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Showing posts with label Seanachai Theatre Company. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seanachai Theatre Company. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

ACT OUT: Three Oaks Theater Festival Presents Seanachai Theatre's Hughie

The second season of the Three Oaks Theater Festival wraps up this weekend with Seanachai Theatre’s Hughie, featuring Bard Armacost. 

Here at ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows, we adore Three Oaks, MI. It's close enough to Chicago for a weekend getaway or summer home and yet it's worlds away from the traffic jams, heat, and hustle of city summers. Just because you escape the less savory elements of the city, that doesn't mean you have to leave culture and great theatre behind. Some of Chicago's best performers, and many favorites of ours are escaping to Three Oaks too! Check it out!



HUGHIE
By Eugene O’Neill
Presented by Seanachaí Theatre Company
Directed by Kevin Fox
Featuring Brad Armacost
Friday, August 1, 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)
Saturday, August 2, 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)
Performed at Lakeside Inn, 15251 Lakeshore Rd, Lakeside, MI
Ticket prices: $25
Ages: 16+

Check out the fun trailer, featuring local residents of Harbor Country:

Eugene O’Neill’s classic two-character play is set in the lobby of a hotel early one morning in the late 1920s. Its characters are the hotel's gray and withdrawn night clerk, and "Erie" Smith, a penny-ante gambler who has spent most of his last 15 years at the hotel between periods of drunkenness. His most recent bender was prompted by the death of the title character, who was the night clerk's predecessor. Erie babbles through tales of his life's imaginary successes, as well as his panicky optimism for the future. The night clerk can only listen to this study in fraudulent glibness, which is touching, revealing and a telling measure of what is behind this man's delusions. O'Neill renders a palpable journey into Erie's soul that both invites and compels us to join Erie in supportive community along his path of mourning to ultimate redemption.

About the season
Co-founders John Stoops, Tim Evans, and Marc Grapey proudly present the second season of Three Oaks Theater Festival, a summer theater festival that brings limited-engagement runs of highly-acclaimed, professional productions to audiences in Harbor Country, Michigan.  This expanded season is being performed in creative venues throughout Harbor Country, including the Acorn Theater, Vickers Theatre, and the historic Lakeside Inn.  Three Oaks Theater Festival is presented with major support by The Pokagon Fund.

The 2014 Three Oaks Theater Festival presented the family-friendly Blair Thomas & Co.’s A Piano with Three Tales; Dennis Watkins’ The Magic Parlour; a staged reading of TimeLine Theatre’s The Normal Heart; David Lutken in Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie; Jackalope Theatre’s Exit Strategy; and will produce the upcoming Seanachaí Theatre Company’s Hughie.

About Three Oaks
Three Oaks, Michigan, located about 70 miles from Chicago, has approximately 1,600 residents.  Despite its size, the quaint Village is remarkably well-developed in the arts with a live performance venue, art house movie theater and galleries featuring the work of established and emerging artists.  Chamberlain Path, located steps from the main street, has been turned into a sculpture garden featuring monumental sculptures by local and national artists.  The town also hosts two annual art festivals; the Art Attack weekend and Art in the Park.  Meanwhile, Dewey Cannon Park is home to Music in the Park, a free concert series held every Saturday during the summer.  Perhaps most indicative of the town’s quirky, artistic spirit, Three Oaks is one of the few villages in the country with the official position of Village Poet Laureate.

Information and tickets are available at www.threeoaksfestival.com or call 866-811-4111.



Thursday, April 24, 2014

ACT OUT OPENING: Lay Me Down Softly by Seanachai Theatre Company

Seanachaí Theatre Company Presents U.S. Premiere of
LAY ME DOWN SOFTLY
By Billy Roche
Directed by Kevin Christopher Fox
April 23 – May 25, 2014


LayMeDown-4 (left to right) Michael Grant, Dan Waller, Jeff Christian and Matthew Isler

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we were quite impressed with Seanachai's production of The Seafarer and we're looking forward to what's next. There have been a plethora of boxing plays in the recent past. We saw Griffin Theatre's Golden Boy at Theater Wit back in February, and The Opponent at A Red Orchid, by local fav, Brett Neveu. The boxing ring size is conducive to shows and there's something about the pacing, blocking and rhythm that rings true for stage and sport alike. This time there's the added bonus of the Irish brogue and the quirky, multiculti back story!



Following its wildly successful production of the The SeafarerSeanachaí Theatre Company is pleased to continue its 2013-14 season with the U.S. premiere of Billy Roche’s drama LAY ME DOWN SOFTLY directed by Kevin Christopher Fox (Hughie). LAY ME DOWN SOFTLY plays April 23 – May 25, 2014 at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.seanachai.org or by calling (866) 811-4111. 

We do dig Seanachaí Theatre Company's name and creative statement.  In case you're curious, Seanachaí is the Gaelic word for Storyteller. It was the duty of the Seanachaí to keep these stories alive. Seanachaí Theatre Company's mission is to create compelling productions and programs that focus energy on exceptional storytelling.  Check it out.


