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Showing posts with label Stephanie Shum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stephanie Shum. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

World Premiere Raven and Rivendell Co-Production GORGEOUS Announces Cast & Crew For May 1- June 7, 2025

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

RAVEN THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES CAST AND PRODUCTION TEAM FOR 

“GORGEOUS”

Previews May 1 - 4, Full Run May 7 - June 7, 2025

Running Time: approximately 90 minutes with no intermission

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we're inordinately excited for a little R & R-- Raven and Rivendell that is! These two storefronts are legendary for excellent, thought provoking productions, and giving voice to women through artistic recognition of their lives. We've seen Stephanie Shum (actor, arts administrator, and all around badass) and Tara Mallen* (actor, director, and Producing Artistic Director at Rivendell, most recently seen in the Ghostlight film, alongside her husband and daughter, Katherine) in many shows over the years and adore their work. What's more, this female powered two hander is directed by Kirsten Fitzgerald (Artistic Director at A Red Orchid, talented director, and actor on stage and screen). As if all that isn't great enough, GORGEOUS is written by female screenwriter/playwright/performer, Keiko Green, and Chicago gets the world premiere! I'll be out to catch the press opening so check back shortly after for my full review.

Chicago’s Raven Theatre Company, in a co-production with Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, today announced the cast and production team for Keiko Green’s World Premiere of GORGEOUS, directed by Kirsten Fitzgerald. The show holds previews May 1 - 4 and runs May 7 - June 7, 2025, on Raven Theatre’s stage at 6157 N. Clark St. Tickets ($45, $30 previews) on sale April 1, 2025 at www.raventheatre.com

(L-R): Stephanie Shum and Tara Mallen

Jenny has a simple life; she takes care of the elderly and shows dogs professionally. When her just-a-little-bit-older boyfriend Bill dies in the middle of a dog show, all Jenny wants is to get rid of his stuff and continue to show his champion Bulldog, Gorgeous. But then his ex-wife, Bernie, shows up talking about taking back the house…and the dog. Amid the boxes of things that made up Bill’s life and rants about his shortcomings (both are numerous), Jenny and Bernie must find a way forward for themselves and the dog. This funny and complicated world premiere of GORGEOUS asks questions about forgiveness and accountability in the face of grief.

GORGEOUS, written by Keiko Green and directed by Kirsten Fitzgerald, features Stephanie Shum (Jenny) and Tara Mallen* (Bernie). The production team includes Caroline Uy (Dramaturg); JC Widman* (Stage Manager); Theo Wampuszyc (Asst. Stage Manager); Mara Ishihara Zinky (Scenic Designer); Paloma Locsin (Props Designer); Maegan Pate (Costumes Designer); Seojung Jang (Lighting Designer); Connor Wang^ (Sound Designer); Catherine Miller (Raven Casting Director); Glenn Obrero (Rivendell Casting Director); Ruby Lowe (Master Electrician); Lucy Whipp (Production Manager)

* Member of Actors Equity Association

^ Member of USA 829, a labor and professional association of Designers, Artists, Craftspeople, and Department Coordinators.


Cast: Stephanie Shum (Jenny) and Tara Mallen* (Bernie)

Production Team: Keiko Green (Playwright); Kirsten Fitzgerald (Director); Caroline Uy (Dramaturg); JC Widman* (Stage Manager); Theo Wampuszyc (Asst. Stage Manager); Mara Ishihara Zinky (Scenic Designer); Paloma Locsin (Props Designer); Maegan Pate (Costumes Designer); Seojung Jang (Lighting Designer); Connor Wang^ (Sound Designer); Catherine Miller (Raven Casting Director); Glenn Obrero (Rivendell Casting Director); Ruby Lowe (Master Electrician); Lucy Whipp (Production Manager)

* Member of Actors Equity Association

^ Member of USA 829, a labor and professional association of Designers, Artists, Craftspeople, and Department Coordinators.


Dates: May 7 - June 7, 2025 (Previews May 1 - 4, 2025)

Press Opening: Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.

Schedule: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.

Location: Raven Theatre (6157 N. Clark St.)

Tickets: General Admission: $45; Previews $30. Discounts for students, seniors, military, and groups of 6 or more, are available. 

Box Office: www.raventheatre.com

ABOUT RAVEN THEATRE COMPANY:

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 Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, JCCC Foundation, Paul M. Angell Foundation, Polk Bros Foundation, S&C Electric Company Fund, and The Shubert Foundation. This project is partially supported by a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. This programming is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. For more information visit www.raventheatre.com

ABOUT RIVENDELL THEATRE ENSEMBLE:

Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE) continues to make a tangible difference in the world by giving voice to women through artistic recognition of their lives, by developing new works that center women's stories and producing those plays along with the support of an award-winning ensemble of artists. Since its inception in 1994, Rivendell has become recognized as a national force in new play development and as a home for women theatre artists, engaging over 200 artists and 3,000+ audience members each year through its mainstage season, new work development, and community engagement programs. 

