EXTENDED: Vietgone at Writers Theatre Now Extended Through September 29, 2018

Writers Theatre extends the run of

VIETGONE

Written by Qui Nguyen

Directed by Lavina Jadhwani

Original Music & Music Direction by Gabriel Ruiz

Choreographed by Tommy Rapley

Featuring Aurora Adachi-Winter, Rammel Chan, Emjoy Gavino

Ian Michael Minh and Matthew C. Yee

Now through September 29, 2018

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, adds four performances to the run of Qui Nguyen’s Vietgone. The production is directed by Lavina Jadhwani, with original music and music direction by Gabriel Ruiz and choreography by Tommy Rapley. Due to demand, Vietgone now runs through September 29, 2018 in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe.

Newly added performances for VIETGONE are as follows: Wednesday, September 26 at 7:30pm; Thursday, September 27 at 7:30pm; Friday, September 28 at 7:30pm; and Saturday, September 29 at 7:30pm.

Tickets for VIETGONE are currently on sale. Subscriptions and individual tickets, priced $35-$80, may be purchased online at www.writerstheatre.org, by phone at 847-242-6000, or in person at the box office, 325 Tudor Court in Glencoe.

It's 1975 and two young survivors (who may or may not be the playwright's parents) meet in a Vietnamese refugee camp in mid-America shortly after the fall of Saigon. Will this strange new land of cowboys, hippies and bikers allow them to fall in love? Playwright Qui Nguyen’s wildly creative, irreverent style flips stereotypes on their head, remixing history and culture into a sexy, funny and energetic fantasia as he imagines how two soul mates might have found each other in a turbulent time.

Equal parts road-trip adventure, buddy film, romantic comedy and Hamilton-esque rap musical, this epic new play repurposes pop culture from the last forty years to tell its “probably-mostly-true” story. Directed by Lavina Jadhwani, Vietgone takes a no-holds-barred approach, transporting you through time and across the globe to put an innovative spin on a critical moment in our history.

Recommended for ages 14 and up. This production contains strong language and sexual situations, violent images, simulated drug use and vapor cigarettes. Please note that the production incorporates the use of fog and haze, as well as flashing lights.

The cast of Vietgone includes: Aurora Adachi-Winter (Tong), Rammel Chan (Asian Guy/American Guy/Nhan/Khue), Emjoy Gavino (Asian Girl/American Girl/Thu/Huong/Translator/Flower Girl), Ian Michael Minh (Playwright/Giai/Bobby/Captain Chambers/Redneck Biker/Hippie Dude) and Matthew C. Yee (Quang).

The creative team includes: Yu Shibagaki (scenic), Melissa Ng (costumes), Sarah Hughey (lighting), Kevin O’Donnell (sound), Rasean Davonte Johnson (projections), Dwight Sora (assistant director) and Carol Ann Tan (production dramaturg). The production stage manager is David Castellanos.


AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT
Sunday Spotlight
Sunday, September 16, 2018 at 11:30am
In Vietgone, playwright Qui Nguyen gives us a dynamic look at the Vietnam War and its aftermath from a rarely observed point of view. At this Sunday Spotlight event, we will be joined by a diverse panel of historians, activists and artists to discuss varying perspectives on this contentious time in history when the country—and the world—was undergoing great change. Seating is limited, RSVP is required.

The Making of... Vietgone
Post-Show Conversation: The Word
Join us after every Tuesday evening performance (excluding First Week and any extension weeks) for a 15-minute discussion of the play, facilitated by a member of the WT Artistic Team.
Post-Show Conversation: The Artist
Join us after every Wednesday evening performance (excluding First Week and any extension weeks) for a 15-minute talk-back featuring actors from the production, facilitated by a member of the WT Artistic Team.

Pre-Show Conversation: Up Close
Join us at 6:45pm before every Thursday evening performance (excluding First Week and any extension weeks) for a 15-minute primer on the context and content of the play, facilitated by a member of the WT Artistic Team.

