OPENING: Dry Land at Rivendell Theatre

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble presents

the Midwest Premiere of

Dry Land

by Ruby Rae Spiegel

Directed by RTE Member Hallie Gordon

Featuring Jessica Ervin and Bryce Gangel

April 22 – May 28, 2016

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago’s only Equity theatre dedicated to producing new work with women at the core, announces the midwest premiere of Dry Land by Ruby Rae Spiegel. The production, directed by RTE member Hallie Gordon, runs April 22 – May 28, 2016, at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago.

Sometimes high school boils down to one thing - survival. And the only way to stay afloat is to find yourself an ally…

Set in the girls' locker room of a Florida high school, Ruby Rae Spiegel's ferocious new play looks at the unlikely friendship between Esther and Amy, two high school swimmers under uncommon pressure. Called a “remarkable new play” by The New York Times, Dry Land is alternately harrowing and hilarious, as it homes in on the issue of DIY abortion, the complexities of female friendship, and the impossible pressures that build up at the brink of adulthood.   

VIP Opening: Thursday, April 28 at 7:00pm

Regular run: April 29 – May 28, 2016

Schedule: Thursdays-Saturdays at 8:00pm

                 Saturdays at 4:00pm

    Town Hall Discussions will follow the Saturday matinees on May 7, 14 and 21

Location:  Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 

                 5779 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago

Tickets: General Admission

Pre-sale: $32

Walk-up: $35

Student, Senior, Active Military, Veteran

Pre-sale: $22

Walk-up: $25

Pay What You Can: Five seats (10% of the house) are available for each performance. Reservations are made on a first come first served basis.

Flex Pass: $110 ($80 for Student/ Senior/ Active Military/ Veteran)

Includes four tickets to use in any combination for the season.

Box Office:                  (773) 334-7728 or www.RivendellTheatre.org

Parking and Transportation: Free parking is available in the Senn High School parking lot (located a block and a half from the theatre behind the school off Thorndale Avenue). There is limited paid and free street parking in the area and the theatre is easily accessible via the Clark (#22) or Broadway (#36) bus and is a short walk from the Bryn Mawr Red Line El station.

Artistic Director Tara Mallen comments, “Dry Land is the second production in RTE's 2016 “The Body Politic” season consisting of three important new plays in which the political is deeply personal.  The play begins with two teenage girls attempting a do-it-yourself abortion. It is a precarious subject, rife with shame and secrecy, not to mention being a political time bomb. The play doesn't pick sides or ask you to pick sides -- it simply reflects a growing reality, particularly for women and girls living in areas where it is now most difficult to get abortions. In the midst of this election circus, as we sift through the candidate’s policies and platforms, Dry Land tackles this hot button issue with extreme truth - and a great dose of humor -- engendering an imperative dialogue about women’s bodies in this crucible of politics."

“What struck me the first time I read Dry Land, this expertly written play by the young Ruby Rae Spiegal, was how unbelievably real, how lively and true and recognizable these characters were,” comments directorHallie Gordon.  “While the play has at its center a harrowing and dramatic incident, what matters about the play is not its plot, but its themes – at its heart, this is a work about friendship. The play asks how we are connected, and how we conduct ourselves when that connection is tested.”

Dry Land features Jessica Ervin as “Ester” and Bryce Gangel as “Amy” with Charlotte Thomas, Matt Farrabee, Ric Walker, Olivia Shine and Ireon Roach. The design team includes Joanna Iwanicka (scenic design), Charles Cooper (lighting design), Janice Pytel (costume design), Sarah Putts (sound) and David Blixt (fight choreography).

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Ruby Rae Spiegel (Playwright) is a graduate of Yale University. Her Susan Smith Blackburn Prize nominated play, DRY LAND, premiered Off-Broadway in 2014 in a sold-out, critically acclaimed run at Colt Coeur, following development in New York Stage and Film’s Powerhouse Theater Readings Festival and the Ojai Playwrights Conference. Her play Carrie & Francine premiered in the Summer Shorts Festival in 2011 at 59E59 alongside work by Neil LaBute and Christopher Durang. Dubbed “the prodigy of Summer Shorts” by the Theatre Development Fund, she received a rave review in the The New York Times for the piece and won Stephen Sondheim’s Young Playwrights Inc.’s National Competition (her second consecutive win after 2010’s All Ye Know). Ruby currently writes for Netflix’s forthcoming original series “The OA.”

