All-Female Cast Set for Halcyon Theatre's FEFU AND HER FRIENDS

Chicago's Halcyon Theatre announces casting for Fefu and Her Friends by María Irene Fornés, the first show of the company's 11th season. Directed by Halcyon's Artistic Director Tony Adams, Fefu and Her Friends brings the audience around the space to intimately experience each scene in this 20th century drama.

The cast features Ashley Agbay, Mary Ann de la Cruz, Eleanor Katz, Tamika Lechée Morales, Maren Rosenberg, Sarah Rachel Schol,Laura Stephenson and Allyce Torres with understudies, Rena Ahmed, Debbie Baños, Katie Incardona and Rose Sengenberger.

Fefu and Her Friends runs August 18 - October 8, 2016 at Halcyon Theatre located in residence at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3253 W. Wilson Avenue, on Chicago's north side. The official opening night performance is Sunday, August 28, at 6pm.

"'How did we get here?' is a simple question behind Fefu and her Friends," said Tony Adama, Artistic Director of Halcyon Theatre. "It's not one that comes with an easy answer. Progress is messy and people are complicated. In Irene's hands, a drop of water can contain an entire nuanced universe, and it's stunning to follow the breadcrumbs she leaves behind in her text. To my mind, only Eugene O'Neill has had a greater impact on the American theatre, but her plays are produced far less often. This is the sixth of Irene's plays that we have produced and I am really excited to explore one of her best plays with such a great team."

On a spring New England day in 1935, eight women gather to rehearse for a charity presentation. As audiences travel from room to room in Fefu's house, they witness the complicated relationships and clashing ideals that unearth as the women consider what it means to be a feminist in the mid-1930s.

Fefu and Her Friends' design team includes Barbara Charlene (fight director) Cat Davis (lighting), Izumi Inaba (costumes), Jessica Mondres (properties), Ian Scarlato (sound) and Nicholas Schwartz (set).

A fourth production, Lloyd Suh's American Hwangap, has been added to Halcyon's 2016-17 season as a co-production with Chicago's A-Squared Theatre. Directed by Helen Young, American Hwangap is set to run February 24 - April 1, 2017.

The final production of Halcyon's 2016-17 Season, The River Bride is now set to be directed by Rinska Carrasco-Prestinary.

Fefu and Her Friends will be performed August 18 through October 8 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8p.m. and Sundays at 6p.m. Tickets are $20 for guaranteed advance admission or at no-cost through the Radical Hospitality program. For additional information, visit halcyontheatre.org/fefu or call 773-413-0454.

Radical Hospitality program - As a core part of Halcyon's mission of eradicating economic boarders and building inclusive audiences, the theatre offers no-cost access to all productions for any audience member. There are two ways to see a performance:

1) No-cost admission: Halcyon holds a significant number of seats for no-cost admission on a first come, first served basis for each performance. To access these seats, provide contact information at the box office up to one hour prior to curtain. Seating begins 30 minutes before show time. No assigned seats.

2) Guaranteed admission: $20 guaranteed seats can be reserved in advance online and in person at the box office. Seating begins 30 minutes before show time and is open. No assigned seats.

Halcyon Theatre is fiercely committed to making the stage as diverse as the city of Chicago. Dedicated to presenting new voices from inadequately represented communities, Halcyon works to recast classic works in order to showcase contemporary relevance.

Based in the Albany Park neighborhood, Halcyon Theatre was formed in 2006 to connect people, transform borders and ascend toward a more just union. The theatre's artistic philosophy is driven by the continuing belief that at every point of human history where there has been an explosion of artistic creativity, it has happened when different cultures and traditions have met and learned from each other. Halcyon's work includes productions as well as providing platforms-including Compass Lab as well as writing workshops & new play labs-for artists to grow and reach their full potential.

For more information, visit www.halcyontheatre.org.

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