Casting Announced for The New Colony's SCAPEGOAT; OR (WHY THE DEVIL ALWAYS LOVED US)

The New Colony has announced casting for its world premiere of Connor McNamara's political thriller SCAPEGOAT; OR (WHY THE DEVIL ALWAYS LOVED US), directed by Kristina Valada-Viars.

The production will feature will feature Echaka Agba, John Kelly Connolly, Barbara Figgins, Jeffery Owen Freelon Jr, Evan Linder, Jack McCabe, Cassidy Slaughter-Mason, Kelli Strickland and Norm Woodel.

SCAPEGOAT; OR (WHY THE DEVIL ALWAYS LOVED US) will playing April 6 - May 7, 2017 at The New Colony's resident home, The Den Theatre's Upstairs Main Stage, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Previews: $15; Regular run: $20. Students/seniors: 25% off. Tickets are currently available at www.thenewcolony.org. The press opening is Tuesday, April 11 at 7:30 pm.

Over two generations the Porters have cultivated their legacy as "The New Roosevelts." As a Religious Freedom bill bullies its way through Congress, their political dynasty is suddenly threatened when a story leaks claiming the family patriarch is a Satanist. With his eyes set on a future nomination to the Supreme Court, Anse Porter is forced to choose between having the life he's worked for, and sacrificing all for the people he serves. Loyalties to family, faith, country and self are tested in this twisted story of The Porter Family as they struggle through the wreckage of America's crumbling wall between church and state.

The production team for SCAPEGOAT; OR (WHY THE DEVIL ALWAYS LOVED US) includes: John Wilson (scenic design), Heather Sparling (lighting design), Becky Warner (production manager) and Zoe Benditt (stage manager).

Connor McNamara (Playwright) Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, Connor has lived and worked in Chicago for several years. His stage work was most-recently seen during the Chicago Home Theatre Festival; his prose published in ink&coda Magazine, as well as shortlisted for The Aeon Award. As an actor, Connor has worked with The Griffin Theatre, Marry-Arrchie Theatre Co., Step Up Productions, among others; television credits include Chicago Med. He is a graduate of Kent State University and The School at Steppenwolf.

Kristina Valada-Viars (Director) appeared in a benefit reading of The Warriors with The New Colony. Scapegoat will be her Chicago directing debut. She has worked on new play development projects with New Dramatists in New York and workshop productions with American Theatre Company, About Face, Goodman Theater and others. Chicago acting credits include The (Curious Case of the) Watson Intelligence (Theater Wit), The Diary of Anne Frank (Writers Theatre); The Great God Pan (Next Theatre); Completeness (Theater Wit) and Pony (About Face Theatre). She also served as Assistant Director on The Matchmaker (Goodman Theatre) and Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England (Theater Wit). Ms. Valada-Viars' other New York credits include original productions of Monstrosity (13P); Love Drunk (Abingdon Theatre Company); The Music Teacher (New Group) and 516 (New York International Fringe Festival). Her film and television credits include Molly's Girl (Best Actress in a Feature, Iris Prize Film Festival), Written Off (Amazon Prime) The Door in the Floor, BlackBox, Shameless, Law & Order: CI and Animal Husbandry. Currently appearing in the world premiere of The Source by Gabriel McKinley with Route 66 Theatre Company, directed by Jason Gerace.

The New Colony develops NEW ART and NEW ARTISTS in order to educate and build NEW AUDIENCES. Founded in 2008, The New Colony has established itself as "one of Chicago's essential off-Loop companies" (Chicago Tribune) having developed and produced over 25 world-premiere plays and musicals garnering four Joseph Jefferson Awards, the 2011 Broadway in Chicago Emerging Theatre Award, and Best Overall Production at the 2012 New York International Fringe Festival. The New Colony is a resident company of The Den Theatre located in Wicker Park.

Pictured: The cast of The New Colony's world premiere SCAPEGOAT; OR (WHY THE DEVIL ALWAYS LOVED US) (top, l to r) Echaka Agba, John Kelly Connolly, Barbara Figgins and Jeffery Owen Freelon Jr (bottom, l to r) Evan Linder, Jack McCabe, Cassidy Slaughter-Mason, Kelli Strickland and Norm Woodel.

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