About Face Theatre Announces XYZ Festival of New Work Fall 2010 Events

Executive Director Jason Held and Artistic Director Bonnie Metzgar are pleased to announce the fall offerings included in the XYZ Festival of New Work, to run during the month of October in The Flat Iron building at 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave in Wicker Park.

AFT will present a special featured concert event in association with producers Wayne Brady, Michele Crowley, and Hendel Productions - the new Neo-Soul musical CLEAR by AFT Artistic Associate Paul Oakley Stovall on Oct 22-24. Fresh from the O'Neill Center, CLEAR is performed by a seven-piece band, with costumes by RENT designer Angela Wendt and additional music by STEW (Passing Strange), Ryan Link and Christo Willis.

Also featured is a new play inspired by the Thorne Rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago, by Minneapolis playwright Carson Kreitzer. Directed by AFT Artistic Associate Megan Carney and starring Kirsten Fitzgerald, TINY ROOMS will be brought to life with puppet designs from Chelsea Warren and runs October 8-10.

This year's festival also features a staged reading of AFT Artistic Associate Tanya Saracho's new play MALA HIERBA, directed by Keira Fromm, and a late-night Performance Party hosted by local performance trio DoubleDJ and curated by Jane Beachy. Both events will take place on October 15.

Designed to give audiences access to innovative work at all stages of development, the XYZ Festival of New Work fosters creative collaboration between Chicago-based artists and groundbreaking artists from across the US, The XYZ Series provides an unique experience for audiences who enjoy watching the artistic process unfold, and who want to be exposed to new voices in the American theatre that are exploring sexuality and gender.

XYZ WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS

TINY ROOMS by Carson Kreitzer
Directed by AFT Artistic Associate Megan Carney, TINY ROOMS features two Chicago socialite women in the early 20th century whose obsession with building miniature spaces is comprised of tremendously different intention. Inspired by the Thorne rooms at the Art Institute, TINY ROOMS will come to life with designs by Chelsea Warren in an XYZ workshop production. One woman wants to bring beauty to the rest of the world and the other is reconstructing violent crime scenes for forensic research, but their relegated roles within society share the undeniable rigidity of their time.

Originally commissioned by Jason Loewith at Next Theatre Company, TINY ROOMS is a new play written specifically for a Chicago audience. AFT is pleased that Jennifer Avery (NEXT Interim Artistic Director) and Joe Wyckoff, both with long artistic relationships with NEXT, have joined the cast of TINY ROOMS,

CLEAR by Paul Oakley Stovall
With book, lyrics and music by AFT Artistic Associate Paul Oakley Stovall and additional music by STEW (PASSING STRANGE), Ryan Link, and Christo Willis, CLEAR sings a tale of destiny, luck, and The Commonality of the human experience. From the slave castles of Ghana to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul; from the banks of the river Seine, to the Muir Woods, our storytellers continue to find that change is inevitable... and (r)evolutionary. A spiritual quest in our decidedly computerized times, CLEAR fuses music, memory and pure love to remind us how best to live life.

MALA HIERBA by Tanya Saracho
From the cover of Timeout Chicago to her anticipated new production of EL NOGALAR this spring at the Goodman Theatre, AFT Artistic Associate Tanya Saracho is one to watch. She brings her trademark wit, intuition, and spark to the XYZ Reading Series with MALA HIERBA, directed by Keira Fromm.

The cast includes Yadira Correa, Christina Nieves, Yunuen OSeguera Pardo, Isabel Quintero.

XYZ PERFORMANCE PARTY

This late night event is hosted by local performance art dance trio DoubleDJ, comprised of AFT Artistic Associate Dan Stermer, Jessica Hudson and Donnell Williams. The party, curated by Jane Beachy, will feature a variety of other local performers, a bar, a DJ and dance party, and some very high stilletos.

XYZ FESTIVAL OF NEW WORK: Fall 2010 Schedule of Events

WORKSHOPS

Tiny Rooms
By Carson Kreitzer
Directed by Megan Carney
October 8-10, 7:30pm
$15 Admission

Clear, a neo soul rock musical experience
Book, music and lyrics by Paul Oakley Stovall
Additional music by STEW, Ryan Link, and Christo Willis
Directed by Krissy Vanderwarker
Oct 22-24, 7:30pm
$15 Admission

Mala Hierba
By Tanya Saracho
Directed by Keira Fromm
October 15, 7:30pm
Free and open to the public

PERFORMANCE PARTY

October 15, 10:00pm
Hosted by DoubleDJ
Curated by Jane Beachy
$10 Admission

Visit aboutfacetheatre.com or call 773-784-8565 x111 for tickets and Information.

