PHOTO RECAP: CLUTCH New Years Eve 2017-2018 at Express Live! In Columbus, OH

Clutch - Psychic Warfare World Tour 2017

EXPRESS LIVE! - 405 Neil Ave Columbus, OH 43215

Sunday, December 31, 2017

   

Thanks to CLUTCH for providing us with press comps and photo credentials once again. It's always a joy to shoot this fierce foursome and their openers in action. Check out our photo features on NYE Opening Artists: Devin Townsend Project and The Obsessed.

The New Years Eve show (appropriately enough on NEIL AVENUE) was incredible, with a stellar mix of old favorites and even a few brand new tunes off their upcoming release, slated for later this year. 

NYE Setlist:

We love that the band members take turns making the set list and it's always different from town to down, like the Grateful Dead of the metal scene. After over a quarter century touring together (still with the original lineup), they've got more than plenty of material to choose from, and tend to play a vast variety of obscure tracks mixed with old and new hits and fan favorites.

Two hours to showtime, we began the evening in earnest, with a pre-show meet up with a bunch of Gearheads from the private Clutch fans FB Page. Here's a shot from earlyish. Lots more members of the "Clutch family" showed up closer to show time. It was great to put some faces to the friends we've been on line with in the Clutch group since 2014, and to meet some new fans too.  

We met a girl celebrating her birthday, 

a couple celebrating their anniversary, several hard core fans 

who've been seeing shows since the mid 90's like us, 

and a handful of newbies catching their first live CLUTCH show. 
Energy was high and everyone was stoked to be there, from the back of the balcony to the rail riders that got to the venue 
hours early to stake out a spot.

Clutch did not disappoint. 

I can't think of a better way I'd rather welcome in a new year.

Here's our full set of photos in the slide show here, with a few favorite shots embedded below. All photos by Bonnie Kenaz-Mara for ChiILLiveShows.com.

Clutch NYE 2017/18 Express Live! 
Columbus, OH

Click here and scroll down to check out loads of ChiIL Live Shows' past Clutch photo features and coverage over the years.

Click here to check out Clutch's Official Website, for current tour dates, merchandise and tickets, and updates on their new release. 

At present, Clutch is back in the studio starting in January, working on a new release. We're excited to hear it. The world needs more Clutch! Clutch is in heavy rotation in our home, and remains one of our long time, genre defying favorites. 

We had a chance to catch a few of their upcoming songs during the new years show. Good news is, it sounds like classic Clutch. Bad news is, the new stuff seems to be lacking a bit of something. We're hoping they'll funk it up a bit more during the recording process. They're pros with 25+ years in the trenches, mostly under the radar, yet they're coming off their most commercially successful two albums ever, while staying true to their unique sound, so the bar is high. It's the old band catch 22, if you sound too much like your recent hits it's redundant, and too little like them and your core fans will revolt. 

Here at ChiIL Live Shows we've caught CLUTCH in Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana for over two decades. We're Chicago based, but we were more than happy to road trip from Chi, IL to Columbus to catch CLUTCH for New Years Eve 2017/18. We've covered and photographed CLUTCH live numerous times and this was our 2nd time to catch them for a NYE show. I've even done a video interview with lead singer, Neil Fallon, a few years back, right as Earth Rocker came out, that's still one of my favorite metal band interviews of all times.

VIP for the ADA:

At the venue I was beyond thankful for the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) seating. I've had major knee surgery twice over the past 14 months and I'm still healing from my most recent operation. This is the 4th time I've covered Clutch from ADA seating in 4 different venues. I wove through the crowds and made a trip up to the photo pit for the first 3 songs of each band's set (pretty standard for shooting shows) and was eternally grateful for a chair to return to, in a way no-one truly understands till they've been in major pain. 

I'm finally healed enough to get back to shooting live show as of December, but standing for hours is still a pretty painful prospect. It's been amazing meeting other fans in the ADA section. Some of the most hardcore, enthusiastic music lovers are there. It takes some true devotion to navigate a metal show in a wheelchair, on crutches, or otherwise differently abled. Clutch fans are some of the friendliest, most interesting people out there.

The guy on crutches in the seat next to me had also had knee surgery. He began our conversation "I've never seen Clutch...". I jumped in "They're amazing live, and NYE would be a great first show to see." He laughed and said, "No, I've seen them a ton of times for the past 20 years or more. I was gonna say, I've never seen Clutch on crutches before. This is pretty kickass. We have seats up close to the left of the stage. This is great." Yes, yes it was!

Clutch combined elements of funk, Led Zeppelin, and metal with vocals inspired by Faith No More. Formed in 1991 in Germantown, Maryland, the group included Neil Fallon (vocals), Tim Sult (guitar), Dan Maines (bass), and Jean-Paul Gaster (drums). They built a local following through constant gigging, and after just one 7" single (the classic Earache release "Passive Restraints") Clutch were signed by EastWest Records. Their debut LP, Transnational Speedway League, followed in 1993. A self-titled album appeared two years later and afforded Clutch some mainstream exposure. Pure Rock Fury appeared in 2001, and the similarly uncompromising Blast Tyrant came three years later as their first for DRT Records. Their seventh full-length, Robot Hive/Exodus, followed in 2005 and featured the first lineup change since the early '90s, the addition of organist Mick Schauer.

Clutch's numerous side releases included a groove-based album as well as Live at the Googolplex and the rarities record Slow Hole to China, both issued in 2003. Also issued in 2005, Pitchfork & Lost Needles combined Clutch's 1991 Pitchfork 7" with unreleased demos and early tracks. In the fall of 2006 the band hit the studio with producer Joe Barresi (Kyuss, Melvins) to record its next album; the resulting From Beale Street to Oblivion appeared in March 2007. In 2008 Clutch released a CD/DVD compilation of live tracks from shows in New Jersey, Pittsburgh, and Sydney titled Full Fathom Five: Audio Field Recordings 2007-2008 on their own label, Weathermaker Music. The band followed up in 2009 with Strange Cousins from the West before delivering its tenth album, Earth Rocker, in 2013. Buoyed by the success of that album (their highest-charting release ever) and eponymous lead single, Clutch continued their relentless touring through late 2015, when they released their 11th album, Psychic Warfare.