Hallie Gordon (Director) is an RTE member and Artistic Producer at Steppenwolf and Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Young Adults.  As a theatre artist Hallie has directed for Rivendell, Eat Your Heart Out, Eclipsedat Northlight Theatre, for Steppenwolf 1984, Animal Farm, Leveling Up, the world premiere of The Book Thief, To Kill A Mockingbird, the world premiere of a new adaptation by Tanya Saracho of The House on Mango Street, and Harriet Jacobs, adapted for the stage by Lydia R. Diamond. A new premier of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, also adapted by Lydia R. Diamond, which won a Black Excellence Award from the African American Arts Alliance of Chicago. This production also transferred Off-Broadway to The New Victory Theatre. She has directed staged readings for The Goodman Theatre, Timeline Theatre, Chicago Dramatists and Steppenwolf Theatre Company.  Hallie is the recipient of The Helen Coburn Meier & Tim Meier Achievement Award

Jessica Ervin (Ester) is a recent graduate of Ball State University with a B.F.A. in Acting. Her Chicago credits include Walkabout Theater Company’s Summer in the Parks production of The Wild, The Public House Theatre’s 12 Ways to Play Festival, Collaboraction’s final Sketchbook Festival, and understudying Rivendell’s touring production of WOMEN AT WAR. Some of her other favorite projects are The Skriker (Josie),Romeo and Juliet (Juliet), and The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (Tillie). 

Bryce Gangel (Amy) makes her Rivendell Theatre debut. Recent Chicago credits include: The U.S. premiere of Posh (Steep Theatre); Between You, Me, and the Lampshade (Teatro Vista); All American (Redtwist Theatre); the Chicago premiere of Hank Williams: Lost Highway (Filament Theatre Ensemble); and You Never Can Tell (Remy Bumppo Theatre U/S). She has appeared on television in “Crisis” (NBC).  Bryce is a graduate of Loyola University and The School at Steppenwolf.  She is proudly represented by Paonessa Talent.

                        

About Rivendell Theatre Ensemble

Founded in 1994, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble advances women’s lives through the power of theatre. Rivendell cultivates the talents of women artists -- writers, actors, directors, designers and technicians – by seeking out innovative plays that explore unique female experiences and producing them in intimate, salon environments. 

Rivendell fills an important role in the Chicago region as the only Equity theatre dedicated to producing artistically challenging and original plays created by and about women. After years of being an itinerant company, we moved into our own theater space in 2010 in Edgewater. As new members of the neighborhood, we are focused on becoming an integral community partner and serving as a catalyst to engage our audiences in a discussion of local social issues. 

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble is supported by generous grants from The Alphawood Foundation; The Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development; The Chicago Community Trust; The Chicago Foundation for Women; The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; The MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; The Reva and David Logan Foundation; The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust; Cultural Outreach Program Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events; and the Illinois Arts Council Agency. Rivendell Theatre Ensemble is also very grateful for the support received from 100 Women Who Care.

For more information about Rivendell Theater Ensemble, http://rivendelltheatre.org.  Follow RTE on Facebook at Facebook.com/rivendelltheatre and on Twitter @RivendellThtr

OPENING: World Premiere of Look, we are breathing by Rivendell Theatre Ensemble #Theatre #Chicago

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble

presents the World Premiere of

Look, we are breathing

by Chicago playwright Laura Jacqmin

April 2 – May 16, 2015

Photo credit: Michael Brosilow

ChiIL Live Shows will be there for the press opening on Tuesday, so check back for our full review shortly.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago’s only Equity theatre dedicated to producing new work with women at the core, announces the second production of its 20th Anniversary Season, the world premiere of Look, we are breathing, written by Chicago playwright Laura Jacqmin and directed by Megan Shuchman. The production runs April 2-May 16, 2015, at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago.  

