Complete Casting Announced For Seattle Rep's World Premiere Of IBSEN IN CHICAGO

Seattle Repertory Theatre today announced the full ensemble cast of its world premiere production of playwright David Grimm's clever comedy, Ibsen in Chicago. Under the direction of Artistic Director Braden Abraham, Ibsen In Chicago follows an unlikely ensemble of Scandinavian immigrants as they work to rehearse a controversial new play written by their fellow countryman Henrik Ibsen. It is set to run February 2 - March 4, 2018 (opening night isFebruary 7, 2018) on the Leo K. stage, tickets are on sale now through the Seattle Rep Box Office at 206.443.2222 and online at SeattleRep.org.

Long-time Seattle actor, director, teacher, producer, and artistic director (Icicle Creek Theatre Festival) Allen Fitzpatrick returns to the Rep stage as Pekka - last seen in the Rep's Opus andTemple. With decades of professional performances under his belt, he made his Broadway debut in the 1991 production of Les Misérables and performed in the 2011 production of Driving Miss Daisywith James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave. In addition to numerous other Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional theatre credits, audiences may recognize him from various performances on "Law and Order" or from other local stages including ACT Theatre, The 5th Avenue, and Intiman.Christopher McLinden returns to the Rep as Henning after his debut performance in last season'sKing Charles III. His New York credits include The Tempest (La MaMa E.T.C); Nicholas Maeve Marianne (New York International Fringe Festival); among others, and many regional credits including performances with Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Film/TV credits include "Boardwalk Empire" (HBO), Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight (HBO), and "Alpha House" (Amazon Studios). Kirsten Potter returns to the Rep stage as Helga after turns in past productions of Photograph 51, A View From the Bridge, Over The Moon, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Regional credits include performances with South Coast Repertory, Center Theater Group, Milwaukee Rep, Arena Stage, Arizona Theater Company, among others. Film/TV credits include "Medium," "Judging Amy," "Bones," and the film noir short The Eyes Have It. Local actorAnnette Toutonghi as Solveig was last seen at Seattle Rep as Essie in You Can't Take It With You. Local audiences have seen her all over town, most recently at West of Lenin in Yussef El Guindi'sThe Birds Flew In, as well as at ACT Theatre, Intiman, The 14/48 Festival, Seattle Children's Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theatre, among others. Making her Seattle Rep debut is Hannah Ruwe. Seattle audiences have seen her in Grand Concourse (Seattle Public Theater) and The Cherry Orchard (Act Theatre), and more. She is a recent graduate of the UW School of Drama. Finally, R. Hamilton Wright rounds out this cast as Per. He has performed in over 50 productions at Seattle Rep, the first being 1979's The Taming Of The Shrew and the most recent being 2014's Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?. His original play Sherlock Holmes and The American Problem premiered at Seattle Rep in the spring of 2016 and just received its second production at The Barter Theatre in Virginia.

The creative team includes Braden Abraham (director); G.W. Mercier (scenic and costume design); L.B. Morse (lighting design); and Sharath Patel (sound design).

About David Grimm (Playwright)

Plays: Oriflamme (59 E. 59); Tales from Red Vienna (MTC); Measure for Pleasure (The Public Theater; Bug 'n Bub Award; GLAAD Award nomination); The Miracle at Naples (Huntington; Best New Play IRNE Award 2009); Steve & Idi (Rattlestick); Chick (Hartford Stage); The Learned Ladies of Park Avenue (Hartford Stage); Kit Marlowe (The Public Theater; GLAAD Award nomination); Sheridan, Or Schooled in Scandal (La Jolla); Enough Rope (Williamstown; starring Elaine Stritch). Film: Matthew Barney's River of Fundament (BAM; International Tour). He is the recipient of an NEA/TCG Residency Grant and commissions from Roundabout Theatre Company, Huntington Theatre Company, City Theatre Company, The Public Theater, and Hartford Stage. David has lectured in Playwriting and Screenwriting at the Yale School of Drama, Brown University, Columbia University, and NYU.

About Braden Abraham (Director)

Braden has served as Artistic Director at Seattle Rep since 2014. He has directed many productions for the Rep, most recently Well, Luna Gale, A View From the Bridge, The Comparables, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and A Great Wilderness. Other productions include: The Glass Menagerie; Clybourne Park; and the critically acclaimed, extended runs of Photograph 51; My Name is Rachel Corrie (U.S. regional premiere); and Betrayal. Braden directed the West Coast premieres of This(Seattle Rep), The K of D, an urban legend (Seattle Rep, Pistol Cat, FringeNYC, Illusion Theatre), Opus (Seattle Rep), and White Hot (Marxiano Productions/West of Lenin). Other premieres include: Riddled (Richard Hugo House); Clear Blue Sky (On the Boards/Northwest New Works); Breakin' Hearts and Takin' Names (Seattle Rep); The Ten Thousand Things (Washington Ensemble Theatre); and Kuwait (Theatre Schmeater). Braden has developed new work with Seattle Rep, Denver Theatre Center, On the Boards, The O'Neill Playwrights Conference, Ojai Playwrights Conference, Portland Center Stage, and The Playwrights Center. Member of SDC.

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