Greenhouse Theater Center Announces BREAKING GROUND FEST Celebrating Chicago Theatre Week

The Greenhouse Theater Center celebrates Chicago Theatre Week with its BREAKING GROUND FEST, an eclectic line-up of performances including live music, plays, staged readings, improv, comedy, burlesque and more, playing February 7 - 17, 2019 on multiple stages at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. All performances are priced at $10. Tickets are currently available at greenhousetheater.org, in person at the Greenhouse box office or by calling (773) 404-7336. Spots are still available for the Festival. For information, e-mail gm@greenhousetheater.org.

The BREAKING GROUND FEST line-up to date includes (additional acts to be announced):

Friday, February 8 at 10:30 pm

GODDESS, hosted by Kat Sass and Lucky Stiff

Acclaimed drag performers Kat Sass and Lucky Stiff bring their visionary GODDESS out of Boystown and into the Greenhouse Theater Center for a unique performance art experience unlike anything you have ever seen.

Saturday, February 9 at 8 pm

SHE'S FOLKS!

Elizabeth Morgan's She's Folks! is a little bit country, a little bit rock 'n' roll, and a lot of laughs. Journey from the city to farm country and back again through folk and country music, hilarious stories, soaring harmonies and a wry view of the folks back home.

Saturday, February 9 at 10:30 pm

PLAN 9 BURLESQUE

Plan 9 Burlesque was founded in 2012 by a rag tag group of nerds with an affinity for nudity. They wanted to create a space where burlesque and fandom come together to produce innovative, creative and bonkers performance art. Since then they have perverted comic book heroes, sci-fi super stars, beloved children's cartoons and fantastical fairy tales.

Sunday, February 10 at 7 pm

AUNTIE MAME

A semi-staged reading of the play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee

Directed by Nicholas Reinhart

Based on the bestselling memoir, Auntie Mame tells the story of Patrick Dennis, newly orphaned and sent to live with his eccentric Auntie Mame in New York City. This madcap play about family, growing up, and making the most out of life has been entertaining audiences around the world for years and returns to the Greenhouse Theater Center for one night only!

Monday, February 11 at 7:30 pm

MONA Q: AGE 38

A staged reading written by Steven Strafford

Directed by Kristina Valada-Viars

Featuring Sadieh Rifai, J. Nicole Brooks, Shea Coffman and Eric Slater

Mobs finds that life has left her sad and stuck. When she can't seem to get off a Holocaust Trivia Distribution list, she takes a road trip to take some action. Along the way, she shapes her story and learns a bit about what she might want next.

Tuesday, February 12 at 8 pm

SIX PACK AND A SHOT

A play written and directed by Bill Goff

Featuring Dante Charlton and Evan Henderson

Two best friends share one last six pack as one looks to resolve their friendship and the other wants to preserve it before time runs out.

Tuesday, February 12 at 8 pm

OEDIPUS IN JERUSALEM

A staged reading by Kalman Kaplan

Directed by Michael Reinstein

Oedipus in Jerusalem begins with the fictional and unexpected meeting outside of Thebes between the blinded Greek Oedipus and the biblical prophet Nathan. Although Oedipus insists on his guilt with regard to patricide and incest with his mother, Nathan is convinced that he has been entrapped by the purposely obscure responses of the Pythia to Oedipus's sincere attempts to avoid these acts and brings him to be tried in the great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. Oedipus is acquitted because he is judged to be doing all in his power to try to avoid performing these acts, but thinking like a Greek, Oedipus refuses to emotionally accept his acquittal.

Thursday, February 14 at 8 pm

I'M FALLING IN LOVE ALL THE TIME

A solo show written and performed by Jack Schultz

Coffee. Romance. Heroin. There's a first time for everything and a last. In his heartfelt solo show, Jack Schultz weaves together personal stories of the highs and lows of love.

Friday, February 15 at 7:30 pm

BROMANTICAL HEALING Hosted by Stoopie

Stoopie (aka improv duo Cooper Bohn and Steven Dionne) holds the title for strongest bromance in Chicago's improv scene. Enjoy the day after Valentine's Day with them and their funny friends!

Friday, February 15 at 10:20 pm

PS... BURLESQUE

Ah, the day after Valentine's Day. The heart shaped candy is 50% off, the roses are wilting, and the love-themed plush toys have been thrown into the clearance bin. But, the Unpopular Hotties have something even more enjoyable for you Valentine's Day haters on February 15th! During the "Love Hangover" burlesque revue, we'll be serving up all those post V-Day feels the best way we know how - by taking off our clothes!

Saturday, February 16 at 7:30 pm

FANCY MUSTARD Improv

There are times in your life where everything came before and after a single moment. Inspired by your suggestions Fancy Mustard will improvise what led up to that moment and the aftermath in The Event! Also featuring opening acts of friends and enemies (just kidding, we don't have friends).

For additional information, visit greenhousetheater.org/breakingground.

Following the BREAKING GROUND FEST, Greenhouse Theater Center will regularly host new performances on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights when space is available. For information on booking an act, please gm@greenhousetheater.org.

Photo: She's Folks. Photo by Jill Fager

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