RIDE METRA TO WRITERS THEATRE
In an effort to promote taking public transit to the Theatre, Writers Theatre launched a new promotion in 2013. Any audience member who purchases a ticket to a Writers Theatre production and rides Metra’s Union Pacific North Line to the Theatre may snap a photo of themselves on the train and post it to their Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account with a tag of @WritersTheatre (@Writers_Theatre on Instagram) and #VietgoneWT, and upon showing the post at the Writers Theatre Box Office, receive $5 in cash to put toward the cost of your fare as a thank you for going green.

This promotion is available for a limited time only and may end without warning. Ticket must have been paid for in advance. Not valid on comp tickets. More information available at writerstheatre.org/metra

WRITERS THEATRE PARTNERS
Writers Theatre is pleased to recognize BMO Harris Bank as the 2018/19 Season Sponsor and ComEd as the Official Lighting Sponsor of the 2018/19 Season. The Major Corporate Sponsor for Vietgone is Northern Trust. The Major Production Sponsors are Maryellen and Richard Keyser, and the Artists Council Sponsors are Laurie and Michael Petersen. Additional support for Vietgone is provided by the Director’s Society Sponsors.

For more information about Writers Theatre’s 2018/19 partners, visit writerstheatre.org/our-supporters.

ABOUT WRITERS THEATRE
For more than 25 years, Writers Theatre has captivated Chicagoland audiences with inventive interpretations of classic work, a bold approach to contemporary theatre and a dedication to creating the most intimate theatrical experience possible.

Under the artistic leadership of Michael Halberstam and the executive leadership of Kathryn M. Lipuma, Writers Theatre has grown to become a major Chicagoland cultural destination with a national reputation for excellence, being called the top regional theatre in the nation by The Wall Street Journal. The company, which plays to a sold-out and discerning audience of more than 60,000 patrons each season, has garnered critical praise for the consistent high quality and intimacy of its artistry—providing the finest interpretations of both classic and contemporary theatre in its two intensely intimate venues. 

In February 2016, Writers Theatre opened a new, state-of-the-art facility. This established the company's first permanent home—a new theatre center in downtown Glencoe, designed by the award-winning, internationally renowned Studio Gang Architects, led by Founder and Design Principal Jeanne Gang, FAIA, in collaboration with Theatre Consultant Auerbach Pollock Friedlander. The new facility has allowed the Theatre to continue to grow to accommodate its audience, while maintaining its trademark intimacy. The new facility resonates with and complements the Theatre’s neighboring Glencoe community, adding tremendous value to Chicagoland and helping to establish the North Shore as a premier cultural destination.


Up Next:

Find Writers Theatre on Facebook at Facebook.com/WritersTheatre, follow @WritersTheatre on Twitter or @Writers_Theatre on Instagram. For more information, visit www.writerstheatre.org.

OPENING: THE MIDWEST PREMIERE OF AN OAK TREE​ VIA RED THEATER TO KICK OFF 7TH SEASON 11/1-12/9/18

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

RED THEATER TO KICK OFF 7TH SEASON WITH

THE MIDWEST PREMIERE OF

AN OAK TREE​ BY TIM CROUCH

Red Theater Chicago announces the start of their 7th season with their upcoming production of An Oak Tree by Tim Crouch, directed by Jeremy Aluma and starring Gage Wallace, both Red Theater company members. Performances run November 1 through December 9, 2018. Performances run at the Athenaeum Theatre in Studio One at 2936 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657.

I'll be out for the press opening on Saturday, November 3 at 8:00pm, so check back soon after for my full review.

THE PLAY
Two Actors. One has rehearsed the play. The second has never even read it. Performed by a different person each night, the second actor will discover the play and their role at the same time as you do. In this Midwest Premiere by Tim Crouch, An Oak Tree asks, how do we transform our world in order to survive our pain? How do we create our own reality? Anything can happen in this play that illuminates the magic of theater – a cheap trick and a genuine spell all at once.

THE FORMAT
The FIRST ACTOR or HYPNOTIST is being played by Gage Wallace. We will announce the actors playing the SECOND ACTOR on the Tuesday prior to each upcoming weekend performances.

