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Showing posts with label Lifeline Theatre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lifeline Theatre. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Lifeline Theatre's Long-Time Artistic Director Dorothy Milne To Transition Out Of Leadership Position

LIFELINE THEATRE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DOROTHY MILNE
ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP TRANSITION

Dorothy Milne. Photo credit: Carolyn Panknin

There's big news from one of our favorites in the Chicago theatre world today. Slow change is in the works for Lifeline's leadership as a search will commence for their next Artistic Director, over the coming year, with Dorothy Milne staying at the helm through the transition. She's one of a kind, but we're excited to see what's next for Lifeline, and Milne has vowed to stay involved with the company, while passing the torch (and the long hours) on to another.

As Lifeline Theatre continues its 35th season, long-time Artistic Director Dorothy Milne has announced she will transition out of her leadership role during the coming year. “I love my job and I won't be leaving Lifeline,” Milne said. “I will still be an active ensemble member and volunteer. But I'm over 60 years old and I look forward to spending more time away from a desk. 

“Lifeline will conduct a search that invites both internal and external candidates to apply,” Milne continued. “The successful candidate would become a Lifeline ensemble member, if they are not already, and would engage in our ensemble development process. This is not a traditional AD role: we are a true collective, deciding all artistic programming for the season as an ensemble. The ideal candidate is both a creative force and someone who finds passion in mentoring, creating opportunity for others, growing Lifeline's family, engaging our community partners, and actively collaborating with Lifeline's ensemble, board, and staff.”

The search for Milne’s successor will take place over the coming months. The search committee includes members of Lifeline’s Board of Directors, artistic ensemble, and staff. Lifeline hopes to have a successor in place by the end of the current season, but Milne will transition out of her role on a schedule that best suits the new hire and the organization.

Milne joined the Lifeline Artistic Ensemble in 1992 and was chosen as artistic director in 1999, following the departure of founding Producing Director Meryl Friedman. During Milne’s 19-year tenure, the organization has grown dramatically, increasing its annual operating budget from just over $300K to just under $1M. Along the way, Milne has directed 22 shows at Lifeline, produced 116 plays, curated eight outings of the Fillet of Solo live lit/storytelling festival (runs January 12-28), served on the Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest planning committee for 16 years, and acted as a fierce ambassador for Lifeline and the Glenwood Avenue Arts District across the community.

“To try to measure the impact that Dorothy has had over the past 19 years is an impossible task,” Managing Director Allison Cain said. “Through her leadership, creative guidance, and dedication, she has not only transformed Lifeline but our neighborhood and theatrical community. I have been so honored to work by her side for the past nine years, and will miss her beyond words. I’m also thankful for the flexible transition timeline she has proposed as it will allow us to be thoughtful in finding the right person to take up the mantle as we move into our next 35 years.”

The remaining shows in the 2017-2018 season:
Click links for our prior coverage & Montauciel Takes Flight ticket giveaway.

The 21st Annual Fillet of Solo Festival
January 12–28, 2018
Lifeline Theatre (6912 N. Glenwood Ave.) and Heartland Studio (7016 N. Glenwood Ave.)
Full Schedule: www.lifelinetheatre.com
Tickets: $10 per performance; Festival Pass: $50 

Celebrating the breadth of Chicago’s enduring storytelling and live lit scene, Lifeline brings together a dozen storytelling collectives and numerous solo performers for a three-week, multi-venue selection of powerful personal stories.

Full details, including participant information, locations and scheduling, for the 2018 Fillet of Solo Festival can be found at www.lifelinetheatre.com

Solo participants include Lily Be, Ada Cheng, Shelby Marie Edwards, Julie Ganey, Carly Jo Geer, R.C. Riley and Jameson Wentworth.

Participating storytelling collectives include Around the World: Immigrant Stories, GayCo, GeNarrations, the kates, The Lifeline Storytelling Project, Sappho’s Salon, Serving the Sentence, Stir Friday Night, The Stoop, Sweat Girls, Tellin’ Tales Theatre, and You’re Being Ridiculous.


Montauciel Takes Flight
World Premiere
A new musical inspired by historical events
Book by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member James E. Grote
Music & Lyrics by Russell J. Coutinho
Directed by Aileen McGroddy

January 13–February 18, 2018

Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., 773.761.4477, www.lifelinetheatre.com

All tickets: $15

Previews: Saturday, Jan. 13 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 14 at 11 a.m. 

