theater on the lake book 1

1Theater on the Lake

THEATER ON THE L AKE

Dear Friends,

Summer is here at Theater on the Lake and we are happy to welcome you to our 2011 summer season!

So much has happened in Chicago since we’ve seen you last summer. From record breaking snow storms to a brand new Mayor, change is in the air! As you may have noticed, the renovation and revitalization of the brick walls surrounding our building is finished. We are also welcoming a new concessionaire into the South Pavilion space this season. But what thankfully hasn’t changed, is our commitment to bringing you the best theater this city has to offer.

Whether it’s your first time here or you’ve been subscribing for 30 years, the 2011 The-ater on the Lake companies are sure to make you laugh, cry and leave wanting more!

So please join us in welcoming this year’s talented companies. We are pleased to open with The Improvised Shakespeare Company who will make you laugh so hard you cried. Our friends from Bohemian Theatre Ensemble are back with their highly acclaimed musi-cal Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; a perfect show for the whole family! And what would the season be without a few high powered dramas such as Infamous Commonwealth Theatre’s A Doll’s House and Eclipse Theatre’s After the Fall?

We’d like to extend an enormous thank you to each of the eight organizations for shar-ing their talent and passion with you this season.

And now please… sit back, relax and enjoy Chicago’s favorite summer tradition with us.

Hallie Gordon Krista Bryski RichardArtistic Director Managing Director

Let us know how we are doing. E-mail us at [email protected].

FROM THE SUPER INTENDENT

June 15, 2011

Welcome to the 59th season of Theater on the Lake. We look forward to entertaining you with eight weeks of the best theatrical productions the city has to offer on an open-air stage in a venue unique to Chicago.

The Chicago Park District is proud to play a major role in the rich cultural heritage of our great city. We are dedicated to showcasing premier theatrical productions and providing high quality, affordable cultural programming to patrons throughout our neighborhood parks no matter where they live. We value your support of our parks and programs and encourage you to enjoy the lake breeze, the skyline view and the wonderful performances. Here’s to another successful season, and we invite you to join us for additional cultural programming in our parks.

Timothy J. MitchellGeneral Superintendent & CEOChicago Park District

2 Theater on the Lake

Fully Improvised Plays Using the Language and

Themes of William Shakespeare

Created and Directed by Blaine Swen

Featuring:Joey Bland

Ross BryantAndy Carey

Brendan DowlingGreg Hess

Josh LoganRich ProutyBlaine SwenRic Walker

Steve WaltienMartin Wilson

“STAGGERINGLY BRILLIANT…DOWNRIGHT HILARIOUS”TimeOut Chicago

“one of the funniest, most amazing things I’ve ever seen”The Charleston City Paper

“Indisputably great improv” Centerstage Chicago

“REMARKABLE” Chicago Public Radio

“these guys set a higher standard for comedy”The Huffington Post

“Quite possibly the most handsome, winning, smartest, wittiest, silly, tal-ented, ambitious, intelligent troupe in Chicago”The Chicago Examiner

“neither laughter nor amazement are in short supply”The Onion

WINNER! New York Nightlife AwardENSEMBLE OF THE YEAR! Chicago Improv Foundation


ABOUT

Based on one audience suggestion (a title for a play that has yet to be written) The Improvised Shakespeare Company creates a fully improvised Shakespearean masterpiece right before your eyes. Nothing is planned-out, rehearsed, or writ-ten. All of the dialogue is said for the first time, the characters are created as you watch, and if ever you’re wondering where the story is going...so are they! You’ve never seen the Bard like this before!

The Improvised Shakespeare Company has been performing its critically-acclaimed show every Friday night at the world famous iO Theater for over four years and continues to entertain audiences around the globe with its touring company. The ISC has been featured at the Piccolo Spoleto Fringe Festival, the Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival, and the prestigious Just For Laughs festival in Montreal. It has been named Chicago’s best improv group by both the Chicago Reader and the Chicago Examiner and has received a New York Nightlife Award for “Best Comedic Performance by a Group”. The ISC was recently honored by the Chicago Improv Foundation as its “Ensemble of the Year”.

Catch their home show every Friday night at 8pm and 10:30pm at the iO Theater (3541 N Clark St.).

For reservations call (773) 880-0199.

To find out more about The ISC check them out at www.improvisedshakespeare.com

Sign up @ www.footlights.com/newsletter

Subscribe to our e-newsletterKeep updated on

featured shows and ticket giveaways in the Milwaukee, Chicago, and Madison areas.


