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Showing posts with label YOUNG JEAN LEE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YOUNG JEAN LEE. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

FREE Theatre: THE SHIPMENT Via RED TAPE THEATRE 9/7-10/13/18

ChiIL Live Shows

RED TAPE THEATRE is proud to present…

THE SHIPMENT
Written by: Young Jean Lee 

Directed by: Wardell Julius Clark
Associate Director / Music Director: Sydney Charles



Cast: Sheldon Brown, Hunter Bryant, Eric Gerard, Marcus D. Moore, Kiayla Ryann



Producer: Kyle Land*
Line Producer / Production Manager: Jenn Thompson*
 Artistic Director: Max Truax*
Stage Manager: Michelle Altman
Assistant Stage Manager: Chris Lyons
Choreographer: Breon Arzell
Scenic Designr: Joy Ahn
Lighting Designer: Daniel Friedman

Properties Designer: Jennifer Wernau
Costume Design: Rachel Sypniewski
Sound Design: John Nichols III
 Poster Design: Bridget Schultz*
Still Photos: Austin Oie*
* indicates Red Tape Theatre Company member




When:                        
Opens: Friday, September 7th, 2018 at 8PM
Closes: Saturday, October 13th, 2018 at 8PM
Runs: Fridays, Saturdays at 8PM / Sundays at 7PM / Mondays (Industry Night) at 8PM

Admission: FREE ADMISSION thanks to our donors to the FREE THEATRE MOVEMENT

Where: THE READY, 4546 N Western Ave
For Information/Reservations: Reserve free tickets via: www.redtapetheatre.org.

What: In THE SHIPMENT, Young Jean Lee uses her razor-sharp and unsettling humor to upend the surface stereotypes and tropes of African Americans that permeate our media, entertainment industry, and the dominant culture (aka white perceived) narrative. Audiences are confronted with clichés, distortions, and brilliant sleights of hand that force us to go beyond the lampoon and shift the lens through which we perceive race in order to confront our own bias.

Who:
Wardell Julius Clark (DIRECTOR) hails from Fairfield, Alabama. Wardell is a actor, director, producer and social justice activist. He is also an Associate Artist with TimeLine Theatre Company, and serves as a teaching artist in the Living History Program, as well as a teaching artist for Victory Gardens Theatre. Chicago Directing credits include Insurrection: Holding History (Stage Left Theatre), Surely Goodness and Mercy (Redtwist Theatre) , Associate Director for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (Court Theatre), The One Minute Play Festival, Shola's Game (National Black Theatre), Assistant Director for The Scottsboro Boys (Porchlight Music Theatre); Satchmo At The Waldorf and Gem Of The Ocean (Court Theatre). Select Acting Credits include Suddenly Last Summer (Raven Theatre); Silent Sky (First Folio Theatre); Apartment 3a (Windy City Playhouse); Gem Of The Ocean (Court Theatre); A Raisin In The Sun (TimeLine Theatre); The Whipping Man (Northlight Theatre); We Are Proud To Present... and The Gospel According To James (Victory Gardens Theatre); Invisible Man (Court Theatre); The Beats (16th Street Theater); Ghosts Of Atwood (MPAACT); and Topdog/Underdog (American Theater Company/Congo Square Theater). Regional credits include Othello, Macbeth, The Learned Ladies (Theater at Monmouth); The Whipping Man (Cardinal Stage); Cymbeline (Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival); Fences (Carver Theatre). Wardell has appeared on TV in Chicago Fire Seasons 1 and 4, as well as Shamless on Showtime. He holds a BFA in Acting from The Theatre School, at DePaul University. He is also an Associate Artist with the Black Lives, Black Words theatre collective. Represented by Gray Talent Group.

Sydney Charles (ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR) is an award-winning actress that hails from Chicago, IL. Selected theatre credits include: Father Comes Home From the Wars(Goodman Theatre), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner(Court Theatre), Lottery Day (Goodman Theatre - New Stages), The Fly Honey Show, Spamilton Chicago (Royal George Theatre), An Octoroon(Definition Theatre Company), Dorothy in The Wiz at (Kokandy Productions), Zora in the world premiere of Prowess (Jackalope Theatre), and the title role in Dessa Rose (Bailiwick Chicago). Her directing debut was with Wildclaw Theatre with their yearly Deathscribe Festival of Horror Plays. Sydney can also be seen in episodes of The Haven web series, The T web series, and has appeared on Showtime's Shameless. She is also an artistic associate with Firebrand Theater--the newly formed feminist musical theater company. Sydney thanks God for every opportunity she is given and her circle for supporting her every step of the way. Represented by Stewart Talent.

Young Jean Lee (PLAYWRITE) is a Korean-American playwright, director, and filmmaker. She is the Artistic Director of Young Jean Lee's Theater Company, a not-for-profit theater company dedicated to producing her work. She has written and directed ten shows for Young Jean Lee's Theater Company and toured her work to over thirty cities around the world. Lee was called "the most adventurous downtown playwright of her generation" by Charles Isherwood in The New York Times and "one of the best experimental playwrights in America" by David Cote in Time Out New York. With the 2018 production of Straight White Men at the Hayes Theater, Lee became the first Asian American woman to have a play produced on Broadway.

