Announcing the Cast and Production Team of Jackalope's 1980 (OR WHY I'M VOTING FOR JOHN ANDERSON)

It's 1980 and an unknown congressman from Illinois, John Anderson, just might have a chance to be President of the United States. In the candidate's Boston campaign office, four idealistic young campaign workers struggle to spread the hope that their long-shot candidate might bring to the country and to their lives, while staving off that era's Unthinkable Presidency. 1980 (Or Why I'm Voting For John Anderson) pits youthful optimism against the status quo, in a world premiere comedy about class, race, and the politics of change.

The cast for 1980 (Or Why I'm Voting for John Anderson) features Hillary Horvath (Kathleen), Evelyn Gaynor (Brenda), Bryce Gangel (Robin), and Sheldon Brown (Will).

The production team includes: Sotirios Livaditis (scenic designer), Catharine Young (costume designer), Lacie Hexom(props designer), Steve LaBedz (sound designer), Claire Chzran and Dan Friedman (co-lighting designers and master electricians), Olivia Wallace (stage manager), Sabina Dzelilovic (dramaturg), Sammi Grant (dialect coach), Almanya Narula(fight choreographer), Evan Sposato (technical director), Eleanor Axt (casting director), Toma Langston (assistant director), Noelle Hedges Goettl (production manager), and Lauren Brady (assistant stage manager).

Patricia Cotter (playwright) is an Emmy Award-winning, Groundling Theater Alum. She's received the American Academy of Arts Letters, Richard Rodgers Award for musical theater. Other honors include the Ovation Award and the Garland Award. Plays include Rules of Comedy 39th Humana Festival of New American Plays, 2015; The Anthropology Section (2015), and Rules of Comedy (2014) performed by The Actors Theatre of Louisville's Evening of Ten Minute Plays, two-time Heideman Award finalist; The Colony, The City Theatre, Miami, Florida, 2016; The Surrogate (Semi-finalist, O'Neill National Playwrights Conference 2016) world premiere Centenary Stage Company, February 2017; 1980 (Or Why I'm Voting for John Anderson) A June Anne Baker commission. Readings: Cape Cod Theater Project Conference, July 2016, Premiere Stages, Kean University, NJ June 2017, TACT, NYC July 2017. Production: Jackalope Theatre, October 2017 The Break Up Notebook (A GLAAD Award nominee); and Three: Best/Worst (Apartment A Theatre Company, Venice CA, where she was playwright-in-residence). Patricia co-wrote the cabaret show, So Far - Beth Malone (Joe's Pub, NYC, The Triad, NYC, The Art House Provincetown, MA, The Wheeler Opera House, Aspen, CO). Her musicals (librettist/adaptations) include Rocket Science: A Musical (Music by Stephen A. Weiner, lyrics by Jason Rhyne) and The Break Up Notebook: A Musical (based on her play, music and lyrics by Lori Scarlett). She adapted Mulan, Jr. based on the Disney film, Mulan for Disney Theatrical. She was the co-librettist on Justin Love, which won The LA Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Production 2013. She is writing a new musical, Mrs. Nash, which was developed at the 2017 Rhinebeck Writer's Retreat. She is a member of the Playground Writers Pool, where she received the 2014 June Anne Baker Prize and commission which honors the top female playwright representing a gifted new comedic or political voice for the stage. She is a 2016 Playwrights Foundation Resident Playwright.

Kaiser Ahmed (director) served as the Founding Artistic Director of Jackalope from its inception in May of 2008 through the end of 2011, and now serves as the Associate Artistic Director. Though primarily a director, Kaiser considers himself a theatre artist, fluent in all aspects of the theatre-making process. Along with producing Jackalope shows, Kaiser has most recently directed The Raid, The Killing of Michael X, Long Way Go Down, Slaughter City, Jackalope's inaugural production The Last Exodus of American Men, and several 10-min plays along the way.

A graduate of Columbia College Chicago's Theatre Directing program, Kaiser is also an Artistic Associate at The Artistic Home Theatre Company. A member there since 2005, he directed The Late Henry Moss, House of Yes, and several 10min. plays along the way. Kaiser most recently directed Washer/Dryer at Rasaka Theatre. Kaiser is a 2015-16 Eugene O'Neill National Directors Fellowship Finalist. Favorite acting work includes Lunacy! (Jackalope Theatre), A Nice Indian Boy (Rasaka Theatre) and The Seagull (Artistic Home Theatre).

Born in Bangladesh and raised in Michigan, Kaiser has traveled a long way to arrive in Chicago. He is constantly amazed by this beautiful country and has spent the majority of his life grappling with the question of what it means to be a member of this land. He hopes you'll join Jackalope in his quest to answer that question.

Tickets: $5 - $30, on sale via jackalopetheatre.org

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