Cor Theatre Presents Inaugural Production SKIN TIGHT, 8/29-9/25

Relationships should be perfect. But the truth is even the good ones leave scars. Come experience a profoundly visceral night of theatre that explores a perfect relationship like one would look at the inverted, bloody sinews of a skinned animal. This is the Chicago premiere of Gary Henderson's acclaimed "Skin Tight" and the inaugural production of Chicago’s newest company, Cor Theatre, founded by Victoria (toy) Deiorio and Tosha Fowler.

“Skin Tight” is a highly physical, two-person love story about Tom and Elizabeth. With a run time of only one hour, they journey through their riveting romance with laughter, violence and erotic abandon. You will witness the first time they make love, Tom going off to war, Elizabeth confessing unfaithfulness, the loss of their family farm, their blame for their daughter’s distance and the ultimate fight that keeps their love ablaze.

Cor Theatre is a new, professional theatre company excited to bring “Skin Tight” to the Chicago Theatre scene. Cor derives its name from the Latin root for courage: meaning heart. Run entirely by women, Cor pursues high-risk theatre that stretches boundaries and provides an environment in which audiences can explore the unexplored and expect the unexpected. Cor is committed to producing work that takes courage, ignites passion, and opens the heart. Victoria (toy) Deiorio and Tosha Fowler founded Cor Theatre after successfully producing the original solo show "Mami, Where’d my O go?" under the former title, t&t Productions.

Victoria DeIorio (co-artistic director of Cor and director of “Skin Tight”) says of forming a new company “I wanted to work on more artistic theatrical endeavors, riskier and more adventurous. Cor Theatre emerged out of a shared aesthetic with Tosha Fowler. Our goal is to produce only when we have the right work for us: choosing pieces that are relevant to our society, something that speaks to an audience and is presented in a more theatrical way of telling a story. ‘Skin Tight’ as our inaugural production embodies the art we want to create.” Cor is proud to be performing at A Red Orchid, one of Chicago’s premiere storefront theatres known for its groundbreaking work. They have also gathered a distinguished production team including Lindsay Jones (original music and sound design), Julia Neary and Scott Cummins (Movement/Fight Co-Directors).

Victoria (toy) Deiorio (co-artistic director) directed Falling: A Wake with Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Mami, Where’d My O Go with t&t productions; Stigmata (which she also wrote) for RTE's Fresh Produce; a staged reading of Night Light by RoBert Smith; Sunday on the Rocks with the Second Sex Series; and 365 Days, 365 Plays - Week 19 and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs! at Lifeline Theatre. Combining her previous careers in acting and songwriting, Victoria DeIorio is a critically acclaimed sound designer and composer for theatre, based in Chicago. Her compositions and sound design have been heard in many theaters over the past 15 years. Off-Broadway sound designs have been heard at Joe’s Pub (The Public), The Duke Theatre, NYC Fringe Fest, Actor’s Studio, Primary Stages, Urban Stages and Ensemble Studio Theatre. Regionally she has worked with The Goodman, Steppenwolf Theatre, Victory Gardens, Northlight Theatre, LA Theatre Works, CenterStage Baltimore, Indiana Repertory, Syracuse Stage, Cleveland Playhouse, Florida Stage, Milwaukee Shakespeare, Peninsula Players, Milwaukee Rep and Geva Theatre. In Chicago she has designed productions with Writers’ Theatre, The Next Theatre, Remy Bumppo, Lifeline, Light Opera Works, and many other storefront theatres. She is the first woman to have been nominated for 10 Joseph Jefferson Awards - winning 6 - and she has received two After Dark Awards. Victoria is the head of Sound Design at The Theatre School for DePaul University.

Tosha Fowler (co-artistic director) last worked as a co-producer and actor with Deiorio on her original solo show Mami, Where’d my O go? The Chicago Theatre Blog reviews, “Fowler’s emotional depth in performance simply goes balls to the wall… nothing less than inspired.” Fowler has produced theatre for almost ten years for companies including The Chicago Fringe Festival, The Academy Theatre in Atlanta and her previous company Fowl Brick in Savannah, GA. As an actor, Fowler has performed in Chicago with Lifeline, Emerald City, MPAACT, c*ck& Bull and Circle Theatre. She has also toured throughout the Southeast; notable performances include Roberta in Shanley’s Danny and the Deep Blue Sea and Laura in The Glass Menagerie. Savannah Morning News hails Fowler as having “elegant simplicity, even as the emotions run wild,” “subtle but steely strength,” and “impeccable comic timing.” Fowler holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Cast: Tony Bozzuto (Tom) and Tosha Fowler (Elizabeth)

Crew: Victoria DeIorio (Director), Lindsay Jones (Original Music and Sound Design), Julia Neary (Movement/Fight co-Director), Scott Cummins (Movement/Fight co-Director), Jason Fassl (Lighting Designer), Kristen Leahey (Dramaturg) and Liz Fiala (Stage Manager)

“Skin Tight” previews Tuesday, August 28 at 8 pm. Opening/Press Night is Wednesday, August 29 at 8 pm. It runs through September 25 with performances Sunday, Monday and Tuesdays at 8pm at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells, Chicago, Ill.

Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased via web at www.cortheatre.org or over the phone at 1-866-811-4111. For more information, call 312-391-2536. This show contains nudity, violence and sexual content. It is not appropriate for children. 

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