Disclosure: Thanks to CLUTCH for providing us with press comps and photo credentials once again. As always, all opinions, photos and experiences are my own.

More Photo Favorites:

  

OPENING: World Premiere of "Blind Date" at Goodman Theatre Through February 25th

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

BLIND DATE 

DIRECTED BY ROBERT FALLS

  

***TWO OF HISTORY’S ODDEST COUPLES GO HEAD-TO-HEAD IN ROGELIO MARTINEZ’S ORIGINAL WORK, FEATURING ROB RILEY AS FORMER US PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN AND WILLIAM DICK AS MIKHAIL GORBACHEV, PLUS DEANNA DUNAGAN AS NANCY REAGAN AND MARY BETH FISHER AS RAISA GORBACHEV AND MORE***

Blind Date is a participating production in Chicago Theatre Week (February 8-18); use promo code CTW18 

for specially discounted tickets. 

Approximate running time: 2 hours and 30 minutes 

including one intermission. 

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we're eager to catch the world premiere political comedy, Blind Date at Goodman Theatre. I'll be out February 3rd so check back for our full review shortly after.

Blind Date, Rogelio Martinez’s slyly comic, behind-the-scenes glimpse of two of the most powerful world leaders—Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev—directed by Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls. Martinez, “a fresh and funny talent” (Backstage) who “finds new twists on old topics” (Variety), continues his multi-play exploration of the Cold War Era with this Goodman world premiere, which features as characters some of the figures who shaped the political landscapes of the 1980s and beyond. In an era before Twitter, Tinder and 24/7 news, Ronald Reagan (Rob Riley) and Mikhail Gorbachev (William Dick) seek to thaw the seemingly intractable tension between the United States and Soviet Russia. Despite their advisors’ best efforts to keep them on track, a crafty game of one-upmanship ensues, as the world’s two most powerful leaders eschew conventional protocols to discuss pop culture and old movies—while Nancy Reagan (Deanna Dunagan) and Raisa Gorbachev (Mary Beth Fisher ) mirror their husbands’ negotiations in a passive-aggressive tango over tea and fashion choices. 

Blind Date appears through February 25, 2018. Tickets ($20 - $75; subject to change) are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/BlindDate, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 N. Dearborn). 

JPMorgan Chase is the Major Corporate Sponsor, Goodman Theatre Women’s Board is the Major Production Sponsor and the Chicago Tribune is the Media Partner. Blind Date earned a New Play Award by the Edgerton Foundation. Time Warner is the Lead Supporter of New Play Development for the 2017/2018 season.

“My interest in the Cold War is, in some ways, my desire to understand who I was before arriving here, and who I became after,” said playwright Rogelio Martinez, who grew up in Cuba not long after the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and conducted countless hours of research to develop this production. “This is not speculative fiction, not a ‘what if’ story, the events in the play did occur, but maybe not exactly in the same way as they occur on stage. It’s my job to present a set of characters and let audiences arrive at a conclusion of their own. I hope audiences will leave the theater with some hope and not just hope but agency—they as individuals can do something about today’s problems.”

After receiving an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation New Science and Technology Initiative Grant, Martinez wrote When Tang Met Laika, a post-Cold War space exploration play that was subsequently produced by the Denver Center. This inspired him to bring the Cold War itself on stage in a three-play cycle about the time period—Ping Pong, the first play in the trilogy, is about U.S.-China relations during the Nixon administration and was presented at The Public Theater. The second play, Born in East Berlin, tackled the impact a Bruce Springsteen concert had on East Germans just prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall. The play was workshopped at the Atlantic Theater Company and has since been translated into both Hungarian and Romanian. The Goodman production marks the conclusion of the trilogy.

Falls’ cast also features Jim Ortlieb as former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz; Steve Pickering as former Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Soviet Union Eduard Shevardnadze; and Thomas J. Cox as Reagan biographer Edmund Morris. The ensemble includes Torrey Hanson, Gregory Linington and Michael Milligan and extras David Besky, McKinley Carter, Chris Daley, James D. Farruggio Sam Krey, Joe Lino, Guy Massey, Nathan Simpson, Craig Spidle and Emilio Tirri, who round out the cast as Soviet Citizens, KGB Officers, Politburo Members, White House Staff, Secret Service, American Military Officers, Journalists and others. The Creative Team includes Riccardo Hernandez (Set Designer), Amy Clark (Costume Designer), Aaron Spivey (Lighting Designer) and Richard Woodbury (Sound Designer).

Following Blind Date, Falls will direct a new production of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People (March 10 – April 15, 2018) at the Goodman, and also remount his Lyric Opera of Chicago production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni for the Dallas Opera (April 2018). Most recently, Falls directed the world premiere of Jim McGrath’s Pamplona, starring Stacy Keach as Ernest Hemingway, and a new production of Annie Baker’s adaptation of Uncle Vanya at the Goodman.

TICKETS, DISCOUNTS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
Tickets ($20-$75) – GoodmanTheatre.org/BlindDate ; 312.443.3800; Fax: 312.443.3825; TTY/TDD: 312.443.3829
Box Office Hours –12noon - 5pm; on performance days, the box office remains open until 30 minutes past curtain
MezzTix – Half-price day-of-performance mezzanine tickets available at 10am online (promo code MEZZTIX) 
$10Tix – Student $10 day-of-performance tickets; limit four, with valid student ID (promo code 10TIX)
Group Sales are available for parties 10+; 312.443.3820
Gift Certificates – Available in any amount; GoodmanTheatre.org/GiftCertificates

Blind Date is a participating production in Chicago Theatre Week (February 8-18); use promo code CTW18 for specially discounted tickets. Theatre Week is coordinated through the League of Chicago Theaters and offers discounted tickets to 100 different productions throughout Chicago in one week. Visit ChicagoTheatreWeek.com for more information.

ICONS & ARTISTS – January 28 at 2pm | The Alice Center for Education and Engagement at Goodman Theatre
Tickets are $35 and includes a 2pm performance, reception, followed by an in-depth conversation with the playwright Rogelio Martinez and director Robert Falls about the production.

