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Showing posts with label 29th season. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 29th season. Show all posts

Thursday, May 2, 2024

DIE HARD 4 YOUR LUV VIA THE FACTORY THEATER MAY 31 - JULY 13

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

THE FACTORY THEATER ANNOUNCES

DIE HARD 4 YOUR LUV 

MAY 31 - JULY 13 

WRITTEN BY KIRK PYNCHON AND MIKE BEYER

The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., is proud to announce the third production of The Factory’s 29th season, Die Hard 4 Your Luv, opening June 7. The production runs through July 13 and was written by Kirk Pynchon and Mike Beyer and directed by Becca Holloway. Previews for Die Hard 4 Your Luv are Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 2 at 3 p.m. The performance schedule includes Friday and Saturday performances at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. and Thursday, June 27 and July 11 at 8 p.m. An understudy performance will occur on Sunday, June 30 at 3 p.m. and there will be an accessibility performance on Sunday, June 23 at 3 p.m. Tickets for Die Hard 4 Your Luv are $25 and may be purchased through the Box Office by calling 312-275-5757 or by visiting TheFactoryTheater.com.

It’s NYE 1999. A group of sinister mercenaries are holding the world’s most popular boy band hostage! Unless the nations of the world hand over their vital Y2K codes by midnight, Boyz Will B Boyz will become Boyz Will B Dead! Will the least talented band member save the day? Or will the bad guys escape to their all-inclusive resort with the water ski package?

The Die Hard 4 Your Luv cast includes Whitney Ann Bates^ (ensemble/ Yana US/ Alyssa US); Katy Campbell++ (Hailey/ensemble); Matt Chester+ (Authentic); Jeffrey David Thomas+ (J Swizzle); Brittany Ellis*++ (Yana Petrovian); Jacob Fjare+ (Todd US); Peri Griffiths++ (Hailey US/ensemble US); Joshua Hogan+ (J Swizzle US/Authentic US); Lexy Hope Weixel^ (ensemble/Whitney US/Chuckie Bones US); Madelyn Loehr++ (ensemble/ Meg US); Marisa Macella++ (Meg Lawson); Tierra Matthews++ (Whitney); Brandy Miller+ (Alyssa Tallinger); Hazel Monson++ (ensemble US); Liam Ryan+ (Chuckie Bones); and Chase Wheaton-Werle~+ (Todd).

The Die Hard 4 Your Luv creative team includes Kirk Pynchon**+ (playwright); Mike Beyer**+ (playwright); Becca Holloway~++ (director); Taylor Pasche++ (assistant director); Miranda Hernandez++ (stage manager); Shelby Burgus~++ (production manager); Spencer Gjerde+ (scenic design); Ellie Humphrys*++^ (light design); Stephanie Senior++ (sound design); Henry Bender* (props design); Vicki Jablonski++ (costume designer); and Jillian Leff++ (fight director)

~ Denotes The Factory Ensemble, *Denotes Factory Artistic Associate,

 **Denotes The Factory Theater Ensemble Emeritus

 Pronoun Key: + (he/him/his); ++(she/her/hers); ^ (they, them, theirs). = (any with respect)


ABOUT KIRK PYNCHON, playwright

Kirk Pynchon (he/him) was one of the original ensemble members when The Factory Theater first started literally one millions years ago, and since then he has written such hits for The Factory as Man Card, Poppin’ and Lockdown, Poppin’ and Lockdown 2:Dance the Right Thing, Hey! Dancin’!, Hey! Dancin’! Hey! Musical!, and most recently the Jeff nominated, Last Night in Karaoke Town. He lives in Los Angeles, works as an Editorial Director for an ad agency, and is a constant embarrassment to his teenage kids.

ABOUT MIKE BEYER, playwright

Mike Beyer (he/him) is a Factory Emeritus Ensemble Member, and has been a part of The Factory since the days of Bill Clinton.  He authored or co-authored several Factory hit shows, including White Trash Wedding and a Funeral, Dirty Diamonds, Hey! Dancin'! (and Hey! Dancin'! Hey! Musical!), and Last Night in Karaoke Town (all with Kirk Pynchon).  Mike is newly settled in Cleveland, and also hosts the podcast Jagbags.

ABOUT BECCA HOLLOWAY, director

Becca Holloway (she/her) A Factory Ensemble member since 2021, Becca is a director and casting director around the city. Previous Factory credits include Last Night in Karaoke Town (2020/2022; AD/music director/choreographer), The Hamilton Beach 420 Special (The 2021 Factory Holiday Show; director), The Factory Zone (2019; actor) and Prophet$! (2019; AD/choreographer). Becca is also a proud company member of Red Theater where she is also the resident casting director. Becca has been lucky enough to work on the directing teams of several companies including: Hell in a Handbag, Broken Nose Theater, Oil Lamp Theater, Theatre Evolve, The Comrades, Refuge Theatre, and many others. On a personal note, she and fellow Ensemble member Chase Wheaton-Werle just got married and are partners in life and art.


ABOUT THE FACTORY THEATER

For 30 years, the Factory has created its shows from scratch, doing exactly the kind of theater they wanted to do. From writing workshops to the closing night bash, Factory shows are a unique experience that fits its exacting standards: original, bold, and full-tilt. Its shameless ensemble is an ambassador of a good time, ensuring Chicago remains heartily entertained.

The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., presents Die Hard 4 Your Luv, May 31 - July 13, written by Kirk Pynchon and Mike Beyer and directed by Becca Holloway. Previews for Die Hard 4 Your Luv are Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 2 at 3 p.m.The performance schedule includes Friday and Saturday performances at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. and Thursday, June 27 and July 11 at 8 p.m. An understudy performance will occur on Sunday, June 30 at 3 p.m. and there will be an accessibility performance on Sunday, June 23 at 3 p.m. Tickets for Die Hard 4 Your Luv are $25 and may be purchased through the Box Office by calling 312-275-5757 or by visiting TheFactoryTheater.com.


 

Monday, May 1, 2023

US Premiere of Bowie in Warsaw Via Trap Door Theatre May 18–July 1, 2023

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

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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