Those who die young are mourned for their lost potential. But what if Mike, a high school hockey player killed while driving drunk, never really showed much potential? While sorting through their own deeply conflicted feelings in the aftermath of the accident, his mother Alice, his AP English teacher Leticia, and his one-time hookup, Caylee, try to understand who Mike was - and who he might have become. In Look, we are breathing, Chicago playwright Laura Jacqmin turns her unblinking eye on the grieving process as the three most important women in Mike’s life realize that in order to move on, they might first have to confront some hard truths about themselves. 

Look, we are breathing was developed at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab on Governors Island, NYC.

“Over the past 20 years, Rivendell has emerged as a haven for new work with women at the core here in Chicago. When Laura and Megan first approached me with Look, we are breathing, I knew immediately it would be the perfect centerpiece in our 20^th Anniversary season as we focused on challenging our own personal biases and took a deep look into what lies behind our default societal perceptions and knee-jerk ideas about right versus wrong,” comments RTE Artistic Director Tara Mallen, who plays Alice. “The opportunity to collaborate with such a dynamic artistic team—and the incredible bonus of having Laura with us in the room developing the script alongside us—seemed an opportunity not to be missed. I am delighted to add Look We Are Breathing to list of world and regional premieres mounted by RTE over the years.”

The cast of Look, we are breathing includes: RTE Artistic Director Tara Mallen, Brendan Meyer, Brenann Stacker, and Lily Mojekwu.

The core design team includes: RTE members Diane Fairchild (lighting) and Janice Pytel (costumes), as well as Chris Kriz (sound) Mike Mroch (scenic) and Jamie Karas (props).

The Look, we are breathing Production Sponsor is The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation.

Title:                            Look, we are breathing

Written by:                  Chicago playwright Laura Jacqmin

Directed by:                Steppenwolf Associate Director of Education Megan Shuchman

Featuring:                   RTE Artistic Director Tara Mallen, Brendan Meyer, Brenann Stacker, and Lily Mojekwu

Regular run: through May 16, 2015

Schedule: Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8:00pm

Saturdays at 4:00pm

Location:  Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago

Tickets: General Admission

Pre-sale: $32

Walk-up: $35

                                    Student, Senior, Active Military, Veteran

                                                Pre-sale: $22

                                                Walk-up: $25

Pay What You Can: Five seats (10% of the house) are available for each performance. Reservations are made on a first come first served basis.

Flex Pass: $110 ($80 for Student/ Senior/ Active Military/ Veteran)

Includes four tickets to use in any combination for the season.

Box Office:                  (773) 334-7728 or www.RivendellTheatre.org

Parking and transportation: *Free parking is available in the Senn High School parking lot (located a block and a half from the theatre behind the school off Thorndale Avenue). There is limited paid and free street parking in the area and the theatre is easily accessible via the Clark (#22) or Broadway (#36) bus and is a short walk from the Bryn Mawr Red Line El station.

Notes of Interest

Look, we are breathing continues Rivendell’s 20^th Anniversary Season.

Director Megan Shuchman and playwright Laura Jacqmin have been collaborating for seven years. This represents the fourth world premiere production they have staged in Chicago. (Pluto Was a Planet, Dental Society Midwinter Meeting and Dead Pile)

Laura Jacqmin has a career in television (staff writer, “Lucky 7,” ABC, 2013; story editor, “Grace and Frankie,” Netflix, 2015) and video games ("Minecraft: Story Mode," Telltale Games). She has consistently returned to Chicago to make theater, with the world premieres of Do-Gooder (16th Street Theater) and Ghost Bike (Buzz22 Chicago) in 2014, and now with the world premieres of Look, we are breaking at Rivendell Theater and We’re Going to be Fine at DePaul University.

