Collaboraction presents
SKETCHBOOK: 2049
A Mixed Medium Theatre Festival of Positive, Post-Apocalyptic
Short New Works, May 22 - June 15, 2014
Collaboraction's 14th annual SKETCHBOOK festival boasts 17 world premiere theater pieces addressing a wide range of current social issues, guest curated by Ike Holter
Continuing with its new "incite change" mission, Collaboraction presents SKETCHBOOK: 2049, a rapid-fire, raucous festival of 17 world premiere theatre pieces ranging from under a minute to 20 minutes in length, all set in a positive post-apocalypse and reflective of contemporary society's current challenges.
Collaboraction's annual SKETCHBOOK festival is Collaboraction at its best: breaking down the walls that divide theater, music, visual art, video and the internet. Selected from hundreds of submissions, SKETCHBOOK once again brings together the collective talents of more than 150 pioneering and established directors, designers, actors, musicians and artists from Chicago and around the country for two jaw-dropping programs packed with creativity, experimentation and celebration.
This year, SKETCHBOOK transports audiences to the year 2049, a post-apocalyptic world of regeneration and birth where 17 shows from the past have been unearthed to reveal how we lived before the Revolution. Chicago-based playwright Ike Holter (Hit the Wall, Loom and B-Side Studio) is Guest Curator of SKETCHBOOK: 2049, which features new works by Caitlin Parrish, The New Colony, Usman Ally, Seth Bockley and Holter himself in a collaboration with director Dexter Bullard.
In addition to two programs of fresh new work, Collaboration's air-conditioned Lounge in the Pentagon Theatre will be a live connection zone for audiences to relax, socialize, discuss, debate and enjoy post-show "pop up" performances on Saturday evenings.
SKETCHBOOK: 2049 runs May 22 - June 15, 2014 at Collaboraction, located in the historic Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave., Room 300, in Wicker Park. The pieces are split into Program A: Reflection and Program B: Echo and run in rep with both programs performed each Saturday.
Regular show times are Thursday and Friday at 7.30 p.m.; Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Sunday at 7 p.m. Exceptions: Industry Night for Program B: Echo is Monday, June 2 at 7 p.m. Industry Night for Program A: Reflection is Monday, June 9 at 7 p.m. Both programs will be performed on the final day of the festival, Sunday, June 15, at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Single tickets to each program are $30; $15 for students, educators and industry. All-Access festival passes to both programs are $50; $25 for students and industry. Purchase tickets and All-Access passes online at
collaboraction.org or call
312.226.9633.
"Each year SKETCHBOOK brings together more than 150 actors, visual artists, musicians, writers, directors, designers, and stagehands from all over the city to collaborate on this beautiful and ambitious undertaking. Many return year after year, drawn by the energy and passion that drives this festival forward," said Anthony Moseley, Founding Executive and Artistic Director of Collaboraction and SKETCHBOOK Festival Director. "SKETCHBOOK serves as an invaluable opportunity for both seasoned and emerging artists to connect and grow together, turning Collaboraction into a hub of talented individuals working toward the common goal of creating a broad array of innovative art for a diverse audience."
Following are SKETCHBOOK: 2049 dates, times and program summaries:
Program A: Reflection
Thurs, May 22, 7:30 p.m.; Sat, May 24, 7 p.m.; Sun, May 25, 3p.m.; Fri, May 30, 7:30 p.m.; Sat, May 31, 9 p.m.; Sun, June 1, 7 p.m., Fri, June 6, 7:30 p.m.; Sat, June 7, 9 p.m.; Mon, June 9, 7 p.m.; Thurs, June 12, 7:30 p.m.; Sat, June 14, 7 p.m.; Sun, June 15, 5 p.m.
Pieces listed in run order. Run Time: Approximately 90 minutes.
The Surprise
by Corey Rieger, directed by Nathan Green The tables get unexpectedly turned on a group of people gathered to throw a surprise birthday party for a friend.
The Distance to the Moon
devised by First Floor, directed by Jesse Roth Puppet theater, live action and multimedia elements combine in this story of a young sailor stranded on the moon alongside the woman he loves.
Let Me Tell You What I See Here
by Jason Gray Platt, directed by Anna Bahow Real YouTube comments are deconstructed and repurposed to show personal connections in a disconnected world.
To the NSA Agents Listening in on this Play
by Sam Graber, directed by Mary O'Connor An important message to our burgeoning national security state from one lone voice in the wilderness.
Asshole
by Lisa Kenner Grissom, directed by Jo Cattell When some 'infernal ass pains' force Lena to retreat into the solace of her bathtub, she learns a thing or two about suffering in silence.
Young Fathers
by Joel Kim Booster, directed by Chris Chmelik A single father and his gay neighbor are each on the verge of a complete breakdown as they wrestle with the meaning of fatherhood in the wake of personal tragedy.
