ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company Presents
PASSAGE
by Christopher Chen Directed by Kaiser Ahmed
March 2 - April 10, 2022 at Theater Wit
REVIEW:
By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara
Passage breaks through the 4th wall and straight into the souls of the audience. Remy Bumppo's latest is a thought provoking journey that illuminates the chasm between different ethnicities, the complicated topography of colonialism, and the humanity that connects us all. I loved the use of letters to designate names and places, as it left a bit of mystery, but also made the content more universal.
At the top of the show, with house lights still blazing, it was enjoyable to get to see the whole cast introduce themselves and share a bit of family background on where they've come from in life and how they got here, as in literally HOW they made the trek in to the performance space today. As the lights dimmed and the actors morphed into their characters, they did an amazing job of bringing the entire audience of newfound friends along for the ride.
This timely and timeless production is a must see as long as humans are still invading each other's countries, judging worth on the basis of ethnicity or physical characteristics, and reacting to others based on fears, stereotypes, and prejudices.
Kudos to Scenic Designer: Yeaji Kim for the unique set, that provides a powerful visual metaphor.
Charin Alvarez, Peter Sipla, Tiffany Renee Johnson and Adam Poss
Cheers to Remy Bumppo Theatre Company for celebrating ageless, nearly universal traditions of spilling the tea, adding a flask for a bit of a spike, and both listening and engaging in meaningful dialogue with those different from ourselves even when we may end up with more questions than answers. This production is a lovely exploration of the subtle layers and nuances to the human condition, sacred spaces, and the ways we help and harm others intentionally or accidentally.
Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theater critic, photographer, videographer, actress, artist and Mama. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly).
Leyla Beydoun and Adam Poss
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company is pleased to announce the casting and design team for the first show in its 2022 Season,
PASSAGE by Christopher Chen and directed by Kaiser Ahmed.
The show will run from March 2 through April 10, 2022 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Avenue in Chicago.
Q is building a new life in Country X, having immigrated from Country Y. But it’s hard to make friends in Country X — the history between the two countries is fraught, and political tensions are running high. As Q tries to navigate interpersonal dynamics, the past and present collide in a complex geopolitical landscape. And no one is off the hook. Christopher Chen’s deeply humane, exquisitely theatrical play inspired by E.M. Forster’s A Passage to India is tense, fascinating, delicate, and dangerous.
PASSAGE will feature Patrick Agada, Charin Alvarez (Remy Bumppo Core Ensemble Member), Leyla Beydoun, Carolyn Hu Bradbury, Tiffany Renee Johnson, Adam Poss, Peter Sipla. Designs for this production will feature work by Himabindu Poroori (Dramaturg), Yeaji Kim (Scenic Design), Izumi Inaba (Costume Design), Liz Gomez and Mac Vaughey (Co-Lighting Design), Michael Huey (Sound Design and Original Music) and Rowan Doe (Properties Design).
Marti Lyons enthusiastically speaks to kicking off her first season as Artistic Director with PASSAGE: “I am thrilled to launch our 2022 season with this production. PASSAGE, written by one of my favorite playwrights, Christopher Chen, is a kaleidoscopic examination of power that could be anywhere and anytime, but feels intensely now. The Core Ensemble and I cannot wait to be back onstage and start our season with this show.”
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company’s production of PASSAGE will run from March 2 through April 10, 2022 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Avenue in Chicago. Subscriptions and single tickets are on sale at www.RemyBumppo.org or by calling the Theater Wit Box Office at 773.975.8150.
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company’s 2022 Presenting Sponsor is Geoffrey A. Anderson. Remy Bumppo Theatre Company’s 2022 Season Sponsors are Brenda and James Grusecki and Charlotte Toerber.
Cast (in alphabetical order): Patrick Agada (F); Charin Alvarez (B); Leyla Beydoun (Q); Carolyn Hu Bradbury (J/S/MOSQUITO); Tiffany Renee Johnson (D/M); Adam Poss (H/R/GECKO); Peter Sipla (G); Flavia Pallozzi (u/s D / M); Natalie Santoro (u/s J / S / MOSQUITO). Tina El Gamal (u/s B); Nathaniel Elfant (u/s H /R / GECKO); Aissa Guerra (u/s Q); Tulsi McDaniels (u/s F); Michael Mejia (u/s G);
Artistic Director: Marti Lyons
Producer: Alexis Taylor
Intimacy and Culture Consultant: Greg Geffrard
Associate Intimacy and Culture Consultant: Courtney Abbott
Casting Director: Rachael Jimenez, CSA
Casting Associate: Emily Gruhl
Stage Manager: Jean E. Compton
Assistant Stage Manager: Cori Lang
Technical Director: Harrison Ornelas
Production Manager: Ellen Willett
Dramaturg: Himabindu Poroori
Scenic Designer: Yeaji Kim
Costume Designer: Izumi Inaba
Assistant Costume Designer: Aija Moreno
Co-Lighting Designer: Liz Gomez
Co-Lighting Designer: Mac Vaughey
Sound Designer and Original Music: Michael Huey
Properties Designer: Rowan Doe
Scenic Charge Artist: Emily Altman
Wardrobe Supervisor: Stefani Azores-Gococo
Head Electrician: Nick Chamernik
Leyla Beydoun, Adam Poss, Peter Sipla, Carolyn Hu Bradbury, Patrick Agada, and Tiffany Renee Johnson
Location: Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60657
Dates: Previews: Wednesday, March 2 - Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 7:30pm; Sunday, March 6, 2022 at 2:30pm
Press Performance: Monday, March 7, 2022 at 7:30pm
Regular Run: Thursday, March 10 through Sunday, April 20, 2022
Curtain Times: Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:30pm
Matinee Performances (other than Sundays): Saturday, March 19 at 2:30pm; Saturday, March 26 at 2:30pm; Saturday, April 2 at 2:30pm; Thursday April 7 at 2:30pm Audio Description/Touch Tour Performance: Saturday, March 19, 2022; Touch Tour starts at 1:00pm, and the performance starts at 2:30pm
Open Caption Performance: Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 2:30pm
Tickets: Previews: $30.00 - $40.00
Regular Run: $35.00 - $55.00
Industry Tickets: $20.00, available Wednesdays – Fridays
Student Tickets: $15.00, available day of
Group Discounts: Available for parties of 10 or more, call 773.244.8119
ABOUT REMY BUMPPO THEATRE COMPANY:
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company expands and enriches their community’s view of the world, and their own, by producing both the great plays of the past and the important plays of today. As an ensemble-driven theater company, Remy Bumppo authors a more humane culture that listens to, and seeks to understand, the voices, the ideas and the stories of one another. Since its inception in 1996, Remy Bumppo has produced a blend of modern classics and complex contemporary works, presented in an intimate setting with clarity, wit and passion. We invite audiences to engage directly with the art through conversation with the artists.
