ACT OUT: Tickets Now On Sale For NOAH HAIDLE’S SMOKEFALL at Goodman Theatre

SMOKEFALL DIRECTED BY ANNE KAUFFMAN, KICKING OFF THE 2013/2014 LINE-UP IN THE OWEN THEATRE (OCTOBER 5 – NOVEMBER 3) ***CHICAGO LEGEND MIKE NUSSBAUM JOINS GOODMAN NEWCOMERS CATHERINE COMBS, KATHERINE KEBERLEIN, GUY MASSEY AND ERIC SLATER*** Acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Noah Haidle returns to Chicago with his newest work, Smokefall, which examines life’s big questions through the prism of an ordinary family. Hailed by The New Yorker as “formidably talented, with a sort of freewheeling intuitive daring,” the Michigan native playwright most recently wrote the 2012 film Stand Up Guys (starring Alan Arkin, Christopher Walken and Al Pacino) and previously authored Mr. Marmalade, Vigils (at the Goodman in 2006) and Persephone for the stage. Director Anne Kauffman, in her Goodman debut, assembles an ensemble cast for the Goodman production, including legendary Chicago actor Mike Nussbaum (Henry VIII at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) as the Colonel; Catherine Combs (The Delling Shore at Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival) in the roles of Beauty and Blessing; Katherine Keberlein (Boeing, Boeing at Drury Lane Oakbrook) as Violet; Guy Massey (Failure:  A Love Story at Victory Gardens Theater) as Footnote and Fetus Two; and Eric Slater (Gloryana at New York City’s Public Theater) as Daniel and Fetus One.   A world-premiere co-production with South Coast Repertory, Smokefall runs October 5 – November 3 in the Owen Theatre (opening night is Monday, October 14). Tickets ($10-$40; subject to change) are on sale now at GoodmanTheatre.org/Smokefall, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn). Bank of America is the 2013/2014 Owen Season Sponsor. “The Goodman has collaborated on Smokefall since 2011, so to be able to open the Owen season with this highly theatrical, unique production is a great joy,” said Artistic Director Robert Falls. “Noah has a singular, theatrical voice, and his plays shine in a highly original, imaginative world. Smokefall is thought-provoking and entertaining at the same time, and I am thrilled to welcome him back to our home.”

