THE ANYWAY CABARET, TUTAlabs and More Set for TUTA Theatre Chicago's 14th Season

TUTA Theatre Chicago has announced their 2014-15 season, their 14th year producing in Chicago. TUTA will present a world premiere, a U.S. premiere, three TUTAlab readings, and 8-week master classes for actors.

TUTA's 2014-15 Theatre Season:

THE ANYWAY CABARET (an animal cabaret)

By Martin Marion

Directed by Artistic Director Jacqueline Stone

A co-production with the Chicago Dept. of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)

World Premiere

October 17 - November 16, 2014

Storefront Theatre, 66 E. Randolph, Chicago

THE ANYWAY CABARET (an animal cabaret) is a hauntingly funny new play, with music, about the hottest current events of today. TUTA's world premiere collaboration is written and composed by Slovenian artist Martin Marion, and directed by Artistic Director Jacqueline Stone (The Silent Language). The play takes us to a cabaret stage in an undisclosed location, where animals perform with their band against all odds night after night. Marion's comedy explores the universal struggles of power, identity, and what it takes to be a human.

MUSIC HALL

By Jean-Luc Lagarce

Directed by Founding Artistic Director Zeljko Djukic

U.S. Premiere

February/March 2015

Location and exact dates TBA

MUSIC HALL tells the funny and deeply moving story of three fading actors, who act, sing, and dance every night. Lagarce explores the vulnerability of the life of a theatre artist, and what it takes to endure it year after year. Will it always have a place in the world, or will it someday lack purpose in a world driven by speed and money? Djukic returns to Lagarce, after previously directing the critically acclaimed U.S. premieres of Rules For Good Manners and It's Only The End of The World, both at TUTA.

TUTAlabs

TUTA will present three staged readings throughout the year, all with free admission to the public. This ongoing lab series offers audiences a unique opportunity to see TUTA's development process and provide feedback on work in progress for the future.

TUTA Master Classes

Every 8 weeks TUTA offers master classes for the professional actor on Advanced Scene Study.

About TUTA Theatre: TUTA was established in 1995 in Washington, DC by co-founders Zeljko and Natasha Djukic, who brought a unique sense of artistic expression from their European homeland. In 2002, they relocated the company to Chicago. In the ensuing decade, TUTA has presented numerous U.S. premieres of foreign plays from France, Russia, Austria, and Serbia. TUTA has produced five world premieres, four U.S. premieres, four Midwest premieres and a number of modern re-imagining of classics. TUTA's productions have been listed on Chicago critics' 'best of the year' list seven times in the past ten years, and have been produced nationally (in NYC and LA) and internationally (in Serbia with the National Theatre in Belgrade).

Artistic Director and Co-Founder Jacqueline Stone directs the world premiere of The Anyway Cabaret (an animal cabaret). Most recently at TUTA, Stone directed the critically acclaimed U.S. premiere of The Silent Language. As an actress, she has appeared in numerous TUTA productions including The Wedding (1996, 2010, 2011), The Hour, Alice, Little Prince, Still Life in Color, Uncle Vanya (2008, 2009), Baal, and Fulton Street Sessions. Other Chicago theatres she has worked with include Chicago Dramatists, DCASE, The Second City, Prop Thtr, 20% Theatre Company, WNEP Theatre, New Leaf Theatre, Backstage, Brown Couch, and io (formerly Improv Olympic). Other recent directing credits include the world premieres of Devour and August 8, 1974 (20% Theatre Company), the world premiere of Dee Bolos' acclaimed one woman show Southside (Prop Thtr, NYC Fringe, Seattle Fringe), and Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus!, Junie B. Jones, and Ramona Quimby (Emerald City Theatre Company).

Founding Artistic Director and Co-Founder Zeljko Djukic directs the US Premiere of Music Hall, which makes this the 24th production he has directed for the company over the last fourteen years. He was born in Yugoslavia and taught acting at Belgrade's Drama Art School prior to his move to the United States. Among his productions in the former Yugoslavia are Philoctetes, Woyzeck, Endgame, Don Juan Comes Back from the War and The Taming of the Shrew. In Chicago, he went on to direct The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other, Alice, Rules For Good Manners In The Modern World, Tracks, Romeo & Juliet, Uncle Vanya, The Wedding, Baal, Fulton Street Sessions, The Dumb Waiter, and many more. He also directed Tony Kushner's Homebody/Kabul at The National Theatre in Belgrade, Serbia and First Ladies and Judith at Trap Door Theatre.

For more information about TUTA call (773) 680-0826 or visit our website at www.tutato.com.

Photo Credit: TUTA's 2014 production of The Jewels, taken by Anthony La Penna.

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