INCOMING: Nick Waterhouse at Bottom Lounge With Upcoming Release Never Twice Out 9/30/16

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar:

NICK WATERHOUSE AND LEON BRIDGES DUET ON "KATCHI" - OFF WATERHOUSE'S FORTHCOMING

 NEVER TWICE

OUT SEPTEMBER 30TH ON INNOVATIVE LEISURE

CHECK OUT THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR "OLD PLACE"! 

Photo Credit: rambo

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we've been eagerly anticipating the new release by Nick Waterhouse. He truly shines live, and will be back out on tour this fall in support of Never Twice. We plan to catch him here in Chi, IL on 10/4 at Bottom Lounge. Full tour dates are below. Whether you're a long time fan or newly discovering the stellar style of Nick Waterhouse, give this a listen. Then come out and catch him live. 


LISTEN TO "KATCHI" HERE

On September 30th, Nick Waterhouse will return with his third full-length studio album, Never Twice. Waterhouse recently unveiled the track "Katchi" off of the upcoming album. The track features his pal Leon Bridges and riffs on Bridges' family name for a massage - "Katchi." "Leon and I were in Fort Worth hanging out at a friend's place getting massages. He was laying on the table while I strummed the chords, bare chested, he shouted out "she give me KATCHI!"... His mother's old Louisiana Indian term for 'loving touch'. We rode it out and next thing we know we had a straight cruiser," Waterhouse told The Fader. 

Waterhouse also recently unveiled his sweaty grooving video for "Old Place," made up of clips of him performing live earlier this year on Flood. The clips were directed by Emma Pollard. 

Watch the video here:

Never Twice will be released via Innovative Leisure digitally, on CD and 180 gram vinyl. He will head out on a fall U.S. Tour starting on September 24th. Highlights include Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on October 8th, The Bottom Lounge in Chicago on October 4th and The Rock and Roll Hotel in Washington DC on October 12th. More tour dates to be announced.

With Never Twice, Nick Waterhouse returned to his original collaborator, producer Michael McHugh (Black Lips, Ty Segall, Allah-Las). McHugh was a local legend in the oft-underrated Orange County music scene that Nick grew up in. McHugh was the first person to ever put Nick on tape and in an effort to re-capture the vibrancy of the Huntington Beach scene of Nick's youth, he invited McHugh up to his current home of San Francisco to work the boards once again. Once he had McHugh on board, Nick began cold-calling his favorite players, all of whom miraculously said yes. Jazz musician Bob Kenmotsu's contributed flute, Tom Waits and Elvis Costello collaborator Ralph Carney on sax, Dr. Lonnie Smith protege Will Blades on Organ and a virtual whose who of muso legends on horns, bass and guitar. The result is an exuberant and impeccably recorded album of songs, showcasing Waterhouse's prowess as a musician and a band-leader.

PRAISE FOR NICK WATERHOUSE

"The verses are built on the feet-shuffling groove of jazzy drums and keys as Waterhouse bewails his life's stagnation ... He refuses to sit still for long, however, as the funky refrain kicks everything into fifth gear with driving guitar riffs that bring to mind classic rhythm and blues bandstands, all decked in golds and blacks and blues." 

- Consequence of Sound

"Swoony vocals that recall 

jazz singers like Cab Calloway and Jack Jones, Waterhouse has been hailed as the second coming of soul, infusing a distinctly California surf-rock spin to the genre.'

- VOGUE

"Waterhouse's show of intensity arrived through an incendiary combo of momentum-building saxophones...riding a grand, Spector-esque wave, punctuated with start-and-stop pacing, a love of musical space and Waterhouse's utilitarian voice singing structured three-minute rockers." 

- Los Angeles Times

"Waterhouse straddles the line between rock grit and smooth, sultry R&B. It's sexy, it's smart, and it's definitely worth another round in a bar in the middle of a dark and stormy night."

- Esquire

TRACK LISTING - NICK WATERHOUSE - NEVER TWICE

1) Its Time

2) I Had Some

3) Straight Love

4) Stanyan Street

5) Old Place

6) Katchi

7) Baby I'm In

8) Tracy

9) Lucky Once

10) L.A. Turnaround

TOUR DATES

9/24 - Long Beach, CA - Music Tastes Good Festival

9/26 - Portland, OR - Star Theater LINK

9/27 - Seattle, WA - Neumos LINK

9/28 - Vancouver, BC - The Cobalt LINK

10/4 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge LINK

10/5 - Detroit, MI - Magic Bag LINK

10/6 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern LINK           

10/8 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg LINK

10/10 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair LINK

10/11 - Philadelphia, PA - The Foundry at The Fillmore LINK

10/12 - Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel LINK

More About Nick Waterhouse

By Jonathan Toubin

Many moons ago Primo Pitino, the DJ of San Francisco's legendary Oldies Night, passed me a copy of his friend Nick Waterhouse's "Some Place." Nick was a local vinyl DJ and the kid working at our Shangri-la, Rooky Ricardo's Records. Though he didn't have a band at the time, Waterhouse assembled some local musicians to cut a one-off 45 in the vein of the electrifying mid-century modern rhythm and blues he loved. I threw "Some Place"on the Technics during sound check a few cities down the line and was blown away from the howling falsetto all the way to the end! I gave it a whirl every night from Texas to Tennessee and all the way back home to New York. Not only were the dancers' feet responding, but they were also asking about the track on a nightly basis. The Nashville Scene was so blown away that they printed a piece on Nick after that single listen. DJs and collectors everywhere wanted it so bad that the little record with the big sound started fetching upwards of $300 on Ebay.

