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Trap Door Theatre Presents the US Premiere of
Bowie in Warsaw
By Dorota Masłowska Translated by Soren Gauger
Directed by Paweł Świątek
May 18–July 1, 2023
Trap Door Theatre is thrilled to round out its 29th season with the US premiere of Bowie in Warsaw, Dorota Masłowska’s absurd comedy about freedom of self expression in Soviet era Poland. This new translation by Soren Gauger was exclusively commissioned for Trap Door Theatre. Directed by guest director from Poland Paweł Świątek, Bowie in Warsaw will play May 18 – July 1, 2023 at Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W Cortland St. in Chicago. Tickets are now on sale at trapdoortheatre.com or by calling (773)-384-0494. I'll be out for the press opening May 18th, so check back soon for my full review.
The cast includes Holly Cerney, Emily Lotspeich, Miguel Long, David Lovejoy, Laura Nelson, Emily Nichelson, Tia Pinson, Keith Surney, and Bob Wilson.
The women of Warsaw tremble with the rumor of a strangler on the prowl... Set in the landscape of a true crime story from 1970’s Poland, Bowie In Warsaw is an absurd comedy about the repression of self expression and love in a Soviet era Poland. Playwright Dorota Masłowska creates an atomic-era Polish landscape, which might even inspire a visit from David Bowie himself.
Trap Door is honored to invite Polish director Paweł Świątek to direct our third Dorota Masłowska play after our successful productions of A Couple of Poor Polish Speaking Romanians and No Matter How Hard We Try. Dorota Masłowska is one of Poland’s most exciting and influential young novelists and playwrights.
The production team includes Anna Klos (Stage Manager), Merje Veski (Scenic Designer), Richard Norwood (Lighting Designer), Rachel Sypniewski (Costume Designer), Danny Rockett (Original Music and Sound Designer), Syd Genco (Makeup and Hair Designer), Milan Pribisic (Dramaturg), Emily Townley (Dramaturgy Intern), Tom McLees (Production Assistant), and Michal Janicki (Graphic Designer).
PRODUCTION DETAILS:
Cast (in alphabetical order): Holly Cerney (Mother), Emily Lotspeich (Mrs. Nastka), Miguel Long (Uncle Jurek), David Lovejoy (David Bowie/Mr. Kozełko), Laura Nelson (Bogumiła/Karolinka/Judyta), Emily Nichelson (Regina), Tia Pinson (Aunt Wacia/Wife), Keith Surney (Platoon Leader Wojciech), and Bob Wilson (Director).
Location: Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland St. Chicago, IL 60622
Dates: Regular Run: Thursday, May 18 –Saturday, July 1, 2023
Please note there will be no performances on the weekend of June 1st-3rd. Bowie in Warsaw has been invited by the NY Polish Cultural Institute to perform at the Rehearsal for Truth Festival in New York City and JCTC in New Jersey.
Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 pm.
Tickets: $25 with 2-for-1 admission on Thursdays. Tickets are currently available at trapdoor.ticketleap.com/bowie-in-warsaw or by calling (773) 384-0494.
Please note, there will be a talk back with playwright Dorota Masłowska and a small reception after the performance on Saturday, May 20th. This performance’s ticket price will be $35.
Group tickets: Special group rates are available. For information, call (773) 384-0494 or email boxofficetrapdoor@gmail.com.
Plan your visit:
Free street parking is available.
Buses: #9 (Ashland), #50 (Damen), #72 (North), #73 (Armitage). Metra: Clybourn metra stop.
About the Artists
Dorota Masłowska (Playwright) (b. 1983) is one of the most renowned Polish writers and playwrights. Her first novel translated into English as Snow White and Russian Red, was published while she was still a teenager and made her an instant literary sensation in her native country. The novel detailed the growing pains of marginalized small-town youth. In 2005, Masłowska published her second book, The Queen’s Peacock, a 150 page rap poem in prose. Both of these books were adapted for the stage in Poland, Germany and Great Britain. Masłowska wrote her first play, A Couple of Poor-Polish Speaking Romanians, in 2006 (Staged by Trap Door in 2009) and her second one, No Matter How Hard We Try, or We Can Exist on the Best Terms We Can, in 2008. In 2012, Masłowska published another novel, Honey, I Killed our Cats, and in 2014 released her first music album, The Society is Mean, a mixture of punk, rap and dance music with lyrics commenting on current social issues. Masłowska’s writing is characterized by her ironic, pessimistic worldview and extraordinary linguistic power; as a postmodern writer she confronts, disturbs and subverts sacred ideas of selfhood and nationhood.
Paweł Świątek (Director) graduated from the directing department of the Kraków Drama School in Poland. He was a student of Kristian Lupa's and worked as an assistant with influential European directors, among them Renne Pollesch and Maja Kleczewska. Over 30 of the plays Paweł has directed have taken part in important international festivals like ‘Divine Comedy’ in Krakow, and ‘Warsaw Theatre Meeting’. He usually directs classical plays or contemporary adaptations of novels. Paweł is a multiple minister's scholarship recipient. For the last ten years, he has directed in the most notable theaters in Poland: National Old Theatre (Paw Królowej/Queen Peacock, Gyubal Wahazar), Słowacki’s Theatre (Wojna Polsko-Ruska/Polish-Russsian War, Botticelli), Szaniawski’s Theatre in Wałbrzych (Historical play: Narutowicz), Jaracza Theatre in Łódź (Książę Niezłomny/Steadfast Prince), Kochanowski’s Theatre in Opole (Sen Nocy Letniej/Midsummer Night's Dream‚ Szczęśliwe Dni/Happy Days) Impresario Theatre (Cappella Cracoviensis), and IMKA Theatre. Since 2017 Paweł has been a member of the Underground Theatre Wrocław Artistic Council. He prepared with Wrocław’s group an interactive performance based on Nicole Machiavelli entitled "Prince". He has also participated in international projects in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Essen.
About Trap Door Theatre
Trap Door Theatre is committed to seeking out challenging and obscure works. Whether a forgotten European classic, an international project rarely seen in the United States, or an untarnished piece of American literature, Trap Door seeks diverse voices and presents them through innovative expression. We mix established and imaginative techniques to illustrate the absurdities of living in today’s society.
Bowie in Warsaw is generously sponsored by Regina Bowgierd and John Kulczycki. Bowie in Warsaw is additionally supported by the Polish Cultural Institute New York.
Trap Door Theatre is funded in part by The Paul M Angell Family Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council Agency, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The John R Halligan Charitable Fund, The Reva and David Logan Foundation, The MacArthur Funds for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, and the generosity of individual donors.
For additional information, visit trapdoortheatre.com
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