For more information about Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, visit http://rivendelltheatre.org. Follow Rivendell on Facebook at Facebook.com/rivendelltheatre and on Instagram at @rivendelltheatre.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble is supported by generous grants from: SIF Fund at The Chicago Community Trust; TERRA Foundation for American Art, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Shubert Foundation; Illinois Arts Council Agency; The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; Sarah and the 2 C Dogs and Amazing Edibles.

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

WORLD PREMIERE OF FIRST FLOOR THEATER'S “ONE PARTY CONSENT” February 13 - March 15, 2025

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

FIRST FLOOR THEATER ANNOUNCES CAST AND PRODUCTION TEAM FOR WORLD PREMIERE OF

“ONE PARTY CONSENT”

Written By: Omer Abbas Salem*

Directed By: Nadya Naumaan

Production Runs February 13 - March 15, 2025

Chicago’s First Floor Theater today announced the cast and production team for the World Premiere production of ONE PARTY CONSENT, written by Omer Abbas Salem, running February 13 - March 15, 2025 (previews February 13 - 19) at The Den Theatre’s Crosby stage, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets ($10 - $35) on sale now at www.firstfloortheater.com

Trust is tricky. You enter working relationships and it's unprofessional not to offer it. When you feel your trust challenged, you convince yourself that you're the problem. And some people take advantage of that. Fola is an MFA directing grad student stepping into a mid-year review with their advisor. What happens when you record a professional meeting and you don't tell the other? And what do you do when you record something really incriminating? This is a play about the degradation of trust.

The cast includes Stephanie Shum (Fola), Ashlyn Lozano (Sandra/Ms. Brite), Cindy Marker (Dean Ellen Healy), with understudies Leslie Huang (Fola u/s), Bashany Garcia (Sandra/Ms.Brite u/s) and Wendy Lee Evans (Dean Ellen Healy u/s). 

Led by director Omer Abbas Salem*, a Company Member of First Floor Theater and the most recent past recipient of the company’s Blueprint Commission, the production team includes Kendyl Meyer (Stage Manager), Spencer Donovan (Scenic Designer), Conchita Avitia (Lighting Designer), Satya Chavez (Sound Designer), Caitlin McCarthy* (Costumes Designer), and Adanna Eziri (Props Designer).

*Denotes First Floor Theater Company Member

First Floor Theater’s World premiere ONE PARTY CONSENT runs February 13 - March 15, 2025, with previews February 13, 15, 16, and 19. Performances are held Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. in the Crosby 2B at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets are $10 - $35; to purchase tickets visit www.firstfloortheater.com

Cast: Stephanie Shum (Fola), Ashlyn Lozano (Sandra/Ms. Brite), Cindy Marker (Dean Ellen Healy), with understudies Leslie Huang (Fola u/s), Bashany Garcia (Sandra/Ms.Brite u/s) and Wendy Lee Evans (Dean Ellen Healy u/s). 

Production Team: Kendyl Meyer (Stage Manager), Spencer Donovan (Scenic Designer), Conchita Avitia (Lighting Designer), Satya Chavez (Sound Designer), Caitlin McCarthy* (Costumes Designer), and Adanna Eziri (Props Designer). 

*Denotes First Floor Theater Company Member


Dates: February 13 - March 15, 2025 (Previews February 13, 15, 16, 19)

Press Opening: Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 8 p.m.

Schedule: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.


Location: The Den Theatre Crosby 2B (1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.)

Tickets: General Admission: $10 - $35 

Chicago Theatre Week (February 13-19): $15 with code CTW25

Box Office: https://www.firstfloortheater.com


ABOUT FIRST FLOOR THEATER

Founded in 2012, First Floor Theater has garnered a reputation for pairing some of the most cutting-edge scripts in Chicago and the American Theater with a signature innovative design style. Shortly after their inaugural season, FFT was named “Best New Theater Company” by the Chicago Reader. FFT was also honored to be recognized with the 2018 Francesca Primus Prize from ATCA for their production of Leah Nanako-Winkler’s Two Mile Hollow, and in Newcity’s Players 2019: “The Fifty People Who Really Perform for Chicago.” Some of First Floor’s notable past productions include Hooded or Being Black for Dummies, Mike Pence Sex Dream, Two Mile Hollow, peerless, Plano, and Pro-Am. First Floor Theater is a Resident Company at The Den Theatre. 


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