Press Opening: Sunday, Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. Regular Run: Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.



Anna Karenina
World Premiere
Based on the novel by Leo Tolstoy
Adapted by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Jessica Wright Buha
Directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Amanda Link

February 16–April 8, 2018

Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., 773.761.4477, www.lifelinetheatre.com

Regular tickets $40; preview tickets $20

Previews: Fridays, Feb. 16 and 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, Feb. 17 and 24 at 8 p.m.; Sundays, Feb. 18 and 25 at 4 p.m. 

Press Opening: Monday, Feb. 26, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. (press also invited to final preview on Feb. 25 at 

4 p.m.) 

Regular Run: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sundays at 4 p.m.

Now in its 35th season, Lifeline Theatre is driven by a passion for story. Our ensemble process supports writers in the development of literary adaptations and new work, and our theatrical and educational programs foster a lifelong engagement with literature and the arts. A cultural anchor of Rogers Park, we are committed to deepening our connection to an ever-growing family of artists and audiences, both near and far. Lifeline Theatre – Big Stories, Up Close.

Lifeline Theatre’s programs are partially supported by Alphawood Foundation; A.R.T League Inc.; Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; Chicago CityArts, a grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; FGMK LLC; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; The Grover Hermann Foundation; The Michael and Mona Heath Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation; Illinois Arts Council Agency; Illinois Humanities Council; Lagunitas Brewing Co. Community Grant Program; MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; The PAV Grant Fund; The Polk Bros. Foundation; Poubelle Fund, a Donor Advised Fund of Renaissance Charitable Foundation; Rogers Park Social; The Saints; S&C Electric Company Fund; The Shubert Foundation; and the annual support of businesses and individuals.


Wednesday, January 10, 2018

FREE KICKOFF PARTY TONIGHT for 21ST ANNUAL FILLET OF SOLO FESTIVAL 1/12-28 at Lifeline Theatre

Fest Alert
Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

LIFELINE THEATRE PRESENTS THE 21ST ANNUAL
FILLET OF SOLO FESTIVAL, JANUARY 12–28, 2018


Lifeline Partners with 12 Chicago Storytelling Collectives
Free Kick-Off Event With Discounted Festival Passes on 
January 10 at 7 p.m.


Here at ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama we're huge fans of storytelling and live lit. We've also adored Lifeline Theatre for decades, as well as many of the diverse performers and companies they're featuring, like Tekki Lomnicki, GayCo, and Carly Jo Geer. This month, their popular annual feast of storytelling and solo shows, Fillet of Solo is back, so come check it out. Discount passes for the full fest are available TONIGHT at their free kickoff party. 

Lifeline Theatre Artistic Director Dorothy Milne and former Live Bait Theater Artistic Director Sharon Evans are pleased to announce the 21st Annual Fillet of Solo Festival, running January 12–28, 2018. Celebrating the breadth of Chicago’s enduring storytelling and live lit scene, Lifeline brings 12 storytelling collectives and seven solo performers together for a three-week, multi-venue selection of powerful personal stories. 


LifelineTheatre-FilletofSolo2018 -- GayCo -- photo by Erik Aldrich
All images courtesy of Lifeline Theatre


The 2018 Fillet of Solo festival will perform January 12-28, 2018, in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood at Lifeline Theatre (6912 N. Glenwood Ave.) and Heartland Studio Theatre (7016 N. Glenwood Ave.). Free parking and shuttle available. Performance times are Fridays at 7 and 8:30 p.m. at both venues; Saturdays at 4 and 5:30 p.m. at Heartland Studio and 7 and 8:30 p.m. at both venues; and Sundays at 4 and 5:30 p.m. at both venues. Ticket prices are $10 for regular single tickets, and $50 for a Festival Pass (allows admission to any performance). Tickets may be purchased at the Lifeline Theatre Box Office, 773.761.4477, or by visiting www.lifelinetheatre.com.

FREE KICK-OFF NIGHT

The 21st Annual Fillet of Solo Festival offers easy access to 12 Live Lit groups and numerous solo performers that perform regularly throughout Chicago. On Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018 at 7 p.m., at Empirical Brew Pub,1328 W. Morse Ave. Lifeline Theatre Artistic Director Dorothy Milne will lead a conversation with numerous local storytellers and share a taste of things to come in the festival.

Discounted Passes: Fillet of Solo Festival Passes will be offered at a special discounted rate of $25 at the free kick-off event (regularly $50). 

