SEASON ANNOUNCED: Raven Theatre's 41st Season To Kick Off With Night Watch In October and Include 2 World Premieres

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar: Save the Dates

Night Watch

By Lucille Fletcher

Directed by Georgette Verdin

 

World Premiere!

brother sister cyborg space

By Paul Michael Thompson

 

World Premiere!

Untitled: The Third Installment of the “Grand Boulevard Trilogy”

By Joshua Allen

 

 

Chicago playwrights and directors featured in Raven Theatre’s 2023-24 season

include (left to right) Georgette Verdin, Paul Michael Thomson and Joshua Allen.

 

Raven Theatre is excited to announce its 41^st Season, kicking off this fall with an ingenious and hair-raising revival of Lucille Fletcher’s drama Night Watch directed by Georgette Verdin. The 2023-24 season continues next winter with Paul Michael Thomson’s captivating and nuanced world premiere brother sister cyborg space, commissioned by Raven. The season concludes next spring with another Raven commission, a yet-to-be-titled world premiere by Chicago playwright Joshua Allen, the third and final installment of his “Grand Boulevard Trilogy,” which also includes The Last Pair of Earlies and The October Storm.

 

Raven Theatre is located at 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville) in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood. A variety of flexible 2022-24 subscription packages are currently available at raventheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177.

 

Comments Raven Interim Artistic Director Sarah Slight, “In our 41^st Season, Raven will continue to produce a combination of revivals and new plays that speak to our current moment. In addition to the gripping revival of the 1970 hit Broadway play Night Watch, we will produce two of our four commissioned plays. Thank you to the generous donors who support our new play fund for making these exciting world premieres possible. I cannot wait to share all three of these plays with you!”

 

Raven Theatre’s 2023-24 Season:

 

October 5 – November 12, 2023

Night Watch

By Lucille Fletcher

Directed by Georgette Verdin

Press opening: Monday, October 9, 2023 at 7:30 pm

 

What’s more nightmarish: not being able to trust those around you… or not being able to trust yourself? Moonlit streets, a restless mind and a large window have become Elaine’s nightly routine in her luxurious city townhouse. But insomnia is the least of her worries when a dead body appears in the window of an abandoned, squalid unit across the street. To make matters worse, the body disappears before her husband, best friend or maid have a chance to witness the atrocity. This suspenseful revival is filled to the brim with tricks and twists, leaving audiences on a psychological rollercoaster until the very. last. second.

 

February 8 – March 17, 2024

brother sister cyborg space – World Premiere!

By Paul Michael Thompson 

Press opening: Monday, February 12, 2024 at 7:30 pm

 

In the too-close-for-comfort future, an environmental justice organizer named Giselle and her billionaire baby brother Elon are (unsurprisingly) at odds. She believes the earth and her people are worth saving; he marvels at the potential in starting over somewhere new. Meanwhile, his virtual assistant Ava has some very nuanced opinions of her own. (Who programmed her to talk so much?!) Set against the backdrop of a rapidly-accelerating climate crisis, brother sister cyborg space explores political divisions within families, an expanding definition of humanity and what we'll do when time runs out.

 

April 26 – June 9, 2024

Untitled: The Third Installment of the “Grand Boulevard Trilogy” – World Premiere!

By Joshua Allen

Press opening: Monday, May 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm

 

From the writer that brought you The Last Pair of Earlies and The October Storm comes the third and final installment in The Grand Boulevard Trilogy. Chicago writer Joshua Allen continues to explore the complex and rich history of Black families living on Chicago’s South Side throughout the 20^th century. Set in 1919 during the Chicago Race Riots, this world premiere play explores one woman’s conflicting allegiances – to a promising career with a controversial lover or to the home her family has worked hard to build.

 

About the Artists

 

Lucille Fletcher (Playwright, Night Watch) was born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1912 and was a frequent recipient of literary prizes throughout her early education and at Vassar College. Fletcher started off with a modest job at CBS typing scripts, acting as a music cataloger and writing publicity notices. Fletcher wrote and broadcast more than twenty radio plays, many inspired by actual events in her life, such as The Hitch Hiker and Sorry, Wrong Number. Fletcher wrote novels and stories long after Radio's Golden Age had given way to television. Her books include And Presumed Dead, The Strange Blue Yawl, The Girl in Cabin B54, Blindfold, and her final novel Mirror Image. She passed away on August 31, 2000.

 

Georgette Verdin (Director, Night Watch, she/her) is a queer, Cuban-American director based in Chicago. She currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director of Northlight Theatre and is a proud company member with Rivendell Theatre Ensemble. Recent directing credits include: A Mile in the Dark (Interrobang Theatre Project/Rivendell Theatre), Enough to Let the Light In (Teatro Vista) and Chagall in School (Grippo Stage Company). 

 

Since 2015, she has served as Managing Artistic Director of Interrobang Theatre Project, an award-winning storefront theatre known for its gutsy productions that tackle socially-relevant and morally ambiguous subject matter. Georgette was recently profiled in the Chicago Reader's Best of Chicago 2022 by Kerry Reid and as one of 50 artists in Newcity Magazine’s 2023 edition of “Players: Who Really Performs for Chicago Right Now.” In 2022, she was named the Michael Maggio Directing Fellow at Goodman Theatre, and received Joseph Jefferson Award nominations for Director of a Play (Midsize) for both the Chicago premiere of This Wide Night (Shattered Globe/Interrobang Theatre Project) and the world premiere of Spay (Rivendell Theatre). Georgette holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA and a Master in Directing from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. She was a 2021 recipient of a 3Arts Make-A-Wave grant and is an associate member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Learn more at georgetteverdin.com

 

Paul Michael Thomson (Playwright, brother sister cyborg space, he/him) is a Chicago-based theatre artist, producer and interdisciplinary scholar. His plays include: What a Time to Be Alive (You Say That Every Time) (Definition Theatre, Great Plains Theatre Commons); Fremont Junior High Is NOT Doing Oklahoma! (Good Company Theatre, Live Theatre Workshop); The G.O.A.T., or Who Is Ximone? (Theatre L'Acadie); Same Sects! (Haven Theatre, North Central College, Other Theatre Company); Artemis Books & the Well-Meaning Man (Avalanche Theatre, Live Theatre Workshop); (and i feel fine) (The Impostors Theatre Co.), and Leave Me Alone! (The Story Theatre). As an actor, he has worked with Steppenwolf Theatre, Urbanite Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre and The Story Theatre, among others. Paul Michael is proud to be a founding Governing Ensemble member of The Story Theatre, an award-winning storefront company dedicated to developing and producing world-premiere plays. Currently pursuing his PhD in Afro-American Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Paul Michael has been awarded research fellowships from the Black Metropolis Research Consortium and the W.E.B. Du Bois Center. He is deeply grateful to Raven Theatre for the commission of and belief in brother sister cyborg space, and he cannot wait to share this story with Chicago. paulmichaelthomson.com

 

Joshua Allen’s (Playwright, Untitled: The Third Installment of The Grand Boulevard Trilogy, he/him) plays include The October Storm, The Last Pair of Earlies and Chrysalis. His work has been produced and developed at Raven Theatre, Hudson Stage, Cape Cod Theater Project, Primary Stages, The Lark Play Development Center and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. An alumnus of New Dramatists, he has also been a member of the Ars Nova Play Group and the Dorothy Strelsin New American Writers’ Group at Primary Stages. His television writing and producing credits include Hostages (CBS), Empire (FOX), Almost Family (FOX), From Scratch (Netflix), In Treatment (HBO) and The Morning Show (Apple TV). Joshua is a graduate of the University of Southern California and the Juilliard School. 

