'The Last Days of Judas Iscariot' Reopens:Victory Gardens

Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton and Executive Director Daniel J. Ahlfeld proudly announce the transfer of The Gift Theatre's production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Stephen Adly Guirgis, directed by Kevin Christopher Fox, to the Victory Gardens Greenhouse, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. The sold-out hit will run, in association with Victory Gardens, June 12-July 20, 2008, following its current run at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave., through May 18, 2008. 

In Stephen Adly Guirgis' provocative, wild and brilliant play on Catholicism, Jesus' infamous betrayer stands trial in Hope, a small section of Purgatory, where Satan, Mother Teresa and Sigmund Freud are among the many characters who take the stand.

"The Gift is honored to be welcomed by Victory Gardens for this production of one of our biggest hits. For the first time-ever, The Gift will have two productions running simultaneously, W;t at our home in Jefferson Park and Judas Iscariot at The Greenhouse, thanks to our hard working ensemble and our loyal supporters and patrons," comments Thornton. "Gift's earliest shows were performed at Victory Gardens in the smaller downstairs Studio, so our return to perform in its larger venue is a proud time for us. I took my first acting class at Victory Gardens, and VG was also the site of my return to Chicago theatre after a long absence due to hospital stays and physical therapy. We are absolutely thrilled to return to this artistic home as we bring this thoughtful and funny production to a wider audience this summer." 

(Judas Iscariot).  The production also features Emanueal Buckley (Pilate, Uncle Pino, St. Matthew), Mark Czoske (Judge Littlefield, Caiaphas the Elder), Liza Fernandez (St. Monica), Evan Lee (Bailiff, Simon the Zealot), Kathleen Logelin (Fabiana Cunningham), Neil McNamara (Butch Honeywell), Lindsey Pearlman (Gloria, Mother Teresa), Laura Shatkus (Mary Magdalene, Sr. Glenna, Loretta), Deborah Smith (Henrietta Iscariot), and Syler Thomas (Jesus).

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot plays at the Greenhouse June 12- July 20 (no performances July 10-13).  The show runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $35-$40 and are available through Victory Gardens, (773) 871-3000; www.victorygardens.org. 

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot runs at The Gift Theatre through May 18, 2008. Curtain times are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 (Thursdays and Sundays) and $25 (Fridays and Saturdays).  Limited tickets are still available for the run at The Gift, (773) 283-7071 or www.thegifttheatre.org.

The Gift is simultaneously producing Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play W;t at its home in Jefferson Park. The production, directed by John Gawlik, featuring ensemble members Alexandra Main and Kenny Mihlfried, runs May 29-July 6, 2008.  For tickets, contact the Gift Theatre box office, (773) 283-7071 or www.gifttheatre.org.

The Gift Theatre is conveniently located at 4802 N. Milwaukee in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood—two storefronts north of Lawrence, on the west side of Milwaukee—and is easily accessible by the Kennedy Expressway, the Lawrence and Milwaukee buses, and the CTA Blue Line. The Greenhouse is located at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

The Gift Theatre is dedicated to telling great stories on stage with honesty and simplicity. Since its 2002 debut, The Gift has consistently established itself as an actors' theatre, eschewing directorial cleverness for honest, powerful connections between the actors and the audience. 

The Gift Theatre is the only professional theatre company in the working class neighborhood of Jefferson Park. As one of Chicago's most exciting theatre companies, The Gift is marked by acting of the highest caliber with continual training in The Lab, the important educational work being done at RIC through giftED., and sold-out houses on the northwest side of Chicago. Recent generous support has been provided by Driehaus Foundation, the Donnelley Foundation, The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Illinois Arts Council.   
 

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