BIOS

Carson Kreitzer (Playwright, TINY ROOMS) Kreitzer'sTHE LOVE SONG OF J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER won the Rosenthal New Play Prize, the American Theatre Critics' Steinberg Citation, the Stavis Award, and is published in Smith and Kraus' "New Playwrights: Best Plays of 2004," and by Dramatic Publishing. Other work includes SELF DEFENSE or death of some salesmen ("Women Playwrights: Best Plays of 2002"), 1:23, THE SLOW DRAG (New York and London), VALERIE SHOOTS ANDY, FREAKSHOW, SLITHER, DEAD WAIT, and TAKE MY BREATH AWAY, featured in BAM's 1997 Next Wave Festival. Ms. Kreitzer has received grants from NYFA, NYSCA, the NEA, TCG, two Jerome fellowships, two McKnight Advancement Grants and the first Playwrights Of New York (PONY) fellowship at the Lark Play Development Center. Affiliations: Workhaus Collective, Clubbed Thumb, New Georges, The Playwrights' Center, the Dramatists Guild, and New Dramatists. BEHIND THE EYE, her new play about surrealist muse and WWII Combat Photographer Lee Miller will premiere at the Cincinnati Playhouse in April.

MEGAN CARNEY (Director, TINY ROOMS) is an Artistic Associate with AFT and a founder of About Face Youth Theatre. She is directing TINY ROOMS by Carson Kreitzer in this year's XYZ fest. Megan co-created LET THEM EAT CAKE during last year's XYZ fest - a collaboration with Holly Hughes and Moe Angelos about Marriage Equality that will premiere at Dixon Place in NY in December and which was recently awarded the prestigious MAP Fund grant. Other recent directing credits include THE WALLS by Lisa Dillman at Steppenwolf Garage with Rivendell Theatre Ensemble and OPEN SYSTEMS, an oral history project commemorating five years since Hurricane Katrina, commissioned by Chicago's Goodman Theatre. Megan's work has been recognized with multiple After Dark Awards, a Bard College Voices and Visions Residency, TCG Observership Grant, the GLSEN Pathfinder Award, an APA Presidential Citation, and induction in Chicago's Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. Her writing on devising theatre and ways to use theatre to combat racism and build community is published online and in print. Megan has an MFA in Theatre Arts from Virginia Tech with a focus on Directing and Public Dialogue.

Tanya Saracho (Playwright, MALA HIERBA) was born in Sinaloa, México and is a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists and Teatro Vista, a Goodman Theater Fellow at the E. Stone Belic Institute for the Study of Women and Gender, an Artistic Associate with About Face Theater and the Co-Founder and former Artistic Director of Teatro Luna. Tanya's writing has been featured in most of Teatro Luna's ensemble-built works. Her plays include: EL NOGALAR, a play inspired by THE CHERRY ORCHARD, commissioned by Teatro Vista, opening in the Spring of 2011 at The Goodman Theater, an adaptation of THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET for Steppenwolf SYA (2009), OUR LADY OF THE UNDERPASS with Teatro Vista (2009), SURFACE DAY with Chicago Children's Humanity Festival (2008 ), JARRED (A HOODOO COMEDY) with Teatro Luna (2008), KITA Y FERNANDA at 16th Street Theatre (2008) and QUITA MITOS with Teatro Luna (2006). Saracho is a recipient of the Ofner Prize given by the Goodman Theatre as well as a 3Arts Artists Award.

KEIRA FROMM (Director, MALA HIERBA) Recent directing credits include: THE RING for Sketchbook X / Collaboraction, POP TART AND ANOTHER KIND by Tanya Saracho for American Theater Company, and staged readings of THISMIA AMERICANA and LUCINDA'S BED for Chicago Dramatists, A TWIST OF WATER for Red Tape Theater, and LUCINDA CAVAL for Teatro Luna. Keira received her MFA in Directing from DePaul University and her BFA from Boston University. While living in NYC, Keira worked for the Lark Theater Company, Music-Theatre Group, Project 400, the Drilling Company, and the HERE Performance Art Café. She also served as the Resident Director of the popular off-Broadway shows, THE DONKEY SHOW and THE KARAOKE SHOW. She is a proud member of the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab and Stage 13. Keira is currently the Casting Associate at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. She is presently directing a production of LOBBY HERO for Redtwist Theatre opening in November, and is excited to be working with her favorite collaborator, Tanya Saracho, on the Early Stages of a new piece for About Face Theater next season.