About Raven Theatre

 

Raven Theatre tells stories of today and the past that connect us to our cultural landscape. Through its plays, as well as its educational programming, Raven is committed to serving our communities’ needs through the arts.

 

Raven Theatre Company is funded in part by The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at Prince, Polk Bros Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, S&C Electric Company Fund, Paul M. Angell Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

 

 

Raven Theatre Renames East Stage “The Johnson Stage" In Honor Of Stephen Johnson

Raven Theatre is pleased to announce its 85-seat East Stage has been renamed “The Johnson Stage,” in honor of longtime Board Member and supporter Stephen Johnson. 

 

Thanks in part to a generous gift from Johnson, the theatre has been revitalized with new seating and other improvements. The space was officially dedicated during a ceremony on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. The newly-renovated theatre will be unveiled to the public during Raven’s upcoming Chicago premiere of Right To Be Forgotten, playing February 9 – March 26, 2023.

Comments Raven Managing Director Markie Gray, “It is not an exaggeration to say that Raven Theatre would not be where it is today without Stephen Johnson. His impact on our organization, from board leadership to financial support to care for our staff and artists, is immeasurable. We are honored to have his name on our theatre and hope it inspires others to emulate his true service to the arts.”

As Raven Theatre celebrates its 40th anniversary season, theatergoers are also invited to sponsor a new, personalized seat in The Johnson Theatre for $500, which includes an engraved plaque to ensure their legacy with Raven for years to come. For information visit raventheatre.com/support or call (773) 338-6537.

Longtime Raven Theatre Board Member and supporter Stephen Johnsonin the new seating of the “Johnson Stage.” Photo by Jenn Udoni/Franco Images.

Stephen Johnson joined Raven’s Board of Directors in January 2014 and served as the Treasurer until he assumed his current position of President in May 2021. In addition to years of service and philanthropy, he has served as the theatre’s volunteer bookkeeper since 2017. Johnson enjoys the intellectual stimulation provided by theater, having retired to Chicago (to live near his two sons and their families after having lived near his daughter and her family while working in the St Louis area) following careers in academia, public accounting and manufacturing. He has a B.A. in History from Austin College and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin. 

About Raven Theatre

Raven Theatre tells stories of today and the past that connect us to our cultural landscape. Through its plays, as well as its educational programming, Raven is committed to serving our communities’ needs through the arts.

Raven Theatre Company is funded in part by The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at Prince, Polk Bros Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, S&C Electric Company Fund, Paul M. Angell Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Chicago Premiere of RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN Via Raven Theatre February 9 – March 26, 2023

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Raven Theatre Presents the Chicago Premiere of

RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN

By Sharyn Rothstein

Directed by Sarah Gitenstein

February 9 – March 26, 2023

PHOTO CREDIT: The cast of Raven Theatre’s Chicago premiere of Right To Be Forgotten includes (top, l to r) Lucy Carapetyan, Kroydell Galima and Susaan Jamshidi with (bottom, l to r) Kelsey Elyse Rodriguez, Adam Shalzi and Jamila Tyler.

  

Raven Theatre, Chicago’s newest Equity-affiliated theatre, is pleased to continue its 40th Anniversary Season with the Chicago premiere of Right To Be Forgotten, Sharyn Rothstein’s smart and timely story about human forgiveness in the age of the internet. Directed by Sarah Gitenstein, Right To Be Forgotten will play February 9 – March 26, 2023 in Raven’s 85-seat East Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville) in Chicago. I'll be out for the press opening February 13th, so check back soon for my full review.

The cast includes Lucy Carapetyan, Kroydell Galima, Susaan Jamshidi, Kelsey Elyse Rodriguez, Adam Shalzi and Jamila Tyler.

Single tickets are now on sale at raventheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177. 

The internet never forgets, and Derril Lark’s mistake at 17 haunts him online a decade later. Desperate for a normal life, he goes to extraordinary lengths to erase his indiscretion. But freedom of information is a big business, and the tech companies aren’t going down without a fight. Secrets, lies and political backstabbing abound in this riveting new drama about one man’s fierce battle to reclaim his privacy by Primus Prize winning playwright Sharyn Rothstein (By the Water, Northlight Theatre).

Comments Director Sarah Gitenstein, “As the internet continues to record our personal narrative, from social media to the cloud, we must grapple with the concept that our memory, however subjective, has become permanent. Who we were and mistakes we may have made are cataloged, searchable and available for reinvestigation. But what if that could change? The European Union has recently legislated The Right to be Forgotten, an act that allows individuals to request the removal of personal information from search engines. But in the American constitutional system, where freedom of speech is protected, such an act is nearly impossible to adopt. So, what happens to people who want to escape the new digital permanence of memory? I’m excited to dig into these questions and ideas as we start work on Sharyn Rothstein’s nuanced take on the inescapable impact the internet has on our lives.”

The production team includes Jeffrey D. Kmiec (Scenic Designer), Finnegan Chu (Costume Designer), Liz Gomez (Lighting Designer), Eric Backus (Sound Designer), Ivy Treccani (Props Designer), Reese Craig and Liviu Pasare (Projection Designers), Sarah Slight (Dramaturg), Nora Geffen (Assistant Dramaturg), Catherine Miller (Casting Director), Mia Thomas (Assistant Costume Designer), Tor Campbell (Assistant Director), Lorenzo Blackett (Production Manager), Alan Weusthoff (Technical Director), Rose Johnson (Scenic Artist), Mark Brown (Master Electrician), James Chapman (Stage Manager) and Shana Gordon (Assistant Stage Manager).

COVID-19 safety: Raven Theatre will require patrons to wear a face mask at all times inside the building (when not eating or drinking in the lobby). The theatre will no longer require patrons to provide proof of vaccination to attend a production. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please contact the box office to reschedule your tickets free of charge. For all of Raven’s current COVID-19 protocols, visit raventheatre.com/covid-19.

Chicago Theatre Week

Right To Be Forgotten will be featured as part of Chicago Theatre Week, an annual celebration of the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago during which visitors and residents can access $15 or $30 value-priced tickets. As a program of the League of Chicago Theatres, in partnership with Choose Chicago, Chicago Theatre Week takes place February 16 – 26, 2023. Find more information at ChicagoTheatreWeek.com. Raven Theatre will offer $30 tickets to performances of Right To Be Forgotten.

Cast (in alphabetical order): Lucy Carapetyan (Annie Zahirovic), Kroydell Galima (Alvaro Santos), Susaan Jamshidi (Marta Lee), Kelsey Elyse Rodriguez (Sarita Imari), Adam Shalzi (Derril Lark) and Jamila Tyler (Eve Selinsky).

