Casting is now complete for the Greenhouse Theater’s Solo Celebration!, as Artistic Director Jacob Harvey announced the remaining performers to be featured in solo works being presented now through February 2017. The A-list group of Chicago performers joining the Solo Celebration include: Linda Reiter as Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy in “Rose,” directed by Steve Scott and running August 19 – September 25; Gene Weygandt as Matty in “Uncle Phillip’s Coat,” directed by Elizabeth Margolius and running November 27 – December 31; and Will Allan as Chester in “Circumference of a Squirrel,” directed by Jacob Harvey and running January 13 – February 12, 2017.
“I am thrilled to complete the lineup of performers for Solo Celebration series with such a diverse and celebrated group of Chicago actors. Linda, Gene, and Will join a phenomenal group of collaboartors working to bring audiences innovative and challenging new solo plays,” said Artistic Director Jacob Harvey. “One of the greatest joys of curating this series has been the opportunity to bring artists from different companies and parts of the city together to create on our stages.”
Starring in the Chicago premiere of the off-Broadway hit “Rose” in August, Linda Reiter portrays the stalwart Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy in the hours following the tragedy at Chappaquiddick. Reiter debuted in her first solo performance in “The Testament of Mary” at Victory Gardens Theater, for which she received a Jeff nomination for Best Solo Performance. Reiter is an ensemble member of Shattered Globe Theatre, where she has performed in 41 productions in their 25 years, last appearing as Bessie in “Marvin's Room.” Reiter has garnered Jeff Awards in the non-equity category for the roles of Eleanor Iselin in “The Manchurian Candidate,” Martha in “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” Kate in “All My Sons,” Mme. De Merteuil in “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” Dee Dee in “Invitation to a March” and Sarah in “Bondagers.”
Gene Weygandt (a favorite of ours here at ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows!) stars as Matty in the Chicago premiere of “Uncle Phillip’s Coat,” this November, in a time traveling journey of self-discovery. Weygandt is best known as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in “Wicked” in Chicago, and on Broadway. More recently, he starred as Jean Shepherd in “A Christmas Story, The Musical.” Also on Broadway, Weygandt originated the role of Paul in “Big: The Musical.” He is a three-time Jeff Award recipient for “A Day in Hollywood/A Night in The Ukraine,” and “Me and My Girl” at The Marriott Theatre, and for “Little Shop of Horrors.” He received an After Dark Award for his role as Max in the long-running hit, “Lend Me a Tenor” at The Royal George Theatre. Other credits include “Inspecting Carol” at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, “The Taming of the Shrew” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and principal roles in “Old Jews Telling Jokes,” “The Miser,” “Arthur: the Musical,” “The Light In The Piazza,” “Hairspray,” “The Music Man,” Don’t Dress for Dinner,” “Little Me,” and “The Man Who Came To Dinner.” Weygandt’s TV and film credits include “The Birdcage,” “The Babe,” and “The Pager,” “Chicago Fire,” “Betrayal,” “Boss,” “Mind Games,” “The Beast,” “Home Improvement,” “Cybill,” “Murphy Brown,” “Drew Carey,” and more.
In January, Will Allan stars as Chester in “Circumference of a Squirrel,” a savagely comic story of growing up with a father who developed a rabid hatred for squirrels that eventually infected every aspect of his life. Allan was last seen in Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s production of Annie Baker's ”The Flick.” Previous Chicago credits include “Good People,” “The March,” “Animal Farm,” and “A Separate Peace” (Steppenwolf); “The Seagull” and “Dartmoor Prison”(Goodman); “The History Boys” (TimeLine Theatre); “The Whale” (Victory Gardens); “The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?” (Remy Bumppo); “Speech and Debate” and “It's a Wonderful Life” (American Theater Company); “Romeo and Juliet” and “Much Ado About Nothing” (First Folio); and “Red Noses” and “Good Soul of Szechuan” (Strawdog). Regional credits include The “Mousetrap” (Milwaukee Rep) and “Red” (Human Race Theatre Co.).
Other actors appearing in Solo Celebration include Cathy Schenkelberg in “Squeeze My Cans,” July 14 -24, Cameron Pfiffner in “The Portrait,” July 15 – Aug. 4, Melinda Buckley in “Mother (and Me),” Aug. 4 – 14, Simon Slater in “Bloodshot,” August 10 – Sept. 10, Carin Silkaitis in “I Do Today,” Sept. 2 – Oct. 9, Phillip Dawkins in “The Happiest Place on Earth,” Sept. 17 – Oct. 23 and Kate Buddeke in “Miss America,” Jan. 6 – Feb. 12.
About “Solo Celebration!”
The Greenhouse Theater Center presents “Solo Celebration!,” includes ten full productions, two limited engagements and other special events running June 2016 through February 2017. Most productions will be produced in their entirety by Greenhouse, while other plays will be staged with co-producers including Sideshow Theatre Company and The Other Theatre Company. Greenhouse’s “Solo Celebration!” is co-produced by Forum Productions and underwritten by the Wendy and William Spatz Charitable Foundation. More information and the full lineup, click here.
About the Greenhouse Theater Center
The Greenhouse Theater Center is a nonprofit performance venue located at 2257 N Lincoln Ave, in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Our complex offers two newly remodeled 190-seat main stage spaces, two 60-seat studio theaters, an in-house rehearsal room, and Chicago’s only dedicated used theatre book store.
Our mission at the Greenhouse is first and foremost to grow local theatre. We strive to cultivate a fertile environment for local artists, from individual renters to our bevy of resident companies, to develop and produce their work. In 2014 alone, The Greenhouse Theater Center provided space for almost 1,000 ticketed performances, serving more than 54,000 patrons. At least 30 productions by our resident companies were produced, including works by the celebrated American Blues Theater and Remy Bumpo Theatre Company. Through our Trellis Program, we offer the community affordable access to our work by housing Chicago’s only dedicated used theatre bookstore, located on the second floor of our complex, as well as offering a free reading series each Tuesday night where local artists workshop their latest scripts. Additionally, we also continue to play an active role in cultivating and nurturing our community through continued partnerships with the League of Chicago Theaters and local Chambers of Commerce.
As of 2016, the Greenhouse Theater Center embraced the true spirit of growth and launched its producing entity. With the announcement of our 8 month long Solo Celebration Series, helmed by Artistic Director Jacob Harvey, we will produce 10 solo plays from June 2016 to February 2017. Through this inaugural effort, we hope to expand the solo play cannon while also cultivating a larger conversation about the possibilities of the one-person play.
With new ideas always incubating, the Greenhouse Theater Center is flourishing. Come grow with us!
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