B IOGR APHIES

Joey Bland moved to Chicago from Virginia, where he attended the College of William and Mary. Outside The Improvised Shake-speare Company, he

has performed with ComedySportz, the iO Theater, and The Second City. For two years, Joey traveled the world with The Second City Touring Company, and in 2009, he played the title role in The Second City’s hit, original musical, Rod Blagojevich, Superstar. Joey is a two-time Jeopardy champion.

Ross Bryant is from coastal North Carolina, and is a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts and Appalachian State University. Previously, he has performed in

comedy festivals all over America with the hip-hop improv show The Beatbox, in Maine with Improv Acadia, and in the Mediterranean with Second City aboard the Norwegian Jade. In addition to The Improvised Shakespeare Company, Ross is an ensemble member of The Second City National Touring Company, the critically acclaimed Baby Wants Candy, and the iO house team Bullet Lounge. Time Out Chicago magazine recently named him one of “10 things that made us laugh this year.” Ross is beyond grateful for the love and support of his family and friends.

Andy Carey performed, toured, and taught for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, and the Boise Contemporary

Theater after receiving his B.F.A. from the University of Idaho. Since moving to Chicago he has trained with the iO Theater, The Second City Conservatory and the Annoyance. In addition to The Improvised Shakespeare Company, Andy is a member of Baby Wants Candy (Chicago), Willie Nelson Slept

Here (iO Theater) and A Crew of Patches theater company. Much love to his wife Christy and son Keagan.

Brendan Dowling is a Massachusetts native and a graduate of the College of William and Mary. In Chicago, he has toured with The

Second City’s National Touring Company and has been a member of ComedySportz. He also performed in The Second City Denver’s inaugural production of Red Scare, as well as writing and performing The Second City Denver’s How I Lost My Denvergin-ity. Brendan can also be seen creating improvised musicals with Baby Wants Candy. He would like to thank his family for being so great.

Greg Hess originally hails from Virginia and is a graduate of the College of William & Mary. He moved to Chicago to study acting and improvisation at iO

Chicago and The Second City, where he was a member of The Second City’s national touring company. Currently, he is an ensemble member of Baby Wants Candy, and performs weekly with his critically acclaimed four-man show, Cook County Social Club. He is a recent graduate of the School at Steppenwolf.

Josh Logan comes to the ISC from Cleveland, OH. He can also be seen performing with the iO Harold team, Owl Farm, as well as the four man group

Michael Pizza, who Chicago Magazine recently named “Best New Improvised Show”. Josh is also a former writer for American Greetings’ “Alternative Humor” department. He would like to thank his family and friends for all of their encouragement.


B IOGR APHIES (c o n t.)

Rich Prouty came to Chicago from Arizona to study improvisation at The Second City, Annoyance Theatre, and iO. At iO he performed with

Valhalla, The Lindbergh Babies and currently performs with Bullet Lounge. He is an ensemble member of Com-edySportz Chicago and hosts shows and events all over Chicago and the U.S. including TimeOut Chicago’s Funniest Person in Chicago contest, the 2008 Chicago Improv Festival, as Mr. Winston in the hit lounge-act parody The Winston Revue, and is host of the popular yet cult-y live game show The Improv Match Game.

Blaine Swen is the creator and director of The Improvised Shakesepare Company. He comes from California where he performed with ComedySportz,

Ultimate Improv, and iO West. Cur-rently, he can be seen performing at iO Chicago with The DelTones and The Armando Diaz Experience. His other iO credits include the house team Bullet Lounge and the one-man improvised musical, BASH!. Blaine also enjoys touring with the iO Road Show and The Second City’s BizCo. He has performed in Chicago with The Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Pegasus Players Theatre, and The Second City Education Company. The Chicago Reader recently named him 2010’s “Best Improviser in Chicago”.

Ric Walker is an actor, director, and teacher who has toured extensively for Wavelength, an education based comedy troupe and for The Second City

in BizCo and BoatCo, where he toured

the Mediterranean and European ports. In addition to The Improvised Shake-speare Company, Ric can be seen performing locally with the Serendipity Theatre Collective in Second Story.

Steve Waltien hails from Shelburne, VT. He is a proud graduate of Middle-bury College and has been living and performing in Chicago since 2001.

