Theatre School at DePaul University to Present PROSPERO'S STORM

The Theatre School at DePaul University will present the world premiere of Prospero's Storm, adapted and directed by Damon Kiely, with music and lyrics by Mark Elliott, based on William Shakespeare's The Tempest, as the second installment of the 2015-16 Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences season.

"Prospero's Storm is a family-friendly introduction to Shakespeare's most fantastic and magical story," says Damon Kiely, adapter and director. "By using music, movement, pantomime, puppets, and magic to tell the story of Prospero's journey from angry dad to loving and merciful father, we're able to bring the youngest audience members into the story-while still treating them to Shakespeare's famous beautiful language. It's a feast for the mind, ear, eye, and heart."

Prospero's Storm, or The Magical, Musical, Theatrical Tale of the Wretched Wizard who sought Revenge on his Enemies with a Terrible Sea Tempest but through the Power of Love learned Mercy, Forbearance, and Ultimate Wisdom is recommended for ages 8 and up. Wizard Prospero wields crashing sea-storms, airy spirits, savage ghost hounds, and terrifying creatures to exact revenge on his enemies-trapping them on his magical island. Will he learn mercy from his teenage daughter, or sink everyone into the sea? This vaudeville adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest uses puppets, singing, slapstick, and magic to weave an enchanting tale of fatherhood and forgiveness.

Complimentary Teacher Guides for Prospero's Storm are available online for educators and interested audience members. These include activities and discussions for before and after the performance, which highlight core learning goals. Themes from this production include: adaptation, forgiveness and revenge, justice, literature, magic, men vs. monsters, power and control, and Shakespeare.

Prospero's Storm opens January 14 and runs through February 20, 2016, at DePaul's historic Merle Reskin Theatre. Performances are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 AM, and Saturdays 2 PM. Special Friday performances (10 AM) will occur on February 5 and 12. A Sunday performance will be held on February 7 (2 PM). There is no Saturday performance on February 6.

The performances on February 5 (10 AM) and February 7 (2 PM) will be interpreted in American Sign Language. Call TTY: 773.325.7975. January 16 is USO of Illinois Day. U.S. Armed Forces personnel and their families, with a valid military ID, can attend the performance for free. Visit www.tixfortroops.org to reserve tickets, or call 312.922.1999 for more information. Join the cast for a post-performance autograph session after the performance on January 16. The performances on January 28 and February 13 will be followed by a post-show discussion. Visit the website or call the Box Office for additional details.

Tickets are $10. Subscriptions and group rates (15 or more people) are available. DePaul employees, alumni, and college students receive a discount (with ID). Tickets are available online or by calling the Box Office at (312) 922-1999. If patrons require wheelchair accessible? and/or companion seating, or have any other hearing or vision needs, please let the Box Office staff know when you reserve your tickets, so that the theatre staff can make sure your visit to our theatre is an excellent one.

DePaul's Merle Reskin Theatre is located at 60 E. Balbo Drive at Michigan Avenue, in Chicago. For information about parking, please contact the Box Office. The theatre is accessible via CTA busses (3-King Drive, 29-State Street, 146-Michigan/ Museums and others), and CTA El stops (Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Purple and Pink).

The cast features Chloe Baldwin (Mother/Spirit), Michael Buono (Stephano), Clint Campbell (Caliban), William Delforge (Antonio), Elsa Guenther (Trincula), Rebecca Keeshin (Crone/Spirit), Nikhaar Kishnani (Gonzala), Jolie Lepselter (Sebastienne), JJ McGlone (Alonso), Jordyn Prince (Boson/Spirit), Gail Tierney (Ariel), Dominique Watkins (Ferdinand), Adam Welsh (Prospero), and Raven Whitley (Miranda).

The production staff includes Damon Kiely (Adapter and Director), Mark Elliott (Music and Lyrics), Mara Zinky (Scenic Design), Sydney Dufka (Costume Design), Toria Gibson (Lighting Design), Connor Wang (Sound Design), Abigail Ogrentz (Dramaturgy), and Jackson Walsh (Stage Management).

About the Director: Damon Kiely is the Chair of Performance at The Theatre School. He has directed for Next Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, A Red Orchid Theatre, American Blues Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, and Route 66. He served as the Artistic Director of American Theater Company from 2002 to 2007, where he directed Oklahoma!, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, Orpheus Descending, A View from the Bridge, Strictly Dishonorable, and The Hairy Ape. Theatre School credits include There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom, A Streetcar Named Desire, Medea, Thieves Like Us, Haroun and the Sea of Stories, Nancy Drew and the Sign of the Twisted Candles, Spring Awakening, and Our Town. In New York he directed for the Public Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, the Ontological Theater, Adobe Theater Company, PS122, Ensemble Studio Theater and New Dramatists. He served as the Artistic Director for Real Time Theater, Producing Director at the Ontological-Hysteric Theater, and the Associate Artistic Director for the Children's Theater of Maine. He received his MFA from Columbia University, and his undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago. Damon lives in Edgewater with his wife Jennifer and their children, Isabella and Finnegan.

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