The Big One
by Idris Goodwin, directed by Marie Cisco Vernon is always waiting for his home team to score the big one, but his wife and son aren't so keen on waiting. A subtle story about chasing the past at the expense of missing out on the present.
Attic Play
by Anthony Donald Kochensparger, directed by John Rooney Gender and personal boundaries blur in this rhapsodic two-person piece about family, fear and sexual awakening.
Dream Scenario
devised by Ike Holter, directed by Dexter Bullard A victim of an insanely elaborate stalking plans a face-to-face meeting with their pursuer.
Program B: Echo
Fri, May 23, 7:30 p.m.; Sat, May 24, 9 p.m.; Sun, May 25, 5 p.m.; Thurs, May 29, 7:30 p.m.; Sat, May 31, 7 p.m.; Mon, June 2, 7 p.m.; Thurs, June 5, 7:30 p.m.; Sat, June 7, 7 p.m.: Sun, June 8, 7 p.m.; Fri, June 13, 7:30 p.m.; Sat, June 14, 9 p.m.; Sun, June 15, 3 p.m.
Pieces listed in run order. Run Time: Approximately 95 minutes - Room 300
Tomorrow
by Caitlin Parrish, directed by Josh Sobel A cosmic story of two celestial bodies intertwining, told from an all-too-human vantage point right here on earth.
Sanatorium Story
by Seth Bockley, directed by Lydia Milman Schmidt A child deals with his terrible illness and macabre surroundings through the comedic character Boob McNutt.
Goodbye, Night
devised by The New Colony, written by Nick Delehanty, directed by Thrisa Hodits
A medical breakthrough spawns a pill, which nullifies the need for sleep. But what happens when the well-to-do can reclaim a third of their life while the rest are left to sleep through it?
Until the World is Beautiful
by Jack Miggins, directed by Elana Boulos While wandering the labyrinthine tunnels of a post-apocalyptic world, a man comes across a 2000-year-old pregnant woman longing to return to the surface.
Boys and Violence
by Mackenzie Yeager, directed by John Williams This parodic send-up of masculinity and morality features Andy and Ben, two young 'boys,' as they come together to play a harmless game of 'Violence.'
Based on a True Story
by Usman Ally, directed by Sonny Das When two friends stop over to catch a high school game at Ismail's apartment, things turn heated when their schools' mascots are shown to trade in vicious racial stereotypes. Nationalism and race collide in this satirical look at America's cultural heritage.
The Rise and Fall of Everything in the World
by Brooke Allen, directed by Diana Raselis What exactly is the value of a universe fashioned by two bored and aimless clown-like beings? And what would be its value if it could simply disappear?
10 Things
by Scott Tobin, directed by Emmi Hilger At each sequential ten-year marker of his life, a man takes stock of all that he's gained, all that he's lost, and all that he continues to be grateful for.
Set design for SKETCHBOOK: 2049 is by Ashley Ann Woods. Lighting design is by Jeff Glass. Sound design is by Mikey Moran, Stephen Ptacek and Matthew Reich. Costumes are by Elsa Hiltner and Kate Setzer Kamphausen. Props are by Angie Campos and Rachel Watson. Michael Sanfill is video designer. Dan Haymes is technical director. Drew Donnelly is stage manager. Brian Foster is floor manager. Danielle Stack is production manager. SKETCHBOOK: 2049 is produced by Sarah Moeller.
About Collaboraction
Collaboraction (collaboraction.org) celebrates its 18th year as a Chicago-based arts organization and has recently moved its theater and operation headquarters to the historic Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave., in the heart of Wicker Park. By incorporating innovative artists and interdisciplinary collaboration, Collaboraction creates groundbreaking theatrical and art-based experiences.
The overwhelming response to Crime Scene: A Chicago Anthology in 2013 was the first step in Artistic Director Anthony Moseley's new vision for Collaboraction to be used as an artistic tool to explore critical social issues in an effort to create dialogue and incite change. To do so, Collaboraction collaborates with artists, community leaders, health professionals and citizens from throughout the city to create original theatrical experiences that push artistic boundaries and explore critical social issues with a diverse community of Chicagoans.
More recently, Collaboration's world premiere This is Not a Cure for Cancer was an immersive live theater experience that used the same provocative, docudrama style conceived via Crime Scene to attack cancer, its treatment and the way we live.
Collaboraction has worked with more than 2,500 artists to bring more than 60 productions and events to more than 50,000 audience members. Production highlights also include 2010's Chicago premiere of 1001 by Jason Grote, 2008's world premiere of Jon by George Saunders and directed by Seth Bockley, and 2007's critically acclaimed production of The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow: an instant message with excitable music by Rolin Jones.
