HELP OUT: Benefit Performance of Theo Ubique's THE SECRET GARDEN to honor the late Molly LeCaptain November 24th, 2024

THEO UBIQUE CABARET THEATRE AND SARAH SIDDONS SOCIETY ANNOUNCE BENEFIT PERFORMANCE OF 

THE SECRET GARDEN 

IN MEMORY OF CHICAGO ARTIST MOLLY LECAPTAIN

 

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Artistic Director Fred Anzevino and Producing Director Christopher Pazdernik announced today that they will partner with Sarah Siddons Society to honor the late Molly LeCaptain and her contributions to the company and Chicago theatre community.  With the blessing of her family, the Sunday, November 24 6:00pm performance of The Secret Garden will be dedicated to LeCaptain with 50% of all tickets being donated to the Society.

“The Sarah Siddons Society is extremely grateful to Theo and Cathy and Jeff LeCaptain for selecting us as the beneficiary of the November 24th performance of The Secret Garden,” said President Martin Balogh. “The university theatre arts scholarships we fund are a very meaningful way to honor their daughter, Molly.”

Since its inception, the mission of the Society has been to fund scholarships to promising theater arts students at top Chicago area universities including; The Theater Department, Columbia College; The Theatre School at DePaul University; Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and Northwestern University School of Communications. Additionally, they offer support through their Artistic Council. Producing Director Christopher Pazdernik is proud to have recently been asked to join the Sarah Siddons Artistic Council, dedicated to the mission of the Council being a conduit between the Society’s Board of Governors, recent scholarship recipients, and members of the Chicago area professional theater community offering mentoring, networking, and guidance.

LeCaptain passed away January 19, 2024 following a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born on September 29, 1987 in Green Bay Wisconsin. LeCaptain charmed the Chicago arts scene and crawled into the hearts of Theo audiences in her notable performances in The Bridges of Madison County,  The Fully Monty, and Hello Again. 

 Hello Again (above and below)

The Bridges of Madison County was awarded the Jeff Award for Best Musical. In 2018, she was celebrated for her work in Yank! A WWII Love Story, with a nomination for both a Non-Equity Jeff Award and a Chicago Theatre Award, for Performer in a Supporting Role - Musical /Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. In 2017, she was nominated for a Chicago Theatre Award (Best Actor in a Musical) for her work in Strangest Things! The Musical.

The Bridges of Madison County

“I had the honor of directing Molly LeCaptain in two productions here at Theo - The Full Monty and The Bridges of Madison County,” said Artistic Director Anzevino. “One of the most GLORIOUS voices to ever grace our stage. Molly was charming, talented, humble and hard working. I told her once that she should be singing to sold out crowds in her own concert show at the United Center - she was that gifted. A young beautiful soul gone too soon. We are grateful to be able to honor her memory with this extra special performance in November.” 

 The Fully Monty

All ticket holders are also welcome to join the company for a pre-show reception beginning at 4:30pm Theo’s Howard Street Theatre located at 721 Howard Street. The reception will include a pre-show discussion, light snacks, and cash bar. All tickets and subscriptions can be purchased online at theo-u.com or via phone at 773-939-4101.

Performances of The Secret Garden, directed by Theo Producing Director Christopher Pazdernik, take place Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm, and Sundays at 6:00pm November 8-December 22, 2024. There will be no performance on November 28. Single tickets are available and range from $30 to $60. Subscription packages are available featuring 3-pack options for the remaining shows this season.

ABOUT THEO UBIQUE CABARET THEATRE

Theo was founded in 1997 by Artistic Director Fred Anzevino. Productions were first staged at the Heartland Studio Theatre, and from 2004 to May 2018, at No Exit Café, where the company began focusing on musicals and revues, reigniting the cabaret theatre trend in Chicago. The company moved to the Howard Street Theatre, a venue owned and developed for Theo by the City of Evanston, in fall of 2018. Theo has produced more than 60 shows and won 68 Jeff Awards, having received nearly 200 nominations. Learn more at theo-u.com

ABOUT THE SARAH SIDDONS SOCIETY

The Sarah Siddons Society was founded in 1952 by a small group of eminent Chicago theater-goers. Modeled after the fictional Society of the same name featured in the 1950 film “All About Eve”, the Society was named for one of England’s most prominent 18th-century tragediennes, and presented an annual award to the actress and later actors deemed most outstanding in a production based or touring in Chicago. The criteria no longer requires the awardee be featured in a production based or touring in Chicago.

Shortly after its founding, the Society also began sponsoring scholarships for promising local drama students of the Goodman School of Drama (located first at the Art Institute of Chicago and now known as The Theatre School at DePaul University) and, more recently, students of Northwestern University, Columbia College and Roosevelt University.

Recent endeavors include an annual Susan Glick Grant to the Black Ensemble Theatre’s Plays with a Purpose, a series of musical productions reaching hundreds of school children, written to teach children positive life lessons for the purpose of fostering development, self-esteem, confidence and self-respect. In past seasons, the Society supported Chicago Humanities Spring Festival—Stages, Sights and Sounds—exposing disadvantaged students to theatre going experiences.

In addition to presenting these awards and hosting its annual Gala, the Society has organized year-round events for its members, including theater outings with talks, and trips, often involving members of the local and national theater community. Officially incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1960, the Sarah Siddons Society is governed by an elected President and Board of Governors. Membership is open to the public, through an annual membership fee. Learn more at www.sarahsiddonssociety.org.

THE MAGIC PARLOUR IS SET TO THRILL INTO 2025 AS DENNIS WATKINS OPENS A NEW BLOCK OF PERFORMANCES

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THE MAGIC PARLOUR 

Tickets are now on sale for performances between 

January – March 2025

DENNIS WATKINS OPENS A NEW BLOCK OF PERFORMANCES FOLLOWING UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS IN HIS FIRST YEAR AT 50 W. RANDOLPH

***THIS MONTH, SPECIAL MAGIC SHOWS INCLUDE THE DESTINOS FESTIVAL (THRU OCT. 20) FEAT. SIEGFRIED TIEBER, LUIS CARREON AND MAGO GOZNER, AND WATKINS’ HALLOWEEN STAND, “THE SPIRIT CABINET” (OCT. 30-31)***

The Magic Parlour is recommended for audiences ages 12+; while there is no inappropriate content, this elegant experience is designed for adults

It’s been one year since third generation magician Dennis Watkins welcomed the first audiences to his new custom magic theater, established in partnership with Goodman Theatre and Petterino’s—and opened the doors to unprecedented success. After nearly 300 public and private performances for double the number of audience members served in any previous year, “Chicago’s premiere resident magician” (Chicago Tribune) proudly announces that The Magic Parlour at 50 W. Randolph will continue to astound and delight audiences into the new year: tickets are now on sale for performances between January – March 2025.

