic Love or Strange Bedfellows Theatre visit strangebedfellowstheatre.com.

ABOUT STRANGE BEDFELLOWS THEATRE

Strange Bedfellows Theatre is dedicated to finding unlikely companions to theatre and art, while focusing on engaging audiences in experiential storytelling. We seek to bring dynamic insight to the re-telling of familiar stories and characters through both existing and newly developed text. We collaborate with other artists in interactive, mixed media and mystically charged performances to augment the Chicago community. Strange Bedfellows Theatre earnestly works at inspiring audiences to discover beauty in the everyday strange.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

ADAM PASEN (Playwright) is a North Shore-native and holds a PhD in Playwriting from Western Michigan University, as well as a MA and BA in Creative Writing from Northwestern and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, respectively. His plays include Tea with Edie and Fitz, Board Fold: a tale of retail, Badfic Love, Vanity Fair, "Spats," and "Starf*cker," and have been awarded a BroadwayWorld Award for Best New Work, a WordBRIDGE fellowship, and the KCACTF National Ten-Minute Play Award.  Pasen's plays have also been produced or workshopped by Theatre Oxford, American Theater Company, Remy Bumppo, the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Festival, and Tectonic Theater Project and have been published in Best American Short Plays from Applause Books and Best Women's Stage Monologues and Scenes from Smith & Kraus.

AARON HENRICKSON (Director) earned a BA in Theatre Directing from Columbia College Chicago.  After graduating, he entered the Chicago theatre scene, directing for such theatres as Tympanic Theatre Company, New Suit Theatre Company, Fairlane Theatre Company, Fox Valley Rep, and Cold Basement Dramatics. He has also worked as an assistant director, teaching artist, and dramaturg with such companies as Writers' Theatre, Redtwist Theatre Company, American Theatre Company, CityLit, and Dead Writers Theatre Company.  Henrickson has also directed for The Side Project, Brightside Theatre, and Adapt Theatre Productions (where he will be directing Scissortail in May in association with Redtwist Theatre).

CRISTIANA BARBATELLI (Michelle) has appeared in The Bully Show with AlphaBet Soup Productions (currently running), Wyrd Sisters with MorBacon Theatre Co. and Crimes of the Heart with Oil Lamp Theatre. She is also a singer and a writer; more production info is available on cristianabarbatelli.com.

DAVID FLORA (Benny) is originally from Carlisle, KY and a resident of Chicago for the last ten years. A graduate of the Second City Conservatory, iO Chicago Training Center, Annoyance Training Center, and ComedySportz Chicago Training Center, he has directed, produced, and performed in numerous sketch and improv shows across the city. Recent theatrical credits include Fairlane Theatre’s Autobahn and CAN’s Industry Night. He also does a podcast about weird stuff called Blurry Photos. David holds a B.A. in Dramatic Arts and Music from Centre College, Danville, KY.

CHRIS FOWLER (Kyle) studied Journalism at Creighton University before moving to Chicago in 2012. Chris serves as the Social Media Manager for The New Colony where he will appear in their production of The Terrible at The Den Theater this fall.

KATIE HUNTER (Cynthia) is originally from Kansas City and has had the pleasure of performing regionally at The New Theatre, American Heartland, Starlight, and The Coterie. Favorite Chicago credits include Sarah in The Terrible Magic of Gertie Lazarus (New Colony), Janet Van De Graaf in The Drowsy Chaperone (University of Chicago), and The Andrews Sisters (Theo Ubique). Katie is a UChicago grad and a proud member of the 25th generation of Off Off Campus.

JOVAN KING (Jared) hails from Yellow Springs, Ohio and received his BFA in Acting from Wright State University.  He has been acting in the Chicago theatre scene for five years now and has appeared in such plays as Bard Fiction and Klingon Christmas Carol with Comedia Beaurgard, Macbeth with Polarity, and My First Time with Broken Nose.  This is his first time working with Strange Bedfellows.

CONNOR KONZ (Harry) is a native Texan and received his BFA from the University of Oklahoma in Performance and Dramaturgy. Recent productions credits include: Dancing in the Storm  (Adapt Theatre Productions), Mercury is Perpetually in Retrograde (Williamstown Theatre Festival), and The Cherry Orchard (University of Oklahoma).

STEPHANIE SHUM (Dale) has appeared in Circle-Machine (Oracle Productions), reWILDing Genius (The New Colony/Steppenwolf Garage Rep 2014), Kate and Sam Are Not Breaking Up (The New Colony), Alice (Nothing Without a Company), Mnemonic (Red Tape Theatre), The Hundred Flowers Project u/s (Silk Road Rising), and Equivocation u/s (Victory Gardens). She is an Ensemble Member and the Managing Director of The New Colony and a Company Member with Nothing Without a Company where she will next appear in Punk Punk this summer.

JAKE SZCZEPANIAK (Draco) was last seen in Red Tape Theatre's Mnemonic downtown. He was also a part of the long running Midwest premier of Cock at Profiles Theatre. Jake has also proudly worked with Shattered Globe Theatre (Burn This), Remy Bumppo (Changes of Heart), Pavement Group, Pride Films and Plays, Theater Seven of Chicago, (Re)Discover Theatre, Circle Theatre, and Project 891. Jake is a graduate of U of I Champaign-Urbana's Acting program.