In addition to The Improvised Shake-speare Company, you may have seen Steve improvising with the iO Theatre house ensemble Bullet Lounge, The Armando Diaz Experience, Whirled News Tonight, or the Second City National Touring Company. He also writes and performs sketch comedy with Jordan Klepper. Their two person show Jordan and Steve are Steve and Jordan, Respectively was named ‘the best sketch show of 2008’ by the Chicago Tribune and ‘one of 2008’s funniest moments’ by TimeOut Chicago. The pair have also been correspon-dents on the television show Friday Night Tailgate on the Big Ten Network.

Martin Wilson grew up in Washington DC, and is a proud alumnus of the College of William & Mary in Virginia, where he served as co-director of

Improvisational Theatre (aka ‘I.T.’) for three years. Outside of The Improvised Shakespeare Company, he is an ensemble and faculty member at ComedySportz. Elsewhere, he writes and acts with the sketch ensemble, The Backrow, and is a member of the exclusive Billionaire Boys Club, having performed in their productions Toast and Concept Album: Shuffle at iO, as well as The People in Your Neighborhood at ComedySportz. Last but certainly not least, he loves and thanks his beautiful wife Marianna.


A Doll’s House

By Henrik Ibsen

Adapted by Christopher HamptonProduced with permission by Samuel French, In

Directed byChris Maher*

Production Managed bySarah Luse*

Stage Managed byCade Wenthe*

Scenic Design and Props byKathy Arfken

Costume Design byRachel M. Sypniewski*

Technical Direction byEli King

Sound Design byChas Vrba

Lighting Design byMac Vaughey

*Denotes ICT Company Member

There will be one ten-minute intermission.

Please remember to turn off your cell phones, pagersand any other electronic devices that chime.


Time: December, 1962Place: New York, New York

“The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women. It was a strange stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a yearning [that is, a longing] that women suffered in the middle of the 20th century in the United States. Each suburban wife struggled with it alone. As she made the beds, shopped for groceries … she was afraid to ask even of herself the silent question — ‘Is this all?”

Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique, published February 25, 1963

CAST

Nora Helmer ....................................................................................................................Kate CaresTorvald Helmer ............................................................................................................Andy HagerKristine Linde .........................................................................................Genevieve Thompson*Nils Krogstad ..............................................................................................................Neal StarbirdDoctor Rank ...............................................................................................................Mark ShallowAnne-Marie .................................................................................................Susan Veronika AdlerHelene ...............................................................................................................................Amy Rapp

*Denotes ICT Company Member

Special Thanks to The Chicago Park District and Theater on the Lake

Production Sponsored in Part byGaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation


B IOGR APHIES

Susan Veronika Adler (Anne-Marie) is thrilled to be working with Infamous Commonwealth again, in yet another iconic play, having played Rebecca Nurse

in their recent production of The Crucible…and what fun to be at Theater on the Lake! Susan was most recently seen as the lead in the new musical, From Generation to Generation (Genesis Theatricals). Some favorite Chicago credits include: Ma, in Torch Song Trilogy, Jeff Award nomination for Best Support-ing Actress (Hubris Productions), Pancake Breakfast (The New Colony) , The Invasion of Skokie (u/s Chicago Dramatists), The Diary of Anne Frank (Moraine Valley Performing Arts Center), Gossamer (Adventure Stage Chicago) Pangs of The Messiah (Silk Road Theatre Project), My Favorite Year (Bailiwick Repertory), The House of Bernarda Alba (Circle Theatre), The Sound of Music (Light Opera Works), The Devil’s Arithmetic (Apple Tree Theatre), Over The River and Through the Woods (Mercury Theatre and Attic Playhouse), to name a few. Thanks to Chris for his trust and the entire “Doll” team for this look back to a world in which women had to battle to be “seen and heard”. Thankfully, much has changed, though there is still work to be done…

Kate Cares (Nora Helmer) is incredibly excited to be working for the first time with Infamous Common-wealth. Most recently, she played the part of Girl in Backstage

Theatre Company’s production of The Play about the Baby. Kate has also had the pleasure to work with many other theatre companies in and around Chicago including Remy Bumppo Theatre, Next Theatre, Circle Theatre, Greasy Joan and Co, and Open Eye Productions. She holds a BFA in Acting from The Theatre School at Depaul and has studied with Anne Bogart and the SITI Company. Recently, Kate had the honor of being named one of the hot new faces of Chicago theatre 2010 by

Chris Jones in the Chicago Tribune. She would like to thank Chris Maher and all of the Infamous Commonwealthers as well as her wonderful husband, Nathan.

