Prologue Theatre Co. was founded in 2008 in Chicago, IL. Since then, we've produced a variety of plays, musicals, and festivals. Scroll down to explore some of our previous projects. Or read more about our current season to see what's coming up!
Nudes: Women in Art
Tatjana in Color
a Chicago premiere
by Julia Jordan
directed by Julie Ritchey
June 24th through July 17th
Fridays at Saturdays at 8:00 pm
Sundays at 2:00 pm
BoHo's Heartland Studio
7016 N. Glenwood Avenue, Chicago
Inspired by true events, Tatjana in Color follows a young girl who is fascinated by painter Egon Schiele and his lover. Twelve-year-old girls of any era can be relentless in the pursuit of grown-up things, and Tatjana is no exception. Even as she becomes obsessed with such adult pursuits as eating sweets, drinking coffee, and taking off her clothes, she vents her frustrations at the restrictions childhood imposes on her younger sister, Antonia. Tatjana discovers the possibilities of a world larger than her 1912 Austrian village and reaches toward the hot core of the something she feels growing inside her. In the process, the women in her life help her discover how to become more than a subject of art.
Featuring:
Featuring Amy Geist, Nicholas Harper, Angela Alise Johnson, Ilana Plen, and P.J. Schoeny under the direction of Julie Ritchy and showcasing the work of Amy Gilman (Scenic Design), Dave Krofta (Puppet Designer), Dylan Marks (Props Design), Scott Pillsbury (Lighting Design), Curtis Powell (Sound Design), and Emma Weber (Costume Design). Stage management by Jane Marie Philips. Dramaturgy by Maggie Carlin. Produced by Jessica Eisenberg Chamblee, Margo Gray, Carrie Hardin, Amanda Renee King, Whitney A. Morse
Ribbon Around a Bomb
Book & Music by Jess Eisenberg Chamblee*
Directed by Kiana Harris
April 25th-26th
May 2nd-3rd
7:30pm
Mary's Attic (above Hamburger Mary's)
5400 N. Clark, Chicago
This world-premiere musical propels Prologue's season theme of “women in art” into the present with a fresh story about a young artist’s desire to explore the new worlds that art opens to her. Follow the journey of a young woman as she struggles to understand the forces behind her artistic ability. Three mysterious visitors haunt, help, and guide Kalakara as she pursues a tenuous hold on love, art, and her sanity.
Book and music by Jess Eisenberg Chamblee*. Featuring Charlitha Charleston, Angela Alise Johnson, Melody Latham, Lance Newton, Tinuade Oyelowo, Christopher Tucker, Krysten Williams, and Kathleen Wrinn under the direction of Kiana Harris. Stage Management by Sarah Gilmore. Produced by Margo Gray*, Carrie Hardin*, and Amanda Renee King*. Photography by Cole Simon.
* denotes Prologue Theatre Company Member
Dream of a Common Language
by Heather McDonald
directed by Margo Gray
October 26 – November 18
7:30pm, Tues, Weds, & Thurs
Oracle Theater
3809 N. Broadway, Chicago
Dream of a Common Language by Heather McDonald, creates a picture of a dream deferred in a woman and her friends in 1870s France. Clovis is a painter who hasn’t picked up a brush since a fiery accident a year ago. Her artist husband Victor is preparing a dinner party at their country home to plan an exhibition for a new kind of art. But today, the return of some old friends, as well as an unexpected hitch in dinner party plans, will shake Clovis out of her dreams and inspire her to turn her artists’ eye to a more intimate subject. This lyrical and dream-like drama will be presented in the Oracle Theatre.
Dream of a Common Language was inspired by Ms. McDonald’s research on the Impressionists; she saw a painting of the meeting to plan the first Impressionist exhibition, and wondered where all the women were. In 1870s France, though painters such as Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt were allowed to exhibit, they were excluded from the decision-making process. Societal restrictions prevented women from socializing in establishments like the Café Guerbois, where the Impressionists met to discuss theory and technique, and from painting in public places (such as cafes, the racetrack, even public parks) where Impressionists created some of their most famous work. Even today, Morisot and Cassatt are far less well known than their male counterparts, and artists such as Camille Claudel, who claimed to have done some of the work credited to Auguste Rodin, are all but forgotten.