ACT OUT OPENING: The Crownless King at The House Theatre 8/30

THE HOUSE THEATRE PRESENTS 'THE CROWNLESS KING' A CONTINUATION OF THEIR EPIC TRILOGY The Crownless King is one of the shows we're most looking forward to this fall here at ChiIL Live Shows/ ChiIL Mama.   This original trilogy is not children's theatre, but it's fine for savvy tweens & teens.   Last fall our whole family caught opening night and the kids (9 & 11 at the time) were enthralled and caught up in the myth, magic and puppetry. We can't wait to see what part 2 brings! Click here to check out our prior Iron Stag King review. The House Theatre's Shows are always high on our must see list and they do not disappoint.   We'll have a full review for our readers after we check it out, but here's the scoop.   Catch a preview for a bargain and/or book your tickets NOW.   House Theatre shows sell out! **If in doubt... Check it out: Learn more about bringing kids to the show with House Theatre's PARENT’S GUIDE.** Brenda Barrie and Blake Montgomery join 7 returning cast members for second installment The House Theatre of Chicago launches its 12th Season with a fantasy action-adventure on the high seas. This second installment of the trilogy began last fall with The Iron Stag King and comes from Artistic Director Nathan Allen and collaborator and Company Member Chris Mathews. The Crownless King begins performances August 30, 2013 at The Chopin Theatre (1543 W Division St.) THE CROWNLESS KING By Chris Mathews and Nathan Allen Directed by Nathan Allen Original Music by Kevin O’Donnell August 30- October 20, 2013 SHOWTIMES: Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays at 8:00pm, Sundays at 7:00pm The performance will run approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes with an intermission. LOCATION: The Chopin Theatre, Upstairs Theatre (1543 W. Division St., Chicago, IL) TICKETS: Previews (Aug 30 - Sept 7) are $15. Regular run (Sept 8 - Oct 20) $20-$40 On sale now at www.thehousetheatre.com or by phone at 773.769.3832, $10 Student and Industry Same-Day tickets available at all performances if seats are available. Tickets are on sale now. ABOUT THE PLAY Artistic Director Nathan Allen and frequent collaborator and Company Member Chris Mathews embark on the darkest chapter of their three-play journey in the continuing saga of Casper Kent and the kingdom he builds. Inspired by the legend of King Arthur, hero myths, and the rich tapestry of early American history, the trilogy explores themes of American identity, including the nature of leadership, governance, and the struggle to balance personal liberty with sacrifice for a greater good. In the first installment last fall (The Iron Stag King), young Casper Kent (Brandon Ruiter) discovers he is heir to a magical hammer. Once lifted, the Hammer proves him King and unites the Land. But in achieving this destiny he learns he is ruler of all but his own story. In this second installment, the Golden Age of the Iron Stag King has taken root. Yet King Casper soon finds himself buffeted by forces on all sides. Grappling for control, the exiled black dragon, Irek Obsidian (voiced once again by Pulitzer Prize and Tony winner Tracy Letts,) cunningly lures Casper away from the throne. Our band of heroes ventures to the sea where the hooded pirate Davy Boone (Blake Montgomery) commands a fleet of Crownless rebels. All the while, Hap the Golden (as reprised by company member Cliff Chamberlain) fights to maintain his hold over the royal tale. As storytellers Hap the Golden and Irek Obsidian each seek to impose their versions of the story, who will step forth to rule as the Crownless King? This trilogy marks The House's first foray into the genre of High Fantasy. Most defined by Tolkien, Dungeons & Dragons gaming, and lately revived by the work of R.R. Martin, these tales are often set in a mythic, medieval world of European influence. But Allen and Mathews have aligned their story with our own evolving nation at the turn of the nineteenth century. Writers and ensemble alike have created a rich world with its own unique, deep history. Replete with magic, dragons, quests, and team-building, The Crownless King continues The House's work exploring the hero's journey through original, engaging myth. The Plot Thickens An orphan boy learns he is the rightful heir to the throne, and after a hard-fought battle, young Casper Kent takes his place as the ruler of the Folk. Yet King Casper soon finds himself buffeted by forces on all sides. Seizing for control, the exiled black dragon, Irek Obsidian (voiced by Pulitzer Prize and Tony winner Tracy Letts,) cunningly lures Casper away from the throne. Our band of heroes ventures to the sea where the hooded pirate Davy Boone commands a fleet of Crownless rebels. All the while, Hap the Golden wrests to maintain his hold over the royal tale. As storytellers Hap the Golden and Irek Obsidian each seek to impose their versions of the story, who will step forth to rule as the Crownless King? Join in on Twitter or Facebook for updates. And follow the production process on Tumblr SPECIAL EVENTS Staged Readings of last season’s The Iron Stag King September 14 at 4pm September 15 at 3pm  Audiences can immerse themselves in the world of The Folk, The Land, and the Hammer at these complete events! First, a re-visit of The Iron Stag King, followed by dinner with the cast, and finally the evening performance of The Crownless King! Two epic events for this epic tale! Saturday 9/14 - This VIP package includes tickets to the 4pm staged reading and the 8pm production as well as a delicious buffet dinner at Frontier Restaurant, featuring signature cocktails and whole-animal service. The cast and artists will join guests in the private dining room between 6 and 7pm for more exclusive sneak-peeks into the world of the trilogy. Tickets for this complete evening are $125 per person inclusive, and space is limited to 50 guests. Sunday 9/15 – This package includes tickets to the 3pm staged reading and the 7pm production. In between, guests are invited to bring a picnic dinner or order an advanced boxed meal to enjoy on stage or in the various nooks and parlors in the Chopin Theatre. The authors and artists will be on hand to answer questions about the extensive and imaginative back-stories woven into the trilogy. Tickets for this evening are $45. Pre- and Post-Play Discussions Audiences can connect with the artistic team and learn more about the development of the trilogy. Friday 9/20 - Post-Play Talkback with the actors immediately follows the 8pm performance. FREE Sunday 9/22 - Insider Intro: A pre-show conversation with writers Nathan Allen and Chris Mathews. Lots of references to Star Wars, Back to the Future, and Lord of the Rings are guaranteed! Talk begins at 6:15 before the 7pm performance. FREE ABOUT THE ARTISTS Company Member Cliff Chamberlain (The Sparrow, The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz, Hatfield and McCoy) returns to the trilogy as Hap the Golden, a powerful storyteller that shapes our young hero’s journey. Also returning from The Iron Stag King are guest artists Brandon Ruiter (Rose and the Rime, All the Fame of Lofty Deeds) as the unassuming hero, Casper Kent, Paige Collins (The Nutcracker, 2012) as Rienne, Casper’s soon-to-be Queen, John Henry Roberts (Wilson Wants It All) as the stoic, secretive Hollow Thom, Kay Kron as Irek’s right hand girl, July of the Seven Foxes, and Ben Hertel now in the ensemble. Also returning to The House are guest artists Brenda Barrie (The Nutcracker, 2012) as long-lost survivor, Lady Olympia of The Grass, and Blake Montgomery (The Nutcracker, 2010) as the masked pirate Davy Boone. Guest artists Christopher Walsh (Lifeline Theatre), Morgan Maher (Griffin Theatre), and Kara Davidson round out the cast. Tony Award-winning actor Tracy Letts returns, lending his voice as the dragon Irek Obsidian. Company Member Collette Pollard returns us to her immersive in-the-round set on the Chopin Mainstage, inviting the audience into a night around the campfire. Company Member Lee Keenan swiftly transports us through the varied landscapes of the Land as Lighting Designer. Jeff Award-winning composer and Company Member Kevin O’Donnell once again creates a rich, epic score to frame our heroes’ shifting world. Company Member Tommy Rapley returns as the Movement Director. Guest artist Melissa Torchia returns as Costume Designer, and is joined by Rachel Watson (Puppets) and Josh Horvath (Sound). Kelly A. Claussen is stage manager. Join The House for the fantasy action-adventure of The Crownless King, playing August 30 through October 20, 2013.