Location: Raven Theatre East Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville), Chicago

Dates: Previews: Thursday, February 9 at 7:30 pm, Friday, February 10 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, February 11 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, February 12 at 3 pm

Press performance: Monday, February 13 at 7:30 pm

Regular run: Thursday, February 16 – Sunday, March 26, 2023

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm.

Tickets: Previews $30. Regular run $40. Students/active military and veterans $15. Single tickets are currently available at raventheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177.

 

Closed Captioned performance: Sunday, March 5 at 3 pm. Note: screens are limited.

Touch Tour: Sunday, March 12 – 1:30 pm touch tour, 3 pm performance.

These accessibility features are available at no additional cost, with advance reservations required by contacting the box office at info@raventheatre.com or (773) 338-2177.

Group tickets: Special group rates are available. For information, call (773) 338-2177 or e-mail info@raventheatre.com.

 

Plan Your Visit:

Free parking is provided in a lot adjacent to the theatre – additional street parking is available. Nearest El station: Granville Red Line. Buses: #22 (Clark), #36 (Broadway), #151 (Sheridan), #155 (Devon), #84 (Peterson).

 

About the Artists

Sharyn Rothstein (Playwright) is an award-winning playwright and television writer. Her plays and musicals have been produced around the country, as well as internationally. Sharyn is currently writing for the spin-off of the sci-fi hit Orphan Black, soon to be on AMC, and was a writer and producer for the USA legal drama SUITS for many years. Her play By The Water was first produced by Manhattan Theater Club and Ars Nova and was the recipient of the American Theater Critic’s Association Francesca Primus Prize. Her play All The Days was produced at the McCarter Theater Center, directed by Emily Mann, and her technology drama Right To Be Forgotten premiered at Arena Stage, directed by Seema Sueko. Her audio drama Deep Fake, commissioned by Audible, was released this past fall. Sharyn holds an MFA in dramatic writing from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, and a Masters in Public Health from Hunter College. She teaches television writing at NYU, and lives in Brooklyn and Maine.

Sarah Gitenstein (Director) is a freelance director and educator in Chicago and works as the Associate Producer to the MFA Theater Program at Northwestern University. She hails from Washington, D.C. and graduated from Kenyon College (BA Theater) and Northwestern University (MFA Directing). Directing credits include work at American Theater Company, Court Theatre, Curious Theatre, The Gift, Raven Theatre and A Red Orchid Theatre. For The New Coordinates, Sarah directed Kate and Sam Are Not Breaking Up (Jeff Nomination – New Work) and the world premiere, Off-Broadway, national tour and commercial runs of 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche (Winner Best Production 2012 New York International Fringe Festival). Sarah is an adjunct professor at Northwestern University, where she teaches about her research in Best Practices in Directing. www.sarahgitenstein.com

About Raven Theatre

Raven Theatre tells stories of today and the past that connect us to our cultural landscape. Through its plays, as well as its educational programming, Raven is committed to serving our communities’ needs through the arts.

Raven Theatre Company is funded in part by The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at Prince, Polk Bros Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, S&C Electric Company Fund, Paul M. Angell Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Midwest Premiere of MARYS SEACOLE Via Griffin Theatre Company October 1 – November 6, 2022 at Raven Theatre

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Midwest Premiere!

Griffin Theatre Company Launches 33rd Season with

MARYS SEACOLE

By Jackie Sibblies Drury

Directed by Jerrell L. Henderson and Hannah Todd

October 1 – November 6, 2022 at Raven Theatre

Griffin Theatre Company is pleased to launch its 33rd season with the Midwest premiere drama Marys Seacole by Pulitzer Prize winner Jackie Sibblies Drury, directed by Jerrell L. Henderson and Hannah Todd, playing October 1 – November 6, 2022 on Raven Theatre’s Schwartz Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. in Chicago. Tickets now on sale at www.griffintheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177. I'll be out for the press opening, October 9th, so check back soon for my full review.

Marys Seacole is a dazzling tribute to the 19th century British-Jamaican nurse who crossed battle and race lines to chart her own course in history. Moving from past to present, through space and time, Drury's kaleidoscopic new play follows one woman's extraordinary journey from the battlefields of the Crimean War to a modern-day nursing home. From the acclaimed writer who won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Fairview, comes this Midwest premiere that challenges us to question our notions of sacrifice and selfishness, and the cherished perception of women as caregivers. The New York Times hailed Marys Seacole as "breathless and radiant" and The New Yorker Magazine called it "revelatory."

The production features Izzie Jones, Stephanie Mattos, RjW Mays, Jesi Mullins, India Whiteside and Mackenzie Williams. Understudies include Madeline Bunke, Sierra Coachman, Laura Coover and Liv J. Wilson.

  PHOTO CREDIT: The creative team for Griffin Theatre Company’s Midwest premiere of Marys Seacole includes (left to right) playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury and directors Jerrell L. Henderson and Hannah Todd.

The production team to date includes Joe Johnson (Scenic Design), Anna Wooden (Costume Design), Matt Sharp (Lighting Design), L. J. Luthringer (Sound Design), Ivy Treccani (Properties Design), Adam Goldstein (Dialect Coach), Jesi Mullins (Fight Choreography, Violence Design), Matthew Chase (Production Manager), Danny Halminiak (Technical Director), Karen Wallace (Assistant Lighting Design, Head Electrician) and Anna Walker (Stage Manager).

Cast (in alphabetical order): Izzie Jones (Miriam), Stephanie Mattos (Mary), RjW Mays (Duppy Mary), Jesi Mullins (May), India Whiteside (Merry) and Mackenzie Williams (Mamie). Understudies: Madeline Bunke, Sierra Coachman, Laura Coover and Liv J. Wilson.

Location: Raven Theatre’s Schwartz Stage, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago

Dates: Previews: Saturday October 1 at 7:30 pm, Sunday, October 2 at 3 pm, Thursday, October 6 at 7:30 pm, Friday, October 7 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, October 8 at 7:30 pm

Press performance: Sunday, October 9 at 7 pm

Regular run: Thursday, October 12 – Sunday, November 6, 2022

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm. Please note: there will not be a 3 pm performance on Sunday, October 9.

Tickets: Previews $30. Regular run $40. Students/active military and veterans $15. Group discounts are available for groups of ten or more. Tickets available at www.griffintheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177.

 

About the Artists

Jackie Sibblies Drury (Playwright) plays include Marys Seacole (Obie Award), Fairview (2019 Pulitzer Prize), Really, Social Creatures and We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as Southwest Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884–1915. Her work has been produced at Lincoln Center Theater, Soho Rep., Berkeley Rep, New York City Players & Abrons Arts Center, Victory Gardens, Trinity Rep, Woolly Mammoth, Undermain Theatre, InterAct Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Company One and Bush Theatre. Drury has developed her work at Sundance, the Bellagio Center, The Ground Floor at Berkeley Rep, the Soho Rep. Writer/Director LAB, New York Theatre Workshop, the Bushwick Starr, The Lark, and The MacDowell Colony, among others. She has received the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, a Jerome Fellowship at The Lark, a United States Artists Fellowship, a Helen Merrill Playwriting Award and a Windham–Campbell Literary Prize in Drama.

