Profile Theatre Presents A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE, 9/14-10/30

Profiles Theatre opens its 2011-2012 Season with the Midwest premiere of A Behanding in Spokane by Martin McDonagh, directed by Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder. Please note changes with the previously announced dates: Previews are September 9-13, 2011 with the press opening on September 14, 2011. The production runs September 14, 2011 - October 30, 2011 at Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway in Chicago.

In this darkly comical new work from the acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Martin McDonagh, the mysterious gun-toting Carmichael has been searching for his missing left hand for decades. Enter two bickering lovebirds with a hand to sell, and a hotel clerk with an aversion to gunfire, and soon life and death are up for grabs. A Behanding in Spokane turns over American daily existence, exposing the obsessions, prejudices, madness, horrors, and above all, the absurdities that crawl beneath it.

A Behanding in Spokane, McDonagh's first play set in America, received its world premiere on Broadway in 2010 starring Christopher Walken as Carmichael. For the Broadway version, the age of the character was changed to match the age of the actor, now in his middle 60s. Profiles' production returns the character to McDonagh's originally intended age, featuring Profiles ensemble member Darrell W. Cox in the role.

McDonagh also wrote the award-winning plays The Pillowman (Tony nominee, Best Play 2005 and Olivier Award Winner 2004), The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Olivier Award Winner 2003), The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Tony nominee, Best Play 1998) and The Lonesome West (Tony nominee, Best Play 1999). His 2006 film Six Shooter won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short and the full-length feature In Bruges received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

"For me, McDonagh plays are often about thinking the unthinkable, saying the unsayable, and presenting the impossible," says director Rick Snyder. "In our politically correct society, there is a strange relief in being able to do this. This play is totally outrageous and hysterically funny."

Rick Snyder returns to Profiles following his long running hits, reasons to be pretty by Neil LaBute and Killer Joe by Tracy Letts. The cast of A Behanding in Spokane features Profiles ensemble members Eric Burgher (Jailbait, Kid Sister) and Darrell W. Cox (Fifty Words, reasons to be pretty) along with guest artists Sara Greenfield (The Good and Faithful Servant with AstonRep Theatre) and Levenix Riddle (Girl With Sun in Her Eyes with Pine Box Theater).

The designers are Thad Hallstein (set), David Ferguson (lights), Jeffrey Levin (sound and original music), Joelle Beranek (costumes) and the stage manager is Jordan Muller.

A Behanding in Spokane is the first production of Profiles Theatre's 23rd season. The season also includes the World premiere of Assisted Living by Deirdre O'Connor and the Midwest premieres of Bachelorette by Leslye Headland and The Break of Noon by Neil LaBute.

 

 

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