Trap Door Theatre Features Guest Artists From Poland in JOHN DOE, Running Now thru Oct 25

The Trap Door Theatre presents JOHN DOE, based on The Madman and the Nun by Stanislaw I. Witkiewicz and translated by Daniel Gerould. Adapted and directed by Andrzej St. Dziuk, with guest artists from the Teatr Witkacy in Zakopane, Poland.

Cast: Holly Thomas Cerney, Michael Garvey, Johnny Graff, John Gray, Mike Steele, Beata Pilch, Wesley Walker and Nicole Wiesner.

Stanislaw I. Witkiewicz (1913-1960) is one the most brilliant figures of the European avant-garde, Witkiewicz was a poet, painter, playwright, an expert on drugs, an early spokesman for a radically non- realistic theatre and an original philosopher and social critic of mass culture, post-industrial society, and the rise of totalitarianism. He was also a pioneer in serious experimentation with narcotics and prophetically recognized the growing importance that they would have on Western civilization. Politics, revolution, and even art were similar "drugs." Witkiewicz committed suicide shortly after the outbreak of War in September of 1939. He is best known for his plays The Madman and the Nun, The Mother, The Water Hen, The Anonymous Work, and The Shoemakers.

Andrzej Dziuk (Director) holds a degree in polish linguistics from the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. After a year of studying Philosophy at the Christian Theology Academy in Warszawa, he began his studies at the Ludwik Solski Academy for the Dramatic Arts, where he majored in directing and graduated with honors in 1984. At the beginning of his professional career, he collaborated with Teatr Stary in Krako?w, where he realized his thesis project. Mr. Dziuk is a founding member and the artistic director of St.I. Witkiewicz Theatre in Zakopane. Each season, he creates and directs the majority of their shows. Dziuks' work is continuously inspired by the writings of St. I. Witkiewicz: "Pragmatists", "Authoparody", "Sonata b", "OL 12-7 Steg, Wien" based on "The Crazy Locomotive", "The Madman and the Nun", "The Water Hen", "Witkacy -- Appendix" based on "Niemyte dusze" ("Narkotics" being a partial translation of it into English), "Good Morning -- Witkacy" based on "The Crazy Locomotive", "The Madman and the Nun", "The Water Hen", "Witkacy -- Appendix" based on "Niemyte dusze" ("Narkotics" being a partial translation of it into English), "Good Morning -- Witkacy" based on "The Anonymouse Work: Four Acts of a Rather Nasty Nightmare", "CCY-Witkac-y" based on "Juwenilia" but he also directed classical and modern dramas such as "Doctor Faustus" by Charles Marlowe, "Cabaret Voltaire", "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller, "Nothing" by F. Mitterer, "Caligula" and "The Plague" by A. Camus, "The Magic Mountain" by T. Mann, "Naprze?e?czy" based on St. Witkiewicz and W. Eljasz's work, "Ball in the Opera" by J. Tuwim, "Barabas" by P. Lagerkwist and "What you Pretend Has Become Real" by Lope de Vega.

Assistant Director Krzysztof Wnuk/ Choregrapher Anita Podkowa/ Sound Designer Andrzej Dziuk/ Lighting
Design Richard Norwood / Set & Costume Design Marek Mikulski/ Costume Assistant Jolanta Solska/Stage Manager Gary Damico.

The show opens tonight, September 25, 2014 at 8PM and closes Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 8PM, running Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 3PM. Admission: $20 on Thursdays and Fridays; $25 on Saturdays and $20, with 2-for-1 Admission on Sundays. All performances play the Trap Door Theatre, 1655 West Cortland Ave. Chicago, IL 60622. For information and reservations, call 773-384-0494 or go online at www.trapdoortheatre.com.

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