Click here to check out ChiIL Live Shows' video interview with Dennis Watkins, who puts the MAGIC in Magic Parlour and who just finished another awe inspiring run of Death and Harry Houdini. 

Mark Your Calendars

SEASON 12

THE CROWNLESS KING

A fantasy action-adventure on the high seas

By Nathan Allen and Chris Mathews

Directed by Nathan Allen

August 30- October 20, 2013

ROSE AND THE RIME

A modern myth for the Middle West

By Chris Mathews, Jake Minton, and Nathan Allen

Directed by Nathan Allen

January 17 – March 9, 2014


DORIAN

A vivid fantasy of horror and beauty

By Ben Lobpries and Tommy Rapley

Based on the novel ‘A Picture of Dorian Gray’ by Oscar Wilde

Directed and Choreographed by Tommy Rapley

April 4 – May 18, 2014

ALSO

THE NUTCRACKER

Our magical story for Christmas

Book by Jake Minton and Phillip Klapperich

Music by Kevin O’Donnell, Lyrics by Jake Minton

Based on the story by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Directed and Choreographed by Tommy Rapley

November 8 – December 29, 2013


THE MAGIC PARLOUR

at The Palmer House Hilton Hotel

an intimate evening of classic magic with Dennis Watkins

every Friday night

GOODMANS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL YOUNG PERFORMER AUDITIONS 9/22

