Photo Flash: The Neo-Futurists Presents Lily Mooney's EMPTY THREATS

The Neo-Futurists present Ensemble Member Lily Mooney's Empty Threats, directed by Krissy Vanderwarker, in her directorial debut with The Neo-Futurists, playing at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., June 7 - July 14. Previews are Thursday, June 7 - Saturday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m., with opening night Monday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. The running time is currently 90 minutes. Performances run Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices for previews and Thursdays are pay-what-you-can; for the regular run, tickets are $10-25. Tickets and information are available at neofuturists.org or 773.275.5255.

In Empty Threats, writer-performer Lily Mooney presents a send up of power dynamics found in contemporary theater and in modern life. The show begins with a fictional premise: Victor, a college professor, prepares to leave his office at the end of a long day. Soon the play's author, a "real person," barges in and stages an interrogation, forcing Victor to defend his fictional existence. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and David Mamet's Oleanna serve as springboards for this complex, comedic and vigorous investigation of truth and responsibility.

Empty Threats features performances from Lily Mooney* and Jared Fernley.

The production team of Empty Threat includes Krissy Vanderwarker (director); Mitchell Chapman (stage manager); Rachel Flesher (violence designer); Zach Payne (assistant violence designer); John Kelly (lighting designer); Grant Sabin (scenic designer); Leah Hummel (props designer); Andrew Tham (sound designer) and Kate Hardiman (production manager).

* denotes member of The Neo-Futurist Ensemble

ABOUT Lily Mooney* Creator/"Pearl"

Lily Mooney is a writer, performer and teacher in Chicago. Since 2012, she has been an ensemble member of The Neo-Futurists, where she makes short plays for the company's flagship show, The Infinite Wrench. Alongside Artistic Director Kurt Chiang, she co-creates and produces The Arrow, a experimental storytelling show that collides prose, plays, and improvisation. Other Neo-Futurist credits include Saturn Returns, (writer/performer) and The Neo-Futurists: Body (contributing writer). Mooney studied and performed improv at The Annoyance Theatre and holds an MFA from Northwestern University.

ABOUT KRISSY VANDERWARKER, Director

Krissy Vanderwarker is a director/maker. Vanderwarker's directing credits include: Home Invasion, Midsommer Night's Eve (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Thaddeus and Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure (Lookingglass), Skin of Our Teeth (Remy Bumppo), Harry & The Thief (Pavement Group), The Grown-Up (Shattered Globe), Psychonaut Librarians (The New Colony) and with Dog & Pony Theatre Co.: Breach, Counterfeiters, God's Ear, As Told by the Vivian Girls, Mr. Marmalade, Ape, Osama the Hero, As Much As You Can and Crumble (Lay Me Down, Justin Timberlake). Vanderwarker is currently making Ghost Army, a city-wide interactive experience, and her first short film titled "Monster Convention."

ABOUT Jared Fernley, "Victor"

Jared Fernley's stage credits include work with Writers Theatre, Northlight, Strawdog Theatre, Jackalope, Griffin Theatre and The New Colony, as well as Backroom Shakespeare and One Year Chekhov (where he is an ensemble member). Fernley's TV credits include "Chicago Fire," (NBC) and "Patriot," (Amazon). Fernley is also an artistic associate with Erasing The Distance, a company that sheds light on mental health through documentary theater. He is a proud graduate of The School at Steppenwolf and is represented by Grossman & Jack Talent.

The Neo-Futurists are a collective of writer-director-performers creating theater that is fusion of sport, poetry and living-newspaper. Originating over 10,071 plays within the newly launched The Infinite Wrench, 28 years of Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, and more than 65 full-length productions within their immediate, non-illusory aesthetic, The Neo-Futurists have grown to become one of the most highly regarded experimental theater companies in the United States. From humble beginnings as the first late-night theater production in Chicago, they launched what became Chicago's longest running show and today sustain multifaceted programs such as Neo-Access, The Kitchen (a micro-festival on art and performance), Prime Time, exchanges with branches in New York and San Francisco, Neo-Lab, and The Infinite Wrench, their flagship ongoing late-night show running 50 weekends every year. For more information visit www.neofuturists.org

The Neo-Futurists present Ensemble Member Lily Mooney's Empty Threats, directed by Krissy Vanderwarker, in her directorial debut with The Neo-Futurists, playing at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., June 7 - July 14. Previews are Thursday, June 7 - Saturday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m., with opening night Monday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. The running time is currently 90 minutes. Performances run Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices for previews and Thursdays are pay-what-you-can; for the regular run, tickets are $10-25. Tickets and information are available at neofuturists.org or 773.275.5255.

The Neo-Futurists are partially supported by grants from Alphawood Foundation Chicago, The Chicago Community Foundation, a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, and The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.

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