The immediate and unprecedented underground dance party success of Nick's DIY record resulted in a full band, gigs, and, after a number of obstacles, the widely acclaimed 2012 LP Time's All Gone. Nick's music, vision, and fully formed aesthetic caught on globally and he was instantly a fixture at nearly every major nightclub and festival on both sides of the Atlantic, Australia, Japan, and Russia - hitting stages everywhere from Primavera to Montreux Jazz Festival and charting on college, public, and commercial radio.

Only a year after self-releasing his first single, Nick Waterhouse was thrust into the chaos of leading a band, touring, and recording in the big leagues! Pummeling high speed down a bumpy hill of lineup changes, economic problems, and general chaos without any breaks, Nick made it through and the challenges made him more focused. 2014's Holly captured a more experienced artist upping the ante in writing, performance, recording, and production, inspiring a new level of critical and commercial success.

In addition to a jam-packed five years on the road, in the studio, and in the practice space, Waterhouse also produced septuagenarian soul legend Ural Thomas, Los Angeles Latin stars the Boogaloo Assassins, and garage rockers the Allah-las. He's currently collaborating with the likes of young Grammy-nominee Leon Bridges and Steven Colbert bandleader Jon Batiste. The Rolling Stones blast Nick's version of "I Can Only Give You Everything"at stadiums before they go onstage. Vogue hired him to pose with Kendall Jenner. He hipped her to Little Willie John while Anna Wintour complimented his shoes. While a lesser artist would get lost in these distractions, Nick Waterhouse's acclaim only seems to energize him and make him work harder and push his music to the next level.

Nick's latest Never Twice is a culmination, intensification, and realization of everything he's been developing throughout this prolific frenzy. Catchier and loaded with more hits than its predecessors, Nick's new LP is at the same time harder hitting, more rhythmic, more harmonic, more diverse, and more adventurous than any of the excellent work that already separated him from the pack. A cool and elegant post-post-modern cocktail of 1950s r&b and club jazz, mixed with 1960s soul and boogaloo, and shaken with a minimal contemporary sensibility, Never Twice finds the artist taking his time, refining his vision, and speaking with new authority. In five short years Nick Waterhouse has come a long way and it looks like he may have just painted his masterpiece. 

REVIEW: Writers Theatre Wows With New Adaptation of Julius Caesar Through October 16th

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Writers Theatre opens its 25^th Anniversary season with a new adaptation of William Shakespeare’s 

Julius Caesar

Adapted and Directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam 

and Scott Parkinson

Now Playing Through October 16, 2016

All Photos By Michael Brosilow 

Hail Caesar indeed! Writers Theatre's hybrid of this classic is well deserving of praise. Michael Halberstam and Scott Parkinson work their magic adapting and directing a stellar cast. I've seen a number of theaters attempt Julius Caesar set in present day dress and sets, and as period pieces, yet never both. Writers Theatre deftly merges past and present day politics, style and technology in a compelling mash up that has space for cell phones, emojis and selfies alongside iambic pentameter and togas. Highly recommended.



With an imposing wall of seven Stonehenge-like columns, vaguely suggestive of both ruins and Roman Doric Columns. The show begins with a montage of natural disasters and powerful storms, portent of things to come. The set is impressive in scope, yet deceptively simple. Writers Theatre makes excellent use of the entire set as screens, projecting impressive, ever changing backdrops that add much to the production.

This production is not without humor, particularly with the infusion of cell phones and slogans "Make Rome Great Again".  Yet it's true strength lies in the intensity. Caesar's death scene in slow motion with ribbons of blood was powerful and poetic, and the energy of the mob scenes is brilliant. Scott Parkinson (Adaptor, Director, Cassius), Kareem Bandealy (Brutus), Madrid St. Angelo (Julius Caesar), and Arya Daire (Portia/Decia/Soothsayer) are true standouts and masters at their craft. The cast more than does justice to Shakespeares' infamous, age old phrases, with timely relevance and modern storytelling techniques. Writers Theatre has given Chicago a gift with this stunning new adaptation. This is truly a must see for the fall season. 

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, opens its 25^th Anniversary Season with a new adaptation of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, directed and adapted by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Scott Parkinson. The show runs September 7 – October 16, 2016 in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. 

