Photo Flash: The Neo-Futurists And The Ruffians Present BURNING BLUEBEARD

In celebration of their 30th anniversary season, The Neo-Futurists announce the return of holiday hit BURNING BLUEBEARD in co-production with The Ruffians for seven performances only, December 26 - 31, 2018 at The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Since its premiere as an original Neo-Futurist production in 2011, the fantastical tale inspired by Chicago's 1903 Iroquois Theatre has been an annual Chicago holiday favorite for seven years running. Tickets are currently available at neofuturists.org.

Written by Jay Torrence and directed by Halena Kays, BURNING BLUEBEARD will feature original cast members Pamela Chermansky(Fancy Clown), Jay Torrence (Robert Murray) and Ryan Walters (Eddie Foy), with newcomers Kaitlyn Andrews (Nellie Reed), Dave Honigman (Henry Gilfoil) and Crosby Sandoval (Faerie Queen).

Inspired by the true story of Chicago's 1903 Iroquois Theatre Fire, BURNING BLUEBEARD is the story of six singed clown performers who emerge from the burnt remains of history attempting to perform their spectacular Christmas Pantomime once and for all. But this time, they hope to finally reach the true happy ending of their second act and avoid the fateful fire that killed 600 of its audience members. BURNING BLUEBEARD is a whimsical romp with a sensitive heart, a joyful eulogy with a sharp irreverent wit including music, clowning, tumbling, acrobatics and dance. Each performance is a vaudevillian delight with a story that excavates the poetic and poignant remains of a piece of Chicago's rich history.

The run of BURNING BLUEBEARD will include a performance on the 115th anniversary of the actual Iroquois Theatre fire (Sunday, December 30 at 3 pm). An optional New Year's Eve VIP Package is available that includes performances of BURNING BLUEBEARD (7:30 pm) and THE INFINITE WRENCH, The Neo-Futurists' flagship late-night show of 30 two-minute plays in an hour (11 pm). In between shows, VIP ticket holders will be treated to a full dinner, live performances and music, brews from Metropolitan Brewery and type-written poetry on demand from Poems While You Wait. The evening will conclude with a champagne or sparking apple juice toast.

Photo Credit: Evan Hanover