SiNNERMAN Ensemble Presents TOO MUCH MEMORY, Opens 10/7

SiNNERMAN Ensemble presents the Midwest premiere "Too Much Memory," a contemporary exploration of human desperation, political histrionics, hilarious confrontations and tragic relationships, by Keith Reddin and Meg Gibson, directed by Anna Bahow. A multi-media "adaptation of an adaptation of a translation" of the Antigone tragedy, set in a political family that struggles with modern dilemmas and motivations, the piece won the Overall Excellence Award for best play at the NY Fringe Festival, lauded as "a vitally lucid update" (New York Times) and "helps you remember why we do these bloody old tragedies, again and again." (Time Out New York). "Too Much Memory" runs about eighty minutes without intermission, and contains adult language. SiNNERMAN, formed out of the Steppenwolf Theatre summer program, is spelled with all caps except for the "i", and is named after the Nina Simone song.

WHERE: The Side Project Theater, 1439 W Jarvis, Chicago, IL
CTA Jarvis Red Line Stop; #22 Clark & #151 Sheridan buses; street parking

WHEN: Opens Thursday, October 7, 2010, 8 p.m.
Closes Saturday, November 13, 2010
Runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m.
Added performance Monday, October 18, 2010, 8 p.m.
Preview on Wednesday, October 6, 8 p.m. (media also invited to preview)

TICKETS: Publish this number: 773-728-3361; also www.goldstar.com; www.hottix.org
$20 general admission
$30 on Saturday, October 9 for Wine, Cheese & Chat: Opening Celebration
$15 student/industry Thursdays, Sundays & 10/18 (with ID, door purchase only)
$15 special tickets (door purchase only) for Columbus Day Special, "Ancient
Theatre in the New World" on Sunday, October 10, 7 p.m.
$15 special tickets for patrons in costume on Halloween, October 31, 7 p.m.
Pay-what-you-can for 10/6 preview; group rates for 8 or more at 773-728-3361

ALSO LIST: SiNFest, a fundraiser party, Sunday, September 5, 7 p.m., at "The Den," 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL. $20 ticket includes food, drinks and live music by Jon Drake & the Shakes. Sponsored by Chipotle.

CAST: SiNNERMAN ensemble members Cyd Blakewell (Ismene), Anna Carini (Antigone), Dominica Fisher (Chorus), Howie Johnson (Creon), Calliope Porter (Eurydice), and Ebony Wimbs (Jones).
STAFF: Keith Reddin and Meg Gibson (Playwrights), Anna Bahow (Director), Diane Fairchild (Lighting Designer), Bill Paton (Technical Director), Nick Ward (Project Manager), Taylor Fenderbosch (Stage Manager), with SiNNERMAN ensemble members Stefin Steberl (Costume and Set Design), Levi Petree (Program Design), Jeremy Fisher and Ryan Martin (Creative Consultants).

BIOS: Keith Reddin (co-Playwright) is a graduate of Northwestern University and the Yale Drama School. His plays include "Brutality of Fact,", "Life and Limb," "Big Time," "Life During Wartime," and "The Innocents' Crusade." "Maybe," starring Vanessa Redgrave, which he adapted from a contemporary Russian play by Alexander Shatrov, had its world premiere at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, England, in April 1993. Film credits include "All the Rage" with Joan Allen and Gary Sinise, the TV movie "The Heart of Justice," and a film adaptation of "Big Time." Reddin has been awarded the Charles MacArthur Fellowship (1983), a NEA Playwriting Fellowship (1984), the San Diego Critics Circle Award for Best New Play (1989 and 1990), the Joseph Kesserling Award (1990), and a DramaLogue Award (1990).
Meg Gibson (co-Playwright) has worked extensively on stage in New York, regionally, as well as acting in film and television. She directed Terry Johnson's "Hysteria," Chuck Mee's "Big Love" and Arthur Miller's "The Ride Down Mt. Morgan" with Salt Lake Acting Company. "Too Much Memory" won Outstanding Play and an outstanding directing award at the 2008 New York International Fringe Festival. She graduated from The Juilliard Theatre Center and was a research fellow at The Yale School of Drama.
Anna Bahow (Director) is an Associate Artist at Chicago Dramatists, Premiere Theatre & Performance and the side project, where she directed the critically acclaimed premiere of "New Orleans," named one of the top Fringe shows by the Chicago Tribune in 2006. Other work includes "Vintage Red and the Dust of the Road" for Visions & Voices, nominated by the American Theatre Critics Association for the Steinberg Award for the "Best New Play Produced Outside of New York" and won a non-Equity Jeff Award for best new play; the Jeff- recommended premiere of "Martin Furey's Shot" at TimeLine Theatre. Bahow directed the world premiere of "Sweet Confinement: for SiNNERMAN, which garnered four After Dark Awards, including Best Direction.

ENSEMBLE: SiNNERMAN is an ensemble of 12 artists who support and challenge each
other. Working with a sense of play, a love for the collaborative process, and a belief in the power and importance of community, they create compelling and evocative theatre. Every production is partnered with a local charity organization relating to a theme in the play, deepening impact on the community and illuminating for audiences the immediate relevancy of this work. SiNNERMAN's world premiere of "Sweet Confinement" in 2008 was lauded as "bold and provocative, glaringly intimate and urgently powerful theater" (Gay Chicago Magazine), and received four After Dark Awards (for New Work, Ensemble, Set and Direction). The production of Chekhov's "Ivanov," directed by Sheldon Patinkin, again garnered critical praise, such as "SiNNERMAN...instantly joins the big league, turning Chekhov's stylistically tricky first play into a riveting exploration of the tragic and farcical flounderings of the human heart. The inquisitive, passionate, disarmingly young cast are so in tune with Chekhov's nuanced style ..." (Chicago Reader). Ambitious graduates of the School at Steppenwolf, all of the members work with other companies around town as well.

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