THE PASSIONS OF EMMA GOLDMAN to Move to Skokie Theatre, Begin. 6/4

ShPIeL-Performing Identity announces that the world premiere of the solo theatre piece, The Passions of Emma Goldman, written and performed by Roslyn Alexander and directed by Dennis Zacek, will move to The Skokie Theatre, 7924 N. Lincoln Ave. in Skokie, playing June 4 - June 22. Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $28 and may be purchased at skokietheatre.com, or the box office, 847.677.7761 Senior tickets to all performances are $24 and students are $18 with an ID. Special discounted rates for groups of 10 or more are available at 773.969.6860. Free post-performance discussions are available Thursdays and selected additional performances. Go to shpieltheatre.com for complete post-performance discussions and guest speakers schedule.

In preparing for the role, Roslyn Alexander did extensive research in Goldman's memoirs and biographies to create The Passions of Emma Goldman. Born in Russia to Jewish parents, Emma Goldman immigrated to the United States in 1885 and soon after dedicated her life to the creation of a new social order. Convinced that the combination of politics with the economic organization of modern society was fundamentally unjust, she embraced political "anarchism" for its vision of liberty, harmony and true social justice. Lionized by admirers, despised as a rebel and menaced by her critics - Goldman was ahead of her time, tirelessly championing movements and issues such as: sexual and reproductive rights for women; workers' rights for adults and children and prison reform. Delving inside Goldman's life, Alexander reveals the personal and political passions of this fascinating American icon and shows the price she paid for her convictions.

Fresh from its run at Stage 773 the "Tour de force performance by Roslyn Alexander makes Emma Goldman come alive," says ChicagoCritic.com's Tom Williams, declaring The Passions of Emma Goldman a "must see". Balancing between the political and the personal "Alexander has the firebrand-in-autumn nature of Goldman down pat" (Chicago Tribune) and "her eyes twinkle and her voice lifts until she returns to the injustice and suffering of the poor" (Time Out Chicago).

The Passions of Emma Goldman's production team includes: Ashleigh Bowers (sound designer and assistant to the artistic producing director); Rachael Claxton (scenic designer); Ellie Humphrys (lighting designer); Joan Mazzonelli (dramaturg) and Rachel Silvert (stage manager).

Roslyn Alexander, the "Grand Dame of Chicago Theatre," is a Jeff award-winning actor. Alexander has worked often with noted director Dennis Zacek and playwright James Sherman beginning with Sherman's first play, The God of Isaac and ending with Jacob and Jack. She also toured coast-to-coast with Sherman's Beau Jest, culminating in a two-year engagement Off-Broadway. Alexander was cast by Mike Nichols for the first National Company of The Prisoner of Second Avenue and won a Jeff Award for Best Actress in Wings at Wisdom Bridge Theatre, directed by Robert Falls. Her Chicago credits include, among many others, eight productions at Victory Gardens, Endgame and The Importance of Being Earnest at Court Theatre, Steel Magnolias at the Royal George, Taking Care at Steppenwolf, Mornings at Seven at Drury Lane Water Tower, Kimberly Akimbo at A Red Orchard, and recently, How I Became An Interesting Person at Chicago Dramatists. Alexander has made countless commercials, many feature films and episodes for TV and dramatized 10 novels for Recorded Books of New York. She was on WFMT, Chicago's Fine Arts station for several years reading and interpreting classic literature.

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