Saint Sebastian Players' THE TEMPEST Opens 2/19

The Saint Sebastian Players (SSP) continue their 35th season with the late Shakespeare work The Tempest. Performances begin during Chicago Theatre Week with a preview February 18 and continue February 19-March 13 at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey (enter on Marshfield), Chicago.

On a remote island, Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, plots to restore order to his universe by reassembling the pieces of his banishment using artifice and skillful manipulation. He conjures up a storm, the eponymous tempest, to lure his usurping brother Antonio and the complicit King Alonso of Naples to the island. There, Prospero's machinations reveal the true nature of some characters, the redemption and resolution of others and a royal suitor for his daughter Miranda.

Directing The Tempest is SSP company member Jim Masini, whose past SSP directing credits include As You Like It, The Dining Room, Arms and the Man, Holiday and Crossing Delancey. The cast features SSP company members Alexandra Cross as Miranda, Jessica Goforth, Gary Grenholm, Marshall Jacobson, Eric S. Prahl and Stephen Rowland. Other cast members include Bill Chamberlain as Prospero, Nick Ferrin, Shamus Jarvis, Kevin Lambert, Wesley McNair, Joshua Messick and Maya Schultz. SSP company members on the production team include Cortney West as set designer, Paula Kenar as costume designer, Jessica Goforth as props coordinator, Julie Johnson as dramaturg and Nancy Pollock and Jill Chukerman Test as co-producers. Also on staff are Travis Triplett as lighting designer, Aaron Harris Woodstein as sound designer and Alex Demetralis as assistant director/stage manager.

SSP began producing theatre in 1982 at its original home, the St. Sebastian parish, located at the corner of Halsted Street and Wellington Avenue on Chicago's North Side. When the parish closed in 1990, SSP relocated to its current home, St. Bonaventure, at 1625 W. Diversey. During its history, the company has produced original and previously produced dramas, comedies and musicals; original audience-participation mysteries for special events; and the Monologue Matchup Competition, as well as provided support for smaller Sebastian Studio Projects produced by company members. For a complete production history, visit saintsebastianplayers.org/production-history/.

Performances of The Tempest take place February 19-March 13, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, at Marshfield just west of Ashland, in Chicago. Free parking is available in two lots. Full-priced single tickets are $20, $15 for students with valid IDs and $10 for seniors. Group rates also are available. Special Chicago Theatre Week tickets are available for $15 for the Thursday, February 18 preview performance at 8 p.m. as well as regular performances Feb. 19-21. All programming is subject to change. For information, call 773-404-7922 or visit saintsebastianplayers.org.

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