Jacqmin is one of The Kilroys, a 13-member Los Angeles-based group of playwrights and producers agitating for gender parity in the American theater. Their first action was the release of The List, an industry-nominated list of their favorite unproduced or under-produced plays by women. The story was the subject of a New York Times feature and is continuing to garner attention.

Cast Bios

Brendan Meyer (Mike) is performing at Rivendell Theatre for the first time. His Chicago credits include Lord of the Flies (Steppenwolf Theatre), Julius Caesar (Chicago Shakespeare Theater) and Fallow (Steep Theatre). Other credits include American Buffalo, Alcestis, Romeo and Juliet, and Doctors Dilemma (American Players Theatre). He is a graduate of the Chicago College of Performing Arts.

Lily Mojekwu (Leticia) last performed with RTE in Self-Defense, or death of some salesmen at Steppenwolf Theatre’s Merle Reskin Garage Theatre as part of its Visiting Company Initiative (2005 After Dark Award - Best Ensemble).  Lily just appeared as Lorena in Amanda Peet’s new play The Commons of Pensacola (Northlight Theatre).  Some favorite Chicago credits include Welcome Home Jenny Sutter, The Overwhelming (Jeff Nomination – Best Production) and Well with Next Theatre Company, fml: How Carson McCullers Saved My Life, The Elephant Man, The Brother Sister Plays (Steppenwolf), Romeo and Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare), A Twist of Water (Route 66 Theatre Co), Greensboro: A Requiem (Steep Theatre, Non-Equity Jeff Nomination – Best Supporting Actress) and In Arabia We’d All be Kings (Steep Theatre, Non-Equity Jeff Award – Best Ensemble).

Brenann Stacker (Caylee) Brenann is making her Rivendell Theatre. Her most recent Chicago credits include Airline Highway at Steppenwolf Theatre, Bedroom Farce at Eclipse Theatre, Under Construction at Jackalope Theatre, Pretty, Smart, Poetic at Odradek Theatre, The Breadwinner at Citadel Theatre and ongoing roles at Walkabout Theatre and Redmoon Theater. Regional credits include The Williamstown Theatre Festival and Double Edge Theatre. TV/film credits include Sirens and films Washed, Persephone and The Origins of Wit & Humor. Brenann earned a BA in Drama at Tufts University and is a graduate of the O'Neill National Theater Institute, the St. Petersburg Theatre Academy and The School at Steppenwolf. 

Tara Mallen (Alice) is a founder and the current Artistic Director at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, now in its 20th season. Most recently she was seen on stage in Rivendell Theatre Ensemble’s Jeff Nominated world premiere production of Rasheeda Speaking. Prior to that she appeared in the Steppenwolf Theatre Company production of How Long Will I Cry: Stories of Youth Violence written by Chicago Journalist Miles Harvey.  For Rivendell, Tara has both produced and acted in over thirty productions as well as a myriad of productions regionally. She received a Joseph Jefferson award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Gwenyth in WRENS as part of that production’s Jeff-winning ensemble. She was nominated the following year for Best Actress in a Principal Role for her work in My Simple City.

Screen credits include Steven Soderbergh’s film Contagion opposite Kate Winslet , the Starz series Boss starring Kelsey Grammer, the NBC pilot of Chicago Fire, the CBS/Sony Pictures pilot Doubt,  the NBC series Chicago P.D. and the new Netflix series Sense8 directed by Lana and Andy Wachowski.

For Rivendell, Tara co-conceived and directed the World Premiere of Women At War, directed the Jeff nominated Midwest premieres of The Electric Baby by Stefanie Zadravec, 26 Miles (in co-production with Teatro Vista); Fighting Words by Sunil Kuruvilla; Psalms of a Questionable Nature by Marisa Wegrzyn; the co-production of Elliot, a Soldier’s Fugue with Stageworks/Hudson in Hudson, NY; and the brief and brilliant Shady Meadows by Lisa Dillman as part of the 2007 Chicago Humanities Festival. 