The Kick-Off Night is free, no reservations required. Contact the Lifeline Theatre Box Office, 773.761.4477, for more information. 



LifelineTheatre-FilletofSolo2018 -- Nestor Gomez


FEATURED PERFORMERS

The 21st Annual Fillet of Solo Festival will feature solo performances by:

·         Lily Be: “No Hay Mal”
·         Ada Cheng: “Breaking Rules, Broken Hearts: Loving across Borders”
·         Shelby Marie Edwards: “Holly's Ivy”
·         Julie Ganey: “Vacationing in the Moral High Ground”
·         Carly Jo Geer: “I Come From Hoarders” 
·         R. C. Riley: “Wrong Way Journey”
·         Jameson Wentworth: “[Out of] Context” 

Plus the work of the following storytelling collectives:

·         Around the World: Immigrant Stories: Curated and produced by Nestor Gomez. Celebrated storyteller and 20-time Moth Slam winner Nestor Gomez has assembled a group of local performers to help illuminate the voices of immigrants in our city.
·         GayCo (gayco.com): An ensemble that specializes in creating sketch-comedy revues based on gay/lesbian themes. Since starting as a lesbigay focused workshop at the Second City Training Center in 1996, they’ve performed for massive, enthusiastic, sexy gay audiences in Chicago and across the country 
·         GeNarrations (goodmantheatre.org/Engage-Learn/education-programs/GeNarrations/): A personal narrative story performance workshop hosted at Goodman Theatre and in senior centers around Chicago.
·         the kates (thekates.org): An all-female comedy showcase that provides an intimate night of comedy dedicated to showcasing talented and hilarious female-identified performers by creating inclusive and positive environments. Artists are encouraged to express their comic point of view in unique and non-apologetic ways – proving that women are equal in the eyes of comedy.
·         The Lifeline Storytelling Project (lifelinestorytellingproject.com): The Lifeline Storytelling Project produces live music & storytelling events designed to develop and showcase artists affiliated with Lifeline Theatre.
·         Sappho’s Salon (facebook.com/sapphossalon2): A monthly performance salon at Chicago's Women and Children First bookstore featuring expressions of queerness, gender and feminism.
·         Serving the Sentence (facebook.com/servingthesentencechicago): Different storytellers take the same first sentence -- each in their own direction. At the end of the show, a new sentence is drawn that the next show's storytellers will embark from!
·         Stir Friday Night (stirfridaynight.org): A 22-year-old Asian-American theater company, specializing in sketch comedy and improv. Alumni include Danny Pudi from Community, and Steven Yeun from The Walking Dead.
·         The Stoop (facebook.com/StoopStyleStories): The Stoop is hosted by Moth GrandSLAM champion Lily Be and Badass Clarence Browley.  Featured storytellers are given a theme and each share a short story related to that theme. The Stoop is a platform to bring Chicagoans to a better understanding of each other and to inspire change. Performing regularly at Rosa's Lounge in Humboldt Park, it is as much about community and survival as it is about entertainment. 
·         Sweat Girls (sweatgirls.org): With 24 years of shared history, the Sweat Girls represent the greying edge of Chicago's Live Lit community.  Known for their "contagious gusto" the Sweat Girls have been called "the undisputed tribal elders" of the solo performance scene (Chicago Reader, 2014).
·         Tellin’ Tales Theatre, featuring Tekki Lomnicki (tellintalestheatre.org): Tellin' Tales Theatre shatters the barriers between the disabled and non-disabled worlds through personal story — adult solo performances as well as "Six Stories Up,” a mentoring program and show featuring kids and adults, with and without disabilities. Tekki Lomnicki is a solo performer, playwright, director and educator.
·         You’re Being Ridiculous (yourebeingridiculous.com): “Good stories are better than good times!” A group of real people telling real funny stories about their lives with a theme as their guide. They laugh at themselves and with each other.



