I'll be out to review at the press opening on September 21st for ChiIL Live Shows and can't wait to catch their season opener. Northlight has long been a favorite of mine and they've been around an impressive 44 seasons. Director BJ Jones is celebrating his 21st season at Northlight. And I never miss a chance to see the inimitable Mike Nussbaum. According to Actors’ Equity Association, he's the oldest actor still working on stage! He previously appeared at Northlight in Relativity, Awake and Sing!, Better Late, Grace, and Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie.
Photo credit for all production shots: Michael Brosilow
Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, begins its 2018-19 season with Curve of Departure, written by Rachel Bonds and directed by BJ Jones. Curve of Departure runs September 13 – October 21, 2018, 2018 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.
In a cramped motel room in New Mexico, a “ragtag little group of humans” gathers in anticipation of the funeral of a man they loved but did not like. But the dearly departed is not their only concern, as they grapple with the demands of ordinary life and the decisions of an uncertain future. Northlight favorite Mike Nussbaum returns as the patriarch of an unconventional family in this delicate and gently comic drama.
Dates:
Previews: September 13 – September 20, 2018
Regular run: September 22 – October 21, 2018
Open Captioning: Sunday, October 13 at 2:30pm
Schedule:
Tuesdays: 7:30pm (September 18 only)
Wednesdays: 1:00pm (except September 19) and 7:30pm
Thursdays: 7:30pm
Fridays: 8:00pm
Saturdays: 2:30pm (except September 15) and 8:00pm
Sundays: 2:30pm and 7:00pm (September 16 and 30 only)
Location: Northlight Theatre is located at the North Shore
Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd,
Skokie
Tickets:
Previews: $30-$57
Regular run: $30-$88
Student tickets are $15, any performance
(subject to availability)
Box Office:
The Box Office is located at 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie.
847.673.6300; northlight.org
“Rachel Bonds' Curve of Departure is a delicate and heartfelt examination of a family, retracing their steps through a painful past, and forging a path towards a hopeful future," stated Artistic Director BJ Jones. “With a cast headed by Mike Nussbaum and Penelope Walker with Sean Parris and Danny Martinez, this is a strong ensemble piece that will touch your heart and open your mind.”
The cast of Curve of Departure includes: Mike Nussbaum (Rudy), Sean Parris (Felix), Danny Martinez (Jackson) and Penelope Walker (Linda).
The creative team includes: Lauren Nigri (Set Design), Alexis Chaney (Costume Design), Heather Gilbert (Lighting Design), Andre Pluess (Sound Design), Lydia Hanchett (Props). Rita Vreeland is the stage manager and Kristen Osborn is the dramaturg.
Northlight's production of Curve of Departure is supported in part by Tom Stringer Design Partners. The 2018-19 Season is supported by BMO Harris and ComEd, An Exelon Company.
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, Williamstown Theatre Festival, New Georges, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Studio Theatre, SPACE on Ryder Farm, The Arden and New York Stage & Film, among others. Her plays include: Sundown, Yellow Moon, a play with songs by The Bengsons, directed by Anne Kauffman for Ars Nova & WP Theatre; Five Mile Lake, winner of the 2013 L. Arnold Weissberger Award from the Williamstown Theatre Festival, which received its world premiere at South Coast Rep, directed by Daniella Topol, and its east coast premiere at The McCarter in May 2015, directed by Emily Mann; Swimmers, winner of the 2015 Sky Cooper Prize, which received its world premiere at Marin Theatre Company in 2016, directed by Mike Donahue; The Wolfe Twins, her commissioned play for Studio Theatre, which received its world premiere in October 2014, directed by Mike Donahue; Alma, commissioned by Atlantic Theatre Company; Michael & Edie, named a NY Times Critic’s Pick, directed by Robert Saenz de Viteri; At The Old Place at La Jolla Playhouse, directed by Jaime Castaneda; Winter Games, winner of the 2014 Heideman Award and part of the Ten Minute Plays at the 2014 Humana Festival; and Anniversary, produced in EST’s 2010 Marathon of One-Act Plays, winner of the 2012 Sam French Festival and featured on Public Radio’s “Playing on Air.”
BJ Jones (Director) is in his 21st season as Artistic Director of Northlight. Mr. Jones is a two-time Joseph Jefferson Award winning actor and a three-time nominated director and has directed the world premieres of Relativity, Funnyman, Faceless, Charm, White Guy on the Bus, Stella & Lou, The Outgoing Tide, Better Late, and Rounding Third. Notably he has directed productions of Outside Mullingar, Grey Gardens, The Price, The Odd Couple, A Life, and The Beauty Queen of Leenane. As a producer he has guided the world premieres of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Shining Lives, The Last Five Years, The Gamester, and Studs Terkel’s ‘The Good War’. Additional directorial credits include: Pitmen Painters (Timeline); 100 Saints You Should Know (Steppenwolf); Glengarry Glen Ross (Alliance Theatre, Atlanta); The Lady with All the Answers (Cherry Lane, New York); Animal Crackers (Baltimore Center Stage); Three Musketeers, The Tempest, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing (Utah Shakespeare Festival), and four productions at the Galway International Arts Festival. As a performer, he has appeared at Northlight, Goodman, Steppenwolf, Court, and other theatres throughout Chicago. Film/TV credits include The Fugitive, Body Double, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Early Edition, Cupid, and Turks, among others.
