Casting Announced for AstonRep Presents ELEEMOSYNARY

AstonRep Theatre Company is pleased to continue its 2016-17 season with ELEEMOSYNARY, Lee Blessing's poignant portrait of three women, co-directed by Associate Artistic Director Derek Bertelsen* and Company Member Jeremiah Barr*. ELEEMOSYNARY will play February 23 - March 12, 2017 at The Frontier, 1106 W. Thorndale Ave. in Chicago.

Tickets go on sale Monday, November 14 at www.astonrep.com or by calling (773) 828-9129. The press opening is Saturday, February 25 at 7:30 pm.

ELEEMOSYNARY will feature Alexandra Bennett*, Sarah C. Lo. and Debra Rodkin.

Sensitive and probing, ELEEMOSYNARY examines the subtle and often perilous relationship between three generations of remarkable women: the grandmother, Dorothea, who has sought to assert her independence through strong-willed eccentricity; her brilliant daughter, Artie, who has fled the stifling domination of her mother; and Artie's daughter, Echo, a child of exceptional intellect, whom Artie has abandoned to an upbringing by Dorothea. This poignant and mature study of familial relationships highlights the human need for connection and forgiveness.

We are so excited to announce our very first winter production with Lee Blessing's powerful, touching Eleemosynary presented at the Frontier Space in Edgewater," comments Artistic Director Robert Tobin. "We look forward to presenting this new classic and providing the intimate, personal experience for our audiences which we are known for."

The production team for ELEEMOSYNARY includes: Samantha Barr* (scenic design), Derek Bertelsen* (costume design), Robert Tobin* (lighting/sound design), Jeremiah Barr* (props design), Dana Anderson (dramaturg) and Amy Kasper* (stage manager).

*Denotes AstonRep Company Members.

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: ELEEMOSYNARY

Playwright: Lee Blessing

Co-Directors: Associate Artistic Director Derek Bertelsen* and Company Member Jeremiah Barr*

Cast: Alexandra Bennett* (Artie), Sarah C. Lo (Echo) and Debra Rodkin (Dorothea).

Location: The Frontier, 1106 W. Thorndale Ave., Chicago

Dates: Previews: Thursday, February 23 at 7:30 pm and Friday, February 24 at 7:30 pm

Press performance: Saturday, February 25 at 7:30 pm

Regular run: Sunday, February 26 - Sunday, March 12, 2017

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 2:30 pm

Tickets: Previews: $10. Regular run: $20. Student/seniors $10. Tickets go on sale Monday, November 14 at www.astonrep.com or by calling (773) 828-9129.

About the Artists

Lee Blessing's (Playwright) plays include A Walk In The Woods (Broadway and London's West End), Going to St. Ives, (Outer Critic's Circle Award, Best Play, Obie for ensemble performance); Thief River (Drama Desk nomination, Best Play); Cobb (Drama Desk award, Best Ensemble); Chesapeake, Down The Road, The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid and Cold Water. In the 1992-93 Signature Theatre season: Fortinbras, Lake Street Extension, Two Rooms and the world premiere of Patient A. Recent regional world premieres: A Body of Water at the Guthrie Theater and the Old Globe Theatre; Lonesome Hollow, Flag Day and Whores, all at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival; The Scottish Play at La Jolla Playhouse; Black Sheep at Florida Stage and The Winning Streak at George Street Playhouse. Other plays: Independence, Riches, Oldtimers Game and Nice People Dancing To Good Country Music and Perilous Night. Other awards: The American Theater Critics Circle Award, the L.A. Drama Critics Award, The Great American Play Award, The Humanitas Award and the George and Elisabeth Marton Award among others. He has been nominated for Tony and Olivier awards, as well as for the Pulitzer Prize. He lives in New York and heads the graduate playwriting program at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University.

Derek Bertelsen (Co-Director) serves as Associate Artistic Director for AstonRep, where he has previously directed The Black Slot, The Lyons, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Wit, Next Fall and Doubt. Other directing credits include Mary-Kate Olsen Is In Love (The Comrades), Design for Living, The Children's Hour (Pride Films and Plays), God of Carnage and The Dinner Party (BrightSide Theatre). Assistant directing credits include work at Steppenwolf, Goodman and Bailiwick Chicago. He's also directed for Arc Theatre, Commedia Beauregard, Greenhouse Trellis Series, New Ground Theatre, Festival 56, Shawnee Summer Playhouse and five seasons at Timber Lake Playhouse.

Jeremiah Barr (Co-Director) Eleemosynary marks Jeremiah's second adventure into directing, the first being as assistant director on Doubt with AstonRep. Some of his other recent credits include scenic design for The Black Slot with AstonRep; props design for Winterset with Griffin Theater; scenic design for Gross Indecency and Eurydice both with Promethean Theater Ensemble.

About AstonRep Theatre Company:

AstonRep Theatre Company was formed in the summer of 2008. Since then, the company has produced 17 full-length productions and eight annual Writer's Series. AstonRep is an ensemble of artists creating theatre to move and engage our audiences and spark discussion through new works and re-imagined classics in an intimate setting.

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