Chicago Slam Works to Stage Anti-Valentine's Day Farce NEVERMIND, IT'S NOTHING

Chicago Slam Works Ensemble Theatre announces the World Premiere of "Nevermind, It's Nothing," as a cure for a Valentine's Day hangover running Feb. 17 - March 24 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont.

Using slam poetry as a primary medium, Chicago Slam Works Ensemble Theatre uses elements of movement, drama, music, spoken word, and sketch comedy based on a central theme to create a truly unique and unified theater experience. "Nevermind, It's Nothing" is a madcap lyric play that tackles the flawed and funny convergence of desire and the unsaid in love, relationships and sex. The lead writer for "Nevermind, It's Nothing" is Shelley Elaine Geiszler and it is directed by J.W. Basilo.

Tickets are $15 - $25 and performances are Fridays at 8:15 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m. There is one preview on Feb. 16 at 8:15 p.m. For tickets and information, visit www.ChicagoSlamWorks.com.

"This is the perfect antidote for Valentine's Day," said J,W. Basilo, Director. "This show is sex-positive and queer-forward. We try to celebrate and explore the parts of sex and romance that mainstream romantic shows avoid. It's the show for anyone who rolls their eyes at sonnets and prefers their kisses with teeth."

"Nevermind, It's Nothing" is a series of multi-voice performance poems intercut with a tongue-in-cheek play on a traditional farce. The narrative follows the story of Bee and Alex, a married lesbian couple celebrating their anniversary by throwing a party to celebrate their impending divorce. On the guest list are the only people a bigger mess than they are - their friends. The cast includes ensemble members Shelley Elaine Geiszler (The Sister), Felix Mayes (The BFF), Kyla Norton (Alex), Bianca Phipps (The Ex), Joseph Ramski (The Suitor) and Teagan Walsh-Davis (Bee).

Chicago Slam Works Ensemble Theatre's World Premiere of "Nevermind, It's Nothing" runs Friday, Feb. 17 - March 25 at 8:15 p.m. and Saturdays, Feb. 18, March 4 and March 11 at 2 p.m. at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont. For tickets and information visit www.ChicagoSlamWorks.com.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

J.W. Basilo (Director) is the Executive Director of Chicago Slam Works and founder and Artistic Director of the CSW Ensemble Theatre. He serves as co-writer and director of the company's 6 original shows to date. Basilo is also a National and World Poetry Slam finalist, a PushCart Prize Nominee, and a company member with Red Theater Chicago. His work has appeared on NPR, CNN, CBS, WGN, in the Chicago Tribune, NewCity, numerous literary journals, and in hundreds of theaters, dive bars, prisons, schools and Comedy Clubs across the world. Recently, Basilo was honored by NewCity as one of Chicago's "Lit 50." Currently, Basilo co-hosts the world famous Uptown Poetry Slam every Sunday at the Green Mill in Chicago.

Shelley Elaine Geiszler (The Sister) is a founding member of the CSW House Ensemble, contributing writing & performance to six productions since 2014. Her performances have featured in The Fly Honey Show, at Salonathon, and numerous other venues around Chicago. She competed with The Green Mill Slam Team, and has performed in Europe with The Speak'Easy Ensemble. Playwrighting collaborations include the puppet shows Ichthyodyssey, Into the Uncanny Valley, and an upcoming adaptation of Ubu Roi with Rough House Theater. Shelley earned her B.A. in Acting at UCLA.

Felix Mayes (The BFF) has had the opportunity to perform on stages from NJPAC to the Lincoln Center to Dvorák Hall in Prague, as a singer, actor, and dancer. Some of his credits include: Angel (Rent), Edgar (Bat Boy), Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), Franklin Shepard (Merrily We Roll Along), and The Mummy (Ghost Sonata). He has participated in the Philly Fringe Festival and Irene Ryan Acting Festival, as well as the American College Dance Festival. Felix is a graduate a Muhlenberg College.

Kyla Norton (Alex) is currently an Acting major/Playwriting Minor at Columbia College Chicago. Recent credits include 15 Breaths (AFYT) Getting Out (Columbia College Chicago), All Girl Edgar Allen Poe (Chicago Mammals), This Great Nation, Much Enduring (Chicago Slam Works) and Checking Boxes (AFYT).

Bianca Phipps (The Ex) is a recent graduate of the University of Northern Colorado's School of Theatre Arts and Dance with a B.A. in Acting. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, she recently made her Chicago debut with Chicago Slam Works in "Just Numbers," also directed by Basilo. Previous credits include Graymalkin in "Macbeth", Lady Bracknell in "The Importance of Being Earnest", and Echo in "Polaroid Stories".

Joseph Ramski (The Suitor) "Nevermind. It's Nothing" is Ramski's 2nd show with CSW Ensemble Theatre. You may have seen him previously perform with the likes of MOZAWA, Oracle Productions, The Ruckus, Organic Theatre Company, The Runaways, Arc Theatre, Rough Company, and The Right Brain Project, of which he is the Managing Director. Most recently, Joseph put his writing talents to use in penning The Dancing Plague, an original play which opened in of Fall 2016.

Teagan Walsh-Davis (Bee) is an actor, poet, and playwright who originally hails from Ohio. She holds a BFA in acting from Columbia College Chicago, and she has performed with Cold Basement Dramatics, The Mammals, The Right Brain Project, The Living Canvas, and others. As well as being a founding member of Chicago Slam Works Ensemble Theatre, Teagan is co-artistic director of The Jades, a New Theatre Company dedicated to advancing the work of female-identified artists.

Pictured: Shelley Elaine Geiszler, Joseph Ramski, Felix Mayes, Kyla Norton. Photo by Joseph Ramski.

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