THE HALF-LIFE OF LEADERS – February 11 at 4:45pm | The Alice Center for Education and Engagement at Goodman Theatre
Join the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists and Goodman Theatre artists for a post-show discussion about the production and the divide between nuclear research and the leaders who decide foreign policy.

Audiences can save more with Goodman Theatre’s new MEMBERSHIP initiative. Audiences choose from three levels to suit their preferences, including  Classic, 6-play, 4-play or 2-play packages; Choice, a personalized package that can include both Owen and Albert productions; and Whenever—the ultimate flexible package, to be used at any time during the season. All Goodman members receive unlimited ticket exchanges, discounted parking, 15% savings at the Goodman bar and gift shop, restaurant discounts and more. To purchase a Membership visit GoodmanTheatre.org or call the Box Office at 312.443.3800.

ACCESSIBILITY AT THE GOODMAN
Touch Tour,  February 17 at 2pm – A presentation detailing the set, costume and character elements
Audio Described Performance, February 17 at 2pm – The action/text is audibly enhanced for patrons via headset
ASL Interpreted Performance, February 21 at 7:30pm – Professional ASL interpreter signs the action/text as played 
Open Captioned Performance,  February 24 at 2pm – An LED sign presents dialogue in sync with the performance
Visit Goodman Theatre.org/Access for more information about Goodman Theatre’s accessibility efforts.

ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE
AMERICA’S “BEST REGIONAL THEATRE” (Time magazine), Goodman Theatre is a premier not-for-profit organization distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and civic engagement. Led by Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics (celebrated revivals include Falls’ productions of Death of a Salesman and The Iceman Cometh). Goodman Theatre artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards, over 160 Jeff Awards and many more accolades. In addition, the Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle” and its annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this season, has created a new generation of theatergoers. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production partner with local off-Loop theaters and national and international companies by providing financial support or physical space for a variety of artistic endeavors.

Committed to three core values of Quality, Diversity and Community, the Goodman proactively makes inclusion the fabric of the institution and develops education and community engagement programs that support arts as education. This practice uses the process of artistic creation to inspire and empower youth, lifelong learners and audiences to find and/or enhance their voices, stories and abilities. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of such programming, most offered free of charge, and has vastly expanded the theater’s ability to touch the lives of Chicagoland citizens (with 85% of youth participants coming from underserved communities) since its 2016 opening.

Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation of the new Goodman center in 2000.

Today, Goodman Theatre leadership also includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Brian Dennehy, Rebecca Gilman, Henry Godinez, Dael Orlandersmith, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor, Henry Wishcamper and Mary Zimmerman. David W. Fox, Jr. is Chair of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Cynthia K. Scholl is Women’s Board President and Justin A. Kulovsek is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.

OPENING: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat at Drury Lane Theatre Through March 25th

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Drury Lane Theatre announces casting for final production of 2017/2018 Season

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics by Tim Rice

Directed by Alan Souza

Choreography by Grady M. Bowman

**running two hours, including intermission**

January 19 – March 25, 2018

Starring Christina Bianco and Evan Alexander Smith

Featuring Colte Julian

**Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat is recommended for audiences ages 5 and up.**

ChiIL Live Shows will be ChiILin' at Drury Lane Theatre for the press opening on Thursday, January 25, so check back shortly after for my full review. I'm a long time fan of the excellent productions Drury Lane Theatre mounts and I'm eager to see their take on perennial favorite, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat.

Drury Lane Theatre announces casting for the final production of its 2017/2018 season – the irresistible Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.  This production is directed by Alan Souza with choreography by Grady M. Bowman. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat runs January 19, 2018 – March 25, 2018 at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. 


              Christina Bianco (Narrator)

Evan Alexander Smith (Joseph)

The cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat includes: Christina Bianco (Narrator), Evan Alexander Smith (Joseph), featuring Colte Julian (Jacob/Potiphar/Pharaoh), with E. Clayton Cornelious (Judah), Nick Cosgrove (Levi), Paul-Jordan Jansen (Rueben), and Darcy Jo Wood (standby for the Narrator). The cast also includes: Anthony Avino, Nathanial Braga, Tony Carter, Lexis Danca, Jed Feder, Nathan Fister, Brad Giovanine, Rachel Hafell, Julia Klavans, Nich O’Neil, Lindsay Loretta Prerost, James Monroe Števko, Cara Salerno, and Anthony Sullivan Jr.

In addition to Director Alan Souza and Choreographer Grady M. Bowman, the creative team includes: Alan Bukowiecki (Music Director and Co-Music Arranger), Kevin Depinet (Scenic Designer), Ryan Park (Costume Designer), Lee Fiskness (Lighting Designer), Ray Nardelli (Sound Designer), Kevan Loney (Projection Designer), and Claire Moores (Wig and Hair Designer). The Production Stage Manager is Larry Baker.

The meteoric first collaboration of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat, finishes Drury Lane Theatre’s 2017/2018 season with a bang. Follow dreamer Joseph’s tumultuous ascent to the top in this timeless tale of courage, destiny, and hope. Audiences of all ages will enjoy this delightful musical parable featuring catchy hits like "Go, Go, Go Joseph," “Jacob and Sons,” "Close Every Door," and "Any Dream Will Do." Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat is directed by Alan Souza, who also reimagined the classic story of King Arthur for Drury Lane’s critically-acclaimed Camelot in 2014.