Paul Oakley Stovall (Book, music, & lyrics, CLEAR) is an Artistic Associate at AFT and thrilled to finally be back! As a writer, his plays AS MUCH AS YOU CAN and APE have been produced to acclaim in Chicago at Dog and Pony Theatre Company -- both directed by Krissy Vanderwarker -- and regionally at NY Fringe, Diversionary Theatre in San Diego, and Celebration Theatre in Los Angeles (featuring Tonya Pinkins, Mr. Stovall, and Ovation award winner J.Nicole Brooks). Ms. Vanderwarker also guided an early version of CLEAR at Joe's Pub in NY. CLEAR was also recently featured at the 2010 Tony award winning O'Neill National Music Theater Conference. As an actor, Mr. Stovall has appeared in lots of regional theatre, internationally at Kinokuniya Hall in Tokyo, in national tours of RENT and ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, and in film (John Cameron Mitchell's SHORTBUS, Robert Altman's THE COMPANY). Locally, he has been seen on stage at Goodman, Court, Steppenwolf and others. His directing credits include LOVE RULES (also co-author) at DePaul University, and most recently assisting Neil Patrick Harris on the Hollywood Bowl production of RENT. He is currently a proud Advance Associate for the Obama administration.

KRISSY VANDERWARKER (Director, CLEAR) is a founder and the Artistic Director of Dog & Pony Theatre Co.. For Dog & Pony, she has directed: GOD'S EAR, AS TOLD BY THE VIVIAN GIRLS, MR. MARMALADE, APE, OSAMA THE HERO, CRUMBLE (LAY ME DOWN< Justin Timberlake) and AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. Other credits include: CLEAR (Joe's Pub), WHAT ONCE WE FELT (About Face Theatre) and AS MUCH AS YOU CAN (Hendel Productions West at LA's Celebration Theater ). She holds a BA in Religion and Art History from Northwestern University, and is in the process of procuring her MFA in Directing at The Theatre School of DePaul University.

DOUBLEDJ, comprised of Donnell Williams, Dan Stermer and Jessica Hudson. is a performance trio based in Chicago, IL. These three performers/choreographers and their unique aesthetics yield inventive, exciting, and thought-provoking choreography. Inspired by gender identity, popular culture, fashion and identity representation, DoubleDJ works as a connecting thread to the polarities of the human experience ... and we dance like strippers.

JANE BEACHY is a curator, event planner, and the Marketing Director at About Face Theatre. Recent projects include SALON SALON (Curator); the Pavement Group/Steppenwolf Visiting Company Initiative production of punkplay (Assistant Director); The Homo Show at About Face Theatre (co-curated with Paula Gilovich); and The Near Far, a multidisciplinary collaboration funded by Kansas City's Urban Culture Project (co-created with Randall Cohn). Jane moved to Chicago from New York City, and has also lived and/or worked in theatre communities in Seattle, Philadelphia, DC, Kansas City, and Iowa City.

About Face Theatre HISTORY

About Face Theatre is one of Chicago's most acclaimed theatre companies, and is a national leader in the development of new work exploring gender and sexual identity. Since its founding by Kyle Hall and Eric Rosen in 1995, the company has premiered more than 30 new plays by writers and directors who have been recognized with several Tony Awards, The Pulitzer Prize for Drama, The MacArthur Fellowship and dozens of Joseph Jefferson Awards.

Landmark world premieres include Doug Wright's Pulitzer and Tony-winning I AM MY OWN WIFE; Moisés Kaufman's production of Tennessee Williams' ONE ARM (a co-production with Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Tectonic Theatre Project); Mary Zimmerman's M. PROUST and, with Lookingglass Theatre, the famed ELEVEN ROOMS OF PROUST; Frank Galati and Stephen Flaherty's LOVING REPEATING: A MUSICAL OF Gertrude Stein (a co-production with the Museum of Contemporary Art, Original Cast Album recorded by Jay Records); the multi-award winning musical WINESBURG, OHIO by Eric Rosen, Andre Pluess, Ben Sussman and Jessica Thebus; and the cult hit PULP by Patricia Kane. Recent productions include STUPID KIDS, THE FLOWERS, WHAT ONCE WE FELT and SWEET TEA: BLACK GAY MEN OF THE SOUTH. In 2009 AFT launched another vehicle to support the development of new works withthe launch of the Chicago XYZ New Works Series, a program designed to introduce Chicago audiences to artists taking risks at all stages of development.

In addition to its award-winning mainstage performances, About Face is known nationally for its groundbreaking Youth Theatre, which creates critically acclaimed new work by and about LGBTQ youth and their allies. The Youth Theatre has performed on major stages across the country, and, through its outreach tour, changes the lives of thousands of young people each year. Building on the success of The Youth Theatre model, About Face recently launched its corporate outreach program to provide diversity training and onsite workshops to the corporate community. About Face Theatre creates exceptional, innovative and adventurous plays to advance the national dialogue on gender and sexual identity, and to challenge and entertain audiences in Chicago, across the country and around the world.

For ticket information, please visit www.AboutFaceTheatre.com.

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