ACCLAIMED CHICAGO ACTOR LARRY YANDO RETURNS AS SCROOGE IN A CHRISTMAS CAROL, DIRECTED FOR THE FIRST TIME BY HENRY WISHCAMPER (NOVEMBER 16 – DECEMBER 28)  ***YOUNG PERFORMER AUDITIONS SET FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 10AM – 2PM*** A Christmas Carol at The Goodman is a beloved family holiday tradition here at ChiIL Mama.   Goodman's annual remount is a standout in a December packed with stellar live shows.   The kids and I adore it and consider it a high point of the winter.   The sets, costumes and storytelling are excellent and never get old. Got a young thespian who's great at singing?   Your kids could be part of the magic, on stage. Goodman Theatre marks its 36th production of A Christmas Carol, “the crown jewel of the holiday season” (Daily Herald), directed by Artistic Associate Henry Wishcamper. Larry Yando, who most recently appeared as Shere Khan in The Jungle Book, returns for his sixth year as Ebenezer Scrooge, a performance hailed as “rich, multilayered, wholly satisfying” (Chicago Reader) and “altogether irresistible” (Chicago Sun-Times).  The Goodman invites performers aged 5 to 17 of every ethnic background to audition for five roles including Tiny Tim and Martha Cratchit on Sunday, September 22 from 10am – 2pm (in-person registration takes place from 9:30 - 11:30am in the Goodman lobby; no phone calls, please). Performers should prepare a memorized poem or monologue (one minute or less in length); sing one verse of a song, preferably a traditional holiday song or Christmas carol, without musical accompaniment; and bring a photo and resume including age, height, weight, previous theatrical and related experience/training (although experience is not required), address and contact information. For 36 years, A Christmas Carol at Goodman Theatre, the “granddaddy of Chicago holiday entertainment” (Time Out Chicago), has hosted seven directors, eight Scrooges, 31 Tiny Tims, and nearly 20,000 “Bah, Humbug!”s. Based on Charles Dickens’ classic 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol is the unforgettable tale of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy business man with no family and a disdain for holiday cheer and the poor in Victorian London. One Christmas, Scrooge is visited by four ghosts who take him on an incredible journey that offers him a new perspective on everything from his dusty past to his dark future, and presents him with an opportunity to sympathize with his fellow man and rediscover life and love. A Christmas Carol runs November 16 – December 28 in the Goodman’s Albert Theatre (opening night is November 24). Tickets ($25 - $83) are on sale now at GoodmanTheatre.org/Joy, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn). BMO Harris Bank is the Major Corporate Sponsor and Aon Corporation is the Corporate Sponsor Partner. Goodman subscriptions, including the WILD CARD, can be purchased at the box office (170 North Dearborn) or by phone at 312.443.3800.  Mezztix are half-price mezzanine tickets available at 12 noon at the box office, and at 10am online (promo code MEZZTIX) day of performance; Mezztix are not available by telephone. 10Tix are $10 rear mezzanine tickets for students available at 12 noon at the box office, and at 10am online on the day of performance; 10Tix are not available by telephone; a valid student I.D. must be presented when picking up the tickets; limit four per student with I.D. All tickets are subject to availability and handling fees apply. Discounted Group Tickets for 15 persons or more are available at 312.443.3820. Purchase Goodman Gift Certificates in any amount at GoodmanTheatre.org. The flexibility of Goodman Gift Certificates allows recipients to choose the production, date and time of their performance. Artists, dates and ticket prices are subject to change.

ACT OUT OPENING: Tickets On Sale for Goodman Season Opener Pullman Porter Blues 9/14

“SWEET HOME CHICAGO!” CASTING SET FOR THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF PULLMAN PORTER BLUES BY CHERYL L. WEST, DIRECTED BY CHUCK SMITH (SEP 14 – OCT 20) ***LARRY MARSHALL, CLEAVANT DERRICKS, E. FAYE BUTLER, FRANCIS GUINAN AND TOSIN MOROHUNFOLA AMONG THE BROADWAY LEGENDS, CHICAGO FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ABOARD BLUES-INFUSED JOURNEY*** Tickets are selling fast for Goodman Theatre Resident Director Chuck Smith’s Chicago premiere production of Cheryl L. West’s Pullman Porter Blues—a 2013 Helen Hayes/Charles MacArthur Award nominee for Outstanding New Play/Musical. This blues-infused “glorious ride” (DCist) follows three generations of African American Pullman porters in the 1930s—an era that no longer enslaves them, but still exploits them—in an updated production especially for the city of Pullman’s origin.  Tony Award winner Cleavant Derricks (Broadway’s original James “Thunder” Early in Dreamgirls) portrays Sylvester Sykes, a second-generation railway porter, union organizer and father. Tony Award nominee Larry Marshall (Sportin’ Life in Broadway’s Porgy and Bess) portrays Monroe Sykes, the family patriarch grateful for the opportunities given to him by the Pullman company. Newcomer Tosin Morohunfola portrays Cephas, the youngest Sykes son and med-school hopeful with an itch for adventure. Chicago stage favorite E. Faye Butler portrays Sister Juba “with infectious spirit and adroit comedic timing” (Variety), Francis Guinan (August: Osage County) portrays Tex, the conniving white train conductor, and Claire Kander makes her Goodman Theatre debut in the role of Lutie, a stowaway. The musicians aboard the train include Jmichael Davis (Keys) on piano, Anderson Edwards (Shorty) on bass, Chic Street Man (Professor Slick) on guitar and Senuwell Smith (Twist) on drums.  Pullman Porter Blues runs September 14 – October 20 in the Albert Theatre (opening night is Tuesday, September 24). Tickets ($25 - $86; subject to change) go on sale to the general public Friday, August 9 and are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Pullman, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn). Abbott Fund and Allstate are Corporate Sponsor Partners. ComEd is the Official Lighting Sponsor. “I remember being enamored with the smiling Pullman porters on my first train ride. Little did I know about the horrific working conditions they faced; and yet they persevered to become the first organized black labor union, a feat that cost many of them their jobs and their lives,” said playwright Cheryl L. West. “I have the incredible opportunity to bring this play to Chicago, my hometown, where so many Pullman porters lived. With the Sykes men as guides, audiences are invited to both explore the dark world behind the porters’ smiles and to recapture that initial fascination with a long train journey.” “In Chicago, the Blues and Pullman go hand-in-hand. Pullman Porters were the town criers of the African American community, spreading news all over the country. They were treated with respect by everyone in the black community,” said director Chuck Smith, who celebrates 20 years at the Goodman with this production. “Cheryl pairs a rich and sometimes tragic story with Blues music, which is arguably as legendary as the Pullman Porters themselves.” “The Blues help you say what you feel and feel what you can’t say.” It’s June of 1937, and the Panama Limited Pullman Train is speeding from Chicago to New Orleans on the night of the Joe Louis/James Braddock world heavyweight championship—a watershed moment. Three generations of African American train porters wrestle with ghosts of the past and dreams for the future as they eagerly await word of the Brown Bomber’s victory. Set to timeless Blues tunes performed by a live, on-stage band, and hot on the heels of runs at Seattle Repertory Theatre and Washington, D.C.’s Arena Stage, Pullman Porter Blues is a spirited, music-infused ride audiences won’t soon forget.  The design team includes Robert Christen (lights), Riccardo Hernandez (sets), Josh Horvath and Ray Nardelli (sound), Mike Tutaj (projections) and Birgit Wise (costumes). Joseph Drummond is the production stage manager and Briana Fahey is the stage manager.