Dates:                                                   
Previews: January 19 – 24, 2018
Regular run: January 26, 2018 – March 25, 2018


Schedule:                                             
Wednesdays: 1:30 p.m.
Thursdays: 1:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Fridays: 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Sundays: 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Location:                                              
Drury Lane Theatre at 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace

Tickets:                                                
Previews: $42 - $57
Single Tickets: $47 - $62
Wednesday and Thursday matinees: $47
Thursday and Sunday evenings: $57
Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees: $62
Student group tickets start at $12
Senior Citizens start at $40 for matinees
Dinner and show packages available

Box Office: 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace
630.530.0111, Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000
or visit DruryLaneTheatre.com


2018/2019 Season and Subscription Information
The 2018/2019 season will open with the Tony Award-winning Rodgers & Hammerstein landmark musical South Pacific (April 5 – June 17, 2018). The season continues with Tennessee Williams’ sultry family drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (July 5 – August 26, 2018), followed by the darkly comedic musical Little Shop of Horrors (September 6 – October 28, 2018). For the holiday season, Drury Lane brings to life the treasured story of Belle with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019) and then closes its 18/19 season with the global smash-hit Mamma Mia! featuring the music of ABBA (February 7 - April 14, 2019). The 2018/2019 season runs April 5, 2018, through April 14, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.

Subscriptions for the 2018/2019 Season are priced from $157 to $187 and are currently on sale. Subscribers receive special offers on dining, flexible ticket exchanges, and early notification and priority seating for added events and concerts. For more information, visit DruryLaneTheatre.com.



About Drury Lane Theatre
Under the leadership of President Kyle DeSantis and Artistic Director William Osetek, Drury Lane Theatre is a major force in the Chicagoland theatre scene, presenting world-class productions in collaboration with some of the nation’s leading actors, artists, writers, and directors. Over the past 30 years, Drury Lane has staged more than 2,000 productions and has been nominated for more than 360 Joseph Jefferson Awards. Drury Lane is committed to breathing new life into beloved classics and introducing audiences to exciting new works.

Throughout its 30-year history, Drury Lane has employed more than 7,500 actors and 10,000 musicians, designers, and crew members to entertain upwards of nine million audience members. Originally founded by Anthony DeSantis, Drury Lane Theatre remains a family-run organization known for producing breathtaking Broadway classics, top-rated musicals, bold new works, hilarious comedies and unforgettable concert events.

OPENING: Rare IBSEN Thriller PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY Via Strawdog Theatre Through 3/3/18

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

STRAWDOG THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS 

HENRIK IBSEN’S 

PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY, 

ADAPTED BY SAMUEL ADAMSON AND 

DIRECTED BY ENSEMBLE MEMBER ELLY GREEN

Photo by Jon Cole Media

JANUARY 19 - MARCH 3, 2018

The Rarely Performed Ibsen Thriller is the First Strawdog Production in its new home at 1802 W. Berenice 

Strawdog Theatre Company and Artistic Directors Michael Dailey, Heath Hays and Anderson Lawfer are proud to announce the cast and creative team for the second production in the 2017 – 2018 season, Henrik Ibsen’s Pillars of the Community by Samuel Adamson, January 19 - March 3, 2018 with direction by Strawdog ensemble member Elly Green. 

Previews are Friday Jan. 19 and 25, Saturday, Jan. 20 and 27, Thursday,  Jan. 25  at 8 p.m. and Sunday January 21 and 28 at 4 p.m. Opening Night is Monday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. The Access Performance, featuring audio description and open captioning is Sunday, Feb. 4 at 4 p.m., with a pre-show Touch Tour at 2:45 p.m. Industry Night is Monday, Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. 

Regular run performances are Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Preview tickets are $18 and regular run tickets are $35-$40. Tickets to performances of Pillars of the Community are currently available at www.strawdog.org.

Adamson’s acclaimed adaptation of the 1877 Ibsen play tells the story of the return of a fugitive brother  that puts the future of wealthy businessman Karsten Bernick in peril. Details of a long-buried sex scandal and embezzlement come to the surface and force Bernick to face his family, his community and his demons. Adamson's version was first produced at the National Theatre and starred Damien Lewis. Strawdog’s 2018 version is the inaugural production in its new home on Berenice and includes the return of Elly Green who previously directed After Miss Julie and The Night Season at Strawdog.

The Pillars of the Community cast includes Strawdog Ensemble Members Nicole Bloomsmith, Kamille Dawkins, Carmine Grisolia, Michaela Petro, and John Henry Roberts with guest artists Kroydell Galima, Michael Kingston, Asia Jackson, Patrick TJ Kelly, Robert Koon, Allison Latta, Dan McGeehan, Priya Mohanty, Morayo Orija, Londen Shannon, Gage Wallaceand Schanora Wimpie.

The Pillars of the Community design team includes Strawdog Ensemble Members Elly Green, director and John Kelly, lighting designerwith guest artists Arianna Soloway, assistant director; John Wilson, set designer; Uriel Gomez, costumer designer; Morgan Lake, sound designer and Leah Hummel, props designer.

ABOUT ELLY GREEN, DIRECTOR
Elly Green previously directed The Night Season and After Miss Julie for Strawdog, and recently joined the company as an ensemble member. In 2018, she will also be directing You for Me for You by Mia Chung, for Sideshow Theatre.  Other directing credits include: The Woman in Black (Wildclaw), The Distance (Haven), No More Sad Things (Sideshow), The Woman Before (Trap Door), Rabbit (Stage Left), Happy (Redtwist), Unwilling and Hostile Instruments (Theatre Seven) and The Tomkat Project (Playground & NY Fringe).  Green trained in London and her United Kingdom credits include: Our Country’s Good, My Balloon Beats Your Astronaut, Beyond Therapy, About Tommy, Copenhagen, Skylight, The Beach and The Zoo Story. She is also an artistic associate with Stage Left and Sideshow Theatre.