In partnership with Chicago Latino Theater Alliance’s 2024 Destinos Festival, Watkins turns the spotlight on three world-class Latine magicians—Siegfried Tieber, Luis Carreon and Mago Gozner—when these artists take over The Magic Parour for Chicago Latino Theater Alliance’s 2024 Destinos Festival, through October 20. Tickets for Siegfried Tieber are $70 (general admission) and $95 (includes a 25-minute VIP Encore Room experience following the show). The 3-Card Monte performance, featuring Tieber, Luis Carreon and Mago Gozner (October 16) is $70. To purchase, call the Goodman Theatre Box Office at 312.443.3800 (12 Noon – 5pm daily) or visit TheMagicParlourChicago.com/Destinos.

This Halloween, Watkins also offers audiences a very special treat as a spookier form of magic that Chicago hasn’t seen in decades creeps into “The Spirit Cabinet.” Dennis Watkins’ two-performance Halloween engagement takes place October 30 at 7:30pm and October 31 at 8pm. Tickets are $95 (general admission) and $125 (includes a 25-minute VIP Encore Room experience following the show).

Performances of The Magic Parlour, now on sale through March 31, 2025, take place every Thursday through Sunday. Tickets are $85 (includes the 90-minute performance + complimentary beverage) or $115 (includes the performance, beverage and “The Encore Room” 25-minute VIP experience). To purchase tickets, call the Goodman Theatre Box Office at 312.443.3800 (12 Noon – 5pm daily) or visit TheMagicParlourChicago.com. 

Hailed as a “star attraction dazzling audiences in an elegant underground Loop parlor” (WBEZ), The Magic Parlour is “90 minutes of mind-boggling fun that would make Houdini proud, offer(ing) warmth, intimacy and a great close-up view of the magic being performed right before your eyes” (WGN Radio). In a first-of-its-kind creative collaboration, Watkins teamed up with Goodman Theatre and Petterino’s restaurant to establish a permanent home for Chicago’s longest-running magic show—an intimate evening of classic magic and mind-reading previously hosted for more than a decade at the Palmer House (opened on New Year’s Eve, 2011). The audience participates in much of the performance as Watkins wows the room with classic sleight of hand, unbelievable mind-reading and magical wisdom passed down from his grandfather. The space at 50 W. Randolph, situated adjacent to the Goodman in Petterino’s transformed lower-level area, continues Watkins’ famed tradition of the VIP experience in The Encore Room, an upgraded ticket option for guests seeking an exclusive 25-minute interaction following the performance. Immediately following the performance, up to 20 guests are escorted to a private space where Watkins performs up-close magic.

A co-founder of The House Theatre of Chicago, Dennis Watkins has collaborated as an actor, writer, director and/or designer on 30+ world-premiere plays with companies including Lookingglass, Steppenwolf and Goodman Theatre. After studying theater at Meadows School of the Arts and the British American Drama Academy in London, he launched The House Theatre with Artistic Director Nathan Allen and cohorts from school on Halloween of 2001. His appearance in the title role of Death and Harry Houdini—including performing Houdini’s infamous Water Torture Cell escape in every show—earned him a Joseph Jefferson Award.

ABOUT THE PARTNERS

The Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA) is a leading advocate organization for Latine theater in Chicago. Supporting the development of emerging and established Latine playwrights, actors, directors and theater professionals is central to its mission. CLATA’s goal is to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive theater community, by presenting and producing Latine theater that celebrates and promotes the richness and diversity of our Latinidad. CLATA’s signature program is Destinos, the Chicago International Latino Theater Festival, an annual, citywide festival showcasing Chicago's Latine theater artists and companies alongside top Latine artists from the U.S. and Latin America. This year’s Destinos runs September 30-November 12, showcasing 22 productions from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico the U.S. and Chicago at theaters large and small all over the city. For tickets and information, visit clata.org, or follow CLATA on Facebook, Instagram and Threads at @latinotheater.

Petterino’s has been a beloved downtown icon in the Chicago community for 20+ years, continuing to offer the same spirit and tradition that diners know and love. Enjoy timeless flavors, authentic Italian fare, comfortable interiors and warm hospitality. Our passion for creating memorable dining experiences aligns perfectly with the mystique of magic. The synergy between the culinary artistry of our chefs and the magical prowess of Dennis Watkins promises an evening of unparalleled wonder and flavor. We've joined forces with the Goodman and this talented magician to bring you a dining experience like no other. Blend the flavors of Italy with the wonder of magic, by dining at Petterino’s before or after the show. You may also consider booking a private or corporate event in conjunction with a show. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion, a romantic evening, or simply seeking an escape from the ordinary, our magical collaboration guarantees an enchanting escape into a world where delectable cuisine dances with spellbinding illusions.

Chicago’s theater since 1925, Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit arts and community organization in the heart of the Loop, distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and community engagement. Led by Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large-scale musical theater works and reimagined classics. Artists and productions have earner two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and nearly 200 Joseph Jefferson Awards, among other accolades. The Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” Its longtime annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, now in its fifth decade, has created a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production and program partner with national and international companies and Chicago’s Off-Loop theaters.

Using the tools of theatrical practice, the Goodman’s Education and Engagement programs aim to develop generations of citizens who understand and empathize with cultures and stories of diverse voices. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of these programs, which are offered for Chicago youth—85% of whom come from underserved communities—schools and life-long learners.

Goodman Theatre was built on the traditional homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi Nations. We recognize that many other Nations consider the area we now call Chicago as their traditional homeland—including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo and Mascouten—and remains home to many Native peoples today. While we believe that our city’s vast diversity should be reflected on the stages of its largest theater, we acknowledge that our efforts have largely overlooked the voices of our Native peoples. This omission has added to the isolation, erasure and harm that Indigenous communities have faced for hundreds of years. We have begun a more deliberate journey towards celebrating Native American stories and welcoming Indigenous communities.

The Goodman 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.

Julie Danis is Chair of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Lorrayne Weiss is Women’s Board President and Kelli Garcia is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.