Featuring: Carrie Hardin, Lara Janson, Alex Knell, Michael John Krystosek, Hayley Rice, and Les Rorick.
Directed by Margo Gray with Scenic, Props, & Puppet Design by Cathy Matchette, Costume Design by Valerie Vanderkolk, Lighting Design Kent Cubbage, and Sound Design by Sarah Smith. The Stage Manager is Hillary Gibson, assisted by Kari Warning. Molly Mullen served as Dramaturg, and Amanda Renee King and Jess Gyori-Eisenberg produced the show.
Cast and Crew Biographies
CAST
Carrie Hardin (Clovis) is a company member at Prologue Theatre. You may have seen her at the Snapshots Festival recently, or this spring at Prologue's Landmark Festival. Carrie has also worked around town with Promethean, CityLit, T.U.T.A., and Point of Contention, among others.
Lara Janson (Pola) is pleased to appear in her second show with Prologue. She performed in Prologue's Landmark Festival last spring, shortly after returning to the States from graduate study in Northern Ireland. Lara holds a BA in English from Grinnell College, with a concentration in gender & women's studies. She also studied voice and acting at Grinnell. Lara has performed street theatre in South America and used Theatre of the Oppressed methods in outreach to teens at risk for human trafficking in juvenile detention centers in the U.S. Ms. Janson holds an MA in Latin American Studies/Cultural Politics from Ecuador and an MA in Peace & Conflict Studies from Northern Ireland. She is passionate about social justice, particularly combating human trafficking. Lara spent the summer counting Chicagoans for the Census and is currently researching the commercial sex industry in Chicago and preparing to apply to graduate programs this fall.
Alex Knell (Mylo). A new graduate of Northwestern University, Alex thanks Prologue for her Chicago debut. Favorite credits include Hennie in Awake and Sing and Tinkerbell in Northwestern's Peter Pan. Alex has studied with The Artistic Home, 500 Clown, and the magnificent Gail Shapiro to whom she is greatly indebted. Thanks to the Knell family and Alberto for their tireless love and support.
Michael John Krystosek (Victor) is proud to be involved in his first Prologue Theatre production. He recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Illinois at Chicago's BFA Performance program. Past credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream(Bottom), In the Blood (The Doctor) and The Pillowman (Michal) at UIC and Amadeus (Venticelli) at The Oak Park Village Players.
Hayley Rice (Dolores). Previous credits include Lady Mathilda in The Castle of Otranto, Bianca in The Tamer Tamed, Luce in Comedy of Errors (First Folio Theatre), Clementine in Bonnie and Clementine…, Flora in The Wonder (Point of Contention Theatre), Mrs. Trotsky in All in the Timing (Focal Point Theatre), Simone the Cat in The Nerdy Girl and the Intergalactic Dog, Sarafina in Beauty and the Beast (Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre), Sister Felicity in Suddenly Last Summer (IL. Theatre Center), Hero in For Love of the Nightingale (Livewire Theatre), The Legalizer in Rogue 8,Chorus/Nurse 1 in Rogue’s Orestia (Rogue Theater). Hayley is a proud member of Focal Point Theatre Company and artistic associate with First Folio Theatre where she will appear in Blithe Spirit this coming February.
