Profiles Theatre Brings Back JAILBAIT To The Second Stage

Profiles Theatre is bringing back its acclaimed Midwest Premiere of Jailbait by Deirdre O'Connor, directed by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus, for a limited engagement at its new space, The Second Stage. The production runs January 13 - February 27, 2011, at The Second Stage, 3408 N. Sheffield (the former Stage Left Theatre).

Jailbait opened at Profiles in September 2010 receiving rave critical reviews from Chicago's top critics and playing to sold out houses until ending its run after seven weeks to make way for Profiles' hit production of Kid Sister. Returning to their roles are Profiles' ensemble member Eric Burgher (Kid Sister, Body Awareness); Rae Gray (the upcoming Circle Mirror Transformation at Victory Gardens); and Shane Kenyon (The Tallest Man at Artistic Home). Profiles introduces Norma Serna (Kita Y Fernanda at Clockwise Theatre) as Emmy.

Through the course of one dizzying night at a club, Jailbait follows the parallel stories of two fifteen-year-old girls, desperate to grow up, and two thirty-something men who are looking to be twenty-one again. High-school sophomores Claire and Emmy make a game of posing as college students in order to meet older men. Brash bachelor Mark thinks a night out with attractive girls will be just what his friend Robert needs to recover from his recent breakup. When this unlikely foursome collides, they discover some surprising and dangerous compatibilities. Smart, funny, and disturbing, Jailbait asks the question: When do you really become an adult?

Jailbait was developed by Deirdre O'Connor in 2008 as part of the Cherry Lane Theatre's Mentor Project, with distinguished playwright Michael Weller serving as her mentor. In March 2009, it received its World Premiere as the inaugural production for its newest venue, the Cherry Pit Theatre. O'Connor is a graduate of Columbia University 's MFA Playwriting program where she received the John Golden Playwriting Award.

"We opened The Second Stage last September to provide a viable, extremely affordable performance space for young, emerging, and established itinerant companies and to give us the opportunity to occasionally move a successful Profiles production," says Artistic Director Joe Jahraus. "I'm happy that more audiences will have the opportunity to discover Deirdre O'Connor's smart, funny and touching new play. We're looking at the possibility of bringing back other hit Profiles productions as well, such as Kid Sister. The Second Stage offers us the freedom to continue productions that we want to be seen by a wider audience while continuing to create new work."

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Deirdre O'Connor (playwright) was a 2008 Cherry Lane Mentor Project Fellow mentored by Michael Weller in the development of JAILBAIT. In March 2009, it received its World Premiere as the inaugural production for Cherry Lane's newest venue - the Cherry Pit Theatre. Deirdre's other plays include ASSISTED LIVING, developed at The Lark Play Development Center where she was a 2008-2009 Lark Playwrights Workshop Fellow, HERO, performed at Naked Angels as part of Armed and Naked in America and THE DEATH OF MAY MCALLISTER at Northeastern University. Other works that premiered with Naked Angels include PENICILLIN, WHITE ANGELS and WEDNESDAY. Her play, THE ATTIC, premiered at St Ann's Warehouse as part of their Labapalooza festival of new plays. Deirdre is a graduate of Hampshire College, and Columbia University 's MFA Playwriting program where she was the recipient of the John Golden Playwriting Award. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her writing on "The Electric Company" on PBS.

JOE JAHRAUS (director) is the founder and Artistic Director of Profiles Theatre. He most recently directed Profiles' World Premiere of KID SISTER by Will Kern, and the Midwest Premieres of JAILBAIT by Deirdre O'Connor, THE MERCY SEAT by Neil LaBute, GREAT FALLS by Lee Blessing and THE THUGS by Adam Bock. Joe also directed the Midwest Premieres of Neil LaBute's IN A DARK DARK HOUSE, SOME GIRL(S) and FAT PIG, for which he received a Jeff Award Nomination for Outstanding Director. Other directing credits for Profiles include the American Premiere of APPLE by Vern Thiessen, the award-winning Midwest Premiere of BLACKBIRD by Adam Rapp, BABYLON GARDENS by Timothy Mason, THE WATER ENGINE and SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO by David Mamet, and the award-winning Midwest Premiere of CARNAL KNOWLEDGE by Jules Fieffer, among others.