LifelineTheatre-FilletofSolo2018 -- Shelby Marie Edwards



PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE


WEEK ONE (January 12-14):
Friday, January 12
Lifeline Theatre                                                     Heartland Studio
7:00 p.m.   Around the World: Immigrant Stories   7:00 p.m.   GayCo
8:30 p.m.   Lily Be (“No Hay Mal”)                          8:30 p.m.   Serving The Sentence 
Saturday, January 13
Lifeline Theatre                                                     Heartland Studio
7:00 p.m.   Julie Ganey (“Vacationing in the         4:00 p.m.   GeNarrations
                  Moral High Ground”)                            5:30 p.m.   Lifeline Storytelling Project
8:30 p.m.   the kates                                              7:00 p.m.   R.C. Riley (“Wrong Way Journey”)
                                                                              8:30 p.m.   Sappho’s Salon
Sunday, January 14
Lifeline Theatre                                                     Heartland Studio
4:00 p.m.   Tellin’ Tales Theatre/Tekki Lomnicki   4:00 p.m.   Jameson Wentworth (“[Out of] Context”)
5:30 p.m.   Sweat Girls                                          5:30 p.m.   Shelby Marie Edwards (“Holly’s Ivy”) 
WEEK TWO (January 19-21):                       
Friday, January 19
Lifeline Theatre                                                     Heartland Studio
7:00 p.m.   the kates                                              7:00 p.m.   Sappho’s Salon
8:30 p.m.   You’re Being Ridiculous                      8:30 p.m.   Stir Friday Night
Performance schedule, continued:
Saturday, January 20
Lifeline Theatre                                                     Heartland Studio
7:00 p.m.   Lily Be (“No Hay Mal”)                          4:00 p.m.   Serving The Sentence
8:30 p.m.   Julie Ganey (“Vacationing in the         5:30 p.m.   Carly Jo Geer (“I Come From Hoarders”) 
                  Moral High Ground”)                            7:00 p.m.   GayCo
                                                                              8:30 p.m.   Shelby Marie Edwards (“Holly’s Ivy”) 
Sunday, January 21
Lifeline Theatre                                                     Heartland Studio
4:00 p.m.   Tellin’ Tales Theatre/Tekki Lomnicki   4:00 p.m.   GeNarrations
5:30 p.m.   Lifeline Storytelling Project                 5:30 p.m.   Ada Cheng (“Breaking Rules, Broken 
                                                                                                Hearts: Loving across Borders”) 
WEEK THREE (January 26-28):
Friday, January 26
Lifeline Theatre                                                     Heartland Studio
7:00 p.m.   Julie Ganey (“Vacationing in the         7:00 p.m.   Carly Jo Geer (“I Come From Hoarders”)
                  Moral High Ground”)                            8:30 p.m.   Stir Friday Night
8:30 p.m.   the kates                                              
Saturday, January 27
Lifeline Theatre                                                     Heartland Studio
7:00 p.m.   Around the World: Immigrant Stories   4:00 p.m.   Lifeline Storytelling Project
8:30 p.m.   You’re Being Ridiculous                      5:30 p.m.   The Stoop
                                                                              7:00 p.m.   Ada Cheng (“Breaking Rules, Broken
                                                                                                Hearts: Loving across Borders”)
                                                                              8:30 p.m.   Jameson Wentworth (“[Out of] Context”)
Sunday, January 28
Lifeline Theatre                                                     Heartland Studio
4:00 p.m.   Tellin’ Tales Theatre/Tekki Lomnicki   4:00 p.m.   Serving The Sentence
5:30 p.m.   Sweat Girls                                          5:30 p.m.   R.C. Riley (“Wrong Way Journey”)
  



Now in its 35th season, Lifeline Theatre is driven by a passion for story. Our ensemble process supports writers in the development of literary adaptations and new work, and our theatrical and educational programs foster a lifelong engagement with literature and the arts. A cultural anchor of Rogers Park, we are committed to deepening our connection to an ever-growing family of artists and audiences, both near and far. Lifeline Theatre – Big Stories, Up Close.




Lifeline Theatre’s programs are partially supported by Alphawood Foundation; A.R.T League Inc.; Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; Chicago CityArts, a grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; The Common Cup; Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; FGMK LLC; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; The Grover Hermann Foundation; Illinois Arts Council Agency; Illinois Humanities Council; Lagunitas Brewing Co. Community Grant Program; MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; The PAV Grant Fund; The Polk Bros. Foundation; Poubelle Fund, a Donor Advised Fund of Renaissance Charitable Foundation; Rogers Park Social; The Saints; S&C Electric Company Fund; The Shubert Foundation; and the annual support of businesses and individuals.