(left to right) Michael Grant, Jamie L. Young, Dan Waller, Matthew Isler and Jeff Christian

LAY ME DOWN SOFTLY features Seanachaí ensemble members Jeff ChristianMichael GrantCarolyn Klein and Dan Waller with Chicago actors Matthew Isler and Jamie L. Young.

Early 1960s. Delaney’s Traveling Roadshow tours the Irish countryside with bumper cars, bearded ladies, rifle ranges and the main attraction: the boxing ring. The Roadshow invites all comers to fight them to win a prize. Theo, the iron fisted patriarch, struggles to keep his crew in line and when his long abandoned daughter arrives, the patchwork family is thrown against the ropes.


(left to right) Dan Waller and Jamie L. Young in Seanachai Theatre Company’s U.S. Premiere of LAY ME DOWN SOFTLY by Billy Roche, directed by Kevin Christopher Fox.  All production photos by Emily Schwartz.

The production team for LAY ME DOWN SOFTLY includes: Joe Schermoly (scenic design), Beth Laske-Miller (costume design), Julian Pike (lighting design), Stephen Ptacek (sound design), Eva Breneman (dialect design) and John Tovar (fight choreographer).

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: LAY ME DOWN SLOWLY
Playwright: Billy Roche
Director: Kevin Christopher Fox
Cast: Seanachaí ensemble members Jeff Christian (Theo), Michael Grant (Peadar), Carolyn Klein (Lily) and Dan Waller (Junior) with Chicago actors Matthew Isler (Dean) and Jamie L. Young (Emer).

Location: The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee, Chicago
Dates: Preview: Wednesday, April 23 at 7:30 pm
Press performance: Thursday April 24 at 7:30 pm
Regular run: Friday, April 25, 2014  – Sunday, May 25, 2014.
Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm
Tickets: Previews $12. Regular run $26 Thursdays & Fridays; $30 Saturdays & Sundays. Seniors/students $5 off. Tickets are available at www.seanachai.org or by calling (866) 811-4111. Group discounts (8 or more) are available by calling (773) 878-3727.


(left to right) Dan WallerCarolyn KleinMichael Grant and Jamie L. Young 

About the Playwright
Billy Roche’s first novel, Tumbling Down, was published by Wolfhound Press in 1986 (revised version published by Tassel Publications in 2008).  His first stage play, A Handful Of Stars, was staged at The Bush Theatre in 1988, followed by Poor Beast In the Rain in 1990. Belfry completed this powerful trilogy at the Bush Theatre.  All three plays, directed by Robin LeFevre, became known as The Wexford Trilogy and were performed in their entirety at The Bush, the Peacock and the Theatre Royal, Wexford.  Later, The Wexford Trilogy was filmed for the BBC, directed by the late and great Stuart Burge.  Roche’s fourth play, Amphibians, was commissioned by the R.S.C. and performed at the Barbican, followed by The Cavalcaders at The Peacock and Royal Court, London. He wrote the screenplay for Trojan Eddie, which was directed by Gillies MacKinnon and starred Stephen Rea and Richard Harris.  Trojan Eddie won the Best Film Award at The San Sebastian Film Festival in 1996.  His sixth play, On Such As We, was performed at the Peacock in 2001, directed by Wilson Milam and starring Brendan Gleeson. Tales From Rainwater Pond, his collection of short stories, was published by Pillar Press in 2006.  Lay Me Down Softly, his seventh play, was originally performed at the Peacock Theatre in 2008, directed by Wilson Milam.  Billy has been Writer-In-Residence at the Bush and Writer-In-Association at Druid and the Abbey Theatre.  The Eclipse, a film that was co-written with Conor McPherson, won IFTA awards for Best Screenplay and Best Film.  The film is inspired by Billy’s short story Table Manners (from the Tales From Rainwater Pond collection). In 2013, his short novella The Diary Of Maynard Perdu was published by Lantern.ie. 

About the Director
Kevin Christopher Fox is an actor and director based in ChicagoWith Seanachai, he directed Hughie with Brad Armacost and Jeff Duhigg last season – and last century he played Manus in David Cromer's production of Translations. Chicago directing credits include Accidental Rapture and Pull of the Moon (16th Street Theater), Widowers' Houses and Androcles and the Lion (ShawChicago), St. Crispin's Day (Strawdog), Arms and the Man and Betrayal (Oak Park Festival), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Gift Theatre Company), Beggars in the House of Plenty (Mary-Arrchie), Widowers' Houses (TimeLine), Patient No. 1 (WNEP)and his debut Buicks (Precious Mettle). At TheatreSquared (Fayetteville, AK) he directed world premieres of Sundown Town by Kevin Cohea and, this past fall, The Spiritualist by Robert Fordalong with Fall of the House, and a youth production of Macbeth, as well as numerous development projects for Arkansas New Play Festival. Recently he adapted and directed Macbeth (Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Shakespeare in the Schools), he served as co-director for the remount of Nick Sandys' Chamber Opera Chicago production of Persuasion, and toured with it to England, Chicago and New York. This last winter, he directed two projects for the William Inge Festival and Center for the Arts in Independence, KS. This coming summer, he will direct the world premiere of The Gun Show by EM Lewis for 16th Street Theater.

