Raven Theatre Presents MOTHER'S HOUSE Workshop, Now thru 8/22

Raven Theatre investigates the Chicago immigration experience with the latest installment of their workshop series, Mother's House by Steven Peterson. "God's quiet people" is what the Swedish immigrants often called themselves. But for the Lindstrom family of Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood in 1918, scandal and self-deception bring the war home in this explosive family drama.

Playwright, Steven Peterson states, "With Mother's House, I was interested in writing a period piece that distills a time of great change to the dimensions of a single family. In some ways it is the classic Chicago story of immigrants painfully learning what it means to become American. Although the events of the play are fictional, I looked to my own family's roots of being Swedish immigrants in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood because I recall the tales they told and the mindset that went with it."

Tickets and information are available at www.raventheatre.com or 773-338-2177.

The cast of Mother's House includes Heather Bodie, who is the Executive Director of The Fine Print Theatre Company; Sandie Elias, who has worked with Stage Left, Griffin Theatre and Timeline Theatre; Andy Lutz, who has performed with Chicago Dramatists, Roundabout and Actors Theatre of Louisville; Debra Ann Miller, who works extensively in educational theatre; and Brian Plocharczyk, who has performed with Stage Left, First Folio and Oak Park Village Players.

Rachel Edwards Harvith (Director) is a director, actor, and dramaturg with a passion for new play development. Representative Chicago-area directing credits include Bombs, Babes and Bingo, I Am Montana, and Under America (Mortar Theatre Company); Our Kind of Violence (Stage Left, LeapFest); The Body Snatcher and The Blue Hotel (City Lit Theater Company, Art of Adaptation Festival); Chiaroscuro: A Study in Shadow (Bailiwick Repertory); and Moonlight and Magnolias (Riverfront Theatre); as well as numerous staged readings and workshops with such companies as Chicago Dramatists, American Blues Theatre, American Theatre Company, Teatro Luna, and Bailiwick Chicago. Outside of Chicago, Rachel has directed for Iowa Summer Rep, Syracuse Stage, Hedgerow Theatre, and Dreamwell Theatre, among others. She has also served as dramatic literary manager for Bailiwick Chicago and interim literary manager for Long Wharf Theatre and Syracuse Stage. She is a company member of Mortar Theatre Company and an associate artist at Chicago Dramatists. Education: BA, Grinnell College; MFA, University of Iowa.

Steven Peterson (Playwright) is a Chicago-based playwright whose recent productions include The Invasion of Skokie at Chicago Dramatists (Jeff and Chicago Tribune recommended), and 3 Balls, 2 Strikes and the upcoming Knife in the Heart, both at The Second City Training Center. His play Paris Time won the 2012 Dorothy Silver Playwriting Competition and was presented in May at Cleveland Play House. Steve is a Resident Playwright alumnus at Chicago Dramatists and currently a Senior Network Playwright there. He is a member of The Dramatists Guild.

Founded in 1983, Raven Theatre is dedicated to breathing new life into American classics and exploring other works that illuminate the American experience, with occasional forays into world classics. In addition to its regular season, Raven produces a Workshop Series of new and experimental productions, as well as Take Flight, an Educational Outreach program, including teaching partnerships with various Chicago Public Schools, summer youth classes and original children’s shows performed at Raven Theatre.

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