BLUE SURGE Begins Eclipse's 2009 Season 3/23-5/3

Rebecca Gilman's "Blue Surge" Begins Eclipse's 2009 Season: Celebration Series Part II

Playwright Scholar Series Event -
In this humorous and touching story, a pair of cops and a pair of prostitutes struggle with class and the way that they view their own lives.

Eclipse Theatre Company's (www.eclipsetheatre.com) two-year celebration of the first ten playwrights featured by the company - The Celebration Series - continues by honoring the work of 2006 featured playwright Rebecca Gilman with the first Midwest production of "Blue Surge" since Gilman's 2002 revisions, directed by ensemble member Anish Jethmalani.

The story of two small-town cops who try to arrest and then help a pair of prostitutes working at a local massage parlor, Blue Surge examines issues of class and social dynamics with brutal honesty and surprising humor. Gilman explores the small space between hope and hopelessness as her characters struggle to find an American dream in which they can believe.

The show runs approximately two hours with one intermission. Post-show discussions with the cast and crew will be held following all Sunday matinees except May 3, 2009 (free with paid ticket).

The Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60614.

Some street parking; Fullerton El stop (Red, Brown, Purple); Lincoln #11 Bus. Discounted parking at Children's Memorial Hospital lot, a block north on Lincoln, on weekday evenings after 5 p.m. and all day on weekends. Handicapped accessible.

Opens Monday, March 23, 2009, 7 p.m. (reception following)
Closes on Sunday, May 3, 2009
Runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m.

Previews on March 19, 20 and 21, 2009, at 8 p.m. ($5 industry shows)

Call the Greenhouse Box Office at 773-404-7336, (open 12 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday - Saturday, and 12 to 4 p.m. on Sunday) or visit www.eclipsetheatre.com.

$25 for all regular performances (half-price rush tickets available)

$15 for previews; $5 for industry members at previews with headshot/card

$20 for each ticket in groups of ten or more, $20 for students and seniors with ID

Eclipse ensemble members Kevin Scott (Curt) and Nathaniel Swift (Doug). Guest artists Laura Coover (Sandy), Sasha Gioppo (Heather) and Kerry Richlan (Beth).

Eclipse ensemble members Anish Jethmalani (Director), Thomas Jones (Fight Choreographer), Stephen Dale (Production Assistant), Julie Daley (Graphic Design), Sarah Moeller (Dramaturg), JP Pierson (Assistant Director), Kat Saari (Stage Manager), Kevin Scott (Co-Producer), and Nathaniel Swift (Co-Producer). Guest artists Toy DeIorio (Sound Design), Susanne Surdenik (Assistant Stage Manager), Michelle Tesdall (Costume Design), and Mike Winkelman (Set Design).

NEXT: Eclipse will continue the 2009 Season: Celebration Series Part II with the Midwest Premiere of "A Song for Coretta" by Pearl Cleage (2007 featured playwright), directed by Eclipse Ensemble Member Sarah Moeller, running June 11 - July 26, 2009, at the Greenhouse Theater Center in Chicago. The 2009 season will continue with productions of "Six Degrees of Separation" by John Guare and "Democracy" by Romulus Linney.

FUNDERS: The Illinois Arts Council, The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs (City Arts I), The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation, and Turner Construction Company.