Jerrell L. Henderson (Director) is a Theatre Director, Puppeteer, and African American Theatre Historian and Archivist. Through the mediums of theatre and/or puppetry and film, Jerrell seeks to disrupt generational curses of self-hate (i.e. racism, homophobia, religious intolerance, etc.). Intellectually curious and emotionally dexterous, Jerrell is at home in a number of wide-ranging genres including, but not limited to, American Realism, Magical Realism, Traditional and Contemporary Musical Theatre, Poetic Black-Queer Narratives and Live Spectacle Events. He is the League of Chicago Theatres recipient of the 2022 Samuel G. Roberson, Jr. Resident Fellowship. He will present an original shadow play titled, AmericanMYTH: Crossroads with Free Street Theatre in Fall 2023. Recent directing credits include Reverie by James Ijames (2022 Pulitzer Prize recipient for Fat Ham) with Azuka Theatre and Mlima’s Tale with Griffin Theatre (Jeff Award nomination for Direction and Best Play). Others credits include The River with BoHo Theatre and Untitled with Inis Nua (Barrymore Award nomination for Outstanding Direction of a Play). Puppet short films include a filmed version of his signature puppetry piece, I Am The Bear with The Chicago International Puppet Theatre Festival. Other puppet short films include, Hamlin: La Revue Sombre with Heather Henson’s Handmade Puppet Dreams and Diamond’s Dream with Chicago Children’s Theatre. His Juneteenth Puppet Protest: The Welcome Table was featured in the New York Times (June 2020) and his Fall 2020 puppetry celebration of the lives of John Lewis and C.T. Vivian titled, Black Butterfly was later expanded into an educational performance piece with Tria Smith of Guild Row and a student collective working with Urban Growers Collective on Chicago’s South Side. As an assistant director, Jerrell has worked with The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre and Lookingglass Theatre. He received his MFA in Theatre Directing from Northwestern University (2015), is an artistic associate with Black Lives, Black Words, and was a Henson Foundation sponsored participant at the Eugene O’Neill National Puppetry Conference (2020). He is on the board of Directors Gathering. (DG) is a national organization based in Philadelphia, PA which offers theatre directors consistent community, resources and elevation. As a theatre historian and archivist, Jerrell contributed to the recently released Fifty Key Musicals (Routledge Press). He authored the chapter on Shuffle Along (1921) and co-authored the chapter on The Wiz (1975). He also serves as the creator and curator of black_theatre_vinyl_archive on Instagram. black_theatre_vinyl_archive is an extensive collection of vinyl albums which highlight the contributions of members of the African Diaspora in Theatre/Musical Theatre History. He is represented by the Gurman Agency (susan@gurmanagency.com).

Hannah Todd (Director) is a Chicago-based director, where she has directed Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (Strawdog Theatre, 2021 and upcoming in 2022), Thrones! A Musical Parody (Apollo Theater Chicago), associate directed Cambodian Rock Band (Victory Gardens/Merrimack Repertory Theater, dir. Marti Lyons) and assistant directed at Chicago Shakespeare, Lookingglass Theatre Company and Northlight Theatre. Prior to moving to Chicago, Hannah was based in Washington, DC, where she co-founded We Happy Few Productions (wehappyfewdc.com). In DC, Hannah served as Artistic Fellow at Shakespeare Theatre Company, assistant directed at Folger Theater, Shakespeare Theatre and Studio Theatre, and directed for Theater Alliance, the Capital Fringe Festival, Lean & Hungry Theatre/WAMU 88.5 and the Source Festival. With We Happy Few, Hannah directed critically acclaimed productions of Hamlet, The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet, The Winter’s Tale, The Dog in the Manger and Macbeth. Hannah holds a BA from Hampshire College and an MFA in Directing from Northwestern University. www.hannahtodddirector.com

The Griffin Theatre Company is partially supported by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The MacArthur Funds for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and the American Rescue Plan.

The Griffin Theatre Company is a Blue Star Theater and is proud to support our military enlisted and veterans. 

 

About Griffin Theatre Company

Established in 1988. the mission of the Griffin Theatre Company is to create extraordinary and meaningful theatrical experiences for both children and adults by building bridges of understanding between generations that instill in its audience an appreciation of the performing arts. Through artistic collaboration the Griffin Theatre Company produces literary adaptations, original work and classic plays that challenge and inspire, with wit, style and compassion for the audience.

The Griffin Theatre Company is the recipient of 125 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations for theater excellence in Chicago. The Griffin was honored with four 2018 Jeff awards for Ragtime including Best Ensemble, Best Musical, Best Director-Musical and Best Performer in a Supporting Role-Musical. Additionally, the company was the repeat winner of the 2016 Jeff Award for Best Production of a Play for London Wall having won the same award in 2015 for its production of Men Should Weep.

In addition, the Griffin is a nationally recognized producer of youth touring theatre in the United States. The Griffin’s national audience exceeds 100,000 young people and adults each year. Tours have included such prestigious venues as Cleveland Playhouse Square, Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York City, Tennessee Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville and the Cerritos Center for the Arts in Cerritos, California. Touring productions have included both youth focused plays, Frindle and The Stinky Cheese Man and the Griffin’s hit adult production of Letters Home—a production that pays tribute to the men and women in the US military, In to America, a play that traces America’s 400 year immigrant history and Ghosts of War. Most recently, the Griffin produced the world premiere production of the Emmy Award-winning children’s television show, Innovation Nation-LIVE. Overall, Griffin’s touring productions have been performed in 45 of our United States.

For additional information, visit www.griffintheatre.com.

COVID-19 safety: Raven Theatre will require patrons to wear a face mask at all times inside the building (when not eating or drinking in the lobby). The theatre will no longer require patrons to provide proof of vaccination to attend a production. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please contact the box office to reschedule your tickets free of charge. For all of Raven’s current COVID-19 protocols, visit raventheatre.com/covid-19.

REVIEW: Noël Coward’s masterpiece HAY FEVER Via City Lit Now Playing Through October 9, 2022

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 HAY FEVER

by Noël Coward

directed by Terry McCabe

Now Playing Through October 9, 2022

REVIEW:

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

In the microcosm of Chicago's theatre scene, it's amazing how many synchronicities there are. Just one week after reviewing Hay Fever, I'll be out to see yet another Noël Coward play, Private Lives, opening at Raven Theatre. It's exciting Chicago audiences can do a mini immersive in Coward's period pieces with City Lit's Jeff Recommended Hay Fever from 1924 and Private Lives from 1931. His artsy, eccentric, manipulative characters are delightfully funny. Horrible humans behaving badly are eternally timeless yet timely. 

Prior to Hay Fever, my most memorable Noël Coward experience was a 1985 college production of Blithe Spirit at Anderson University in Indiana, where the not so ethereal ghost was a plus sized actress who fell through the stage staircase mid act! They had to stop the play and help extricate her from the rubble. Thankfully she wasn't injured and the audience was patient and understanding about the whole debacle. 