WHEN:
Saturday, November 3rd at 8:00 pm (press opening)
Sunday, November 4th at 6:00 pm
Monday, November 5th at 7:00 pm
Friday, November 9th at 8:00 pm
Saturday, November 10th at 8:00 pm
Sunday, November 11th at 6:00 pm
Thursday, November 15th at 8:00 pm
Friday, November 16th at 8:00 pm
Saturday, November 17th at 8:00 pm
Sunday, November 18th at 6:00 pm
Saturday, November 24th at 8:00 pm
Sunday, November 25th at 6:00 pm
Monday, November 26th at 7:00 pm
Friday, November 30th at 8:00 pm
Saturday, December 1st at 8:00 pm
Sunday, December 2nd at 6:00 pm
Thursday, December 6th at 8:00 pm
Friday, December 7th at 8:00 pm
Saturday, December 8th at 8:00 pm
Sunday, December 9th at 6:00 pm (closing)

TICKETS: Tickets are on sale at redtheater.org
PRESS CONTACT: Neil O'Callaghan at marketing@redtheater.org or 617.794.2475

TICKETS, DATES & INFORMATION
An Oak Tree runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 6:00 pm from November 3 through December 9. There are two additional Monday performances on November 5 and November 26 at 7:00 pm. There are no performances on November 8, 22, 23 or 29. Tickets went on sale on September 1, 2018.

An Oak Tree by Tim Crouch will be performed at the Athenaeum Theatre in Studio One at 2936 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657.
The closest “L” stop is the Brown Line at Wellington Ave. Then walk 4 blocks WEST to Southport. Turn LEFT on Southport and go to 2936 N. Southport. The best bus to take is CTA Bus #9. For bus and train schedules, contact the CTA at (312) 836-7000.

There is plenty of free, unrestricted street parking in the area around the theatre west of Southport. Additionally, there is a $2/hour parking lot behind the theatre, which is shared with St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, enter this parking lot on Oakdale St. There is a second parking lot on the corner of Southport Ave. and Oakdale St, enter this parking lot on Southport Ave.

THE PEOPLE
Tim Crouch (Playwright)​ is a UK theatre artist based in Brighton. He writes plays, performs inthem and takes responsibility for their production. He started  to make his own work in 2003. Before then he was an actor. His plays include My Arm, An Oak Tree, ENGLAND, and The Author. His work has been seen at the Royal Court Theatre, the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, the
British Council, Brighton Festival, Singapore Arts Festival, Culturgest in Lisbon, Warwick Arts Centre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. Tim’s work tours extensively to UK and international venues and festivals. timcrouchtheatre.co.uk

Jeremy Aluma (Director)​ is an award-winning, Jewish-American theatre director of Iraqi descent. He founded the internationally touring clown troupe, Four Clowns and served as Artistic Director during their first seven years. Directing credits include: Abraham & Isaac (MuBe Cultural Theatre, São Paulo, Brazil); Pinocchio and Robin Hood (South Coast Repertory, CA);
Sublimity (Theatre Row, NYC); The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Red Theater, Chicago); Crumble, Lay Me Down Justin Timberlake (Sacred Fools, LA); The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Urban Theatre Movement, LA); Henry’s Potato (REDCAT, LA); In Arabia We’d All Be Kings (Alive Theatre, Long Beach); Jonah (Annenberg, Santa Monica) and Hamlet (American Coast Theater, CA). His original show, Four Clowns toured nationally to La MaMa (NYC); Chopin
Theatre (Chicago); Gremlin Theatre (St. Paul, MN); Exit Theatre (San Francisco); Space 55 (Phoenix, AZ); and Insurgo Theater Movement (Las Vegas). He is the recipient of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Cultural Exchange International Grant, the City of Santa Monica, Annenberg Community Beach House Residency, and the Long Beach Arts
Council Community Project Grant. Aluma is a company member at Red Theater and member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union (SDC). He continues to teach and take classes at The Clown School and is currently pursuing his MFA in Directing at The Theatre School at DePaul University. Upcoming: A Dybbuk or Between Two Worlds by S. Anksy adapted by Tony
Kushner, February 2019. Jeremyaluma.com

