Shakespeare Project Of Chicago Presents Free Performances Of MOBY DICK - REHEARSED, Orson Welles's Adaptation Of Herman Melville's Novel

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago presents a special production of MOBY DICK-REHEARSED, Orson Welles's adaption of Herman Melville's novel, for two performances beginning today at the Niles-Maine District Library and March 16 at the Newberry Library. The theatrical reading is part of the Newberry's special exhibition celebrating the 200th anniversary of Melville's birth - "Melville: Finding America at Sea." Admission is free and registration is required at both venues.

A Shakespearean theater company puts down their rehearsal sides of LEAR and curiously take up those of a new play entitled MOBY DICK.

On the rehearsal stage of platforms, the teasers overhead suddenly become yardarms with sails and a tall ladder becomes a mast. The platforms become the decks of the ship on which the cast sails through the storms and tribulations of the "Pequod" hunting for the notorious white whale Moby Dick.

Founding member David Skidmore helms the production, with a cast that includes Kamran Abbassian (A Member of the Company / Dagoo / Voice of the Rachel), Josh Carpenter (An Actor with a Newspaper / Flask / Voice of the Bachelor), Kayla Carter (Young Actress / Pip), Razz Jenkins (A Member of the Company / Queequeg / Carpenter), John Kishline (The Actor-Manager / Ahab), Khnemu Menu-Ra (A Member of the Company / Tashtego / Elijah), Daniel Millhouse (Young Actor / Ishmael), Henry Michael Odum (A Middle-aged Actor / Peleg / Mastheader), Christopher Prentice (A Serious Actor / Starbuck), Mary Ringstad (The Stage Manager), Stephen Spencer (A Cynical Actor / Stubb) and Charles Stransky (An Old "Pro" / Father Mapple).

The production features musical direction by Jacqueline Krupka and original music and sound design by George Zahora.

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago's theatrical readings are fully staged, book-in-hand performances featuring members of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers.

Admission is free and seating is limited. All performances are preceded by an introduction to the play that commences 15 minutes prior to curtain.

Performance schedule

• Fri., March 15, 7 p.m., Niles-Maine District Library, 6960 W. Oakton St., Niles (registration required, 847-663-1234, register)
• Sat., March 16, 10 a.m., Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St., Chicago (registration required, register)

The Shakespeare Projects's 2018/19 Theatrical Reading Season will conclude with Thomas Dekker and Thomas Middleton's THE ROARING GIRL, directed by Peter Garino, running May 10-16.

For more information, visit www.shakespeareprojectchicago.org and www.facebook.com/shakespeareprojectchicago.

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