Chicago Premiere of Perfect Pie Via The Gwydion Theatre Company November 1st-November 23rd, 2024

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Gwydion Theatre Company presents

Perfect Pie 

by Judith Thompson

Directed by Ensemble Member, Maddie Hillock

Running at The Greenhouse Theatre Center’s ‘Studio 44’ space 

Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 2:30pm 

from November 1st-November 23rd

Content Advisory: mentions of sexual violence and abuse ; depictions of seizures

About the show: Set in rural Ontario, "Perfect Pie" follows the revisitation of the childhood friendship between two women; one who has chosen to stay on her
farm and the other who, driven by small town torment as a child, chose to
escape. While the adults are recollecting their past, the story of the girls at
both ten and fifteen drives inexorably forward to the same event which scarred
and shaped the lives of the adult women. When the past meets the present, realizations are made that will force these women to question everything they previously thought to be true. Click here for more show information and tickets.

Cast:

Patsy: Tricia Rogers Francesca: Talia Langman Patsy (Young): Ellory Jezuit* Marie: Sydney Feldman

Directed by Maddie Hillock* Assistant Directed by Ellie Thomson* Lighting Design by Sam Bessler* Sound Design by Morgan Wilson* Set Design by Grayson Kennedy*+

* - Denotes Ensemble Member +- Denotes Artistic Director

About Gwydion: The Gwydion Theatre Company was formed in Los Angeles, CA by a group of actors following their completion of training in 2019. It started with doing Shakespeare in parking lots, apartments, parks, to then tackling full scale productions during the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Following the pandemic, a decision was made to move operations to Chicago, IL in order to connect with a more artistic theatre landscape. Since officially incorporating in Illinois, The Gwydion Theatre Company has committed its resources to producing a three show season, consisting of ‘The Zoo Story’, an original translation of Dario Fo’s ‘Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!’, and finishing with the American Classic ‘Waiting for Lefty’ by Clifford Odetts. Now a resident company of The Greenhouse Theater Center, Gwydion Theatre Company is proud to present the Chicago Premiere of Perfect Pie. 

Lynn Nottage’s BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK Via The Artistic Home at The Den Theatre from October 12 through November 17, 2024

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 The Artistic Home to present Lynn Nottage’s sly satire 

BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK 

October 12 – November 17 at The Den Theatre

Chicago actress Risha Tenae to direct – full casting announced

The Artistic Home announced today that it will present BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK, by the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage, at The Den Theatre from October 12 through November 17.  A juxtaposition of screwball comedy and satire, it concerns a woman who while serving as maid to an aging Hollywood starlet in the 1930’s breaks into the movie business as an actress. Like other African American actors of the period, however, she is relegated to playing roles as domestics and is forced to compromise her values in order to maintain a successful career. BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK has been called “a smart satire that takes a piercing look at the damage done by early Hollywood representations of people of color, and the legacy that echoes forth today.” I'll be out for the press opening October 17th, so check back shortly after for my full review.

BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK will be directed by Risha Tenae, a Chicago-based Theatre, Television and Film Actor whose Chicago stage credits include roles at Lifeline, Black Ensemble Theatre, Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, and First Floor Theatre. The title role will be taken by Ashayla Calvin, while Gloria Mitchell, the aging starlet once known as “America’s Little Sweetie-Pie,” will be played by Caitlin Jemison. The other five members of the cast are Bryant Hindsman (Leroy Barksdale/ Herb Forrester), Justice Ford (Lottie McBride/Carmen Levy-Green), MarieAnge Louis-Jean (Anna Mae Simpkins /Afua Asssata Ejobo), Martin Holt (Fredrick Slasvick/Brad Donavan), and Dan Evashevski (Maxmillian Von Oster /Peter Rhys-Davies). Understudies are Jordan Taylor (u/s Vera Stark), Charlie Irving (u/s Gloria Mitchell), Nathaniel Vangine ( u/s Leroy Barksdale/ Herb Forrester), Jada Rice (u/s Lottie/Carmen), and Peter Ash (u/s Maxmillian Von Oster /Peter Rhys-Davies).

Top row L-R: Ashayla Calvin, Dan Evashevski, Justice Ford, Bryant Hindsman.

Middle Row L-R: Martin Holt, Caitlin Jemison, MarieAnge Louis-Jean, Peter Ash.

Lower row L-R: Charlie Irving, Jada Rice, Jordan Taylor, Nathaniel Vangine.

The production team includes Savaun Stokes (Assistant Director), Andrew Snyder (Stage Manager), Kevin Hagan (Scenic Design/Production Manager/Graphic Design), Rachel Lambert (Costume Design), Marquecia Jordan (Wig/Make-up Design), Petter Wahlbäck (Sound Design), Ellie Fey (Lighting Design), Mark Bracken Jr (Projection Design), David Blixt (Intimacy Direction), Randy Rozler (Properties Design), Justice Ford (Dramaturgy), Tom McNelis (Technical Director), Kathy Scambiatterra (Producing Artistic Director), and Kristin Collins (Casting Director).

Director Risha Tenae says, “I am Vera Stark. In many ways. Every play I work on is significant for me. However, this show is the most important show of my career. I spent thirteen years in Hollywood. The first three years were dedicated to Drama school and intensive actor training (this is where Vera and I differ). The 10 years after were solely dedicated to pursuing a career as an actor--and finding ways to survive in the meantime. I understand Vera and the world she lives in so well that it hurts. So much so that I have never really spoken about my time or experiences in Hollywood, until now. Vera has helped me find my voice. I think that is why her story is so important to me. And, why I feel so compelled to share her story with the world.”

The Artistic Home performs at The Den Theatre, and also maintains an acting studio and rehearsal space at 3054 N. Milwaukee Avenue in the Avondale/Logan neighborhood. Tickets are regular performances: $35 general, $20 students/seniors, $20 previews all seats at www.theartistichome.org.

 Production Details:

October 12 – November 17, 2024

Previews Saturday, October 12 at 8:00 pm, Sunday, October 13 at 3:00 pm and Wednesday, October 16 at 8:00 pm

Press Opening Thursday, October 17 at 8:00 pm

Regular run performance times Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm.

The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago

Ticket prices: Regular performances:  $35 general, $20 students/seniors; $20 previews all seats. 

Tickets available at www.theartistichome.org, or by phone at 773-697-3830

It’s The Golden Age of Hollywood, and the streets of Los Angeles teem with aspiring starlets. When Vera Stark—maid to “America’s Little Sweetie Pie” Gloria Mitchell—lands a groundbreaking role in an antebellum epic, she turns Hollywood on its head and paves the way for future generations of Black actresses. Seventy years later, film buffs still wrestle with the life and legacy of this controversial star, for whom fame and fortune could only be achieved by joining the apparatus of a deeply racist industry. Hilarious and incisive, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage’s juxtaposition of screwball comedy and sly satire is both satisfying and timely.

