THE CASUALS, LIVING NEWSPAPERS FESTIVAL and More Set for Jackalope Theatre's Summer 2013 Season

Jackalope Theatre Company, The Edgewater based group which cultivates theatre that manifests the adventure deeply rooted in the American mythos, announces their new storefront home - The Frontier, new company members, and their lineup of summer programming, including the world premiere of THE CASUALS, a remount of LONG WAY GO DOWN and the 4th ANNUAL LIVING NEWSPAPERS FESTIVAL.

The Frontier is Jackalope's new rehearsal space and studio in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood. Located at 1106 W. Thorndale Avenue, just east of the Red Line, The Frontier is available to visiting companies for workshops, rehearsals, classes and special events. This new multi-use space is an integral part of Jackalope's plan to become an arts education and cultural stimulation hub within Edgewater.

With the enthusiastic support of Alderman Harry Osterman, Jackalope is conducting rehearsals and programming of its own, providing theatre artists throughout Chicago with an affordable space to rehearse, develop and workshop all forms of artistic projects, offering the space to visiting companies to create a series of late-night, culturally-impactful programming for The Edgewater community, and developing education and outreach efforts within Edgewater. For information on availability and rentals, contact thefrontier@jackalopetheatre.org.

New company members include Nate Silver (Managing Director), Danny Martinez (Ensemble Member), Claire Sangster (Artistic Associate), and Josh Lambert (Artistic Associate).

"In this fast-moving world of Chicago storefront theatre, Jackalope has been lucky enough to work time and again with artists of such talent, drive, and compassion that we begin to have trouble imaging our company without them," says Artistic Director AJ Ware. "I am proud to make a commitment to these four artists, grateful for the strengths that they bring to Jackalope, and enthusiastic about the work we will continue to make together."

Consistently described as an exciting young company to watch in Chicago, Jackalope has ambitious plans for expansion in the coming seasons.

Jackalope Theatre Company, in association with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, continues its 2012-13 season with the world premiere of The Casuals, co-written by Jackalope Resident Playwright Andrew Burden Swanson and Chance Bone, directed by Jonathan Berry, playing today, July 11 - July 28 at The Storefront Theater, 66 E Randolph Street in Chicago. The production features Ed Dzialo, Brad Smith, Emily Casey, Morgan Maher, Ellie Reed, Sam Kurydlo, Somer Benson, and Norm Woodell. The full production team will be announced at a later date. Tickets are available June 15, through jackalopetheatre.org. The press performance is tonight, July 11 at 7:30 pm.

THE CASUALS takes us back to 1955, where we meet once-beloved military radio host Richard Hughes, who walks a thin line between a past he's spent the last 15 years covering up and a profession that requires ultimate secrecy. When family comes to visit, Richard is forced to confront his past. Two stories collide and all of Richard's spinning plates come crashing down on the weekend of a neighborhood boy's birthday. Exploring the strain of power and the strength of the atom, THE CASUALS deals with paranoia, curiosity and the dire need to hold on to the truth. Does knowledge truly set us free - and is it the responsibility of those with knowledge to share it? Though a white lie is still a lie, what's best isn't necessarily the truth.

Jackalope Theatre Company has been invited to perform its acclaimed production of Long Way Go Down as part of Theater on the Lake's 61st season. Long Way Go Down, written by Zayd Dohrn and directed by Associate Artistic Director Kaiser Ahmed, will play July 31 - August 4 at Theater on the Lake, 2401 N. Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. The production features Adam Brown (Jeff Award Nomination for Actor in a Principal Role), Jackalope Ensemble Member Danny Martinez, Paloma Nozicka and Tim Miller. Tickets are available starting June 4, by calling (312) 742-7994.

LONG WAY GO DOWN transports us to the hot sand of the North American Desert, where an imaginary line drawn and redrawn centuries ago by generals, políticos and presidents separates Mexico and the United States. The people on either side of the border are intrinsically tied, but in Arizona, the gates are all but closed. For Nini and Violetta, the only way through is an expensive, dangerous, and illegal journey in the bottom of a semi truck piloted by a cagey and hawkish coyote who expects payment on the other side- be it money or the beautiful Violetta. Zayd Dohrn's fast paced, brutal, and hyper-realistic dialogue fuels a story of four people from two Americas, each hell-bent on attaining their dreams, and willing to cross any border to do it.

The production team for LONG WAY GO DOWN includes: John Wilson (scenic design), Artistic Associate Claire Sangster (lighting design), Emma Weber (costume design), Ana Culajay and Rachel Carpenter (co-props design), Marisa Barnes (sound design), Alex Farrington (violence design), Jen Dorman (poster design), Calamity West (dramaturgy), and Artistic Associate Josh Lambert (technical direction).

Jackalope Theater Company concludes its 2012-13 season with the 4th ANNUAL LIVING NEWSPAPERS FESTIVAL playing from August 22 - August 25 at The Frontier, 1106 W. Thorndale Avenue in Chicago. In homage to the 1930's Living Newspapers of the Federal Theatre Project, each summer Jackalope assembles an exciting group of Chicago playwrights, directors, and actors to dramatize stories currently found in our nation's newspapers. Topics and Production Teams will be announced at a later date.

THE CASUALS

By Resident Playwright Andrew Burden Swanson and Chance Bone

Directed by Jonathan Berry

Featuring Ed Dzialo, Brad Smith, Emily Casey, Morgan Maher, Ellie Reed, Sam Kurydlo,

Somer Benson, and Norm Woodell.

The Storefront Theater, 66 E Randolph St. in Chicago

Previews: July 7, July 9, and July 10 at 7:30pm

Regular Run: July 11-28; Thu - Sun at 7:30pm; Sat & Sun at 3:30pm

Tickets: $15/$10 with student ID; jackalopetheatre.org; on sale June 15, 2013

LONG WAY GO DOWN

By Zayd Dohrn

Directed by Associate Artistic Director Kaiser Ahmed

Featuring Ensemble Member Danny Martinez, Adam Brown, Paloma Nozicka and Tim Miller

Theater on the Lake, 2401 N. Lake Shore Drive in Chicago

Regular Run: July 11-28; Thu - Sun at 7:30pm; Sat & Sun at 3:30pm

Tickets: $18; (312)742-7994; on sale June 4, 2013

JACKALOPE THEATRE COMPANY cultivates theatre that manifests the adventure deeply rooted in the American mythos. Since The Chicago Reader called it a "company to watch" after its inaugural production in 2008, Jackalope Theatre Company has established itself as one of Chicago's most exciting young theatre companies. Recent productions of The Last Duck and Long Way Go Down garnered Jeff Award nominations and Jackalope's forthcoming production of The Casuals was named one of 10 plays to see this summer by Time Out Chicago.

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