ACT OUT: Babes With Blades Theatre Company Presents the World Premiere of Bo Thomas and the Case of the Sky Pirates

“She's one mean cracker jack with a pointy surprise inside.”

A detective agency’s Girl Friday is the real brains behind the operation in a production directed by Leigh Barrett

Babes With Blades have been favs of ours for years and this World Premier is high on our must see list.

All photos by Steven Townshend BWB Photo 1: Megan Schemmel

In a world premiere production, Babes With Blades Theatre Company is proud to present Bo Thomas and the Case of the Sky Pirates, by Eric Simon, at Raven Theatre West Stage, 6157 N. Clark St.  The show will run Thursdays-Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 3:30PM from August 17-September 21.

Bo Thomas and the Case of the Sky Pirates is directed by BWBTC Artistic Director Leigh Barrett*, and the cast features Mark Lancaster, Jennifer L. Mickelson*, Megan Schemmel*, Kelly Yacono*, and Maureen Yasko*. The violence design is by JKChoreography (Kim Fukawa* and Jay Burkhardt).

 About the Play

Girl Friday Bo Thomas has been doing the bulk of the detecting for the Sam Lowell Detective Agency, squeaking by on nickel-and-dime petty theft jobs, waiting for that first big case. When reclusive heiress Lydia Day asks the agency to investigate a strange arson at an area orphanage, it seems like a shot at the big time, but things aren't always what they seem….

Bo Thomas and the Case of The Sky Pirates is a veteran of BWBTC’s Fighting Words program (2010). For more information about Fighting Words, please see BWBTC’s website here. 

Tickets:

$20 general admission

$12 students and seniors

Available at babeswithblades.org or 773-904-0391.

 The design and production team of Bo Thomas and the Case of the Sky Pirates includes Lauren Angel-Nichols (Scenic Design), Rachel Ellis (Assistant Stage Manager), Diane Fairchild (Lighting Design), Ticha Guillaud (Props Design), Kjerstine Humiston* (Assistant Director), Michael Kunc (Sound Design/Original Music), Kimberly Logan* (Production Manager), Lindsey Miller (Stage Manager), Kimberly Morris* (Costume Design), Megan Turnquist (Assistant to Lighting Designer), and Jon Woelfer (Technical Director).

 *denotes BWBTC ensemble member

About the company

Babes With Blades Theatre Company uses stage combat to place women and their stories center stage. Through performance, script development, training, and outreach, our ensemble creates theatre that explores the wide range of the human experience, and cultivates broader perspectives in the arts community and in society as a whole.

