Eclipse Theatre Company Presents ONE FLEA SPARE, Closes 5/22

Eclipse Theatre Company (www.eclipsetheatre.com), the only theatre company in the Midwest to feature the works of one playwright in one season opens their 2011 season featuring the works of Naomi Wallace with her dark comedy "One Flea Spare" directed by Ensemble Member Anish Jethmalani. This will be the first of three productions by one of America's most fascinating and exciting contemporary writers.

Set in plague-ravaged 17th Century London, a wealthy couple is preparing to flee their home when a mysterious sailor and a young girl appear sneaking into their boarded up house. Now, quarantined together for 30 days, the only thing these strangers fear more than the Plague is each other. The definition of morality is up for grabs and surviVal May take many forms in this fiercely intense & humorous award-winning play from Naomi Wallace.

Naomi Wallace's plays have been produced in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. Her major plays include One Flea Spare, In the Heart of America, Slaughter City, The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek, Things of Dry Hours and The Fever Chart. Her work has received the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, The Kesselring Prize, The fellowship of Southern Writers Drama Award and the Obie Award. She is also a recipient of the MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship. Wallace is currently under commission with The Oregon Shakespeare Festival and The Joseph Papp Public Theatre in New York.

Director Anish Jethmalani has been an ensemble member of Eclipse since 1997. He has directed Eclipse's productions of Blue Surge in 2009, which won 2 Jeff Awards and Spinning into Butter in 2006. He also directed the 2005 Jeff Award wining production of The Masrayana in a co-production with Rasaka Theatre and Prop Thtr. In addition, he has directed projects at Silk Road Theatre, The DePaul Theatre School, and The Goodman Theatre. As a performer, Mr. Jethmalani has worked at Court Theatre, Steppenwolf, Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, Writers Theatre, Victory Gardens, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival and several others.

One Flea Spare runs approximately two hours with one intermission. Post-show discussions with the cast and crew will be held following all Sunday matinees except opening and closing weekends (free with paid ticket).

WHERE: The Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60614.
Some street parking; Fullerton El stop (Red, Brown, Purple); Lincoln #11 Bus.
Discounted parking at Children's Memorial Hospital lot, a block north on Lincoln, on weekday evenings after 5 p.m. and all day on weekends. Handicapped accessible.

Closes on Sunday, May 22, 2011

TICKETS: Call the Greenhouse Box Office at 773-404-7336,
(open 12 to 8 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday, and 12 to 4 p.m. on Sunday) or purchase online at www.eclipsetheatre.com.

$28 for all regular performances (half-price rush tickets available)
$18 for previews; $8 for industry members at all previews with headshot/card
$23 for each ticket in groups of ten or more, $23 for seniors with ID, $18 for students
Subscription packages are available for the entire season starting at $51
Additional Details

CAST: Eclipse ensemble member JP Pierson (Bunce) with guest artists Zach Bloomfield (Kabe),
Susan Monts-Bologna (Darcy), BrIan Parry (Snelgrave), and Elizabeth Stenholt (Morse).

STAFF: Eclipse ensemble members Chris Corwin (Properties Design), Stephen Dale (Assistant Director), Anish Jethmalani (Director), Sarah Moeller (Dramaturg), Kevin Scott (Co-Producer), and Nathaniel Swift (Co-Producer). Guest artists Victoria "Toy" DeIorio (Composer), Cristina DeRisi (Sound Design), Sally Eames (Dialect Coach), Joel Ebarb (Costume Design), Jeffrey Gardner (Dramaturg), Kevin Hagan (Set and Lighting Design), Susanne Hufnagel (Stage Manager), and Beth Zupec (Assistant Stage Manager).

NEXT: Eclipse will continue their 2011 Naomi Wallace Season with "The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek" by Naomi Wallace, directed by guest artist Jonathan Berry, running July 21st - September 4th, 2011, at the Greenhouse Theater Center in Chicago. Tickets can currently be purchased online at www.eclipsetheatre.com

FUNDERS: The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs (City Arts I), The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and The Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation.

Eclipse Theatre Company presents the work of one playwright each season. We offer the audience an opportunity, unique in the Midwest, to journey with us through the playwright's works. Join us in exploring the breadth and depth of a playwright's artistic worlds.One playwright, one season, one illuminating journey.

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