REVIEW: Idle Muse's Bite Sized Three Musketeers Is Big Fun!

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

IDLE MUSE THEATRE COMPANY CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF PRODUCTIONS 

WITH ROBERT KAUZLARIC’S 

THE THREE MUSKETEERS

MARCH 26 - APRIL 25 

AT THE EDGE OFF-BROADWAY

Artistic Director Evan Jackson Directs this Adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’s Celebrated Adventure Novel 

The total running time is two hours and 25 minutes including the intermission

All Production Photography by Steven Townshend, Distant Era

(L to R) Boomer Lusink, Brendan Hutt, Vanessa Copeland and Sam Neel  

REVIEW

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

Something huge is happening in what's arguably one of Chicago's smallest storefronts. The Edge Off Broadway theater, on Chicago's north east side, is an intimate, black box space with a seating capacity of just 45, and Idle Muse's latest will have you on the edge of your seat. Pick the front row for an adrenaline fueled adventure, full of sword and gun fights inches from your face. Think you know The Three Musketeers? Think again. 

Jack Sharkey

(L to R) Troy Schaeflein and Joel Thompson

Troy Schaeflein (D’Artagnan), Jack Sharkey (Athos); Boomer Lusink (Porthos); and Xavier Lagunas (Aramis) are a joy to see in action, and play the kind of low-key folk heroes we still need more of today. By the time Benjamin Jouras hit the stage as posh, pampered Louis XIII, we were in stitches. The entire cast are consummate storytellers, and provide an action packed evening of thoroughly enjoyable live theatre.

(L to R) Caty Gordon and Benjamin Jouras

We're also longtime fans of Jeff Award-winning playwright, Robert Kauzlaric, as well as assistant director and violence director, Libby Beyreis. All in all this cast and crew form a fitting and fantastic launch for Idle Muse's 20th year of productions. The Three Musketeers is based on Alexander Dumas’s celebrated 1844 novel.

We couldn't stop laughing at this hilarious take on a classic. Reminiscent of Jackie Chan's drunken Master, Idle Muse's Three Musketeers are anything but slick and professional. They're a ragtag bunch of drunken, bumbling oafs, constantly underestimated, yet incredibly effective when it matters. We adored this tiny but mighty rendition, and count it as is a must see this spring. 

Eric Duhon

Ready for a swashbuckling adventure that's big on laughs? Don't miss this! Recommended. Three out of four stars. ★★★

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)

(L to R) Xavier Lagunas, Jack Sharkey and Boomer Lusink in THE THREE MUSKETEERS from Idle Muse Theatre, now playing through April 25 at The Edge Off-Broadway. 

Idle Muse Theatre Company launches its 20th anniversary season with The Three Musketeers, March 26 - April 25, written by Robert Kauzlaric, directed by Idle Muse Artistic Director Evan Jackson adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas and originally commissioned for the 2010 Illinois Shakespeare Festival, at The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, 1133 W Catalpa Ave. 

(L to R) Jamie Redwood and Troy Schaeflein

The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m., with an added Wednesday performance on April 22 at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are now on sale for $30 and $20 for seniors and students with $50 “pay it forward” tickets that assist in subsidizing tickets for those who may not be able to access the production otherwise. Tickets and additional group discounts are available at IdleMuse.org or the Idle Muse Theatre Company Box Office, 773.340.9438.

Idle Muse celebrates 20 years of productions with The Three Musketeers. Based on Alexander Dumas’s celebrated 1844 novel, the Jeff Award-winning Robert Kauzlaric adapts the French tale of swashbuckling intrigue, adventure and fellowship as newly-minted musketeer D’Artagnan and the famous “three inseparables,” Athos, Porthos and Aramis take on the machinations of a scheming cardinal and his minions.

