TimeLine Theater Closes Extended FARNSWORTH INVENTION, 7/24

In response to extraordinary ticket demand and with the initial 9-week run already substantially sold out, TimeLine Theatre Company announced a 6-week extension of its critically acclaimed Chicago premiere of The Farnsworth Invention by Aaron Sorkin, directed by Nick Bowling. The play, originally scheduled to close on June 13, will now continue through July 24 at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago.

Tickets for the extension are available online at timelinetheatre.com or via phone by calling the TimeLine Theatre Box Office at 773.281.TIME (8463).

Performance Schedule

The performance schedule for the extension weeks (June 16 - July 24) is Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Saturday, July 24, 2010. NOTE: There will be no performances on Sunday, June 27 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, July 4 at 2 p.m.

The Farnsworth Invention runs approximately 2 hours 20 minutes, including one intermission.

Buying Tickets

Tickets for extension performances are $32 (Wednesday - Friday) or $42 (Saturday & Sunday). Student tickets for extension performances are $10 off regular price, with valid ID. Group rates for groups of 10 or more are available. Advance purchase is strongly recommended as performances are likely to sell out. To purchase tickets or for more information, call 773.281.TIME (8463) or visit timelinetheatre.com.

About The Farnsworth Invention

From the creator of television's The West Wing and the play and feature film A Few Good Men comes this fascinating new play in its local premiere. Two ambitious, larger-than-life visionaries - Philo T. Farnsworth, an Idaho farmboy, and David Sarnoff, head of RCA - battle through corporate espionage, family tragedy, financial disaster and the thrill of discovery for the right to claim one of the greatest inventions of all time - the television.

One year after TimeLine's production of Alan Bennett's The History Boys launched its record-breaking six-month run, The Farnsworth Invention sold out its initial 9-week run within the first three weeks of performances and has been met with acclaim from audiences and critics alike:

Chicago Tribune: "[Nick Bowling's production is] directed with intelligence, independence and a measure of heart absent from the Broadway original ... it's thoughtful, provocative and involving."

Chicago Sun-Times: RECOMMENDED ... filled with bristling, information-packed dialogue that zings and zags in the trademark style that made "The West Wing," Sorkin's television series, such a hit."

Time Out Chicago: "Synthesizing reams of technical detail while keeping a tight focus on the larger-than-life figures battling at its center ... TimeLine's production is bracing throughout."

The cast of The Farnsworth Invention features Rob Fagin as Philo T. Farnsworth and PJ Powers as David Sarnoff, with the remaining cast of more than 70 characters played by an ensemble including Larry Baldacci, Kurt Brocker, Paul Dunckel, Sean Patrick Fawcett, Jeremy Glickstein, Zach Gray, Maris Hudson, Zach Kenney, Tom McElroy, Bill McGough, Bridgette Pechman, Eliza Stoughton, Justine Turner and Jamie Vann.

The production staff for The Farnsworth Invention includes John Culbert (Scenic Design), Lindsey Pate (Costume Design), Keith Parham (Lighting Design), Kevin O'Donnell (Sound Design), Emily Guthrie (Properties Design), Julia Eberhardt (Assistant Properties Design), Mike Tutaj (Projections Design), Maren Robinson (Dramaturg), Ana Espinosa (Stage Manager), James Ogden (Production Manager/Technical Director), Bridget Dehl (Assistant Director), Eva Breneman (Dialect Coach), Cheney Tardio (Assistant Producer/Assistant Stage Manager), Mieka Van Der Ploeg (Wardrobe Supervisor), Mac Vaughey (Master Electrician), Joshua Altman (Production Assistant) and Susan Muirhead (Lobby Display Video Design).

Location/Transportation/Parking/Accessibility

TimeLine Theatre is located at 615 W. Wellington Ave., inside the Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ building, near the corner of Wellington and Broadway in Chicago's Lakeview East neighborhood. CTA El stops at Wellington (Brown/Purple lines) and Belmont (Red/Brown/Purple lines) are nearby. CTA busses #36-Broadway, #76-Diversey, #77-Belmont, #22-Clark and #8-Halsted stop nearby. TimeLine offers parking for $8 for up to 6 hours with validation at the Standard Parking garages at Broadway Center (2846 N. Broadway, at Surf) or the Century Mall (2836 N. Clark), both within two blocks of TimeLine. There is also limited street parking and other paid parking lots nearby. Visit timelinetheatre.com for complete directions and parking information. There are two flights of stairs totaling 18 steps between the street and the theater space, with no elevator.

Audience Resources

An extensive production Study Guide, video previews, events information and many other details are available at timelinetheatre.com/farnsworth_invention.

Sponsors

The Farnsworth Invention is supported in part by The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation and also by The Pauls Foundation.

About TimeLine Theatre Company

Founded in April 1997, TimeLine Theatre Company's mission is to present stories inspired by history that connect with today's social and political issues. During its first 12 seasons, TimeLine has presented 40 productions, including six world premieres and 11 Chicago premieres. Recipient of the 2006 Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence and the 2009 Richard Goodman Strategic Planning Award from the Association for Strategic Planning, TimeLine has received 42 Jeff Awards, including an award for Outstanding Production seven times. TimeLine's 2009-10 season is presented under contract with Actors Equity Association.

Announced for TimeLine's 2010-11 season (one additional production is still to be announced):

- Chicago premiere of FROST/NIXON by Peter Morgan, directed by Louis Contey
- World premiere of MASTERING THE ART by William Brown and Doug Frew, directed by William Brown
- THE FRONT PAGE by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, directed by Nick Bowling

TimeLine is led by Artistic Director PJ Powers and Managing Director Elizabeth K. Auman. Company members are Nick Bowling, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Lara Goetsch, Juliet Hart, David Parkes, PJ Powers and Benjamin Thiem. TimeLine is a member of the League of Chicago Theatres, Theatre Communications Group and the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce.

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