Remy Bumppo Stages Tom Stoppard's TRAVESTIES, Now thru 5/3

Toss together James Joyce, Vladimir Lenin, and Dadaist poet Tristan Tzara in Zurich in 1917 (where they really were), throw in limericks and lyrics and The Importance of Being Earnest, then shred the whole melange through the mixed-up mind of an aging British civil servant (who has a big grudge against Joyce concerning a pair of trousers), and you've entered the Wilde-ly witty world of Travesties.

Remy Bumppo will present Tom Stoppard's Travesties as the final production of its 18th season. Press Opening is Monday, March 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm at the Greenhouse Theater Center.

Leading audiences into Stoppard's brilliant comedy is Remy Bumppo's Producing Artistic Director Nick Sandys, who cites Travesties as the Mount Everest of think theatre.

"As a young writer, Stoppard idolized Oscar Wilde," says Sandys. "Travesties is perhaps the play that expresses his absolute love of language more than any other. Its brilliance. Its wit. Its polish. Its dazzle. Stoppard out-Wildes Wilde, out-Joyces Joyce, and builds a surrealist comedy from the wreckage. Like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, he then puts an everyman at the center who, like us in the audience, is just trying to keep up."

Sandys believes that the everyman, in this case a British civil servant named Henry Carr, is where audiences will most see themselves in this play.

"We all, in our everyday lives, search our own histories for meaning and purpose. Particularly in our own culture, we tend to compare ourselves to stars and celebrities... Carr is like us - an everyman wondering why his own life was not remarkable, why he hasn't had his 15 minutes in the spotlight. It's a very human, and rather comic question, this search for value and validation," says Sandys.

When asked if audiences need to be well-versed in the history and artists in the play to get the jokes, Sandys assures that "You don't need to know anything about Joyce, Lenin, or Tzara other than that they were famous. The play will tell you all the facts you need to know."

He adds, "You may want to familiarize yourself with The Importance of Being Earnest. If you enjoy that play, you'll enjoy this one."

The Remy Bumppo cast of eight includes Artistic Associate Greg Matthew Anderson and Ensemble Member Kelsey Brennan. Also in the cast are Jeff Cummings, James Houton, Jodi Kingsley, Keith Neagle, Scott Olson, and Meg Warner.

Travesties will be performed tonight, March 25 through May 3, 2015 at the Greenhouse Theater Center at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave in Chicago. Tickets are on sale now at www.RemyBumppo.org or by calling the Greenhouse at 773.404.7336.
Mara Filler is Stage Manager and Jaci Entwisle is Assistant Stage Manager for Travesties. The set is by Joe Schermoly; costumes by Rachel Lambert; lights by Andrew Meyers; sound by Victoria (toy) Deiorio; properties by Jesse Gaffney; dramaturgy by Erin Brady; dialect coaching by Doreen Feitelberg; and the Assistant Director is Charlie McGrath.

Special Events & Performance Details:

All at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago 60614
Monday, March 30, 7:00 pm - Travesties Opening Night
Sunday, April 12, 1:30 pm - Between the Lines.
Pre-show lecture starts at 1:30 pm. The performance starts at 2:30 pm.
Thursdays, April 9, 23, 30 at 7:30 pm - Post-show talkback
Sundays, April 5, 19, 26 at 2:30 pm - Post-show talkback

Travesties
By Tom Stoppard
Directed by Nick Sandys
March 25 - May 3, 2015
Greenhouse Theater Center, Theater 3
2257 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614

Performance Times:

Opening Night: Monday, March 30 at 7:00 pm
Previews (3/25 - 3/29): Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 2:30 pm
Regular Run: Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm
Wednesdays, April 8 and April 29 at 7:30 pm
Matinee Performances (other than Sundays): April 16 and April 25 at 2:30 pm

Cast:

Kelsey Brennan
Jeff Cummings
James Houton
Jodi Kingsley
Keith Neagle
Scott Olson
Meg Warner

Production Team:

Directed by Nick Sandys
Scenic Design by Joe Schermoly
Costumes by Rachel Lambert
Sound by Victoria (toy) Deiorio
Lighting by Andrew Meyers
Properties by Jesse Gaffney
Assistant Director Charlie McGrath
Dramaturgy by Erin Brady
Dialect Coaching by Doreen Feitelberg
Stage Management by Mara Filler
Assistant Stage Management by Jaci Entwisle

Tickets:

Greenhouse Theater Center Box Office, 773.404.7336 or Online at www.RemyBumppo.org
Previews: $32.50 - $37.50
Opening Night: $57.50
Regular Run: Wed-Fri $42.50 - $47.50, Sat-Sun $47.50 - $52.50
Between the Lines: $57.50
Student Tickets: $15 all performances except Opening Night and Between the Lines
Group Discounts: Available for parties of 10 or more, call 773.244.8119

Parking:

The former Children's Memorial Hospital garage, 1/2 block north of the theater on Lincoln Avenue, is making 100 parking spaces available free to the public for up to five hours, on a first-come, first-served basis. This offer is subject to change at any time.

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