As a finale to their award-winning year of free theatre, Oracle Productions has announced the opening of ROMULUS by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, adapted by Gore Vidal. Kasey Foster makes her directorial debut with Kevin Cox playing the title role in this absurd satire that uses loose history to comment on a complicated present. ROMULUS opens today, October 11, 2014, and runs through November 22, 2014, at Oracle Theatre (3809 N. Broadway in Chicago). Performances are Friday, Saturday and Monday nights at 8PM; Sundays at 7PM.
Admission to ROMULUS is FREE in Public Access Theatre. Seats are sponsored by The Forty 4, a growing population of individuals and local businesses committed to making free art for all. Major donors include: Alphawood Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Broadway In Chicago, The Saints, the Illinois Arts Council, Ronald A. Greene Memorial Fund at The Chicago Community Trust, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, and The MacArthur Foundation.
ROMULUS is Dürrenmatt's tragicomic rehashing of the fall of the Roman Empire under the supervision of its final emperor. Or, according to the Swiss absurdist playwright, it's an "historical play with no historical basis." The barbarian hoards are at the gates, the city is in shambles, and Romulus is counting the eggs laid by his prize chickens. Everyone around him is confounded by his willingness to surrender - it is suicide! As his home crumbles and his wealth is drained, our antihero asks for more wine. However, it's all part of his plan: let the morally bankrupt empire collapse and restore balance to the world.
Gore Vidal's 1962 adaptation serves as a cautionary tale about the current crisis of American government: if the empire collapses, will the new empire be any better? Oracle is transformed into the pool patio of a derelict mansion where audiences join Romulus's garden party of abdication.
ROMULUS is produced in special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
ROMULUS features Kevin Cox in the title role. Recent credits include THE WORD PROGRESS ON MY MOTHER'S LIPS DOESN'T RING TRUE at Trap Door Theatre, where he is a Company Member. Previous Oracle credits include TAPE (2006). The ensemble features Oracle Company Members
Kathryn Bartholomew and
Rory Jobst. They are joined by Susan Wingerter,
Alexis Randolph, James Errico,
Colin Morgan,
Miguel Nunez,
Luke Daigle, Sabrina Conti and
Jeremy Trager.
The design team features award-winning Sound Designer Kevin O'Donnell making his Oracle debut. Oracle is thrilled to welcome back Oracle veterans Eric Van Tassell as Lighting Designer, and Joanna Iwanicka as Scenic Designer.
Tara Smith is Costume Designer, and will work with Foster on Props Design and Makeup Design. Evelyn DeHais is Graphic Designer. Deirdre Connelly is Stage Manager. Lyndsay Kane is Casting Director for Oracle Productions. ROMULUS is produced by Company Member
Tony Santiago. Max Truax is Artistic Director.
Ben Fuchsen is Executive Producer and
Brad Jayhan-Little is Executive Director of Oracle Productions.
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