**25^th Anniversary For Writers Theatre’s** 

**400^th Anniversary of Shakespeare's Death**

Shakespeare’s masterpiece of power and conspiracy, friendship and betrayal, stands as the greatest political drama ever written. Caesar has made Rome the world’s most powerful Empire through his brilliant military strategies, and upon his return from the wars the citizens of Rome wish to abandon the Republic and crown him king. When his fellow senators decide that his advancement must be halted, they come to a brutal and extreme solution: the great man must fall. 

With a newly streamlined adaptation by Michael Halberstam and Scott Parkinson that is both epic in scale and arrestingly intimate, this fresh and innovative look at the text will immerse audiences in the struggle for global supremacy, raising important questions about the responsibilities of a citizenry when confronting radicalism and tyranny.

Schedule: 

Tuesdays – Fridays: 7:30pm

(with 3:00pm Wednesday matinees on September 21 and 28)

Saturdays: 3:00pm (except September 10) and 7:30pm

Sundays: 2:00pm and 6:00pm (except September 11, 25 and October 2)

Run Time: 1:45 (no intermission)

Location: Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe

Prices: Prices for all performances range from $35 – $80

Purchase early for best prices      

             

Box Office: The Box Office is located at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe;

847-242-6000; www.writerstheatre.org

“Caesar has been on my bucket list of passion projects for some years,” says Artistic Director Michael Halberstam. “But the way I have wanted to stage it has always been beyond the capabilities of our venues. That is, until now! Now that we finally have a home where the sophistication of our theatres matches the sophistication of our artistic ambitions we can take a serious look at a play that has never been more relevant. We are in the heart of an election season unlike any in my lifetime and, therefore, I cannot think of a better time to explore Shakespeare’s remarkable play about global politics, world power and the nuances and grayness of great political movements. Scott Parkinson’s considerable knowledge of the play and his expertise with the language has made him an ideal collaborator in manifesting an adaptation that seeks to streamline the play and lift the relationship between Brutus and Cassius, creating an actor-driven realization of the political landscape in which they find themselves.”

The cast includes: Kareem Bandealy (Brutus), Christine Bunuan (Calphurnia/Metella Cimber), Arya Daire (Portia/Decia/Soothsayer), Sydney Germaine (Cinna/Octavius Caesar), Matt Hawkins (Caius Ligarius/Lepidus), Thomas Vincent Kelly (Mark Antony/Trebonius), Julian Parker (Cobbler/Caska), Scott Parkinson (Cassius) and Madrid St. Angelo (Julius Caesar).

Creative team: Courtney O’Neill (Scenic Designer), Mara Blumenfeld (Costume Designer), Jesse Klug (Lighting Designer), Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen (Original Music and Sound Design), Mike Tutaj (Projections Designer), Breon Arzell (Movement Director) and Bobby Kennedy (Dramaturg). David Castellanos is the Production Stage Manager.

                   

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

William Shakespeare (Playwright) was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564. He rose to fame in London as a playwright, actor and partner in a company of players known as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. King James I, after ascending to the throne in 1603, would eventually patron the group, thereby changing the name to The King’s Men. During Shakespeare’s career, he wrote 38 plays, 154 sonnets and several other famous epic poems. There are many apocryphal plays thought to be Shakespeare’s and he alone is credited with contributing close to 2,000 words to the English language. He is without question the most highly regarded and studied playwright in the history of literature. In 1613, Shakespeare is said to have retired to the place of his birth. It is believed that he died there on his birthday, April 23, 1616. Past WT productions of Shakespeare’s plays include Hamlet, As You Like It, Othello and Richard II.

Michael Halberstam (Adapter, Director) is the co-founder and artistic director of Writers Theatre. He has directed over 35 productions for the company, including Not About Heroes (starring Nicholas Pennell), Private Lives, Look Back In Anger, Candida, The Father, Crime and Punishment, Benefactors, The Seagull, The Duchess of Malfi, Othello, The Savannah Disputation, the world premiere musical A Minister’s Wife, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, She Loves Me, The Real Thing, Hamlet, Sweet Charity, Days Like Today, Isaac’s Eye, Arcadia and Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody (which he co-directed with Stuart Carden). Halberstam has appeared in numerous Writers Theatre productions, including Richard II (title role), Loot and Misalliance. Previously, he spent two years at The Stratford Festival in Ontario and performed in Timon of Athens, The Knight of the Burning Pestle (title role), Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It. Halberstam’s other Chicago acting credentials include productions with Wisdom Bridge Theater, Court Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Elsewhere he directed The Gamester (Northlight Theatre), A Man for All Seasons (Peninsula Players Theatre), Hamlet (Illinois Shakespeare Festival), Candida (Jean Cocteau Repertory in New York), Ten Little Indians (Drury Lane Theatre), a highly acclaimed revival of Crime and Punishment, which Writers Theatre produced off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters in New York City, Enchanted April and State of the Union (Milwaukee Repertory Theater). In 2011 he directed A Minister’s Wife at Lincoln Center Theater, and also directed the west coast premiere at San Jose Repertory Theatre in 2013. His forays into opera have included The Rape of Lucretia (Chicago Opera Theater), Francesca da Rimini featuring the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Christoph Eschenbach and Le Freyshutz, a Berlioz adaptation of the Weber opera conducted by Christoph Eschenbach in its North American Premiere (Ravinia Festival). He spent two and a half years teaching Shakespeare at The Theatre School at DePaul University and has received awards for excellence in theater management and/ or artistic achievement from The Chicago Drama League, The Arts & Business Council, Chicago Lawyers for the Creative Arts and The Chicago Associates of the Stratford Festival. He also received the 2010 Zelda Fichandler Award, the 2013 Artistic Achievement Award from the League of Chicago Theatres, and was named Chicago Tribune's 2013 "Chicagoan of the Year" for Theater. He currently serves on the board of the Arts Club of Chicago.

