Chicago Dramatists Present Andrew Hinderaker's I AM GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD, Now thru 7/1

Chicago Dramatists present the final production of their 2011 - 2012 Season, I Am Going to Change the World by Resident Playwright Andrew Hinderaker and directed by Jonathan Berry from tonight, May 24 – July 1 at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 West Chicago Ave. Opening nights are Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2 at 8 p.m. Previews are tonight, May 24  through May 26 and May 31 at 8 p.m. Regular performance times (June 3 – July 1) are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Hinderaker's I Am Going to Change the World, follows John Chapman, who as a child, vowed to become a billionaire by age 35. When he graduates as University of Chicago's valedictorian and lands an interview with Goldman Sachs, his dreams are within reach. However, on the morning of his interview, John's alarm fails him, and when he finally wakes, it's to a life he never imagined possible.

The complete cast and production team for I Am Going to Change the World includes: Nicholas Harazin (John), Norm Woodel (Frank), Meg Thalken (Marla), Judy Blue (Dr. Jensen), Ed Flynn (Troy), Gabriel Franken (Geoffery) and Robert Koon (Tom).

Andrew Hinderaker (playwright), Jonathan Berry (director), Russ Tutterow (artistic director), Meghan Beals McCarthy (associate artistic director), Collette Pollard (scenic designer), Heather Gilbert (lighting designer), Chris Kriz (sound designer), Allison Siple (costume designer) and Mike Tutaj (projections designer).

Andrew Hinderaker is a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists whose recent work Suicide, Incorporated, received its New York premiere at the Roundabout Theatre's Underground in November 2011. The play was initially developed at Steppenwolf's First Look Festival of New Work and at the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference. It premiered at Chicago's Gift Theatre in June 2010 to critical acclaim, where it enjoyed a twice-extended sold-out run and was nominated for multiple Jeff Awards, including "Best New Work." Hinderaker's follow-up, Kingsville, premiered at Chicago's Stage Left Theatre in October 2010. The play was featured in American Theater magazine and named a finalist for the Woodward/Newman Drama Award. His plays have been developed and produced at such theatre companies as The Araca Group, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, the side project and American Theater Company. Additional recognitions for Hinderaker's work include finalist/semi-finalist status for the Princess Grace Award, the Heideman Award and the Austin Film Festival.

Jonathan Berry is a director and teacher in Chicago. His prior work with Andrew Hinderaker includes productions of Suicide, Incorporated at the Gift and at Roundabout Theatre in New York. Prior work includes: Steep Theatre: Festen, The Resistible Rise of Arturo, and the midwest premiere of The Hollow Lands, As a Griffin Company artistic associate, productions include: The North American premieres of Simon Stephens Punk Rock, Port, and On the Shore of the Wide World, Spring Awakening, Company, Picnic, Time and the Conways (Jeff nomination – director/ensemble), Dead End, Be More Chill, Brendan Behan's The Hostage and the critically acclaimed Journey's End. Other work includes: A Separate Peace for Steppenwolf's SYA and Melinda Lopez's Gary for First Look, Remy Bumppo, The Marriage of Figaro, Lifeline Theater: The Piano Tuner (After dark award – Best Production), Theater Mir: The Sea and Brecht's Caucasian Chalk Circle. He pursued his MFA in directing from Northwestern University. Upcoming projects include Moment by Deirdre Kinahan for Steep and Andrew Hinderacker's Dirty at The Gift.

I Am Going to Change the World runs May 24 – July 1 at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Avenue. Opening nights/press openings are Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2 at 8 p.m. (Previews are May 24 - 26 and May 31 at 8 p.m.). Regular performance times (June 3 – July 1) are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Ticket prices are $32 for regular single tickets (preview tickets $20) and student tickets are available at Thursday performances for $15. Tickets may be purchased online at www.chicagodramatists.org/box-office.

Chicago Dramatists is located just minutes from the Loop at 1105 W. Chicago Avenue, at the 24-hour Chicago Avenue stop of the Blue Line subway, and is just off the Ogden and Augusta exits of the Kennedy Expressway. There is street parking available.

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