BIOS

Lynn Nottage (playwright) Lynn Nottage is a playwright. a screenwriter and installation artist. She is the first, and remains the only, woman to have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice. Her plays have been produced widely in the United States and throughout the world. Most recently, Nottage premiered MJ THE MUSICAL, directed by Christopher Wheeldon and featuring the music of Michael Jackson, at the Neil Simon Theater on Broadway, CLYDE'S directed by Kate Whoriskey at Second Stage Theater on Broadway and an opera adaptation of her play INTIMATE APPAREL composed by Ricky Ian Gordon and directed by Bart Sher, commissioned by The Met/Lincoln Center Theater and co-curated with Director Miranda Haymon the Performance Installation THE WATERING HOLE at the Signature Theater.   

Her other work includes, FLOYD'S (retitled- CLYDE'S - Guthrie Theater), the musical adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd's novel THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, with music by Duncan Sheik and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead (The Almeida Theatre/The Atlantic Theater), MLIMA’S TALE (Public Theater/ Kiln), BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK (Lilly Award, Drama Desk Nomination, Second Stage/Signature Theater), RUINED (Pulitzer Prize, OBIE, Lucille Lortel, New York Drama Critics’ Circle, Audelco, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award - MTC/Goodman Theater); INTIMATE APPAREL (American Theatre Critics and New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Play Center Stage/SCR/ Roundabout Theater); FABULATION, OR THE RE-EDUCATION OF UNDINE (OBIE Award - Playwrights Horizons/Signature Theater); CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY; LAS MENINAS; MUD, RIVER, STONE; POR’KNOCKERS; and POOF!

Risha Tenae (director) is a Theatre, Television and Film Actor that has been involved with Theater and Theater education since high school. She graduated from the Alabama School of Fine Arts, attended Miami University B.A. theater program, and graduated from The California Institute of the Arts M.F.A. Theater program where she focused on performance. Theatre and TV credits include: BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY (Angel), KING LEAR (Cornwall), 24 HOURS THE MUSICAL (Shawnna), IN THE BLOOD (Welfare/Bully), THREE SISTERS (Irena), THE MUSIC MAN (Alma), KING HENRY V (Kate), THE COLORED MUSEUM (Woman #3). DON'T MAKE ME OVER (Cissy Houston), SINGLE BLACK FEMALE (SBF 2), JULIUS CAESAR (Portia), THE SEAGULL (Masha), FRANKENSTEIN (Caroline), URBAN LOVE STORY (Ms. Marion), THE COLOR PURPLE; directed by Gary Griffin (PA), THE PROJECTS (Doreen), WHEN WE HEAL and THE CHI. 

In addition to acting, Risha finds joy in being a Teaching Artist. She taught Theatre for grades K-12 in multiple schools around Los Angeles County during her time there and is currently on the faculty of Acting Studio Chicago and teaching Theatre at other schools around Chicago.

ABOUT THE ARTISTIC HOME

The Artistic Home is noted for their innovative and intimate presentations of rarely produced classics as well for developing new works. The company has been frequently honored in the Jeff Awards. For 2023, they received nine nominations, including a nomination for Production of a Play (DYING FOR IT) and win for Kevin Hagan’s scenic design of DYING FOR IT. In 2022, they received nine nominations and two wins – one for New Work (MALAPERT LOVE, written by artistic associate Siah Berlatsky) and one for Supporting Actor in a play (Todd Wojcik – in THE PAVILION). The company’s 2022 nominations also included two for Best Play production (MALAPERT LOVE and THE PAVILION). The Artistic Home was one of the big winners in the 2019 Jeff Awards, with four awards including Production of a Play, Director of a Play, Principal Performer in a Play, and Sound Design, all for REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT. Brookelyn Hebert won a Jeff as Principal Performer in a Play for the company’s 2020 production of ADA AND THE ENGINE. The company was nominated for Jeff Awards in 2019 for ROCK ‘N’ ROLL, and in 2018 for HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE.

Other memorable productions of recent years include 2017’s WEDDING BAND, BY THE BOG OF CATS and THE SCHOOL FOR LIES; their Jeff-nominated productions of THE SEAGULL, WATCH ON THE RHINE, MACBETH and THE LATE HENRY MOSS; and their 2013 Jeff Award-winner THE GODDESS. Other Artistic Home productions include the Jeff-Award-winning production of JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK, which also received three After Dark Awards, the Jeff-Nominated SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, THE TALLEST MAN, LANDSCAPE OF THE BODY, NATURAL AFFECTION, FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS, AFTER THE FALL and PEER GYNT (which also received an After Dark award for Direction).

For more than 26 years, The Artistic Home has consistently produced compelling theatre in Chicago. First formed in 1998 with the belief that the actor is at the heart of great theater, the company strives to give birth to unforgettable moments; to touch audiences who are increasingly distanced from human contact; to readdress the classics and explore new works with passion.

Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company Present Falsettos November 8 – December 8, 2024

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Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company present

Falsettos

Music and Lyrics by William Finn

Book by William Finn and James Lapine

Directed by Nick Bowling, TimeLine Theatre Associate Artistic Director

November 8 – December 8, 2024

Court Theatre (under the continuing leadership of Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, with interim artistic leadership from Associate Artistic Director Gabrielle Randle-Bent and Managing Director Heidi Thompson Saunders) and TimeLine Theatre Company (under the leadership of Artistic Director PJ Powers and Executive Director Mica Cole) are thrilled to present William Finn and James Lapine’s Falsettos, a tribute to family and its many forms; a playful interrogation of faith and identity; and a celebration of the beauty, complexity, and necessity of love. This production will run November 8  – December 8, 2024 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. 

The cast of Falsettos includes Stephen Schellhardt (Marvin); Jack Ball (Whizzer); Sarah Bockel (Trina); Charlie Long (Jason, alternating); Eli Vander Griend (Jason, alternating); Jackson Evans (Mendel); Sharriese Hamilton (Dr. Charlotte); and Elizabeth Stenholt (Cordelia).

The creative team includes Otto Vogel (music director); William Carlos Angulo (movement director); Arnel Sancianco, with Associate Lauren Nichols (scenic design); Theresa Ham (costume design); Maggie Fullilove-Nugent and Josiah Croegaert (lighting design); Stephanie Farina and Sarah Ramos (sound design); Deborah Blumenthal (production dramaturg); Becca McCracken, CSA, with Associate Celeste M. Cooper (casting); Kate Ocker (production stage manager); and Katrina Herrmann (assistant stage manager). 