**Scott Parkinson’s 10^th production with Writers Theatre**

Scott Parkinson (Adaptor, Director, Cassius) returns to Writers Theatre where he previously appeared in Arcadia, Hedda Gabler, Hamlet, Crime and Punishment, The Doctor’s Dilemma, Booth, Candida, The Glass Menagerie and Marriage and Bears. Chicago credits include 16 productions at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, including the title role in Richard II, the Fool in King Lear, Caesar in Antony & Cleopatra and Speed in The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Other Chicago credits include Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Guys and Dolls (Court Theatre), Angels in America (The Journeymen), Northlight Theatre, Goodman Theatre, title roles in Hamlet and Richard III, Iago in Othello (Shakespeare on the Green). Regional credits include An Iliad, Cock (Studio Theatre), Angelo in Measure for Measure, Cassius in Julius Caesar, The Persians (Shakespeare Theatre Company), Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Treplev in The Seagull (The Old Globe), The School for Scandal (Mark Taper Forum), Hartford Stage and La Jolla Playhouse. Off-Broadway credits include Hamlet (Classic Stage Company), You Belong to Me (Ensemble Studio Theatre), Stage Manager in David Cromer’s Our Town, Orson’s Shadow (Barrow Street Theatre), The Third Story (MCC Theater), Rose Rage and Crime and Punishment. National tours include The 39 Steps. Broadway: The Coast of Utopia (Lincoln Center Theater). Featured interviews include North American Players of Shakespeare.

Kareem Bandealy (Brutus) has appeared at Writers Theatre in Hamlet, The Caretaker and Heartbreak House. Chicago credits include A Christmas Carol, Rock 'N' Roll, Gas for Less and King Lear (Goodman Theatre), The Wheel (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Oklahoma! (Paramount Theatre) The Good Book, The Illusion (Court Theatre), Moby Dick, The Little Prince, Big Lake Big City, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, The Last Act of Lilka Kadison, Peter Pan, Blood Wedding (Lookingglass Theatre Company), Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Edward II, Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Blood and Gifts (TimeLine Theatre Company), Othello (The Gift Theatre) and many others. Regional credits include The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Three Musketeers, The Tempest (Illinois Shakespeare Festival), Love’s Labour’s Lost (Notre Dame Summer Shakespeare), Julius Caesar, Stuff Happens (Pittsburgh Irish & Classical) and four seasons at Orlando Shakespeare Theater. He has appeared in several films including The Merry Gentleman directed by Michael Keaton. Television credits include Chicago Fire (NBC). He is an artistic associate of Lookingglass Theatre Company and a recipient of the 2011 3Arts Artist Award. 

Christine Bunuan (Calphurnia/Metella Cimber) is thrilled to make her debut at Writers Theatre. She was most recently seen in Chimerica at TimeLine Theatre Company. Her other credits include the first national tour of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (David Stone Productions), Avenue Q (Mercury Theater Chicago), Frederick (Chicago Children’s Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre), Kafka on the Shore (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), Jade Heart (Chicago Dramatists) and many more. This December she will be performing her solo cabaret show called Christmas at Christine’s (Silk Road Rising). Special thanks to Stewart Talent, her family and the love of her life, Sean. christinebunuan.com

Arya Daire (Portia/Decia/Soothsayer) is delighted to be making her Writers Theatre debut. Chicago credits include Samsara and Disconnect (Victory Gardens Theater), Principal Principle (Stage Left Theatre), Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical (Emerald City Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing (Rasaka Theatre Company) and The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Beverly Arts Center). Television credits include A Christmas Carol—The Concert (PBS holiday special, Emmy Award-nominated) and Chicago Fire (NBC). Arya received her B.S. in Radio/TV/Film and English Literature at Northwestern University. Warmest of thanks to my mom and dad, friends, Michael Halberstam, Stephen Schellhardt, Cheryl Graeff, Ross Lehman, Jeremy Sonkin and an inspiring cast and crew. Arya is represented by Stewart Talent.

