The Route 66 Theatre Company Presents MCMEEKIN FINDS OUT 10/7-11/14

The Route 66 Theatre Company kicks off its 2010-2011 season with MCMEEKIN FINDS OUT, a new play by Scott T. Barsotti, directed by Damon Kiely.  MCMEEKIN FINDS OUT features an all-star cast including Randy Steinmeyer, Kate Buddeke, Blair Robertson, Tyler Ross, Dane Halvorson and Danielle Brothers.  MCMEEKIN FINDS OUT plays October 7 - November 14, 2010 in Richard Christiansen Theater, upstairs at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave.  The press opening is Friday, October 15 at 8 pm. 

Randy Steinmeyer and Kate Buddeke star as working-class Pittsburgh parents Guy and Pam McMeekin, who are recovering from a car wreck which left Guy's hands, and Pam's legs, in casts.  Stuck at home since the event, they've started to drive each other up the wall (especially since Guy has taken to waxing philosophic about life, and of course, football.). What would normally be an uneventful Sunday watching the Steelers takes an unexpected turn when the McMeekin's seventeen-year-old daughter Carla (played by Route 66 Theatre Company's Producing Director, Blair Robertson) comes home from an out-of-control party and tells her parents she thinks she has done something bad...something very bad. What transpires next includes a football, an interrogation, a taser, a hammer, a lot of duct tape, and a hilarious family of characters sorting out the truth the best way they know how. What transpires is a laugh-out-loud dark comedy with a strong Pittsburgh flavor.

The production team for MCMEEKIN FINDS OUT includes Jeff Award-nominated Scenic Designers Jacqueline and Richard Penrod and Jeff Award-winning Lighting Designer Jesse Klug.  Sound Design is by recent DePaul University graduate Cristina Di Risi and the Costume Designer is Rachel Laritz.  The Properties and Production Manager is Lee Strausberg and the Fight Director is Society of American Fight Directors and Choreographers Vice-President, John Tovar.  Cori Kabat is the Stage Manager and Route 66 Company Member Matthew Bonaccorso is the Assistant Stage Manager. Route 66 Literary Manager Erica Weiss is the Dramaturg. Jen Bevard is the Assistant Director.

Scott T. Barsotti is a playwright and actor originally from Pittsburgh, PA.  His plays include McMEEKIN FINDS OUT, THE REVENANTS, JET BLACK CHEVROLET, BREWED, COYDOG, and THE BODY SNATCHER (based on Robert Louis Stevenson's short story), and have been seen in Chicago, New York, New Orleans, and Pittsburgh, with upcoming productions in Los Angeles and Boston. Scott's plays have been produced and/or developed by The Route 66 Theatre Company, WildClaw Theatre, Curious Theatre Branch, Chicago Dramatists, Collaboraction, and Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Co. among many others.  As an actor, Scott has worked with Victory Gardens Theater, WNEP Theater, Collaboraction, Pavement Group, and Illegal Drama, as well as his artistic homes Curious Theatre Branch and WildClaw Theatre.  He has an MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and his work has been extensively developed at Chicago Dramatists, where he is a Resident Playwright.

Damon Kiely (Director) served as the Artistic Director of American Theater Company from 2002 to 2007. Directing credits at American Theater Company include OKLAHOMA! (Nominated for 6 Jeff Awards including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical), THE DARK AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS, ORPHEUS DESCENDING, KID-SIMPLE, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, STRICTLY DISHONORABLE and THE HAIRY APE. He also recently directed WEEKEND by Gore Vidal for TimeLine Theatre. At The Theatre School at DePaul University, where he teaches acting and directing, he has directed THERE'S A BOY IN THE GIRL'S BATHROOM, HURRAH FOR THE NEXT WHO DIES and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. Prior to moving back to Chicago he produced, directed and taught in New York City. In New York he directed for Public Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, the Ontological Theater, Adobe Theater Company, PS122, Ensemble Studio Theater and New Dramatists. Damon also served as the Artistic Director for Real Time Theater and was a Producing Director at the Ontological-Hysteric Theater as well as the Associate Artistic Director for the Children's Theater of Maine. He is a winner of the 2000-02 NEA/TCG Career Directing Program, the 2000 Drama League Fall Directing Program and the 1997 Princess Grace Award. He teaches acting and directing for DePaul University.  Damon's adaptation of Edward Anderson's novel, THIEVES LIKE US will be presented by The House Theatre this fall directed by Kimberly Senior.

