KING LIZ to Play Windy City Playhouse Beginning 5/24

Rehearsals are underway for Fernanda Coppel's "King Liz," Windy City Playhouse's second show of the 2017 season, playing May 24 through July 16. Under the direction of Chuck Smith, the "fierce and compelling" (The New York Times) production stars Lanise Shelley as Liz Rico, a powerful NBA sports agent vying for a promotion to head her entire company. When Freddie Luna (played by Eric Gerard), a young, talented rookie, comes under her wing, Liz faces the biggest challenge of her career: trust her gut with the new player, or risk everything she's built for herself. The cast of "King Liz" also features Philip Edward Van Lear as Coach Jones, Jackie Alamillo as Gabby Fuentes, Caron Buinis as Barbara Flowers and Frank Nall as Mr. Candy.

Performances for "King Liz" begin May 24 and run through July 16. Press Nights for the production are Wednesday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets ($15-$55) are on sale now and can be purchased at the Windy City Playhouse Box Office online or by calling the Box Office at (773) 891-8985.

"I was very drawn to the major themes in this production, especially focusing on Liz as an independent, self-reliant woman of color in a male-dominated field. It's not often that you get to see such a strong female character on stage, who owes no one anything," said Windy City Playhouse Artistic Director Amy Rubenstein. "We've curated programming featuring the talented artists in the production to help our audiences connect with the material on a deeper level, while embracing the casual, fun atmosphere the Playhouse is known for."

In conjunction with "King Liz," Windy City Playhouse's Talkback series offers patrons an intimate Q&A experience with an array of artists to learn more about the creative process behind each production. The series begins with "King Liz" playwright Fernanda Coppel, who will lead the discussion behind her inspiration for the play on Saturday, May 27 immediately following the 8 p.m. performance.

Also new, the Playhouse begins the weekly post-performance Nightcap series, inviting patrons to grab a drink at the bar and partake in an intimate discussion around "King Liz" with a member of the cast or creative team. To kick off the series, cast member Caron Buinis will lead the discussion on Wednesday, June 7 and Philip Edward Van Lear will lead the discussion on Wednesday, June 14. The series takes place every Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. through the duration of the run. For the complete schedule of special events at the Playhouse, visit WindyCityPlayhouse.com/King-Liz.

No experience at the Playhouse is complete without a trip to their signature bar, and "King Liz" is no different. The production-specific cocktails, available throughout the run, include:
· Operation: Pump Up - Pimm's, Sprite, Muddled Cucumber, Lemon
· Very Cocky Chick - Amaretto, Luxardo Cherry Liquor, Sprite, Sweet and Sour, Grenadine
· Dynamic Dunker - Bourbon, Ginger Liqueur, Hard Cider, Lime
· Diamond in the Rough - Mezcal, Simple Syrup, Lime, Ginger Beer
· Summer in a Glass (The Playhouse's Signature Sangria) - Rosé, Vodka, Lemon, Strawberries, Sprite

"Wine Wednesdays" are returning to the Playhouse for "King Liz," which includes $10 off all bottles of wine at the bar. For the complete beer, wine and cocktail menu, click here.

The performance schedule for "King Liz" is as follows: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. For a detailed performance schedule visit WindyCityPlayhouse.com/King-Liz. Tickets for "King Liz" are on sale now and range from $15-$55-with discounts available for seniors and students-and can be purchased by calling 773-891-8985 or visiting WindyCityPlayhouse.com.

The creative team for "King Liz" includes Courtney O'Neill (Scenic Design), Elsa Hiltner (Costume Design), Jared Gooding (Lighting Design), Thomas Dixon (Sound Design) and Devon Green (Properties Design). Donald E. Claxon is the Production Stage Manager. The understudies for the production are BriAnna Buckley, Joe Chazaray, David Goodloe, Will Casey, Marisol Doblado and Teri Schnaubelt.

About Windy City Playhouse
Windy City Playhouse, Chicago's most sophisticated not-for-profit Equity theater, aims to expand beyond the traditional theatergoing experience by offering audience members a night of high-quality entertainment with a full-service bar, in a lounge-like atmosphere. Windy City Playhouse premiered in March of 2015, with the inaugural production "End Days." Lauded by audiences and critics alike, Windy City Playhouse promises to rock Chicago's theater scene.

The season continues at Windy City Playhouse with Gina Gionfriddo's dark comedy, "Becky Shaw" directed by Jeff Award-winner Scott Weinstein. Performances begin September 21.

For more information, visit WindyCityPlayhouse.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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