Evanston's Next Theatre Company continues its 29th season with the third offering in their Dark Night Series. After an extremely successful run at Chicago's DCA Theater, Next Theatre is pleased to bring an encore engagement of Wiggerlover [white boy + black dad = grey areas] to its stage. The autobiographical production by James Anthony Zoccoli begins Friday, April 9 at Evanston's Noyes Cultural Arts Center.
Part memoir, part editorial, all comedy, this is the totally too-good-to-be-true story of an interracial family in Chicago, 1979. Actor/writer
James Anthony Zoccoli gives a retrospective account of his life as little Jimmy: a half-Italian, half-Polish kid who thinks he's all Black when his White mother remarries an African-American man.
"After meeting James and hearing his amazing story I was thrilled to have the opportunity to bring his show to Evanston," said Artistic Director Jason Southerland. "Next has done a lot of work exploring race and the racial barriers in our community, so I hope Evanston audiences will embrace this hometown story by one of our own."
James Anthony Zoccoli was born on the South side, raised in Evanston, and has lived everywhere in between - Rogers Park, Hyde Park, Logan Square, Lincoln Square, here there, everywhere. Zoccoli is a member of Strawdog Theatre Company and has performed with Live Bait, Noble Fool, Chicago Children's Theatre, Adventure Stage, and
Chicago Shakespeare Theater, including the recent production of Richard III. He authored "The Proper Papers", under the auspices of "The Hit Factory" and is currently a writer & announcer for the perpetually popular "Game Show Show...& Stuff!" Wiggerlover [white boy + black dad = grey areas] is his first play, but he has been writing this show since age seven.
A version of Wiggerlover [white boy + black dad = grey areas] was first presented at the "Abbie Hoffman Died for Our Sins" Festival at Mary-Archie Theatre in August, 2008. The play was revised and presented for workshop productions in 2009.
Next Theatre Company can be found online at
www.NextTheatre.orgWiggerlover
written and performed by
James Anthony Zoccoliwith Sound Design & Musical Accompaniment by DJ Gregor Mortis
Directed by Andrea Fears
Three performances only
Friday April 9 at 8 p.m.
Monday April 12 at 8 p.m.
Friday April 16 at 8 p.m.
Location: NEXT THEATRE COMPANY
Noyes Cultural Arts Center
927 Noyes Street
Evanston, IL 60201
Box Office: 847-475-1875
Tickets online at www.NextTheatre.org
Tickets: $25 for all performances; Next Theatre subscribers receive a $5 discount.
Tickets available at the Next Theatre Box Office, (847) 475-1875 x2 and at www.nexttheatre.org.
The theater is wheelchair accessible and climate-controlled.
About Next Theatre
Now in its 29th year, Next Theatre Company continues to thrill audiences with its risky brand of socially provocative, artistically adventurous work. A winner of over 30
Joseph Jefferson Awards - including an unprecedented string of Best Ensemble Awards for four years running - the Next has become a destination for artists and audiences who share the belief that theater can promote awareness and provoke change with more power than any other medium of expression.
Next Theatre is located inside the Noyes Cultural Arts Center at Noyes and Ridge in Evanston, right next to the Noyes street stop on the Evanston "el." Free parking is available in the lot adjacent to the theatre and the Evanston Civic Center.
About the Dark Night Series
Not to be confused with a certain summer blockbuster also set in Chicagoland, the series title refers to the performances' presentation at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center on the nights when the regular Next productions are not running. By utilizing the theater space on these 'dark nights', the company is able to present these shows with less financial risk. This will allow Next to keep the admission price low and give those involved the freedom to dedicate more attention to the artistic work, rather than the box office. The focus of the series will be on less traditional theater and more diverse performance arts including mime, puppetry, comedy/improv, music and other endeavors that will appeal to our core audience as well as expand our reach to new audiences.
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