Les Rorick (Marc) left Southern California for the Chicago theatre scene just over a year ago. Before the winter of his discontent (the first actual winter of his entire life), he played Brutus in Julius Caesar and Raleigh in The Last Train to Nibroc. The role of Marc is his Chicago debut. He is indebted to the grace of God and the loving support of his family and friends, especially him community from The Line Chicago. Les trains at Act One Studios, in downtown Chicago.PRODUCTION STAFF
Kent Cubbage (Lighting Designer). This is Kent Cubbage’s first theatrical design in Chicago, and he’s glad it’s with Margo! Locally, he has assisted at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Comedy of Errors and The Emperor’s New Clothes, and at the Marriott in Lincolnshire on Married Alive. He has previously designed for the Minnesota Fringe Fest, Monomoy Theater in Cape Cod, Orchesis in Tallahassee, and New Jersey Shakespeare Theater in Summit. Recently, he won a USITT Ezekiel award for outstanding design and spots in the 2011 Prague Quadrennial Exposition and USITT Exposition for The Wonderful World of Dissocia, at Ohio University. Other assists include the premiere of the current Broadway show The Scottsboro Boys and Dollhouse at the Guthrie, Grey Gardens at the Studio in D.C., Rabbit Hole at Indiana Repertory, and Take Flight at the McCarter. He’d like to give a shout-out to Grinnell, or at least a polite Iowan nod.
Hillary Gibson (Stage Manager) is a proud 2009 graduate of Bowling Green State University where she received a BAC in Technical Theatre/Design and Acting/Directing. Her most recent show credits include The Trojan Women, A Christmas Carol and Our Town where she served as Stage Manager. Hillary’s professional credits include working as Company Manager at Northern Stage in Vermont, Assistant Company Manager at West Virginia Public Theatre and Assistant to the Company and Production Managers at Florida Studio Theatre. She would like to thank her amazing friends and family for support.
Margo Gray (Director) is pleased to be directing her fourth show with Prologue, where she serves as artistic director. Margo is a graduate of Grinnell College and a former Fulbright Fellow with the Moscow Art Theater School in Russia. Recent projects includeThe Cat's Meow: a Vaudeville (Prologue), The Wonder: a woman keeps a secret! (Point of Contention), and What of the Night? (Halcyon Theatre). Margo Twitters about the Chicago theatre experience (@margogray) and you can find other updates on her work at margogray.com. She wants to thank you for choosing to spend your evening seeing live theatre.
Cathy Matchette (Set, Properties, and Puppet Designer) majored in metalsmithing at Oregon College of Art and Craft in Portland, with minors in ceramics and photography. Early on she became interested in mechanisms and incorporating movement into her work. She began fabricating tiny puppets as jewelry pieces, and moved on to build larger crank operated automatons. These merely served as a gateway to her eventual addiction to all types of puppets. She also has a BA in Architecture from University of Illinois at Urbana, and has worked as a commercial jeweler, a welder, and renovated buildings as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. Currently Cathy finds great satisfaction working for theaters building props, set pieces, and most of all – puppets. She is very happy to have encountered the talented artists at Prologue Theatre and to be working on her first show with them.
Molly Mullen (Dramaturg) is a 3rd year MFA candidate in Dramaturgy from Columbia University's School of the Arts in New York City. A native Chicagoan, Molly is spending her thesis year as an intern in the casting department at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, in addition doing free-lance work and writing her thesis. Chicago dramaturgy credits include Eduardo Machado's The Cook, Tom Creamer's adaptation of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, and Conor McPherson's Shining City, during her internship at the Goodman Theatre. Molly received her BA in American studies and a minor in theater from Lake Forest College.
Sarah Smith (Sound Designer) is a theatre practitioner and social service provider based in Iowa City IA. Focusing her theatrical work on sound design, Sarah has recently designed the sound for 9 Parts of Desire and and A View from the Bridge for Dreamwell Theatre. Other sound design credits include The Visit, The Winning Streak, Boy Gets Girl, Fair Ladies at a Game of Poem Cards, and Red Devils. Sarah received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Sociology from Grinnell College. She also completed internships with the Riverside Theatre Shakespeare Festival in Iowa City and Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago.
Valerie Vanderkolk (Costume Designer) Valerie Vanderkolk has most recently designed costumes for Chicago Fusion Theatre's production of J.B. and for Heritage Theatre Group in Grand Rapids, MI. She also has worked at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and on the film Touchback (2011) and the indie film Jamie and Jessie are Not Together.
