Timeline Theatre Company Presents World Premiere Of Brett Neveu's TO CATCH A FISH

TimeLine Theatre Company announces casting and other details for the world premiere of TO CATCH A FISH by Brett Neveu, directed by Ron OJ Parson, May 3 - July 1, 2018 (previews 4/25 - 5/2) at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago. Press Night is Wednesday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and information, visit timelinetheatre.com or call (773) 281-8463 x6.

Inspired by true events, this compelling new play takes you inside a flawed search for justice that walks the line between good intentions and deceit, testing the bonds of family and community. In a low-income, residential neighborhood of Milwaukee, Terry Kilbourn has just begun a new job passing out flyers for a discount warehouse. When his bosses start asking more of him, the stakes rise quickly and his loved ones begin to question what is really going on. This play's vibrant mix of family, romance, and danger swirls with mysteries about who to trust and what to believe. And its story confronts society's fluid definition of justice-and the truth about who is allowed to benefit from it.This world premiere play was developed through TimeLine's Playwrights Collective, launched in 2013 to support Chicago-based playwrights in residence and create new work centered on TimeLine's mission of presenting plays inspired by history that connect to today's social and political issues.

TO CATCH A FISH-the first play developed through the Collective to receive a full production-is inspired by headlines in Milwaukee and around the country about the conflict between intention versus implementation in law enforcement, and how often one may in fact run counter to the other. "I get interviewed a lot and they ask, 'what excites you about theatre right now?'" said director Ron OJ Parson. "And it's doing new work, especially plays that are inspired by real events. In the climate we are living in today, we need to tell these stories to give people an idea that this stuff really happens-and people need to know about it. Theatre is active. And we are activists when we do it.

"Chicago-based playwright Brett Neveu is an alumnus of TimeLine's Playwright's Collective (2013-2016), and his play HARMLESS received its world premiere at TimeLine in 2007. A prolific writer who has been widely produced around Chicago and beyond, Neveu is particularly known for his work with A Red Orchid Theatre, where he is an Ensemble Member. Recent plays include TRAITOR, HER AMERICA, PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, DETECTIVE PARTNER HERO VILLAIN, and THE OPPONENT.

"It's been a great conversation with TimeLine," said Neveu. "Part of the research was meeting the Milwaukee journalists who reported a specific story there, meeting the subject of their story and hearing what happened to him, touring the city and going to the locations where this stuff took place. That deepened my involvement, my desire to get right a story inspired by these events, my connection to TimeLine and its mission."

"We are thrilled to have TO CATCH A FISH in our 21st season after nurturing the play's inception and development over the past few years as part of our Playwright's Collective," said TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers. "Under the leadership of Literary Manager Ben Thiem, the Playwright's Collective is furthering our commitment to Chicago writers and to the creation of provocative new work inspired by history. This is the first of many more scripts that TimeLine audiences will see from this exciting new play incubator."

The cast of TO CATCH A FISH (listed with pronouns each uses) features Linda Bright Clay (she/her) as Brenda Cameron; Anji White (she/her) as Regina "G" Whitnall; Jay Worthington (he/him) as Ike Jeno; Tiffany Addison (she/her) as Rochelle Walker; Al'Jaleel McGhee (he/him) as Dontre Cameron; Geno Walker (he/him) as Terry Kilbourn; and Stephen Walker (he/him) as Dex Farwell. The production team for TO CATCH A FISH includes Regina García (Scenic Designer, she/her); Christine Pascual (Costume Designer, she/her); Mike Durst (Lighting Designer, he/him); David Kelepha Samba (Sound Designer, he/him), Vivian Knouse (Properties Designer, she/her); Matt Hawkins (Fight Director/Intimacy Choreographer, he/him); Kristiana Rae Colón (Assistant Director, she/her); Gabriella Welsh (Production Assistant, she/her); Dina Spoerl (Lobby Designer, she/her); Regina Victor (Co-Dramaturg, they/them); Tanya Palmer (Co-Dramaturg, she/her); and Amalie Vega (Stage Manager, she/her).

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