About Face Theatre's Full 2014-15 Season to Include A KID LIKE JAKE, METHTACULAR! & More
By: Tyler Peterson Aug. 21, 2014
About Face Theatre has announced its full line-up of 2014-15 programming, kicking off this fall with the Chicago premiere of METHTACULAR!, Steven Strafford's hilarious and harrowing autobiographical account of his three year crystal meth addiction in Chicago. In the winter, AFT presents the Chicago premiere of Daniel Pearle's A KID LIKE JAKE, a contemporary look at gender seen through the lens of parents shepherding their Cinderella-loving son through the rigors of NYC kindergarten admissions. Next spring, AFT presents another Chicago premiere - Bixby Elliot's comedy ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS A F*GG*T, a teen's touching and hilarious quest to prove the truth behind our 16th President's sexual orientation.
AFT's 2014-15 programming will also include a yet-to-be-titled world premiere devised by the About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble and the return of the OUT FRONT Series, a year-round line-up of workshops and readings of new and developmental works by LGBTQIA playwrights. This year's OUT FRONT Series will focus on plays by and about women, including a workshop of THE LONELINESS PROJECT by Artistic Associate Kelli Simpkins, which explores the intergenerational sense of isolation in the LGBTQIA community.
About Face is pleased to introduce "AFT On Demand," a variety of flexible, year-round subscription packages. For plans and prices, visit www.aboutfacetheatre.org. Single tickets for METHTACULAR! are currently on-sale at www.aboutfacetheatre.org, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Single tickets for additional programming will go on sale at a later date.
"We're excited to bring audiences a season of provocative, engaging and entertaining works that illuminate the world in which we live," comments Artistic Director Andrew Volkoff. "In fact, all our mainstage work is united by the theme of 'authenticity.' As Shakespeare said, 'To thy own self be true.' In the LGBTQIA community, I feel that question is constantly at the heart of who we are - no matter where we fall on the spectrum. These plays celebrate the value of embracing our own truths and highlight the many different paths through that question. We hope you'll join us in 2014-15 for a journey into the truth of the human experience," adds Volkoff.
About Face Theatre's 2014-15 programming includes:
August 21 - September 28, 2014
The Chicago Premiere of
METHTACULAR!
Written and performed by Steven Strafford
Directed by Adam Fitzgerald
Music supervision and arrangements by John McDaniel
Original music and arrangements by William TN Hall
Original music by Wade Elkins
at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago.
METHTACULAR! is Steven Strafford's hilarious and harrowing autobiographical account of his three years as a crystal meth addict in Chicago. Through comedy, songs, and plenty of honest storytelling, Strafford brings audiences on a journey through the chemical highs, devastating lows, and ultimate redemption from his drug addled, sex crazed life. Presented in association with Justin Brill.
February 2015
The Chicago Premiere of
A KID LIKE JAKE
By Daniel Pearle
Directed by Keira Fromm
Location TBA
Alex and Greg's intelligent and precocious four year-old son is a leading candidate for enrollment in one of Manhattan's top kindergarten programs. But when attention turns to his passion for Cinderella and dress-up, his imagination and behavior becomes a lightning rod for all involved. Winner of the prestigious Laurents/Hatcher playwriting prize, A KID LIKE JAKE takes a contemporary look at gender, family, expectations and acceptance through the lens of 21st century parenting.
Daniel Pearle's plays include Bel Canto, Tearin' Up My Heart, The Prodigies, Freefall, Plunder and The Truth About Christmas. Awards include: 2013 Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award, 2013 Laurie Foundation Theatre Visions Fund Award, 2008 Loeb Drama Center Phyllis Anderson Prize and MacDowell Fellow.
May/June 2015
The Chicago Premiere of
ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS A F*GG*T
By Bixby Elliot
Directed by Artistic Director Andrew Volkoff
Location TBA
In this time travelling riff on history, young Cal embarks on a journey to prove to his family that Abraham Lincoln, one of our country's most revered presidents, might be gay. Cal's story is juxtaposed with scenes from Abraham Lincoln's life in the 1800s - along the way there is sex in a stovepipe hat, a road trip to the nation's capital, budding high-school romance and a quadrille or two. From the writer of the hit comedy, Girl You Know It's True, Abraham Lincoln was a F*gg*t is a clever take on truth, family and the importance of role models for LGBTQ youth.
Bixby Elliot's work has been produced in New York, Chicago, Seattle and Edinburgh. His plays include Blueprint (world premiere NYC: SPF), Abraham Lincoln was a Fa**ot (finalist: O'Neill Theater Conference 2010, New Dramatists, Seven Devils Development Conference, winner: Pandora New Play Competition) and Girl You Know It's True (semi-finalist: O'Neill Conference 2011, Princess Grace Award). Other plays include Birds Do It (semi-finalist: Princess Grace Award), Treasure Island, FL (semi-finalist: O'Neill Conference 2012, winner: SouthernRep New Play Festival), PN1923.45 LS01 volume 2: The Book Play (New York Premiere: NYC International Fringe Festival), Hotel Oracle (New York premiere: Walkerspace/SoHo Rep) and I Am Not Peter Pan (New York premiere: Cherry Lane Theater; Edinburgh Fringe Festival - Best of Fest). Bixby holds an MFA in playwriting from Columbia University, is a proud company member of InViolet Rep and is co-curator of The Brooklyn Generator, a project that supports writers in creating new work.
July 2015
A World Premiere by The About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble
Location TBA
Each year, About Face's acclaimed Youth Theatre devises a play through workshops, in depth interviews, theatre training and improvisation. Working with a professional writer and director, they produce plays that tackle challenging topics ranging from being undocumented and queer to anti-gay violence to safe spaces for youth in the LGBTQIA community. Next year, AFYT will tackle another pressing issue in the queer community.
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