Megan Shuchman (Director) serves as Associate Education Director for Steppenwolf for Young Adults. As a director and dramaturg, she has worked with Goodman Theatre, Northlight Theatre, TimeLine Theatre, American Theatre Company, Chicago Dramatists and Lifeline Theatre and is a proud company member of 2nd Story. Most recently, Megan directed Philip Dawkins’ Jeff Award-winning play, Miss Marx or the involuntary side effect of living with Strawdog Theatre Company and the world premiere of Shayne Kennedy’s Agreed Upon Fictions at 16thStreet Theatre. meganshuchman.com

Laura Jacqmin (Playwright) is a Chicago-based playwright, originally from Cleveland. She’s the winner of the Wasserstein Prize, two NEA Art Works Grants, the ATHE-Kennedy Center David Mark Cohen Playwriting Award, two MacDowell Fellowships, an Illinois Arts Council Individual Artist Grant, and was a finalist for the Heideman Award, the Laurents/Hatcher Prize, the BBC International Playwriting Competition, and the Princess Grace Award. Plays: January Joiner (Long Wharf Theatre), Ski Dubai (Steppenwolf Theatre), We’re Going To Be Fine (DePaul University, May 2015, dir. Dexter Bullard), Two Lakes, Two Rivers (O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, Royal Court Theatre’s International Residency), Dental Society Midwinter Meeting (Chicago Dramatists/At Play, remounted 16^th Street Theater and Theater on the Lake), Do-Gooder (16^th Street Theater), Ghost Bike (Buzz22 Chicago) and more. Commissions: South Coast Rep, Goodman Theatre, DePaul University, Arden Theater Company, InterAct Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater/NNPN, and Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science & Technology Project. Television: “Grace and Frankie” (Netflix, forthcoming 2015); “Lucky 7” (ABC, 2013). Jacqmin is also a video game writer, currently writing for “Minecraft: Story Mode” with Telltale Games. She received her BA from Yale University and earned an MFA in Playwriting from Ohio University.

RTE@20: You Are Here

This year Rivendell Theatre Ensemble turns twenty years old. When it came to planning the 20th season, we found ourselves at a crossroads, reflecting back on the journey so far...and looking ahead to the future. So in honor of this milestone anniversary, we've mapped out three exciting new plays as well as a remount of last season's Jeff-nominated world premiere. Each work explores the tricky topography of personal choice--and the often uncharted biases that drive how–and why–we make our most life-changing decisions.

The 20^th season continues with How the World Began (September 3-October 17, 2015) by Catherine Trieschmann, featuring RTE member Rebecca Spence.

The previously announced remount of Rasheeda Speaking has been postponed. Tara Mallen explains, “Rasheeda Speaking was scheduled to be remounted at Steppenwolf, where cast member Ora Jones is an ensemble member. Unfortunately Ora has other conflicts this spring so  we look forward to revisiting Rasheeda Speaking again in the future.”

About Rivendell Theatre Ensemble

Founded in 1994, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble advances women’s lives through the power of theatre. Rivendell cultivates the talents of women artists -- writers, actors, directors, designers and technicians – by seeking out innovative plays that explore unique female experiences and producing them in intimate, salon environments. 

Rivendell fills an important role in the Chicago region as the only Equity theatre dedicated to producing artistically challenging and original plays created by and about women. After years of being an itinerant company, we moved into our own theater space in 2010 in Edgewater. As new members of the neighborhood, we are focused on becoming an integral community partner and serving as a catalyst to engage our audiences in a discussion of local social issues. 

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble is supported by generous grants from The Alphawood Foundation; The Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development; The Chicago Community Trust; The Chicago Foundation for Women; The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; The MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; The Reva and David Logan Foundation; The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust; Cultural Outreach Program Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events; and the Illinois Arts Council Agency. Rivendell Theatre Ensemble is also very grateful for the support received from 100 Women

Photo credit: Michael Brosilow

For more information about Rivendell Theater Ensemble, http://rivendelltheatre.org.  Follow RTE on Facebook at Facebook.com/rivendelltheatre and on Twitter @RivendellThtr

OPENING: Women at War at Rivendell 11/5-12/6

Act Out:  Chicago Theatre openings, closings, reviews, giveaways, ticket sale dates and more. 