Gage Wallace (HYPNOTIST)​ is a Founding and Company Member with Red Theater Chicago. He is also an Ensemble Member with Strawdog Theatre Company. Recent Chicago Credits include: Taste (Jeff Award – Principal Actor), Year of the Rooster, Dylan, and Red Hamlet (Red Theater Chicago); Pillars of the Community, Cymbeline (Strawdog Theatre); You Can't Take It with You (Oak Park Festival Theatre); The White Road (Jeff Award Nomination – Ensemble), In a Little World of Our Own (Irish Theatre of Chicago); Ghosts (Mary Arrchie Theatre Co.). Gage is represented by the incredible people at Shirley Hamilton Talent. www.gagewallace.com

The FIRST ACTOR or HYPNOTIST is being played by Gage Wallace. We will announce the actors playing the SECOND ACTOR on the Tuesday prior to each upcoming weekend performances.

The artistic team includes Alex Casillas (Scenic & Prop Design), Hailey Rakowiecki (Costume Design), John Nichols (Sound Design), Abby Beggs (Lighting Design), Aaron Sawyer (Producer) and Marisa Lehrman (Producer).

ABOUT RED THEATER CHICAGO
Red Theater Chicago, now in its 7th Season, is committed to honoring all audiences by asking
dangerous questions through accessible performances that broaden perspectives and inspire
dialogue.

SHOWS ON OUR RADAR: Theatre at the Center Presents Ghost The Musical Through October 14th, 2018

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar
Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana
Presents 

Ghost The Musical

Theatre at the Center (TATC) and Director and Choreographer Linda Fortunato have cast Garrett Lutz in the role of ghostly hero Sam, Donica Lynn as psychic Oda Mae and Courtney Mack in the role of Molly Jensen for Chicagoland’s first regional production of the newly imagined Ghost The Musical. Previews begin September 13 with an Opening Night on September 16 and performances continuing through October 14.

Ghost The Musical features a Book by Bruce Joel Rubin and Music and Lyrics by Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics with Glen Ballard and Bruce Joel Rubin. Based on the hit 1990 romantic fantasy thriller film that starred Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg, the musical had its world premier at the Manchester Opera House in March, 2011. It opened on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontaine Theatre in April 2012 before the first North American tour launched in September 2013.

Garrett Lutz returns to TATC where he appeared in last fall’s Big River. He received Jeff Award Nominations for his roles in Kokandy Productions’ Heathers: The Musical and The Full Monty. Other recent credits include playing Clifford Bradshaw in Cabaret at Paramount Theatre as well as Madagascar at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and James and the Giant Peach at Drury Lane.

Donica Lynn last appeared at TATC in the 2009 hit Footloose the Musical. She recently appeared in Drury Lane Theatre’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 42nd Street and Smokey Joe’s Café. Lynn won a Jeff Award for Best Actress for Dreamgirls at Porchlight Music Theater. Other credits include Confession of a P.I.M.P. at Victory Gardens and The Color Purple and Barnum at Mercury Theater.

Courtney Mack was seen last season in TATC’s production of Cabaret. Other recent theatre credits include Million Dollar Quartet and Mamma Mia! at Paramount Theatre, Urinetown at BoHo Theatre and Kokandy Productions’ Heathers: The Musical, which won her a Jeff Award for her role as Veronica Sawyer.

Additional cast members include Tony Carter in the role of Carl, Christie Coran as Mrs. Santiago, Jackie Gessert as Clara, Qiana McNary as Louise, Carlos Olmedo as Willie and Kelvin Roston, Jr. and Travis Austin as various ghosts.

Linda Fortunato, director and choreographer of Ghost The Musical, is also TATC Artistic Director. Her TATC credits include directing Steel Magnolias, Big River, The Tin Woman, Cabaret, Annie Warbucks and A Christmas Story. She has been nominated for five Joseph Jefferson Awards for her work as a choreographer and director. She received both the Equity and Non-Equity Jeff Award for Outstanding Choreography in the 2013-14 season, garnering Theatre at the Center its first award for her choreography of 42nd Street.

