New Leaf Theatre's ARCADIA Begins Previews Tonight, 5/3

New Leaf Theatre's production of Tom Stoppard's modern classic, Arcadia, will be directed by Jessica Hutchison. New Leaf will examine this complex play with a focus on the intimacy of the space and story.

Performances will be held in New Leaf Theatre's home space at the Lincoln Park Cultural Center. Preview performances for Arcadia run tonight, May 3 through Saturday May 6, 2012. Company and public opening is Thursday, May 10. Press opening is Friday, May 11 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $25 general admission with student, industry, and senior rates available. This production will run Thursday-Saturday at 8:00 p.m. through June 16, 2012.

About the show: "Lady Thomasina Coverly, aged thirteen, quietly unravels the mysteries of the universe in the midst of an English estate's worth of intrigue. Nearly two centuries later, Hannah Jarvis tries to put the pieces together and discover meaning in the debris. Three generations pursue passion and knowledge through the chaos of history."

"This is an especially resonant moment to explore this play," says Hutchinson. "In both historical periods, we see people on the precipice. Everything they held as fact is being questioned, exploded – but it's unclear how or if the pieces will fall back into place in any recognizable way. That uncertainty, that drive to interrogate everything, infuses our current moment, too – socially, politically, and personally. By bringing the play alive in three periods – 1809, 1993, and 2012 – and by creating a place for our audience at the investigatory table, we hope to illuminate a part of our time so that we might find joy, possibility, and freedom in our own not knowing."

THE CREATIVE TEAM

The cast for Arcadia will include Marsha Harman as Hannah Jarvis (a New Leaf producing ensemble member recently seen in Burying Miss America and Redeemers), Patrick King as Valentine Coverly (recently seen in Redeemers), and Dan Granata as Bernard Nightingale (last seen at New Leaf in The Man Who was Thursday and Touch).

Jessica Hutchinson (Director) has served as Artistic Director for New Leaf Theatre since June 2007 directing multiple shows for the company including The Man Who Was Thursday, Lighthousekeeping, Redeemers, Touch, Six Years, and The Dining Room. Additional directing credits include LiveWire Chicago Theatre (Hideous Progeny at the DCA Storefront Theatre) and BackStage Theatre Company (Orange Flower Water). Hutchinson is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are $25 general admission with student, industry, and senior rates available. Tickets are not yet on sale. Visit NewLeafTheatre.org for more information.

ABOUT NEW LEAF THEATRE

New Leaf is a not-for-profit theatre, founded in 2001, which creates intimate, animate theatrical experiences that renew artist and audience. A producing ensemble of seven artists-in-residence, New Leaf specializes in the investigation of the relationships between artists, audience, and space. Best known productions include The Man Who Was Thursday (Time Out Chicago's Top Ten of 2009, Joseph Jefferson Awards nominations for Best Lighting Design and Adaptation), The Dining Room (Time Out Chicago's Top Ten of 2007, Jeff nominations for Best Director and Ensemble), the first US production of The Permanent Way (Jeff nomination for Best Ensemble), and As It Is In Heaven (Jeff nomination for Best Ensemble). Please visit www.newleaftheatre.org for more about where we've been and where we're going.

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