Conversely, City Lit's Hay Fever went off without a hiccup and was an immensely enjoyable night out. We laughed at much of the dialogue and wacky plot twists and were well entertained. Betsy Pennington Taylor was a standout as narcissistic actress, Judith Bliss, and marssie* Mencotti was an absolute hoot as the housekeeper, Clara. The entire cast did some lovely ensemble work with impeccable comedic timing. Shout out also to Ray Toler for the charmingly hilarious scenic design. I'm still laughing at the boar head with ear tassels! 

* Lower case marssie is intentional

Hay Fever's nothing to sneeze at, though this country escape gone wrong may have you laughing so hard your eyes water. If you're itching for a fun production, the foibles of the Bliss bunch are comedic gold.

Recommended. 3 out of 4 stars ★★★

Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theatre critic, photographer, videographer, actress, artist and Mama. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly). 

Producer and Artistic Director Terry McCabe will direct Noël Coward’s 1924 comedy HAY FEVER as the final production of City Lit Theater’s 41st season. It replaces the previously announced AZTEC HUMAN SACRIFICE, which has been moved to a slot in spring 2023. Both a comedy of manners and a farce, HAY FEVER has been proven to be exceptionally durable in the nearly 100 years since its first production, enjoying many successful revivals in the US, UK and Canada as well as multiple film and TV productions across the globe. The comedy lampoons the poor manners and deficient hospitality of the four members of an eccentric upper class English family, who each without the other three knowing it have invited a guest to spend the weekend at their country estate. 

McCabe’s cast will include Betsy Pennington Taylor as Judith Bliss, the absent-minded retired actress who is the wife and mother of the bad-mannered hosts; and Stephen Fedo (he/him) as Judith’s novelist husband David Bliss. Their children will be played by Travis Shanahan (he/him) as Simon, and Lizzie Williams (she/her) as Sorel. Appearing as the Bliss’s guests will be Robert Hunter Bry as Judith’s fan Sandy Tyrell, Elizabeth Wigley (she/her) as the vampish Myra Arundel, Melissa Brausch (she/her) as the dim but good-hearted flapper Jackie Coryton, and Gerrit Wilford as diplomat Richard Greatham. marssie* Mencotti will be the housekeeper Clara.

Tickets are on sale now at www.citylit.org and by phone at 773-293-3682.

Top row L-R: Melissa Brausch, Robert Hunter Bry, Stephen Fedo

Second row L-R: marssie Mencotti, Travis Shanahan, Betsy Pennington Taylor.

Third row L-R: Elizabeth Wigley, Gerrit Wilford, Lizzie Williams

On the production team are Ray Toler (Scenic Design), Rachel S. Parent (Costume Design), Chris Matteky (Lighting Design), David Yondorf (Violence and Intimacy Design), Carrie Hardin (Dialect Coach), and Hazel Marie Flowers-McCabe (Stage Manager).

Previews August 26 – September 3, 2022

Preview ticket prices $30.00, seniors $25.00, students and military $12.00 (all plus applicable fees)

Regular run September 4 – October 9, 2022

Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 3 pm. Mondays September 26 and October 3 at 7:30 pm.

Regular run ticket prices $34.00, seniors $29.00, students and military $12 (all plus applicable fees)

Performances at City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Chicago 60660 (Inside Edgewater Presbyterian Church)

Info and tickets at www.citylit.org and by phone at 773-293-3682.

Noël Coward's masterpiece. The four members of the eccentric Bliss family have each, without the other three knowing it, invited a guest to spend the weekend at their country estate. But the Blisses wouldn't be successful hosts to one visitor; confronted with four, they put their guests through their self-absorbed version of hospitality, utterly oblivious to the train wreck they've engineered. An irresistibly heartless comedy.

 

HEALTH PRECAUTIONS AT CITY LIT

Proof of vaccination is required for all attendees of all performances (physical vaccination card or legible image of vaccination card. Refunds will not be issued if admittance is refused due to lack of vaccination documentation.

BIOS

Noël Coward (Playwright) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise.”  Coward achieved enduring success as a playwright, publishing more than 50 plays from his teens onwards. Many of his works, such as HAY FEVER, PRIVATE LIVES, DESIGN FOR LIVING, PRESENT LAUGHTER, and BLITHE SPIRIT, have remained in the regular theatre repertoire. He composed hundreds of songs, in addition to well over a dozen musical theatre works (including the operetta BITTER SWEET and comic revues), screenplays, poetry, several volumes of short stories, the novel POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE, and a three-volume autobiography. Coward's stage and film acting and directing career spanned six decades, during which he starred in many of his own works, as well as those of others.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Coward volunteered for war work, running the British propaganda office in Paris. He also worked with the Secret Service, seeking to use his influence to persuade the American public and government to help Britain. Coward won an Academy Honorary Award in 1943 for his naval film drama IN WHICH WE SERVE and was knighted in 1969. In the 1950s he achieved fresh success as a cabaret performer, performing his own songs, such as "Mad Dogs and Englishmen", "London Pride", and "I Went to a Marvelous Party."

Terry McCabe (Producer, Artistic Director, Director) has been City Lit’s artistic director since February 2005 and its producer since July 2016. He has directed plays professionally in Chicago since 1981. He was artistic director of Stormfield Theatre for four years, resident director at Wisdom Bridge Theatre for five years, and worked at Body Politic Theatre three separate times in three different capacities over a span of 14 years. His City Lit adaptations of HOLMES AND WATSON, GIDGET (co-adapted with Marissa McKown), THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, SCOUNDREL TIME, and OPUS 1861 (co-adapted with Elizabeth Margolius) were Jeff-nominated. He won two Jeff Citations for directing at Stormfield and has been thrice nominated for the Jeff Award for Best Director, for shows at Court Theatre, Wisdom Bridge, and Victory Gardens. He has directed at many Chicago theatres either long-gone or still with us, as well as off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre and at Vienna’s English Theatre. His book MIS-DIRECTING THE PLAY has been denounced at length in American Theatre magazine and from the podium at the national convention of The Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas but has been used in directing courses on three continents and is now available in paperback and Kindle e-book.

 

ABOUT CITY LIT

For over forty-one years, City Lit Theater has been dedicated to the vitality and accessibility of the literary imagination. City Lit produces theatrical adaptations of literary material, scripted plays by language-oriented playwrights, and original material. City Lit Theater was founded with $210 pooled by Arnold Aprill (at the time the Body Politic Theatre’s box office manager), David Dillon, and Lorell Wyatt on October 9, 1979, and was incorporated on March 25, 1980. There were still so few theatres in Chicago that at City Lit’s launch event, they were able to read a congratulatory letter they had received from Tennessee Williams.

The United States Library of Congress has selected our Civil War Project blog for inclusion in its historic collection of internet materials related to the American Civil War Sesquicentennial. Check it out at citylitcivilwar.blogspot.com.