ERIC BURGHER (Robert) was most recently seen asBabe in Profiles World Premiere of KID SISTER, Jared in Profiles' Midwest Premiere of BODY AWARENESS by Annie Baker, and as Sam in Profiles' World Premiere of GRACELAND by Ellen Fairey. Prior to that, he appeared in multiple roles in the U.S. premiere of THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA by Anthony Neilson, and as Fletcher in Profiles' first full Chicago production of MEN OF TORTUGA. Eric also appeared in THIS IS HOW IT GOES by Neil LaBute and "Land of the Dead" as part of Profiles' Midwest Premiere of LaBute shorts, THINGS WE SAID TODAY as well as Carter in the Midwest Premiere of FAT PIG by Neil LaBute. Eric received an After Dark Award for Outstanding Ensemble in "Bench Seat" as part of Profiles' Midwest Premiere of AUTOBAHN. He was seen as Steve in THE GLORY OF LIVING, Steve Enloe in THE RADIANT ABYSS and Dan in NOISE. Eric also teaches on the adjunct faculty at Columbia College, Chicago.

RAE GRAY (Claire) most recently appeared in SUMMER PEOPLE at The Gift Theatre and Drury Lane Oakbrook's MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, which also traveled to the Gateway Playhouse in NY. Other credits include INHERIT THE WIND at Northlight Theatre, OLIVER and STATE FAIR at the Marriott in Lincolnshire, Teatro Vista's FREEDOM, NY at Remy Bumppo's ThinkTank Festival, Ravinia's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE starring Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald, WEDDING BAND at Steppenwolf Theatre as well as STATE FAIR and CHRISTMAS STORY at Theatre at the Center. She appeared in two seasons of Goodman Theatre's A CHRISTMAS CAROL and two seasons of NUMBER THE STARS at Apple Tree Theatre. Rae also performed in TimeLine Theatre's CRY OF PLAYERS and THE CRUCIBLE, which received a Jeff Citation for Best Production and Ensemble. She will soon be seen in the Midwest Premiere of CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION by Annie Baker at Victory Gardens. Rae is a freshman at the University of Chicago.

Shane Kenyon (Mark), most recently appeared in MARY'S WEDDING with Rivendell Theatre Ensemble at Theatre On The Lake. His previous credits include, THE TALLEST MAN at Artistic Home, DAYS OF LATE with Sinnerman Ensemble, DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE, BETRAYAL, and LAST OF THE BOYS at Steppenwolf Theatre, OUR FATHER and SCENES FROM THE BIG PICTURE with Seanachai Theatre, REWIND at the Side Project, EURYDICE at Victory Gardens and THE TEMPEST with First Folio Shakespeare Festival. Shane was also an understudy for DUBLIN CAROL with Steppenwolf Theatre. His Film/TV credits include RIDE ALONG, DOG JACK, and THE KARI FILES. Shane is originally from Phoenix, Arizona and received his BFA in Acting from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.
NORMA SERNA (Emmy) has appeared in the feature films DIA DE LOS MUERTOS (Placed in the Latino Festival of Chicago/Warner Brothers) and TO KILL A KILLER. She has made almost a dozen commercials, including spots for MUEBLERIA CONTINENTAL and CENTRAL DUPAGE HOSPITAL. Norma also performed in Tanya Saracho's Jeff Award Nominated KITA Y FERNANDA. She has studied acting with Doug McDade, Carole Dibo, Deborah Dion, and Janet Louer at Actors Training Center. A resident of Waukegan, fluent in both English and Spanish, Norma attends Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart.

Tickets for Jailbait are $30 for Thursdays and $35 for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are available by phone, (773) 549-1815, or online, www.profilestheatre.org. Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 4:00 p.m. All performances will be held at The Second Stage, 3408 N. Sheffield.

Profiles Theatre is a not-for-profit professional theatre company founded in 1988 by five Eastern Illinois University alumni and has since been continually producing plays. Profiles brings new works to Chicago that illuminate the determination and resiliency of the human spirit. The company produces World, US and Midwest Premieres by new playwrights, as well as established writers whose work has been seen across the country and around the world. Profiles is particularly drawn to playwrights with a unique narrative style and use of language and the company takes pride in carefully selecting scripts that combine integrity with risk. Profiles Theatre is committed to producing plays that tell a story in a captivating way with productions that complement the ensemble and speak to its audience.

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