(L to R) Xavier Lagunas, Jack Sharkey, Troy Schaeflein and Boomer Lusink

The Three Musketeers cast includes Troy Schaeflein~ (he/him, D’Artagnan); Jack Sharkey~ (he/him, Athos); Boomer Lusink (he/him, Porthos); Xavier Lagunas~ (he/him, Aramis); Jennifer Mohr~ (she/her, Milady); Joel Thompson~ (he/him, Rochefort); Eric Duhon (he/him, Richelieu); Benjamin Jouras (he/him, Louis XIII/Buckingham);  Erik Schnitger~ (he/him, Treville); Vanessa Copeland (she/her, Jane Felton/Bonacieux); Brendan Hutt~ (he/him, Laporte); Sam Neel (he/him, Combat Ensemble); Jamie Redwood~ (she/her, Cosntance); Caty Gordon~ (she/her, Queen Anne); Ian Saderholm (he/him, u/s D’Artagnan) Elise Soeder (she/her, u/s Milady); Emily Pfriem (she/her, u/s Constance, u/s Jane Felton); Emely Cuestas (she/her, u/s Queen Anne); Alex George (they/them, u/s Porthos); Malachi Marrero (he/they, u/s Rochefort); Rick Adams (he/him, u/s Combat Ensemble); Derek Preston Ray (he/him, u/s Louis XIII/Buckingham) and Alex Hultman (they/them, u/s Laporte, u/s Aramis).

The creative team includes Robert Kauzlaric (he/him, playwright); Evan Jackson~ (he/him, director);  Tristan Brandon~ (he/him, health and safety officer, props designer); Libby Beyreis~ (she/her, assistant director, violence director); Lindsey Chidester~ (she/her, stage manager); Beth Bruins~ (she/her, assistant stage manager); Kati Lechner~ (she/her, production manager, health and safety officer); Erin Alys (she/her, intimacy director); Brendan Hutt~ (he/him, violence director); Emma Rund (she/her, dramaturg); Jeremiah Barr (he/him, technical director, master carpenter); Laura J. Wiley~ (she/her, lighting & projection designer); L.J. Luthringer~ (he/him, sound designer and composer); Vicki Jablonski (she/her, costume designer); Breezy Snyder~ (she/they, scenic painter); Mara Kovacevic~ (she/her, house manager); Mario Mazzetti (they/he, dialect and voice direction); Elizabeth MacDougald~ (she/her, rehearsal fight coach); Caty Gordon~ (she/her, marketing and social media); Michael Dalberg~ (he/him, Idle Muse literary director) and Becky Warner~ (she/her, props designer).

~ Denotes Idle Muse Company Member

ABOUT ROBERT KAUZLARIC, PLAYWRIGHT 

Robert Kauzlaric is a Chicago-based playwright, actor and director. He has written more than a dozen theatrical adaptations which have been performed in nearly forty of the United States, as well as in England, Ireland and Canada. His adaptations include The Island of Dr. Moreau (Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards: Best Production-Play and New Adaptation), The Picture of Dorian Gray (Non-Equity Jeff Nomination: New Adaptation), Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere (Non-Equity Jeff Award: New Adaptation), The Three Musketeers (commissioned for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival), Wilkie Collins's The Moonstone and The Woman in White, and a musical version of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. For children, Kauzlaric has written musical adaptations of Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith's The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! (called "one of the best children's shows of the year" by The New York Times), Peter Brown's Flight of the Dodo, Mo Willems' Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed and Richard and Florence Atwater's Mr. Popper's Penguins, as well as a fanciful twist on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, called Lions in Illyria.

ABOUT EVAN JACKSON, DIRECTOR

Evan Jackson serves as the artistic director of Idle Muse Theatre Company, a position he has had the honor of holding since the company’s inception. He has directed 16 previous productions for Idle Muse Theatre Company, including last season's Jeff-nominated Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The School for Scandal as well as the Jeff-recommended What the Weird Sisters Saw and Jeff-nominated The Last Queen of Camelot. At Idle Muse he also directed Upon this Shore: A Tale of Pericles and the Daughters of Tyre, Best for Winter, being a short Shakespeare adapted from the Winter’s Tale and other works, Equivocation, as well as The Lion in Winter and Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (both Jeff-Recommended). Other favorite Idle Muse productions include The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Talking Cure, Rites and Sacrifices, a world premiere by Chicago playwright Jennifer L. Mickelson, Enchanted April, and The Scullery Maid. He was also director and co-adapter of the original Shotgun Shakespeare: What the Weird Sisters Saw with Idle Muse company member Tristan Brandon. Outside directing projects include several short plays in the Martin de Maat New Works Festival at Boxer Rebellion Theatre and two summers serving as assistant director for Shakespeare on the Green in Lake Forest. Jackson is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University, where he received his MFA in directing.

