Profiles Theatre to Stage Midwest Premiere of Jez Butterworth's JERUSALEM

Profiles Theatre continues its 27th season with the Midwest premiere of the Tony Award-winning smash hit Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth, directed by Artistic Director Joe Jahruas. Profiles' production runs at The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway, March 4, 2016 through April 24, 2016 with the press opening on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 7:30 pm.

On St Georges Day, the morning of the local county fair, Johnny "Rooster" Byron is a wanted man. The council officials want to serve him an eviction notice, his son wants his dad to take him to the fair, and a motley crew of locals want his ample supply of drugs and alcohol. A comic, contemporary vision of rural England, Jez Butterworth's wildly original epic play Jerusalem is both a lament about the erosion of country life as well as a rebuff to the antiseptic modern world.

Following successful runs at London's Royal Court Theatre and transfer to London's West End, Jerusalem opened on Broadway in 2011 receiving a Tony Award nomination for Best Play and the award for Best Actor in a Play for Mark Rylance.

Jez Butterworth's other plays include Mojo and The Night Heron, both premiering at London's Royal Court Theatre. He co-wrote the screenplays for Edge of Tomorrow and Get on Up and is currently writing the screenplay for London Calling about the British punk rock band, the Clash.

Directed by Profiles Artistic Director Joe Jahraus, the cast of Jerusalem features ensemble member Darrell W. Cox as Rooster along with guest artists David Cady, Jr., Braden Crothers, Cody Davis, Duane Deering, Artistic Associate Jeff Gamlin, Lyssie Garrison, Alison Hixon, Christian Isely, Theo Moss, Erika Napoletano, Annie Pfohl, Eric Salas, Jake Szczepaniak, Samantha Tennant, Patrick Thornton and Scott Wolf.

"I'm so pleased that Profiles is bringing this landmark play to Chicago audiences," says Artistic Director Joe Jahraus. "The themes of this audacious and original work are truly universal. Jerusalem takes us on an exhilarating journey as it explores the collapse of national identity, the defiance of the free spirit and our ever enduring need for myths, legends, magic and grand storytelling."

The designers are Thad Hallstein (set), Mike Rathbun (lights), Brandon Reed (sound), and AmarA*jk (costumes). Nate Dion serves as production stage manager.

Profiles' 2015-16 season concludes with the Midwest premieres of The Village Bike by Penelope Skinner, opening in May. The current production of Neil LaBute's Vices and Virtues continues through March 6 at The Alley Stage, 4147 N. Broadway.

Tickets for Jerusalem are $35 for Thursdays, $40 for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are available by phone, (773) 549-1815, or online, www.profilestheatre.org. Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4:00 and 8:00 pm, Sundays at 7:00 p.m.

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