First Floor Theater's TOLLBOOTH: A CLOWN SHOW Runs 4/24-5/18

First Floor Theater will present the world premiere of TOLLBOOTH: A CLOWN SHOW, a clown and object theater piece for all ages. The show will be performed at the Humboldt Park Field House West Gym from April 24-May 18, 2014. Tickets for TOLLBOOTH: A CLOWN SHOW will be available at firstfloortheater.com. The press opening will be April 24, 2014 at 7pm.

TOLLBOOTH: A CLOWN SHOW features Kyle Geissler, Kate Healy, Alex Knapp, Shaw Nigro, Tim Martin, Chris Mueller, Kasey O'Brien and Angelica Roque.

The devised project will bring together Will Bishop, Artistic Director of First Floor, Scott Ray Merchant, a team of visual artists and an ensemble of clown-puppeteers to create a new all-ages piece loosely inspired by Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth. Audiences are invited to the birthday party of Shiloh, where they can make crafts and decorate the set with their art. When Shiloh opens a mysterious present, the party is invaded by a cadre of wild and wacky clowns who take Shiloh and the audience on a journey to a magical land where Kings fight, animals talk, and demons grow ever stronger. Tollbooth explores the power of our imagination and creativity to change the world in which we live.

The project marks the first partnership between First Floor Theater and The Chicago Park District. Additionally, First Floor will launch a pilot education program, with free workshops in shadow puppetry and clowning, helmed by Head Teaching Artist Claire Stone. Artistic Director, Will Bishop says of the undertaking, "I am beyond honored to be leading these artists and this theatre in bringing the themes of imagination, creativity, knowledge and friendship to the Chicago Parks District and the Humboldt Park community as a whole."

The production team for TOLLBOOTH: A CLOWN SHOW includes: Jackie Valdez (Set Design), Molly FitzMaurice (Dramaturgy), Amanda Cantlin (Light Design), Bobby Huggins (Sound Design), Alexis Chaney (Costume Design), Dav Yendler (Puppet Illustrator),Grace Needlman (Puppet Designer), Evan Garrett & Myra Su (Shadow Puppets), Ellie Terrell & Cara Feeney (Toy Theater Designer),Kelsey Just (Scroll Designer), Andrew Rovner (Technical Director) and Markie Gray (Production Manager).

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