ABOUT SAMUEL ADAMSON, PLAYWRIGHT
Samuel Adamson’s work in theatre includes book and lyrics for The Light Princess (music by Tori Amos), Southwark Fair, a new version of Ibsen’s Pillars of the Community and Mrs Affleck (from Ibsen’s Little Eyolf) all at the National Theatre, as well as Frank & Ferdinand for NT Connections. He is artistic associate on the Tony award-winning stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse (Lincoln Center Theater, New York; Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto; US tour; Australian tour; United Kingdom tour). Other plays and adaptations include: Gabriel (Shakespeare’s Globe), Fish and Company (Soho Theatre/National Youth Theatre), Clocks and Whistles (Bush Theatre and New York, Time Out award), Drink, Dance, Laugh and Lie (Bush/Channel 4), Grace Note (Peter Hall Company/Old Vic), Some Kind of Bliss (Trafalgar Studios and Brits Off Broadway, New York), Tomorrow Week (BBC Radio 3), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (from Truman Capote’s novella; Theatre Royal, Haymarket), Running Wild (Chichester Festival Theatre); as well as original contributions to Hoard Festival (New Vic, Stoke), 24 Hour Plays (Old Vic), A Chain Play (Almeida), Urban Scrawl (Theatre 503/TheatreVoice) and Decade (Headlong). His play of All About My Mother (from Pedro Almodóvar’s film; Old Vic Theatre; 2008 Whatsonstage Theatregoers’ Choice Best New Play) has been translated into many languages and is performed regularly around the world. Versions include: Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya (West Yorkshire Playhouse), The Cherry Orchard (Oxford Stage Company/Riverside Studios), Three Sisters (OSC tour and West End), Ibsen’s A Doll’s House (Southwark Playhouse, Northcott Theatre Exeter and Dundee Rep), Schnitzler’s Professor Bernhardi (Dumbfounded/Arcola Theatre; also adapted for BBC Radio 3), Bernhard Studlar’s Transdanubia Dreaming (National Theatre Studio) and Ostrovsky’s Larisa and the Merchants (InSite Performance/Arcola Theatre). As textual advisor/dramaturg, productions include The Alchemist, Saint Joan and All’s Well That Ends Well at the National Theatre, Heartbreak House at Watford Palace Theatre and The Taming of the Shrew at Shakespeare’s Globe. Current work includes book and lyrics for a new musical with music by Adrian Sutton. Film includes “Running for River”(Directional Studios/Krug), and, currently, the screenplay of “The Light Princess.” Faber and Faber publish his plays. He was writer in residence at the Bush Theatre in 1997-8.

SEASON 30: IDENTITY
Who are you to you? And how far are you willing to go to edit yourself into what you want people to see? For our 30th season, we introduce Chicago to three bold works that delve deep into what it means to determine one's own identity.

ABOUT STRAWDOG THEATRE COMPANY
Since its founding in 1988, Strawdog Theatre Company has offered Chicagoland the premiere storefront theatre experience and garnered numerous Non-Equity Jeff Awards with its commitment to ensemble acting and an immersive design approach. The celebrated Company develops new work, re-imagines the classics, melds music with theatre, asks provocative questions and delivers their audience the unexpected. 

Pillars of the Community was made possible in part by Executive Producer Daniel Cyganowski, in memory of Carol K. Cyganowski, and by the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation.

Strawdog Theatre Company is supported in part by The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Alphawood Foundation, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, and the annual support of businesses and individuals.

Lifeline Theatre's Long-Time Artistic Director Dorothy Milne To Transition Out Of Leadership Position

LIFELINE THEATRE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DOROTHY MILNE

ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP TRANSITION

Dorothy Milne. Photo credit: Carolyn Panknin

There's big news from one of our favorites in the Chicago theatre world today. Slow change is in the works for Lifeline's leadership as a search will commence for their next Artistic Director, over the coming year, with Dorothy Milne staying at the helm through the transition. She's one of a kind, but we're excited to see what's next for Lifeline, and Milne has vowed to stay involved with the company, while passing the torch (and the long hours) on to another.

As Lifeline Theatre continues its 35th season, long-time Artistic Director Dorothy Milne has announced she will transition out of her leadership role during the coming year. “I love my job and I won't be leaving Lifeline,” Milne said. “I will still be an active ensemble member and volunteer. But I'm over 60 years old and I look forward to spending more time away from a desk. 

“Lifeline will conduct a search that invites both internal and external candidates to apply,” Milne continued. “The successful candidate would become a Lifeline ensemble member, if they are not already, and would engage in our ensemble development process. This is not a traditional AD role: we are a true collective, deciding all artistic programming for the season as an ensemble. The ideal candidate is both a creative force and someone who finds passion in mentoring, creating opportunity for others, growing Lifeline's family, engaging our community partners, and actively collaborating with Lifeline's ensemble, board, and staff.”

The search for Milne’s successor will take place over the coming months. The search committee includes members of Lifeline’s Board of Directors, artistic ensemble, and staff. Lifeline hopes to have a successor in place by the end of the current season, but Milne will transition out of her role on a schedule that best suits the new hire and the organization.

Milne joined the Lifeline Artistic Ensemble in 1992 and was chosen as artistic director in 1999, following the departure of founding Producing Director Meryl Friedman. During Milne’s 19-year tenure, the organization has grown dramatically, increasing its annual operating budget from just over $300K to just under $1M. Along the way, Milne has directed 22 shows at Lifeline, produced 116 plays, curated eight outings of the Fillet of Solo live lit/storytelling festival (runs January 12-28), served on the Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest planning committee for 16 years, and acted as a fierce ambassador for Lifeline and the Glenwood Avenue Arts District across the community.

“To try to measure the impact that Dorothy has had over the past 19 years is an impossible task,” Managing Director Allison Cain said. “Through her leadership, creative guidance, and dedication, she has not only transformed Lifeline but our neighborhood and theatrical community. I have been so honored to work by her side for the past nine years, and will miss her beyond words. I’m also thankful for the flexible transition timeline she has proposed as it will allow us to be thoughtful in finding the right person to take up the mantle as we move into our next 35 years.”

The remaining shows in the 2017-2018 season:
Click links for our prior coverage & Montauciel Takes Flight ticket giveaway.

The 21st Annual Fillet of Solo Festival
January 12–28, 2018
Lifeline Theatre (6912 N. Glenwood Ave.) and Heartland Studio (7016 N. Glenwood Ave.)
Full Schedule: www.lifelinetheatre.com
Tickets: $10 per performance; Festival Pass: $50 

Celebrating the breadth of Chicago’s enduring storytelling and live lit scene, Lifeline brings together a dozen storytelling collectives and numerous solo performers for a three-week, multi-venue selection of powerful personal stories.