(L to R) Jennifer Mohr and Eric Duhon

(L to R) Jack Sharkey and Jennifer Mohr

ABOUT IDLE MUSE THEATRE COMPANY 

Idle Muse Theatre Company’s mission is to produce theatre that is transporting,  timely and true. The company was established in 2006 by theatre artists interested in exploring the relationship between individuals and the worlds they inhabit. Seeking to create production opportunities, they established a modern ‘guild’ of players and environment where theatre artists of different experiences and backgrounds could develop their craft. Today, IMTC remains focused on the following core values:

Transporting: We believe that great theatre removes both audience members and  artists from their respective reality and transports them to another world.

Timely: We believe that human connection can be accomplished through  meaningful, relevant, and accessible storytelling here and now.

True: We believe in unflinching honesty in the playing and storytelling.

Since 2022, Idle Muse Theatre Company has instituted a profit share model with artists and team members for each production. In addition to any stipend or payment for services, a full 50% of all box office revenue is reserved and divided evenly among the cast and production team.

Idle Muse Theatre Company launches its 20th anniversary season with The Three Musketeers, March 26 - April 25, written by Robert Kauzlaric, directed by Idle Muse Artistic Director Evan Jackson and adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas at The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, 1133 W Catalpa Ave. Previews are Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27 at 8 p.m. with the press opening Saturday, March 28 at 8 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m., with an added Wednesday performance on April 22 at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are now on sale for $30 and $20 for seniors and students with $50 “pay it forward” tickets that assist in subsidizing tickets for those who may not be able to access the production otherwise. Tickets and additional group discounts are available at IdleMuse.org or the Idle Muse Theatre Company Box Office, 773.340.9438.

Row 1 (L to R): Playwright Robert Kauzlaric, Director Evan Jackson, Troy Schaeflein, Jack Sharkey and Boomer Lusink Row 2 (L to R): Xavier Lagunas, Jennifer Mohr, Joel Thompson, Eric Duhon and Benjamin Jouras Row 3 (L to R): Erik Schnitger, Vanessa Copeland, Brendan Hutt, Sam Neel and Jamie Redwood Row 4 (L to R): Caty Gordon, Ian Saderholm, Elisa Soeder, Emily Pfriem and Emely Cuestas Row 5 (L to R): Alex George, Malachi Marrero, Rick Adams, Derek Preston Ray and Alex Hultman

REVIEW: Multigenerational Murder Limbo: The World Premiere of The Posthumous Trial of Giulia Tofana Now Playing Through April 5, 2026

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Larkspur Productions Opens World Premiere of
The Posthumous Trial of Giulia Tofana
By Gwyneth Forsythe
Directed by Cheryl Snodgrass
March 20th - April 5th at The Den Theatre

Sydney Genco in The Posthumous Trial of Giulia Tofana

Photo by August Holiday Photography

REVIEW

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

As I pass the bottled water aisle I see Acqua Panna and Aquafina, and my mind turns to Aqua Tofana, the poison rumored to kill 600 men in 17th-century Italy. Was the herbalist and healer, Giulia Tofana, a monster serial killer, or a champion of battered women? How many did she save with her death-giving elixir? Who tells the story? It was fascinating to learn more about Giulia Tofana, trained by a mother who was murdered as a witch, who passed along her skills to her daughter who met the same fate.

You can hear the story straight from Giulia Tofana, from beyond the grave, through Sydney Genco, now through Sunday, April 5, 2026. We meet Tofana centuries after her death, still stuck in purgatory, as she's wracked with guilt for her daughter's fate, though clear of conscience for the women she freed from abusive men. 

Murderer. Witch. Savior. Executed in 1659 for the murder of 600 men. That's how history remembers Giulia Tofana, the infamous creator of the Aqua Tofana poison. This is her story straight from Purgatory, thanks to Playwright, Gwyneth Forsythe. We adore the way this trio of women, Playwright: Gwyneth Forsythe, Director: Cheryl Snodgrass, and Cast: Sydney Genco (Giulia Tofana) humanize the tragic tale of another trio of women. This show reframes history and brings up important questions as relevant today as they were in the 1600s. 

