Photo Flash: First Look at Adventure Stage's WORTHY, Opening Tomorrow

Adventure Stage Chicago (ASC) is proud to announce the world premiere of Worthy, April 17 -May 16, created by Dani Bryant and directed by Sarah Rose Graber at Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St. Performances are Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 4 p.m. (The Saturday, May 9 performance is sold out. Student matinees available select weekdays.) Tickets are $10 for preview performances and $17 for adults and $12 for youth aged 14 years and younger. Tickets may be purchased at adventurestage.org or by calling 773.342.4141.

In a society where technology and media tell youth who they must be, Worthy whisks four young heroes on an adventurous quest, fighting dragons, breaking curses and choosing for themselves which paths to follow. Balancing of-the-moment references and resonant, recognizable themes found in classic fairy tale literature, Worthy challenges these four young people to reclaim their identities against tremendous odds. A new devised play, Worthy''s creative process began in spring 2014 and involved workshops called "Story Circles," in which members of the Chicago community came together to share their insights. Dani Bryant, the show''s creator, noticed how energized young people and adults became when talking about misconceptions related to their gender or their age. "People are bursting to discuss this subject through self-reflection and connection to others," Bryant said. When Worthy receives its world premiere this spring, hundreds of youth and adults will have influenced and helped shape the artistic product.

With a punk-rock-infused soundtrack, a deconstructed design aesthetic and an emphasis on the technology that tweens have adopted as second nature, Worthy packs a visual and emotional punch.

Now celebrating its 11th season, Adventure Stage Chicago is the only professional theatre in Chicago that focuses solely on tweens and the adults in their lives. Worthy is the final production in ASC''s 2014 - 2015 season, which also featured Theater Unspeakable''s critically-acclaimed The American Revolution and sold out houses for Le Petit Cirque, an ASC and Chicago Humanities Festival co-presentation as part of the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festiva

Worthy features Juanita Andersen, Kamille Dawkins, Brittany Ellis, Michael Allen Harris and Jessica London-Shields, with Simon Lashford, scenic design; Brandon Wardell, light design; Michael Huey, original music and sound design; Laura B. Kollar, costume design; Jessica Kuehnau Wardell, puppet design; Kitty Campbell, props design, Erica Barnes, dramaturg and Liviu Pasare, projections design.

PHOTOS BY JOHNNY KNIGHT