Andy Hager (Torvald Helmer) is glad to be making his Infamous Commonwealth debut. Having appeared on Chicago stages for more than 10 years, he has

performed with City Lit, Goodman, ATC, Next, Famous Door, Piven, Thunder & Lightning (After Dark for Performance in Red Light Winter), the side project, Trap Door, and many others. Andy is also a proud company member of TUTA Theatre.

Amy Rapp (Helene) This is Amy’s debut with Infamous Commonwealth Theatre, and she is thrilled to be working with this talented group. Favorites: three

years in The American Girl Show (Pleasant Company), A Christmas Carol (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), the premiere of Piano Bar the Musical, and recent understudy gigs at Victory Gardens and Profiles Theatre. This fall, she will join the PR Casting team as an intern. BFA Theatre Management ‘11, DePaul University. Thanks always to Peggy, Gray Talent Group and her parents.

Mark Shallow (Doctor Rank) is very happy to be a part of this awesome show once again. In order to kill some time since the first production of A Doll’s House, Mark

performed in The Original Grease (American Theatre Company). His previous appearances have been in On Golden Pond and The Miracle Worker (Lincoln Square Theatre), The Bay at Nice (Vitalist Theatre), Equus (Red Twist Theatre), The Importance of Being Earnest (North Lakeside Players), The Runner Stumbles (Halcyon Theatre), The Sum of Her Parts (The Side Project), Sylvia (Tin


B IOGR APHIES (c o n t.)

Fish Theatre), Execution of Justice (Hyperworld Theatre) and many others.

Neal Starbird (Nils Krogstad) is happy to be working with Infamous Common-wealth for the first time, having previously worked with Director Chris

Maher in Open Eye Productions’ The Solid Gold Cadillac. Chicago credits over the last year include playing Gerald Friend in Verse Chorus Verse (Tympanic), Jim McGreevey in The Gay American (The Ruckus), and Ellis and Emerson in The Curse of the Starving Class (New Leaf ). Neal also performed at NYC Fringe Festival 2010 as Harper in Ruby Wilder (Not Waiting). Thanks to the cast & production team, and love to Julie.

Genevieve Thompson (Kristine Linde) has been a company member with Infamous Com-monwealth Theatre since its inception in 2001 - which means

that pretty much all of her artistic credits are with this company. Her focus over the years has mainly been as a director (The Grapes of Wrath, The Kentucky Cycle, and Cloud 9 to name a few of her favor-ites.) She has appeared onstage with the company in The Savage in Limbo, Big Dreams, and Keely and Du. She recently started a blog at www.genwithag.com and is having a ball with it. She wishes to thank Craig, Sam and Henry for mak-ing her life so extraordinary.

PRODUCTION STAFF B IOGR APHIES

Kathy Arfken (Scenic and Props Design) designed scenery for ICT’s Escape from Happiness and Odin’s Horse. Other recent design work includes scenery for Angel Street, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), and Moon Over Buffalo, all at Indiana University North-west where she is an Assistant Professor of Theatre. Before moving back to the Midwest in 2004, Kathy was a freelance designer in Houston, Texas and assistant designer in New York City. She received her B.A. from Knox College and her M.F.A from Brandeis University.

Eli King (Technical Director) Eli went to Knox College where he studied theater. He now lives in Chicago and works full time as a carpenter for several theaters in the greater Chicago area. He recently finished building Street Scene for The Opera Department of Northwestern University, Watership Down for Lifeline and The King and I for Porchlight. He is excited to be working with Infamous Commonwealth for the first time.

Sarah Luse (Production Manager) is always excited to work with Infamous Commonwealth Theatre (ICT). She has been a company member of ICT for

the last three years. Other production management credits include The Grapes of Wrath, The Crucible, Escape From Hap-piness (ICT), Wintereisse (Chicago Opera Vanguard) and Ghost Box (InFusion The-atre). Along with production managing, Sarah is also a stage manager around the city. Some of her favorite Chicago credits include Lady From Dubuque, and Keely and Du (ICT), Coronado (Steep), The Adventures of Captain Marbles and His Acting Squad (Provision), and W;t, The Ruby Sunrise, and The Lonesome West (The Gift).

