Photo Flash: Timeline Theater Presents WHEN SHE DANCED

Travel to Paris in 1923 to eavesdrop on the bohemian life of international star Isadora Duncan -renowned as the "mother of modern dance" - in this evocative and incredibly funny portrait. With a multi-lingual script of great heart and appeal, Sherman mixes the high comedy of a colorful cast of characters with a poignant view of how art can move and inspire us. Through the eyes of those in Duncan's life we glimpse her greatness and how she touched so many lives when she danced.

When She Danced is the latest offering from TimeLine Theatre in a year filled with extraordinary growth and success for the company. Milestones during 2009 have included:
The world premiere of Masha Obolensky's Not Enough Air (January - March), nominated for five Equity Jeff Awards, including Outstanding Production and New Play;
The record-breaking Chicago premiere of Alan Bennett's The History Boys (April - October), which will end its six-month run of sold-out performances on October 18. The History Boys has also been honored with five Equity Jeff Award nominations, including Outstanding Production, Ensemble and Director (Nick Bowling);
A universally acclaimed and now sold-out run of Arthur Miller's All My Sons (August - October), presented at the Greenhouse Theater Center's downstairs mainstage - the first play TimeLine has presented outside its home on Wellington Avenue in 10 years;
To date, a 33% increase in subscriptions over last season.

"The last few months have been perhaps the most exciting in TimeLine's history, culminating with sold-out runs of The History Boys and All My Sons playing simultaneously. Now we are delighted to present a distinctly different play with When She Danced," TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers said. "This view into the world of dance icon Isadora Duncan is a great reminder of the power of the arts to move, inspire and transform. Isadora once said that ‘anyone can dance - all they have to know is how to listen.' Her story is worth celebrating and we're proud to ignite a conversation about her legacy on our stage."
The cast of When She Danced features Jennifer Engstrom as Isadora Duncan, with Jeannie Affelder (Jeanne), TimeLine Company member Janet Ulrich Brooks (Miss Belzer), Alejandro Cordoba (Alexandros Eliopolos), Patrick Mulvey (Sergei Esenin), Mark Richard (Luciano Zavani), Jessica Steans-Gail (Christine) and Mary Williamson (Mary Desti).

Performance Schedule/Events

Preview performances are Wednesday, November 4 through Friday, November 6 at 8 p.m. When She Danced opens on Saturday, November 7 at 7 p.m. and then runs Wednesdays (11/2, 11/9, and 11/16 only) and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Sunday, December 20, 2009. Note that there is no performance on Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Day). There will be an additional performance on Friday, November 27 at 4 p.m.

POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS: Free post-show discussions led by a TimeLine Company Member and featuring the production dramaturg and members of the cast on Thursdays, November 12 and 19, and December 3; Sundays, November 22 and 29; and Wednesday, December 9.

SUNDAY SCHOLARS SERIES: A free hour-long post-show panel discussion with experts on the themes and issues of the play on Sunday, November 15.

DISCUSSION WITH TIMELINE COMPANY MEMBERS: Free post-show discussion with TimeLine Company members on Sunday, December 6.

Buying Tickets

Tickets are $25 (Wednesday - Friday) or $35 (Saturday & Sunday). Preview tickets are $15. Student discount is $10 off the regular ticket price with valid ID. Group rates for groups of 10 or more are available. Advance purchase is recommended as performances may sell out. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the Timeline Theater Box Office at 773.281.8463 x24 or buy online via timelinetheatre.com.
Audience Resources

Dramaturgical lobby displays, a production Study Guide, video previews and other information will be made available at timelinetheatre.com.