Sheldon Brown (ENSEMBLE) is a 2014  graduate of Acting at Emerson College in Boston. His recent credits include Time Is On Our Side (understudy performed) at About Face Theatre, 1980 or Why I Voted for John Anderson at Jackalope Theatre, A Wonder In My Soul at Victory Gardens (understudy performed). Man In The Ring at Court Theatre, Feral with MPAACT Theatre Company and more. He also has numerous credits in Boston including The Grand Inquisitor directed by Peter Brook, and The Shakespearean Jazz Show, a collaborative new work that turns Shakespeare into New Orleans street jazz at the New York Musical Festival.

Hunter Bryant (ENSEMBLE) is a New Jersey native  actor/ writer and graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul. Recent Chicago credits include The Aristophanesathon (Hypocrites), Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea (First Floor Theatre) and Our Town (Redtwist Theatre.) Be on the lookout for his upcoming films How Is This The World (directed by Sadie Rogers) and First Dance (directed by Megan Artes.) Follow his work on instagram: @Behunting

Eric Gerard (ENSEMBLE) is honored to be working on this show, with such a talented team. Other Chicago credits include: TO CATCH A FISH (Timeline Theatre); AKEELAH AND THE BEE (Adventure Stage Chicago); KING LIZ (Windy City Playhouse); OCTAGON (Jackalope theatre); MY MANANA COMES (Teatro Vista); ANNAKARENINA (Lifeline Theatre); THE ROYALE (American Theatre Co.) Eric is an Instructor, and proud graduate of THE ACADEMY, at BlackBox Acting. He is represented by Hayes Talent.

Marcus D. Moore (ENSEMBLE) is thrilled to be working with Red Tape Theatre for the first time! His theatre credits include Drury Lane Theatre (Cat On A Hot Tin Roof u/s), Jackalope Theatre (Franklinland and 1980 Or Why I'm Voting For John Anderson (u/s)), Stage Left Theatre (Insurrection: Holding History u/s), Haven Theatre and Collaboraction Theatre. Tv credits include co-starring roles on NBCs Chicago Fire and Fox Networks' APB. Much love to my agents at Gray Talent Group!

Kiayla Ryann (ENSEMBLE) makes her debut at Red Tape Theatre with The Shipment. Chicago credits include: Lexi, Hookman (Steep Theatre), Miriamne, Winterset (Griffin Theatre) and Trisha, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress (Loop Players) as well as understudying The Crucible at Steppenwolf. Kiayla received her BA from Bradley University and is a School at Steppenwolf 2016 Album. She is grateful to God for her amazing supportive family, friend, and team. Represented by Stewart Talent.





RED TAPE THEATER / THE FREE THEATRE MOVEMENT

“The public interest is best served by the free exchange of ideas.” – John Kane

Red Tape believes that access to the arts is essential for our community’s ability to engage in a free exchange of ideas. As an art form, the immediacy of theatre provides a powerful platform for this exchange. We strive to remove the barriers that exist between our community and an increasingly commodified culture. Starting in January of 2018, we will offer all of our quality theatrical productions to the public free of charge.



Red Tape will be able to offer our work free of charge thanks to the generous support of our Members, each of whom make an automated monthly donation in an amount of their choose (or a onetime donation). Each donation enables Red Tape to share our work with more people and to engage a growing community in discourse through the arts.

Simply put, we believe everyone should be able to see theatre without the financial stress of ticket price. We are a theatre of free ideas. We are a theatre of free access. We are a free theatre.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Steppenwolf's Casting Complete for Winter Productions The Christians and Straight White Men

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR STEPPENWOLF'S 2016 WINTER PRODUCTIONS: 
THE CHRISTIANS BY LUCAS HNATH AND 
STRAIGHT WHITE MEN BY YOUNG JEAN LEE


Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced complete casting for two upcoming Chicago premiere productions: Lucas Hnath’s The Christians directed by ensemble member K. Todd Freeman (December 1, 2016 – January 29, 2017) in the Downstairs Theatre; and Straight White Men written and directed by Young Jean Lee (February 2, 2016 – March 19, 2017) in the Upstairs Theatre.
The Christians cast features ensemble member Tom Irwin as Pastor Paul and ensemble member Robert Breuler as Elder Jay with Shannon Cochran (Elizabeth), Glenn Davis (Joshua) and Jacqueline Williams (Congregant). 

The Downstairs Theatre will be transformed into a mega church with a choir performing live onstage. The choir, called The Praise Team, features Faith Howard, Yando Lopez, Jazelle Morriss, Mary-Margaret Roberts and Charlie Strater. Directed by ensemble member K. Todd Freeman, the production runs December 1 – January 29, 2017. 