Marvin has left his wife, Trina, for his male lover; Trina has married Marvin’s therapist; and their son, Jason, is grappling with his parents’ divorce and his looming bar mitzvah. Everyone’s world has been upended and now they must explore what their new lives may hold. Featuring a sung-through score and set against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic, Falsettos is a humorous and heartbreaking web of ex-spouses, co-parents, new lovers, and the lesbians next door.

TimeLine Theatre Associate Artistic Director Nick Bowling (The Lehman Trilogy) returns to Court Theatre – where he began his career almost thirty years ago – with this celebratory musical. Groundbreaking in its depiction of queerness, Falsettos shines with ingenuity and contemporary relevance.

“This is Marvin’s story, a man coming out of the closet in the late 1970s,” explains Director and TimeLine Associate Artistic Director Nick Bowling. “The production celebrates a time of adventure and self-expression, set against the sexual revolution, the disco era, and the very first days of the AIDS epidemic. In writing about Marvin, William Finn and James Lapine have created one of the very first musicals celebrating a ‘normal’ gay life, which, of course, turns out to be equally flawed and fabulous.” 

“We are proud to present Falsettos together,” share Court Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers, and TimeLine Executive Director Mica Cole in a joint statement. “This city has a remarkably supportive, expansive, and uniquely literary theatre community, so a collaboration between two of Chicago’s most dramaturgically rich companies simply makes sense. Court reimagines classic theatre to illuminate our current times. TimeLine explores stories that connect history with the sociopolitical issues of today. Falsettos is a natural intersection of our complementary and mission-driven organizations. We can’t wait for you to join us in Falsettoland.”

Individual tickets and Court subscription packages including this production are on sale now. Tickets and subscriptions can be purchased by calling the Court Box Office at (773) 753-4472 or online at CourtTheatre.org. 

FlexPass subscriptions for TimeLine’s 2024/25 season, including Falsettos, are also available; details at TimeLineTheatre.com.

Falsettos is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com.

About the Artists

WILLIAM FINN (Music, Lyrics, Book) received two Tony Awards—Best Book of a Musical (with James Lapine) and Best Original Score—for Falsettos. He has also written and composed In Trousers, March of the Falsettos, and Falsettoland (Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, two Los Angeles Drama Critics Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, the Lucille Lortel Award and Guggenheim Fellowship in Playwriting), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which won two Tony Awards, ran more than 1,000 performances on Broadway, has been produced nationally and internationally, and is currently one of the most performed musicals in the United States according to Theatre Communications Group. 

JAMES LAPINE (Book) is a leading American theatrical director, librettist, and playwright. Among Lapine’s most notable works is Sunday in the Park with George, created in collaboration with Stephen Sondheim. It won two Tony Awards, numerous Drama Desk Awards, and the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Lapine and Sondheim collaborated again on Into the Woods (Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score). He collaborated with William Finn on March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland (Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score), which were later presented on Broadway as Falsettos. In 2011, he was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.

NICK BOWLING (Director, TimeLine Associate Artistic Director) was the founding Artistic Director and is now Associate Artistic Director and a Company Member of TimeLine Theatre, where he has directed more than 30 productions. With Falsettos, he returns to Court Theatre, where he served as Associate Artistic Director nearly 30 years ago alongside then Artistic Director Charles Newell, to make his Court directorial debut. Assorted directing credits at TimeLine include The Lehman Trilogy (with Vanessa Stalling); Oslo; Campaigns, Inc.; The History Boys; and many others. Other Chicago credits include 1776 (Marriott), A Christmas Story (Paramount), Guys and Dolls (Northwestern University), A Catered Affair (Porchlight), and others. Bowling is the recipient of eight Jeff Awards for Outstanding Direction.

OTTO VOGEL (Music Director) is a music director and conductor hailing from New Hampshire. A recent graduate from Northwestern’s Bienen School of Music, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Voice and Opera Performance. While at Bienen, his highlights from behind the baton included The Prom and The Dolphin Show’s Kinky Boots. He made his professional debut as a music director this summer with Marriott Theatre’s Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! He has also directed two one-act operas and assistant conducted Chicago Fringe Opera’s production of Fizz & Ginger.

WILLIAM CARLOS ANGULO (Movement Director) is a director, choreographer, playwright, and arts educator from Chicago. His work centers the creation of culture, using music and dance to explore, express, and celebrate third-culture identity. Theater credits include MTC, Roundabout, Bushwick Starr, Ars Nova, Goodman, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare, Ford’s Theatre in DC, The Muny, PCLO, and more. He is a proud member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and the Alliance of Latine Theatre Artists (ALTA), and he currently serves as Director of Education for Dance Lab New York where he mentors emerging choreographers. Current commissions: LIMÓN2, Lincoln Center, and Portland Center Stage.

JACK BALL (Whizzer) is making his Court and TimeLine Theatre debut! Chicago area credits: Little Shop of Horrors (Paramount); The Coast Starlight (Milwaukee Rep); Hansel and Gretel (Broadway in Chicago); Hit the Wall (Inconvenience); Dunsinane (RSCo/Natl. Theatre of Scotland at Chicago Shakespeare). Broadway: The Book of Mormon. TV: Chicago P.D., Chicago Fire; Chicago Justice; Somebody, Somewhere; and Sirens. Film credits include Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party, Room Six, What Rhymes with Magdalena, Kill the Monsters, and An Acceptable Loss. 

SARAH BOCKEL (Trina) is making her Court and TimeLine Theatre debut! Chicago area credits: Into The Woods and Cinderella (Paramount); Parade (BoHo); Into The Woods (The Hypocrites). Broadway: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. North American Tour: Beautiful and Tina: The Tina Tour Musical. Regional: Beautiful (Ogunquit Playhouse). TV: The Equalizer. She is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University and is represented by Stewart Talent. 

JACKSON EVANS (Mendel) is making his Court and TimeLine Theatre debut! Chicago credits: The Full Monty, Beauty and the Beast (Jeff Nomination – Performer in a Supporting Role), School of Rock (Paramount); Guys and Dolls (Drury Lane); Anything Goes (Jeff Nomination – Performer in a Supporting Role, Porchlight); Ride the Cyclone (Chicago Shakespeare); Fiddler on the Roof (Lyric); Boys in the Band (Windy City Playhouse). Touring: The Realish Housewives (The Second City). Film: Christmas is Canceled. TV: Paper Girls, Chicago P.D., Sirens. 