Full details, including participant information, locations and scheduling, for the 2018 Fillet of Solo Festival can be found at www.lifelinetheatre.com

Solo participants include Lily Be, Ada Cheng, Shelby Marie Edwards, Julie Ganey, Carly Jo Geer, R.C. Riley and Jameson Wentworth.

Participating storytelling collectives include Around the World: Immigrant Stories, GayCo, GeNarrations, the kates, The Lifeline Storytelling Project, Sappho’s Salon, Serving the Sentence, Stir Friday Night, The Stoop, Sweat Girls, Tellin’ Tales Theatre, and You’re Being Ridiculous.


Montauciel Takes Flight
World Premiere
A new musical inspired by historical events
Book by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member James E. Grote
Music & Lyrics by Russell J. Coutinho
Directed by Aileen McGroddy

January 13–February 18, 2018

Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., 773.761.4477, www.lifelinetheatre.com

All tickets: $15

Previews: Saturday, Jan. 13 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 14 at 11 a.m. 

Press Opening: Sunday, Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. Regular Run: Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.



Anna Karenina
World Premiere
Based on the novel by Leo Tolstoy
Adapted by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Jessica Wright Buha
Directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Amanda Link

February 16–April 8, 2018

Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., 773.761.4477, www.lifelinetheatre.com

Regular tickets $40; preview tickets $20

Previews: Fridays, Feb. 16 and 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, Feb. 17 and 24 at 8 p.m.; Sundays, Feb. 18 and 25 at 4 p.m. 

Press Opening: Monday, Feb. 26, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. (press also invited to final preview on Feb. 25 at 

4 p.m.) 

Regular Run: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sundays at 4 p.m.

Now in its 35th season, Lifeline Theatre is driven by a passion for story. Our ensemble process supports writers in the development of literary adaptations and new work, and our theatrical and educational programs foster a lifelong engagement with literature and the arts. A cultural anchor of Rogers Park, we are committed to deepening our connection to an ever-growing family of artists and audiences, both near and far. Lifeline Theatre – Big Stories, Up Close.

Lifeline Theatre’s programs are partially supported by Alphawood Foundation; A.R.T League Inc.; Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; Chicago CityArts, a grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; FGMK LLC; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; The Grover Hermann Foundation; The Michael and Mona Heath Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation; Illinois Arts Council Agency; Illinois Humanities Council; Lagunitas Brewing Co. Community Grant Program; MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; The PAV Grant Fund; The Polk Bros. Foundation; Poubelle Fund, a Donor Advised Fund of Renaissance Charitable Foundation; Rogers Park Social; The Saints; S&C Electric Company Fund; The Shubert Foundation; and the annual support of businesses and individuals.

REVIEW: Inertia and Shattered Dreams Hit Home With Shattered Globe's Five Mile Lake at Theater Wit

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Chicago Premiere!

Shattered Globe Theatre Presents 

FIVE MILE LAKE

By Rachel Bonds

Directed by Cody Estle

January 11 – February 24, 2018 at Theater Wit

All Photos by Evan Hanover.

Review:

Dive on in to the depths of Shattered Globe's Five Mile Lake for an excellent exploration on failed dreams, family dynamics, and future plans. Five Mile Lake is one of the stronger offerings in a series of productions on stage in Chicago now, all exploring young adults who end up stuck in their home towns with subpar employment, and often duties caring for elderly parents.

Steve Peebles, Drew Schad, Joseph Wiens, Daniela Colucci and Aila Peck were all adept at their roles. I enjoyed the complicated relationships between the brother who stayed and the one who got away, the unhappy girlfriend, and the childhood friend and coffee shop co-worker. The post lake plunge scene is particularly endearing and revealing.

This slice of American life is comedic in dialogue, yet tragic in it's characters' wasted potential and unhappiness. The delightfully askew set is simple but effective in providing the perfect playground for lives out of balance, deception, loneliness and longing for escape. Shattered Globe does an excellent job of portraying the lasting effects of the place one's from, along with the pros and cons of growing up and away, or taking root in the soil or one's childhood environs. Lies, loyalties, responsibilities, and choices are all on the line.

When the liquor flows, hidden truths come out. When the coffee is served up with gummy worms and sympathy, future possibilities emerge, and character traits become clearer.   

Though there are no earthshaking mysteries or plot twists, I enjoyed the familiarity of this small group of childhood friends, family, and strangers muddling through a seminal weekend together, in the comforts and constrictions of small town America.

Five Mile Lake is recommended and now playing through February 24, 2018 at SGT’s resident home Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.

Shattered Globe Theatre is pleased to continue its 2017-18 Season with Rachel Bonds’ new drama FIVE MILE LAKE, directed by Cody Estle. This Chicago premiere asks the question, “In this rapidly transforming world, when is the right time to make a major change in your life? What holds you back?” FIVE MILE LAKE will play January 11 – February 24, 2018 at SGT’s resident home Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 15 at www.shatteredglobe.org, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office. 

FIVE MILE LAKE features Shattered Globe ensemble members Steve Peebles*, Drew Schad*, Joseph Wiens* and SGT artistic associate Daniela Colucci+ with Aila Peck. 

Top (left to right): Daniela Colucci, Aila Peck, Steve Peebles. Bottom (left to right): Drew Schad and Joseph Wiens.

"That 'couple years' of treading water turned into like...eight." – Mary, Five Mile Lake

Five young adults approaching thirty navigate an unexpected reunion in a small Pennsylvania town: the kind of claustrophobic place that most kids grow up ready to leave. On the banks of a frozen lake, each struggles to make a new choice – the “right” choice – and comes face-to-face with the choices they have already made.

FIVE MILE LAKE is a funny, intimate portrait of unrequited love, tension among siblings, the discomfort of self-reflection, and the consequences of words left unsaid. Bonds creates a "pitch perfect evocation of small moments with life-sized repercussions." (Adrien-Alice Hansel, Studio Theatre).

Comments Director Cody Estle, “Five Mile Lake is a funny and moving portrait of small town people –both the people who stayed and the people who moved away. Sometimes everyone else’s life looks better from a distance but what really defines happiness? Coming from a small town myself and being around the age of these characters brings a special connection – it’s a story that I'm eager to tell. It’s filled with family, dreams and hope – I think it will engage, move and inspire audiences.”