Chi, IL Live Shows on stage and on our radar.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble

announces the World Premiere of

WOMEN AT WAR

based on true stories of women in combat

November 5-December 6, 2014

It's a big year for notable anniversary seasons and Rivendell hits the big TWO OH. Here at ChiIL Live Shows we're all about their mission statement & claim to fame as "Chicago’s only Equity theatre dedicated to producing new work with women at the core."  Carry on!

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago’s only Equity theatre dedicated to producing new work with women at the core, announces the first production of their twentieth anniversary season, the world premiere of WOMEN AT WAR, written by RTE member Megan Carney and directed by Artistic Director Tara Mallen. The production runs November 5-December 6, 2014 at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago.

As a debate rages over whether females should serve on the frontlines, more women are being sent into active combat zones than ever before. Woven from first-person interviews with women who have laid their lives on the front lines, WOMEN AT WAR is the result of four years of intensive research and development. Working closely with veterans and organizations, Megan Carney explores the multifaceted world of female soldiers—from enlistment to deployment to the often complicated return home.

“Today's American military is nearly 15% female and there are over 1.8 million female U.S. veterans. At the same time, a male perspective has dominated the images and tales of war shared in books, movies, theater, and elsewhere. Thanks to a generous grant from the Chicago Community Trust, Rivendell had the resources to begin to share the perspective of the women who serve in the American Military,” comments Tara Mallen. “Along with our community partners at VetCAT (Veterans Creative Arts Therapy) we have been able to forge relationships with veteran service organizations across the state, and connect with more than 70 female veterans to create a moving theatrical piece crafted from diverse and complex stories of women during and following military service. The time is now to make the hidden contributions of these women finally visible and their silence resound.

The cast of WOMEN AT WAR includes: RTE member Mary Cross, Navy Veteran Cynthia Hines, with Rengin Altay, Danielle Davis, Brittani Green, Krystel McNeil, Paula Ramirez, Charli Williams and Susan Gaspar.

The core design team includes: RTE members Diane Fairchild (lighting), Toy Deiorio (sound), Janice Pytel (costumes and lobby installation) and Shera Street (lobby installation).  

The WOMEN AT WAR Production Sponsors are The Chicago Community Trust and The Reva and David Logan Foundation

Title:                            WOMEN AT WAR
Written by:                   RTE member Megan Carney
Directed by:                  RTE Artistic Director Tara Mallen

Featuring:                    RTE member Mary Cross, Rengin Altay, Danielle Davis, Brittani Green, Cynthia Hines, Paula Ramirez, and Susan Gaspar

Previews:                     November 5-November 7, 2014

Gala opening: Sunday, November 9, 2014 at 6:00pm

Regular run:                 through December 6, 2014
                                    No shows November 26 or 27

Schedule:                     Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8:00pm

Saturdays at 4:00pm

Location:                      Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago
Tickets:                        General Admission

Previews: $25

Pre-sale: $32

Walk-up: $35

                                    Student, Senior, Active Military, Veteran
                                                Preview: $15
                                                Pre-sale: $22
                                                Walk-up: $25

Pay What You Can: Five seats (10% of the house) are available for each performance. Reservations are made on a first come first serve basis.

Flex Pass: $110 ($80 for Student/ Senior/ Active Military/ Veteran)

Includes four tickets to use in any combination for the season.

Box Office:                   (773) 334-7728 or www.RivendellTheatre.org

Parking and transportation: Free parking is available in the Senn High School parking lot (located a block and a half from the theatre behind the school off Thorndale Avenue). There is limited paid and free street parking in the area and the theatre is easily accessible via the Clark (#22) or Broadway (#36) bus and a short walk from the Bryn Mawr Red Line El station.

Notes of Interest:

• Today's American military is nearly 15% female, ranging from 7% of Marines to 19% of the Air Force and Reserves. In addition, there are over 1.8 million female U.S. veterans.

