Jackalope to Welcome Cor Theatre for Pioneer Series This Spring

Jackalope Theatre Company is proud to announce that it has selected Cor Theatre for participation in The Pioneer Series. The Pioneer Series is Jackalope's continuous initiative to cultivate bold new theatre in Chicago. Through an extensive application process, Jackalope selected Cor Theatre to receive a free primetime 4-week run in The Frontier, at 1106 W Thorndale in Chicago, in the spring of 2016.

"In a very short time, Cor Theatre has become one of the city's most provocative and exciting theatre companies to watch," says Jackalope Artistic Director Gus Menary. "Run by seasoned professionals with an eye for what moves us, Cor Theatre is the natural choice in our program for trailblazers. We look forward to helping them create something truly special."

Cor Theatre will receive artistic and administrative support from Jackalope, in addition to free tech and performance time in The Frontier. Though the exact production details are still being finalized, Cor Theatre's run will be March 17 - April 9, 2016.

"By partnering with Jackalope, Cor inherits a supportive and stimulating environment to help us achieve our vision for the upcoming season," says Cor Theatre Artistic Director Tosha Fowler. "Jackalope has launched itself as a leading storefront and it is a very exciting time to be a part of their new place in Chicago Theatre. With Jackalope generously sharing resources such as space and artistic experience, we will be able to make our second season more risky, electrifying and courageous. A huge hats off to Jackalope for starting the Pioneer Series and opening their doors to foster new companies and artistic visions."

Adds Frontier Manager Will Kiley, who oversaw the Pioneer Series selection process, "Loaded with veterans of the Chicago theatre community, Cor garnered city wide attention in their first season with two chilling, critically acclaimed productions. Cor has a grit and hustle that epitomizes Chicago theatre. Jackalope is excited to be catalyst for Cor as they quickly become a major player on the storefront scene."

Cor Theatre is a professional theater company committed to producing stories about courage and exploring the hidden hero within us all. The company believes that there are certain intrinsic values that connect people at the core of their being. Cor seeks to expose those values. In the summer of 2012, Victoria DeIorio and Tosha Fowler produced Gary Henderson's Skin Tight, a story about powerful, enduring love presented in a riveting theatrical style. Encouraged by positive reception, the founders moved forward. They decided on the name Cor because it derives its name from the Latin root of courage: meaning heart. 2015 marked their first official season, featuring the Chicago premiere of A Map of Virtue by Erin Courtney and an updated version of Brad Fraser's Love and Human Remains. Their inaugural season saw an audience of over 1,400, and involved collaboration with over 40 artists. A Map of Virtue was listed as a top show to see in the Chicago Tribune. It was nominated for two Time-Out Chicago Theatre Awards including best supporting actress and best design, and was awarded Most Promising Debut. Love & Human Remains was listed as one of the top plays to see by Windy City Times, NewCity Stage, and ChooseChicago.com.

Tosha Fowler: Artistic Director; Elyse Cowles: Associate Producer Stefin Steber: Associate Producer; Claire Meyers: Development & House Manager; Will Von Vogt: Casting Director; Adam Gutkin: Technical Director; Chris Brickhouse: Copy Writer; Ernie Nolan: Artistic Associate

"We cultivate theatre that manifests the adventure deeply rooted in the American mythos." Founded in 2008, Jackalope is an Edgewater-based theatre company, producing in both their theater within Broadway Armory Park, and their storefront home, The Frontier. Jackalope currently has 14 company members, led by a five-person staff, who work to stage productions of newly developed and established American plays. Jackalope's 8th Season features world premieres by Idris Goodwin, Calamity West, and Ike Holter, and Jackalope is the recipient of the 2015 Broadway in Chicago Emerging Theater Award.

Gus Menary: Artistic Director; Nate Silver: Managing Director; Kaiser Ahmed: Associate Artistic Director; Andrew Burden Swanson: Director of Development & Community Engagement; Elana Boulos: Associate Producer & Director of Casting; Will Kiley: Frontier Manager; Danielle Stack: Production Manager; AJ Ware, Pat Whalen, Danny Martinez, Jon Cohen, Calamity West, Claire Sangster, Allison Raynes: Company Members

The Frontier holds a Performing Arts Venue (PAV) licence and is located at 1106 W. Thorndale just steps away from the Thorndale Red Line Station and from Jackalope's primary performance venue in Broadway Armory Park. With a unistrut lighting grid, this 40-seat flexible blackbox is ideal for special events, rehearsals and limited-engagement performance rentals to the public. What was once a staple deli in the Edgewater neighborhood, this storefront sat untouched for three years before Jackalope began occupying, renovating and using the space to rehearse their productions. Jackalope is committed to fostering an artistic and cultural community within the Thorndale corridor in Edgewater.

For more information, visit www.jackalopetheatre.org.

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