Playwright Rachel Bonds adds, “I wrote this play because I was thinking a lot about the place I’m from and about the constant push-pull I feel about it. At times I think there’s nowhere I feel more at home than in that tiny, tiny mountain town – and times, walking down the whirling, vibrating, city streets, when I can’t believe I managed to spend 18 years there. I wrote this play because I was interested in that conflict in me, and because I was interested in how we look for and find home when we’ve lost our way.”

Producing Artistic Director Sandy Shinner comments, “The writing in Five Mile Lake is a gift to actors as they explore the tension between what the characters say and what they feel. In this season of all Chicago premieres, Shattered Globe is excited to welcome playwright Rachel Bonds to our theater. She’ll be joining us during the creative process and we look forward to introducing her to Chicago’s theater community and our audiences.”

The production team for FIVE MILE LAKE includes Jeffrey D. Kmiec (scenic design), Hailey Rakowiecki (costume design), JR Lederle (lighting design), Christopher Kriz+ (original music and sound design), Vivian Knouse* (props design), Eva Breneman (dialect coach), A.J. Roy (asst. director), Judy Anderson* (exec. production manager), Colin David (production manager), Denise Savas (stage manager) and Ayanna Wimberley (asst. stage manager).

Location: Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave, Chicago
Dates: Previews: Thursday, January 11 at 8 pm, Friday, January 12 at 8 pm and Saturday, January 13 at 8 pm 
Regular Run: Thursday, January 18 – Saturday, February 24, 2018 

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 3 pm. Please note: there is an added matinee on Saturday, February 24 at 3 pm. 
Touch Tour/Audio Description Performance: Friday, February 2 – 6:30 pm touch tour, 8 pm performance with audio description. $20 tickets available with code “ACCESS.”

Global Perspectives: SGT will be hosting post-show discussions immediately following 3 pm performances on Sundays.

Tickets: Previews: $20 general admission, $10 students, $10 industry tickets with code “FRIEND”. Regular Run: $35 general admission. Discounts: $15 students, $28 seniors, $20 under 30. $15 industry tickets on Thursdays with code “INDUSTRY.” Tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 15 at www.theaterwit.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box Office or by calling (773) 975-8150. Group discounts are currently available by contacting groupsales@shatteredglobe.org or by calling (773) 770-0333. 

* Denotes SGT Ensemble Member
+ Denotes SGT Artistic Associate

About the Artists:
Rachel Bonds (Playwright) plays have been developed or produced by South Coast Rep, Ars Nova, Manhattan Theatre Club, McCarter Theatre, Roundabout Underground, Atlantic Theater Company, Studio Theatre, New Georges, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, SPACE on Ryder Farm, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and New York Stage & Film, among others. Her plays include: Curve of Departure (Upcoming South Coast Rep, Studio Theatre); Five Mile Lake (South Coast Rep, McCarter, Weissberger Award); The Wolfe Twins (Studio Theatre, Kilroys List 2015); Swimmers (Marin Theatre Co., Sky Cooper Prize, Kilroys List 2014); Sundown, Yellow Moon (Ars Nova/WP); Alma (Atlantic Theatre Company commission); Firecracker (Kilroys List 2016); At the Old Place (La Jolla); Michael & Edie (NY Times Critic's Pick, 2010); Winter Games (Actors Theatre of Louisville, Heideman Award); and Anniversary (EST, Sam French OOB Festival Winner). She is an Alumna of the EST’s Youngblood, Ars Nova’s Play Group and SPACE on Ryder Farm’s Working Farm Writers’ Group. She was the 2016 Tow Foundation Playwright in Residence at Ars Nova. Current commissions include The Geffen and McCarter. Bonds is a graduate of Brown University.

Cody Estle (Director) is the newly appointed Artistic Director of Raven Theatre. Directing credits include By The Water at Northlight Theatre; The Assembled Parties, A Loss of Roses, Dividing the Estate, Vieux Carré (named by Chicago Tribune as one of the Year's Best in 2014), Good Boys and True, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Boy Gets Girl and Dating Walter Dante at Raven Theatre; American Hero at First Floor Theatre; Scarcity at Redtwist Theatre; The Seagull and Watch on the Rhine at The Artistic Home; Don't Go Gentle at Haven Theatre; Uncle Bob at Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company and Hospitality Suite at Citadel Theatre. He’s had the pleasure of assistant directing at Steppenwolf Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Goodspeed Musicals, Court Theatre, Writers Theatre, Next Theatre and Strawdog Theatre. Estle is an associate member of SDC and a graduate of Columbia College Chicago.



About Shattered Globe Theatre
Shattered Globe Theatre (Sandy Shinner, Producing Artistic Director; Doug McDade, Managing Director) was born in a storefront space on Halsted Street in 1991. Since then, SGT has produced more than 60 plays, including nine American and world premieres, and garnered an impressive 42 Jeff Awards and 106 Jeff Award nominations, as well as the acclaim of critics and audiences alike. Shattered Globe is an ensemble driven theater whose mission is to create an intimate, visceral theater experience that challenges the perspective of audience and artist alike through passionate storytelling. Shattered Globe is inspired by the diversity of our city and committed to making the theater available to all audiences.   Through initiatives such as the Protégé Program, Shattered Globe creates a space which allows emerging artists to grow and share in the ensemble experience.

Shattered Globe Theatre is partially supported and funded by generous grants from The Shulman-Rochambeau Charitable Foundation, The James P. and Brenda S. Grusecki Family Foundation, Alphawood Foundation, The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, The Shubert Foundation, The Blum-Kovler Family Foundation, and The Robert J. & Loretta W. Cooney Family Foundation.

For more information on Shattered Globe Theatre, please visit www.shatteredglobe.org.

REVIEW: Take a Gamble on Flamingo & Decatur at Theater Wit

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar: 

World Premiere!

