Photo Flash: About Face Theatre Hosts Midwest Premiere of BULL IN A CHINA SHOP

About Face Theatre is pleased to present the Midwest premiere of Bryna Turner's comedy BULL IN A CHINA SHOP, based on the true story of revolutionary academics and lovers Mary Woolley and Jeannette Marks. Directed by AFT Artistic Associate Keira Fromm*, BULL IN A CHINA SHOP will play May 24 - June 30, 2018 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at aboutfacetheatre.com by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office. The press opening is Thursday, May 31 at 7:30 pm.

BULL IN A CHINA SHOP features AFT Artistic Associate Kelli Simpkins* with Aurora Adachi-Winter, Adithi Chandrashekar, Mary Beth Fisher and Emjoy Gavino.

BULL IN A CHINA SHOP explores the fascinating lives of Mary Woolley and her partner, Jeannette Marks, two brilliant women who reimagined and revolutionized women's education at the turn of the twentieth century. This fast-moving feminist comedy chronicles the growth of the women's suffrage movement, as well as Mary and Jeannette's romantic relationship. It examines the strength it takes to find your voice, be brave and find yourself less at odds with the world.

"As a queer female director, I'm always excited by plays with gay narratives," comments director Keira Fromm. "Plays that deal specifically with gay female stories aren't terribly common, so when I came across Bryna Turner's radical play, I was immediately taken with it. Bryna is an incredibly smart and savvy playwright. She has a way of writing words and characters that live in both the past and the present simultaneously. The play honors the past and present so beautifully. Mary and Jeannette's struggle to reform women's education and advocate for the suffrage movement echoes the fights that women still wage today - whether that fight be for equal pay, fair representation or for the protection of women's health initiatives. Ultimately the play is a unique meditation on bravery."

The production team for BULL IN A CHINA SHOP includes William Boles* (scenic design), Mieka Van Der Ploeg* (costume design), Claire Chrzan (lighting design), Eric Backus (sound design and music composition), Jamie Karas (properties design), Catherine Allen (production manager), Helen Lattyak (production stage manager) and Andrea Enger (asst. stage manager).

*Denotes AFT Artistic Associate

Photo Credit: Michael Brosilow

To post a comment, you must register and login.