Writers Theatre Announces Season Casting
By: A.A. Cristi Apr. 30, 2018
Writers Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce initial casting for the company's previously announced 2018/19 season.
"Our 2018/19 Season is fresh and sophisticated, and rooted in our tradition of ensuring that the written word and the artist remain at the center of our conversation, with some of the finest actors in Chicagoland helping bring these thrilling plays to life," comments Artistic Director Michael Halberstam. "We invite you to lean forward and engage in our most ambitious and exciting season to date!"
The 2018/2019 season opens in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre with Qui Nguyen's Vietgone, featuring original music by Shane Rettig, directed by Lavina Jadhwani, music direction by Gabriel Ruiz, and choreography by Tommy Rapley. The cast includes Aurora Adachi-Winter, Christine Bunuan, Rammel Chan, Ian Michael Minh and Matthew C. Yee.
The World Premiere of Jen Silverman's Witch, inspired by The Witch of Edmonton by William Rowley, Thomas Dekker and John Ford and directed by Marti Lyons will open the season in the Gillian Theatre. The cast includes David Alan Anderson, Steve Haggard, Ryan Hallahan, Jon Hudson Odom and Arti Ishak, with additional casting to be announced.
The season will continue with William Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night, Or What You Will directed by Michael Halberstam and featuring Sean Fortunato, Casey Hoekstra, Cameron Knight, Nik Kmiecik, Daniel Kyri, Jennifer Latimore, Rob Lindley, Andrea San Miguel, John Henry Roberts and Karen Janes Woditsch, with additional casting to be announced.
August Wilson's visceral American classic Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, directed by Ron OJ Parson, will feature David Alan Anderson, Felicia P. Fields, Jalen Gilbert, Tiffany Renee Johnson, John Judd, Peter Moore, Kelvin Roston, Jr., A.C. Smith and Alfred Wilson, with additional casting to be announced.
Caryl Churchill's suspenseful A Number, the final production in the Gillian Theatre, directed by Robin Witt, will feature William Brown and Nate Burger.
Casting for the final production in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre - the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal, with music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, directed by David Cromer, with Associate Director Lili-Anne Brown and music directed by Andra Velis Simon - will be announced at a later date.
The 2018/19 Season marks Writers Theatre's third full season in the company's award-winning new home at 325 Tudor Court in Glencoe, designed by Studio Gang Architects. Productions will be presented in two spaces in the theater complex including the 255-seat Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre as well as the Gillian Theatre, a 50 to 99-seat flexible theatre space.
From its very first year, Writers Theatre has brought quality and excellence to the stage while maintaining the company's hallmark intimacy. The last 25 years have seen unprecedented growth in both the artistic and business arenas as the company has garnered national acclaim and recognition, marked by the celebrated opening of the Theatre's new facility in February of 2016. With a longstanding reputation for consistent artistic excellence and with strong ties to the community, Writers Theatre has built an award-winning repertoire and serves as a vital and highly regarded company in the Chicagoland theatre community.
Season Packages are available at the Box Office, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, 847-242-6000 and www.writerstheatre.org.
Writers Theatre is pleased to welcome back BMO Harris Bank as the distinguished 2018/19 Season Sponsor, marking the Bank's eighth consecutive year as season sponsor.
The Writers Theatre 2018/19 Season includes:
VIETGONE
Written by Qui Nguyen
Original Music by Shane Rettig
Music Direction by Gabriel Ruiz
Choreography by Tommy Rapley
Directed by Lavina Jadhwani
August 15 - September 23, 2018
Opening August 22, 2018
Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre | 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe
The cast includes: Aurora Adachi-Winter (Tong), Christine Bunuan (Asian Girl/American Girl/Thu/Huong/ Translator/Flower Girl), Rammel Chan (Asian Guy/American Guy/Nhan/Khue), Ian Michael Minh (Playwright/Giai/Bobby/Captain Chambers/Redneck Biker/Hippie Dude) and Matthew C. Yee (Quang).
It's 1975 and two young survivors (who may or may not be the playwright's parents) meet in a Vietnamese refugee camp in mid-America shortly after the fall of Saigon. Will this strange new land of cowboys, hippies and bikers allow them to fall in love? Playwright Qui Nguyen's wildly creative, irreverent style flips stereotypes on their head, remixing history and culture into a sexy, funny and energetic fantasia as he imagines how two soul mates might have found each other in a turbulent time.
Equal parts road-trip adventure, buddy film, romantic comedy and Hamilton-esque rap musical, this epic new play repurposes pop culture from the last forty years to tell its "probably-mostly-true" story. Directed by Lavina Jadhwani, Vietgone takes a no-holds-barred approach, transporting you through time and across the globe to put an innovative spin on a critical moment in our history.