Chris Maher (Director/Artistic Direc-tor) has been the Artistic Director for Infamous Commonwealth Theatre since 2009. Chris directed the Jeff Award winning production of The Crucible last spring. He directed the Midwest premiere of Robert Schenkkan’s Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates (Jeff Rec-ommended) for ICT in 2008. Other directing credits include Christopher Durang’s Titanic, You Can’t Take It With You, Assassins, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Jeff Recommended), Steven Dietz’s Trust (Jeff Recommended), and The Solid Gold Cadillac, all with Open Eye Productions. Chris would like to thank


PRODUCTION STAFF B IOGR APHIES (c o n t.)

the cast and crew for all of their talent and dedication. He would also like to thank everyone at Theater on the Lake for the invitation. As always, Chris thanks Katy…for everything.

Mac Vaughey (Lighting Designer) is a Chicago-based lighting designer. Recent credits include work with Teatro Luna, 16th Street Theatre, Silk Road Theatre Project, Premiere Theatre and Performance, Emerald City Theatre and Walkabout Theatre Company. Mac is also the master electrician for several theatre companies, including American Theater Company and the Next Theatre.

Chas Vrba (Sound Designer) is happy to be working with Infamous Com-monwealth for the first time. Previous design credits include work with Will Act For Food, Open Eye Productions, and the Factory Theater among others. He thanks you, dear audience member, for coming to the show.

Cade Wenthe (Stage Manager) previ-ously Stage Managed Escape From

Happiness, The Crucible, The Grapes of Wrath, and Lewis & Clark Reach the Euphrates for ICT. He is an ICT en-semble member who also serves as the company’s grant writer.

Rachel M. Sypniewski (Costume De-signer/Managing Director) is thankful to be part of this talented production team and to be given the opportunity to work with such an amazing cast. Ms. Sypniewski has designed well over 70 shows in the Chicago storefront theatre community, some of her favorites include, Frankenstein in Love with Will Act For Food, Hey! Dancin’! with the Factory, The Starving Class with New Leaf, Resort 76 with Infamous Commonwealth, and A Passage to India with Vitalist. She is a company member of Infamous Com-monwealth, an artistic associate with New Leaf Theatre, and a stage manager for Quade Productions. Her recent and upcoming designs include, Pippin with St. Patrick’s High School, Easy Six with the Factory, Life is a Dream with Vitalist, and Soul Samurai with Infusion. Much love to Robb and the cats.

BECOME AN ICT SUPPORTER

Infamous Commonwealth Theatre is able to bring enlightening, engaging entertainment like A DOLL’S HOUSE to life thanks to generous ICT Supporters such as you!

Join us on our mission to produce excellent, thought-provoking theatre in Chicago when you become an ICT supporter by:

Subscribing! – Receive excellent discounts on tickets for our entire season.Spreading the word! – Tell your friends about tonight’s show.Donating! - Make a tax-deductible donation in the lobby or on our website.Wearing ICT gear! – Purchase ICT products on our website.Staying tuned! – Check our website regularly for information on ICT events.Searching the web! - Raise money for ICT by searching the internet or shopping online with

www.GoodSearch.com. Simply enter Infamous Commonwealth Theatre in the char-ity bar and then search away.

For more information on getting involved with ICTemail or visit us at:

[email protected]

ICT’s MissionInfamous Commonwealth Theatre has a unique mission

- to illuminate diverse perspectives around one centralized topic per year.The best way to fully appreciate the scope of our topic

is to see all the productions in our season.


At Play Productions in association with Chicago Dramatists presents:

Dental Society Midwinter Meeting by Laura Jacqmin

directed by Megan Shuchman

Featuring:Delia Baseman

Justin James FarleyJulie Ganey*

Andy Lutz Rakisha Pollard

Paige Smith

*Member of the Actors’ Equity Association

Scenic Design Michael MrochStage Manager Michael Dutton

Costume Design Myron Elliott, Jr. Original Music and Sound Design Christopher Kriz

Lighting Design Anna BravovaTechnical Director Jarrod BainterProduction Manager Becky Mock

Assistant Production Manager Kelly CrookCommunications Manager Nora Taylor

Dental Society Midwinter Meeting runs approximately 80 minutes with no intermission.

A HISTORY

Partially supported by a 2010 Individual Artist Project Grant from the Illinois Arts Council, Laura Jacqmin’s Dental Society Midwinter Meeting received its world premiere by At Play Productions in association with Chicago Dramatists (Artistic Director, Russ Tutterow), at Chicago Dramatists’ theater, July 19-August 7, 2010. After a critically acclaimed, sold-out run, the play was subsequently remounted by 16th Street Theatre in Berwyn (Artistic Director, Ann Filmer), February 24-March 26, 2011. This Theater on the Lake run (again produced by At Play in association with Chicago Dramatists) will be the third remount of the play in a year.