Sydney Germaine (Cinna/Octavius Caesar) makes their Writers Theatre debut in Julius Caesar. They were recently seen as Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream (First Folio Theatre), as Minnie Fay in The Matchmaker (Goodman Theatre), the world premiere of Zipped and Pelted by Lucas Baisch (2015 Chicago Fringe Festival), as well as a couple of web series about queer life (Afternoon Snatch and In Real Life). They have a background in fire breathing, aerial arts and other forms of circus, as well as burlesque. They are represented by Gray Talent.

Matt Hawkins (Caius Ligarius/Lepidus) returns to Writers Theatre where he previously appeared as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire. Matt is a Chicago-based director, actor and fight choreographer. He is a Founding Member of The House Theatre of Chicago and an Artistic Associate with Strawdog Theatre Company. He is on the music theatre faculty at Northwestern University and is also an adjunct lecturer at Loyola University Chicago. He holds a B.F.A. in Acting from Southern Methodist University and an M.F.A. in Directing from The University of Iowa. He has been nominated for 12 Joseph Jefferson Awards and has received five. This upcoming year he will direct Going to a Place Where You Already Are (Redtwist Theatre) and choreograph violence for The Great Gatsby, Urinetown (Northwestern University); Tug of War: Civil Strife, Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet and Shakespeare in Love (Chicago Shakespeare Theater). He is married to actress Stacy Stoltz. 

Thomas Vincent Kelly (Mark Antony, Trebonius) returns to Writers Theatre where he previously appeared in Look Back in Anger. Chicago credits include Hotspur in Henry IV, part 1, Pistol in Henry IV, part 2 and Henry V (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), A Touch of the Poet, Zoot Suit (Goodman Theatre), Berowne in Love’s Labour’s Lost, Hildy Johnson in The Front Page, Almost Blue and Coriolanus (Next Theatre), Christian in Cyrano de Bergerac (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble), and as a founding member of Irish Theatre of Chicago (formerly Seanachai Theatre Company) he played Joe Hynes in Scenes from the Big Picture, Anton Chekhov in Chekhov in Yalta and Charlie Doyle in And Neither Have I Wings to Fly. Regional credits include Good People, A Steady Rain (Alliance Theatre), A Steady Rain (Guthrie Theater), The Wind Cries Mary (San Jose Repertory Theatre and East/West Players), Bell, Book and Candle, Opus, (Ensemble Theatre), Eastville (Connecticut Repertory Theatre), As You Like It, Hamlet (American Players Theatre) and Shakespearean festivals in Utah, Florida, Illinois and Idaho. Television credits include Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (CBS), Law & Order: Los Angeles (NBC), Saving Grace (TNT), The Closer (TNT), 24 (FOX), Without a Trace (CBS) and numerous other guest appearances. Tom is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. thomasvincentkelly.com

Julian Parker (Cobbler, Caska) returns to Writers Theatre where he previously appeared in Hamlet and the reading of Saint Joan in collaboration with The Chicago Inclusion Project. Chicago credits include Genesis, Dutchman, The Brothers’ Size (Definition Theatre Company); Prowess (Jackalope Theatre); Hairy Ape (Joseph Jefferson Award—Actor in a Principal Role, Oracle Productions), Charm (Northlight Theatre), The Royale (American Theater Company); Gospel of Franklin (First Look Series—Steppenwolf Theatre Company); BlackTop Sky (Garage Repertory—Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Head of Passes (understudy—Steppenwolf Theatre Company). Television credits include Chicago P.D. (NBC). Julian is a Founding Member and Casting Director of Definition Theatre Company. He received his B.F.A. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Represented by Grossman & Jack Talent. 

Madrid St. Angelo (Julius Caesar) makes his Writers Theatre debut in Julius Caesar. He is an award-winning and Joseph Jefferson Award-nominated actor. A graduate of New York's Neighborhood Playhouse and the New School for Acting, he trained under Sanford Meisner and William Alderson. He is a member of Actors' Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Guild of Italian American Actors and Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors. Chicago credits include Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Silk Road Rising, Vitalist Theatre and UrbanTheater Company. Television credits include ER (NBC), Boss (Starz) and Chicago Fire (NBC). He is represented by Paonessa Talent (commercial, film/television/theatre) and Grossman & Jack Talent (voiceover).

**Kareem Bandealy, Julian Parker and Scott Parkinson return to the stage together at Writers Theatre in Julius Caesar, having previously appeared together on the WT stage in Hamlet. Of the cast of nine, four will be appearing at Writers for the first time: Christine Bunuan, Arya Daire, Sydney Germaine and Madrid St. Angelo.**

AUDIENCE ENRICHMENT

Accessible Performances

ASL-Interpreted performance: Saturday, October 15 at 7:30pm

Open-Captioned performance: Sunday, October 16 at 2:00pm

Post Show Conversation: The Artist

Join us after every Wednesday evening performance (excluding previews and extensions) for a 15-minute talk-back featuring actors from the production, facilitated by a member of the WT Artistic Team.

Post Show Conversation: The Word

Join us after every Tuesday evening performance (excluding previews and extensions) for a 15-minute discussion of the play, facilitated by a member of the WT Artistic Team.

