'Brother' & 'Mother' Rep at Theatre Bldg Chicago thru 11/18

Hancock Productions presents in repertory the world premiere spy thriller The Brother (through November 18) and Marsha Norman's Pulitzer Prize winning 'night Mother (September 14 through November 18) at the Theatre Building Chicago.

Written and directed by noted stage and film director John Hancock, The Brother is the largely untold story of the Rosenberg spy case, based on the book by New York Times "Week in Review" editor Sam Roberts.  The plays are co-produced by Shawna Tucker.  The press openings are as follows:  Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. (The Brother) and Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. ('night Mother).  Tickets are on sale now.

"Following the espionage trial that led to the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, The Brother focuses on Ethel's brother, David Greenglass.  He was the spy ring's man inside Los Alamos while America was developing the atomic bomb. Steppenwolf Ensemble Member Robert Breuler will star in this compelling drama as Greenglass, whose confession saved his wife from indictment but implicated his sister and her husband, ultimately sending them to the electric chair. In this account, he admits lying for the first time about the memory of his sister's role," explains press notes, "Recounting this bitter episode in American history, The Brother is a spy thriller, a painful family saga and a cautionary tale of state power in times of fear and repression.  It shows the shocking tactics of the US government, led by the notorious Roy Cohn, who went on to become Senator Joe McCarthy's henchman."

 "'night Mother, Marsha Norman's drama of a failed mother-daughter relationship, will star Elaine Rivkin and Dorothy Tristan, directed by John Hancock.  It is a major dramatic work, full of emotion and unexpected humor, about the threatened suicide of the daughter."

Elaine Rivkin, who plays the daughter, is known by Chicago audiences for her performances in Cider House Rules, Execution of Justice and Pyretown.  Dorothy Tristan, who plays the mother, has appeared in a number of motion pictures.  She was featured with Jane Fonda in Klute and played opposite Gene Hackman and Al Pacino in Scarecrow.

Director John Hancock's credits include the films Bang the Drum Slowly, Prancer, Let's Scare Jessica to Death, and Weeds.  He served as the Artistic Director of The San Francisco Actor's Workshop, The Pittsburgh Playhouse and The New Repertory Theatre in New York City and has received an Academy-Award nomination and an Obie.  He directed multiple off-Broadway hits including A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Man's Man, Endecott and the Red Cross and The Storm.

Performances of The Brother are Thursdays at 7:30PM, Saturdays at 3PM & 7:30PM and Sundays at 3PM.  'night Mother performs Fridays at 7:30PM and Sundays at 7PM.

Tickets are $30 general, $10 previews.  Theatre Building Chicago is located at 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Ticket may be purchased that the box office, by phone at 773-327-5252 or Ticketmaster 312-902-1500 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. Reservations are strongly encouraged.  For more details, visit: www.theatrebuildingchicago.org

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