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

OPENING: World Premiere of Sylvester Via Lifeline Theatre 9/18-8/29/17

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Lifeline Theatre Presents the World Premiere of 
Sylvester, 
Opens September 18

Performance with Touch Tour and Audio Description 
on September 30
Performances with Open Captioning 
on September 30 and October 27 

**The production runs approximately two hours with one intermission. The novel will be on sale in the lobby.**



(L to R) Andrés Enriquez as Sylvester Rayne and Samantha Newcomb as Phoebe Marlow; in Lifeline Theatre’s production of “Sylvester,” adapted by Christina Calvit, directed by Dorothy Milne, based on Sylvester: or the Wicked Uncle by Georgette Heyer. Photos by Suzanne Plunkett.

We'll be ChiILin' on Chi, IL's north side next weekend, for the press opening of yet another world premiere. We're quite excited to see Lifeline Theatre's latest, Sylvester, based on Georgette Heyer's novel. 

Lifeline Theatre presents Sylvester, adapted by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Christina Calvit (five-time Jeff Award winner) and directed by Lifeline Theatre Artistic Director Dorothy Milne (Jeff Award and After Dark Award winner), based on the novel Sylvester: or the Wicked Uncle by Georgette Heyer (licensed by arrangement with Heron Enterprises Ltd.). 

Sylvester, Duke of Salford, was born with wealth and good looks, but a life of privilege has rendered him unfeeling towards others. Phoebe Marlow was graced with a sparkling wit and independent spirit, but languishes under the thumb of her domineering stepmother. When this mismatched couple is thrust together by their meddling families, both rebel and their tidy little worlds spin into chaos. Midnight flights, desperate sea voyages, and scathing society hijinks ensue as these unlikely lovers labor to avoid their fate. Grab the reins and charge headlong into a topsy-turvy tale of madcap romance in this world premiere comedy based on the 1957 novel by Georgette Heyer.

Sylvester runs September 8 – October 29 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. (free parking and shuttle; see below). Press opening is Sunday, Sept. 17 at 4 p.m. Opening night is Monday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. (Previews are Fridays, Sept. 8 and 15 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, Sept. 9 and 16 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 10 at 4 p.m.) 

Regular performance times (September 21 – October 29) are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 4 p.m. Ticket prices are $40 for regular single tickets, $30 for active and retired military personnel (with ID), $30 for seniors, $20 for students (with ID), $20 for rush tickets (available half hour before show time, subject to availability), and $20 for previews. Group rate for 12 or more is available upon request. Tickets may be purchased at the Lifeline Theatre Box Office, 773.761.4477, or by visiting www.lifelinetheatre.com. 

Accessible Performances: The Saturday, Sep. 23, 4 p.m. performance will feature a pre-show touch tour of the set at 2:30 p.m. and live audio description for patrons who are blind or have low vision. The Saturday, Sep. 30, 4 p.m. performance and the Friday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. performance will feature open captioning for patrons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. For more information about Lifeline’s accessibility services, please contact Accessibility Coordinator Erica Foster at 773.761.4477 x703 or at access@lifelinetheatre.com.

 The complete cast and production team for Sylvester includes: 

CAST: Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Katie McLean Hainsworth (Lady Ingham & ensemble); with guest artists Terry Bell (Tom & ensemble), Andrés Enriquez (Sylvester Rayne), Kristina Loy (Ianthe Rayne & ensemble), Samantha Newcomb (Phoebe Marlow), Tiffany Oglesby (Lady Marlow & ensemble), Wesley Scott (Sir Nugent & ensemble), and Sean Sinitski (Lord Marlow & ensemble). With understudies Christopher Causer and Jennifer Cheung. 

PRODUCTION TEAM: Lifeline Theatre ensemble members Christina Calvit (Adaptor), Alan Donahue (Scenic & Properties Designer), and Dorothy Milne (Director); with guest artists Kyle Bricker (Stage Manager), Carrie Hardin (Dialect Coach), Lavina Jadhwani (Casting Director), Jennifer McClendon (Production Manager), Curtis Edwin Powell (Sound Designer), Joe Schermoly (Technical Director), Rachel Sypniewski (Costume Designer), and Eric Watkins (Lighting Designer).

Lifeline Theatre is accessible by CTA (Red Line Morse stop/busses) and free parking is available at Sullivan High School (6631 N Bosworth Ave, lot located on Greenview Ave. just south of North Shore Ave.) with free shuttle service before and after the show.  Street parking is also available. Lifeline is accessible to wheelchair users and visitors who need to avoid stairs.



