Theater Wit Extends BAD JEWS; Moves to Skokie Next Month

Theater Wit Artistic Director Jeremy Wechsler announced today a two-week extension of its smash hit Bad Jews, now running through June 21 at the company's home in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood.

Immediately after, Wit will transfer Bad Jews to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie's 318-seat space for a summer remount, June 26-July 19.

Wit's Chicago premiere of Joshua Harmon's scathing new comedy about what you chose to believe, when you're a chosen one, opened on May 4 and was instantly met with sold out houses, wait lists, a few complaints about its title, but unanimous acclaim from Chicago critics.

Originally scheduled to close June 7, Bad Jews will now run through June 21 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. (Note: Wednesday evening and Saturday matinee performances have been added to the original performance schedule.) Tickets are $30-$36 and are on sale now. Bad Jews runs approximately 100 minutes with no intermission. For tickets and information, visit TheaterWit.org or call 773.975.8150.

Immediately after, Theater Wit's Bad Jews will transfer to the 318-seat space at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, Ill. Performances are June 26-July 19: Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. (Exceptions: No 2 p.m. show Saturday, June 27. No shows Saturday, July 4 or Friday, July 10.) Press opening is Friday, June 26 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20-$58, and go on sale Thursday, May 28 at 10 a.m. For tickets and information, visit NorthShoreCenter.org, or call the North Shore Center box office, 847.673.6300.

"I'm thrilled that Josh's Bad Jews marks another high water mark in our 11 year history: our first transfer to a larger house with a show that features some of Chicago's best young actors punching hard and fast," said Jeremy Wechsler, Theater Wit Artistic Director and director of Bad Jews. "Josh's script is an amazing mixture of perfectly observed, spot on comedy and thoughtful drama. I'm delighted we can bring it to so many more members of Chicago's audience community."

Bad Jews tells the story of Daphna Feygenbaum, a 20-something "Real Jew" with an Israeli boyfriend. When Daphna's cousin Liam brings home his shiksa girlfriend Melody and declares ownership of their grandfather's Chai necklace, a vicious and hilarious brawl over family, faith and legacy ensues. Stir in the identity curation of the Facebook generation and Bad Jews is easily one of the funniest, wisest, most excruciating comedies on a Chicago stage this year.

Bad Jews stars Erica Bittner as Melody, Ian Paul Custer as Liam, Cory Kahane as Josh, and Laura Lapidus as Daphna. The Bad Jews design team includes Adam Veness (set), Kristof Janezic (lights), Janice Pytel (costumes), Cassy Schillo (props) and Michael Stanfill (lighting). Sarah Luse is stage manager.

Jeremy Wechsler, artistic director of Theater Wit, most recently staged Theater Wit's current smash hit, Mr. Burns, a post-electric play by Anne Washburn, the hit Midwest premiere of Madeline George's Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England, and that show's subsequent summer remount at Art Square Theatre in Las Vegas. Wechsler also staged Wit's acclaimed productions of Completeness and The Four of Us (Itamar Moses), Tigers Be Still (Kim Rosenstock), This (Melissa James Gibson), Spin (Penny Penniston), Feydeau-Si-Deau (Georges Feydeau), Men of Steel (Qui Nguyen), Thom Pain (Based on Nothing) (Will Eno), Two for the Show (James Fitzpatrick and Will Clinger) and The Santaland Diaries. Wechsler's productions have been nominated for and won multiple awards for design, performance, adaptation and best new work. He has taught at several universities, is an artistic associate at Collaboraction and currently serves on the board of the League of Chicago Theatres.

Joshua Harmon's play Bad Jews received its world premiere at Roundabout Underground and was the first production there to transfer to the Roundabout's Laura Pels Theatre (Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Award nominations, Best Play). Charles Isherwood of The New York Times hailed Roundabout's production "The best comedy of the season." Bad Jews opened in London at the St. James Theatre in January 2015 following an acclaimed run at Theatre Royal Bath. Harmon wrote the book for Radio City Music Hall's upcoming original show, the "New York Spring Spectacular." His work has been produced and developed by Manhattan Theatre Club, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Hangar Theatre, Ars Nova, and Actor's Express, where he was the 2010-2011 National New Play Network Playwright-in-Residence. He has received fellowships from MacDowell, Atlantic Center for the Arts, SPACE at Ryder Farm, and the Eudora Welty Foundation. Harmon is a graduate of Northwestern University, currently in the Playwrights Program at Juilliard and under commission from Roundabout Theatre Company and Lincoln Center Theater.

Theater Wit is in its fourth season in its home at 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Founded in 2004, Theater Wit's mission is to explore contemporary issues with wit and wisdom through new works and Chicago premieres. As a production company, Theater Wit is Chicago's premier smart art theater, producing humorous, challenging and intelligent plays that speak with a vibrant and contemporary theatrical voice.

As an institution, Wit seeks to be the hub of the Chicago neighborhood theater scene. In its three spaces, Theater Wit brings together Chicago's best storefront companies. Here audiences find a smorgasbord of excellent productions, see a parade of talented artists and mingle with audiences from all over Chicago.

In 2011, Theater Wit originated Chicago's first monthly membership program to encourage cross-pollination among its productions and those presented by its resident and visiting companies. Resident companies in 2014-15 include Stage Left, Shattered Globe and Kokandy Productions. In 2014, Theater Wit was awarded the National Theatre Award by the American Theatre Wing for strengthening the quality, diversity and dynamism of American theater.

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