Category: Season
Neo-Futurists announces 2008/09 Season
The Neo-Futurists begin their 20th-Anniversary Season with a special presentation of their long-running, flagship show, Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind at Theater on the Lake. The Neos are pleased and proud to be invited back to Theater on the Lake for the ninth time.
Neo-Futurists 2008-09 Season
The Neo-Futurists, performers of Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind and creators of over 60 other original, full-length productions, are a collective of wildly productive writer/director/performers who create immediate, non-illusory, interactive and head-slappingly affordable performances.
Primetime Season
Prime-Time shows run Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland (at Foster) in Andersonville. Tickets are $15, $10 for students/seniors with ID, or pay-what-you-can during previews and on Thursdays. For tickets or information, visit www.neofuturists.org or call The Neo-Futurist Hotline at 773-275-5255. Any exceptions to this information are noted below.
| Fake Lake |
| by Sharon Greene directed by Halena Kayes performances take place in and around Welles Park Swimming Pool, 2333 W. Sunnyside in Lincoln Square (see interactive map below) |
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In 1998 a young woman was invited to go camping with a group of people she had known for only a few days. This is not the premise of a horror movie, but the story of a stunningly beautiful yet environmentally devastating man-made lake that serves as the context for a coming-of-age story about youth, sex, and the end of invincibility. Bio: Sharon Greene joined The Neo-Futurists in 2003, writing and performing in TML, A 60-Minute History of Humankind, Inside My Mouth, and Windmilled. She also has worked as a Teaching Artist with About Face Youth Theater. |
| August 14 – September 20, 2008 |
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“Fake Lake” will be performed in and around the Welles Park Pool in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. (click on map to make it interactive) |
| A Very Neo-Futurists Christmas Carol |
| Conceived by Kristie Koehler Vuocolo |
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An alternative holiday show and environmental experience taking place throughout The Neo-Futurarium, A Very Neo-Futurist Christmas Carol is a re-telling of Dickens’ famous tale, with various chapters and themes represented as short vignettes. Created by the performing ensemble and hosted by the Grim Reaper, this show is equal parts deconstruction of the Dickens story, new and political takes on the original, and gripping personal tales relating to its themes. Bio: Kristie Koehler Vuocolo has been a member of The Neo-Futurists since 2003, performing in TML, Patriots, and co-directing the hit Roustabouts. She also is a member of Barrel of Monkeys and the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit. |
| November 20 – December 23, 2008 |
| Beer |
| Written and directed by Sean Benjamin and Steve Mosqueda |
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10 year old Boon sneaks into a brewery. Out of curiosity he samples various ales and lagers and soon finds himself in the land of BEER. The brewery comes alive. Through puppetry, song and stories, the story of the land of BEER is told. Bio: Sean Benjamin and Steve Mosqueda have been Neo-Futurists for over ten years, working on multiple prime-time shows including The Santa Abductions, SEX!, Devolution, Missing Parts, Drinking & Writing, and others. The duo also co-created The Drinking & Writing Brewery, Radio Show and Festival. |
| January 29 – March 7, 2009 |
| TML 20 |
| Conceived and curated by Jonathan Mastro (Too Much Light… originally created by Greg Allen) Written and performed by current and alumni Neo-Futurists |
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To celebrate The Neo-Futurists’ 20th-Anniversary Season, past and present Neos participate in a special run of Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind, bringing the late-night hit to prime-time and even accepting reservations! The cast and menu of 30 shorts plays change each week of the run, just as with the flagship TML, with offerings including a combination of ‘best-of’ favorites and new material.
Bio: Jonathan Mastro has been a Neo-Futurist since 2004, performing in TML and It Came From The Neo-Futurarium. He also is an ensemble member of Barrel of Monkeys and the Musical Director for Columbia College’s Theater Department. Tickets are $7 plus the roll of a die, i.e. $8-13 (advance reservations subject to additional convenience fee) |
| April 16 – May 30, 2009 |
Steppenwolf announces 2008/09 Season
Steppenwolf Theatre has just announced its upcoming season; the common theme being the exploration of imagination:
Kafka on the Shore
September 18 – November 16, 2008
Adapted for the stage and directed by ensemble member Frank Galati
Based on the work by Haruki Murakami
A young boy’s coming of age parallels an old man’s search for destiny in a modern day Japan where the borders between everyday reality, dreams and imagination are constantly crossed. In this world premiere adaptation of the popular novel, encounter talking cats on the streets of Tokyo, World War II soldiers trapped in time, Colonel Sanders and Johnnie Walker. Experience the unexpected in this fantastical tale about waking up to your own life.
