TRAINSPOTTING USA Hosts Talkback with Irvine Welsh and Tom Mullen After Show, 10/18

The Thursday, October 18th performance of Trainspotting USA, Tom Mullen's "re-adaptation" of Harry Gibson's stage versions of Irvine Welsh's classic novel Trainspotting will include a post-show talkback with Mullen and Welsh, moderated by Tara Branham. The talkback will begin immediately following a 7 pm performance at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago.

Irvine Welsh is the author of twelve works of fiction, including Trainspotting, The Acid House, Ecstasy and Filth, all of which have been adapted for stage and screen. Additionally, Glue and Marabou Stork Nightmares have been adapted for the stage. He has written three original works for theatre: Headstate, You'll Have Your Hole and Babylon Heights, the latter with Dean Cavanagh, with whom he has collaborated on a number of film and TV projects. From Edinburgh, Scotland, he lives in Chicago and Miami. His new novel, Skagboys, is a prequel to Trainspotting. The novel was the #1 bestselling book in the United Kingdom shortly after its publication there in April 2012 was released in the U.S. on September 17, 2012.

Chicago director Tom Mullen directed the 2011 off –Broadway production of the musical Tomorrow Morning, which received Outer Critics Circle Award and Off-Broadway Alliance Award nominations. The musical premiered in Chicago and won the 2010 Jeff Award for Best Musical - Midsize. Mullen's previous Chicago credits include Urinetown at The Mercury Theatre, F**king Men by Joe DiPietro, and the American premiere of the musical Departure Lounge by Dougal Irvine.

Welsh's novel of a group young hopeless heroin addicts living in Edinburgh, Scotland has had a devoted following since the release of the 1996 film version by Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle. Today, the Trainspotting Facebook page has over 1.4 million followers and the film has been ranked 10th on the list of "Top 100 British Films of All Time" by the British Film Institute. Welsh has written additional stories and novels concerning Trainspotting's characters, including the sequel Porno, Skagboys, and Bad Blood, a short film based on a section of Trainspotting.

Trainspotting was initially adapted for the stage by Harry Gibson and first produced in 1996 by the Citizens Theatre of Glasgow. This adaptation has been performed frequently across the U.K. and has also been produced in the United States. Mullen has "re-imagined" the story and moved it to Kansas City, Missouri. The re-adaptation includes new material specifically written for the production by Welsh.

Directed by Tom Mullen, the production is produced by Jeffrey Brunstein, Laura St. James, Tom Mullen and Tom Chiola in association with Keaton Wooden and Book Lyrics Theatricals.

The show begins previews on Saturday, October 13 and continues Sunday, October 14, 2012. The press performance is Tuesday, October 16 at 8 p.m. NOTE*: There will be an early curtain on Thursday, October 18 at 7 p.m. for a POST-SHOW TALKBACK immediately following the performance.

There will also be an extra performance on Wednesday, November 21 and NO performance on Thursday, November 22 (Thanksgiving Day). The show closes December 2, 2012 (Early curtain at 3 p.m.). The regular run plays Thursdays: 8:00 p.m., Fridays: 8:00 p.m., Saturdays: 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and Sundays: 5:00 p.m. at Theatre Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago.

Cast: Thad Anzur (Frankie Begbie), Jay Cullen (Tommy Lawrence), Shane Kenyon (Mark Renton), CameRon Johnson (Danny 'Spud' Murphy), Rian Jairell (Simon 'Sick Boy' Williamson) and Jenny Lamb (Allison and Others).

Creative Team: Dan Conley (Scenic Design), Jennifer Kules (Lighting Design), Bill Morey (Costume Design), Zach Thostesen (Sound Design), Kyle A. Dougan (Associate Director) and Christopher N. Tisone (Stage Manager).

Tickets: All Seats $32.50. Available at Theatre Wit, 1227 W. Belmont, Chicago; www.theaterwit.org, or by phone at 773-975-8150.

For more about the production, visit www.TrainspottingUSA.com.

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