Windy City Playhouse Announces Its 2018-2019 Season, Featuring Immersive Stagings of NOISES OFF and THE RECOMMENDATION

Amy Rubenstein, Artistic Director, and Evelyn Jacoby, Managing Director of Windy City Playhouse today announced the theater's 2018-2019 season featuring an extended run of Leslie Liautaud's critically acclaimed hit "Southern Gothic" through December 9, 2018; the Windy City Playhouse premiere of Michael Frayn's hilarious play-within-a-play "Noises Off"directed by Jeff Award-winner Scott Weinstein, starting performances January 9, 2019 and the Chicago premiere of Jonathan Caren's gripping coming-of-age story "The Recommendation"with performances beginning May 1, 2019. Season subscriptions are now available by calling 773-891-8985 or visiting www.windycityplayhouse.com.

"Following the success of 2017's intimate staging of 'Becky Shaw' and the world-premiere, immersive production of 'Southern Gothic' earlier this spring, the 2018-2019 season will further explore presentation styles that place the audience intimately within the center of the action," said Rubenstein. "Our motto for the year is 'experience driven - audience first.' Be it a fresh new narrative or classic reimagined, we want the stories we tell to be relevant to today's audience, and we want to present them in a way that offers our patrons a one-of- a-kind viewing experience where the barrier between performers and audience virtually disappear. As always, we're committing to entertaining our guests, from the moment they walk through the Playhouse doors until well after they have left."

The 2018-2019 season kicks off with the acclaimed immersive production "Southern Gothic", in an extended run. Leslie Liautaud's play, directed by David H. Bell, allows attendees to step into a 1960's Georgia home and experience the sweeping dramatics of the eight characters first-hand as the night unfolds. "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," said Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune. "I loved it, and so do a lot of Tribune readers."

January will feature the Windy City Playhouse premiere of Michael Frayn's "Noises Off," the side-splitting play-within-a-play set behind-the-scenes as a ragtag touring company rehearses and performs - or attempts to perform - a bawdy farce. Directed by Scott Weinstein and led by the team behind the immersive design for "Becky Shaw," this comedic classic will be told through a unique multi-stage layout that puts audiences in the center of the action. "If laughter is the best medicine, this flawless show is capable of curing double pneumonia," raved Terry Teachout of the Wall Street Journal.

The season closes in May with the Chicago premiere of the acclaimed coming-of-age tale "The Recommendation," winner of the 2012 Craig Noel Award for Outstanding New Play, specifically adapted by playwright Jonathan Caren for Windy City Playhouse's innovative immersive staging-style. The play follows a newly minted college freshman as he tests the bonds of friendship with his new roommate in a world dictated by privilege, connection and class. An impressive creative team asks viewers to literally "walk a mile" in these young men's shoes. StageSceneLA.com called the play "terrific...(a) drama that will keep you guessing from its exhilarating start to its suspenseful finish...A rollercoaster ride of a play."

WINDY CITY PLAYHOUSE'S 2018-2019 SEASON:

"SOUTHERN GOTHIC"

Written by Leslie Liautaud

Directed by David H. Bell

Now Playing, Closing December 9, 2018

Four couples - who have known each other for decades - come together to celebrate Suzanne Wellington's 40th birthday and as the evening progresses, celebration leads to disaster as relationships are heavily tested.

"NOISES OFF"

Written by Michael Frayn

Directed by Scott Weinstein

Previews begin: January 9, 2019

With just hours until opening night of "Nothing On," this touring theater troupe has plenty of work to do. Between mistaken props, forgotten lines, inner-cast discord and a torrent of awful acting, one wonders... Will these eager thespians successfully stage their sex farce script, or will they end up running around with their pants (quite literally) at their ankles?

"THE RECOMMENDATION"

Written by Jonathan Caren

Previews begin: May 1, 2019

Aaron Feldman arrives at college fully prepared with a charming personality, wealthy father and plenty of connections. His freshman year roommate, Iskander Ioduoko, is not so lucky. The middle-class student has worked hard to get where he is, and arrived on no one's coat tails. Despite differing backgrounds, the two young men quickly develop a strong bond and pledge to a life-long friendship. That is, until one finds himself in legal trouble, and the other in a tricky position deciding whether to help.

Two and three-show subscriptions are now available, starting at $100. Single tickets will go on sale at a future date to be announced. With the 2018-2019 season, Windy City Playhouse is also offering a Platinum Subscription, which will include a $100 donation to the theatre. Subscriptions are available by calling 773-891-8985 or visiting www.windycityplayhouse.com/

About Windy City Playhouse

Windy City Playhouse 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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