Cast Announced for Raven Theatre's RED VELVET

Michael Menendian, Producing Artistic Director of Raven Theatre, has announced casting for the company's upcoming production of Red Velvet, by Lolita Chakrabarti.

The play, which premiered in London in 2012 to critical acclaim, tells the backstage story of African-American actor Ira Aldridge and how in 1833 he became the first black actor to perform on a London stage. The action is set at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden after Edmund Kean, the greatest actor of his generation, has collapsed on stage while playing Othello. Aldridge has been asked to take over the role, but as the public riots in the streets over the abolition of slavery, how will the cast, critics and audience react to the revolution taking place in the theatre?

Red Velvet enjoyed its world premiere production at London's Tricycle Theatre and was revived in London this past February by the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company. Its US premiere was in 2014 at New York City's St. Ann's Warehouse, and it was produced earlier this year in Los Angeles at the Junction Theatre and at the San Francisco Playhouse. Raven's production will be the play's first in Chicago. It will be performed on the company's East Stage from September 28 through November 27, 2016 under Menendian's direction. Menendian says "Red Velvet will be an entertaining and moving story of backstage life and racial intolerance in the London theatre world of the early 19th Century. It was a time of dramatic change inside and outside the theater."

The lead role of Ira Aldridge, originally performed by the playwright's husband Adrian Lester, will be taken by Brandon Greenhouse, a cast member of Raven's Direct from Death Row The Scottsboro Boys. Greenhouse's Chicago credits also include Softly Blue (MPAACT), Intimate Apparel (Eclipse), Hair (American Theatre Company) and The Little Foxes(Goodman Theatre). He also appeared in The Two Gentlemen of Veronaand Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead at American Players Theatre. In the role of Ellen Tree - the actress who plays Desdemona to Aldridge's Othello - will be Tuckie White, whose credits include roles at Goodman, Victory Gardens and Lifeline theaters, along with Raven's The Play About My Dad. The theatre company's manager, Pierre, will be played by Matt Klingler, who received a Jeff Award nomination for his performance as Chris Keller in Raven's All My Sons. Charles Kean, the son of legendary Shakespearean actor Edmund Kean and Aldridge's primary nemesis, will be played by Tyler Rich, who has appeared in productions at Chicago Shakespeare, Montana Shakespeare and American Players theaters.

Also in the cast are Anna Dauzvardis (Connie), Tim Martin (Casimir, Henry), Sophia Menendian (Halina, Betty, Margaret) and Scott Olson (Terrence, Bernard). Understudies are Charles Askenaizer, Brandon Boler, Annie Hogan, Jeremy Pfaff and Katrinka Smith.

The production and design team include Jeff Award winning designers Ray Toler (scenic design), and Diane D. Fairchild (lighting design), along with Joelle Beranek (costume design), Mary O'Dowd (properties design and set dressing) and Eric Backus (sound design). The production team includes Kiley Morgan (stage manager), Kelly Hovsepian (assistant stage manager), Destiney Higgins (assistant director), Conor Clark (technical director), Kendra Thulin (dialect coach), Eileen Rozycki (scenic artist) and Jessica Doyle (master electrician).

IF YOU GO:

Red Velvet

By Lolita Chakrabarti

Directed by Michael Menendian

East Stage

Previews: Wednesday, September 28 through Saturday, October 1 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, October 2 at 3:00 p.m. and Monday, October 3 at 7:30 p.m.Preview prices are $29.00 ($26.00 online) plus ticketing fees.

Opening Night: Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Performances continue through November 27, 2016

Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.beginning Friday, October 7, 2016. No shows Thursday, October 6, 2016or Thursday, November 24, 2016 (Thanksgiving Day).

All performances on Raven's East Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville), Chicago

Nearest El station Granville Red Line, Buses: #22 (Clark), #36 (Broadway), #151 (Sheridan), #155 (Devon), #64 (Peterson).

For more, visit www.raventheatre.com or call 773-338-2177.

Tickets: $43.00 ($40.00 if purchased online), Seniors $38.00 ($35.00 if purchased online), Teachers $38.00 ($35.00 if purchased online), students/active military and veterans $19.00 ($18.00 if purchased online), plus ticketing fees. Groups of 10 or more are $26 per person for Thursday and Friday performances and $30 per person for Saturday and Sunday performances, plus applicable fees. Student groups are $12.00 per person for groups of 10 or more for Thursday and Friday performances. Tickets may be purchased online at www.raventheatre.com or by phone at 773-338-2177.

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