BWB Photo 2: Megan Schemmel,  Kelly Yacono 

WHAT: Babes With Blades Theatre Company presents Bo Thomas and the Case of the Sky Pirates by Eric Simon, directed by Leigh Barrett.

WHERE: Raven Theatre West Stage, 6157 N. Clark in Chicago

WHEN: 

RUN:  August 17-September 21

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8PM

Sundays at 3:30PM

TICKETS: babeswithblades.org or 773-904-0391

Tickets $20, Students/Seniors $12, Previews $8

Cast: Mark Lancaster, Jennifer L. Mickelson*, Megan Schemmel*, Kelly Yacono*, and  Maureen Yasko*

Production Team:

Director: Leigh Barrett*

Assistant Director: Kjerstine Humiston*

Production Manager: Kimberly Logan*

Violence Designer: JKChoreography (Kim Fukawa* and Jay Burkhardt).

Stage Manager: Lindsey Miller

Assistant Stage Manager: Rachel Ellis

Technical Director: Jon Woelfer

Costume Designer: Kimberly Morris*

Set Designer: Lauren Angel-Nichols  

Sound Designer: Michael Kunc

Lighting Designer: Diane Fairchild

Assistant Lightning Designer: Megan Turnquist 

Props Designer: Ticha Guillaud

 *Denotes BWBTC ensemble member

All photos by Steven Townshend.  

BWB Photo 3: Megan Schemmel, Kelly Tacono 

ACT OUT OPENING: The Mountaintop at Court Theatre

COURT THEATRE PRESENTS

THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF KATORI HALL’S

THE MOUNTAINTOP

DIRECTED BY RESIDENT ARTIST RON OJ PARSON

Court Theatre Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Stephen J. Albert present The Mountaintop written by Katori Hall, and directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. The Mountaintop will run September 5 – October 6, 2013 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. 

Winner of the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play

On the eve of his assassination, a weary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. returns to his lonely hotel room in Memphis. Restless, he begins to work on his next speech when he’s suddenly interrupted by the arrival of a young hotel maid named Camae. The two strike up an unlikely conversation and as the hour grows late and Dr. King’s fate presses closer, Camae reveals that she is more than she appears. The Mountaintop offers a beautiful and powerful meditation on mortality, destiny, and the liminal space where the material meets the divine. Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson will direct this new portrayal of Dr. King.

“The Mountaintop is one of the most extraordinary plays I've had the pleasure of encountering in recent years, and as soon as I first read it I knew instantly that it should open Court Theatre's fifty-ninth season. Court's intimate space is perfectly suited to the quiet power of Katori Hall's play, and under the incisive direction of Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson, this Mountaintop has the potential to really sing as it would nowhere else,” says Artistic Director Charles Newell. “Not only am I proud to present the Chicago premiere of The Mountaintop, I'm grateful and truly moved that Court Theatre has the opportunity to explore, through the art form of drama, the life and legacy of such a crucial figure of our time.”

Previews are September 5 – September 13, 2013.  Curtain times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. with Saturday matinees at 3 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Ticket prices are $35 to $45 for preview performances; $45 to $65 for regular run performances. Tickets are available at the Box Office, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago; (773) 753-4472 or online at www.CourtTheatre.org. Student and senior discounts available. Groups of 10 or more may purchase discounted tickets by calling Kate Vangeloff at 773-834-3243.

The Mountaintop is sponsored by Allstate, and Ron OJ Parson’s artistic residency is made possible by a grant from The Joyce Foundation.

The cast of The Mountaintop is David Alan Anderson (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) and Lisa Beasley (Camae).

The creative team includes Scott Davis (scenic design), Melissa Torchia (costume design), Sarah Hughey (lighting design), Victoria Delorio (sound design), Martine Kei Green-Rogers (dramaturgy). William Collins is the Stage Manager. 

