Silk Road Theatre Project Presents SCORCHED Thru 11/7, Previews Tomorrow

Inspired by classical Greek tragedy and the devastating effects of the Lebanese civil war, the internationally-renowned play Scorched makes its Chicago debut in a production by Silk Road Theatre Project (SRTP) this fall. Originally written in French by the acclaimed Lebanese French Canadian playwright Wajdi Mouawad, SRTP's English-language production, translated by Linda Gaboriau and directed by Dale Heinen, runs October 6 - November 7, 2010, in Pierce Hall at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St., Chicago. Press opening is Saturday, October 9, 2010, at 8:00 pm. In addition, SRTP, together with Act One studios, will offer three-session seminars about the script, designed for lovers of theatre and literature alike. Production support provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and The French-American Fund for the Performing Arts.

"When I first read Scorched, I felt like I was whisked away to a theatre in ancient Greece that had been retrofitted to twenty-first century sensibilities," said SRTP Artistic Director Jamil Khoury. "Experiencing a massive play unfold before you - full of love, hate, anger, rage, the vicissitudes of life and nation, seen through the prism of multigenerational families, is a cherished affair in my line of work. I had heard of playwright Wajdi Mouawad, celebrated in French language theatre circles as a treasure trove of ingenuity, but it wasn't until encountering his work first hand, so beautifully translated by Linda Gaboriau, that I could even begin to appreciate the accolades. Scorched has been received worldwide as a landmark piece of theatre. We believe Chicago is in for something truly extraordinary."

"Scorched is a beguiling mixture of poetry, brutality, laughter and silence, set against the backdrop of one of history's most enduring tragedies, the Lebanese civil war," said director Dale Heinen. "Within one family, the play juxtaposes East and West, love and hate, the past and the present. I'm excited to be directing this exquisite and challenging play, which crosses continents and decades, seamlessly shifting location and time in one fluid space, and look forward to sharing the unique voice of Wajdi Mouawad with Chicago audiences."

In anticipation of the premier, Silk Road Theatre Project (SRTP) together with Act One Studios will offer two three-session seminars, one to be taught in English and the other in French, in September of this year. Led by professionals from Act One Studios, the courses will provide in-depth explorations of Mouawad's text.

"As our patrons know, here at Silk Road our mission is more than producing a play," said SRTP Executive Director Malik Gillani. "Our mission is to help you engage the world of the play, the context in which it lives and breathes. One way that you can do that is by taking our three-session seminar, in which you'll have a chance to read the script, explore its rich meanings, then come to a performance ‘fully equipped' to experience it."

The seminars will be held on three consecutive Mondays, September 13, 20, and 27, 2010, from 6:30pm to 9:00pm, in Pierce Hall at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St., Chicago. The cost is $60. Patrons can choose to take the course in either French or English, and can purchase a discounted ticket to Scorched for an additional $20. Registration is through the SRTP boxoffice, boxoffice@srtp.org.

The cast for Scorched includes Lacy Campbell, Nicholas Cimino, Rinska M. Carrasco, Justin James Farley, Fawzia Mirza, Adam Poss, Rita Simon, Diana Simonzadeh, and Fredric Stone. The Design Team includes Sarah Hughey (Lighting), Tom Burch (Set), Carol Blanchard (Costumes), Peter Storms (Sound) and Jesse Gaffney (Props). The stage manager is Michelle Dane. Production dramaturgy provided by Neal Ryan Shaw.

ABOUT THE PLAY, THE PLAYWRIGHT, & THE DIRECTOR

Scorched by Wajdi Mouawad, translated by Linda Gaboriau
Carried aloft by poetic language and evocative imagery, Scorched unfolds in a dreamlike atmosphere connecting the origins of one family in startling and unforgettable ways. A brother and sister raised in Quebec must return to their mother's war-torn country to carry out her last wishes - finding the father and brother they never knew they had.

Scorched was originally written in French as Incendies.

Wajdi Mouawad is an actor, director, translator, and playwright who was born in Lebanon in 1968. Mouawad's family fled civil war and moved to France in 1977 and immigrated to Montréal in 1983, where Mouawad entered the French section of the National Theatre School and Centre. Mouawad is currently living in Toulouse, France, with his wife. He was named Chevalier de l'Ordre National des Arts et des Lettres in France, France's prestigious Moliére Award (which Mouawad declined in protest to what he saw as the indifference of French theater directors to contemporary playwrights), and recipient of Canada's highest civilian honor, the Officer of the Order of Canada. With a major following in French theater circles, Mouawad's plays have been translated into many languages and produced at numerous national and international venues. Le Monde has saluted him as one of the world's most talented French-language playwrights.

An Associate at Soho Theatre in London's West End, Dale Heinen has directed new work in Chicago, New York, London and around the UK. She has taught acting and playwriting at Soho Theatre, Central School of Speech and Drama and University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.She also develops plays with writers and producers in the UK and US, and is a frequent panellist for playwriting awards. Dale has a BA from Northwestern and an MFA in theatre directing from Middlesex University. Dale is interested in human rights and has for the past year volunteered as an adviser with the British Refugee Council. Her last project for Silk Road Theatre Project was directing Richard Vetere's Caravaggio (2006).

ABOUT THE RUN

Previews of Scorched are October 6 - 9, 2010. The press opening is Saturday, October 9 at 8:00 pm. The production runs through November 7, 2010. Curtain times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm (with no Wednesday performances on October 13 and 20), Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 4:00pm and 8:00pm, and Sundays at 4:00pm. Tickets are $24.00 - $34.00. 20% discounts for groups of ten or more. Tickets are available at the Silk Road Theatre Project box office, 77 W. Washington St; by phone, (312) 857-1234 x201; and online, www.srtp.org.

ABOUT THE SEMINARS

The seminars will be held on three consecutive Mondays, September 13, 20, and 27, 2010, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm, in Pierce Hall at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St., Chicago. The cost is $60. Patrons can choose to take the course in either French or English, and can purchase a discounted ticket to Scorched for an additional $20. Registration is through the Silk Road Theatre Project box office, 77 W. Washington St; by phone, (312) 857-1234 x201; and by email, boxoffice@srtp.org.

PARKING

Discounted parking is available for SRTP patrons for $6 at System Parking, just 3 blocks from the theatre, at 230 W. Washington St.

ABOUT SILK ROAD THEATRE PROJECT

Silk Road Theatre Project showcases playwrights of Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean backgrounds, whose works address themes relevant to the peoples of the Silk Road and their Diaspora communities. Through the mediums of theatre, video, education, and advocacy, we aim to deepen and expand representation in American culture.

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