'ROLLER DERBY PLAY' Premiere, Chicago Debut of THE NANCE & More Set for Pride Films and Plays' 2016-17 Season

Pride Films and Plays' 2016-17 season will include two Chicago premieres of Tony Award nominated shows and two world premieres, Executive Director David Zak and Artistic Director Nelson Rodriguez announced today.

Under the theme, "Let in the Light," the season will open with the previously announced world premiere Resolution at Rivendell Theatre from October 21 to November 20, 2016. In January, the company will present their inaugural production in their two-stage Pride Arts Center, the first original Chicago staging of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The musical will be performed in the center's 85-seat Broadway stage, at 4139 N. Broadway.

In January, the company will present their inaugural production in their two-stage Pride Arts Center, the first original Chicago staging of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The musical will be performed in the center's 85-seat Broadway stage, at 4139 N. Broadway. PFP will next christen its 50-seat Buena stage at 4157 N. Broadway in March with the world premiere of Gina Femia's For the Love Of (or, the Roller Derby Play). The company will return to the Broadway stage in June for the Chicago premiere of Douglas Carter Beane's The Nance. This year, PFP will offer $10 access tickets for 10% of the tickets for all shows, which can be used by artists, students, seniors, or others.

Artistic Director Rodriguez says, "I am thrilled that our new season includes hit New York shows and sensational world premieres. From skating rinks to vaudeville stages and drawing rooms to the Australian desert, these shows will transport you and illuminate our community's struggles, triumphs, joys, and future. Join us as we 'let in the light'!"

Diana Raiselis will direct Resolution, with a cast including Edward Fraim, Aneisa Hicks, Tiffany Mitchenor and Amber Snyder. Directors and cast for Priscilla, For the Love Of and The Nance will be announced at a later date.

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Pride Films and Plays' 2016-17 Season:

Resolution
By Nancy Nyman and Heather McNama
Directed by Diana Raiselis
October 21 - November 20, 2016
PRESS OPENING Monday, October 24, 7:30 PM
Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave

New Years' Eve, New York City, 1892. High-society husband and wife Jack and Hannah make their resolutions for the coming year -- but when their maid discovers the happy couple's long-held secret, their lives may never be the same. Resolution is a vintage queer thriller for the modern era.

Previews Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, October 23 at 3:00 pm. Preview tickets are $15.
Press Opening Monday October 24 at 7:30PM
Industry performance Wednesday, November 9 at 7:30 PM
Performances run Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM
Tickets are $25 for reserved seats, $20 general admission. There are discounts for students and seniors.

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
By Stephen Elliott and Alan Scott
January 12 - February 12, 2017
PRESS OPENING - Tuesday, January 17, 2017, 7:30 PM
Pride Arts Center - The Broadway
4139 N. Broadway

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the Musical is the heartwarming, uplifting adventure of three friends, Tick, Bernadette and Adam, a glamorous Sydney-based performing trio who agree to take their show to the middle of the Australian outback. They hop aboard a battered old bus (nicknamed Priscilla) searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they ever could have ever dreamed of. With a dazzling array of John Nasca costumes and a hit parade of dance floor favorites including "It's Raining Men," "I Will Survive," Hot Stuff," "Go West," "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," and "I Love the Nightlife," this wildly funny and touching musical is a journey to the heart of FABULOUS! Based on the smash-hit movie of the same name, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert enjoyed a 16-month run on Broadway and won a Tony Award for its costumes.

Previews Thursday, January 12, Friday, January 13 and Saturday, January 14 at 7:30 pm, Sunday, January 15 at 3:00 pm and Monday, January 16 at 7:30 pm. Preview tickets are $25.
Industry Night Wednesday, February 8 at 7:30 pm
Regular run performances Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM
Tickets are $40 for reserved seats, $30 general admission. There are discounts for students and seniors.

For the Love Of (or, the Roller Derby Play)
By Gina Femia
WORLD PREMIERE
March 16 - April 16, 2017
PRESS OPENING - Monday, March 20, 2017, 7:30 PM
Industry Night - Wednesday, April 12, 7:30 PM
Pride Arts Center - The Buena
4147 N. Broadway

When Joy gets on to the best roller derby team in the country, the Brooklyn Scallywags, and meets the star, Lizzie Lightning, she and her long-term girlfriend Michelle find their lives turned upside down. For the Love Of asks how much you're willing to sacrifice - or lose - in order to follow your heart.

Previews Thursday, March 16, Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, March 19 at 3:00 pm.
Regular run performances Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM
Tickets are $25 for reserved seats, $20 general admission. There are discounts for students and seniors.

The Nance
By Douglas Carter Beane
CHICAGO PREMIERE
June 22 - July 23, 2017
PRESS OPENING - Wednesday, June 28, 2017, 7:30 PM
Industry Night - Wednesday, July 19 - 7:30 pm
Pride Arts Center - The Broadway
4139 N. Broadway

Douglas Carter Beane's The Nance recreates the naughty, raucous world of burlesque's heyday and tells the backstage story of Chauncey Miles and his fellow performers. Chauncey's uproarious antics on the stage at a time when it is easy to play gay stand in marked contrast to his offstage life. The New York Times called The Nance "A heartfelt new play set in the twilight of burlesque." It ran on Broadway in 2013 starring Nathan Lane and was nominated for five Tony Awards, winning two.

Previews Thursday, June 22, Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24 at 7:30 pm, Sunday, June 25 at 3:00 pm. Preview tickets are $25.
Regular run performances Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM
Tickets are $40 for reserved seats, $30 general admission. There are discounts for students and seniors.

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Four-show "Pride Pass" subscriptions, including one reserved seat to any performance of each of the four shows, are available for $100.00. Additional Pride Pass benefits include discounted ticket prices for friends, invitations to special events, priority access for additional Priscilla tickets and free film fests and readings. Preview Subscriptions - good for one reserved seat to preview performances of each of the four shows - are $75.00. Subscriptions will be on sale starting Friday, August 26 online at www.pridefilmsandplays.com. We are also excited to offer a new $35 "Crash Pass" for audience members 30 or younger, which provides one general admission ticket to each of our four shows.

Pride Films and Plays changes lives through the generation of diverse new work (or work that is new to Chicago) with LGBTQ+ characters or themes that is essential viewing for all audiences. We accomplish this mission through fully-staged productions, writing contests and staged readings, film screenings, and special events. We foster long term relationships with artists to create programming that is as diverse, unique, and complex as the community we represent. In 2015, Huffington Post called PFP "A powerful and empowering entity." The company acquired its two performance spaces at 4139 and 4147 N, Broadway in July 2016, renaming the spaces the Pride Arts Center. For more information, visit www.pridefilmsandplays.com or call 1.800.737.0984.

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