This musical adaptation of the Academy Award winning film stars a score by Grammy Award winning songwriters and includes the classic “Unchained Melody” as it follows the love story of Sam and Molly. After his untimely death, Sam tries to protect Molly from a threat unknown to her, with the help of a storefront psychic.

"Called 'one of the finest love stories ever to hit the big screen,' Ghost is an iconic film that is not only romantic, but thrilling and funny,” Fortunato said.

“Centered around a love story between this world and the next, we look forward to bringing to the TATC stage the same charm in the Chicagoland premiere of this musical version of the story."

The creative team for Ghost the Musical includes Scenic Designer Sarah Ross, Lighting Designer Guy Rhodes, Sound Designer Mike Patrick, Costume Designer Brenda Winsted and Prop Design is by Amanda Herrmann. Stage Manager is Jessica Banaszak. William Underwood is Music Director.

Fortunato, in her third season as TATC’s Artistic Director, is teamed with Richard Friedman, General Manager, and Ann Davis, Head of Production.

The TATC run of Ghost The Musical includes some new and exciting themed special event opportunities including a Friday and Saturday “Date Night” special $30 ticket price, when purchasing two or more tickets, and features a cash bar in the lobby.

There will also be a fun-filled Oct. 4 Ghost-themed Dinner & Theatre Night in the dining room at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts. The evening includes a pottery wheel exhibition by South Shore Arts with a pottery art sale, wine tasting hosted by Chef Joe Trama featuring the Canyon Road wine line, a table for spiritual readings by Psychic Paige and demonstrations of clay mud beauty mask treatments courtesy of SpaPointe & Hair Studio. Dinner & Theatre night combo tickets are $55 (plus tax).



Founded in 1991, the 410 seat TATC is a year-round professional theater at its home: The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. TATC is an accessible venue with plenty of free parking. TATC is located off I80/94, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago.

Performances are 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 7:30 p.m. Fridays: 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays, with select Thursday and Sunday night performances. Individual ticket prices range from $42-$46. To purchase individual tickets, call the Box Office at 219-836-3255 or Tickets.com at 800-511-1532. Group discounts are available for groups of 11 or more. Student tickets are $20 (not available for Sunday performances) and gift certificates are also available.

For more information on Theatre at the Center, visit www.TheatreAtTheCenter.com.

Actors Courtney Mack and Garrett Lutz star in Ghost The Musical at Theatre at the Center.

SHOWS ON OUR RADAR: Tangles & Plaques Return Engagement Through September 29, 2018

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Tangles & Plaques

at The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Avenue 

A limited three-week return engagement through 

September 29, 2018

It was my great pleasure to catch the world premiere of Tangles & Plaques in October of 2017. This unique glimpse into the world of dementia patients and their caregivers is at once playful and painful, as well as enlightening. For all of us in the sandwich generation, caring for aging parents and children of our own, this is a must see.  



Tangles & Plaques attempts to demystify the experience of dementia in the language of theatre—offering a vivid, poignant, participatory experience that is unique to each audience and different every performance. Ensemble Member Kirsten Riiber and Director Jen Ellison conduct a symphony of impossible tasks and egregious forgery with the help of the audience and a cast including Riiber, Kaitlyn Andrews, Ida Cuttler, Justin Deming, Mike Hamilton, Nick Hart and Dan Kerr-Hobert. The ensemble interrogates the life and death of memories—how they persist, when they depart and the ways they distort over time.

Tangles & Plaques is Neo-Lab’s 2016-17 commission. Neo-Lab is an original works residency at The Neo-Futurist Theater originally launched in 2015 by the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information visit www.neofuturists.org/events/tangles-plaques.

OPENING: THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY VIA FIRST FOLIO THEATRE THROUGH NOVEMBER 4th, 2018

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

THE SENSATIONAL, SMASH HIT PRODUCTION  

THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: 

A LOVE STORY 

RETURNS FOR A SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT THIS FALL

A perfect evening of madness and macabre, this unique, interactive production transports audience members into the world of Edgar Allan Poe with a backdrop of the historic Mayslake Peabody Mansion.