Randy Steinmeyer (Guy McMeekin) is making his Route 66 debut with MCMEEKIN and last appeared on stage with Peter DeFaria in the Jeff Award-winning two-hander A STEADY RAIN by Keith Huff, directed by Russ Tutterow, for which he won the Jeff Award for Best Actor in a Play.  He is an Associate Artist at Chicago Dramatists.  He's appeared in PUBLIC ENEMIES with Johnny Depp and Marion Cottilard and will be seen next in TRANSFORMERS 3 with Shia LaBeouf.  TV credits include THE BEAST, EARLY EDITION, THE UNTOUCHABLES, TURKS, and MARIO AND THE MOB.  

Kate Buddeke (Pam McMeekin) is an ensemble member of American Blues Theater where she last appeared in TOBACCO ROAD. She is the recipient of four Jeff Awards for her work in OURSELVES ALONE, DANCING AT LUGHNASA, DAVID'S MOTHER and GYPSY.  On Broadway she has appeared in Tracy Letts' SUPERIOR DONUTS, GYPSY with Bernadette Peters, DEATH OF A SALESMAN with Brian Dennehy, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE with Natasha Richardson and CAROUSEL.  TV and Film credits include CHOKING MAN, PAYBACK, THE NORTHERN KINGDOM and THE LAST NEW YORKER.  Television credits include LAW AND ORDER:  CI, THE SOPRANOS and FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS.  She also has sung the National Anthem, solo, twice, for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Blair Robertson (Carla McMeekin) is the Producing Director of Route 66 Theatre Company and most recently appeared in Route 66's production of HIGH FIDELITY. Other Chicago theatre credits include THE SNOW QUEEN and MY CHILDREN! MY AFRICA! (Victory Gardens Theater), A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Goodman Theatre), SUESSICAL (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), A ROMEO AND JULIET STORY, KISS ME KATE (Notre Dame Summer Shakespeare), THE LAST SUPPER (InFusion Theatre Company), and THE WILD PARTY (Bohemian Theatre Ensemble).

Tyler Ross (Bobby McMeekin) makes his Route 66 debut with MCMEEKIN FINDS OUT.  Tyler is a native of Jacksonville, FL, and moved to Chicago in October of last year. He recently completed shooting of the independent feature THE WISE KIDS in Charleston, SC.  Other stage credits include Adam in THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED), Homer in ANATOMY OF GRAY, and Eddie in OVER THE TAVERN.  Other film and television credits include the independent feature LITTLE MEN, ABC Family's SEARCHING FOR DAVID'S HEART, and a national commercial for Snickers Ice Cream.

Dane Halvorson (Wayne Hoke) makes his Route 66 Theatre debut with MCMEEKIN.  Credits include THE HIDING PLACE at Provision Theater, ROSENCRANZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD at Writers' Theatre, COMEDY OF ERRORS and EDWARD II at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Dane is a recent graduate of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

Danielle Brothers (Cheryl) is a three-time non-Equity Jeff Award recipient for roles with Theo Ubique at the No Exit Cafe.  She graduated from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle WA, was raised in Louisville KY, Vancouver WA and Portland OR, and has lived in Chicago for the last 15 years.  She has worked with (among others) American Theater Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Court Theatre, Porchlight, L'il Buds, Lifeline, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Provision, Defiant and Chicago Kids Company. 

The Route 66 Theatre Company produces theatre that knowingly encounters risk and embraces the American spirit of exploration.  Committed to our home base in Chicago where the historic Route 66 began and collaborating with our artists in Los Angeles, Route 66 connects cultural divides by giving life to the vibrant stories that link America together.  Route 66 has produced four productions in less than three years (one in two cities) and have been nominated for three Jeff Awards, winning the award for Best Sound Design for the production of THE K OF D:  AN URBAN LEGEND.  2010-2011 will be their first full season of work beginning with MCMEEKIN FINDS OUT.

 

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