Why have we demonized and killed our healers for centuries? Why do men still abuse and murder women with few consequences? This production is sadly still all too timely. In our current Epstein scandle era, powerful men still abuse women and children with impunity and those who help them or speak out often bear consequences far greater than the abusers. Where are our twenty first century Tofanas when we need them? This production is a fascinating slice of history, and these three generations of badass healers and protectors are best not forgotten. 

Anyone who adores Chicago's infamous queens of camp, Hell in a Handbag Productions, is likely familiar with both Sydney Genco (performer & makeup artist) and Cheryl Snodgrass (director). But you've never seen this power duo team up like this. There's no drag here or over the top parody. Genco gives us a quiet, candle lit reckoning for a woman who gave her life to save abused women, who's been stuck in limbo for centuries, because she can't make peace with the fate her daughter freely chose. This heart wrenching piece is a must see. 

Head on over to The Den Theatre for some serious talk from a healer and helper of battered women from beyond the grave. Don't miss this macabre masterpiece. ChiIL Live Shows on our radar. Recommended. Three out of four stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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).

Larkspur Productions is pleased to announce the world premiere of The Posthumous Trial of Giulia Tofana. Directed by Cheryl Snodgrass, The Posthumous Trial of Giulia Tofana will play March 20th - April 5th at The Den Theatre, 1331 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago IL.

Tickets are on sale at https://thedentheatre.com/performances/2026/3/20/the-posthumous-trial-of-giulia-tofana-the-den-theatre-comedy-club-chicago

This one person show is performed by Sydney Genco. 

Comments playwright Gwyneth Forsythe: In a time when bodily autonomy and human rights are being actively taken away and the very idea of justice seems out of reach, stories from the past, like Giulia Tofana’s, are more important than ever. We cannot wait to share hers with you.

The production team includes Matthew York (Scenic Designer), Kate Kamphausen (Costume Designer), Garrett Bell (Lighting Designer), DJ Douglass (Sound Designer), Tina Haglund-Spitza (Props Designer), Tom Daniel (Scenic Carpenter), Henry Bender (Master Electrician) and Drew Donnelly (Technical Director).

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: The Posthumous Trial of Giulia Tofana

Playwright: Gwyneth Forsythe

Director: Cheryl Snodgrass

Cast: Sydney Genco (Giulia Tofana)

Location: The Den Theatre, 1331 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60622

Regular run: March 20 – Sunday, April 5, 2026

Curtain Times: Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm. Sunday, April 5th at 3pm. Please note: there will be an added performance on Monday, March 30th @ 8pm (Industry Night).

Tickets: General admission: $25. https://thedentheatre.com/performances/2026/3/20/the-posthumous-trial-of-giulia-tofana-the-den-theatre-comedy-club-chicago

About the Artists:

Gwyneth Forsythe (Playwright) is a writer, educator and theatre artist who splits her time between Iowa City and Chicago. She received two BAs (Theatre Arts and History) from the University of Iowa and her MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage from Northwestern University, where she was awarded the Krevoy Screenwriting Prize. Gwyneth has worked as a freelance writer, taught for the Chicago City Colleges, and was a 2024 semi-finalist for the Eugene O'Neill Center's National Playwrights Conference. Last summer, her work was featured in the Heretic Theatre Festival produced by RJ Theatre Company in New York City. In the fall, she directed and produced “Ghosts on the Radio Vol. II: A Haunted Audio Anthology” for the Iowa Youth Writing Project and assistant-directed Global Express for the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa. She has taught and developed writing courses in playwriting, screenwriting, horror, humor, and creative non-fiction for writers worldwide of all ages and experience levels.

Cheryl Snodgrass (Director) is passionate about directing new works. She is an alumni ensemble member of Hell in a Handbag where she’s directed multiple premieres including The Drag Seed, which performed at the famous LaMama Theatre in NYC. Other Handbag shows include The Birds, Scary Town, L’Imitation of Life, and Die, Mommie! Die! Cheryl has worked extensively as a visiting artist at Mill Mountain Theatre and Studio Roanoke (Roanoke, VA). She has also directed for a number of Chicago companies that include Sweetback, Glass Apple, Trap Door, The Foundlings, Tellin’ Tales, Jonny Staxx Presents, and Filet of Solo. Most recently, Cheryl directed John Cariani’s (playwright of Almost, Maine) new play Darker the Night Brighter the Stars for Penobscot Theatre in Bangor, ME and is very excited to be included in the published version as a premiere production.