Block St Theatre Co Presents

FLAMINGO & DECATUR

By Todd Taylor 

Directed by Kevin Christopher Fox

January 4 – February 18, 2018 at Theater Wit

  ALL PHOTOS BY EVAN HANOVER

Review:
Jackson and Ben are living the American dream in a McMansion with a hot tub, and a putting green in Vegas. There's just one catch, they're squatters. This dark comedy is full of plot twists and unique psychological character studies that are big on laughs. What happens when the stakes are raised and real potential love and friendship are on the line for the conman, who has always seen people as marks and life as a series of possible bets? 

Flamingo & Decatur is a Vegas style reminder to look beyond the surface for what's real instead of illusion. We enjoyed this clever poke at human behavior and the reasons behind it, like the Vegan diet bet, and how it's human nature to both endure and hit a breaking point, sometimes at the most unexpected time and place. This is a fun evening out at Theater Wit, and worth a look. 

You know Las Vegas – spinning wheels, neon lights, slinky dresses. But do you really know the city and its almost two million inhabitants? Poker pro turned playwright Todd Taylor takes you inside the real Sin City in Block St Theatre Co’s darkly comedic new play FLAMINGO & DECATUR, directed by Kevin Christopher Fox. The world premiere production will play January 4 – February 18, 2018 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at theaterwit.org, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office. 

FLAMINGO & DECATUR will feature Stephanie Bignault, Drew Johnson, Jason M. Shipman and Nathaniel Stahlke.

Set in a foreclosed residential property far from the glamour of the famed Las Vegas strip, FLAMINGO & DECATUR reveals a different side of Sin City. It's here we meet Jackson, a wily professional gambler struggling to stay afloat in the aftermath of the 2008 housing crash that wrecked the city's economy. Jackson thinks he's discovered a surefire way to trim living expenses – find one of the thousands of Vegas houses left vacant by foreclosure and start squatting there illegally with Ben, his online-poker-junkie roommate. But the pair soon finds that not only do they have to stay one step ahead of the law – they must also contend with their antagonistic next-door neighbor Simon, self-appointed guardian of neighborhood property values.

The production team for FLAMINGO & DECATUR includes: Joe Schermoly (scenic design), Chloe Patten (costume design), Alexander Ridgers (lighting design), Christopher Kriz (sound design), Jessica Mondres (props design), Jennifer Aparicio (production manager) and Celeste Richard (stage manager).

Location: Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago
Regular run: Thursday, January 11 – Sunday, February 18, 2018
Curtain Times: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 2 pm & 7 pm

Tickets: Regular run: $33. Seniors $28, students/military $23. Tickets are currently available at theaterwit.org, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at Theater Wit Box Office.



About the Artists:
Todd Taylor (Playwright) As a playwright/producer and founding member of Block St, Todd has spearheaded the company's focus on bringing original new work to the stage. Block St productions of his plays include: Flamingo & Decatur, a dramatic comedy delving into the lives of Vegas gamblers, The Jefferson Bottles, a black comedy inspired by the Koch Brother wine swindle, and Butte, a historical drama based on the rise and fall of copper baron Augustus F. Heinze. Other full-length plays include Calculation, a historical drama based on the calculus priority dispute between Newton and Leibniz, and The Gravedigger's Art, a comedy about finding vocational identity. Originally from the Raleigh, NC area, before coming to dramatic writing Todd worked as a sportswriter for several newspapers, taught community college English and played poker professionally in Las Vegas. He holds a BA in English from Duke University, a MA in English from UNC Greensboro and an MFA in Drama from the University of Arkansas.

Kevin Christopher Fox (Director) Originally from Asheville, NC, Kevin is an actor and director based in Chicago for the past 25 years. Recent Chicago directing highlights include: Bakersfield Mist (TimeLine); the world premiere of Assassination Theater by Hillel Levin (Russell Lane, LLC at Museum of Broadcast Communications); the world premieres of Graveyard of Empires by Elaine Romero and The Gun Show by EM Lewis, Pull of the Moon, Accidental Rapture and The Book Club Play (16th Street Theater), Lay Me Down Softly and Hughie (Irish Theatre of Chicago/Seanachai), Widowers' Houses and Androcles and the Lion (Shaw Chicago), St. Crispin's Day (Strawdog), Arms and the Man and Betrayal (Oak Park Festival), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Gift Theatre Company), Beggars in the House of Plenty (Mary-Arrchie), Widowers' Houses (TimeLine) and his debut Buicks (Precious Mettle). Regional highlights: the world premiere of The Actuary by Steven Peterson (Peninsula Players); the world premieres of The Spiritualist by Robert Ford and Sundown Town by Kevin Cohea, The Fall of the House and MacBeth (TheatreSquared); Macbeth (Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Shakespeare in the Schools, adapted and directed); The Study by EM Lewis (William Inge Festival and Center for the Arts). He has directed numerous new play development workshops for Chicago Dramatists, Inge Festival, TimeLine and TheatreSquared at the Arkansas New Play Festival. 

About Block St Theatre Co:
Oh, the majestic Block St Theatre! Towering above the town square with its impressive turn-of-the-century brickwork facade and its understated… wait, wait, OK, there is no actual physical theatre space on Block St (at least not yet anyway). But we chose that name because it represents the metaphorical heart of Fayetteville, Arkansas where Block St Theatre Co was born in 2015.

Like a lot of college towns (it's home to the University of Arkansas), Fayetteville supports a thriving community of artists, musicians, visual artists, writers and of course, theatre artists. Founded by a handful of grads from the U of A's theatre MFA program, Block St aims to provide a venue where some of Fayetteville's bounty of theatre talent can find its expression.

With a little imagination, we've been turning the absence of a permanent physical space from a limitation into an advantage. From a downtown art gallery to a speakeasy bar nestled in the theatre district to a black box on the U of A campus, there's no location in Fayetteville that's off limits to our brand of theatre. And this season, that perform-anywhere attitude has taken us all the way to Chicago!

As we've been welcomed into the Chicago scene by so many wonderful theatre lovers, our emerging mission has come clearly into focus. There is a real pipeline of theatre talent that runs both ways between Fayetteville and Chicago. By doing future productions in both cities, Block St aims to expand on this bridge between two amazing theatre communities!  For additional information, visit www.blocksttheatreco.org