Kari Warning (Assistant Stage Manager) recently graduated with a BA in Theatre from Western Illinois University. There she worked in the costume shop and also gained various other technical experience. Her favorite credits at WIU include 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee directed by Ray Gabica, (Stage Manager), Samarai(Assistant Stage Manager), the WIU touring production of Hansel and Gretel: The New Story (Costume Designer), and Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Costume Designer). She just recently finished a summer stock at Tibbits Opera House (Coldwater, MI) where she was production stage manager for On Broadway: A Modern Songbook, Crazy for You, Run for Your Wife, and 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She would like to thank her family and Ryan for all their love and support.
Press
Click here to view the press release.
City Lit Theater, Chicago
Six short plays, including three period texts and three world premieres, connect the world of the 1920s to the communities of today.
Blue Blood by Georgia Douglas Johnson
directed by Nich Radcliffe
Lost Generation* by Hannah Bauman
directed by Timothy Bambara
Social Movements and Lesser Wars* by Jess Gyori-Eisenberg
directed by Kiana Harris
The Triumph of the Egg by Sherwood Anderson
directed by Adil Mansoor)
We Men Must Grow a Mustache* by Jon Pernisek
directed by Carol Karaguez
The Wood Sprite by Vladimir Nabokov
directed by Margo Gray
* indicates this work is a world premiere
Director Biographies
Timothy Bambara (Director, Lost Generations) is excited to be working with Prologue Theatre Co. and the 2010 Landmark Festival! He has been producing, directing and acting in Chicago for the past 4 years. He received his MFA in Theatre Pedagogy from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. He is a recipient of the 2008 CAAP Grant and was a participant in the 2008 Chicago Director’s Lab. Timothy is a founding member of Dramatis Personae and a member of Tympanic Theatre Company. Favorite directing credits include Sexual Perversity in Chicago, Of Mice and Men, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Cook (asst. dir. to Henry Godinez, Goodman Theatre), Twelfth Night (asst. dir. to Jay Paul Skelton, City Lit), Den of Thieves and Where’s My Money? (Dramatis Personae), May is Special Time of Year and Ozma and Harriet (Tympanic Theatre Company) and The Ray Play (Point of Contention). As an actor, he was most recently seen in Chicago Fusion Theatre’s 12 Hungry Men. Upcoming directing projects include The Rise of Emperor Eric with Gorilla Tango Theatre.
Margo Gray (Director, The Wood Sprite) is proud
to be directing for Prologue again after this fall's The Cat's Meow: a
vaudeville and Sex by Mae West. Other recent work includes The
Wonder: a woman keeps a secret! for Point of Contention, and What
of the Night? for
Halcyon Theatre. Margo is a graduate of Grinnell College, a former
Fulbright Fellow with the Moscow Art Theatre School, and Prologue's
Artistic Director. This Nabokov piece breaks her unintentional
five-year streak of directing only work by women. To learn more, visit
www.margogray.com
Kiana Harris (Director, Social Movements and Lesser Wars) - As a teacher, director, and performer of Theatre, Film and Movement, Kiana has worked for numerous companies and schools in Philadelphia, Columbus and Chicago. She earned her MFA in Acting and Creating New Work from The Ohio State University, and her BA in Theatre from Temple University. She recently moved to Chicago and is thrilled to be working with Prologue Theatre Co. for the first time. For more information, please visit: www.kiana-harris.com
Carol Karaguez (Director, We Men Must Grow a Mustache) received her MFA in Directing/Dramaturgy from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Further training includes the Steppenwolf School and Cal State’s Summer Arts. Some directing credits include: Real Women Have Curves (College of Lake County), Many Voices (Chicago Dramatists), Sun Sisters (Silk Road), A Lesson Before Dying (Overflow Ensemble), When Lithuania Ruled the World (Chicago Cultural Center). Carol is proudly an Artistic Associate for Silk Road Theatre Project and Urban Theatre Company, where she recently served as costume designer for their Jeff nominated production of Cuba and His Teddy Bear.
Adil Mansoor (Director, The Triumph of the Egg)
is delighted to have the chance to direct for Prologue Theatre Co.