The Seafarer
December 4, 2008 – February 8, 2009
By Conor McPherson
Featuring ensemble member John Mahoney
It’s Christmas Eve in Dublin. In the rundown house where Sharky cares for his blind brother, old acquaintances gather for a card game-joined by an ominous stranger. As the booze flows and the game intensifies, Sharky discovers he is playing for his soul. In this eerie, darkly humorous tale, celebrated playwright Conor McPherson (who also wrote “Shining City”) examines how we face the demons of our past as we struggle to find redemption.
Art
February 5 – June 7, 2009
By Yasmina Reza
Translated by Christopher Hampton
Art explores the intricacies of a long-term friendship between three men. When one of them drops a fortune on a piece of modern art, his friends’ surprising reactions touch off a series of personal confrontations. This witty, intelligent and often funny play explores the power of art to engage the imagination and the enduring bonds of friendship.
FYI: French playwright Yasmina Reza won the 1997 Olivier Award and the 1998 Tony Award for Art, which has been produced worldwide and translated into over 30 languages. British playwright Christopher Hampton won an Academy Award for the screen adaptation of his play Dangerous Liaisons and was nominated for his adaptation of Atonement.
The Tempest
March 26 – May 24, 2009
By William Shakespeare
Directed by ensemble member Tina Landau
Featuring ensemble member Frank Galati
In Shakespeare’s final work, Prospero is exiled to an enchanted island where he harnesses the powers of magic and masters the spirits that dwell there. His desire for revenge drives him to conjure a mighty storm trapping his enemies on the island. In our first Shakespeare production, Steppenwolf ensemble member Tina Landau re-imagines this magical tale of art, freedom and the transformative power of forgiveness.
Up
June 18 – August 23, 2009
By Bridget Carpenter
Directed by ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro
On the best day of his life, Walter built a flying machine that reached the clouds. Ever since, he’s tried to invent new ways to fly while his wife keeps the family afloat. Up is a quirky, bittersweet tale about escaping the boundaries of the everyday and how we dream ourselves into a future.
Northlight Theatre announces 2008/09 season
Northlight Theatre 2008/09 Season
Doctor Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
Based on the novella by Robert Louis Stevenson
Directed by Jessica Thebus
What happened the night that Henry Jekyll died? Against the backdrop of Victorian London, the respected doctor has begun to display alarmingly erratic behavior toward his friends. At the wsame time, a mysterious figure haunts the city’s streets under the cloak of the London fog. This fiendishly clever and theatrically innovative new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale is a smart, psychological thriller that delights in revealing the many faces of Edward Hyde.
September 17 – October 26, 2008
Grey Gardens
Book by Doug Wright, music by Scott Frankel, lyrics by Michael Korie
Directed by BJ Jones
Musical direction by Doug Peck
Rub elbows with Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter “Little Edie,” – Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ most scandalous relatives! Once the highest of high society, the two have become East Hampton’s most notorious recluses, living in a dilapidated 28-room mansion with 51 cats for company. Set in two eras – 1941 when the celebrated estate was the picture of wealth and sophistication, and 1973 after it had been reduced to squalor – Grey Gardens is a brilliant and heartbreaking look at two indomitable women.
November 12 – December 21, 2008
Po Boy Tango
By Kenneth Lin
Translated by Martin Crimp
Directed by Chay Yew
A celebration of the human spirit and the joy of cooking, Po Boy Tango tells the story of Richie Po, a Chinese immigrant who turns to his estranged friend Gloria to help him recreate his mother’s “Great Banquet.” Despite the challenges of shark fin soup, duck po boy sandwiches and underlying cultural tensions, Richie and Gloria find common ground through their shared humor and the blending of traditional Taiwanese cuisine and African American “Soul Food.” Helped by lessons from Po Moma’s television cooking show, the two discover a deeper understanding of food, culture and the nature of friendship.