City Lit is in the historic Edgewater Presbyterian Church building at 1020 West Bryn Mawr Avenue. We are two blocks east of both the Bryn Mawr Red Line stop and the #36 Broadway and the #84 Peterson buses. We are one block west of the #147 Sheridan and #151 Sheridan buses. Divvy bike stations are located at Bryn Mawr & Lakefront Trail, and at Broadway & Ridge at Bryn Mawr. The metered street parking pay boxes on Bryn Mawr have a three-hour maximum duration and are free on Sundays. There are additional details about parking and dining options at www.citylit.org 

City Lit is supported by the MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Ivanhoe Theater Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council Agency and is sponsored, in part, by A.R.T. League. 

For more information and to donate, visit www.citylit.org and by phone at 773-293-3682.

Chicago Premiere of MARIE ANTOINETTE AND THE MAGICAL NEGROES Via The Story Theatre June 30 – July 17, 2022 at Raven Theatre

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Chicago Premiere!

The Story Theatre Presents

MARIE ANTOINETTE 

AND THE MAGICAL NEGROES

Written & Directed by Governing Ensemble Member Terry Guest

June 30 – July 17, 2022 at Raven Theatre

 

The Story Theatre is pleased to welcome back audiences with the Chicago premiere of Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes, written and directed by Chicago playwright and Governing Ensemble Member Terry Guest*. This new play, which explores rebellion and Black liberation through the lens of the French Revolution, will play June 30 – July 17, 2022 on Raven Theatre’s Schwartz Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville) in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at thestorytheatre.org or by calling (773) 338-2177. I'll be out for the press opening July 2nd, so check back shortly after for my full review. 

The production will feature Nathaniel Andrew, Brenna DiStasio*, Keith Illidge, Danyelle Monson, Maya Vinice Prentiss, David Stobbe and Amber Washington. Understudies include Cat Christmas, Caitlin Dobbins, Jourdan Lewanda, Dylan Rogers and Marlene Slaughter.

 *Denotes a member of The Story Theatre Governing Ensemble

This is a play about rage. Revolt. Revolution. Revenge. It is about what happens when Black people grow tired of sitting down and turning the other cheek. What are we left to do? Do we scream? Pray? Should we be peaceful? Should we riot? Can the tools we have used in the past possibly work for the future or do we need to write a new script? Using trap music, fashion shows and the backdrop of the French Revolution, Governing Ensemble member Terry Guest’s Marie Antoinette & The Magical Negroes reimagines the myth of the lost monarchy and puts it into the hands and mouths of Black people.

The production team includes Jordan Dell Harris (Scenic Designer), Isaac-Jay Pineda (Costume Designer), Levi Wilkins (Lighting Design), Andrew Littleton (Sound Designer), Willow James(Composer), Ayanna Bria Bakari* (Choreographer), Thomas Russell (Violence Designer), Elijah Miller (Associate Sound Designer), Kenny-Finch Collymore-Williams (Dramaturg), Paul Michael Thomson*(COVID Safety Manager), Lucy Whipp* (Production Manager), Stina Taylor (Technical Director), Liz Gomez (Master Electrician), Brittney Brown (Associate Director), Sydney Ha (Community & Outreach Coordinator), Ariel Beller (Assistant Stage Manager), Lucy Whipp* (Stage Manager) and Meagan Dilworth and Paul Michael Thomson* (Producers).

COVID Protocols: The Story Theatre is proudly in residence at Raven Theatre and follows all COVID safety protocols accordingly. The Story and Raven currently require proof of vaccination and masking at all performances. Protocols subject to change closer to date of event. For all of Raven’s current COVID- 19 and vaccination information, visit raventheatre.com/covid-19.

 

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Cast: (in alphabetical order): Nathaniel Andrew (Savage), Brenna DiStasio* (Marie Antoinette), Keith Illidge (Jim Crow), Danyelle Monson (Sapphire), Maya Vinice Prentiss (Sambo), David Stobbe (King Louis XVI) and Amber Washington (Mammy).

Understudies: Cat Christmas, Caitlin Dobbins, Jourdan Lewanda, Dylan Rogers and Marlene Slaughter.

 

Location: Raven Theatre’s Schwartz Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville), Chicago

Dates: Previews: Thursday, June 30 at 7:30 pm and Friday July 1 at 7:30 pm

Press opening: Saturday July 2 at 7:30 pm

Regular run: Sunday, July 3 – Sunday July 17, 2022

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm

Tickets: Previews $15. Regular run $20. Students/active military and veterans $10. Tickets are currently available at thestorytheatre.org or by calling (773) 338-2177.

Group tickets: Special group rates are available. For information, call (773) 338-2177 or e-mail paulmichael@thestorytheatre.org.

 

Plan Your Visit:

Free parking is provided in a lot adjacent to the theatre – additional street parking is available.

Nearest El station: Granville Red Line. Buses: #22 (Clark), #36 (Broadway), #151 (Sheridan), #155

(Devon), #84 (Peterson).

 

About the Playwright/Director

Terry Guest is an award-winning playwright, actor, producer, poet and teaching artist based in Chicago. His play At The Wake of a Dead Drag Queen has been workshopped, read and performed all over the country and was the 2018 recipient of Out Front Theatre's Spectrum Series Grant. He is currently a member of the 2020/21 Goodman Theatre Playwrights Unit and is commissioned to write new plays by several other Chicagoland companies. As an actor Terry has worked at regional theaters around the country including Steppenwolf, Goodman Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Actors Express, and others. Terry is a Governing Ensemble Member at The Story Theatre and is signed by DDO Chicago. Inspired by: Whitney Houston, Stephen Sondheim, My grandma in the kitchen, Spike Lee, Tennessee Williams, Black Queer people, Black Women, Bob Mackie costumes, Kerry James Marshall, Liza Minelli and the creativity and resilience of Black people around the world.

 

About The Story Theatre

Founded in 2018, The Story Theatre will pose questions rather than provide answers. We develop and produce new work that is whimsical, melancholic, mythic in vision, and intimate in scale. We are run by a Governing Artistic Ensemble, who ensures our work is actively dismantling racism and inequity, while cultivating community through activism and catharsis.

The Story Theatre is funded in part by The Michael and Mona Heath Fund, Chicago Bulls Charities, Illinois Arts Council Agency, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, and The Cliff Dwellers.

EXTENDED: Chicago Premiere! Raven Theatre Presents THE LUCKIEST Now Extended Through June 26, 2022

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Chicago Premiere!

Raven Theatre Presents

THE LUCKIEST

By Melissa Ross

Directed by Artistic Director Cody Estle

May 5 – June 26, 2022

Raven Theatre, Chicago’s newest Equity-affiliated theatre, is pleased to conclude its 2021-22 Season with the Chicago premiere of Melissa Ross’ The Luckiest, a heartfelt and honest look at the journey of life, directed by Artistic Director Cody Estle. The production will play May 5 – June 19, 2022 on Raven’s 85-seat East Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville) in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at raventheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177. I'll be out for the press opening May 9th so check back soon for my full review.

The production will feature Tara Mallen, Cassidy Slaughter-Mason and Christopher Wayland.

