Victory Gardens' THE GOSPEL OF LOVINGKINDNESS Begins Tonight

Victory Gardens Theater presents the World Premiere of The Gospel of Lovingkindness by Victory Gardens Ensemble Playwright Marcus Gardley, directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. The cast includes Cheryl Lynn Bruce, Tosin Morohunfola, Ernest Perry, Jr. and Jacqueline Williams. The Gospel of Lovingkindness runs tonight, February 28 - March 30, 2014, with the press performance on March 7, 2014, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

One mother sees her son struggle to find his place in the world, and another sees her son live his dream. When these proud women meet, everything--their lives, their families, their city--is sent over The Edge. As fervent and poetic as a gospel hymn, this drama about faith, family, and loss was inspired by true events.

Cheryl Lynn Bruce (Mary) returns to Victory Gardens Theater where she previously appeared in The Snow Queen, The Voice of Good Hope, and Eurydice. Cheryl was recently nominated for a Jeff Award for Head of Passes at Steppenwolf Theatre where she also was cast in Everyman, Intimate Apparel, Nomathemba and The Grapes of Wrath. For her work in Northlight Theatre's From the Mississippi Delta she won the Helen Hayes Award, a Jeff Award and a Connecticut Critics Circle Award.

Tosin Morohunfola (Noel/Emmanuel/Others) You might recognize Tosin from his recent stint at the Goodman Theatre in Pullman Porter Blues. He is also the founder of the Multicultural Theatre Initiative where he served as Artistic Director for two years. Tosin is a Resident Artist of the Coterie Theatre, and a member of "Those People" Comedy and "Boomtown! Improv." You may have glimpsed Tosin on NBC's hit show "Chicago Fire" or in one of his many performances as a Resident Artist of the Coterie Theatre.

Ernest Perry, Jr. (Joe/Coach/Others) is coming out of retirement for The Gospel of Lovingkindness. He was a regular on the Goodman stage and involved in the following productions Death and the King's Horsemen, An Enemy of the People, PlayMas, The Road, A Raisin in the Sun, Galileo, A Christmas Carol, Puddin 'n' Pete (Jeff Award nomination), The Ties That Bind, 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, Miss Evers' Boys, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Oo-Bla-Dee, Drowning Crow, Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, Cry, The Beloved Country, The Iceman Cometh, The Merchant of Venice and Heartbreak House.

Jacqueline Williams (Martha/Isis/Others) returns after a significant absence from Victory Gardens Theater but our most loyal patrons will remember Jaqueline from Waiting to Be Invited, The Colored Museum, and Shoes. You may have seen her recently in Head of Passes at Steppenwolf. She has been recognized with awards and nominations from the Jeff Committee, 3Arts, Helen Hayes, Black Theater Alliance, American Arts Council, Drama Desk, Sarah Siddons, Excellence in the Arts, After Dark awards and others.

The Gospel of Lovingkindness will play previews February 28 - March 6, 2014 with a press opening set for Friday, March 7, 2014 at 8:00pm. The regular run will continue March 8 - March 30, 2014, playing: Tuesdays 7:30 pm (except March 11 and 18); Wednesdays 7:30 pm; Thursdays 7:30 pm; Fridays 7:30 pm; Saturdays 4:00 pm (except March 1 and 8) and 7:30pm; and Sundays 3:00 pm.

The Victory Gardens Biograph Theater is located at 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Tickets: Previews: $20 - $40; Regular run: $20 - $60. Box Office: The Box Office is located at 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, or call 773.871.3000 or visit victorygardens.org.

About Victory Gardens Theater: Under the leadership of Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Chris Mannelli, Victory Gardens is dedicated to artistic excellence while creating a vital, contemporary American Theater that is accessible and relevant to all people through productions of challenging new plays and musicals. With Victory Gardens' first new Artistic Director in 34 years, the company remains committed to the development, production and support of new plays that has been the mission of the theater since its founding, continuing the vision set forth by Dennis Zacek, Marcelle McVay, and the original founders of Victory Gardens Theater.

Victory Gardens Theater is a leader in developing and producing new theatre work and cultivating an inclusive Chicago theater community. Victory Gardens' core strengths are nurturing and producing dynamic and inspiring new plays, reflecting the diversity of our city's and nation's culture through engaging diverse communities, and in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, bringing art and culture to our city's active student population.

Since its founding in 1974, the company has produced more world premieres than any other Chicago theater, a commitment recognized nationally when Victory Gardens received the 2001 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater includes the Zacek-McVay Theater, a state-of-the-art 299-seat mainstage and the 109-seat studio theater on the second floor, named the Richard Christiansen Theater.

In 2012, Victory Gardens Victory Gardens appointed new Ensemble Playwrights Philip Dawkins, Marcus Gardley, Samuel D. Hunter and Tanya Saracho, for seven-year residencies. The Playwrights Ensemble Alumni includes Claudia Allen, Lonnie Carter, Steve Carter, Gloria Bond Clunie, Dean Corrin, Nilo Cruz, Joel Drake Johnson, John Logan, Nicholas Patricca, Douglas Post, James Sherman, Charles Smith, Jeffrey Sweet and Kristine Thatcher.

For more information about Victory Gardens, www.victorygardens.org. Follow up on Facebook at Facebook.com/victorygardens and Twitter @VictoryGardens.

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