InnateVolution Theater Productions presents the world premiere of April Smallwood's Right As Rain-a moving exploration of sexuality, religion, friendship and loyalty-directed by InnateVolution's Artistic Director, Toma Tavares Langston. The play about two teenage boys-one gay and one unsure-and their struggle between religion and sexuality was part of InnateVolution's New Play Circle Series of staged readings. Right As Rain is InnateVolution Theater Production's second production-following last summer's well-received Edward Albee double bill of The Zoo Story and The Sandbox-in the company's inaugural season.
Right As Rain begins performances on Wednesday, March 17 and continues through April 24, 2010 (the Press Opening is Friday, March 19 at 8pm) at North Lakeside Cultural Center, 6219 North Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60660. The play runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm. There are no performances March 27 and April 10. Tickets for regular performances are $15, and tickets for preview performances (March 17 and 18) are $10. Tickets may be purchased by calling 312.513.1415 or by visiting
www.innatevolution.org.
"What attracted me to Right As Rain was that it doesn't have a definite answer, a typical resolution," said director Toma Tavares Langston. "I love that April's writing allows the audience to leave the theater having experienced more than one point of view. And I am proud that InnateVolution is producing a world premiere-discovered during our New Play Circle Series-as our second-ever production."
About Right As Rain
Luke is not an average 17 year-old boy, attending living room sermons by his zealous father as he helps convert his backyard shed into a church. But his life of innocence and small town naivety changes drastically when he meets a free-spirited boy named Chance. Luke's father Paul disapproves of the friendship, but the insistence of his wife Sarah overcomes his misgivings. As the two boys grow closer, Luke succumbs to Chance's charms and their relationship spirals out of control. As Luke struggles to find himself and his place in the world, his love for Chance clashes with his traditional religious values. The result finds him questioning his own faith, his own desires, and whether Chance is an agent of the devil sent to destroy him.
"I don't think people have to specifically relate to the subject matter of Right As Rain to enjoy it," said playwright April Smallwood. "When you get right down to it, it's really just about the struggle we all must go through in deciding who we are and who we think we should be. The fact that Right As Rain is having its world premiere in the great city of Chicago is just mind-blowing for me. And I feel so blessed that I have a theater like InnateVolution, which really understands this play, producing it."
Playwright April Smallwood, born in Lexington, KY, received her bachelors in Theatre and English from Indiana University. She currently lives in Bloomington, IN and is plans to pursue an MFA in playwriting in the fall.
Director Toma Tavares Langston, a native of Flint, Michigan, is the Founder and Artistic Director of InnateVolution
Theater Productions. He recently produced and directed their inaugural production of The Zoo Story/Sandbox. Langston has worked on several Theo Ubique productions such as Cabaret,
Jacques Brel's Lonesome Losers of the Night, Belle Barth and the Jeff Award winning Evita.
About the Cast
Ethan Itzkow (Luke Stevens) was last seen on a Chicago stage at the National Pastime Theater in Living Canvas: Nocturne and in the 24 Hour Play Festival at the Gorilla Tango Theater. He has trained at Ithaca College and will be moving to New York City come fall. Pavel Tabutov (Chance) makes his acting debut in Right As Rain. He is a dance instructor with On Your Toes Dance Academy and has choreographed and starred in Peepshow for Petergof Restaurant and Carnaval, a modern day burlesques show. Arne Saupe (
Paul Stevens) has been apart of several Second City shows as well as the 24 Hour Play Festival at the Gorilla Tango Theater. Eileen Tull (
Sarah Stevens, Co-Director) has directed with Village Players, Triton College (B.U.M.S. project), and assistant directed Emigrants with Moving Stories Theatre and The Zoo Story/The Sandbox with InnateVolution. Eileen is the New Play Circle Coordinator for InnateVolution. She is also the Casting Associate for Theatre Seven.
The production team for Right As Rain includes Eileen Tull (co-director),
Shawn Quinlan (choreographer), Steven E. Hill (technical design), Mary Aurora Moore (scenic design), Beverle Bloch (dialect coach) and Raymond K. Cleveland (production stage manager).
About InnateVolution
Theater ProductionsInnateVolution
Theater Productions is committed to presenting theatrical art works centered on "Human Revolution," a Nichiren Buddhist concept. InnateVolution
Theater Productions strives to create theatrical experiences that encompass many art forms such as, fine art, dance and music, etc. Our goal is to cause our audiences to evolve. Thus, affecting others to evolve, which continues to spread from individual to individual then ultimately evolving into a more conscious and compassionate society.
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