Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:
The New Colony Presents the World Premiere of
THE LIGHT
Now Extended Through February 25, 2018 at The Den Theatre
Now Extended Through February 25, 2018 at The Den Theatre
Tiffany Oglesby and Jeffery Owen Freelon Jr. in The New Colony’s world premiere of THE LIGHT.
All Photos by Evan Hanover.
Written by Loy Webb
Directed by Toma Langston
January 5 – February 4, 2018 at The Den Theatre
Three Additional Weeks of Performances!
The New Colony’s World Premiere
The New Colony is pleased to announce its sell-out world premiere THE LIGHT is adding three additional weeks of performances, extending through February 25, 2018 at The Den Theatre (2B), 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets for all performance are currently available at www.thenewcolony.org.
Review:
There is much of immense importance here, about the experience and dynamic of well educated black women in leadership positions in particular, and universally, about survivors of rape and sexual violence. This piece is incredibly well written, and provides a much needed personal window into the current "Me Too" movement. The comfort of a worn family talisman quilt, an unconditional love deep enough to weather the harshest of emotional storms and rage, repressed memories and slow recovery in stages, all ring true and make The Light a multifaceted gem of a production.
In this illuminating and all too timely drama, the dynamic duo of Jeffery Owen Freelon Jr. and Tiffany Oglesby absolutely shine. Their energy is palpable and chemistry on stage is a joy to see, as they run the gamut of emotions. This secret filled love story crackles with lies and revelations, and an emotional tug-of-war that is a delight to see unfolding. These characters spring to life on stage with rich, compelling back stories and strong, complicated personalities that are a thrill to get to know.
There is much of immense importance here, about the experience and dynamic of well educated black women in leadership positions in particular, and universally, about survivors of rape and sexual violence. This piece is incredibly well written, and provides a much needed personal window into the current "Me Too" movement. The comfort of a worn family talisman quilt, an unconditional love deep enough to weather the harshest of emotional storms and rage, repressed memories and slow recovery in stages, all ring true and make The Light a multifaceted gem of a production.
Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we thoroughly enjoyed The Light and welcome the thought provoking discussions and debates this show is sparking. The Light is highly recommended and now extended an additional three weeks through February 25th. Don't miss this!
Written by Chicago playwright Loy Webb and directed by Toma Langston, the gripping romantic drama features TNC Ensemble Member Jeffery Owen Freelon Jr. and Tiffany Oglesby.
A surprise proposal takes an unexpected turn that upends the world of Genesis and Rashad, forcing them to confront a devastating secret from the past and putting the future of their relationship at risk. Featuring two of Chicago’s most dynamic actors, THE LIGHT is a 70-minute, real-time rollercoaster journey of laughter, romance and despair that uncovers how the power of radical love can be a healing beacon of light.
The LIGHT is the 30th world premiere presented by The New Colony since 2008 and marks the final production under the tenure of founding co-artistic directors Andrew Hobgood and Evan Linder, who are stepping down at the conclusion of the company’s ninth season.
The production team for THE LIGHT includes: John Wilson (scenic design), Cassandra Kendall (lighting design), Regina Victor (dramaturg), Noelle Simone (assistant director) and Daryl Ritchie (stage manager).
PRODUCTION DETAILS:
Title: THE LIGHT
Playwright: Loy Webb
Director: Toma Langston
Cast: Ensemble Member Jeffery Owen Freelon Jr. (Rashad) and Tiffany Oglesby (Genesis).
Location: The Den Theatre (2B), 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago
Dates: Previews: Friday, January 5 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, January 6 at 7:30 pm
Opening: Monday, January 8 at 7:30 pm
Regular run: Thursday, January 11 – Sunday, February 25, 2018
Curtain times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm
Industry Night: Monday, January 29 at 7:30 pm and Monday, February 19, 2018
Tickets: $30 on Thursdays/Fridays; $35 on Saturdays/Sundays. Students/seniors: 25% off. Tickets are currently available at www.thenewcolony.org.
About the Artists
Loy Webb (Playwright) is a Chicago born theatre journalist and playwright. Her new play The Light was developed through The New Colony’s Writer’s Room 4.0. She is an inaugural Tutterow Fellow at Chicago Dramatists, and her one-act plays have been featured at Black Ensemble Theatre, American Theater Company, 20 Percent Theatre Company Chicago, University of North Dakota, GI60 International One Minute Play Festival, Modern-Day Griot Theatre Company New York and the Black Lives, Black Words International Project, in which she is an associate artist. As a theatre journalist she is a member of the Association of Women of Journalists-Chicago, a past mentor with the AWJ-Chicago/Goodman Theatre’s Cindy Bandle Young Critics Program and a contributing theater critic for Newcity. Her one act play, I AM a Woman is published in both Wish to Live: The Hip-hop Feminism Pedagogy Reader and the Black Lives, Black Words International Project anthology. Additionally, her one-act play Saving Inge is published in One Minute Plays: A Practical Guide To Tiny Theatre. Loy holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and J.D. from The John Marshall Law School. Her primary mission with all her writing is to be a pointer towards hope.
Toma Langston (Director) is a freelance theater director. Credits include Victory Gardens: Directors Inclusion Initiative Director 2015. (Assistant Director) Sucker Punch. Jackalope Theatre: 1980 (or Why I'm Voting for John Anderson). Sideshow Theatre: (Assistant Director) Truth and Reconciliation and Give It All Back. Toma is a proud steering committee member of DirectorsLab Chicago and an associate artist with Black Lives, Black Words International Project. Directorial credits include: The Last Five Years, The Shadow Box, For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf. Toma has worked with Chicago Dramatists, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre and Prologue Theatre.
Jeffery Owen Freelon Jr. (Rashad) is a proud south side Chicagoan (Hyde Park) and excited to work on a play by black people and for black people. He is also extremely proud to see it produced by The New Colony. He has worked with an array of theatre companies such as Theatre Unspeakable, Definition Theatre and Victory Gardens and has made an appearance on Chicago PD. He is represented by Paonessa Talent Agency.
Tiffany Oglesby (Genesis) is originally from Atlanta, GA. and recently appeared as Vanessa in About Face and Theatre Wit’s co-production of Significant Other. Other theatre credits include An Octoroon (Definition Theatre), truth and reconciliation (Sideshow), East Texas Hot Links (u/s Writers) and A Small Oak Tree Runs Red (u/s Congo Square). She also had the pleasure of working with other theatre companies including Raven and Lifeline. TV credits include Chicago Med and The Chi. She received her BFA in Performing Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design and her MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. Happily exclusive with Grossman and Jack Talent.
THE LIGHT is sponsored by Michael and Mona Heath.
About The New Colony
The New Colony develops NEW ART and NEW ARTISTS in order to educate and build NEW AUDIENCES. Founded in 2008, The New Colony has established itself as “one of Chicago’s essential off-Loop companies” (Chicago Tribune) having developed and produced over 25 world-premiere plays and musicals garnering four Joseph Jefferson Awards, the 2011 Broadway in Chicago Emerging Theatre Award, and Best Overall Production at the 2012 New York International Fringe Festival. The New Colony is a resident company of The Den Theatre located in Wicker Park.
