Commission Theatre Announces Cast For CLEARING By Beth Hyland

Commission Theatre (CT) presents CLEARING, a social drama by Beth Hyland. CLEARING will be directed by Claire Reinhart. The opening night and press performance will take place on Friday June 8th at 8pm with Thursday - Saturday performances through June 23rd. This is the first production of Commission Theatre's 2018 season.

CLEARING SUMMARY - When Jess gets a job at LaLaLea, the upscale yoga pants store and lifestyle brand, she feels like she's finally found her way. But when sudden violence strikes a nearby store, Jess and her co-workers learn that even positive energy has a dark side. CLEARING is a dark coming-of-age comedy about yoga, friendship, and the pressure women are under - and what happens when that pressure makes them snap.

The cast of CLEARING includes Emma Maltby as Jess, Emily Marso as Agnes, Alex Dauphin as Clare, Charlotte Thomas as Carly, and Lindsey Kite as Becca.

Performance Schedule

June 8th - 23rd

8 pm Friday June 8th (Opening and Press Night)

8 pm Thursday - Saturday Evenings

4 pm Saturday Matinees

8 pm Monday the 11th - Industry Night

8 pm Monday the 18th - Industry Night

Tickets for CLEARING are a part of our Public Access Theatre Model and are Pay-What-You-Can at the door. However, if you would like to secure a seat to a particular performance, tickets are available to reserve for a small ticket fee ($15) at https://www.commissiontheatre.com/productions/clearing/

CLEARING will be produced at:

Rivendell Theatre

5779 N Ridge Ave

Chicago, IL 60660

CLEARING is the first full production of CT's 2018 season.

Creative Team

Playwright: Beth Hyland

Director: Claire Reinhart

Stage Manager: Melissa Hubbert

Assistant Director: Allyce Torres

Scenic Designer: Sydney Achler

Props Designer: Kaycee Filson

Sound Designer: Andrew Chien

Lighting Designer: Meghan Erxleben

Costume Designer: Melissa Perkins

Yoga Choreographer: Ella Raymont

Violence Choreographer: Ella Raymont

Additional Producers: Joshua Bartlett, Lindsey Kite, Reed Motz, Madison Niederhauser, Ella Raymont, Charlotte Thomas, Kyle Whalen, Conner Wilson

Beth Hyland - Playwright

Beth Hyland is thrilled to work with Commission on the world premiere of Clearing. She previously worked with Commission on the @Will Festival, 2017. Beth is the co-founder and playwright in residence of The Sound, which has produced her plays Red Bowl at the Jeffs, For Annie, and Seagulls. Her plays have been seen and developed at The Hearth, Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, Dixon Place, the New Colony Writer's Room, 20% Theatre, Stage Left, Rabid Bat Theatricals, Potluck Variety Hour, Valentine's Plays, and the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. She is a proud alumna of Kenyon College and the National Theatre Institute. Bethhyland.com

Claire Reinhart - Director

Claire Reinhart is a Chicago-based director specializing in new work. Previous credits include an excerpt from American Triage at Night of New Works (Director, Something Marvelous), Dead Man's Cell Phone (Assistant Director, The Enthusiasts Theatre Company), The Wild Duck (Assistant Director, Halcyon Theatre), and Kosher Receipt Book at New Voices: Festival of Jewish Plays (Director, Northlight Theater with the Chicago History Museum). She has directed multiple sketch comedy shows in Chicago, most notably for Vienna Juvenile Sketch Comedy. She's worked in various backstage roles with About Face Theatre, American Theatre Company, and 2nd Story.

Claire previously served as the Director of New Play Development for Halcyon Theatre and studied Sketch Comedy Directing at Second City with Anthony LeBlanc. She is a proud graduate of Loyola University Chicago. All the love in the world to her soon-to-be husband Hank, perfect-angel-dog CJ, and Commission Theater.

Emma Maltby - Jess

Emma Maltby (Jess) is excited to be working with Commission Theatre! Most recently she was seen in I Saw My Neighbor and I Didn't Even Smile (Redtwist Theatre) and she has understudied for The Wolves (Goodman Theatre) and Circle Mirror Transformation (Redtwist Theatre). Emma will be graduating from the University of Chicago in June where she is majoring in Theatre and English Literature. She is thrilled to be represented by Gray Talent Group.

Emily Marso - Agnes

Emily Marso (Agnes) makes her Commission debut. Past credits include Boy and the TimePieces reading of The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin (TimeLine Theatre),Wild Boar (Silk Road Rising), The Grapes of Wrath (The Gift), Men on Boats (understudy, American Theater Company), and For The Love Of (or, the roller derby play) (Pride Films and Plays). Other Chicago credits include work with Shattered Globe, Chicago Dramatists, Jackalope Theatre, and Barrel of Monkeys, with whom she's a company member. Television credits include Chicago Fire (NBC). Film credits include Message Received and The Mortician. Emily graduated with a BA degree in theatre, political science, and Chinese from Northwestern University. She's represented by Paonessa Talent. For more, visit emilymarso.com.

Alex Dauphin - Clare

Alex Dauphin (Clare) is thrilled to make her Commission Theatre debut. Recent credits include: The Light (The New Colony, performing u/s), Othello (Invictus Theatre), The Pulse Project (Steppenwolf LookOut), An Octoroon (Definition Theatre Company, u/s), and For the Love Of (Pride Films & Plays). Alex has also worked with 16th Street Theatre, First Floor Theatre, Stage Left Theatre, The Second City, and others. TV: Chicago Med. Alex is a graduate of The ACADEMY at Black Box Acting, where she is now an instructor, an alumna of Princeton University, and company member at Pride Films & Plays. Alex is represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent. Thanks to God, Mom and Arielle for their unending love. Website: Alexdauphin.com.

Charlotte Thomas - Carly

Charlotte Thomas (Charlotte) is delighted to be a part of Clearing. Previous Commission Theatre credits include Love's Labor's Lost and Henry IV Part 1. Recent Chicago credits include: Dry Land (Rivendell Theatre); understudying for BLKS (Steppenwolf Theatre) and POSH (Steep Theatre); and Beth Hyland's recent show For Annie (The Sound). She is a Boston University alumni and proudly represented by Paonessa Talent.

Lindsey Kite - Becca

Lindsey Kite (Becca) is thrilled to be a part of this world premiere. Lindsey is the Managing Director of Commission Theatre, and performed in their productions of Love's Labour's Lost, and Henry IV Part I. Other Chicago credits include: Give It All Back (Sideshow Theatre); understudies for The Wolves, and Ah, Wilderness! (Goodman Theatre); understudy for Funnyman (Northlight Theatre); understudy for Grizzly Mama (Rivendell Theatre); and various workshops & play festivals at A Red Orchid Theatre, Shattered Globe Theatre, TimeLine Theatre, and 20% Theatre Company. She is an alumni of the Professional Training Company at Actors Theatre of Louisville, and graduated from the University of Oklahoma. She is represented by Grossman & Jack Talent.

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