Mike Nussbaum (Rudy) returns to Northlight where he previously appeared in Relativity, Awake and Sing!, Better Late, Grace, and Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie. An actor in Chicago for more than 60 years, he was recently seen at TimeLine in Bakersfield Mist and The Price and at The Goodman in the much loved Smokefall by Noah Haidle. According to Actors’ Equity Association, he is the oldest actor still working on stage.
Sean Parris (Felix) Chicago credits include: The world premiere of A Girl with Sun in Her Eyes (Pine Box Theatre), Letters Home (Griffin Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Shakespeare), Pornography (Steep Theatre), Seascape (Remy Bumppo); Understudy in Angels In America (Court Theatre). Regional Credits include: Hamlet (Saratoga Shakespeare Festival). Sean is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University. He is represented by Paonessa Talent Agency.
Danny Martinez (Jackson) Regional and Chicago credits: Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet (Nashville Shakespeare Festival), The Wedding Singer (Haven Theatre), All Our Tragic (The Hypocrites). Jackalope Theatre ensemble member, 2012. Credits include: Four (by Christopher Shin), Exit Strategy (by Ike Holter, original cast), and Long Way Go Down (by Zayd Dorn). TV credits: Chicago PD and Chicago Fire (Patrolman Garcia, recurring), Empire (Nurse ED), and Detroit 187. Columbia College Chicago graduate. Proudly represented by Stewart Talent Chicago.
Penelope Walker (Linda) Chicago credits include The House That Will Not Stand at Victory Gardens Theatre; Love & Information at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company; Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England at Theater Wit; The Project(s), Agnes of God, Doubt and The People’s Temple at American Theater Company; Will You Stand Up? at Erasing the Distance; Laura Jacqmin’s 10 Virgins and Lydia R. Diamond’s world premiere production of Voyeurs de Venus at Chicago Dramatists; Eclipsed, Gee’s Bend and Bee-luther-Hatchee at Northlight Theatre; Life Sucks & J. Nicole Brooks’ world premiere production of Black Diamond: The Years the Locusts Have Eaten at Lookingglass Theatre Company; Don DeLillo’s Love Lies Bleeding at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the Kennedy Center; Omnium Gatherum at Next Theatre Company; Chris-T at MPAACT; The Clink at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble and Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery at Chicago Theatre Company. She also wrote and starred in her own solo piece, How I Jack Master Funked the Sugar in My Knee Caps! Ms. Walker has appeared regionally with the Alliance Theatre, Arena Stage, Hartford Stage and the Alley Theatre. She has appeared in national commercials and voice-overs. Film, television and web series credits include Matching Pursuit, the Comedy Central pilot SouthSide, Chicago Justice, Chicago Fire, Boss, Olympia: An Instruction Manual for How Things Work, Severed Ties and the short film Something Better Somewhere Else.
The Box Office is located at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Boulevard, in Skokie. Box Office hours are Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm, and Saturdays 12:00pm-5:00pm. On performance days, the box office hours are extended through showtime. The Box Office is closed on Sundays, except on performance days when it is open two hours prior to showtime.
Curtain times are: Tuesdays: 7:30pm (September 18 only); Wednesdays: 1:00pm (except September 19) and 7:30pm; Thursdays: 7:30pm; Fridays: 8:00pm; Saturdays: 2:30pm (except September 15) and 8:00pm; and Sundays: 2:30pm and 7:00pm (September 16 and 30 only).
Backstage with BJ: Curve of Departure
Friday, September 7 at noon
at Northlight Theatre
Backstage with BJ is a mid-day discussion with Artistic Director BJ Jones, featuring special guest artists, actors, directors and designers, offering behind-the-scenes insight into each production while it is still in rehearsal. Backstage with BJ for Curve of Departure will last approximately one hour. The event is free, but reservations are required. Visit https://northlight.org/events/backstage-with-bj/ to reserve your spot.
Post Show Discussions will be held after the following performances:
September 16 at 2:30pm, September 18 at 7:30pm, September 30 at 2:30pm, October 3 at 1pm, October 4 at 7:30pm, October 10 at 1:00pm, and October 11 at 7:30pm.
Two of Rachel Bonds' short plays, Winter Games and Anniversary, have been featured by Playing On Air, a program that records and distributes short plays on public radio and podcast in order to make vibrant contemporary theater available to every person, regardless of time, funds or access. Both are available for free streaming at playingonair.org.
Northlight Theatre aspires to promote change of perspective and encourage compassion by exploring the depth of our humanity across a bold spectrum of theatrical experiences, reflecting our community to the world and the world to our community.
Now in its 44th season, the organization has mounted over 200 productions, including nearly 40 world premieres. Northlight has earned 207 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations and 36 Awards, as well as nine Edgerton Foundation for New Play Awards. As one of the area’s premier theatre companies, Northlight is a regional magnet for critical and professional acclaim, as well as talent of the highest quality.
Northlight is supported in part by generous contributions from Allstate Insurance; the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Robert & Isabelle Bass Foundation; BMO Harris Bank; Henrietta Lange Burk Fund; The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; The Chicago Community Trust; ComEd, An Exelon Company; The Davee Foundation; Edgerton Foundation for New American Plays Award; Evanston Community Foundation; Full Circle Foundation; Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; Kirkland & Ellis Foundation; The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Melvoin Award for Playwriting; Modestus Bauer Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; Niles Township; The Offield Family Foundation; The Pauls Foundation; Room & Board; Sanborn Family Foundation; Dr. Scholl Foundation; The Shubert Foundation, Inc.; The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust; The Sullivan Family Foundation; and Tom Stringer Design Partners.