Now in its 35th season, Lifeline Theatre is driven by a passion for story. Our ensemble process supports writers in the development of literary adaptations and new work, and our theatrical and educational programs foster a lifelong engagement with literature and the arts. A cultural anchor of Rogers Park, we are committed to deepening our connection to an ever-growing family of artists and audiences, both near and far. Lifeline Theatre – Big Stories, Up Close.

Lifeline Theatre’s programs are partially supported by Alphawood Foundation; A.R.T League Inc.; Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; Chicago CityArts, a grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; The Common Cup; Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; FGMK LLC; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; The Grover Hermann Foundation; Illinois Arts Council Agency; Illinois Humanities Council; Lagunitas Brewing Co. Community Grant Program; MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; The PAV Grant Fund; The Polk Bros. Foundation; Poubelle Fund, a Donor Advised Fund of Renaissance Charitable Foundation; Rogers Park Social; The Saints; S&C Electric Company Fund; The Shubert Foundation; and the annual support of businesses and individuals.

Friday, January 22, 2016

OPENING: Midnight Cowboy at Lifeline Theatre February 29th

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar:

Lifeline Theatre Presents Midnight Cowboy,
A World Premiere Adaptation Of The Book by James Leo Herlihy
Opens February 29, 2016
Performance with Open Captioning on March 5
Performance with Touch Tour and Audio Description on March 19

  

Lifeline Theatre presents a world premiere adaptation of James Leo Herlihy’s 1965 novel, Midnight Cowboy, adapted by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Chris Hainsworth (2015 Non-Equity Jeff nomination: New Adaptation – Monstrous Regiment), and directed by Lifeline ensemble member Christopher M. Walsh. 

ChiIL Live Shows will be there on opening night, so check back soon for our full review, here and at our family friendly sister site, ChiIL Mama.

Joe Buck escapes his dead-end life in Texas and heads to New York City with dreams of making his fortune as a hustler for wealthy socialites. But his rugged cowboy persona masks the gullibility of a child, and Joe falls victim to all manner of con artists and predators. At the end of his rope, he partners with street-savvy Rico “Ratso” Rizzo in an alliance that could either save or destroy them both. A meditation on loneliness and the need to form real connections amidst the crushing isolation of 20th-century life. The production runs approximately two hours with one intermission. The book will be on sale in the lobby.


Midnight Cowboy runs February 19 – April 10, 2016 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. (free parking and shuttle; see below). Press opening is Sunday, February 28 at 4 p.m. Opening night is Monday, February 29 at 7:30 p.m. (Previews are Fridays, February 19 and 26 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, February 20 and 27 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, February 21 at 4 p.m.)
Regular performance times (March 3 – April 10) are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 4 p.m. Ticket prices are $40 for regular single tickets, $30 for active and retired military personnel (with ID), $30 for seniors, $20 for students (with ID), $20 for rush tickets (available half hour before show time, subject to availability), and $20 for previews. Group rate for 12 or more is available upon request. Tickets may be purchased at the Lifeline Theatre Box Office, 773.761.4477, or by visiting www.lifelinetheatre.com.

Accessible Performances: The Saturday, March 5, 4 p.m. performance will feature open captioning for patrons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. The Saturday, March 19, 4 p.m. performance will feature a pre-show touch tour of the set at 2:30 p.m. and live audio description for patrons who are blind or have low vision. For more information about Lifeline’s accessibility services, please contact Accessibility Coordinator Erica Foster at 773.761.4477 x703 or at access@lifelinetheatre.com.



The complete cast and production team for Midnight Cowboy includes:

CAST:       
Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Patrick Blashill (Woodsy/Towny); with guest artists Megan DeLay (Cass), Micah Kronlokken (Bobby), Anne Marie Lewis (Sally), Zach Livingston (Joe),
Gregory Madden (O'Daniel), Adam Marcantoni (Ratso), Jack Miggins (Perry), and Heather Smith (Anastasia). With understudies Aislinn Eng, Jay Donley, Shawn Hansen, and Nellie Kay
Ognacevic.

PRODUCTION TEAM:        
Lifeline Theatre ensemble members Chris Hainsworth (Adaptor), Elise Kauzlaric (Dialect Coach), and Christopher M. Walsh (Director); with guest artists Benjamin W. Dawson (Production Manager), Matt Engle (Fight Director), Sarah Espinoza (Sound Designer), Lavina Jadhwani (Casting Director), Theresa Kelly (Assistant Lighting Designer), Ryan McCain (Properties Designer), Lindsey Miller (Stage Manager), Sam Moryoussef (Master Electrician), Patrick Runfeldt (Dramaturg), Joe Schermoly (Scenic Designer, Technical Director), Rachel Sypniewski (Costume Designer), and Brandon Wardell (Lighting Designer).