World Premiere
WITCH
Written by Jen Silverman
Inspired by The Witch of Edmonton by Rowley, Dekker & Ford
Directed by Marti Lyons
September 26 - December 16, 2018
Opening October 3, 2018
The Gillian Theatre | 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe
The cast includes: David Alan Anderson (Sir Arthur), Steve Haggard (Cuddy), Ryan Hallahan (Scratch), Jon Hudson Odom (Frank Thorny) and Arti Ishak (Winnifred). Additional casting to be announced.
Mischief is afoot in the sleepy village of Edmonton and the fate of the world is at stake in this smart modern fable. When the emotionally conflicted son of the local lord and an ambitious newcomer come into conflict, help presents itself to both of them in the same guise-as the Devil himself. But while these two young men take advantage of the Devil's bargain to accomplish their own questionable ends, someone else in town stands her ground-Elizabeth, an outcast whom everyone believes to be a witch.
Rising playwright Jen Silverman boldly transforms this classic play by Jacobean playwrights William Rowley, Thomas Dekker and John Ford, using a contemporary lens to make the machinations of the distant past strikingly relevant to today. Directed by Marti Lyons (The Mystery of Love & Sex) in the intimate Gillian Theatre, this wickedly funny, slyly subversive play will captivate you with the question: would you know what to ask for if the Devil came knocking on your door?
TWELFTH NIGHT
Or What You Will
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam
November 7 - December 16, 2018
Opening November 14, 2018
Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre | 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe
The cast includes: Sean Fortunato (Sir Toby Belch), Casey Hoekstra (Antonio/Curio), Cameron Knight (Duke Orsino), Nik Kmiecik (Valentine/Priest/Others), Daniel Kyri (Sebastian), Jennifer Latimore (Viola), Rob Lindley (Feste), Andrea San Miguel (Olivia), John Henry Roberts (Captain/Others) and Karen Janes Woditsch (Maria). Additional casting to be announced.
Shakespeare's romantic, boisterous and poignant comedy has never felt more relevant-or more hilarious! When young Viola is shipwrecked on an unfamiliar shore, presuming her twin brother drowned in the same wreck, she must disguise herself as a man to secure a job with the local Duke Orsino. But when asked to further Orsino's romantic interests with the powerful Olivia, she finds herself tangled in an increasingly confused love triangle. Crossed wires, cross purposes and crossed garters abound, leading to a final scene of revelations that allows almost everyone to live happily ever after...
One of Western literature's greatest comedies, Twelfth Night imagines a world where up is down, hot is cold and love is not always what it seems! Directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam, Twelfth Night will draw you into its world of lovers and louts, some of them so consumed by their lust for the wrong person they're unable to see the truth that's right in front of them.
MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM
Written by August Wilson
Directed by Ron OJ Parson
February 6 - March 17, 2019
Opening February 13, 2019
Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre | 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe
The cast includes: David Alan Anderson (Toledo), Felicia P. Fields (Ma Rainey), Jalen Gilbert (Sylvester), Tiffany Renee Johnson (Dussie Mae), John Judd (Sturdyvant), Peter Moore (Irvin), Kelvin Roston, Jr. (Levee), A.C. Smith (Slow Drag) and Alfred Wilson (Cutler). Additional casting to be announced.
This visceral American classic serves as the 1920s chapter of August Wilson's epic The American Century Cycle. What begins as a routine recording session becomes more strained as tensions rise between the members of a blues band and the owners of the recording studio. The white producers mean to exploit the talents of the band-especially the gifted and impulsive Levee-but when Ma insists on having things her way, tensions are enflamed and the play builds to an unexpected and searing climax.
Inspired by the real-life Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, this groundbreaking work is the only play by American icon August Wilson to be set in Chicago. Directed by WT Resident Director Ron OJ Parson (East Texas Hot Links, The Caretaker, The Old Settler), Ma Rainey will envelop you in a vision of the Roaring Twenties defined by Wilson's remarkably beautiful language and an extraordinary dramatic conflict between ambition, desperation and love for The Blues.
A NUMBER
Written by Caryl Churchill
Directed by Robin Witt
March 20 - June 9, 2019
Opening March 27, 2019
The Gillian Theatre | 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe
Featuring William Brown (Salter) and Nate Burger (Bernard).
Powerful, unpredictable and devastating, Caryl Churchill's suspenseful A Number sees a father meeting his "estranged" son over several visits. As they reconnect, multiplying lies are uncovered, revealing a horrifying truth about their shared past that leads directly to the provocative questions: how much do we pass on to our children and is it really possible to atone for our mistakes?
Set in a strikingly familiar future, this ingenious and illuminating twist on a family drama examines the idea of individuality and the very nature of identity. Staged in WT's Gillian Theatre by Chicago director Robin Witt, the WT production will reveal the emotional core of this gripping play, drawing audiences into its fascinating dystopia as it asks heady questions about the morality of actions that might just be taking place tomorrow...
