House Theatre of Chicago Extends ROSE AND THE RIME Through 3/23

The House Theatre of Chicago has announced the extension of their all-ages original play, Rose and the Rime, at the Chopin Theatre Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., through Sunday, March 23. The play is created by Company Members Chris Matthews, Jake Minton and Artistic Director Nathan Allen, who is also the production's director, choreography by Company Member Tommy Rapley and music by Company Member Kevin O' Donnell. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Although designed for adults, Rose and The Rime is suitable for kids six and up. The run time is 85 minutes with no intermission. Current ticket prices range from $20 to $40. Ticket prices for the extension (After March 9) range from $20 - $45 (performance schedule remains the same). $10 Student and Industry Same-Day discounted tickets are available for all dates, seats permitting. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.thehousetheatre.com or call 773.769.3832.

Rose and the Rime transfers to The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County starting April 23 for a five-week run, in a continuing partnership between Arsht and The House.

"The story and execution of Rose and The Rime reflects the Company's signature style, and I'm thrilled Chicago audiences are connecting to the story as well. To be able to extend this run and have to opportunity to expose people to the production and The House Theatre of Chicago is a tremendous joy for us," said The House Theatre of Chicago Artistic Director Nathan Allen.

The multi-talented ensemble of The House Theatre of Chicago utilizes their signature style that blends music, swirling acrobatic dance, spectacle, and stage craft to spin the cautionary tale of their favorite myth, Rose and the Rime. Set in Radio Falls, "a little town by a big lake," young Rose (played by Company Member Paige Collins) must risk her life to rescue a magic coin from the icy clutches of the Rime Witch (played by Ericka Ratcliff), her only hope in saving her friends and family from the spell that keeps them frozen in perpetual winter. When the coin is returned, the freezing spell is lifted, and for a moment, Radio Falls appears rescued from their icy fate. But the coin's power inspires bigger dreams, and greed creeps slowly into the thawed Townsfolk. Rose must finally fight to keep the coin from falling into the wrong hands. But can she bear the power herself? Originally developed at Hope College in 2008, Rose and the Rime won the honor of playing the Kennedy Center as Best Original Work in the KCACTF festival. Re-staged by The House in 2009, Rose and the Rime tackles big themes considered central to many of the stories told at The House.

Rose and the Rime is written by Nathan Allen, Chris Mathews and Jake Minton, and directed by Nathan Allen. Tommy Rapley leads the ensemble in the dance-like movement as Choreographer, and Kevin O'Donnell lends the score.

Company Members Michael E Smith return to his roles as Uncle Roger, Company Member Paige Collins (The Nutcracker, The Crownless King) will take on the title role as Rose, and Company Member Christine Mayland Perkins also appears in the ensemble. Last seen in 2007's The Nutcracker, Equity actress Ericka Ratcliff returns to The House in the title role of the Rime Witch, complete with wire work and new original songs to make Rose's encounter with the Witch particularly spellbinding and heartbreaking.

Guest artist Brandon Holmes (recently seen in Steppenwolf's Three Sisters) appears as Rose's love interest, Jimmy. The ensemble is rounded out by returning guest artists Kara Davidson and Sam Guinan-Nyhart as well new faces Jeremy Sonkin, Dan Toot and Tamara White.

Company Member Collette Pollard designs a new space for this re-imagined production, creating a darker, more isolated world for each resident of Radio Falls, where tiny homes stand in solitary snow storms day after day. With seating on three sides of the stage, the audience is a part of the snowy world.

Company Member Melissa Torchia bundles the cast up for the icy weather, in an urban Midwestern palate. Company Member Lee Keenan designs lights that transport us from Rose's dreamy, childhood visions, to the harsh realities of life in a broken town. Jeff Award-winning composer and Company Member Kevin O'Donnell shares a score influenced by doo-wop, harkening to the show's Michigan roots. Company Member Joshua Horvath completes the team as sound designer.

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