About Seanachaí Theatre Company
The mission of Seanachaí Theatre Company is to return theatre to this origin - by creating compelling productions and programs that focus the energy of artists towards the common goal of exceptional storytelling. To achieve this end, Seanachaí Theatre Company strives to provide an atmosphere where all theatre artists – actors, playwrights, directors and designers – have the support and assurance to collaborate openly.

Seanachaí Theatre Company is supported in part by The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Charles River Associates, the Illinois Arts Council and The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs: City Arts Program. 



Monday, November 4, 2013

ACT OUT OPENING: Seanachaí Theatre Company Launches 2013-14 Season With THE SEAFARER

By Conor McPherson
Directed by Matt Miller
November 27, 2013 – January 5, 2014

Seanachaí Theatre Company is pleased to kick-off its 2013-14 season with Conor McPherson’s Tony and Olivier Award-nominated drama THE SEAFARER directed by Matt Miller and featuring ensemble members Ira AmyxBrad Armacost, Shane KenyonKevin Theis and Dan Waller.  THE SEAFARER plays November 27, 2013 – January 5, 2014 at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.seanachai.org or by calling (866) 811-4111. 



On Christmas Eve, a pair of brothers are set to enjoy the holidays in true Dublin spirit with cards, booze and friends – until a stranger from long ago arrives to collect a debt.  THE SEAFARER is an eerie and darkly humorous masterpiece from one of Ireland’s most celebrated playwrights.

The production team for THE SEAFARER includes: Joe Schermoly (scenic design), Beth Laske-Miller (costume design), Julian Pike (lighting design), Stephen Ptacek (sound design), Elise Kauzlaric (dialect design), Seanachaí ensemble member Jeff Christian (production stage manager), Rebecca Willingham (assistant director) and Andrew Donnelly (stage manager).

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title:  THE SEAFARER
Playwright:  Conor McPherson
Director:  Matt Miller
Cast:  Seanachaí Theatre ensemble members Ira Amyx (Ivan), Brad Armacost (Richard), Shane Kenyon (Nicky), Kevin Theis (Mr. Lockhart) and Dan Waller (Sharky).

Location:  The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee in Chicago
Dates:  Preview: Wednesday, November 27 at 7:30 pm
Press performance: Friday, November 29 at 7:30 pm
Regular run: Saturday, November 30, 2014 – Sunday, January 5, 2014. Note: there will not be a performance on Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving).
Curtain Times:  Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3pm
Tickets: Previews $12. Regular run $26 Thursdays & Fridays, $30 Saturdays & Sundays. Seniors/students $5 off. Tickets are available at visit www.seanachai.org or by calling (866) 811-4111. Group discounts (8 or more) are available by calling (773) 878-3727.

About the Playwright
Conor McPherson is one of Ireland's premier contemporary playwrights, currently produced worldwide, in London's West End and on Broadway to both critical and audience acclaim. His plays include The Veil (premiered at the Royal National Theatre October 2011, directed by the author), The Weir, The Seafarer, Port Authority, St. Nicholas, Shining City and Dublin Carol.  The New York Times proclaimed him "the finest playwright of his generation."  His new play, The Night Alive premiered at the Donmar in June 2013. 

About the Director
Originally from Kent, Ohio, Matt Miller is a Chicago based director and teacher.  His previous credits with Seanachai Theatre include The Weir and a joint production of St. Nicholas with Shanghai Low Theatricals.  Other recent directing credits include The Killer Angels with Lifeline Theatre, Superior Donuts with Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co., Oblivion and 4000 Miles (staged reading with Deanna Dunagan) for Steppenwolf’s First Look Repertory, A Girl With Sun In Her Eyes and This Is Our Youth with Pine Box Theater, and the world premiere of Graceland with Profiles Theatre (Jeff Award winner, Best New Work).  Matt is also a proud fifteen-year company member with Barrel of Monkeys, a theatre group that provides creative writing workshops for Chicago Public Elementary Schools that lack arts funding.

About Seanachaí Theatre Company
Seanachaí is the Gaelic word for Storyteller. It was the duty of the Seanachaí to keep these stories alive. The mission of Seanachaí Theatre Company is to return theatre to this origin - by creating compelling productions and programs that focus the energy of artists towards the common goal of exceptional storytelling. To achieve this end, Seanachaí Theatre Company strives to provide an atmosphere where all theatre artists – actors, playwrights, directors and designers – have the support and assurance to collaborate openly.


Seanachaí Theatre Company is supported in part by The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Charles River Associates, the Illinois Arts Council and The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs: City Arts Program. 

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