Lifeline Theatre Announces Their Summer Updates

Now concluding its 26th season, Lifeline Theatre is known for specializing in original literary adaptations. Its ensemble of artists uses imaginative, unconventional staging to portray sprawling stories in an intimate space. Lifeline is committed to promoting the arts in its Rogers Park neighborhood and is an anchor of the Glenwood Avenue Arts District. Lifeline aspires to create art that is relevant to their culturally diverse, increasingly youthful neighborhood. Lifeline Theatre - Big Stories, Up Close.

Six literary adaptations written by ensemble members that received Lifeline Theatre World premiere productions were recently published by Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com): Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre" (1991) and E.M. Forster's "A Room with a View" (2006), adapted by Christina Calvit; Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days" (2002), adapted by John Hildreth; Margery Williams' "The Velveteen Rabbit" (2006), adapted by Elise Kauzlaric; and H.G. Wells' "The Island of Dr. Moreau" (2007) and Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" (2008), adapted by Robert Kauzlaric.

On April 29, 2009, Lifeline Theatre received 14 nominations for the Non-Equity Jeff Awards, the most nominations of any single producing organization in 2009. Up to that point, Lifeline had received 37 Non-Equity Jeff Awards, plus one Equity Jeff Award, as well as a Special Jeff Citation in 2007 for 25 years contributing to Chicago theatre. At the Non-Equity Jeff ceremony on June 8, 2009, Lifeline received four Awards, which honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract, for productions that opened between April 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009.

Lifeline's production of "Mariette in Ecstasy," which ran February 13-April 5, 2009, received seven nominations, and one award - Scenic Design: Alan Donahue.

"The Mark of Zorro" which originally ran May 2-June 22, 2008, extended through July 20, 2008, and then remounted at Theatre Building Chicago from September 27-November 23, 2008, received five nominations, and three awards - New Adaptation: Katie McLean; Sound Design: Victoria DeIorio; and Fight Choreography: Geoff Coates.

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" which originally ran September 12-November 2, 2008, and extended through November 16, 2008, received two nominations.

Lifeline Artistic Director Dorothy Milne said, "We're so grateful for our success at the Jeffs this year, and thrilled to have collaborated with the variety of talented artists who contributed to Lifeline's most recent ‘Big Stories, Up Close.' After producing the nearly 100 performances of ‘Zorro' (including our first off-site MainStage remount at Theatre Building Chicago), the extended run of ‘Dorian Gray,' the critically- and audience-acclaimed ‘Mariette,' and a stellar KidSeries calendar, we are delighted to be recognized by the Jeff committee via our productions' nominations and wins."

The Jeff-recommended MainStage adaptation of Dorothy L. Sayers' mystery novel has added a five-week extension to accommodate demand, now running through July 26, 2009. "Busman's Honeymoon" plays Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 4 p.m. (NO SHOWS on Saturday, July 4), at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are $30 for regular single tickets (group, senior, student, rush discounts available), and are available at 773-761-4477 and HotTix.

Lifeline's professional artists teach basic drama skills which emphasize self-esteem building, artistry and teamwork in an atmosphere of mutual encouragement and respect, appropriate for ages 7-12. The 9th Annual Summer drama camp runs July 13 - 24, 2009, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. in Chicago. Cost is $625 per child for a full day, and $375 per child for half-day sessions (9 a.m. - 12 noon). Further information and registration at 773-761-4477.

8th Annual Glenwood Ave. Arts Fest, the popular free festival, features arts and crafts by 80 artist-vendors, music by 36 bands, theater, performance, food and drink for the whole family on the brick streets of historic Rogers Park. Runs August 22-23, 2009, at 6900 - 7000 North Glenwood Avenue (between Farwell and Lunt), and the 1400 block of Morse Avenue, steps from the Morse Ave stop on the CTA Red Line, with free parking nearby. More details at 773-761-4477 x701 and www.GlenwoodAve.org.

For the second year, four Rogers Park area theatres - Lifeline Theatre, Raven Theatre, the side project, and Theo Ubique - are combining to offer a flexible subscription pass to see a variety of adult and kids' productions throughout the season, running from August 15, 2009, to July 31, 2010, and offering this discounted pass with up to 40% savings over regular single tickets. In addition pass holders will receive discounts at area restaurants Heartland Café, Gruppo di Amici, the Morseland, and Charmers Café/Dagel & Beli [sic]. The $50 pass is available at www.thesideproject.net/tickets.php, and will also be offered at a special discount rate of $45 during Rogers Park's 8th Annual Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest, the weekend of August 22 and 23, 2009, at the Lifeline box office at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. - festival details at 773-761-4477 x701 and www.GlenwoodAve.org.

Lifeline Theatre's Hit "Busman's Honeymoon" adds a five week extension through July 26, 2009. Lifeline Theatre concludes its 26th anniversary MainStage season with the world premiere adaptation of Dorothy L. Sayers' "Busman's Honeymoon," adapted by Lifeline ensemble member Frances Limoncelli, and directed by Lifeline ensemble member Paul S. Holmquist. Wedding bells have finally rung for amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey and novelist Harriet Vane. But their quiet, country honeymoon becomes a farce full of eccentric locals, exploding chimneys and even a body found in the wine cellar. This inauspicious beginning begs the question - when life gets in the way, can love persevere? Lifeline ensemble members Peter Greenberg and Jenifer Tyler reprise their roles as Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane in this sequel to "Gaudy Night," which premiered at Lifeline Theatre in 2006. The show runs about two hours with one intermission. On June 8, Lifeline received four Non-Equity Jeff Awards out of 14 nominations.

Lifeline has produced three previous world premiere stage adaptations of Sayers' Wimsey books - "Gaudy Night" in 2006, "Strong Poison" in 2004, and "Whose Body?" in 2002. Limoncelli adapted all three productions, and "Gaudy Night," and "Strong Poison" garnered Non-Equity Jeff Awards for New Adaptation. Greenberg received an After Dark Award for Outstanding Performance for his portrayal of Wimsey in "Strong Poison," and both he and Tyler were nominated for Jeff Awards for their performances in "Gaudy Night." Holmquist directed Lifeline's adaptation of "The Island of Dr. Moreau," which won five 2008 Non-Equity Jeff Awards, including Best Production-Play.

 

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