Diverse Cast to Bring WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? to Life at Pulse Theatre Chicago

Pulse Theatre Chicago, a non-Equity professional theatre, will feature a diverse cast in its upcoming production of Edward Albee's classic drama "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" The production runs August 4-20 at City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago.

"We try to find new, emerging actors regardless of race and bring modern relevance to classic works," says the production's director, Chris Jackson, who co-founded Pulse Theatre Company Chicago in 2014 with Aaron Mitchell Reese to break down barriers of repetitive casting archetypes.

"Our core values are to spark change, ruffle feathers, and select projects that truly speak to us and our audience," adds Jackson, who is Pulse Theatre's Producing Artistic Director. Pulse is one of the newer non-profit theatre companies in Chicago. "Pulse was founded and runs on the believe of inclusionary theatre and including a multitude of voices in our work. We operate with the object of diversifying our artistic counterparts and the minds of our audience; changing the idea of what theatre is and should be.

Pulse Theatre Chicago is known for its non-traditional casting choices. Its inaugural production, Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" in 2014, featured a diverse cast, including African American actors as Stella and Blanche. Its other productions have included George C. Wolfe's "The Colored Museum" in 2016 and Lynn Nottage's "Fabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine" in 2015. The company produces at venues throughout Chicago, from the South Side's ETA Creative Arts Foundation to City Lit in the North Side's Edgewater Theatre District.

First produced on Broadway in 1962, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" concerns a middle-aged married couple in a college town -- George (Lewis R. Jones), an associate professor of history, and Martha (Nicholia Q. Aguirre), the daughter of the college's president -- who invite a younger couple to their home very late one evening. The guests -- Nick (Adam Zaininger), a biology teacher at the college, and his wife Honey (Kate Robison) -- walk into a quagmire of drinking, fights, sex, games, and delusions.

"We love this play and we hope our production provides new insights," says Jackson.

Pulse Theatre Chicago's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" runs August 4-20 at City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, Ill. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30PM and Sundays at 3PM. Pulse can be contacted at (773) 850-1056. Tickets are $20 and are available on the Pulse website at www.pulsetheatrechicago.com.

ABOUT THE CAST:

Lewis R. Jones (George) is honored to be in his third production with Pulse Theatre Chicago, after appearing in A Streetcar Named Desire and Fabulation. He recently portrayed Nathan Detroit in Wilmette Center for the Arts' production of Guys and Dolls.

Nicholia Q. Aguirre (Martha) She attended Loyola University of Chicago, where she received her B.S. in Education. She studied at Piven Theatre Workshop and is currently a teacher on staff. Recently seen in Steel Magnolias (The Arc Theatre)

Adam Zaininger (Nick) Adam received his BFA in Acting from Northern Illinois University School of Theatre and Dance. He previously performed in Pulse's production of A Streetcar Named Desire as Stanley Kowalski. He will be performing Organic Theater Company's upcoming production of King Ubu (Ensemble).

Kate Robison (Honey) As a recent transplant to the city, recent Chicago credits include Women, Politics, and Murder (Clock Theatre) and A Prayer For The Sandinistas (Subtext Theatre Company),

Chris Jackson (Director) is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago. Jackson holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre Performance. He is Co-founder, Producing Artistic Director, Resident Director, and an Ensemble Member of Pulse Theatre Chicago.

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