Having worked with many other groups in Chicago, including Strawdog,
Gorilla Tango, and Filament, he is inspired by small companies asking
big questions. Currently he is directing and co-curating the Freak
Museum, a burlesque performance installation; facilitating Project US
(Understanding Sex), a participatory performance engaging youth in
conversation around sexual health; and adapting/performing text from
1950’s Pakistani writer Saadat Husan Manto. He is also the
Artist-in-Residence program coordinator at Urban Gateways, a nonprofit
arts education center serving students all over Chicago.
Nich Radcliffe (Director, Blue Blood) is very excited to be making his Prologue Theatre Co. debut with this production of Blue Blood. Nich served as the Casting Director for American Girl Theatre from 2005 to 2008. He holds a BA in Theater Arts from National-Louis University. Others directing credits include, Same Time Next Year, A Christmas Carol and Aladdin and His Magic Lamp. Nich has also enjoyed a successful performance career, playing lead roles on numerous professional stages in the city of Chicago. Nich was fortunate enough to be directed twice by Tony Nominee Lara Teeter and worked with Tony Winner Mary Zimmer on the Midwest Premiere of the Phillip Glass opera Ahknaten.
Sex by Mae West
October 29 - Nov 21, 2009
North Lakeside Cultural Center
- About the show
- Ticket information
- About the venue (accessibility, transportation, and parking)
- Related Events
- Cast and Crew Bios
- Press
About the showProgressive staging in a historical Edgewater mansion allows the audience to follow Margy Lamont, a sassy prostitute, from a night in
Margy is one of the most in-demand ladies on the block, and makes plenty of jack to keep herself in furs and gin. However, when her pimp Rocky tries to work over a visiting society dame, Margy's left in a tough spot with the police. She flees
Featuring: Erin Renee Baumrucker, Christopher Chamblee, Stephen Kaiser, Rebecca L. Mauldin, Tinuade Oyelowo, DeRante Parker, Nathan Pease, Anne Sheridan Smith, Bradford Stevens, Reginald Vaughn, Sean Patrick Ward, and Jes Bedwinek as Margy.
Directed by Margo Gray. Set and Costume Design by Carrie Hardin. Lighting Design by Steven E. Hill. Musical direction by Jess Gyori-Eisenberg
About the Venue
The North Lakeside Cultural Center is located at 6219 N. Sheridan Ave. in Chicago. It is the northernmost of two historical mansions located inside Berger Park, right on Lake Michigan. Enter through the front door. We regret that this historical venue is not handicapped accessible.
Street parking is very limited in this neighborhood. We suggest taking public transportation if possible: Red Line (Granville Stop), Broadway Bus (#36), Out Drive Express (#147) or Sheridan (#151). If you drive, try looking for parking at the metered spots on Granville (most of which stop being active at 9:00 pm), or on the side streets west of Broadway. We suggest leaving extra time to find parking.
Special Events
Friday, November 6: Talkback on Female Playwrights.
Following the performance, cast members and production staff answered audience questions and discussed whether the current problem of underrepresentation of female playwrights on American stages extends to the Chicago storefront scene. Audience and cast members alike offered ideas for what should be done to eliminate such disparities in our community.
Saturday, November 7: Mae West Costume Contest!
Celebrate SEX in the spirit of one of the great sex symbols of our age. Audience members joined for the show dressed as Mae West and get in for a special $10 price.
Cast and Crew Biographies
CAST
Erin Renee Baumrucker (Flossie/Marie) is tickled pink to be working with Prologue again! Recent credits include The Cat's Meow: A Vaudeville (Prologue), Just Us Two (Team Venture), Mountain Days (Theatre-Hikes) and Bomb's Away! (Bailiwick). Erin would like to thank her family & friends, the cast & crew, Adam for putting up with her, and C.L. for being her partner in crime con panqueques. Kisses!