Lissette and Peter are best friends living their best lives. But when an out-of-nowhere diagnosis shatters Lissette's world, Peter is left trying to pick up the pieces. Suddenly finding herself at odds with both her best friend and her mom – who each come bearing strong opinions wrapped in good intentions – Lissette is forced to navigate between the two while unflinchingly forging her own path for her future. This tender, funny and keenly-observed play explores the uncertain and sometimes heartbreaking territory of how we choose to take ownership of our lives.

Raven Artistic Director Cody Estle comments, “The Luckiest is a humorously moving portrait of an independent young woman diagnosed with a serious illness. Having lived life on her own terms, she continues to do so after her diagnosis as she navigates the constraints of her new life. The writing is a gift to actors – the characters are well defined, the language specific and nuanced. We are excited to welcome playwright Melissa Ross back to Raven Theatre after having produced a successful run of her play Nice Girl in 2018. We are pleased she will be joining us during the creative process for this production and we look forward to sharing this engaging story with our audience.”

The production team includes Jeffrey D. Kmiec (scenic design), Izumi Inaba (costume design), Becca Jeffords (lighting design), Eric Backus (sound design), Caitlin McCarthy (props design), Sam Hubbard (movement coach), Eva Breneman (text coach and dialect designer), Sarah Slight (dramaturg), Catherine Miller (casting director), Morgan Wrigley (COVID safety manager), Lorenzo Blackett (production manager), Alan Weusthoff (technical director), Eileen Rozycki (scenic artist),  Sebastian Chrzanowski, (master electrician), Ashley Keys (assistant director) and Rita Vreeland (stage manager).

 

Covid protocols: Raven Theatre currently requires proof of vaccination and masking at all performances. Protocols subject to change closer to date of event. For all of Raven’s current COVID-19 and vaccination information, visit raventheatre.com/covid-19.

 

Location: Raven Theatre East Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville), Chicago

Dates: Previews: Thursday, May 5 at 7:30 pm, Friday, May 6 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, May 7 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, May 8 at 3 pm

Press performance: Monday, May 9 at 7:30 pm

Regular run: Thursday, May 12 – Sunday, June 19

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm.

Tickets: Previews $30. Regular run $40. Students/active military and veterans $15. Tickets are currently available at raventheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177.

Open Captioned performance: Sunday, June 5 at 3 pm.

Group tickets: Special group rates are available. For information, call (773) 338-2177 or e-mail info@raventheatre.com.

 

Plan Your Visit:

Free parking is provided in a lot adjacent to the theatre – additional street parking is available. Nearest El station: Granville Red Line. Buses: #22 (Clark), #36 (Broadway), #151 (Sheridan), #155 (Devon), #84 (Peterson).

 

About the Artists

Melissa Ross’ (Playwright) plays include Thinner Than Water (LAByrinth Theater Company), A Life Extra Ordinary (The Gift Theatre), Nice Girl (LAByrinth Theater Company), An Entomologist’s Love Story (San Francisco Playhouse), Of Good Stock (South Coast Repertory and Manhattan Theater Club), and The Luckiest (La Jolla Playhouse). Her work has been developed and produced around the country at theaters including Dorset Theater Festival, Iama Theatre Company, Kitchen Dog Theater, Montana Rep, New York Stage and Film, The New Group, Raven Theatre, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Summer Shorts, and TheatreWorks Palo Alto. She is twice commissioned by both South Coast Repertory and Manhattan Theater Club and is currently commissioned by Atlantic Theater Company, Raven Theatre, and San Francisco Playhouse. Melissa is a graduate of Bennington College and the Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Program at The Juilliard School, and is a proud member of LAByrinth Theater Company.

Cody Estle (Director) became the Artistic Director at Raven Theatre in November 2017 where he had previously served as the Associate Artistic Director. His directing credits include Sundown, Yellow Moon, How I Learned To Drive (named by Windy City Times as the best of Chicago theatre in 2019), The Gentleman Caller (2019 Jeff Award-winning new play by Philip Dawkins), The Assembled Parties, A Loss of Roses (named by Chicago Tribune honorable mention as one of the year’s best in 2016), Dividing the Estate, Vieux Carré (named by Chicago Tribune as one of the year’s best in 2014), Good Boys and True, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Boy Gets Girl and Dating Walter Dante at Raven Theatre; Damascus at Strawdog Theatre; Five Mile Lake at Shattered Globe Theatre; By The Water (named by Chicago Sun-Times honorable mention as one of the top theatre productions of 2017) at Northlight Theatre; American Hero at First Floor Theater; Scarcity at Redtwist Theatre; The Seagull and Watch on the Rhine at The Artistic Home; Don’t Go Gentle at Haven Theatre; Uncle Bob at Mary-Arrchie Theatre, and Hospitality Suite at Citadel Theatre. He is a member of SDC, serves on the board of directors of the League of Chicago Theatres, and is an alumnus of Columbia College Chicago.

About Raven Theatre

Raven Theatre tells stories of today and the past that connect us to our cultural landscape. Through its plays, as well as its educational programming, Raven is committed to serving our communities’ needs through the arts.

Raven Theatre Company is funded in part by the The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at Prince, Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, Polk Bros Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, S&C Electric Company Fund, Paul M. Angell Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

REVIEW: North American Premiere of SOLARIS Via Griffin Theatre Company Through March 27, 2022 at Raven Theatre

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar  

North American Premiere!

Griffin Theatre Company Announces

SOLARIS

By David Greig

Adapted from the novel by Stanisław Lem

Directed by Scott Weinstein

February 19 – March 27, 2022 at Raven Theatre

REVIEW:

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

Imagine an austere space station on a remote outpost, with clever sliding doors and airlocks, a small crew, and a huge problem with uninvited entities. Outside the ship, psychedelic swirls and intricate illusions form on a vast ocean. Inside, the scientists struggle with dueling desires to study the alien phenomenon and protect themselves from a potential malevolent threat. Video journals from a dead team member and an unspeaking, unsmiling child that manifests out of thin air add to the mystery. These intrepid travelers bring the audience along on quite the psychological trip with the North American premiere of SOLARIS. 

(left to right) Alexandrya Salazar, Isa Arciniegas and Larry Baldacci in Griffin Theatre Company’s North American premiere of Solaris. All photos by Michael Brosilow.

When I first read the description I was a bit leery that it would be the old space trope of man versus life threatening challenges and human stupidity.  My husband and I call these the "Lack of Oxygen Channel" movies and I detest the genre. Solaris is not that show. It's something much darker and more disturbing, as the women on board battle longing and loss, and some are willing to pay the ultimate price to inhabit a blissful illusion just a bit longer. 

The Solaris cast is superb, with strong performances across the board, and compelling rapport that's a joy to see. All the elements combine to make this stellar production unique and fascinating. Special shout out to Joe Schermoly*(scenic design) and Izumi Inaba (costume design) for going above and beyond.  

(left to right) Isa Arciniegas and John Drea

As the real world is still reeling from over 2 years of pandemic losses and lockdowns, this play's themes of isolation, interconnection, memory, and codependency really resonate. Solaris is recommended. 

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). 