Sunday Spotlight—Sunday, October 2, 2016

This one-hour event will follow the matinee performance and feature an expert in a field related to the themes or setting of Company, moderated by a member of the WT Artistic Team. Seating is limited. RSVP is required.

The Making of… Series—Monday, October 17, 2016

Writers Theatre will once again host its popular The Making of… Series, providing insight into a different aspect of creating the productions seen on our stages. The Making of… events are FREE and open to the public. Seating is limited. RSVP is required.

For more information about Writers Theatre Audience Enrichment programs visit writerstheatre.org/events

RIDE METRA TO WRITERS THEATRE

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

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

WRITERS THEATRE PARTNERS

Writers Theatre is pleased to recognize BMO Harris Bank as the 25^th Anniversary Season Sponsor for the 2016/17 season. Northern Trust and NES Rentals will serve as Major Corporate Sponsors for Julius Caesar and ComEd will be the Official Lighting Sponsor of the season. Additionally, Writers Theatre is grateful to the following individuals and organizations for their support of Julius Caesar: Maryellen and Richard Keyser as Artists Council Sponsors; and Carol and Joel Honigberg, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Seth Traxler and Jessica Aspen and an anonymous donor as Director’s Society Sponsors.

For more information about Writers Theatre’s 2016/17 Partners, visit writerstheatre.org/our-supporters.

ABOUT WRITERS THEATRE

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

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

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

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

**This production is the 1st Shakespearean work performed in Writers Theatre’s new theatre center. Among his many directorial credits, Michael Halberstam previously directed Hamlet (2012) and Othello (2007), along with Tom Stoppards’ Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (2009).**

REVIEW: Puppets With Panache Kick Off House Theatre's 15th Season

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:
A Puppet-Filled Portrait of a Prodigy in Peril

A COMEDICAL TRAGEDY FOR MISTER PUNCH


The House’s Anniversary Season Opener Tells the Graphic and Haunting Tale of the Creation of Legendary Puppets Punch and Judy

Sarah Cartwright (back) as Charlotte, L to R in masks: Carolyn Hoerdemann, Owais Ahmed, Will Casey, Joey Steakley; Johnny Arena as Punch (front)

All Production Photos by Michael Brosilow

WRITTEN BY KARA DAVIDSON AND DIRECTED BY SHADE MURRAY,

SEPTEMBER 2 – OCTOBER 23




**This production is recommended for ages 12 years old and older.**

The excitement was palpable at last night's opening of the world premiere of A Comedical Tragedy for Mister Punch. I brought the whole family and the teens and adults all loved it! This show is phenomenal kick off to The House Theatre's 15th season. 




Johnny Arena as Punch, masks by Jesse Mooney-Bullock 

We highly recommend A Comedical Tragedy for Mister Punch. It's not only wildly and wonderfully entertaining, but a compelling commentary on the value of street art and in fact, art's place in society. We love the character of Charlotte (Sarah Cartwright), the young orphan, and we're thrilled she's a bright and scrappy girl, when there's still such a lack of great role models who are young girls in major roles. Adrian Danzig is also brilliant as the gruff loner puppeteer, Pietro. Don't miss THIS!!




Sarah Cartwright as Charlotte




Adrian Danzig as Pietro, Sarah Cartwright as Charlotte





Sarah Cartwright as Charlotte



JEFF RECOMMENDED!

... and that's how it's done.

House Theatre has long been one of our top favorites on the Chicago scene, and they consistently bring stellar story telling to the table in creative ways. We're completely enamored with this script and the clever staging that brings the iconic Punch and Judy puppets to life as human sized players. This production at once explores the cathartic violence that characterizes the infamous Punch and Judy genre and shatters it, with a young girl who's ready to move the narrative beyond the wife beating, baby killing, bad boy schtick. Highly recommended!

Come one, come all. Come small, come tall. ‘Tis time, dear Punch. 

Dear Punch, ‘tis time.”

The House Theatre's attention to detail is stunning, from their programs, which are always works of art in themselves, to the set design and props. We adore the collectable postcards that turn into 3 different finger puppets. The House even thoughtfully provided baskets of scissors and tape so the audience could assemble theirs on the spot! 

Do note, this is not a children's show. Everyone has different levels of comfort with violence, so younger children could enjoy this production with parental guidance, but the storyline is truly aimed at teens and adults. 


Dangerously dark and decidedly violent, this production is best enjoyed by adults and teens. Read the Parents' Guide for content warnings. 

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO LAUNCHES ITS 15^TH SEASON WITH THE WORLD PREMIERE PUPPET-DRIVEN


A COMEDICAL TRAGEDY FOR 
MISTER PUNCH

Whenever The House Theatre announces a new show or a favorite remount I get all excited like a little kid at Christmas. Their season opener is no exception. They had me at the title. I mean really, The House Theatre prowess AND puppetry are two of our favorite things. And, extra bonus, Adrian Danzig, Chicago dad and one of our favorites for physical comedy, stars as Pietro the puppet master in this world premiere. We've known him since his son was in preschool with my 13 year old daughter and we've adored his work in 500 Clown, Go Dog Go with Chicago Children's Theatre, and so much more.