David Alan Anderson (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) is making Court Theatre debut with The Mountaintop.  He is a 2013 recipient of the prestigious Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship, sponsored by the Ten Chimneys Foundation (tenchimneys.org).  A resident of Indianapolis, he is a frequent performer with the Indiana Repertory Theatre, where his many credits include The Whipping Man, Radio Golf, Gem of the Ocean, Romeo and Juliet, The Heavens are Hung in Black, A Christmas Carol, the title role in Julius Caesar,  and the one man show Looking Over the President's Shoulder.  He is a company member with the critically acclaimed Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul, MN, where his credits include King Hedley II, Seven Guitars, Two Trains Running, and Jitney.  Regional credits include Troy in Fences at Denver Center, Walter Lee in A Raisin in the Sun at The Guthrie, Penumbra, Cleveland Playhouse, Arizona Theatre Co., and Kansas City Rep, Othello at Great Lakes Theatre and Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Kent in King Lear and Othello at Pennsylvania Shakespeare, and Sebastian in The Tempest at Actors Theatre of Louisville.  Other credits include Geva Theatre, Syracuse Stage Lake Tahoe Shakes, St. Louis Black Rep., and Peoples Light and Theatre.  Directing credits include Most Valuable Player and The Color of Justice at Indiana Rep, and Topdog/Underdog and Two Trains Running at the Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis.  He also works in film and television and does voiceover work.

Lisa Beasley (Camae) is making her Court Theatre debut with The Mountaintop. Her recent credits include eta Creative Arts Foundation - Field of Souls (Ruby) and Flow (Will Power); Black Ensemble Theatre - The Marvin Gaye Story (Ensemble), One Name Only (Tanika), The Other Cinderella (Margarite), and From Doo Wop to Hip Hop (Nina), and a company member with Black Ensemble Plays With A Purpose and The High School Series. Originally from Gary, IN, Lisa is a graduate of The LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis, TN with a B.A. in Classical Jazz Studies and also attended The American Musical and Dramatic Academy of Los Angeles.

Now in its 59^th season, Court Theatre is guided by its mission to discover the power of classic theatre. Court endeavors to make a lasting contribution to American theatre by expanding the canon of translations, adaptations, and classic texts. Court revives lost masterpieces, illuminates familiar texts, and distinguishes fresh, modern classics. Court engages and inspires its audience by providing artistically distinguished productions, audience enrichment activities, and student educational experiences.

Court Theatre is the professional theatre in residence at the University of Chicago continuing to discover the power of classic theatre. Court Theatre operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Productions are made possible in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and by a City Arts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. Court Theatre is a constituent of Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for the American Theatre; the League of Resident Theatres; the Illinois Humanities Council; the Arts Alliance Illinois; the League of Chicago Theatres; and Hyde Park Cultural Alliance.

Title:                The Mountaintop

Written by:        Katori Hall

Directed by:      Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson

Dates:                Previews:        September 5 – September 13, 2013

                        p.m.      

Regular run:     September 15 – October 6, 2013

Schedule:         Wed & Thurs: 7:30 PM

Fridays:           8:00 PM

Saturdays:       3:00 PM & 8:00 PM 

Sundays: 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM

Location:          Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.

Tickets:            $35-$45 previews

                        $45-$65 regular run

Box Office:       Located at 5535 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago; (773) 753-4472 or www.CourtTheatre.org

Notes of Interest:

• Hall’s The Mountaintop won the 2010 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play. Notable international productions include the critically-acclaimed James Dacre-directed London production at Theatre 503 and Trafalgar Studios, and the subsequent 2012 Broadway production starring Angela Bassett and Samuel L Jackson.  

• Saturday, August 28 marks the 50^th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s historic “March on Washington.”  In commemoration of the event, the DuSable Museum will be reenacting the March, to include a portion of Dr. King’s seminal “I Have a Dream” speech read by David Alan Anderson who portrays Dr. King in Court Theatre’s production of The Mountaintop. 

• Hall’s plays include Hoodoo Love, which was produced Off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City; Remembrance, which won the 2011 Susan Smith Blackburn Award; Saturday Night/Sunday Morning; WHADDABLOODCLOT!!!!; and Pussy Valley.  She has also been published as a book reviewer, journalist, and essayist in publications such as The Boston Globe, Essence, Newsweek and The New York Times. She was a Kennedy Center Playwriting Fellow at the O’Neill.

