Mortar Theatre Company Presents SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND, 5/6-6/8

Mortar Theatre Company will present the world premiere of Seek and Ye Shall Findwritten and performed by Sentell Harper**. The one-man show, directed by Stephanie Stroud*, is performed at the Apollo Theater Studio, 2540 N. Lincoln Avenue, May 6 - June 8. Opening/Press night is Monday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. The performances run on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. There will be no performances on Sunday May 26 and Monday 27 in observance of Memorial Day weekend. Instead, there will be a 7:30pm performance on Tuesday May 28. Tickets go on sale Monday, April 29. Ticket prices are $15 for general admission, $10 for students, and $10 for groups and may be purchased at MortarTheatreCompany.org or at the Apollo Theater box office at 773.935.6100.

Seek and Ye Shall Find, written and performed by Sentell Harper, is a one-man show that asks, What does it mean to be different? To be black? To be gay? One performer brings us the untold stories of black, gay men by boldly exploring dozens of characters who are fiercely funny, deeply honest, and constantly surprising. Seek and Ye Shall Find brings forth the comedic and heartbreaking tales of individuals whose complexity cannot be simplified behind stereotype. It's Chicago gay realness with dramatic storytelling flair.

Additional cast, production and artistic team includes Jason Boat* (production manager); Winter Davis(stage manager); Dana Lynn Formby* (dramaturg); Scott Pillsbury (lighting and sound design).
*Indicates Mortar Theatre Company member. *Indicates Mortar Theatre Artistic Associate.

ABOUT SENTELL HARPER, playwright and performer

Sentell Harper, an Artistic Associate of Mortar Theatre Company, received his MFA in Performance from Arizona State University in 2008 where he worked with Tim Miller, Laurie Carlos, Anne Bogart and Siti Company and wrote his first original solo piece Seek and Ye Shall Find. After graduating, Sentell was awarded Links Hall Emerging Chicago artist mentorship with Tim Miller where he performed his second piece You're Worthy, in 2008 and again in 2010. Sentell was also the recipient of a Community Arts Assistance Program Grant for the creation of new work. As a teaching artist, Sentell has worked for the American Theatre Company Mosaic Residency and has taught Viewpoints workshops with Mortar Theatre. As an actor, Sentell has appeared in Suzan Lori Park's The Venus (Negro Resurrectionist) directed by Laurie Carlos, George C. Wolfe's The Colored Museum (Kid/Various), Under America (Mortar Theatre), I Am Montana (Mortar Theatre) and channeled one half of Milli Vanilli in Pavement Group's Girl You Know it's True (Rob Pilatus).

ABOUT STEPHANIE STROUD, director

Stephanie Stroud is a director, actor, and founding member of Mortar Theatre Company. In Chicago, Stephanie has directed developing works for Chicago Dramatists and Mortar Theatre Company. Additionally, Stephanie has served as Movement Director for many Mortar Theatre Projects- Corazón de Manzana (in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs Storefront Theater), Sprawl I at Steppenwolf's Explore Detroit Series, and their upcoming production of The Small of Her Back by Dana Lynn Formby. Stephanie received her M.F.A. from Penn State where she worked with movement director Mark Olsen.

ABOUT MORTAR THEATRE COMPANY

Mortar Theatre is an experiment in rethinking the system. A space for innovative visuals and staging. A connection point where audience and artist dare to be collaborative rebels. An exercise in fearless storytelling. Mortar brings a devotion to the holistic development of new work as an artistic collective composed of actors, directors, designers and playwrights. Find out more about Mortar atMortarTheatreCompany.org.

Mortar Theatre Company's Seek and Ye Shall Find runs at the Apollo Theater Studio, 2540 N. Lincoln Avenue, May 6 - June 8. Opening/Press night is Monday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. The performances run on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. There will be no performances on Sunday May 26 and Monday 27 in observance of Memorial Day weekend. Instead, there will be a 7:30pm performance on Tuesday May 28. Tickets go on sale Monday, April 29. Ticket prices are $15 for general admission, $10 for students, and $10 for groups and may be purchased at MortarTheatreCompany.org or at the Apollo Theater box office at 773.935.6100.

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