SHARRIESE HAMILTON (Dr. Charlotte) is making her Court and TimeLine Theatre debut! Credits include: The Nacirema Society, Wonderful Town (Goodman); It Came from Outer Space, Pericles (Chicago Shakespeare); Emmet Otter’s Jug-band Christmas (Studebaker); Rock of Ages, James and the Giant Peach (Drury Lane); A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Porchlight); Thaddeus and Slocum (Lookingglass); Rock of Ages (Mercury); Passing Strange, The Wild Party (Bailiwick); Come from Away (Broadway National/Australian Tour). TV: Chicago Fire, Empire.

CHARLIE LONG (Jason, alternating) is thrilled to be making his Court and TimeLine Theatre debut! Recent credits include Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Paramount); Billy Elliot, School of Rock, The Sound of Music (Paramount); The Music Man (Marriott); and Matilda (The Fireside). He is represented by Paonessa Talent Agency. 

STEPHEN SCHELLHARDT (Marvin) is making his Court and TimeLine Theatre debut! Chicago credits include Fun Home, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Into the Woods (Paramount); The Full Monty, Little Women, Cabaret (Marriott); The Hot Mikado (Drury Lane). National Tours: Altar Boyz. International credits: Persuasion (Chamber Opera Chicago). Stephen is a Jeff Award-winning artist and proud graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama. 

ELIZABETH STENHOLT (Cordelia) is so happy to make her Court and Timeline Theatre debut with this beautiful show! Elizabeth is a recent Jeff Award-winner for her role as Medium Alison in Fun Home at Paramount Theatre. Some of her other Chicago credits include Grease, Shrek, A Christmas Carol (Drury Lane); The Wizard of Oz, Fun Home (Paramount); Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure (Chicago Shakespeare); Airline Highway, Love Kills (Steppenwolf); Arcadia, TREVOR the musical (Writers). 

ELI VANDER GRIEND (Jason, alternating) is honored to make his Court and TimeLine debut. Eli was last seen as Bruce in Matilda the Musical (Fireside Dinner Theatre). Chicago credits include Billy Elliot, School of Rock (Paramount); and A Christmas Carol (Metropolis). Eli is a member of the ETC Tap Company. He trains in tap, ballet, contemporary, and hip-hop at Extensions Dance Center in Chicago. He is represented by Talent X Alexander. 

Production Cast and Creatives

Featuring: Stephen Schellhardt (Marvin); Jack Ball (Whizzer); Sarah Bockel (Trina); Charlie Long (Jason, alternating); Eli Vander Griend (Jason, alternating); Jackson Evans (Mendel); Sharriese Hamilton (Dr. Charlotte); and Elizabeth Stenholt (Cordelia).

Creatives: Otto Vogel (music director); William Carlos Angulo (movement director); Arnel Sancianco, with Associate Lauren Nichols (scenic design); Theresa Ham (costume design); Maggie Fullilove-Nugent and Josiah Croegaert (lighting design); Stephanie Farina and Sarah Ramos (sound design); Deborah Blumenthal (production dramaturg); Becca McCracken, CSA, with Associate Celeste M. Cooper (casting); Kate Ocker (production stage manager); and Katrina Herrmann (assistant stage manager). 

 

Dates:           

Previews: November 8 – 15, 2024

Press Opening: November 16, 2024 at 7:30pm

Regular Run: November 17 – December 8, 2024

 

Schedule:

Wed/Thurs/Fri: 7:30 p.m.

Sat/Sun: 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

 

Accessible Performances:

ASL Interpretation at 2:00pm on December 7, 2024

Touch Tour at 12:30pm, Audio Description at 2:00pm on December 8, 2024

Open Captioning at 2:00pm on December 8, 2024 

Location:      Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.

 

Tickets:        

$42.00 – $72.00 Previews

$58.00 – $90.00 Regular Run

Student, group, and military discounts available

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

Court Theatre reimagines classic theatre to illuminate our current times. In residence at the University of Chicago and on Chicago’s historic South Side, we engage our audiences with intimate and provocative experiences that inspire deeper exploration of the enduring questions that confront humanity and connect us as people

TimeLine Theatre Company presents stories inspired by history that connect with today’s social and political issues. Our collaborative organization produces provocative theatre and educational programs that engage, entertain and enlighten.

Invictus Theatre Company’s THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH Playing at the Windy City Playhouse October 29 – December 15, 2024

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Invictus Theatre Company’s Cast announced for 

THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH

playing October 29 – December 15

Invictus Theatre Company today announced the cast and production team for its season-closing presentation of THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH, Shakespeare’s tale of the seductive nature of power that combines Scottish history with magical realism. The tragedy’s three witches who warn Macbeth about his future will make their first appearance just before Halloween, with previews beginning on October 29,  leading up to an opening on Monday, November 4 at 7 pm and playing through December 15. 

THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH will be directed by Sarafina Vecchio, a Chicago-based actor and director, an educator with Acting Studio Chicago, and an adjunct professor at Chicago College of the Performing Arts. Vecchio earned a Post-Graduate Award in Teaching Shakespeare from The University of Warwick (UK, in conjunction with the Royal Shakespeare Company) and has been a guest instructor to Ontario, Canada's Stratford Festival. CHICAGO STAGE AND SCREEN’s Angela Allyn praised Vecchio’s text coaching for Invictus’ JULIUS CAESAR for being “as modern sounding as your favorite political podcast. You have heard these speeches before but never like this. This is a Caesar for everyone.” I'll be out for the press opening November 4th, so check back shortly after for my full review.

