Hell in a Handbag Productions is proud to announce the Chicago premiere of
HAYWIRE!, a deliciously comic horror parody set under the grit and the glamour of the big top.
Miranda Towers had it all- a promising singing career, a dashing husband, a loving a daughter, and her very own circus! Then, one day that world came tumbling down and Miranda went from wearing a top hat to a strait-jacket. Fast forward 15 years to 1966- Miranda returns to her circus when a mysterious and gruesome string of 'accidental' deaths occur. Is Miranda making up for lost time? See for yourself in this deliriously over-the-top homage to 60's horror b-movies.
Handbag Artistic Director David Cerda* (
Die! Mommie, Die!) stars as Miranda Towers, a woman with sawdust in her veins and an indomitable will that no man can resist. "When I read the script it was as if
HAYWIRE! was written for Hell in a Handbag, says Cerda. "Kevin Remington and Tim Wilkins have created a funny and whip-smart parody of
Berserk and
Strait-Jacket, two camp classic films starring our favorite actress, Miss
Joan Crawford. We are thrilled and honored to be introducing the show and
Fred Barton's fabulous songs to Chicago audiences".
The Towers Circus is full potential victims and suspects alike that take the audience to new heights of horror without a net!
Handbag favorite
Ed Jones* (
Caged Dames) takes on duo roles as Betty Ann Hardwicke, beauty school headmistress, and Reynaldo, the man with a dark lady on his back and an even darker secret buried in his past. Elizabeth Lesinski (
Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer) is Sylvanya, the exotic and mysterious hair hanger with a hidden agenda. Handsome newcomer Aaron Michael Adamkiewicz is Rod Conrad, the dashing trapeze artist who falls under Miranda's magical love spell. Kate Bergeron is Jackie, the beautiful and brassy lady magician with a few tricks up her sleeve and Megan Keach pulls double duty as Velva, the 'lady man' who knows all about Miranda and her dark past, and Sheila Towers, Miranda's seemingly sweet daughter and heir to the Towers circus. Rounding out the cast of roustabouts are Jefrey Wilkerson, Sam Brown, Seth Remington, Missy Aguilar and Caitlin McGlone as the gruff but loveable Canteen Annie.
HAYWIRE! is directed by Cheryl Snodgrass who last directed Hell in a Handbag Productions critically acclaimed, Chicago premiere of
Die! Mommie, Die!, which resulted in the company's first Jeff recommendation.
The top notch production team includes Scenic and Lighting Designer Dan Tamarkin (Factory Theatre),
Bill Morey (Porchlight) and Steven Newmes collaborating as Costume Designers and Chicago puppeteer Lolly Extract (Lyric Opera Chicago, Shedd Aquarium) will be creating puppets for
HAYWIRE!.
With a limited 5 week run you won't want to miss the show that combines, the circus, insanity, murder and
Joan Crawford all in one sitting-
HAYWIRE!