(left to right) John Drea and Larry Baldacci

Griffin Theatre Company is pleased to welcome back live audiences this winter with the North American premiere of David Greig’s sci-fi thriller Solaris, adapted from the novel by Stanisław Lem and directed by Scott Weinstein*, playing February 19 – March 27, 2022 on Raven Theatre’s Schwartz Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. in Chicago. Tickets on sale  at www.griffintheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177. 

Please note: Raven Theatre currently requires proof of vaccination and masking at all performances. Protocols are subject to change closer to the date of the event. For all of Raven’s current COVID-19 and vaccination information, visit raventheatre.com/covid-19.

 

The cast includes Isa Arciniegas*, Larry Baldacci*, John Drea, Nicole Laurenzi* and TJ Thomas.

On a space station in the far reaches of the galaxy, a small group of scientists study the isolated ocean planet of Solaris. Sent from earth to investigate reports of abnormal activity on-board, a new scientist arrives to find one crew member dead and two who are seeing things that cannot be explained. Has the prolonged isolation in space caused those on board to hallucinate? Or is it something else? A vivid exploration of loneliness, isolation and how we deal with loss, this science fiction thriller asks if we can truly understand the universe without first understanding what lies within our hearts. 

Lem’s novel has been adapted numerous times for film, radio and theater. Prominent film adaptations include Andrei Tarkovsky's 1972 version and Steven Soderbergh's 2002 version.

Solaris received its world premiere in 2019 at the Malthouse Theatre, in Melbourne, Australia in a co-production with the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh. Following the run at the Malthouse Theatre the play was transferred to the Royal Lyceum Theatre and then to the Lyric Hammersmith in London, England. 

The production team includes Joe Schermoly* (scenic design), Izumi Inaba (costume design), Brandon Wardell+ (lighting design), Eric Backus (sound design), Ivy Treccani (properties design), Yeaji Kim (projection/video design), Courtney Abbott (intimacy director), Jonathan Mayo (production manager), Evan Sposato (technical director) and Sara Beaman (stage manager).

*Denotes Griffin Theatre ensemble member   +Denotes Griffin Theatre artistic associate

(left to right) Isa Arciniegas and John Drea 

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Cast (in alphabetical order): The cast includes Isa Arciniegas* (Kelvin), Larry Baldacci* (Gibarian), John Drea (Ray), Nicole Laurenzi* (Sartorius) and TJ Thomas (Snow).

Location: Raven Theatre’s Schwartz Stage, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago

Dates: Previews: Saturday, February 19 at 7:30 pm, Sunday, February 20 at 3 pm, Thursday, February 24 at 7:30 pm, Friday, February 25 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, February 26 at 7:30 pm.

Regular run: Thursday, March 3 – Saturday, March 27, 2022

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm.

Tickets: Previews $30. Regular run $40. Students/active military and veterans $15. Group discounts are available for groups of ten or more. Tickets go on Thursday, January 27 at www.griffintheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177.

(left to right) TJ Thomas and John Drea

(left to right) Nicole Laurenzi, TJ Thomas and Isa Arciniegas

David Greig (Playwright, Adapter) is a multi-award-winning playwright who became the Artistic Director of the Royal Lyceum Edinburgh in 2015. David’s most notable plays include The Events, The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart, Midsummer, Dunsinane and Europe. More recently, David’s new stage adaptation of Solaris, based on Stanislaw Lem’s 1961 soviet science fiction novel, was co-produced by The Lyceum, Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne Australia and The Lyric Hammersmith. In 2019, David teamed up with original creators Bill Forsyth and Mark Knopfler to adapt the international hit film Local Hero for the stage, which premiered in Edinburgh. David’s new stage adaptation of Joe Simpson's best-selling 1988 memoir Touching the Void, which was co-produced by The Lyceum and Bristol Old Vic, enjoyed a run at The Duke of York in London’s West End in 2019/20. His other adaptations include Strindberg’s Creditors (2018) and Aeschylus’ The Suppliant Women (2016) and The Lorax (2015). David wrote the book for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which opened in the West End in 2013 and then transferred to Broadway in 2017. 

Stanisław Lem (Author, 1921-2006) was a Polish writer of speculative fiction and essays on various subjects, including philosophy, futurology and literary criticism. Many of his science fiction stories are of satirical and humorous character. Lem's books have been translated into over 50 languages and have sold over 45 million copies. His best-known novel “Solaris” (1961) has been made into a feature film three times. Lem's works explore philosophical themes through speculations on technology, the nature of intelligence, the impossibility of communication with and understanding of alien intelligence, despair about human limitations and humanity's place in the Universe. His essays and philosophical books cover these and many other topics and his works such as “The Cyberiad,” “His Master’s Voice” and “The Star Diaries” have entered the canon of world literature. Translating his works is difficult due to Lem's elaborate neologisms and idiomatic wordplay. The Polish Parliament declared 2021 Stanisław Lem Year.

Scott Weinstein (Director) is an award-winning director and writer based in New York City. His work as a director has been seen at major regional theaters around the country and he recently won the Joseph Jefferson award for his actor-musician, chamber style re-conception of Ragtime with Griffin Theatre, where he is an ensemble member. Other favorite credits include Titanic (Griffin); Something Rotten, Murder For Two (Marriott Theatre), South Pacific (The Rev Theatre), She Kills Monsters (Steppenwolf/Buzz22 Chicago), Sex With Strangers (Cardinal Stage) and Rock of Ages (Pittsburgh CLO). Scott was the Associate and Resident Director for the Broadway National Tour, Las Vegas and Chicago productions of the hit musical Million Dollar Quartet and recently developed and directed the world premiere/first national tour of Million Dollar Quartet Christmas. He has developed new work at the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, Pittsburgh CLO, The American Music Theatre Project, The Marriott Theatre, Route 66 Theatre, The Rev, Norwegian Creative Studios and others. Graduate of Northwestern University and proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. He is represented by William Morris Endeavor. www.ScottGWeinstein.com

The Griffin Theatre Company is a Blue Star Theater and is proud to support our military enlisted and veterans. 

 

About Griffin Theatre Company 

Established in 1988. the mission of the Griffin Theatre Company is to create extraordinary and meaningful theatrical experiences for both children and adults by building bridges of understanding between generations that instill in its audience an appreciation of the performing arts. Through artistic collaboration the Griffin Theatre Company produces literary adaptations, original work and classic plays that challenge and inspire, with wit, style and compassion for the audience.

The Griffin Theatre Company is the recipient of 125 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations for theater excellence in Chicago. The Griffin was honored with four 2018 Jeff awards for Ragtime including Best Ensemble, Best Musical, Best Director-Musical and Best Performer in a Supporting Role-Musical. Additionally, the company was the repeat winner of the 2016 Jeff Award for Best Production of a Play for London Wall having won the same award in 2015 for its production of Men Should Weep.

The Griffin Theatre Company is partially supported by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The MacArthur Funds for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and the American Rescue Plan.

For additional information, visit www.griffintheatre.com.

(left to right) Nicole Laurenzi, Isa Arciniegas and TJ Thomas in Griffin Theatre Company’s North American premiere of Solaris. Photo by Michael Brosilow.