Vecchio’s cast will be led by Mikha’el Amin as Macbeth, seen most recently in the title role of Lincoln in Invictus’s TOPDOG/UNDERDOG. His previous roles with Invictus include Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in THE MOUNTAINTOP and Marc Antony in JULIUS CAESAR. Lady Macbeth will be played by Carolyn Kruse, whose experience in playing wicked women includes her role as Madame Defarge in Lifeline’s A TALE OF TWO CITIES, along with many other roles for such Chicago companies as The Artistic Home, Irish Theater of Chicago, and Redtwist Theatre. Also in the cast are Christy Arington  (Witch 1), Tessa Dougherty (Witch 2), Julia Rowley (Witch 3), Michael B. Woods (Macduff), Diego Longoria (Malcolm), Joshua Razavi (Lennox), Aimee Kleiman (Rosse), Charlie Diaz (Banquo), Amber Dow (Servant), Joseph Beal (Seyton), Robert Koon (Actor 1: Duncan/Murderer 2/Old Siward), Michaela Shapiro (Actor 2: Kid Macduff/Young Siward/Lord/Soldier), Whitney Minarik (Actor 3: Captain/Lady Macduff/Doctor/Lord), and Layke Fowler (Actor 4: Lords/Soldiers/Fleance). Understudies are Steve Peebles (Macbeth), Laura Resinger (Lady Macbeth/Actor 3/Servant), Joshua Razavi (Banquo), Charlie Diaz (Macduff), Amber Dow (Rosse/Witch Swing), Layke Fowler (Malcolm), Alexandria Bressette (Actor 2/Actor 4/Witch Swing), and Craig Duff (Actor 1/Seyton/Lennox).

Top row (I-r): Mikha’el Amin, Christy Arington, Joseph Beal, Charlie Diaz, 

Second row (I-r): Tessa Dougherty, Amber Dow, Layke Fowler, Aimee Kleiman, 

Third row (l-r): Robert Koon, Carolyn Kruse, Diego Longoria, Whitney Minarik

Fourth row (l-r): Joshua Razavi, Julia Rowley, Michaela Shapiro, Michael B. Woods

Bottom row (l-r): Alexandria Bressette, Craig Duff, Steve Peebles, Laura Reisinger

The production team includes Jeff Award winner Petter Wahlbäck (Sound Designer), Cindy Moon (Costume Designer), Grace Weir (Stitcher), Hannah Wien (Lighting Designer), Hannah Bolstad (Master Electrician), Manuel Ortiz (Scenic Designer), Barbie Brown (Props Designer), Jay Donley and Amber Wuttke of Violent Delights (Fight/Intimacy Designers), Brandon Boler (Assistant Director), Rooney G. (Production Manager), Desiree Stypinski (Stage Manager), Becca Holloway (Casting Director), Mary Carroll Dougherty (Marketing Manager) and Ana Schedler (Graphic Designer). Charles Askenaizer is Artistic Director and Todd Henry Faulstich is Executive Producer.

Vecchio says, “Even though the production is set 1000 years in the past, the play’s many themes are still very current; especially the theme of unchecked ambition. My hope is this production will spark a rich conversation about what might drive a person to make dangerous choices in the name of success; and how we may avoid these events in the future.”

Invictus Theatre Company has been one of the most notable success stories among Chicago’s storefront theatres in spite of the challenges facing the theater community in recent years, When the pandemic shut down in-person performances just three years after the company’s founding, they responded with a thrillingly intimate Zoom production of ‘NIGHT, MOTHER. They returned from the pandemic by acquiring their own space – the former Frontier Theater, which they renamed in honor of the late founding company member Reginald Vaughn. In that space, they continued to build a reputation for intimate and honest interpretations of classics with fidelity to the original texts and close attention to character development. The company’s extraordinarily successful 2021-22 season netted the company five Jeff Awards for its 13 nominations.

The company continued its upward trajectory with its 2022-23 season. That season began with intimate, yet full-scale, stagings of the epics JULIUS CAESAR and THE CRUCIBLE along with the two-hander THE MOUNTAINTOP. After a fire in July 2023 made the Reginald Vaughn Theatre unusable, the company relocated in 2024 to the Windy City Playhouse, where it has produced the critically acclaimed and popular hits TOPDOG/UNDERDOG (“…intense, grueling, and hilarious” – TALKIN’ BROADWAY), THREE SISTERS (“performances are universally first-rate” – CHICAGO READER) and the Chicago premiere of NETWORK (“a memorable production of an important and illuminating play” – NEW CITY).

Tickets for Invictus's THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH are $25 for previews October 29 - November 3, and all Mondays (except opening night November 4); and $38 for general admission opening night and Fridays through Sundays for the regular run. Tickets are on sale now at https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/invictus-theatre-company/.

THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH

by William Shakespeare

Adapted and Directed by Sarafina Vecchio

October 29 – December 15, 2024

Previews: Tuesday 10/29/24, Friday 11/1/24, Saturday 11/2/24 @ 7pm; and Saturday 11/2/24, Sunday 11/3/24 @ 2pm.

Press Opening Monday 11/4/24 @ 7pm

Regular performances Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays @ 7pm and Saturdays, Sundays @ 2pm through 12/15/24

Performances at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago

Ticket prices: $25 for previews and Mondays (except opening night November 4), and $38 for general admission opening night November 4 and Fridays through Sundays for the regular run.

Info at www.invictustheatreco.com

Tickets at https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/invictus-theatre-company/

One of Shakespeare's most popular and enduring tragedies. A brave Scottish general named Macbeth receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the Scottish throne for himself. Forced to commit more and more murders to protect himself from enmity and suspicion, he soon becomes a tyrannical ruler. The bloodbath and consequent civil war swiftly take Macbeth and Lady Macbeth into the realms of madness and death.

BIOS

Sarafina Vecchio (Director) is an actor, director, and educator who has worked in Chicago and the surrounding area for over 25 years. She holds a Post-Graduate Award in Teaching Shakespeare from The University of Warwick in conjunction with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Coventry, England. She earned her Bachelor's in Theatre from Roosevelt University and studied classical acting at Richmond College in London. She is a long time faculty member with Acting Studio Chicago and is also an adjunct professor at Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. She is also honored to have been invited as a guest instructor to Ontario, Canada's Stratford Festival, where she taught their acting company techniques in Shakespeare instruction. As a performer and creative, Sarafina has worked locally with many companies, including: Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Shattered Globe, Lakeside Shakespeare, Drury Lane, TimeLine, Remy Bumppo, Irish Theatre of Chicago, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Invictus, Speaking Ring, The Other Theatre Company, Steel Beam, and Janus. She is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA.

Charles Askenaizer (Artistic Director) is the Founding Artistic Director of Invictus Theatre. He won the 2022 Jeff Award (Non-Equity Wing) for his direction of the company’s WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, which also won Jeff Awards for Production of a Play, Scenic Design (Kevin Rolfs), and Performer in a Supporting Role – Play (Rachel Livingston). Other recent directing credits include THREE SISTERS, NETWORK, THE CRUCIBLE, JULIUS CAESAR, and HAMLET (Invictus Theatre), readings with Chicago Dramatists, 'NIGHT, MOTHER (Associate Director-Invictus Theatre), THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (Invictus Theatre), OTHELLO: THE MOOR OF VENICE (Invictus Theatre), TITUS ANDRONICUS (Bare Knuckles Theater), JULIUS CAESAR (Associate Director- Brown Paper Box) , TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (Reutan Collective), and THE DIFFERENCE (Reading-Piccolo Theatre). Charles has worked with Citadel Theatre, Teatro Vista, the Artistic Home, City Lit, Raven, Brown Paper Box, Chicago Dramatists, the Side Project and many more.