I'm elated that my first foray out to First Folio and the legendary Mayslake Peabody Mansion will be for the acclaimed production, THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY. My teenage son and I both adore Poe's timeless macabre tales and can't wait to join this journey into the life and literature of the great American horror writer. We'll be out for the press opening on October 6th, so check back soon for my full review. Don't wait to book tickets, though. This run is highly likely to sell out and the show is not slated for a remount for at least 5 years! 

Executive Director David Rice’s captivating piece will return for its only engagement for the next five years with previews October 3, opening October 6, and running through November 4.

A compelling and thrilling story about life and death, love and heartbreak, THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY is returning to the stage this Fall after playing to capacity audiences in 2015. Called "A smart and heartfelt journey!” by The Chicago Tribune, “A masterful take on a master’s work!” by The Daily Herald, and “A perfect storm of theater!” by Chicago Stage Review.

In 1849, two years after the death of his wife Virginia, Edgar Allan Poe is haunted not just by the specter of his beloved, but also by his many macabre stories. During the course of THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY, Poe and his wife Virginia guide the audience from room to room through historic Mayslake Hall, taking them from the garrets to the dungeons and deep into the madness of Edgar Allan Poe. David Rice, received a Jeff Award nomination for New Adaptation for this work in 2007, focusing with sorrowful clarity on Poe's overwhelming obsession with his wife, Virginia, whom Poe married when she was 13 and he was 27.

Directed by Skyler Schrempp, THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY stars Christian Gray as Edgar Allan Poe and Erica Bittner as Virginia Poe.  Ensemble members of the cast include Josh Bernaski, Mbali Guliwe, Joel Moses, Joan Nahid, Sam Pearson, Sarah Scholl, and Helena Whitaker. The artistic team includes Scenic Designer Kyle Gettelman, Costume Designer Rachel Lambert, Original Music & Sound Designer Christopher Kriz, Lighting Designer Michael McNamara, and Movement Designer Michael Goldberg.

All performances of THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY will take place at the Mayslake Peabody Estate, located at 1717 31st St., off Rt. 83, in Oak Brook. First Folio is easily accessible from the East-West Tollway (I-88) or the Stevenson Expressway (I-55). Free parking is available on the grounds. 

Performance times are as follows: Wednesdays at 8 p.m., Thursdays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m. Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Preview tickets are $25. Regular priced tickets are $34 Wednesdays and Thursdays (seniors and students are $29) and $44 on Fridays through Sundays (seniors and students are $39). 

Season subscriptions and individual tickets may be purchased by calling the box office at 630.986.8067 or online at www.firstfolio.org.

Halloween Edition! Barrel of Monkeys Presents THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Ghosts, Ghouls and Talking Potatoes

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Halloween Edition!

Barrel of Monkeys Presents

THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Ghosts, Ghouls and Talking Potatoes

Directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd

October 7 – November 4, 2018 at the Neo-Futurist Theater

An Original Sketch Show that is Written by Kids, 

Performed by Grownups, and Enjoyed by Humans

PHOTO CREDIT: Barrel of Monkeys company members perform THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA. Photo by Evan Hanover.

Just in time for Halloween, Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to present the newest revue of its much lauded sketch show: THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Ghosts, Ghouls and Talking Potatoes, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd. The Halloween edition plays Sundays at 3 pm from October 7 – November 4, 2018 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140. The press opening is Sunday, October 14 at 3 pm.



Gather ye ‘round for a line-up of scary (and silly) stories featuring talking potatoes getting lost in the woods, Malcolm X fighting zombies, creepy slideshows that haunt old houses, and other spooky scenarios imagined by Chicago elementary school students.

The cast to date includes Jennifer Allman, Noah Appelbaum, Isabella Gerasole and Tom Malinowski. Additional casting to be announced.