January 7 – February 15, 2009
Mauritius
By Theresa Rebeck
Directed by Dexter Bullard
The stakes are high when half-sisters inherit a book of rare stamps that may include the “crown jewel” of the stamp-collection world. The battle for possession takes a dangerous turn when three rival collectors enter the sisters’ world, willing to go to any lengths to stake their claim on the find. Combining the best aspects of Hitchcock, Chandler and Mamet, “Mauritius” is a gripping blend of sharp comedy and heart-pounding drama that simmers with constant surprise.
February 25 – April 5, 2009
The Lieutenant of Inishmore
By Martin McDonagh
Directed by BJ Jones
“Wee Thomas” the cat has been killed. What’s worse, he was the beloved pet of Padraic – a ruthless Irish hitman who considers the IRA “too soft.” As the folks back home fight over who has to break the bad news, the violence escalates – recalling Shakespeare and Quentin Tarantino at their bloody best. A few murders, several dismemberments and a smattering of cow mutilations later, all is finally right with the world again. Or is it? In this wickedly funny black comedy from the author of “The Cripple of Inishmaan”, “A Skull in Connemara” and the recent film “In Bruges”, McDonagh considers the implications of outrageous reactions to small misunderstandings.
April 29 – June 7, 2009
For more information, call 847-673-6300, or go to www.northlight.org
Writers’ Theatre announces 2008/09 season
Writer’s Theatre 2008/09 Season
Nixon’s Nixon
By Russell Lees
Directed by Michael Halberstam
Featuring William Brown and Larry Yando
Just in time for the elections, we bring back our critically acclaimed, award-winning production of Nixon’s Nixon. This box office record-breaking production returns to our most intimate theatre for a limited engagement. Artistic Director Michael Halberstam will once again direct William Brown and Larry Yando as they reprise their tour-de-force performances as Kissinger and Nixon in this thrilling, hilarious and brilliantly imagined story of what might have happened in the Lincoln sitting room the night before Nixon resigned.
September 16 – November 16, 2008
Picnic
By William Inge
Directed by David Cromer
When a charismatic young drifter arrives in a small Kansas town on the eve of a Labor Day picnic, the simmering repressions of its residents come rapidly to a boil. Frequently hilarious and profoundly mo ing, Inge’s masterpiece chronicles the hopes and despairs that lie between the realization of adulthood and the eternal optimism of youth. This American classic is staged by Chicago’s own David Cromer, whose previous work for Writers’ Theatre includes The Price and Booth, and whose highly acclaimed production of The Adding Machine is enjoying a successful run in New York.
September 16 – November 16, 2008
The Maids
By Jean Genet
Translated by Martin Crimp
Directed by Jimmy McDermott
When the mistress is away, the maids will play. Two women in service to a younger socialite pass the moments of their day in play-acting and fantasy. As the line between fantasy and reality begins to disintegrate, their games take a deadly turn. Jealousy, resentment, sexual tension and murder converge in this 1947 classic French thriller. Jimmy McDermott, one of the city’s most exciting young directors, brings his trademark edginess to this seminally rebellious play.
November 18 , 2008 – April 5, 2009
A Christmas Carol
By Charles Dickens
Adapted & Performed by Michael Halberstam
Artistic Director Michael Halberstam masterfully recreates the greatest ghost story ever written with his tour-de-force solo performance of Ebenzer Scrooge’s journey over the course of one magical Christmas Eve. Now in its 13th season, this holiday tradition has been extended to nine performances after last year’s sold-out run.
December 13 – 23, 2008
World Premiere!!
Old Glory
By Brett Neveu
Directed by William Brown
William Brown, director of last season’s triumphant As You Like It, turns his attention from the old to the new. One of the country’s hottest young playwrights, Brett Neveu, brings us the world premiere of Old Glory.This gripping drama in which a family confronts loss as a conseqwuence of war is brought intensely to life through Neveu’s direct yet poetic language. No government, no politics, just people. Razor sharp wit and fiercely emotional confrontation combine as this viscerally powerful mystery unfolds.