REVIEW: The Cuttlefish, or the Hyrcanian Worldview Now Playing at Trap Door Theatre Through April 25, 2026

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Trap Door Theatre Presents

The Cuttlefish, or the Hyrcanian Worldview

Written by Stanisław I. Witkiewicz

Translated by Daniel Gerould

Directed by Nicole Wiesner

March 19–April 25, 2026

Run time: 1 hour and 20 minutes without an intermission. 

Tickets are $32 with two-for-one admission on Thursdays.

GUEST REVIEW

By Barbara Belcore

I walked into The Cuttlefish, or the Hyrcanian Worldview at Trap Door Theater with no real sense of what I was about to see, and left a genuine fan. It is strange in a way that feels intentional rather than indulgent, fully committing to its own offbeat logic from the very beginning. Even before the play officially began, the actors were already on stage as the audience took their seats, moving slowly and deliberately, setting a tone that felt deeply ominous.

David Lovejoy (King Hyrcan IV) and Nicole Wiesner (Paweł Rockoffer). Credit for all production photos: Michal Janicki.

The production opens in a darker, more controlled space, but somewhere midway through it loosens its grip and transforms into something closer to an absurd fever dream. That shift could easily lose an audience, but here it has the opposite effect. The room stayed engaged, alive with reaction. There were gasps, giggles, and those involuntary sounds of agreement when something lands a little too well. It felt communal in a way that’s hard to manufacture, helped along by brief breaks of the fourth wall that ground the performance in flashes of real world context. In one moment, audience members are pulled in to serve bit parts, adding to the unpredictability and personal relevance of the experience.

At its core, the play explores the internal conflict of an artist being pulled to belong while still struggling to maintain control and individuality. That tension unfolds through a world where art, religion, philosophy, and identity are all pulled into orbit around a loud, self-proclaimed king of an imaginary kingdom. The metaphor is elastic enough to be interpreted in multiple ways, but grounded enough to keep you from drifting too far.

Keith Surney (Statue of Alice d’Or) and Nicole Wiesner (Paweł Rockoffer). 

What makes it work is the cast’s complete commitment. They lean fully into the absurdity without ever winking at it, which gives the production its weight. It is not always clean or straightforward, but it is compelling throughout. If you’re willing to meet it where it is, it becomes a genuinely memorable experience. This is the kind of theater that stays with you long after you leave your seat. Highly recommended. ★★★★ Four out of four stars.

Barbara is a Chicago-area home birth midwife, maker, theater enthusiast, avid reader, and mom of two quirky, creative teens. She is currently snuggling three cats who are perpetually convinced that they have never been fed. 

David Lovejoy (King Hyrcan IV) and Emily Lotspeich (Pope Julius II). 

Trap Door Theatre is thrilled to continue its mainstage work of their 32nd season with a production of Trap Door’s favorite playwright Stanislaw Witkiewicz’s The Cuttlefish, or the Hyrcanian Worldview, directed by Nicole Wiesner. The Cuttlefish will play March 19 – April 25, 2026 at Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W Cortland St. in Chicago. Tickets are now on sale at trapdoortheatre.com or by calling (773)-384-0494. 

The cast includes Venice Averyheart, Emily Lotspeich, David Lovejoy, Keith Surney, Gus Thomas, and Nicole Wiesner.

Part philosophical farce, part surreal fever dream—Witkiewicz’s The Cuttlefish, or the Hyrcanian Worldview is a razor-sharp satire of art under pressure. In a world where creativity is consumed by control and individuality is crushed beneath the weight of conformity, an artist spirals into crisis—torn between integrity and survival, freedom and obedience. Witkiewicz exposes the seductive dance between artist and authority, where every act of creation risks becoming an act of submission. Decades ahead of its time, this anarchic comedy lays bare the modern artist’s impossible choice: stay true to your vision, or surrender it for comfort and applause.