Charles graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Theatre and Communications. He has worked professionally in Chicago as an actor, director, and teacher for over 10 years.

ABOUT INVICTUS THEATRE COMPANY

At Invictus Theatre Company, our mission is to create theatre that promotes a better understanding of language: its poetry, its rhythm, its resonance; through diverse works by diverse artists. We respect the power of heightened language: spoken, written, sung; to express the breadth of the human condition. We work to harness the power of language: to promote diversity, to engender respect, to foster collaboration; and to empower our communities to share their voices.

Invictus Theatre Company incorporated in January 2017 and received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in February 2017. A diverse group of Chicago actors and directors founded Invictus with the vision to empower their communities through theatrical productions of heightened language. We are committed to the idea that our productions should reflect the communities we represent, and, to that end, we are committed to non-discriminatory hiring practices. In working with local artists, designers, and production teams, Invictus Theatre Company does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, nationality, citizenship, religion, or any other status protected by law.

REVIEW: North American Premiere of El Brote from Argentina October 2-5 at The Den Theatre

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar

The North American premiere of 

El Brote 

   Roberto Peloni in El Brote, Compañia Criolla, Argentina, October 2-5 at The Den Theatre

REVIEW

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

A ghost light, two wooden chairs, a stage curtain backdrop, and 3 rows of footlights grace the otherwise sparse set, on the 2nd floor of Chicago's Den Theatre. Roberto Peloni has spent at least 11 hours on a plane, traveling 5,598.95 mi (9,010.64 km) from  Buenos Aires, Argentina to present his 1 man show, and we're here for it. 

As the footlights spring to life, a Latino man enters, and for a whirlwind 90 minutes, the action doesn't stop as Roberto Peloni plays a struggling actor in a traveling troupe, as his bit parts take a back seat to escallating real life drama. We were engrossed by his high energy monologue of life imitating art and recommend catching this short run. We won't drop too many spoilers, but El Brote embraces human nature, and runs the gamut of the best and worst of human emotions and actions. We're struck by how universal and entirely relatable this piece is. El Brote is for anyone who has ever experienced a love of performing, passion, jealousy, anger, fear, professional and financial struggles, questionable judgement, and/or unexpected success stemming from a catastrophic occurrence. 

Pros: Roberto Peloni puts on an engrossing, high energy show. He's mesmerizing to watch and the plot to his one man show is quite entertaining with universal appeal. 

Cons: This show is dialogue heavy with little action for context. It's presented in Spanish with English subtitles, projected on a screen that's unfortunately far stage left for this Chicago rendition
. If you don't understand Spanish well or speed read, you might want to reconsider catching this one. The extent of my Spanish is 1 year of high school and 2 semesters of college intro to Spanish classes, over 30 years ago, so I'm far from fluent at a conversational pace. Thankfully I do read quickly, and found this show entirely enjoyable, despite spending more time than I wished, reading the screen and not the actor's face. 
El Brote is the first show we're reviewing as part of Destinos 2024 - 7th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival and Chicago's so fortunate to have such a stellar lineup of world class, award winning productions right on our doorstep. Whether you speak Spanish or not, or are of all/some/no Latino descent, take a chance and embrace the multicultural. Destinos Fest is an excellent opportunity to explore traditions and immerse yourself in new and different perspectives from far-flung countries. Get out and see some shows!

Don't miss this. Check out El Brote and the rest of the 22 offering this year: http://chiilliveshows.com/2024/10/fest-alert-destinos-7th-chicago.html.

Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theatre critic, photographer, artist, and Mama to 2 amazing adults. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly).

El Brote 
Presented by Compañía Criolla, Argentina. 
North American Premiere. 
Written and directed by Emiliano Dionisi. 
Starring Roberto Peloni. 
At The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park
October 2-5: Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., four shows only.
 
Presented in Spanish with English subtitles
. 90 minutes. 
Ages 15+. 
Tickets: $21-$31
.

The lines between fiction and reality begin to blur for an actor, and now he cannot even be sure who is writing the events in his own life. What kind of character are we in this story? 

“Excellent, a creative beauty” -- Carlos Pacheco, La Nación Newspaper
“A show that takes your breath away!” -- Mercedes Mendez, Clarin Newspaper
“Sublime, theater at the highest” -- Victor Hugo Morales, AM750

Awards:
Premios ACE 2023 (Best Actor + Best Playwright)
Premios EEBA 2023 (Best Actor + Best Director + Best Playwright)
Premios ESTRELLA DE MAR (Best Director + Best Playwright)

La Compañia Criolla was founded in 2009 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and has performed shows including Huesito Caracú, Memories at Siesta Time, The Blue Bridge, Cyrano de más acá, El Apego, Los Monsters, The Comedy of Errors, Eyes that Don't See, Pocket Romeo and Juliet, Losing You Again and Short Legs. National and international awards and distinctions include ACE, ESTRELLA DE MAR, TEATRO DEL MUNDO, ATINA, CERTAMEN BARROCO (Almagro, Spain), FLORENCIO SÁNCHEZ (Uruguay) and HUGO. La Compañia Criolla participates in dozens of theater festivals, congresses, art fairs and official cycles. Since 2013, it has been carrying out the “Teatro Itinerante” program, performing shows in schools, prisons, neighborhoods, centers for the disabled and nursing homes. It also develops its own artistic training programs, which it teaches at different institutions both inside and outside of its country. ciacriolla.com. 
El Brote has the support of the Consulate General of Argentina.

El Brote is one of 22 productions being presented as part of Destinos 2024 - 7th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival, Chicago’s annual, citywide festival showcasing local Latine theater artists and companies alongside top artists from the U.S. and Latin America. This year’s Destinos runs September 30-November 17, 2024, and features a diverse array of bilingual, Latine-themed shows, panels and student performances at marquee venues downtown, as well as storefront theaters and cultural institutions in predominantly Latine neighborhoods throughout the city. 



Destinos is produced by the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA). For tickets and information, visit clata.org or follow CLATA on Facebook, Instagram and Threads at @latinotheater.