BARNEY THE ELF to Return to The Other Theatre Company for the Holidays

The Other Theatre Company (TOTC) announces the return of the smash hit with a queer twist Barney the Elf, written by company member Bryan Renaud, original direction by Silkaitis, additional direction by Tommy Rivera-Vega and choreographed by Rivera-Vega, November 30 - January 1, 2017 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

Previews are Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. Opening night is Thursday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays at 8 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets for previews are $20 and for the regular run $25. Tickets are on sale now at theothertheatrecompany.com.

TOTC's critically acclaimed 2015 hit returns. Chicago drag queen sensation Dixie Lynn Cartwright stars in this musical parody of Elf. After Santa Claus makes an untimely exit, his wicked son begins a not-so-jolly reign as the new head of Christmas. The North Pole begins to crumble under his tyrannical rule, and Barney the Elf is forced to leave his home. But it leaves the audience to wonder if he can truly leave Christmas behind for a new life in the big city.

ABOUT BRYAN RENAUD, playwright of Barney the Elf

Bryan Renaud is the associate artistic director of The Other Theatre Company, where he has performed in Bent and The Realm. The Other Theatre Company also premiered his plays Barney the Elf and Other Letters, co-authored with Carin Silkaitis. Other plays include Twelfth Night of the Living Dead (produced internationally and available from Chicago Dramaworks), Ladies Night of the Living Dead, All Our Twilight and the upcoming STRANGEST THINGS! The Musical premiering in 2017 from Random Acts.

ABOUT CARIN SILKAITIS, TOTC Artistic Director, original director of Barney the Elf

Carin Silkaitis is the founding artistic director of The Other Theatre Company where her credits include The Realm and Other Letters as an actor, as well as Others: A 24 Hour Play Festival, Daughters of Ire and Barney the Elf as director. Notable TV/film credits include "Chicago Fire," "Unexpected" and the SAG short film Blood and Water. Notable theatre credits include: Lips

Together, Teeth Apart (Eclipse Theatre), Sons of the Prophet, Distracted (American Theater Co.), Richard III (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New Englind (u/s Dean Wreen, Theater Wit, two weeks performed), and Rabbit Hole (u/s Izzy, Goodman Theatre). Silkaitis will play "Holly" in Artemisia Theatre's Visiting in spring 2017. She graduated from the School at Steppenwolf, received her MFA in acting from the Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University and is the Department Chair of Theatre at North Central College. She is a proud member of AEA, and is equally proud to be represented by Paonessa Talent in Chicago.

ABOUT Tommy Rivera-Vega, director/choreographer of Barney the Elf

Tommy Rivera-Vega is a The Other Theatre Company artistic associate, his credits with The Other Theatre include Others and Barney the Elf. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Rivera-Vega has proudly calls Chicago his new home. Additional credits include Mother Road (Goodman Theatre); Latino Theatre Festival (Los Angeles); Parachute Men, A View From The Bridge, Momma's Boyz (Teatro Vista); In the Heights (Skylight Music Theatre); In the Heights, My Fair Lady (Paramount Theatre); Three Sisters (Steppenwolf); Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Boho); Pippin (Music Theatre Company); CATS (Theo Ubique); AIDA (Bailiwick Chicago) and West Side Story (Drury Lane). Puerto Rico credits: Spring Awakening and Footloose (Black Box Theatre Workshop).

ABOUT DIXIE LYNN CARTWRIGHT, starring in Barney the Elf

Dixie Lynn Cartwright's credits include Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens, The Bitchfest Club and Scream Girls (MidTangent Productions). She can also be seen hosting her own monthly show, Dixie Wins A Talent Show, at Berlin. When she's not hosting "RuPaul's Drag Race" viewing parties or Beyoncé dance contests at Sidetrack, she's singing obscure Broadway songs to her tens of tens of YouTube fans.

The Other Theatre Company (TOTC) announces the return of the smash hit with a queer twist Barney the Elf, written by company member Bryan Renaud, original direction by Silkaitis, additional direction by Tommy Rivera-Vega and choreographed by Rivera-Vega, November 30 - January 1, 2017 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Previews are Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. Opening night is Thursday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays at 8 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets for previews are $20 and for the regular run $25. Tickets are on sale now at theothertheatrecompany.com.

Pictured: Maggie Cain as "Mrs. Claus" and Ensemble. Photo by Carin Silkaitis.

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