Jackalope to Stage World Premiere of EXIT STRATEGY, 5/9-6/15

Jackalope Theatre Company's season concludes with the world premiere of EXIT STRATEGY written by Ike Holter and directed by founding company member Gus Menary. It will play May 9 - June 15 in Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway in Chicago. Tickets will be available through jackalopetheatre.org beginning April 17. The Press Performance is Thursday, May 15 at 7:30pm.

EXIT STRATEGY features Ensemble Members Patrick Whalen (Ricky) and Daniel Martinez (Luce), along with HB Ward (Arnold), Lucy Sandy (Saide), Barbara Figgins (Pam), Paloma Nozicka (Jania), and Jerry MacKinnon (Donnie).

From the acclaimed writer of Hit the Wall and Loom, comes the story of a Chicago public high school slated for closure at the end of the year. The impending shut-down causes tensions in the school's already volcanic neighborhood to rise to the breaking point, but a small group of teachers launch a last minute battle to save the school. Over the course of the year, they put their careers, their future and their safety in the hands of a fast talking administrator who comes on strong: but might actually have no clue what he's doing.

"Worldwide, we neglect our responsibility to future generations, and leave entire sections of the population to scrape by in the margins," says Artistic Director AJ Ware about the development process for Exit Strategy. "When Ike told me that he'd like to write a play for Jackalope about school closings, I felt immediately energized and so eager to provide a platform for this most important of issues to Chicago. At the end of another school year, we must remember the children and families affected by decisions out of their control, and we must continue to fight for their legacy."

The production team for EXIT STRATEGY includes: John Holt (scenic design), Artistic Associate Claire Sangster (lighting design), Delia Ridenour (costume design), Thomas Dixon (sound design), Mel Gill (props design), Jen Dorman (graphic design), Joshua Altman (dramaturgy), Allison Raynes (production stage manager), Mikayla Pasquale (assistant stage manager), and Artistic Director AJ Ware (producer).