Location/Transportation/Parking/Accessibility

TimeLine Theatre is located at 615 W. Wellington Ave., inside the Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ building, near the corner of Wellington and Broadway in Chicago's Lakeview East neighborhood. CTA El stops at Wellington (Brown/Purple lines) and Belmont (Red/Brown/Purple lines) are nearby. CTA busses #36-Broadway, #76-Diversey, #77-Belmont, #22-Clark and #8-Halsted stop nearby. TimeLine offers parking for $8 with validation at the Standard Parking garages at Broadway Center (2846 N. Broadway, at Surf) or the Century Mall (2836 N. Clark), both within two blocks of TimeLine. There is also limited street parking and other paid parking lots nearby. Visit timelinetheatre.com for complete directions and parking information. There are two flights of stairs totaling 18 steps between the street and the theater space, with no elevator.

Production Staff

The production staff for When She Danced includes Keith Pitts (Scenic Design), Bill Morey (Costume Design), Seth Reinick (Lighting Design), Josh Horvath (Sound Design), Julia Eberhardt (Properties Design), Maren Robinson (Dramaturg), Cheney Tardio (Stage Manager),
James Ogden (Production Manager/Technical Director), Eva Breneman (Assistant Director/Dialect Coach), Mechelle Moe (Assistant Director), Michael Dutton (Assistant Stage Manager), Mac Vaughey (Master Electrician), James Keister (Lobby Display Design), Susan Muirhead (Lobby Display Video Design), PJ Powers (Artistic Director) and Elizabeth K. Auman (Managing Director).

Biographies

Martin Sherman (Playwright) was raised in New Jersey, the only child of Jewish Russian immigrant parents. He was brought up steeped in the arts, and began acting at the age of 12. Many of his plays include themes of homosexuality, including his landmark play Bent, which was adapted into a film and earned him a Tony Award nomination in 1980. Sherman's latest work, the film Mrs. Henderson Presents, was released in 2005. Sherman resides in London, England, where he has lived since 1980.

Nick Bowling (Director) was the founding artistic director and is now a Company member of TimeLine Theatre. He is the recipient of four Non-Equity Jeff Awards for Outstanding Direction (Fiorello!, This Happy Breed and The Crucible at TimeLine, Another Part of the Forest at Eclipse

Theatre) and one Equity Jeff Award for Outstanding Direction (The History Boys). He also was nominated for TimeLine's Hauptmann and The Lion in Winter, and for an Equity Jeff Award for Closer Than Ever at Porchlight Music Theatre. At TimeLine, he is currently director of the Chicago premiere of Alan Bennett's The History Boys (Equity Jeff Award nomination - Direction, Play), and most recently directed Not Enough Air and Fiorello!. Other Chicago credits include Writers' Theatre's Bach at Leipzig, Shattered Globe Theatre's Time of the Cuckoo and Frozen Assets, Rivendell Theatre's Factory Girls and Buffalo Theatre Ensemble's Angels in America, among others.
About TimeLine Theatre Company

Founded in April 1997, TimeLine Theatre Company's mission is to present stories inspired by history that connect with today's social and political issues. During its first 12 seasons, TimeLine has presented 40 productions, including six world premieres and 11 Chicago premieres. Recipient of the 2006 Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence and the 2008 Richard

Goodman Strategic Planning Award from the Association for Strategic Planning, TimeLine has received 37 Non-Equity Jeff Awards and 5 Equity Jeff Awards, including an award for Outstanding Production seven times. TimeLine's 2009-10 season is presented under contract with Actors Equity Association.

The rest of TimeLine's 2009-10 season will include:

‘MASTER HAROLD' ... AND THE BOYS, by Athol Fugard, directed by Jonathon Wilson, January 23 - March 21, 2010 (previews 1/20 - 1/22)

Chicago premiere of THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION by Aaron Sorkin, directed by Nick Bowling, April 17 - June 13, 2010 (previews 4/14 - 4/16)

TimeLine is led by Artistic Director PJ Powers and Managing Director Elizabeth K. Auman. Company members are Nick Bowling, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Lara Goetsch, Juliet Hart, David Parkes, PJ Powers and Benjamin Thiem. TimeLine is a member of the League of Chicago Theatres, Theatre Communications Group and the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce.

Photo credit: Johnny Knight

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