A BR IEF NOTE FROM THE PL AY WRIGHT

Is this play really about dentists?

No. And yes. And somewhere in between. Though the play is set at a dental conference, it is interested in tackling larger questions. When a leader is shown to be fallible, what is the responsibility of the public that leader serves? When large-scale societal problems loom, who is responsible for fixing what’s broken: those in charge, or the individuals represented by those people? Finally, what does “being a part of the solution” actually mean?

This play is dedicated to Dr. Hochman, Dr. Welsh, and Dr. Lam. Yes, I’ve been flossing.


WHAT THE CR ITICS HAD TO SAY:

TimeOut Chicago Honorable Mention: Best Theater of 2010

NewCity Stage: Top 5 New Plays of 2010

“Jacqmin’s passionate morality play in the guise of a super-smart comedy of man-ners is bound to hit a nerve with professionals and patients alike. And you don’t have to be an endodontist or dental hygienist . . . to appreciate its keen observa-tions, bittersweet charms, and the work of its crackerjack cast of six under Megan Shuchman’s bristling direction. . . HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.” - Chicago Sun-Times

“A very funny and smart portrait of moral earnestness and, yes, vulnerability. . . . Creates a fabulous comic world. . . . Amusing, slick and creative.” – Chicago Tribune “A deceptively light-on-its-feet satire.” -NewCity Stage

“Fresh, insightful, very funny and sharply produced.” - Centerstage

“Laura Jacqmin’s thoroughly clever and exciting new play set at a dentists’ con-vention finds remarkable moments of real humanity. . . . The ability of this skilled young playwright and remarkable actors to find moments of humanity in a seem-ingly sterile environment will give you plenty to chew on. FOUR STARS.” - TimeOut Chicago

“An inventive, offbeat study of human nature.” - Chicago Reader

“Succeeds on every level.” - TalkinBroadway.com

MEET THE ARTISTS

Delia Baseman (Female Dentist 1): Delia is so very excited to be part of this production! She was most recently seen in The Three Faces of Dr. Crippen with The

Strange Tree Group as part of Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Garage Rep 2011. Delia has worked with numerous companies in Chicago including Collaboraction, Right Brain Project, Remy Bumppo, and Lookingglass Theater. Delia is a proud graduate of Circle in the Square Theatre School in NYC and the Associate Artistic Director of The Strange Tree Group.

Justin James Farley (Male Dentist 3): Justin James is ecstatic to be able to reprise his role in Dental Society Midwinter Meeting. He was last seen in Festen at Steep Theatre, Dead

Pile with XIII Pocket and Scorched at Silk Road Theatre Project. Justin James wishes to thank Megan and Laura, all his family and friends, his fiancée Ashley and everyone involved with this production. Please, floss.

Julie Ganey (Female Dentist 2): Julie is a Chicago based performer, writer and teacher. As an actor, she has worked with Victory Gardens, Northlight Theatre,

Goodman Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, Noble Fool, Drury Lane, and most recently appeared in the 16th Street Theatre production of Dental Society Midwinter Meeting. Julie regularly performs her original work as part of 2nd Story, and her solo show The Half-Life of Magic was part of Fillet of Solo 2010. Through Wave-length, an award winning comedy ensemble that performs for educators, Julie has created and led workshops for


MEET THE ARTISTS (c o n t.)

teachers and executives nationwide, and her bullying prevention program, Stand Up on the Schoolyard, has been presented within the Chicago Public School system and across the country.

Andy Lutz (Male Dentist 1): Andy is making his Theater on the Lake debut in Dental Society Midwinter Meeting. Previous credits include Dead Pile (XIII

Pocket), A Man For All Seasons (Round-about Theatre Company), The History Boys (Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre), This Beautiful City (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Extremely (Actors Theatre of Louisville), The Man Who Came to Dinner (Peterborough Players), and The Long Christmas Dinner (Peterborough Players). Andy graduated from Ohio University.

