Photo Flash: The Other Theatre Company Announces Casting for the Return Holiday Hit BARNEY THE ELF

The Other Theatre Company (TOTC) announces the return of the smash hit with a queer twist Barney the Elf, written by company member Bryan Renaud, music arrangements by Jermaine Hill, original direction by Carin Silkaitis, additional direction and choreography by Tommy Rivera-Vega, music direction by Ali Goodman, November 30 - January 1, 2017 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Previews are Tuesday, Nov. 29 and Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. Opening night is Thursday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays at 8 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Additional shows on Tuesday, Dec. 20 and 27, and Wednesday, Dec. 21. No shows on Dec. 24 and 25. Tickets for previews are $20 and for the regular run $25. Tickets are on sale now at theothertheatrecompany.com.

TOTC's critically acclaimed 2015 hit returns. Chicago drag queen sensation Dixie Lynn Cartwright and Bryan Renaud star in this musical parody of Elf. After Santa Claus makes an untimely exit, his wicked son begins a not-so-jolly reign as the new head of Christmas. The North Pole begins to crumble under his tyrannical rule, and Barney the Elf is forced to leave his home. But it leaves the audience to wonder if he can truly leave Christmas behind for a new life in the big city.

The cast of Barney the Elf includes: Bryan Renaud (Barney the Elf), Dixie Lynn Cartwright (Zooey), JoNathan Parker Jackson (Junior), Maggie Cain (Mrs. Claus), Mariah Furlow (Ensemble), Nik Kmiecik (Ensemble, Junior u/s), Molly LeCaptain (Ensemble), Ben F. Locke (Ensemble), Cassie Nelson (Ensemble), Becca Sheehan (Ensemble, Mrs. Claus U/S), Ethan Warren (Ensemble, Barney the Elf U/S), Colleen DeRosa (Swing) and Tommy Rivera-Vega (Swing).

The production team for Barney the Elf includes: Bryan Renaud (playwright, lyrics), Jermaine Hill (music), Emily Schmidt (lyrics), Tommy Rivera-Vega (director, choreographer), Ali Goodman (music director), Ashley Pettit (stage manager, Sound Designer), Carrie Anderson (assistant stage manager), Michael Johanssen (scenic designer), Matthew Carney (lighting designer), Cassie Nelson (dance captain), Michael Johanssen (technical director), Liz Havenga (scenic painting), Stephen Kossak (casting), Ashlee Kline (graphic design) and Carin Silkaitis (artistic director).

ABOUT BRYAN RENAUD, playwright of Barney the Elf

Bryan Renaud is the associate artistic director of The Other Theatre Company, where he has performed in Bent and The Realm. The Other Theatre Company also premiered his plays Barney the Elf and Other Letters, co-authored with Carin Silkaitis. Other plays include Twelfth Night of the Living Dead (produced internationally and available from Chicago Dramaworks), Ladies Night of the Living Dead, All Our Twilight and the upcoming STRANGEST THINGS! The Musical premiering in 2017 from Random Acts.

ABOUT CARIN SILKAITIS, TOTC Artistic Director, original director of Barney the Elf

Carin Silkaitis is the founding artistic director of The Other Theatre Company where her credits include The Realm and Other Letters as an actor, as well as Others: A 24 Hour Play Festival, Daughters of Ire and Barney the Elf as director. Notable TV/film credits include "Chicago Fire," "Unexpected" and the SAG short film Blood and Water. Notable theatre credits include: Lips

Together, Teeth Apart (Eclipse Theatre), Sons of the Prophet, Distracted (American Theater Co.), Richard III (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New Englind (u/s Dean Wreen, Theater Wit, two weeks performed), and Rabbit Hole (u/s Izzy, Goodman Theatre). Silkaitis will play "Holly" in Artemisia Theatre's Visiting in spring 2017. She graduated from the School at Steppenwolf, received her MFA in acting from the Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University and is the Department Chair of Theatre at North Central College. She is a proud member of AEA, and is equally proud to be represented by Paonessa Talent in Chicago.

ABOUT Tommy Rivera-Vega, director/choreographer of Barney the Elf

Tommy Rivera-Vega is a The Other Theatre Company artistic associate, his credits with The Other Theatre include Others and Barney the Elf. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Rivera-Vega has proudly calls Chicago his new home. Additional credits include Mother Road (Goodman Theatre); Latino Theatre Festival (Los Angeles); Parachute Men, A View From The Bridge, Momma's Boyz (Teatro Vista); In the Heights (Skylight Music Theatre); In the Heights, My Fair Lady (Paramount Theatre); Three Sisters (Steppenwolf); Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Boho); Pippin (Music Theatre Company); CATS (Theo Ubique); AIDA (Bailiwick Chicago) and West Side Story (Drury Lane). Puerto Rico credits: Spring Awakening and Footloose (Black Box Theatre Workshop).

ABOUT DIXIE LYNN CARTWRIGHT, starring in Barney the Elf

Dixie Lynn Cartwright's credits include Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens, The Bitchfest Club and Scream Girls (MidTangent Productions). She can also be seen hosting her own monthly show, Dixie Wins A Talent Show, at Berlin. When she's not hosting "RuPaul's Drag Race" viewing parties or Beyoncé dance contests at Sidetrack, she's singing obscure Broadway songs to her tens of tens of YouTube fans.

The Other Theatre Company (TOTC) announces the return of the smash hit with a queer twist Barney the Elf, written by company member Bryan Renaud, music arrangements by Jermaine Hill, original direction by Carin Silkaitis, additional direction and choreography by Tommy Rivera-Vega, music direction by Ali Goodman, November 30 - January 1, 2017 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Previews are Tuesday, Nov. 29 and Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. Opening night is Thursday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays at 8 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Additional shows on Tuesday, Dec. 20 and 27, and Wednesday, Dec. 21. No shows on Dec. 24 and 25. Tickets for previews are $20 and for the regular run $25. Tickets are on sale now at theothertheatrecompany.com.

All photos by Carin Silkaitis

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