NEXT TO NORMAL
Music by Tom Kitt
Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey
Music Direction by Andra Velis Simon
Directed by David Cromer
May 8 - June 16, 2019
Opening May 15, 2019
Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre | 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe
On the outside, The Goodmans seem like the average American family: house in the suburbs, white picket fence and two sharp-witted kids. But inside, their lives are anything but normal, with long-buried secrets that threaten to tear them apart. Featuring powerful lyrics and an electrifying score, this explosive musical uses wry humor and brutal honesty to explore how family trauma can fracture the American Dream, while ultimately leading to a chance at new beginnings.
This deeply moving and captivating American musical took Broadway by storm in 2009, winning three Tony awards and the Pulitzer Prize for drama. Now, Chicago and Broadway director David Cromer returns to WT, where he has directed A Streetcar Named Desire and Picnic, to bring his singularly personal touch to this modern musical where the lines between reality and delusion are never quite clear.
Casting for Next to Normal will be announced at a later date.
SEASON PACKAGES
Writers Theatre season ticket packages provide a convenient theatergoing experience and guarantee access to all of WT's highly anticipated productions throughout the season. Six-play subscription packages are available, ranging in price from $249 to $389.
Four-play "Choose Your Own" Flex packages that include any four productions in the season start at $239.
Season package subscribers receive exclusive benefits including complimentary ticket exchanges by phone and mail (upgrade fees may apply), a one-year subscription to The Brief Chronicle newsmagazine and more. For a complete list of benefits visit writerstheatre.org.
Season Packages are available at the Box Office, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, 847-242-6000 and writerstheatre.org.
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
For additional information about the WT Audience Enrichment programs listed below, visit writerstheatre.org/events.
Pre-Show Conversation: Up Close
Join us at 6:45pm before every Thursday evening performance (excluding previews and extension dates) of Vietgone, Twelfth Night, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Next to Normal for a 15-minute primer on the context and content of the play facilitated by a member of the WT Artistic Team.
Post-Show Conversation: The Word
Join us after every Tuesday evening performance (excluding previews and extension dates) for a 15-minute discussion of the play, facilitated by a member of the WT Artistic Team.
Post-Show Conversation: The Artist
Join us after every Wednesday evening performance (excluding previews and extension dates) for a 15-minute talk-back featuring actors from the production, facilitated by a member of the WT Artistic Team.
Sunday Spotlight
This one-hour event extends the conversation on our stages by featuring an expert in a field related to the themes or setting of each play, moderated by a member of the WT Artistic Team. Seating is limited. RSVP is required.
The Making of... Series
Writers Theatre will once again host its popular The Making of... Series, providing insight into a different aspect of creating the productions seen on our stages. Enjoy a short and lively presentation by our actors, designers or other experts who will walk you through the process of preparing for and executing a production. The Making of... events are FREE and open to the public. Seating is limited. RSVP is required.
From Page to Stage Series
Writers Theatre and select North Shore libraries and community partners present the 14th annual From Page to Stage Series. This comprehensive series of special events, lectures, readings and film viewings are designed to enhance and enrich the audience experience of WT productions each season. All events are FREE of charge and open to the public unless otherwise noted. For more information about the From Page to Stage Series, visit writerstheatre.org/from-page-to-stage-series.
Writers Theatre also offers Access Performances, including ASL-interpretation and Open Captioning on select dates for each production. Please visit writerstheatre.org/accessibility for more information.
ABOUT WRITERS THEATRE
For more than 25 years, Writers Theatre has captivated Chicagoland audiences with inventive interpretations of classic work, a bold approach to contemporary theatre and a dedication to creating the most intimate theatrical experience possible.
Under the artistic leadership of Michael Halberstam and the executive leadership of Kathryn M. Lipuma, Writers Theatre has grown to become a major Chicagoland cultural destination with a national reputation for excellence, being called the top regional theatre in the nation by The Wall Street Journal. The company, which plays to a sold-out and discerning audience of more than 60,000 patrons each season, has garnered critical praise for the consistent high quality and intimacy of its artistry-providing the finest interpretations of both classic and contemporary theatre in its two intensely intimate venues.
In February 2016, Writers Theatre opened a new, state-of-the-art facility. This established the company's first permanent home-a new theatre center in downtown Glencoe, designed by the award-winning, internationally renowned Studio Gang Architects, led by Founder and Design Principal Jeanne Gang, FAIA, in collaboration with Theatre Consultant Auerbach Pollock Friedlander. The new facility has allowed the Theatre to continue to grow to accommodate its audience, while maintaining its trademark intimacy. The new facility resonates with and complements the Theatre's neighboring Glencoe community, adding tremendous value to Chicagoland and helping to establish the North Shore as a premier cultural destination.
Find Writers Theatre on Facebook at Facebook.com/WritersTheatre, follow @WritersTheatre on Twitter or @Writers_Theatre on Instagram. For more information, visit www.writerstheatre.org.
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