Now in its eighteenth year, THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA features adaptations of stories written during Barrel of Monkeys’ creative writing residencies in Chicago elementary schools. BOM teaching artists guide 3rd through 5th graders through a six-week curriculum that uses theater to bring out the storyteller in every child. Afterward, BOM’s ensemble of professional actors, comedians and musicians bring the young authors’ stories to life as raucous sketches, songs and movement pieces, performing first for students in their schools and then for the public. 

The stories in THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA resonate with adults while celebrating the imaginations of young people. Rotating themes highlight the diversity of stories BOM students concoct, from hilarious dialogues between unlikely characters to poignant pleas for social change. Every week brings a new line-up of stories, and BOM invites audiences to vote on their favorites at each performance.



Location: Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago
Dates: Preview: Sunday, October 7 at 3 pm
Press performance: Sunday, October 14 at 3 pm
Regular run: Sunday, October 14 – Sunday, November 4, 2018
Curtain Times: Sundays at 3 pm 
Tickets: Previews: $10 for adults, $5 children 12 and under, $8 groups of 10 or more. Regular run: $20 for adults; $5 for children 12 and under. Discounts: $12 for students with ID, seniors, veterans and groups of 10 or more people. Teen Arts Pass (TAP) members: $5 with ID. Tickets are currently available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140.

About the Director
Brandon Cloyd joined Barrel of Monkeys in 2007 and has been deeply involved in many facets of the company ever since. Prior to joining BOM, Brandon graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a minor in Business Institutions. Within BOM, Brandon has served as an actor, teaching artist, lead teacher, a member of Teacher Corps, as well as directing shows for schools and public performances of That's Weird, Grandma. Before becoming the company’s Artistic Director in September 2017, Brandon served as BOM After-School Program Coordinator at Loyola Park from 2014-2016 and Program Director from 2016-2017. Outside of Barrel of Monkeys, he worked as the Associate Director of Camp Echo, where he has spent 13 summers managing campers and staff at a co-ed sleep away camp in Upstate New York. Brandon has worked with other theatre companies including Urban Theatre Company, American Theater  Company, Filament Theatre, InGen Productions, ACLE's Teatrino in Italy and Purple Crayon Players at Northwestern University.



About Barrel of Monkeys

Since Barrel of Monkeys’ inception in 1997, its teaching artists have served more than 60 Chicago Public Schools. Over 15,000 elementary school students have participated in the Barrel of Monkeys programs, which aim to build students' writing skills, improve self-esteem, and instill confidence in their ideas and abilities.

Barrel of Monkeys is sponsored in part by Wintrust Financial, Allscripts, Inc., Ernst and Young and Punchkick Interactive. It receives generous support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency; the National Endowment for the Arts; a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; the Chicago Community Trust; Crown Family Philanthropies; Alphawood Foundation of Chicago; the Maurice R. and Meta G. Gross Foundation; Polk Bros Foundation; the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; the Robert and Isabelle Bass Foundation, Inc.; The Saints; The Topfer Family Foundation, and many other generous individuals and foundations. 

Lifeline Theatre Presents A World Premiere Adaptation of Frankenstein Through October 28

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Lifeline Theatre Presents A World Premiere

Adaptation of Frankenstein, 

Opens September 17

Performances with Open Captioning on September 22 and October 26

Performance with Touch Tour and Audio Description on October 7

The production runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

Photo Caption: Ann Sonneville as Victoria; in Lifeline Theatre’s world premiere production of “Frankenstein,” adapted by Robert Kauzlaric, directed by Paul S. Holmquist, based on the novel by Mary Shelley.  Photo by Suzanne Plunkett.

Lifeline Theatre presents Frankenstein, adapted by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Robert Kauzlaric and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Paul S. Holmquist. In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the publication of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, Kauzlaric and Holmquist, creators of The Island of Dr. Moreau in 2007 (winner of five Non-Equity Jeff Awards, including Production–Play and New Adaptation), return to the world of psychological suspense. After an unexpected death shatters her family, Victoria retreats into the darkest recesses of her psyche in search of a way forward. To find meaning in an impossible loss, she brings a terrible creation to life – one whose existence threatens all hopes for the future. Haunted and hunted at every turn, Victoria must endure a nightmare journey of the soul in a quest for survival. Grapple with the demons of grief and denial in this world premiere adaptation of the 1818 thriller by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. The production runs approximately ninety minutes with no intermission. The novel will be on sale in the lobby.

