Casting Set for FOR THE LOVE OF (OR THE ROLLER DERBY PLAY) at Pride Films and Plays

When Joy, a driftless young woman, gets on the Brooklyn Scallywags and meets the star, Lizzie Lightning, she and her long-term partner Michelle find their lives turned upside down.

For the Love Of asks how much you're willing to sacrifice - or lose - in order to follow your heart. This world premiere play by Gina Femia, a Brooklyn born and based playwright whose work has been presented in more than 30 festivals locally, nationally and internationally, will begin preview performances March 16 under the direction of Rachel Edwards Harvith. Press opening is March 20, 2017.

Pride Films and Plays Artistic Director Nelson Rodriguez says, "In an era when women's rights and autonomy are threatened, I am thrilled for PFP to present For the Love Of. Femia's superb writing, diverse all-female cast of characters, and representation of contemporary queer women is anchored by Joy's journey of realizing she has the authority, confidence, and passion to find fulfillment in herself. This play is one hell of ride in which we see that love and roller derby are both contact sports."

Director Rachel Edwards Harvith is the former Associate Artistic Director at Chicago Dramatists and a freelance director, whose credits include Beautiful Autistic and The Mecca Tales (Chicago Dramatists) and Assassins (Kokandy Productions). The cast features Alex Dauphin, Erica Hernandez, Lauren Goode, Amanda Raquel Martinez, Tricia Rogers, Emily Marso, Savannah Cannistraro, Robbin Major, and PFP Company Member Kenzie Seibert.

For the Love Of's design team includes Elyse Balogh (Set), G. Max Maxin IV (Lights), Uriel Gomez (Costumes), Melanie VItaterna (Props) and Heath Hays (sound). Denise Serna will serve as assistant director and PFP Company Member Christopher Young will assist with choreography and movement. Jenn M. Thompson will stage manage and Iris Sowlat will be production manager.

For the Love Of has previews on March 16, 17, and 18 at 7:30pm, and March 19 at 3:00pm. Preview tickets are $15. The press opening is Monday March 20 at 7:30pm. Performances run Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 3:00pm until its closing on April 16. There is an industry performance scheduled on Wednesday, April 12 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $25 for reserved seats and $20 for general admission. PFP's $10 Access Tickets for students, senior, or others who cannot afford full price tickets are available for each performance on an honor system. Purchase tickets at www.pridefilmsandplays.com or by calling 1.800.737.0984.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM:

Gina Femia (playwright). Gina Femia's plays have been developed/presented at The Great Plains Theatre Conference, Ensemble Studio Theatre, New Georges, Dixon Place, Pipeline Theatre Company, The Brick, and New York Madness. Her short plays have been presented as a part of more than 30 festivals locally, nationally and internationally.

She is a member of EST/Youngblood, Lather, Rinse, Repeat Collective, a New Georges Affiliated Artist, a New York Madness Company Member and is currently Playwright-in-Residence with March Forth Productions. She has received residencies with NTI at the O'Neill, SPACE on Ryder Farm, Fresh Ground Pepper and Grin City Collective and has been nominated for the Kilroys List, the Doric Wilson Award and the Cherry Lane Theatre Mentor Project. www.femiagina.com.

Rachel Edwards Harvith (director) has worked with such Chicago-area companies as Chicago Dramatists (former Associate Artistic Director), Mortar Theatre (founding company member), Kokandy Productions, American Theatre Company, American Blues Theatre, Stage Left, Teatro Luna, Raven Theatre, Pegasus Theatre Chicago, Babes with Blades, Bailiwick Chicago, and Livingroom Playmakers. Representative directing credits include the Jeff-nominated premieres of Beautiful Autistic and The Mecca Tales (Chicago Dramatists); 180 Degree Rule (Babes with Blades), which was named the #5 Chicago production of 2016 by Theatre by Numbers; and Assassins (Kokandy Productions), which was named the #5 Chicago production of 2014 by Time Out Chicago and received 5 Jeff nominations, including best direction of a musical. Education: BA in Theatre, Grinnell College; MFA in Directing, University of Iowa.

Pride Films and Plays changes lives through the generation of diverse new work (or work that is new to Chicago) with LGBTQ+ characters or themes that is essential viewing for all audiences. We accomplish this mission through fully-staged productions, writing contests and staged readings, film screenings, and special events. We foster long term relationships with artists to create programming that is as diverse, unique, and complex as the community we represent. In 2015, Huffington Post called PFP "A powerful and empowering entity." The company acquired its two performance spaces at 4139 and 4147 N. Broadway in July 2016, renaming the spaces the Pride Arts Center.

Pride Arts Center (PAC), operated by Pride Films and Plays, opened in 2016 and consists of two performance spaces: The Buena at 4147 N. Broadway which has 50 seats and The Broadway at 4139 N. Broadway which has 85 seats. PAC has become an important part of the arts environment in the Buena Park neighborhood and beyond by hosting events including After Orlando, Bechdel Fest, SheFest and the 525,600 Minutes Cabaret. Upcoming events include the legendary Charles Busch in That Girl, That Boy January 29 and 30. Additional tenants in 2017 include Walkabout Theater, New American Folk Theater, Cor Productions, Underscore Music Theater, 20% Productions, About Face Youth Theater, Another Door Productions. Pride Films and Plays 2016-17 season productions at the PAC include Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, For The Love Of (or, The Roller Derby Play) and The Nance.

For more information about space at Pride Arts Center, visit www.prideartscenter.com, or www.pridefilmsandplays.com.

Pictured: Top row L-R: Alex Dauphin, Kenzie Seibert, Erica Hernandez; Middle row L-R: Lauren Goode, Savannah Cannistraro, Tricia Rogers; Bottom row: L-R: Emily Marso, Amanda Raquel Martinez, Robbin Major

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