Jes Bedwinek (Margy) holds a BA in Theater from Oberlin College and, despite being a St. Louis native, has no opinion on either the Cards or the Cubs. She recently returned from studying with The Moscow Arts Theater at the Stanislavsky Summer School in Boston. Chicago credits include: Catherine in The Foreigner (Metropolis Performing Arts Theater), Belinda in This Is How It Goes (Rogers Park Theater Ensemble), Joan in Sexual Perversity in Chicago (Simple Theater), Megan in Dimly Perceived Threats to The System (GT Theater),Liz in the LGBT soap opera The Ville (Bare Boned Theatre) The Marriage of Marcus Tyler (Shantz Theater), On Air (run at The Apollo), Genre (multiple improv runs at Donny's Skybox), Adventures in Comedy (improv run at the Playground theater), Birphday! (Gorilla Tango Improv). Jes is grateful to the whole cast and crew for making Sex so much fun! Much love to my German.
Christopher Chamblee (Lt. Gregg) gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre Performance from Auburn University. He was recently seen in Prologue Theatre Company's production of The Cat's Meow: A Vaudeville, and Point of Contention's production of The Wonder: A Woman Keeps a Secret, as Don Pedro. Other notable performances include: "Ghost of Christmas Present" in Christmas Carol at The Virginia Stage Company, "Roger" in Grease!, "Mr. Webb" in Our Town, and "The Scarecrow" in The Wizard of Oz. He would like to thank his family and friends for their continued support. And his fiancé for her unconditional love and strength.
Stephen Elliot Kaiser (Jenkins/Sailor/Man) is a recent graduate of the Meadows School of the Arts at SMU where he graduated with a B.F.A. in acting and appeared in Stuff Happens, She Stoops to Conquer and Conquest of the South Pole among others. Stephen was recently seen as Dolan in the Something Clever production of Line by Israel Horovitz. Prior to that he appeared in the Oil Lamp Theatre's production of The Dining Room and was happy to return to Oil Lamp to play Mark Dolson in Bill C. Davis' Mass Appeal. Most recently he appeared in both the August (Equilibrium by Kellye Blosser) and September (Split by Ira Gamerman) editions of Mind The Gap Theatre Company's Monthly Staged Reading Series.
Rick Levine (Robert Stanton) most recently appeared in Radium Girls (Point of Contention), Gypsy, Frog & Toad and The Full Monty (Highland Park Players). Other credits include The Man Who Came to Dinner (Theatre on The Lake) and Crossing Delancy (Jefferson Park Players). Behind the scenes, Rick directed the area premiere of The Normal Heart in Minneapolis (for Broadway producer Roy Gabay) and The Night Hank Williams Died for the Griffin Theatre in Chicago (starring Jamie Denton). Further behind the scenes, Rick is the founder and former owner of theatrical businesses Act I Bookstore and PerformInk Newspaper.
Rebecca L. Mauldin (Agnes) is thrilled to work with Prologue for the first time! Most recent productions include: The Tempest (Bohemian Theatre Ensemble), The Oval Portrait (Mythic Proportions Theatre) and Dr. Egg and the Man with No Ear (Redmoon Theatre). She has also studied at a variety of schools in Chicago including I.O., Victory Gardens and Act One Studios. Rebecca is a proud graduate of Grinnell College in IA and the National Theatre Institute in CT. She extends her gratitude to Margo, Leonicia, the Sex cast, and staff at Prologue for making this an awesome experience. Much love to mother and sister.
Tinuade Oyelowo (Red) is thrilled to be a part of Prologue Theater Company's first season after just finishing Once on this Island with Fleetwood Jordan Theatre. Some of her credits include: Maria, 12th Night (Cornish College of the Arts); 365 days /plays (Silk Road); Narrator, Haroun and the Sea of Stories (Halcyon), understudy Gloria/Hope/Aunt Edna, First Breeze of Summer (Court Theatre); understudy Black Mary, Gem of the Ocean , Second Scientist, Half Life, understudy Laura, Glass Menagerie (Milwaukee Repertory Theatre); and Consume (Gorilla Tango). Tinuade is a graduate from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA with a B.F.A in Theater. Tinuade would like to thank Jess and Margo for all the love!
