The Greenhouse Theater's "Solo Celebration!" continues with "Squeeze My Cans," a limited engagement autobiographical solo-play written and performed by Cathy Schenkelberg and directed by Shirley Anderson. Making its Chicago premiere, Schenkelberg shares a glimpse behind the velvet curtain of Scientology in this strangely hilarious and unbelievable story of resilience, loss, and extraterrestrials. "Squeeze My Cans" runs July 14 - July 24 at The Greenhouse Theater Center (2257 N Lincoln Avenue); the press performance is July 14 at 7:30 p.m.
"Cathy's brave journey through Scientology is at once humorous and shocking, detailing her nearly 20-year experience with America's foremost intergalactic faith. Through Cathy's lens, audiences are offered a rare glimpse into this secretive religion, re-living her account of coming into and getting out of the Church of Scientology," said Artistic Director of the Greenhouse Theater Center, Jacob Harvey. "Together with Shirley and their entire team, Cathy has crafted an intimate story of survival and the power of perseverance, refusing to stay silent."
"Squeeze My Cans" asks audiences: What do you do if the "carrot of spiritual freedom" was dangled in front of you, waiting to be seized? In this cautionary tale, we learn what chasing the "carrot" got Cathy Shenkelberg, and how after studying and searching to become "more herself," she could be found blowing alien life forms off her body farther than ever from the person who she had hoped to be.
"Squeeze My Cans" received its first developmental workshop production at Lifeline's Filet of Solo Festival.
The performance schedule for "Squeeze My Cans" is as follows: Thursday, July 14 at 7 p.m.; Friday, July 15 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 16 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, July 21 and Friday, July 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 23 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, July 24 at 2 p.m. For tickets and additional information, click
here.
Flex passes to the Solo Celebration! series, which offers admissions to three plays for $99 or five plays for $164, are now on sale. Single tickets, which range in price from $34 - 48 are also on sale. Flex passes and tickets can be purchased by contacting the box office at
773-404-7336 or by visiting
greenhousetheater.org.
Cathy Schenkelberg (Performer/Playwright) is a Nebraska native and Chicago/LA-based actress, singer, and voiceover talent. Early on in Chicago, she has been seen in productions such as "Jacque Brel," "Working," "Little Shop of Horrors," "Noises Off" and "Moms the Word." Schenkelberg also played Chrissy in the National tour of "Hair" and Pepper the Clown on WGN's "Bozo Show." She has worked as a dancer/singer at clubs and cruise ships - even impersonating
Dolly Parton, Madonna and
Marilyn Monroe (all at the same time). In her recent return to the stage, she had the good fortune to play Madame Thenardier in "LES MISERABLES," Violet, Zuzu and Ma Hatch in "It's A Wonderful Life," and Sue Ellen in "Honky Tonk Angels" at Sierra Repertory Theatre in Sonora CA, as well as Veronica in "God of Carnage" at American Stage in St. Petersberg, Fl. But it has been her work in spoken-word at such venues as Write Club LA, Spark off Rose, and Louder than a Mom where "Squeeze My Cans" was conceived.
Shirley Anderson (Director) is a Northwestern alum who spent the 90s in Chicago, adapting, producing and performing a solo adaptation of
Dorothy Parker's short story "Big Blonde," at the Red Lion Pub, then in jazz clubs, colleges and theaters in Chicago, Edinburgh and Los Angeles. Anderson has written and performed as a solo performer ever since in Chicago and Los Angeles. In 1993, Anderson collaborated with Molly McNett on "Sculpture in Vitro: Growing Up Female in the Age of Liposuction" at Live Bait Theater after premiering the work in cooperation with Lookingglass Theatre and before touring the show to high schools and colleges. She has collaborated with
Lookingglass Theatre Company, Plasticene and Studio 108 in Chicago and Sacred Fools, Theater Movement Bazaar, Zoo District, Son of Semele and Theater of NOTE in Los Angeles, where she currently lives and directs business operations for Blum & Poe art gallery.
About Solo Celebration!
"Squeeze My Cans" is one of 12 plays featured in Greenhouse's "Solo Celebration!," which will include ten full productions and two limited engagements running June 2016 through February 2017. Among the other directors connected to solo series are
Goodman Theatre Producer and Artistic Collective Member
Steve Scott, Writer's Theatre Resident Director
Kimberly Senior, Directors Lab Chicago Artistic Director
Elizabeth Margolius and Remy Bumppo Artistic Associate
Linda Gillum. Some of the performers confirmed to star in solo works include Jeff Award-winner
Kate Buddeke, acclaimed British actor
Simon Slater,
Karen Rodriguez and Carin Silkaitis. Most productions will be produced in their entirety by Greenhouse, while other plays will be stated with co-producers including Sideshow Theatre Company and
The Other Theatre Company. Greenhouse's "Solo Celebration!" is co-produced by Forum Productions and underwritten by the Wendy and William Spatz Charitable Foundation.
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