Griffin Theatre Sets 27 Member Cast for BALM IN GILEAD, Beginning March 2015

Griffin Theatre Company has announced casting for its spring production of Lanford Wilson's acclaimed drama BALM IN GILEAD directed by ensemble member Jonathan Berry, playing March 14 - April 19, 2015 at The Den Theatre, 1329-1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Single tickets go on sale Monday, December 1, 2014 at www.griffintheatre.com. The press opening is Sunday, March 22, 2015 at 7 pm.

The ensemble cast of 27 actors and musicians includes: Japhet Balaban as Joe and Ashleigh LaThrop as Darlene with Echaka Agba as Bonnie, Cyd Blakewell as Ann, Chris Chmelik as Rake, David Cady, Jr. as Stranger, Diego Colon as Ernesto, Joanne Dubach as Babe, Armand Fields as Franny, Gabe Franken as Tim, Havalah Grace as Terry, Alexander Lane as David, Tyshaun Lang as Lead Singer, Laura Lapidus as Judy, Morgan Maher* as Dopey, Jack Miggins as Bob, Johnny Moran as Frank, Johnathan Nieves as Carlo, Ellie Reed* as Rust, Kevin Reyes as Xavier, Matt Rockwood as Al, Nate Santana as Tig, Lynda Shadrake* as Kay, Adam Shalzi as Martin, Paige Smith as John and Andrew Swanson as Fick. *Denotes Griffin Theatre Company ensemble member.

Enter the world of Frank's café, an all-night coffee shop on Manhattan's Upper West Side frequented by a makeshift community of dealers, junkies, hustlers, prostitutes, dreamers and runaways. BALM IN GILEAD loosely centers on Joe, a cynical drug dealer, and Darlene, a naive new arrival to the big city as their lives intersect over the course of three days. Having previously produced Wilson's The Hot L Baltimore (1990) and Fifth of July (2003), Griffin is pleased to present the celebrated playwright's first full-length work.

In order to illuminate and match the grittier themes of Balm in Gilead, Griffin Theatre has chosen to perform Lanford Wilson's groundbreaking play at The Den Theatre instead of its regular confines at Theater Wit. With a cast of 27, the audience will be in, around and on top of the action. Griffin is also pleased to have Jonathan Berry return to direct another of Wilson's works, having previously co-directed Fifth of July with founding Artistic Director Richard Barletta. Berry plans to honor Wilson's original vision and set the play in 1964-the time in which it was originally set.

The production team for BALM IN GILEAD includes Dan Stratton (set design), Mieka Van der Ploeg (costume design), Lee Fiskness (lighting design) and Matt Chapman (sound design).

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