ACT OUT EXTENDED: The Beautiful Dark at Red Twist Extends to Sept 8

The Beautiful Dark extends to Sept 8 The Beautiful Dark A World Premiere by Erik Gernand Directed by Josh Altman is extending 1 week to September 8, 2013 Please update your listings Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30pm; Sundays at 3pm Must close September 8. Show details below How do you stop a violent mind? What should parents do when it may seem that their son is planning a violent act--and the boy has become nearly incommunicado? PLAY Nancy's son, Jacob, announces he has failed out of college, and upon returning home, sleeps all day. From this deceitful calm, Nancy makes a startling discovery: Jacob didn't flunk out; he was kicked out for writing a graphic play about a killing spree on campus, carried out by a young man who sounds eerily like her son.As the evidence mounts against Jacob, Nancy is forced to confront her darkest fears. Is her son capable of the unthinkable? And can she stop him before it's too late? PLAY HISTORY Erik Gernand began writing The Beautiful Dark the week after the shooting in Arizona that injured Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. He was inspired by an editorial he read in defense of the parents of the shooter that posed the question: What would you have done if he were your child?  A number of theaters have worked with the script. Two separate development workshops at American Theater Company, Chicago IL Saturday Reading Series at Chicago Dramatists, Chicago, IL 2-week workshop and workshop production at T. Schreiber Studio in NY, directed by new About Face Artistic Director Andrew Volkoff, Chicago, IL 2-week workshop and staged reading at Redtwist Theatre, Chicago, IL Staged reading at The Barrow Group in NY, 2012 The Beautiful Dark has also received the following: AWARD: New Works Project Winner, 2012, T. Schreiber Studio, NY AWARD: Winner of the Premiere Stages Play Festival, Union, NJ Finalist for the Woodward/Newman Drama Award, 2012 PLAYWRIGHT ERIK GERNAND The Beautiful Dark is Erik's first production with Redtwist Theatre, and will open in September at Premiere Stages in Union, NJ. His plays have been in development or production at American Theater Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Barrow Group (NY), and Chicago Dramatists. Erik's short films have screened at more than 100 film festivals around the world including SXSW, Cinequest, and Chicago International Film Festival, as well as been broadcast on IFC, PBS, and The Logo Channel. He is a lecturer in Radio-TV-Film at Northwestern University. Nancy (Jacqueline Grandt), tries to prevent a violent confrontation between her ex-husband, Tom (Tommy Lee Johnston), and her son, Jacob (Aaron Hunt). (Photo: Jan Ellen Graves) CAST Jacob Bond (Charlie), Jacqueline Grandt (Nancy), Tommy Lee Johnston (Tom), Aaron Kirby (Jacob), Scott Olson (Mr. Marsh), Tiffany Williams (Sydney) Jacqueline Grandt is a Redtwist company member and won a 2012 Jeff Award for Principal Actress in Bug by Tracy Letts. Tommy Lee Johnston is a Redtwist company member and resident playwright. His play, Aura, received a 2010 Jeff nomination for New Work. Aaron Hunt is a 2012 Jeff Award-winner for Supporting Actor in Dark Play or Stories for Boys.  STAFF Josh Altman (Director), Reed Motz (Assistant Director), Lauren Yarbrough (Stage Manager), Olivia Baker (Assistant Stage Manager), Jeff Glass (Production Manager), Alan Weusthoff (Tech Director), Kevin McDonald (Dramaturg), Dan Stratton (Set Designer), Christopher Kriz (Sound Designer), Garvin Jellison (Lighting Designer), Kelsey Ettman (Costume Designer), Jeff Shields (Prop Designer), Jan Ellen Graves (Graphic Designer), Chris Rickett (Fight Designer), Kelsey Melvin (Set Assistant), Charles Bonilla (Box Office Manager), E. Malcolm Martinez (Box Office Associate), Johnny Garcia (Associate Producer), Michael Colucci & Jan Ellen Graves (Producers) SCHEDULE Opens: Sat, July 27, 3pm Runs: Thu, Fri, Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 3pm Closes: Sun, Sep 8, 3pm Running Time: Approximately 85 minutes total, no intermission Previews: $15; Wed, Thu, Fri, July 24, 25, 26, at 7:30pm Tickets: Thursdays, $25; Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, $30 (seniors & students $5 off) RESERVATIONS Call: 773-728-7529 Email: reserve@redtwist.org Reservation link: www.redtwist.org Redtwist is located at 1044 W Bryn Mawr, 2 blks W of LSD, 2 blks E of the Red Line EL station Street parking (paybox until 10pm) is available on Bryn Mawr, side streets, and Broadway Please reserve 48 hours in advance. Credit cards accepted by phone and online via BuzzOnStage to guarantee seating.