DeRante Parker (Manly/Condez/Policeman) is happy to be in Sex by Mae West. This is his second performance with Prologue Theater. He was last seen in The Cat's Meow: a Vaudevill as Player 3. Other recent Chicago roles include David Parker in Sex Signals and William Porter in Letters Home. DeRante enjoys doing theater because it's an opportunity to bring people together.
Nathan Pease (Rocky) is thrilled to be making his Prologue Theatre Co debut with such a talented cast and crew. A recent resident of Chicago, Nathan has also performed with First Folio Theatre, Apple Tree Theatre, and Stage Center Theatre in Chicago. Regional credits include Michigan Shakespeare Festival, BoarsHead Theatre, Jewish Ensemble Theatre, Union Theatre Co, and Flint Youth Theatre, where he spent two seasons as a Resident Artist. Some of his favorite credits: Richard III, Victor Frankenstein, Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, both Dromio twins in The Comedy of Errors, and Bruce in Blue/Orange among others.
Anne Sheridan Smith (Clara Stanton) is enjoying this Mae West creation with Prologue. Anne most recently appeared in Wings at Apple Tree Theatre and understudied as Rose Stopnick in the Court Theatre production of Caroline, Or Change. Other Chicago credits include: Leah Barnett in Trust (Open Eye Productions); Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Open Eye); Old Town, musical by Brett Neveu (Strawdog Theatre); Abigail Adams in 1776 (Signal Ensemble - Jeff Award - Best Musical Production). Anne is a member of Foiled Again (vocal trio) with Rob Lindley, Allison Bazarko and Doug Peck on piano, appearing next at SPACE in Evanston on Dec. 21.
Bradford Stevens (Curly/Jones) is excited to be working with Prologue Theatre and the incredibly talented cast of Sex. A native Chicagoan, he fell in love with theatre while attending Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, and working with the FAMU Essential Theatre. Upon graduating, he returned back home, to earn his MFA in acting from the DePaul Theatre School. Bradford is also a graduate of the Second City Conservatory, and a proud member of The Barrel of Monkeys Theatre troupe. He's had the privilege of working with a number of great theatres across town including; Steppenwolf, The Goodman, Stage Left, and The Raven, where he was nominated for a Jeff Award for best actor in Jesus Hopped The A-Train. Last but not least, Bradford would like to give mad thanks to the ancestors, and his incredibly supportive family and friends.
Reginald Vaughn (Dawson/Captain Carter) is a graduate of Indiana State University with a Masters in Communication and an influence in theatre. His noted professional productions includes: Hellcab, Den of Thieves, Soldier's Play and Measure for Measure. Reginald is also a member of Boom Troupe, a theatre company that travels around Chicagoland doing assemblies/plays for school kids. Reginald would like to give a big Fat Albert shout out to his major support group for being with him every step of the way and also to the fun cast of 'Sex'. Reginald's code: "conduct yourself with honor and grace and make ya mama proud!"
Sean Patrick Ward (Jimmy Stanton) is very excited to be working with Margo for a third show in a row, and very excited to be working with this talented cast. Special thanks to Greg, Nathan and Cynthia for being such awesome friends, and to Jes for being the only girl he wants to make out with. Ever.
PRODUCTION STAFF
Leonicia M. Berry (Stage Manager) from Cleveland, Ohio is happy to be working for Prologue Theatre Co. for the first time. Her previous works include directing The Colored Museum (Rogers Park Theatre Ensemble), and her role as Managing Director at Rogers Park Theatre Ensemble. Her stage management credits include: Jitney (Pegasus Players), The Wiz (White Horse Theatre Company), Rogers Park Theatre Festival 2006 (Rogers Park Theatre Ensemble), Stages XIII (Theatre Building Chicago), Joe Turner's Come and Gone (Loyola University Chicago) and Mistero Buffo: Comic Mystery (Piccolo Theatre). She would like to thank her mom, Kat, Rick and Jermaine for their love and support.