• RTE has developed relationships with veteran service organizations, including the Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs, Student Veteran’s Centers at UIC and Kennedy-King College, Illinois Health and Disability Advocates, Pritzker Military Library, the National Veterans Art Museum, and VetCAT (Veterans Creative Arts Therapy).

• RTE connected with more than 70 female veterans and collected 28 personal interviews. The result of this work is Women at War, a devised theatrical piece crafted from diverse, rich, and complex stories of women during and following military service.

• A key element in this project has been to use the play as a catalyst to create a dialogue between civilian and veteran communities. Hence a major element of the programming at WOMEN AT WAR will be “Town Hall Saturdays.” Following each Saturday matinee performance, audiences are invited to participate to dive a little deeper through  moderated post-show conversations sparked by themes running through WOMEN AT WAR.  Town Hall Saturdays will be held November 15, 22, 29 and December 6, 2014.

• In 2012, RTE secured a $25,000 grant from the Chicago Community Trust in collaboration with their Community Partners at VetCAT (Veterans Creative Arts Thearapy). With this funding, RTE led an examination of the roles of American women in the shifting landscape of the military and WOMEN AT WAR was born. On November 21, 2013, RTE premiered a staged reading of WOMEN AT WAR at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Ensuing brief workshop performances were held at the National Association of Schools for Theatre annual conference in April of 2014 and then again at Union League Club in May of 2014.

• Cast member and Army Veteran Cynthia Hines makes her theatrical debut in WOMEN AT WAR while also serving as one of the project’s several military consultants. A native of Milwaukee, she joined the U.S. Army in 1994 as a paralegal specialist, where she served 11 years and spent another eight years as a civilian in the Middle East, most notably Iraq and Afghanistan.  During her time on active duty, she was deployed to Germany, Korea, Macedonia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. A graduate of the University of Maryland, she is pursuing a career in theatrical and voiceover acting as well as playwriting. 

RTE@20: You Are Here

This year Rivendell Theatre Ensemble turns twenty years old. When it came to planning the 20th season, we found ourselves at a crossroads, reflecting back on the journey so far...and looking ahead to the future. So in honor of this milestone anniversary, we've mapped out three exciting new plays as well as a remount of last season's Jeff-nominated world premiere. Each work explores the tricky topography of personal choice--and the often uncharted biases that drive how--and why--we make our most life-changing decisions.

The season includes WOMEN AT WAR (October 30-December 6, 2014) written by RTE ensemble member Megan Carney, directed by Artistic Director Tara Mallen; the world premiere of Look We Are Breathing (April 2-May 16, 2015) written by Laura Jacqmin, directed by Megan Schuchman; a remount of Rasheeda Speaking (May 30-June 28, 2015) written by Joel Drake Johnson, directed by Sandy Shinner, to be performed in the Steppenwolf Garage; and How the World Began (September 3-October 17, 2015) by Catherine Trieschmann, featuring RTE member Rebecca Spence.

About Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Founded in 1994, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble advances women’s lives through the power of theatre. Rivendell cultivates the talents of women artists -- writers, actors, directors, designers and technicians – by seeking out innovative plays that explore unique female experiences and producing them in intimate, salon environments. 

Rivendell fills an important role in the Chicago region as the only Equity theatre dedicated to producing artistically challenging and original plays created by and about women. After years of being an itinerant company, we moved into our own theater space in 2010 in Edgewater. As new members of the community, we are focused on becoming an integral community partner and serving as a catalyst to engage our audiences in a discussion of local social issues. 

For more information about Rivendell Theater Ensemble, http://rivendelltheatre.org.  Follow RTE on Facebook at Facebook.com/rivendelltheatre and on Twitter @RivendellThtr



Rivendell Theatre Ensemble is supported by generous grants from The Alphawood Foundation; The Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development; The Chicago Community Trust; The Chicago Foundation for Women; The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; The Reva and David Logan Foundation; The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust; A CityArts Program 1 Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; and the Illinois Arts Council Agency. Rivendell is also grateful for the support of 100 Women Who Care.