Rakisha Pollard (Female Dentist 2): was an original cast member of the world premiere of Dental Society Midwinter Meeting at Chicago Dramatists last

summer and was part of the show’s first remount at 16th Street Theater this past winter. She is thrilled to be reprising her role at Theater on the Lake. Rakisha attended the School at Steppenwolf in 2009 and has also appeared in Griffin Theatre’s production of Stage Door (directed by Robin Witt), WNEP Theatre’s Edward Hopper Project, and Sinnerman Ensemble’s production of Chekov’s Ivanov (directed by Sheldon Patinkin). Before moving to Chicago in 2008, Rakisha practiced insurance defense law in Lexington, KY.

Paige Smith (Male Dentist 2): Dental Society Midwinter Meeting is the second collaboration between Paige, Laura, and Megan after he appeared in Brother at

ATC’s 10x10 Festival. He was most recently seen in XIII Pocket’s CASH, as well as Adore, part of Steppenwolf Theater Company’s First Annual Garage Rep. He has a BA in Theater Arts from Kansas State University and has worked locally with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Mid-Tangent Productions, City-Lit Theater, Collaborac-tion’s Sketchbook One, Around the Coyote, and has also had the privilege of acting and writing for five plus years in Chicago’s own Cool Table, an award winning sketch comedy pack that has performed in Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, New York, at Lollapalooza and beyond.

Laura Jacqmin (Playwright): Laura was the winner of the 2008 Wasserstein Prize, a $25,000 award to recognize an emerg-ing female playwright. Her plays include Look, We Are Breathing (Sundance Theatre Lab), Dental Society Midwinter Meeting and Ski Dubai (Steppenwolf Theatre Com-pany’s 5th Annual First Look Repertory of New Work). Her work has been produced and developed by the Atlantic Theater, Vineyard Theatre, Ars Nova, Joe’s Pub, Second Stage, Victory Gardens Theater, Chicago Dramatists, The 24 Hour Plays Off-Broadway and more. Jacqmin is a member of the 2010-2011 Playwrights’ Unit at the Goodman Theatre, and will spend summer 2011 in residence at the Royal Court Theatre. She is currently work-ing on commissions for the Goodman Theatre, South Coast Rep, Arden Theater Company, InterAct Theatre and Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science & Technology Project. BA Yale University; MFA Ohio University.

Megan Shuchman (Director): Megan serves as Education Manager at Step-penwolf Theatre Company. As a freelance director, teaching artist and dramaturg, she has worked for such companies as Northlight Theatre, XIII Pocket, TimeLine Theatre, American Theatre Company, 2nd Story, the side project, and Infamous Commonwealth Theatre and acted as Curator of the New Play Reading Series at Around the Coyote Art Gallery from 2006-2009. Her most recent projects include Dead Pile by Laura Jacqmin (winter 2011),


MEET THE ARTISTS (c o n t.)

and Una Mae’s Freak Boutique by Brooke Berman, part of Theatre Seven’s Chicago Landmark Project (through July 10th). Megan received a BA in Theatre from the University of Michigan. www.megans-huchman.com

Anna Bravova (Lighting Design): Anna is a first-year MFA student in Northwestern University’s lighting design program. After designing the original production last year, she is thrilled to return for the Theater on the Lake run!

Michael Dutton (Stage Manager): Michael is excited to be bringing Dental Society Midwinter Meeting to Theater on the Lake. Other Chicago stage manage-ment credits include: Where We’re Born, The Old Masters, and A Separate Peace (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Dental Society Midwinter Meeting (At Play/Chi-cago Dramatists); Dead Pile (XIII Pocket); The Good Negro (Goodman Theatre); All My Sons and When She Danced (Timeline Theatre); and Sanctified and St. James Infirmary (Congo Square Theatre). Michael would like to thank his family and friends for their endless love and support.

Myron Elliott (Costume Design) is pleased to be dressing the dentists again after designing both the original produc-tion and 16th Street Theater remount. Other Chicago credits include: To Kill a Mockingbird, First Look Repertory 2009, and the upcoming The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Eclipsed (Northlight Theatre); I Do, I Do and Phantom (Theatre at the Center); Speech & Debate (American Theatre Company); and Reasons to be Pretty, Kid Sister, Some Girls, This is How it Goes, and In a Dark, Dark House (Profiles Theatre). Other design collaborations include productions with Stages St. Louis, Ohio Light Opera, Cincin-nati Playhouse, Indiana Repertory Theatre, and Berkshire Theatre Festival.