The production team includes Merje Veski (Scenic Design), Rachel Sypniewski (Costume Design), Richard Norwood (Lighting Design), Danny Rockett (Sound Design), Kasia Olechno (Stage Manager), Zsofia Otvos (Make Up Design), Dan Cobbler (Assistant Director), Milan Pribisic (Dramaturg), Michal Janicki (Graphic Design), and Dan Cobbler, Juliet Kang Huneke, Mitchell Jackson, and Gracie Wallace (Understudies).

Location: Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland St. Chicago, IL 60622

Dates: Regular Run: Thursday, March 19th –Saturday, April 25th, 2026Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, and Sundays 4/12 and 4/19 at 3PM.

Tickets: $32 with 2-for-1 admission on Thursdays. Tickets are currently available at https://our.show/the-cuttlefish or by calling (773) 384-0494. Group tickets: Special group rates are available. For information, call (773) 384-0494 or email boxofficetrapdoor@gmail.com.

Plan your visit:

Free street parking is available.

Buses: #9 (Ashland), #50 (Damen), #72 (North), #73 (Armitage).

Metra: Clybourn metra stop.

Accessibility:

Trap Door Theatre is wheelchair accessible.

About the Artists

Stanislaw I. Witkiewicz (1885-1939) is one the most brilliant figures of the European avant-garde. Witkiewicz was a poet, painter, playwright, an expert on drugs, an early spokesman for a radically non-realistic theatre and an original philosopher and social critic of mass culture, post-industrial society, and the rise of totalitarianism. He was also a pioneer in serious experimentation with narcotics and prophetically recognized the growing importance that they would have on Western civilization. Witkiewicz committed suicide shortly after the outbreak of War in September of 1939. He is best knownfor his plays The Madman and the Nun, The Mother, The Water Hen, The Anonymous Work, and The Shoemakers.

Nicole Wiesner (she/her) joined the Trap ensemble in 1999, and currently serves as the Managing Director. Directing credits for the company: Minna, The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls, Phedre, Monsieur D’eon is a Woman, The Old Woman Broods, The White Plague, Decomposed Theatre Episode 5, The Martyrdom of Peter Ohey, Joan and the Fire, Nana, and The Mannequins’ Ball. Some of her favorite Trap acting credits include First Ladies (dir. Zeljko Djukic, Joseph Jefferson Citation: Outstanding Actress); OVERWEIGHT, unimportant: MISSHAPE (dir. Yasen Peyankov); and the title roles in The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant; Nana (dir. Beata Pilch) and Alice in Bed. (Director Dado). Regionally, she has appeared at the Goodman Theatre in 2666, directed by Robert Falls and Seth Bockley; Shining City directed by Robert Falls; and Passion Play, directed by Mark Wing-Davy (After Dark Award, Outstanding Performance). Other credits include Shining City at the Huntington Theatre in Boston; Passion Play at Yale Repertory Theatre and Epic Theatre NYC; The Book Thief (dir. Hallie Gordon), South of Settling (dir. Adam Goldstein) and Dublin Carol (Dir. Amy Morton) at Steppenwolf Theatre; Dying City (dir. Jason Loewith) at Next Theatre, Great Men of Science (dir. Tracy Letts) at Lookingglass Theatre; and Phedre (dir. JoAnn Akalitis) at The Court Theater.

About Trap Door Theatre

Founded in 1994 by Artistic Director Beata Pilch, Trap Door Theatre is dedicated to seeking out challenging, obscure, and culturally significant works rooted in political outcry that address timeless and borderless existential themes. Our mission is to provide a platform for voices that confront and question social norms, inspire dialogue, and foster understanding across diverse cultures and perspectives. Through bold, imaginative productions, we strive to push artistic boundaries and create transformative experiences for our audiences. We are committed to serving as a cultural hub for our community, supporting artists through equitable practices, and engaging audiences with works that illuminate the human condition in innovative and thought-provoking ways.

Trap Door Theatre is funded in part by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, The Bayless Family Foundation, a CityArts Program Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The John R Halligan Charitable Fund, The Illinois Arts Council Agency, The Reva and David Logan Foundation, and the generosity of individuals like you.

For additional information, visit trapdoortheatre.com 

Gus Thomas (Ella) and Venice Averyheart (Mother I/II and Foley Artist). 

