STAGE TUBE: Opening Night Interviews at MAKING GOD LAUGH's Chicago Premiere

Inspired by the Woody Allen joke, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans", Sean Grennan's newest work, MAKING GOD LAUGH, just made its Chicago Premiere at Theatre at the Center. Produced in association with First Folio Theatre, the comedy runs through June 10 at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. Directed by William Pullinsi, MAKING GOD LAUGH stars Chicago favorites Peggy Roeder, Craig Spidle, Kevin McKillip, Joe Foust and Erin Noel Grennan.

Check out interviews with the creative team and actors on opening night in the video!

MAKING GOD LAUGH is a family comedy, following "empty nest" parents "Jimmy" (Craig Spidle) and "Ruthie" (Peggy Roeder), as they welcome their children home over various holidays, each ten years apart. Starting at Thanksgiving 1980, the newly "launched" kids - a priest, an aspiring actress, and a former football player – all return home, and audiences learn of their plans and dreams as they embark on their adult lives. Over the course of thirty years' worth of celebrations, including Christmas 1990, New Year's Eve 2000 and Easter in the present, audiences follow the parents and grown children as they adapt to their new adult relationships. Tensions flare up as unresolved issues, old family traditions and dubious recipes are trotted out.

The Artistic Team is led by Artistic Director of Theatre at the Center William Pullinsi. The design team includes Scenic Designer Angie Weber-Miller, Lighting Designer Geoff Bushor, Sound Designer Barry G. Funderburg, Costume Designer Brenda Winstead with Wardrobe Supervisor Alice Broughton, Wig Designer Kevin Barthel and Props Designer Libby Fandrei. The Stage Manager is Rebecca Green, the Production Manager/Technical Director is Ann Davis and TATC's General Manager is Richard Friedman.

Talkback Thursday is tomorrow, May 10. Audience members will enjoy a free post-show discussion directly following the performance featuring members of the cast and creative team. The 2nd Saturday Symposium will be held Saturday, May 12 at 3 p.m. Join the playwright of MAKING GOD LAUGH, Sean Grennan, for a FREE pre-show discussion titled "Don't Get Me Started on My Family!". Reservations are required. Finally, on Thursday, May 24, enjoy Eat, Play & Laugh , a Dinner/Theatre event. The pre-show dinner at 5:30 p.m. is conveniently located right across from the theatre lobby. This is followed by the 7:30 p.m. performance.

Founded in 1991, Theatre at the Center is a year-round professional theater at its home, The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. Theatre at the Center is Located off I-80/94, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago, and has free parking.

Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m.; and select Thursday evening and Saturday matinees. Individual ticket prices range from $38 - $42. 4-Pack subscriptions are now available. Each 4-Pack subscription is good for one ticket to each of Theatre at the Center's remaining 2012 productions. At only $136, it fits into any budget and makes a perfect gift for Mother's Day. To purchase 4-Pack subscriptions or individual tickets call the Box Office at 219.836.3255 or Tickets.com at 800.511.1552. For more information on Theatre at the Center, visit TheatreAtTheCenter.com.

To post a comment, you must register and login.