Photo Flash: Rivendell presents THE FIREBIRDS TAKE THE FIELD

It's been 25 years since molecular neuroscientist Avery Kahn left Highland Falls, NY. But when 18 local girls, cheerleaders mostly, are stricken with a mysterious ailment, Avery reluctantly returns home to tackle what the locals derisively call the "girl disease." As Avery becomes affected-and infected-by the girls, the case becomes more personal than she ever expected. Based on actual events, Firebirds is a fascinating and often hilarious investigation of how women in particular are impacted by the pressures of growing up.

The Firebirds Take the Field was inspired by real events in LeRoy, New York in Fall 2011. Camera crews descended on the small town when over a dozen teenagers from the same high school developed similar mysterious symptoms, including uncontrollable twitching, tics and verbal outbursts.

The Firebirds Take the Field. Written by: Lynn Rosen. Directed by: Jessica Fisch. Featuring: RTE members Meighan Gerachis (Avery) and Rebecca Spence (Helen), RTE Artistic Director Tara Mallen (Kathy), Jessica Ervin (Penelope); and Margaret Kusterman (Cynthia), Josh Odor (Mark), Aurora Real de Asua (Lucia), and Hannah Toriumi (Agatha).

Creative Team: Katherine Scott (choreography), Joanna Iwanicka (scenic design), Paul Toben (lighting design), Stephanie Cluggish (costume design), Sarah D. Espinosa (sound design), Blake Leo Burke (properties), Sam Mouryessef (production manager), Andra Sturtevant (production stage manager), and Joan Sergay (assistant director)

Previews: April 18 - 22, 2017, Tuesday, April 18 at 8:00pm, Thursday, April 20 at 8:00pm, Friday, April 21 at 8:00pm, Saturday, April 22 at 8:00pm. VIP opening: Sunday, April 23, 2017 at 6:00pm. Opening night: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at 7:00pm. Regular run: April 27 - May 27, 2017

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago

Student, Senior, Active Military, Veteran, Previews: $15, Regular: $28. Pay What You Can: Five seats (10% of the house) are available for each performance. Reservations are made on a first come first served basis. Box Office: (773) 334-7728 or www.RivendellTheatre.org

Parking and Transportation: Free parking is available in the Senn High School parking lot (located a block and a half from the theatre behind the school off Thorndale Avenue). There is limited paid and free street parking in the area and the theatre is easily accessible via the Clark (#22) or Broadway (#36) bus and is a short walk from the Bryn Mawr Red Line El station.

Ervin, Real de Asua, Gerachis, Toriumi
Ervin, Real de Asua, Toriumi (top), Gerachis, Odor
Ervin, Real de Asua, Toriumi
Meighan Gerachis
Real de Asua, Ervin, Gerachis, Toriumi
Real de Asua, Ervin, Gerachis, Toriumi
Toriumi, Ervin, Gerachis, Real de Asua