Definition Theatre Company to Stage Chicago Premiere of AN OCTOROON by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Definition Theatre Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tyrone Phillips and Managing Director Neel McNeill, announces the first play of its 2017-2018 season, the Chicago premiere of An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Gloria, Appropriate), produced in association with Goodman Theatre. An Octoroon is directed by Goodman Theatre Resident Director Chuck Smith and runs July 21 - August 20, 2017 in the Richard Christiansen Theater at Victory Gardens Theater as part of Definition's tenure in the Victory Gardens Resident Theater Program.

A modern riff on Dion Boucicault's 1859 classic melodrama, The Octoroon, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Obie Award-winning historical satire follows a plantation in financial ruin, the tumultuous love story of its heir apparent, the evil overseer plotting to take it all for himself and the slaves trying to keep it all together. Hilarious, pointed, and provocative, An Octoroon offers up a subversive take on race in America-both then and now.

"Definition is committed to bringing high-quality work to the Chicago community that examines what it means to be American today, and we couldn't be more excited to have Goodman Theatre Resident Director Chuck Smith at the helm of Branden's thought-provoking and resonant play," notes Artistic Director Tyrone Phillips. "An Octoroon marks our first show as a resident company at Victory Gardens Theater. We're thrilled to stage this milestone production at Victory Gardens as they share many of our core values and lead by example in giving a voice to the voiceless."

Definition also announces the addition of Steppenwolf Theatre Company Ensemble Member Martha Lavey and Award-winning actress and stage director Phylicia Rashad to its Artistic Advisory Board. The Board serves as a critical community champion for Definition Theatre. Members of the Artistic Advisory Board support Definition's mission by providing their professional expertise, diverse knowledge of constituent perspectives, connections to local, national or international resources, colleagues or peers, and their philanthropic support.

"It brings Definition great joy to have Martha Lavey and Phylicia Rashad formally voice their support of the work that we do and the stories we tell by joining our Artistic Advisory Board," notes Managing Director Neel McNeill. "We have long admired both of these phenomenal women, not only for their groundbreaking work on and off the stage, but also for their ability to inspire us all to work harder, think more and maintain a foundation of empathy in everything we do."

About Definition Theatre Company

De?nition Theatre Company is an ensemble-based Chicago theater founded by six graduates of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Featuring a multi-ethnic core companionship of actors, Definition strives to artistically reflect the myriad of modern America to inspire and engage the communities it represents through contemporary and classical theatrical works. Our mission is to tell language-driven, relationship-oriented, thought-provoking, socially relevant stories.

De?nition has been afforded the opportunity to create work that re?ects its unique voice. It shared the words of Academy Award-Winner Tarell Alvin McCraney in The Brothers Size, it grooved with Amiri Baraka's whirlwind story of a chance meeting on a train in Dutchman, and staged its first world premiere production, Genesis, written by ensemble member Mercedes White and inspired by Lorraine Hansberry's iconic masterworkA Raisin in the Sun. Most recently, Definition partnered with The New Colony to produce the world premiere of Byhalia, Mississippi. Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as "wise, funny, thoughtful and true", Byhalia, Mississippi explored a family in turmoil and a small southern town haunted by its racially-charged past.

Ensemble members include Owais Ahmed, Carley Cornelius, Martasia Jones, Kiki Layne, Kelson Michael McAuliffe, Julian Parker, Tyrone Phillips, Christopher Sheard and Mercedes White. Artistic Advisory Board members include director May Adrales, Steppenwolf Ensemble Member Alana Arenas, actress Shannon Cochran, Victory Gardens Theater Managing Director Erica Daniels, actor Brandon Dirden, actor Jason Dirden, Writers Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam, Steppenwolf Ensemble Member Martha Lavey, director Pam Mackinnon, professor JW Morrissette, director Ron OJ Parson, professor/lighting designer Kathy Perkins and Tony Award-winning actress and stage director Phylicia Rashad. Tyrone Phillips is the Artistic Director and Neel McNeill is the Managing Director. For additional information, visit definitiontheatre.organd facebook.com/definitiontheatrecompany.

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