Windy City Playhouse Announces Extension Of Immersive SOUTHERN GOTHIC

Amy Rubenstein, Artistic Director of Windy City Playhouse, announced today that the immersive theatrical production "Southern Gothic" has been extended through Sunday, May 27. From its opening, "Southern Gothic" has received unanimous critical acclaim.

Written by Leslie Liautaud and directed by David H. Bell, "Southern Gothic" opened to enthusiastic reviews, with Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune giving the production four stars, noting "Imagine going to see 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' and sitting on the couch next to Martha, matching her shot for shot, and you get the basic idea" and adding "I loved it, and so do a lot of Tribune Readers."

Oliver Sava of the Chicago Reader calls "Southern Gothic" a "memorable and unique theater experience," Elizabeth Ellis of PerformInk declared the show "superb and fascinating... the kind of play that could easily develop a cult following," and Misha Davenport writing for the Chicago Sun-Times remarking that "Southern Gothic" is a "compelling drama...immediately reminiscent of T.S. Lewis' "The Cocktail Party" mixed with the cattiness of Clare Booth Luce's "The Women" and the collective works of Tennessee Williams." Karen Topham, reviewing for ChicagoOnstage.com, called the play "unique and thoroughly enjoyable... a remarkable, terrifically fun experience unlike anything you have seen in a theatre before." Al Bresloff, reviewing for

Aroundthetownchicago.com, awarded the play four stars, calling it "a very slick production, cleverly done so that each and every audience member feels that they were involved." Jessie Bond of Splash Magazine noted "the immersive storytelling makes for a unique experience that is as delicious as the best cocktail or the juiciest gossip."

"We have been thrilled by the reaction we have received for this unique production," said Artistic Director and "Southern Gothic" Co-Creator Amy Rubenstein. "Our goal has been to give our audiences a new theater-going experience, breaking down the barriers between audiences and performers in exciting ways."

The cast of "Southern Gothic" includes Peter Ash, Brianna Borger, Paul Fagen, Sarah Grant, Brian McCaskill, Michael McKeogh, Christine Mayland Perkins and Ariel Richardson. "Southern Gothic" is performed at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Rd. Tickets ($65 - $100) are now on sale through May 27. To purchase, visit the Windy City Playhouse Box Office online or call the Box Office at (773) 891-8985.

"Southern Gothic" gives audiences the opportunity to be a "fly on the wall" at a cocktail party in Ashford, Georgia in the 1960s where four couples gather together to celebrate a birthday. As the evening progresses, tensions rise and longtime relationships are tested as the characters soon realize that even the best of friends keep the darkest of secrets. Due to the intimate nature of the show, audience size for each performance is limited to 28 patrons, giving audiences freedom to roam every room of the home at will, exploring various spaces and eavesdropping on clandestine conversations, providing each audience member their own unique perspective on the evenings proceedings.

In addition to Liautaud and Bell, the creative team for "Southern Gothic" includes Carl Menninger (Dramaturg and Co-Creator), Amy Rubenstein (Co-Creator), Scott Davis (Scenic Design), Elsa Hiltner (Costume Design), Becca Jeffords (Lighting), Jeffrey Levin (Sound Design), and Logan Boyd Jones (Production Stage Manager).

Unlike some immersive theater experiences, "Southern Gothic" is plot-driven, with each audience member experiencing various aspects of the party, yet still taking in the arc of the story line. The cast of "Southern Gothic" will not interact with the audience, leaving patrons free to watch the scenes happening around them like an invisible guest, traveling from room to room and sampling period-appropriate cocktails and snacks throughout the duration of the performance.

The performance schedule for "Southern Gothic" is as follows: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. There are additional performances on select Tuesday evenings at 7:30. For a detailed performance schedule visit Windy City Playhouse's Events Calendar. Capacity for each performance is limited; prices and showtimes are subject to change.

Windy City Playhouse, Chicago's most sophisticated not-for- profit Equity theater, aims to expand beyond the traditional theatergoing experience by offering audience members a night of high-quality entertainment with a welcoming full-service bar in a lounge-like atmosphere with a fireplace and luxurious seating designed to foster pre and post-performance conversations.

Windy City Playhouse commits itself to audience-first programming and to presenting contemporary, diverse and humorous plays. Every aspect of the theater-the bar, décor and overall atmosphere-breaks down the formality and rigidity of the typical theater going experience. Lauded by audiences and critics alike, Windy City Playhouse promises to rock Chicago's theater scene.

For more information, visit WindyCityPlayhouse.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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