Bad Jews to end Chicago run on December 27
By: Sally Henry Fuller Dec. 12, 2015
After a wildly successful, eight-month ride, Theater Wit's smash hit Chicago premiere of Joshua Harmon's Bad Jews will end its extended run with its final performance on December 27 at Chicago's Royal George Theatre.
Joshua Harmon's smart, funny play about 20-something Jewish cousins grappling with faith, family and identity was a surprise hit for Theater Wit, selling out a nine-week run last spring at the company's Lakeview home before transferring to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts. Bad Jews then enjoyed sold out performances all summer in Skokie, in a theater more than twice the size. In late August, Theater Wit transferred Bad Jews back to the city to Chicago's Royal George Theatre, where it had a strong run all fall.
"Bad Jews was the most successful production in Theater Wit's eleven-year history. I am exceptionally proud of this project and how it dramatically increased our visibility on both the local and national scene," said Jeremy Wechsler, Artistic Director, Theater Wit, and director of Bad Jews.
"When it ends its remarkable run of 170 performances, more than 15,000 audience members will have had the opportunity to experience Theater Wit's unique brand of 'smart art,'" added Wechsler. "In addition, proceeds from Bad Jews funded a significant soundproofing project at our home on Belmont Avenue, which will be welcomed by dozens of theater groups and thousands of audiences for years to come." So if you've been meaning to see Bad Jews, don't wait to secure last-chance tickets for the final two weeks of performances, through December 27 only at the Royal George cabaret studio, 1641 N. Halsted St. in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.
Show times are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Exceptions: No shows Thursday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) or Saturday, December 25 (Christmas Day).
Tickets are $24-$58. For tickets and information, call the Royal George box office, 312.988.9000 or visit badjewschicago.com.
Stir in the identity curation of the Facebook generation and Bad Jews was one of the funniest, wisest, conversation-starting comedies playing in Chicago this year.
Mazel tov to the cast and crew of Theater Wit's Chicago premiere production. Actors Ian Paul Custer played Liam and Cory Kahane was Jonah throughout the entire run. Laura Lapidus played Daphna before being whisked away to Washington, DC's Studio Theatre to play the same role last month, when Margo Chervony took over the role in Chicago. Erica Bittner originated the role of Melody, which Kelly O'Sullivan took over when the show transferred to the Royal George. Bittner, however, returned to the production on December 6 and will close out its run.
The Bad Jews creative team includes Jeremy Wechsler (director), Adam Veness (set), Brandon Wardell (lights), Janice Pytel (costumes), Cassy Schillo (props) and Sarah Luse (stage manager).
There, Theater Wit is currently presenting its twelfth annual staging of The Santaland Diaries, based on David Sedaris's uproariously funny, droll reminiscence of his less than merry misadventures as a Christmas elf gone bad, now through December 30. Next spring, Theater Wit will introduce Chicago to one of the nation's top young contemporary women playwrights with its Midwest premiere of Alena Smith's The New Sincerity, a comedy about love, sex and protest, and perhaps the first drama to deal with the idealism of the Occupy Movement.Previews start February 25. Press opening is Monday, March 7 at 7 p.m. Performances run through April 17.
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