World Premiere: THE OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY Via Her Story Theatre March 28 - April 19, 2026 at The Den

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar: Her Story Theatre presents World Premiere of  THE OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY  March 28 - April 19 at The Den An aging novelist and a young writer of creative non-fiction flirt with the seduction and danger of storytelling as they play cat and mouse with conflicting versions of the truth.

Her Story Theatre has announced the World Premiere of Kurt McGinnis Brown’s two-hander THE OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY, to play March 28 – April 19 at The Den Theatre in Chicago. When young black journalist Xan Smith is assigned to interview the once successful, now aging white novelist, Henry Percival, the two form an unlikely bond during their contentious meetings. After Henry reveals something unexpected about his past, the two writers must consider the uncertain relationship of truth to storytelling in general, and specifically to the story of Henry’s life. THE OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY will keep audiences guessing as they follow its plot twists, surprises, and suspect decisions. The drama, which was workshopped at Chicago Dramatists in 2017 and Art Lit Lab in Madison, Wisconsin in 2016, is the work of prolific playwright Kurt McGinnis Brown, who has had plays produced across the country, including in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. The Jeff Award-winner and former Artistic Director of Strawdog Theatre Richard Shavzin will direct. Previews on March 28, 29 and 31. It will play through April 19. Veteran Chicago actor and Actors Equity member Gary Houston, whose many credits include GEM OF THE OCEAN and JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE at the Goodman Theatre, will play the septuagenarian novelist Henry Percival. Shelby Marie Edwards, seen most recently in Pegasus Players’ YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL and RABBITS IN THEIR POCKETS at Lifeline Theatre, has been cast as the young journalist Xan Smith.   The production team includes Garrett Bell (Set Design), Sam Bessler (Lighting Design), Mary Bonnett (Costume Design), George Zahora (Sound Design), Wendye Clarendon* (Actors Equity member, Stage Manager), Morgan Watkinson and Josh Hogan (Assistant Stage Managers), Steve Kruse (Technical Director), Tristan Predmore (Lighting Technician), Nora Brooks (Scenic Painter), and Lucas Holeman (Carpenter).  Tickets to THE OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY are $40 for General Admission and $30.00 for Seniors plus taxes and fees) for regular performances; and $35 General Admission for previews. Students and industry members are $20.00 all performances, and group prices are $30.00 per person for all performances. Tickets are on sale now at www.thedenthreatre.com and The Den Theatre Box Office 773-697-3830.

Her Story Theatre THE OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY WORLD PREMIERE By Kurt McGinnis Brown Directed by Richard Shavzin Featuring Gary Houston and  Shelby Marie Edwards March 28 – April 19, 2026 Previews Saturday, March 28 at 7:30 pm, Sunday, March 29 at 3:00 pm, and Tuesday, March 31 at 7:30 pm Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 3 pm (No performance Easter Sunday, April 5) The Den Theatre Upstairs Main Stage, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago 60622

Ticket Prices: Previews – General Admission $35.00, plus taxes and fees. Regular performances - General Admission - $40.00, Seniors - $35.00. Students and industry $20.00 all performances. Groups $30.00 per person all performances. Tickets on sale now at www.thedentheatre.com and The Den Theatre Box Office 773-697-3830 Info: www.HerStoryTheater.org   When young black journalist Xan Smith is assigned to interview the once successful, now aging, white novelist, Henry Percival, her mission is clear. She is prepared to dismantle his career with a scathing expose that will cement her own reputation as a fearless cultural critic. But during their contentious meetings, Henry reveals something unexpected about his past. As she digs deeper, the story she uncovers changes the one she came to write. Xan must decide what she's willing to tell, because in this game of perception and power, the biggest revelation may be about herself.  BIOS

Gary Houston (Henry Percival) was last seen onstage at the Goodman Theater in August Wilson's GEM OF THE OCEAN and JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE, both directed by Chuck Smith.  As well as numerous film roles, Gary is a Jeff-nominated actor, with a long history of performances at Northlight, Writers Theatre, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, Wisdom Bridge, National Jewish Theater and in the original Organic Theatre ensemble. As a former books and arts staffer for the CHICAGO SUN TIMES, he interviewed Studs Terkel, Saul Bellow, Joseph Heller, and Elie Wiesel. Gary is presently managing editor of CHICAGO QUARTERLY REVIEW and a member of Actors’ Equity and SAG-AFTRA. (Photo by Sandy Morris)