Christopher Kriz (Original Music and Sound Design): Chris is pleased to be working on Dental Society Midwinter

Meeting again! Most recent Chicago credits include Eclipsed (Northlight), Festen (Steep Theatre), Conquest Of The South Pole (Strawdog Theatre), Precious Little (Rivendell Theatre), This (Theatre Wit), Madagascar (Next Theatre), Dead Pile (XIII Pocket), Bug (Redtwist) and Big Love (Chicago Fusion). Recent credits include the national tour of America Amerique (Jena Company), Open Systems (Good-man Theatre/WBEZ), Man From Nebraska (Redtwist) Aiming For Sainthood (Victory Gardens), Thieves Like Us (House Theatre), The Invasion Of Skokie (Chicago Drama-tists), Baal (TUTA), Master Harold and The Boys and All My Sons (TimeLine). Upcom-ing productions include Romeo and Juliet (First Folio), Cloud 9 (The Gift Theatre) and The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter (Steppenwolf Theatre).To hear more of his work, please visit www.christopherkriz.com

Becky Mock (Production Manager): Becky is thrilled to be working on Dental Society Midwinter Meeting again! She is an en-semble member at Red Tape Theatre and has served as their Production Manager since fall of 2009. Becky has also worked at Steppenwolf Theatre Company as the Production Management Apprentice (2009-2010) and is currently assisting on their Garage Rep Series for the 2010-2011 season.

Michael Mroch (Scenic Design): Michael is a graduate of Columbia College with a BFA in Directing and Scenic Design and Minor in Art History. Recent design credits include: Church / Pullman, WA. (Red Tape), Dead Pile (XIII Pocket), Dental Society Mid-winter Meeting (At Play/Chicago Drama-tists and 16th Street Theater), Sweet Bird of Youth, The Tallest Man (Artistic Home), Bernarda Alba / Floyd Collins (Columbia College). Directing credits: What Didn’t Happen, Miracle Worker, Rope (Columbia). Michael has also been Paint Charge with Strawdog for Conquest of the South Pole, Red Noses (remount/TOTL), Good Soul of Szechuan, and Uncle Vanya.


SPEC IAL THANKS

Rhonda Marie Bynum, Dana Black, Michael Mercier, Fawzia Mirza, Collin Geraghty, Todd Garcia, Nora Taylor, Michael Litchfield, Molly Kobelt, Ann Filmer, David Schmitz, Russ Tutterow, Brian Loevner, Hallie Gordon, Maude Graham-Nieds, Karyn Labbe, Emily Erin Duffin, and Actors’ Equity Association.

AT PL AY PRODUCTIONS

At Play Productions is a New York based theater company committed to sup-porting a multidisciplinary ensemble – a peer invited group of actors, directors, writers and producers – and to the development of new plays.

CHICAGO DR A M ATISTS

Chicago Dramatists is a professional theatre, dedicated to the development and advancement of playwrights and new plays. The primary goal is to discover, develop and promote the new plays and playwrights that will contribute to the established theatre repertoire, and enrich the lives of future theatre audiences. The organization provides both beginning and established playwrights opportu-nities to expand their professional affiliations, showcase their work to the theatre marketplace, and collaborate with actors, directors, dramaturgs and audiences during the creative process. From first draft to final product, writers are exposed to audience responses to their work, critiques and support from peer playwrights, and administrative and artistic leadership from Chicago Dramatists’ staff.

THEATER ON THE L AKE 2011 STAFF

Managing Director .........................................................................................................Krista Bryski RichardArtistic Director ........................................................................................................................... Hallie GordonProduction Manager ................................................................................................. Maude Graham-NiedsAssistant Production Manager ............................................................................................Cortney HurleyBox Office Manager .......................................................................................................................... Sara HaleyHouse Manager ..................................................................................................................................Kitty BakerMaster Electrician ...............................................................................................................Julie Wilms KeoghTechnical Director .........................................................................................................................Chris HowellSound ..........................................................................................................................Red Line Event ServicesSound Board Operator ................................................................................................................Brian ShaderLighting Board Operator....................................................................................................Karen ThompsonLighting Crew ................................................................... Elizabeth Boros-Kazai, Andrew Glasenhardt, Jacob Snodgrass, Megan SnowderRunning Crew .......................................................................................................................... Trumaine HardyPress/PR: Chicago Park District .............................................................................................. Marta Juaniza

theater on the lake book 1

Documents

season of theater

summer season

best theater

lake companies

successful season

great city

lake breeze

best theatrical productions