Free parking is available at the designated lot west of the theatre (NE corner of Morse and Ravenswood) with free shuttle service before and after the show.  Street parking is also available and Lifeline Theatre is handicapped and CTA accessible (Red Line Morse stop/busses).

Now in its 33rd season, Lifeline Theatre is driven by a passion for story. Our ensemble process supports writers in the development of literary adaptations and new work, and our theatrical and educational programs foster a lifelong engagement with literature and the arts. A cultural anchor of Rogers Park, we are committed to deepening our connection to an ever-growing family of artists and audiences, both near and far. Lifeline Theatre – Big Stories, Up Close.

Lifeline Theatre’s programs are partially supported by Alphawood Foundation; The Arts Work Fund; Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; The Common Cup; Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; FGMK LLC; Flex Print , Inc.; The Grover Hermann Foundation; Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; Netrix LLC; The Polk Bros. Foundation; S&C Foundation; The Shubert Foundation; and the annual support of businesses and individuals.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

ACT OUT: Jane Eyre at Lifeline Through October 26th

Jane Eyre is high on our must see list. The fall theatre season has been so full, we haven't had time to catch it yet, but we've been hearing great things. Also, our friend, Ada Grey (10), youngest critic in town, and her dad are both in it, so there's extra incentive to go. You may remember her as the creepy little girl in The House Theatre's The Iron Stag King, another show she was in with her dad. Many of the Jane Eyre performances, especially weekend shows, are sold out, so don't miss out. Get your tickets today.



Production photos by Jackie Jasperson

"★★★ Streamlines the complicated plot while providing compelling glimpses of the psychological demons and moral deformities haunting its lovers... stark but effective staging choices" -Chicago Tribune

"All the complexities of Jane's life and the atmosphere of the novel are translated into sights, sounds, and emotions in front of us." -Time Out Chicago

"Dorothy Milne's expressionistic direction moves the story along... every actor here is in top form" -Chicago Reader




Jane Eyre runs Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 4pm & 8pm, and Sundays at 4pm, through October 26. 


Special Performances:





After a troubled childhood, Jane Eyre searches for new purpose as a governess at Thornfield Hall. But a fragile peace gives way to turbulent passion when she meets Mr. Rochester, a man concealing a dark secret. Their unconventional relationship leads to a terrible revelation, and Jane must forge a new future from the ashes of her ravaged dreams. As she struggles to free herself from the ghosts of her past, Jane realizes that her only hope is to find love on her own terms. A highly theatrical exploration of one woman’s independent spirit in a beloved adaptation based on the classic 1847 novel by Charlotte Brontë.
Based on the classic romance by Charlotte Brontë
Adapted by Christina Calvit
Directed by Dorothy Milne
Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)



Audio Description and Touch Tour
Saturday, October 25 - Touch tour: 2:30pm, Performance: 4:00pm

Visit our Accessibility page for more information about these special shows.

Many upcoming performances are already sold out - call the box office today at (773) 761-4477 or order online.




Thursday, January 17, 2013

ACT OUT OPENING: The City & The City February 25 at Lifeline Theatre



Lifeline Theatre Continues its 30th Season with The City & The City, A World Premiere Adaptation of the Contemporary Crime Novel by China Miéville Opens February 25, 2013


Lifeline Theatre presents a world premiere adaptation of China Miéville’s The City & The City, by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Christopher M. Walsh, and directed by Lifeline Theatre Artistic Director Dorothy Milne (Non-Equity Jeff Award and After Dark Award winner).   ChiIL Live Shows will be there for the press opening and we'll have a full review up shortly thereafter.

Inspector Tyador Borlú of the Extreme Crime Squad is assigned to a seemingly open-and-shut case: an American student found dead in the gutters of the city of Beszel. But soon this deceptively simple crime reveals ties to powerful political and corporate factions at the heart of both Beszel and its twin city, Ul Qoma. Forced to cross the divide between two citystates coexisting in the same geographical space yet separated by irreconcilable cultural differences, Borlú must bring to justice the mastermind of the most unusual and dangerous case of his career. A thrilling crime story set in a location both fantastical and eerily real, in a world premiere adaptation. 

A cast of ten actors brings more than twenty characters to life, led by Steve Schine as Inspector Borlú, and Lifeline Theatre ensemble members Patrick Blashill and Chris Hainsworth.