The House Theatre of Chicago is proud to announce its 2016 – 2017 season opening production, the world premiere of Kara Davidson’s A Comedical Tragedy for Mister Punch. Influenced by the long history of puppets, Punch and Judy, and directed by Shade Murray, the production runs September 2 – October 23 at the Chopin Theatre’s Upstairs Theater, 1543 W. Division St.




Sarah Cartwright as Charlotte, Joey Steakley as Joey the Clown, with hand puppet by Jesse Mooney-Bullock 

RUN DATES: September 2-October 23, 2016

TIMES: Thursdays - Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 7pm (no shows 9/15 and 9/22)

GROUPS: Save up to 30%! Start here! 

PRICES: $15 - $35

Regular run tickets range from $30-35. $15 same-day tickets for students and industry professionals are available for all dates, seats permitting. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.thehousetheatre.com or call 773.769.3832. 

RUN TIME: 2 hours, 15 minutes with one intermission

Charlotte, a young orphan, has made a home for herself thieving on the streets of London. She soon falls into employment as the assistant to an eccentric Italian puppeteer, Pietro. A master of the violent Punch and Judy puppet show, Pietro becomes a reluctant mentor to Charlotte. She is inspired and charmed by his bold, cheeky, and witty creations. The two become an efficient pair under Pietro's gruff and focused attention. As their partnership flourishes, Charlotte's vivid imagination calls the puppets to life to conjure her own versions of the classic tales. But Pietro may not let his protégé cut the strings easily. Reality blurs as live actors, hand puppets, shadow puppetry and marionettes share the stage to illustrate a dark reality of imperfect adults, corrupt authority, class discrepancy, and violence.




Will Casey as the Officer, Echaka Agba as Polly 

Davidson’s A Comedical Tragedy for Mister Punch takes audiences back to the arrival of the Punch and Judy show in 18th-century England, before it became a popular seaside and country fair entertainment staple. The production features puppet creations from Jesse Mooney-Bullock, designer of the puppets for The House’s The Hammer Trinity. Today, many Punch and Judy shows are censored, removing Punch's cruel and murderous nature, opting for themes that are more palatable for youthful ears. But Mister Punch can't escape his peppered past. Why do we cheer for this scoundrel? How does Mister Punch, a character who has been depicted as a merciless hero-villain for over two hundred years, get away with abuse and murder? Perhaps something meaningful lies underneath Mister Punch's colorful yet ruthless exterior. 

The cast includes: Adrian Danzig, “Pietro;’ Johnny Arena*, “Punch;” Sarah Cartwright, “Charlotte;” Will Casey, “Officer” and others; Joey Steakley*, “Joey” and others; Carolyn Hoerdemann, “Judy” and others; Echaka Agba, “Polly” and others; Michael E Smith*, “Crocodile” and others and Owais Ahmed, “Flirt” and others. Understudies include: Ben Hertel, Joseph “Joey” Galizia, Vahishta Vafadari, Carlos Almedo and Gillian Butcher.

*House Company Member




Adrian Danzig as Pietro, Echaka Agba as Polly

The design team includes: Lee Keenan*, scenic designer; Izumi Inaba, costume designer; Mike Durst, lighting designer; Kevin O’Donnell*, sound designer; John Fournier, composer; Jesse Mooney-Bullock, puppet designer; David Woolley, choreographer; Jon Beal, assistant choreographer; Adam Goldstein, dialect coach; Brian DesGranges*, stage manager; and Eleanor Kahn, props master.

ABOUT KARA DAVIDSON, writer

Kara Davidson has been working with the House as an actor since 2013, but is excited to be stepping into the role of playwright this season! Two of her original full-length scripts were previously produced in the Twin Cities with Dovetail Theatre Company (of which she was a co-founder), and she is thrilled that Mister Punch will be making its world premiere on a Chicago stage. Previous (and current) productions with The House include Death and Harry Houdini (2013 and current), The Hammer Trinity, and Rose and the Rime. Around Chicago, Kara has also worked with Lookingglass, Chicago Shakespeare, and Manual Cinema, among others, and she regularly writes and performs for The Plagiarists "Salon" series. She holds degrees in Theatre Performance and French from the University of Nebraska.

ABOUT SHADE MURRAY, director

Shade Murray is an ensemble member of A Red Orchid Theater, where he has directed the world premieres of Brett Neveu’s Pilgrim’s Progress and Ike Holter’s Sender, as well as productions of Marisa Wegrzyn’s Mud Blue Sky and The Butcher of Baraboo, Annie Baker’s The Aliens, Nick Jones’ Trevor, Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party and Kimberly Akimbo by David Lindsay-Abaire.  He also performed in the A Red Orchid production of The Mutilated. Other directing credits include Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Steep Theater, Second City, Writers’ Theater, The Inconvenience, Strawdog, and elsewhere. Murray is a lecturer at University of Chicago and teaches at DePaul University and Actors’ Studio Chicago.

