Court Theatre Continues Spotlight Reading Series this September

Under the leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director and Stephen J. Albert.Executive Director, Court Theatre continues the Spotlight Reading Series, with a free, public reading of The Electronic Nigger by Ed Bullins and directed by Cedric Mays, at the ESO Theater, 5401-5403 W Madison Street, on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at 3:00 p.m.

All Spotlight Reading Series performances are free and open to the public, but space is limited. Complimentary tickets may be reserved in advance at tickets.courttheatre.org.

A.T. Carpentier, a college student in his late thirties, signs up for a creative writing course and continually interrupts the class with his pretentious anecdotes and speeches. Written in 1968, this provocative comedy deals with the danger of rhetoric of any kind.

Now in the second year of a three-year initiative, the Spotlight Reading Series highlights the works of playwrights of color featuring leading Chicago artists. Award-winning director and Court Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson will again host five readings throughout the city. All readings are free and open to the public, though a reservation is recommended. For more information on the Spotlight Reading Series or to obtain tickets, visit www.courttheatre.org.

"Thanks to the Joyce Foundation, I am so excited to begin our second season of Court Theatre's Spotlight Reading Series," said Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. "This year we will again introduce our communities to a variety of "classic" theatre, exploring a variety of cultures that make up the American way. This will represent theatre from the African Diasporas."

To actively engage with communities, the 2017 Spotlight Reading Series will host performances at local venues, partnering with various arts organizations which cover the Austin, Bronzeville, Greater Grand Crossing, Pilsen, and South Shore neighborhoods.

The 2017 schedule also includes:

Trouble in Mind

Written by Alice Childress

Directed by Sydney Chatman

South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S South Shore Drive

Saturday, November 11 at 3 p.m.

Wiletta Mayer, a talented but struggling black actress, gets her breakthrough role and is cast in a "progressive" Broadway play about race; however, it turns out to be anything but progressive, both in terms of its script and rehearsal environment. The play is a satirical look at racism in American commercial theatre.

The Spotlight Reading Series is made possible with support from the Joyce Foundation. The "Spotlight Grant" is designed to help arts and cultural organizations achieve greater racial equity and long-term operating success. Court Theatre was one of ten institutions who received the three-year grant.

Now in its 63nd season, Court Theatre is guided by its mission to discover the power of classic theatre. Court endeavors to make a lasting contribution to American theatre by expanding the canon of translations, adaptations, and classic texts. Court revives lost masterpieces, illuminates familiar texts, and distinguishes fresh, modern classics. Court engages and inspires its audience by providing artistically distinguished productions, audience enrichment activities, and student educational experiences.

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