The City & The City runs February 15–April 7, 2013, at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. (free parking and shuttle; see below). Opening night is Monday, February 25 at 7:30 p.m. (Previews are Fridays, February 15 and 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, February 16 and 23 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, February 17 at 4 p.m.)

Regular performance times (February 28–April 7) are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 4 p.m. Ticket prices are $40 for regular single tickets, $30 for seniors, $20 for students (with I.D.), $20 for rush tickets (available half hour before show time, subject to availability), and $20 for previews. Group rate for 12 or more is available upon request. 

Tickets may be purchased at the Lifeline Theatre Box Office, 773.761.4477, or by www.lifelinetheatre.com. The production runs approximately two hours and fifteen minutes with one intermission. The book will be on sale in the lobby.
The complete cast and production team for The City & The City includes:

CAST:
Lifeline Theatre ensemble members Patrick Blashill (Bowden/Shukman/Syedr) and Chris Hainsworth (Dhatt); with guest artists Don Bender (Mr. Geary/Ashil), Bryson Engelen (Jaris/Yorjavic/Samun), Marsha Harman (Corwi/Yalla), Jonathan Helvey (Drodin/Aikam/Unif Boy), Millicent Hurley (Mrs. Geary/Nancy), Volen Iliev (Naustin/Buric), Steve Schine (Borlú), and Megan M. Storti (Yolanda/Unif Girl/Raina). With understudies Eduardo Garcia and Alex Kyger.

CREW:
Lifeline Theatre ensemble members Dorothy Milne (Director) and Christopher M. Walsh (Adaptor); with guest artists Leah Cox (Dramaturg), Benjamin W. Dawson (Production Manager), Jesse Gaffney (Properties Designer), Izumi Inaba (Costume Designer), Christopher Kriz (Original Music & Sound Designer), Amanda Link (Assistant Director), Anna Morrell (Stage Manager), Greg Poljacik (Violence Designer), Joe Schermoly (Scenic Designer/Technical Director), and Brandon Wardell (Lighting Designer).

The critics have said: 

“Few American theaters can do this kind of thing – with such imagination, dignity, humor and judicious restraint – quite like the master storytellers at Lifeline.” (Chicago Tribune, 5/12/10) 

"Nobody does it better than Lifeline Theatre when it comes to spinning a rip- roaring yarn full of derring-do and adventure" (Chicago Sun-Times, 9/22/09) 

“Spectacle and story so ambitious and colorful, poetic and vulgar, heroic and homely, it’s like eavesdropping on your favorite author’s waking
dream.” (CenterstageChicago.com, 5/10/10).


Now in its 30th season, Lifeline Theatre specializes in original literary adaptations. Its ensemble of artists uses imaginative, unconventional staging to portray sprawling stories in an intimate space. Lifeline is committed to promoting the arts in its Rogers Park neighborhood and is an anchor of the Glenwood Avenue Arts District. We aspire to create art that is relevant to our culturally diverse, increasingly youthful neighborhood. Lifeline Theatre – Big Stories, Up Close.
Founded in 1982, Lifeline is known for staging innovative adaptations of great works of fiction as well as commissioning original work. Over the course of thirty years and more than one hundred and fifty productions, Lifeline Theatre has made an indelible mark on the Chicago theatre scene and an invaluable contribution to the theatre world at large. Lifeline’s dedicated artistic ensemble has developed a total of one hundred world premiere literary adaptations and thirteen original plays, two dozen of which have had a life beyond their Lifeline premieres, with over one hundred and fifty subsequent productions spread across more than thirty U.S. states, four Canadian provinces, England, and Ireland. Additionally, two scripts developed at Lifeline Theatre have gone on to U.S. national tours, and nine have been published.

Lifeline Theatre has garnered a total of forty-seven Jeff Awards (Equity and Non-Equity), including fourteen for New Adaptation or New Work, and twenty-one After Dark Awards. 

Lifeline Theatre’s programs are partially supported by Alphawood Foundation; Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; The Common Cup; FGMK LLC; Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; The Grover Hermann Foundation; Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; Ingridion; MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; Netrix LLC; The Pauls Foundation; The Polk Bros. Foundation; S&C Foundation; Sudler Property Management; The Woman’s Club of Evanston; and the annual support of businesses and individuals.

Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. Chicago, IL 60626 773-761-4477, www.lifelinetheatre.com

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