Frankenstein runs September 7 – October 28 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. (free parking and shuttle; see below). Press opening is Sunday, Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. Opening night is Monday, Sept. 17 at
7:30 p.m. (Previews are Fridays, Sept. 7 and 14 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, Sept. 8 and 15 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 9 at 4 p.m.)
Regular performance times (September 20 – October 28) are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 4 p.m. Ticket prices are $40 for regular single tickets, $30 for active and retired military personnel (with ID), $30 for seniors, $20 for students (with ID), $20 for rush tickets (available half hour before show time, subject to availability), and $20 for previews. Group rate for 12 or more is available upon request. Tickets may be purchased at the Lifeline Theatre Box Office, 773.761.4477, or by visiting www.lifelinetheatre.com.

Accessible Performances: The Saturday, Sep. 22, 4 p.m. performance and the Friday, Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m. performance will feature open captioning for patrons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. The Sunday, Oct. 7, 4 p.m. performance will feature a pre-show touch tour of the set at 2:30 p.m. and live audio description for patrons who are blind or have low vision. For more information about Lifeline’s accessibility services, please contact Accessibility Coordinator Erica Foster at 773.761.4477 x703 or at access@lifelinetheatre.com.

The complete cast and production team for Frankenstein includes:

CAST:     
Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Chris Hainsworth (Alphonse); with guest artists Ty Carter (Erich), Trent Davis (William), Maya Lou Hlava (Justine), Rasika Ranganathan (Helena), Ann Sonneville (Victoria), and Risha Tenae (Caroline). With understudies Emily Tate Anderson and Julie Partyka.
PRODUCTION TEAM: Lifeline Theatre ensemble members Paul S. Holmquist (Director), Robert Kauzlaric (Adaptor), and Maren Robinson (Dramaturg); with guest artists Barry Bennett (Original Music & Sound Designer), Becky Bishop (Stage Manager), Andrés Enriquez (Casting Director), Emily Hartig (Properties Designer), Izumi Inaba (Costume Designer), Jordan Kardasz (Lighting Designer), Jennifer McClendon (Production Manager), Greg Poljacik (Fight Choreographer), Joe Schermoly (Scenic Designer & Technical Director), and Cynthia Von Orthal (Puppet Designer).

Lifeline Theatre presents Frankenstein, running September 7 – October 28 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. (free parking and shuttle; see below Press opening is Sunday, Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. Opening night is Monday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. (Previews are Fridays, Sept. 7 and 14 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, Sept. 8 and 15 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 9 at 4 p.m.)
Regular performance times (September 20 – October 28) are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 4 p.m. Ticket prices are $40 for regular single tickets, $30 for active and retired military personnel (with ID), $30 for seniors, $20 for students (with ID), $20 for rush tickets (available half hour before show time, subject to availability), and $20 for previews. Group rate for 12 or more is available upon request. Tickets may be purchased at the Lifeline Theatre Box Office, 773.761.4477, or by visiting www.lifelinetheatre.com.

Lifeline Theatre is accessible by CTA (Red Line Morse stop/busses) and free parking is available at Sullivan High School (6631 N Bosworth Ave, lot located on Greenview Ave. just south of North Shore Ave.) with free shuttle service before and after the show.  Street parking is also available. Lifeline is accessible to wheelchair users and visitors who need to avoid stairs.



Now in its 36th 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.; Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois; Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; Chicago CityArts, a grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; CIG Management; Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; FGMK LLC; FlexPrint Inc.; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; The Michael and Mona Heath Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation; Illinois Arts Council Agency; Illinois Humanities Council; MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; The PAV Grant Fund; The Polk Bros. Foundation; Rogers Park Social; The Saints; S&C Electric Company Fund; The Shubert Foundation; The Steele Foundation; Th Manufacturing; and the annual support of businesses and individuals.