Margo Gray (Director) is happy to be helming her second production as Prologue's artistic director. Margo is a graduate of Grinnell College and a former Fulbright Fellow with the Moscow Art Theater School in Russia. Recent projects include The Cat's Meow: a Vaudeville (Prologue), The Wonder: a woman keeps a secret (Point of Contention), and Aria da Capo (Bailiwick Director's Festival). Margo Twitters about the Chicago theatre experience (@margogray) and you can find other updates on her work at margogray.com. She wants to thank you for choosing to spend your evening seeing live theatre.
Jess Gyori-Eisenberg (Musical Director) is an actor, singer, playwright, pianist, teacher, and musical director. She teaches with Piano Lessons in Your Home, and is the Managing Director for Prologue. Jess is a graduate of Harrison Arts Center and University of Central Florida.
Carrie Hardin (Scenic & Costume Designer) is a member of Prologue Theatre. You may have seen her design work with Actors Workshop/Redtwist, Broken Compass, and Point of Contention. Thanks to everyone involved in putting this production together, and to Brett.
Steven E. Hill (Lighting Designer) has been doing theatre for many years and has worked on shows ranging from high school and college productions to community theatre and professional companies. He has worked professionally with The Body Politic, Idle Muse, Gemini Productions, Endangered Species, Remy Bummpo, First Folio, and Il Penseroso Productions. In addition to his Design and Technical credits, he is formerly a certified Actor-Combatant in the Society of American Fight Directors. Steven has directed Echoes and a children's show for Gemini Productions of which he was also the Artistic Director. Steven has attended such prestigious schools as Millikin University, Columbia College and College of DuPage. Some of Steven's favorite productions that he has worked on are What the Weird Sisters Saw, Echoes, Standing on my Knees, The Fox, Whistle in the Dark and The Seagull.
Mae West (Playwright) grew up performing in vaudeville. In 1926 she penned her first full-length play, which she entitled Sex despite the strenuous objections of producers and theater owners. No one had ever dared to include a live jazz band in a straight play or write dialogue in the language of the streets, but West never compromised once her mind was made up. Sex played to large and enthusiastic crowds (including many, many sailors) for 41 weeks until police raided the production in February of 1927. West was convicted of indecency, fined $500, and sentenced to 10 days in jail. She got out two days early for good behavior. West went on to write other successful and controversial stage plays including Drag, The Pleasure Man, and Diamond Lil before moving on to fame and stardom in Hollywood.
Press
Click here to view the press release.
"[Mae West] was a woman ahead of the curve and the Prologue Theatre Company’s production is a compelling tribute... The cast inhabits the era like apparitions made flesh."
from The Urban Coaster
"The star of this production is the venue. Generally, i’m not a fan of promenade staging, but Gray has used the sprawling Cultural Center effectively. Audience members get up and move around only a few times to signify a key scene change, and during the transitions, actors keep the momentum going by drunkenly singing in the hallway or flirting with you from the doorways."
from Chicago Theatre Addict
"This rarely revived 1926 comedy--about a hooker who tries to go straight after falling in love with a naive young businessman--is best remembered today because it earned its author-star, Mae West, eight celebrity-boosting days in the pokey for "corrupting the morals of youth." The play has lost much of its shock value, but its hard-boiled, bawdy dialogue and clever plotting can still garner laughs."
from The Chicago Reader
Listen to the Feast of Fun podcast interview actors Sean Patrick Ward and Jes Bedwinek.
The Cat's Meow: A Vaudeville
September 29-30, 7:30 pm
Mary's Attic (5400 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL)
This roaring romp of raucous revelry will get you wise to music, love, and the seedy underbelly of the 1920s.
Featuring: Mollie Asrat, Joshua Becker, Erin Baumruker, Chris Chamblee, Michael Carey, Naomi Finklestein, Melody Latham, Tim Lee, DeRante Parker, Shadana Patterson, Jon Pernisek, Tamara Randolph, Charlie Rasmann, Teresa Scalise, Michael Shepherd, Hannah Tuber, and Sean Patrick Ward.
Book and Musical Direction by Jessica Gyori-Eisenberg. Directed by Margo Gray.Choreography by Judy Parker.