The Straight White Men cast features ensemble members Alan Wilder (Ed) and Tim Hopper (Matt) with Madison Dirks (Jake), Ryan Hallahan (Drew) and Elliott Jenetopulos (Stagehand-in-charge). Written and directed by Young Jean Lee, the Chicago premiere production runs February 2 - March 19, 2017 in the Upstairs Theatre. 

Single tickets ($20-$89) to The Christians and Straight White Men are currently on sale at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org. Subscription Memberships are available through mid-October for audiences who like to lock in dates and secure seats in advance. Subscribers receive special access to buy additional shows. Flex Card Memberships are available for audiences interested in extreme flexibility with six tickets for use any time, along with perks including free exchanges, savings on single tickets and bar and restaurant discounts.

About The Christians
Pastor Paul has spent 20 years successfully growing his church from a small storefront to a gleaming megachurch, but now he fears that there may be a crack in the theological foundation. As he shares his new belief in the nature of salvation, the message is met with surprise and then growing trepidation from his closest confidantes in the congregation, threatening to create a schism within the church. Lucas Hnath’s fascinating new play looks with great complexity and compassion at the relationship between belief and behavior—and its evenhanded, unbiased take on faith in modern America can be appreciated no matter what you believe.

About Straight White Men
As Ed, a widower, prepares to celebrate Christmas, he calls his three grown sons back to the family home. Games are played, Chinese food is ordered, and brotherly pranks and trashtalk distract them from the ongoing issue that threatens to ruin the festivities:  when personal identity is essential and privilege is a problem, what is a straight white man to do? Playwright/ Director Young Jean Lee takes an outside look at the traditional father/son play narrative, shedding new and often hilarious light on a story we think we know all too well.

About the 2016/17 Season
Steppenwolf’s 41st anniversary Season opens with the world premiere of Visiting Edna by David Rabe, directed by Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro, which is currently in previews and runs through November 6. In addition to The Christians and Straight White Men, the 2016/17 also features the world premiere of The Fundamentals by Erika Sheffer, directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov, November 10 – December 23, 2016 in the Upstairs Theatre. ); the world premiere of Linda Vista by ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by Dexter Bullard (March 30 – May 21, 2017); the Chicago premiere of Hir by Taylor Mac, directed by Hallie Gordon (June 29 – August 20, 2017); and an additional summer show, Pass Over by Antoinette Nwandu (June 1 – July 9, 2017).

Visitor Information & Accessibility
Steppenwolf is located at 1650 N Halsted St near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. The parking facility consists of both a covered garage ($11 cash or credt) and an open-air lot, located just south of our theater at 1624 N Halsted. Valet parking service ($14 cash) is available directly in front of the main entrance at 1650 N Halsted St starting at 5pm on weeknights, 1pm on weekends and at 12 noon before Wednesday matinees. Street and lot parking are also available. For last minute questions and concerns, patrons can call the Steppenwolf Parking Hotline at (312) 335-1774.

Committed to making the Steppenwolf experience accessible to everyone, performances featuring American Sign Language interpretation, open captioning and audio description are offered during the run of each play. Assistive listening devices and large-print programs are available for every performance. With the expertise of Assistive Hearing Systems Ltd., Steppenwolf installed an induction loop on both the main and balcony levels of our Downstairs Theatre in 2015. There is also an induction loop installed in the 1700 Theatre.

Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks
Located in front of the 1700 Theatre is Steppenwolf’s café & bar, Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks. Open daily from 7am to midnight, Front Bar is a creative space to grab a drink, have a bite, or meet up with friends and collaborators, day or night. A morning and evening menu is curated by Chef Chris Pandel, and artisanal coffee and espresso is provided by La Colombe. Front Bar was developed with consultation from Steppenwolf’s friends and neighbors, Boka Restaurant Group (BRG), along with interior designers Karen Herold and Kayce Carter of Studio K and the marketing and design firm Grip. More info at front-bar.com.

Sponsor Information
Major support for Steppenwolf’s expanded 2016/17 programming is provided by the Lefkofsky Family Foundation, The Negaunee Foundation and the Zell Family Foundation.
Major support for Steppenwolf’s New Play Development Initiative is provided by The Davee Foundation and the Zell Family Foundation.
PwC is the corporate presenting sponsor of Straight White Men.
United Airlines is the Official and Exclusive Airline of Steppenwolf.


Steppenwolf Theatre Company is America’s longest standing, most distinguished ensemble theater, producing nearly 700 performances and events annually in its three Chicago theater spaces—the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat 1700 Theatre. Formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, Steppenwolf has grown into an ensemble of 46 actors, writers and directors. Artistic programming includes a seven-play season; a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season; Visiting Company engagements; and LookOut, a new multidisciplinary performance series. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Steppenwolf has the distinction receiving the National Medal of Arts, in addition to numerous other prestigious honors including an Illinois Arts Legend Award and 12 Tony Awards. Anna D. Shapiro is the Artistic Director and David Schmitz is the Managing Director. Nora Daley is Chair of Steppenwolf’s Board of Trustees. 

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