ABOUT PUNCH AND JUDY

The first record of the puppet, that eventually grew to be the infamous Punch, was made by Samuel Pepys in the late 17^th century. He wrote his observations on the Italian puppet show playing in London’s Covent Garden in his journal. At the time Punch, short for Punchinello, was a puppet on strings but eventually, along with his wife Judy, evolved after nearly a hundred years to become glove puppets dressed in a jester-like fashion.




Adrian Danzig as Pietro, Sarah Cartwright as Charlotte
Pietro instructs Charlotte to keep an eye out for the Officer during the show.

Puppeteers favored street performances at first, where the title of “Punch and Judy” was born, but eventually found their way to the seaside to perform to those on vacation. Today, various iterations of the show with roots in Commedia dell’ Arte, clown and slapstick comedy can still be found at the seaside, street festivals and carnivals around the world.

Charlotte, a young orphan, has made a life for herself thieving on the streets of London. She wiggles her way into employment for an eccentric Italian puppeteer, Pietro, collecting coins from his crowds and watching out for the law. They quickly become an efficient pair under Pietro's gruff and focused attention. As their partnership flourishes, so does Charlotte’s vivid imagination. Soon, the violent Punch and Judy puppets jump to life as she conjures up her own spins on the classic tales. But Pietro may not want his protégé pulling the strings.

Our "merry little play" reveals the dark underbelly of 18th century London as Charlotte’s reality blurs with the frantic world of Punch and Judy. Filled with live actors, hand puppets, shadow puppetry, and marionettes, the story uncovers the dangers lurking in an unjust world. 

  

Show Dates:

Sep 2 2016 to Oct 23 2016

Location:

Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division St, Chicago

ALSO NOW PLAYING:

STARRING DENNIS WATKINS!

The Magic Parlour is one of our top favorites of all times, and nothing short of astonishing. Dennis Watkins is out of the dunk tank and into the parlour! Death and Harry Houdini (with its nerve wracking water torture chamber trick) has finished another acclaimed run, but you can still catch the star, prolific prestidigitator, Dennis Watkins, in his snazzy solo show at the iconic Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago. I caught The Magic Parlour back when the show was playing in the shabby chic basement of the Chopin Theatre. Several years back they moved to fancier digs, and this intimate show has grown in popularity. We took the whole family last year and even the jaded teens adored it. Dennis is the real deal, and a joy to see in action. Prepare to be mystified. Oh SO highly recommended. ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List. 

Performances begin again September 2 with more performances this year than ever before!

TIMES: Friday nights at 7:30 and 9:30pm, Saturdays at 4:30, 7:30 and 9:30pm

PRICE: $79

AGES: Recommended for ages 12 and up!

PRIVATE EVENTS: Start here!

RUN TIME: The show runs about 75 minutes. 

An intimate evening of classic magic with Houdini himself, in the historic Palmer House Hilton Hotel. Award-winning, third-generation magician Dennis Watkins delivers an evening of sophisticated tom-foolery in one of the Windy City's most unique entertainment experiences. Dennis Watkins. Experience the premier magic show in Chicago, featuring mystifying feats of prestidigitation, sleight of hand, mentalism, and more. The Magic Parlour is replete with mind-blowing magic and mind reading in an intimate suite at the historic Palmer House Hilton Hotel.

Guests convene at Potter's on the lobby level and will be escorted to the private performance venue. 

"A SOPHISTICATED NIGHT-CAP. You’ll be mightily impressed! " 

-Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

“A perfect evening of illusion and laughter… The Magic Parlour TRANSFORMED a roomful of tired adults into WIDE-EYED, WIDE AWAKE innocents. And that in itself is Watkins’ most impressive trick." 

-Chicago Theater Beat

“This late-night magic show is exactly what it should be: funny, lively, intimate, and UTTERLY BAFFLING.” 

-The Chicago Reader

Check out our Yelp reviews for more glowing recommendations from mystified patrons

Show Dates:

Sep 2 2016 to Jul 1 2017

Location: The Palmer House Hilton Hotel

17 East Monroe Street, Chicago IL 60603

ABOUT THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO
The House is Chicago's premier home for intimate, original works of epic story and stagecraft. Founded and led by Artistic Director Nathan Allen and driven by an interdisciplinary ensemble of Chicago’s next generation of great storytellers, The House aims to become a laboratory and platform for the evolution of the American theatre as an inclusive and popular art form.

The House was founded in 2001 by a group of friends to explore connections between Community and Storytelling through a unique theatrical experience. Since becoming eligible in 2004, The House has been nominated for 60 Joseph Jefferson Awards (21 wins), became the
first recipient of Broadway in Chicago’s Emerging Theater Award in 2007, and was awarded a 2014 National Theatre Company Grant by the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards. Now in its 14th year of original work, The House continues its mission to unite Chicago in the spirit of Community through amazing feats of Storytelling.