Shelby Marie Edwards (Xan Smith) is an actor-musician and solo performer. Chicago theatre Credits include RABBITS IN THEIR POCKETS (Lifeline Theatre), YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL (Pegasus Theatre Chicago), QUALIA (Subtext Studio Theatre), A BRONX TALE, THE WEDDING SINGER (Surging Films and Theatrics), HOLLY’S IVY, LOST HOME WIN HOME (Lifeline Theatre’s Fillet of Solo Festival). Regional credits include: ABIYOYO (Chicago Symphony Orchestra), FLEX (Summit Performance Indianapolis), CHICKEN & BISCUITS (Virginia Repertory Theatre), LITTLE WOMEN (Virginia Theatre Festival). Education: M.A. from the University of Chicago and B.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University. Film Credits include HBO’s LOVECRAFT COUNTRY. Shelby is a proud alumna of Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s professional leadership program. IG: @ShelbyMarieEdwards

Kurt McGinnis Brown (Playwright) has had plays performed across the country, including in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. His fiction has appeared in national journals such as AMERICAN LITERARY REVIEW, DENVER QUARTERLY, GLIMMER TRAIN, and NEW LETTERS, and he recently completed a memoir about crime and creativity. Kurt’s work on land and poverty issues took him to Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Peru, and Russia; a few lives perhaps are better for it. Richard Shavzin (Director) is delighted to have had the opportunity to help bring this excellent new play into the American theatrical canon. He has also directed the world premieres of the musical ANY SOMEONE AT ALL at Second City; DEFAMATION, TOPS OR BOTTOMS, and FALLOUT for Canamac Productions; TEN CENT NIGHT (Chicago Dramatists); NEVER THE BRIDESMAID (Polarity Ensemble), KLUB KOKOMO (PS Theatricals); and Studs Terkel's RACE at Strawdog Theatre, where he was the Artistic Director from 1993-1998 and won a Jeff for Direction for BURN THIS. He is a member of Perennial Theatre Company, an Artistic Affiliate Emeritus with American Blues, and an Associate Artist at Chicago Dramatists, where he has directed almost 100 readings of new plays over the last 32 years. Mary Bonnett (Producing Artistic Director) is an award-winning artist who is the founder and Producing Artistic Director of Her Story Theater. As a playwright, her work has been seen in Chicago, NYC, Houston, Philadelphia, Wyoming and Connecticut. She has written a series of plays on domestic sex trafficking in Chicago. Her work also includes monologues, one acts and full-length plays. She is a member of Chicago Dramatist, Dramatist Guild, Perennial Theatre, Chicago Radio Players and SAG-AFTRA. Her new play, THE NOVELIST, has most recently had readings in Chicago and London, England. Mary is also a novelist with a published children's book and an adult literary novel on the way. Since 2011, Her Story Theater's mission has been to shine bright lights in dark places on women and children in need of social justice and community support.   HER STORY THEATER Her Story Theater was founded in 2011 and has focused primarily on raising awareness of the epidemic of sexual exploitation of minors and homelessness. The four produced plays in Her Story’s “Chicago Sex Trafficking Cycle” include SHADOW TOWN (2013), THE JOHNS (2014), MONEY MAKE'M SMILE (2016, 2017) and MONGER (2018).  As a group, the plays depict domestic sex trafficking from the perspectives of the various participants – the traffickers, the youths who are trafficked, and the men who buy them. INVISIBLE (2019) is concerned with issues of bigotry, nativism and violence against minorities. Her Story Theater continues its work to raise awareness of the prevalence of domestic sex trafficking and the trauma-based victim through its touring presentations and programs.   Her Story Theater is a theater for social change. Through theater and the written word, our mission is to shine bright lights in dark places on women and children in need of social justice and community support. Since 2011, we have partnered with countless organizations to raise awareness on current issues that impact women and children.  Her Story Theater is supported by Driehaus Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Illinois Arts Council, Oppenheimer Family Foundation, Com Ed Powering the Arts, Northern Trust, Sunlight Project, Vanguard Charitable and private donations.