Other Theatre's BARNEY THE ELF Musical to Return for the Holidays

Other Theatre will continue its 4th season with the third revival of its holiday hit BARNEY THE ELF, a campy and irreverent musical comedy, written by Bryan Renaud with lyrics by Renaud and Emily Schmidt. After helming the 2016 production, Tommy Rivera-Vega returns to direct and choreograph.

BARNEY THE ELF will play November 25 - December 31, 2017 at Other Theatre's resident home, The Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Single tickets go on sale Friday, August 18, 2017 at www.theothertheatrecompany.com, in person at the Greenhouse Theater box office or by calling (773) 404-7336. Season subscriptions are currently available. The press opening is Tuesday, November 28 at 8 pm.

After Santa Claus retires, his wicked son begins a not-so-jolly reign as the new head of Christmas. The North Pole begins to crumble under his bigoted rule, and Barney the Elf is forced to leave his home for being different from the others. Soon he embarks on a fabulous journey of self-discovery (or is it elf-discovery?) that lands him in one of Chicago's hottest drag bars. But can he truly leave Christmas behind for a new life in the big city? BARNEY THE ELF brings pop-infused musical numbers galore and plenty of queer holiday cheer to Lincoln Park for the third year in a row! The 2017 production welcomes the return of Chicago drag sensation Dixie Lynn Cartwright.

IF YOU GO:

BARNEY THE ELF

Written by: Bryan Renaud

Lyrics by: Bryan Renaud and Emily Schmidt

Directed and choreographed by: Tommy Rivera-Vega

Musical Direction by: Nik Kmiecik

Musical Arrangements by: Jermaine Hill

Cast: Dixie Lynn Cartwright (Zooey). Additional casting to be announced.

Location: The Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago

Dates: Preview: Saturday, November 25 at 8 pm and Sunday, November 26 at 3 pm

Press opening: Tuesday, November 28 at 8 pm

Regular run: Thursday, November 30 - Sunday, December 31, 2017

Curtain Times: Thursday and Fridays at 8 pm; Saturdays at 3 pm & 8 pm; Sundays at 3 pm. Please note: there will not be a 3 pm performance on Saturday, December 2.

Tickets: Previews: $20 with code "PREVIEW." Regular run: $25. Students $15 with code "STUDENT." Industry $15 with code "INDUSTRY." Single tickets go on sale Friday, August 18, 2017 at www.theothertheatrecompany.com, in person at the Greenhouse Theater Center box office or by calling (773) 404-7336. Season subscription are currently available.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Bryan Renaud (Book and Lyrics) is the Associate Artistic Director of Other Theatre, where he has premiered his plays Barney the Elf and Other Letters, the latter co-written with Carin Silkaitis. He is also a founding member of Random Acts, where he premiered Strangest Things! The Musical, All Our Twilight, and Ladies Night of the Living Dead. As a performer, Bryan has worked with American Theater Co., Pride Films & Plays, Provision Theater, Music Theatre Co., GreatWorks, Prologue Theatre, Shakespeare at the Centre, Oak Park Festival Theatre, NWaC and Two Pigs Productions. www.BryanRenaud.com

Emily Schmidt (Lyrics) is a freelance playwright and grant writer based in Chicago. She earned her Masters in English from Loyola University. Other works include writing for Acid Reflux Comedy as well as the plays All Our Twilight, Awkward Family Gatherings and Strangest Things! The Musical.

Tommy Rivera-Vega (Director) returns after directing the 2016 remount of Barney the Elf. He also directed the smash-hit world premiere Strangest Things! The Musical, now in its fifth month at the Greenhouse Theater Center. Chicago Acting credits: Parachute Men, Between You Me and the Lampshade, A View From the Bridge, Momma's Boyz - Teatro Vista; La Havana Madrid - Steppenwolf and Teatro Vista; Mother Road - Goodman Theatre; West Side Story - Drury Lane; In the Heights - Skylight Music Theatre; In the Heights, My Fair Lady - Paramount Theatre; Three Sisters - Steppenwolf Theatre; Kiss of the Spiderwoman - BoHo Theatre; Augusta & Noble - Adventure Stage; Pippin - Music Theatre Company; CATS - Theo Ubique; Puerto Rico credits: Spring Awakening, Footloose - Black Box Theatre. Episodic: Chicago PD (Ep 411). He is a proud Teatro Vista, Other Theatre Ensemble member and an Artistic Associate of Random Acts. Tommy is represented by Paonessa Talent Agency.

Other Theatre is dedicated to telling the stories of persons or groups who are othered by systems of oppression. Othering individuals or groups sustains power and privilege. Othering inherently implies hierarchy. Othering keeps the power in the hands of those who already have it. Othering is an "us" vs. "them" mentality often centered around race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, identity, class, religion and ability. Other Theatre is committed to telling these stories in the hope that we can lessen the amount of discrimination and oppression in our world.

We are a collective of artist-activists who believe in the power of theatre to enact social change. We believe in equality for all human beings and we will fight for it. We believe theatre is an excellent conversation starter, and we hope you will come talk with us after the show. We believe radical social change is possible and we will continue to stand up, fight, and resist until it happens.

Other Theatre Artistic Staff: Carin Silkaitis, Founder and Artistic Director; Maddie DePorter, Managing Director; Bryan Renaud, Associate Artistic Director; Ashley Pettit, Production Manager; Savanna Rae, Company Manager; Stephen Kossak, Casting Director; Becca Sheehan, Audience Development/Intern Coordinator; Nik Kmiecik, Social Media Coordinator; Kelly Howe, Resident Dramaturg; Tommy Rivera-Vega, Artistic Associate; Hannah Toriumi, Artistic Associate; Gay Glenn, Artistic Associate.

Other Theatre Board of Directors: Michele Thornton, President; Kelly Soprych, Vice President; Jermaine Hill, Secretary; Stephen Silkaitis, Treasurer; Lisa Wolfe, Diane Sheehan and Michael Johannsen.

Other Theatre's 4th Season is presented by generous grants from MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, and The Saints.

Pictured: Dixie Lynn Cartwright as Zooey with the cast of in Other Theatre's 2016 production of BARNEY THE ELF. Photo by Carin Silkaitis.

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