February 3 – March 29, 2009
World Premiere Musical!!
A Minister’s Wife
Music by Josh Schmidt, Lyrics by Jan Tranen
Adapted by Austin Pendleton
Conceived & Directed by Michael Halberstam
After his unanimously acclaimed New York debut, The Adding Machine, Writers’ Theatre Associate Artist Josh Schmidt has become the most eagerly anticipated young musical theatre composer in the country. Schmidt’s second creation, in collaboration with artistic director Michael Halberstam, playwright Austin Pendleton and lyricist Jan Tranen, receives its world premiere in Glencoe. A poet, a preacher and his wife enter into a delicious conflict when a fantastical assumption turns an ordinary day topsy-turvy.
May 19 – July 19, 2009
For more information on Writers’ Theatre, call 847-242-6000, or go to www.writerstheatre.org.
Goodman Theatre announces “Talking Pictures” cast
Goodman Theatre has announced their cast for the upcoming Horton Foote play Talking Pictures, which will play in rotation with two other Foote plays – Blind Date and The Actor. The play will be directed by Henry Wishcamper, and will run from January 29th through March 2nd.
Shattered Globe announces 17th-annual season
Shattered Globe Theatre’s 2007-2008 Productions
SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER by Tennessee Williams
Directed by Shattered Globe ensemble member Kevin Hagan, running September 16 – October 27, 2007
Featuring ensemble members Brian McCaskill, Eileen Niccolai and Linda Reiter
In SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER, Williams’ 1958 drama, a prominent New Orleans family gathers to contend with the mysterious circumstances surrounding the loss of one of their own. In the wildly overgrown garden of a New Orleans mansion, a family seeks the truth about the life and death of one of their own. After Sebastian Venable’s mysterious death abroad, his mother Violet calls on her niece Catharine—the family misfit and sole witness to the incident—to reveal what happened that day. Catharine, who seemed to go insane following the death of her cousin, has been institutionalized since her return for insisting on a version of events so horrific that it can’t possibly be true. Set on preserving Sebastian’s memory—and erasing her own role in the unspeakable acts that led to his demise—Mrs. Venable will go to any length to discredit Catharine’s account. But when Catharine is put under the influence of truth serum, everyone must come to terms the reality of the long-buried secrets that are finally brought to light.
REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT by Rod Serling
Directed by Louis Contey, running January 13 -March 8, 2008
Featuring ensemble members Maury Cooper
In the 1956 drama REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT—also produced as a Peabody-Award-winning 1957 teleplay and a 1962 film— washed-up prizefighter Harlan “Mountain” McClintock faces the sudden end of his career. Having spent 14 years in the ring, Mountain faces the prospect of a life that does not include boxing and discovers that the skills that almost made him a champion don’t count for much in the wider world. Mountain is torn between the possibility of new love and a promising future offered by social worker Grace, and loyalty to his self-serving manager Maish, who wants to exploit the fighter on the lucrative professional wrestling circuit. Widely regarded as one of the greatest sports dramas of all time, REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT is a gut-wrenching account of the merciless prizefight game and the human wreckage it leaves in its wake.
A TASTE OF HONEY
by Shelagh Delaney
Directed by Dado, running May 18 - July 5, 2008
Set in 1950s Manchester England, Delaney’s poignant and comic play tells the story of Jo, a shy adolescent chafing against the constraints of her working class life and the demands of her selfish, irresponsible mother Helen. When Helen abandons Jo to take up with a much younger man, Jo falls prey to the advances of an itinerant sailor and is left pregnant and alone. Determined not to be undone by her difficult circumstances, she creates her own sort of family with gay art student Geoffrey, who moves into Jo’s flat to help her prepare for the birth of her baby. The two settle into tentative peace and happiness—until Helen’s unexpected reappearance threatens to throw Jo’s life back into upheaval. Grammar school dropout Shelagh Delaney was only 17 years old when she started writing her first play, A TASTE OF HONEY, a work that would propel her to literary superstardom by the time she reached her twenties.
