Dandelion Wine
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL, Monday, February 05, 2007 -
Contact
Nick Harkin/Emily Fiffer
Carol Fox & Associates
(773)327-3830
http://www.chicagochildrenstheatre.org/pr
November 9, 2006
PERFORMANCES OF CHICAGO CHILDREN'S THEATRE PRODUCTION OF RAY BRADBURY'S DANDELION WINE BEGIN NOVEMBER 11
Revised Schedule Announced for Production at The Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre.
CHICAGO – Chicago Children's Theatre, in keeping with its mission to produce family theater of the highest quality in Chicago, begins its Inaugural Season with Ray Bradbury's theatrical adaptation of his most personal novel, Dandelion Wine, in the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., November 11 - December 31, 2006. Award-winning director, Eric Rosen (Artistic Director, About Face Theatre), stages this magical story of an Illinois childhood.
Revised performance schedule has been announced; please see calendar on page three for details.
In this homage to his Midwestern roots, Bradbury brings to life one unforgettable summer full of skinned knees, the smell of freshly cut grass, squishy new sneakers, time machines and a fortune telling Tarot witch. Bradbury's magical story is a sensory explosion that reminds us to cherish the simple pleasures of youth.
“[I keep the child within me alive] by being in love every day of my life,” Bradbury recently told Chicago Children's Theatre Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell. “I've loved writing since I was 12. Because I've gone on loving and writing every day for 70 years, I've stayed young. Dandelion Wine wouldn't work unless I still had that young thing in me. The play is about me as an older man, talking to my younger self. I find that the connectivity between generations never changes. It still exists today.”
“We want our audience, both young and old, to come see Dandelion Wine and access the child within themselves,” said Russell. “We hope that this play will encourage children and families to talk more, and to discover the time machines in their own lives, in their own households. We're thrilled to have the opportunity to produce such a classic adaptation as Dandelion Wine.”
Ray Bradbury is one of the 20th century's most prolific and imaginative writers. Born in Waukegan, Illinois in 1920, Bradbury is the author of more than 500 published works, including The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and The Illustrated Man. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters (2000) and the National Medal of Arts (2004).
The production will be directed by Eric Rosen, co-founder and Artistic Director of About Face Theatre. Recent projects include the book and lyrics of Winesburg, Ohio (Jeff Award, Best Adaptation), and the direction of Theater District (Jeff Award, Best New Play). Notable collaborations include the development of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning I Am My Own Wife with MoisÉs Kaufman and Doug Wright, 33 Variations with MoisÉs Kaufman and Mary Zimmerman's Eleven Rooms of Proust. Rosen holds a doctorate in Performance Studies from Northwestern University and was an NEA/TCG Directing Fellow.
The stellar creative team includes Chicago Children's Theatre Associate Artistic Director Geoffrey M. Curley as scenic designer; Janice Pytel as costume designer; Chris Binder as lighting designer; AndrÈ Pluess as sound designer; and Mele Ortiz as Prop Master.
Michael Viruet plays 12-year-old Douglas Spaulding alongside Bubba Weiler, who plays his brother Tom. Together, the two boys and Richard Henzel (grandfather), spend a magical summer in Green Town, Illinois, exploring the world around them. Other cast members include Lesley Bevan (Anne), Sean Cooper (Forrester), Leonard Kraft (Freeleigh), Anthony Sullivan (John), Kirk Anderson (Matt), John Steven Crowley (Leo/Sanderson), Jane Baxter Miller (Roberta/Fern) and Jacqueline Williams (Fern/Roberta). Ryan Castillo, Amber Coartney and Patricia Lomden are all members of the ensemble.
Chicago Children's Theatre has previously announced three additional productions for its inaugural season. Next up is 4-ISH, Amsterdam's acclaimed dance and skate spectacular, which will be in Chicago from January 19-28, 2007 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph St. In an exciting partnership with the Chicago Park District, Chicago Children's Theatre subsequently brings the Chicago premiere of Go, Dog. Go! to a classic circus tent pitched in Daley Bicentennial Plaza in Grant Park, April 13-May 26, 2007. Go, Dog. Go! will be directed by Andrew White and Jim Lasko will serve as production designer. Steven Dietz's adaptation of Dan Gutman's Honus and Me, directed by Sean Graney, caps the season July 20-August 26, 2007 in the Goodman's Owen Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.
Dandelion Wine is enjoyed by everyone over the age of 8. Tickets for preview performances start at $12 for children at $25 for adults. Tickets for regular run performances start at $15 for children and $30 for adults. The Target Family Matinee Series offers two-for-one tickets Sunday afternoons. Additional discounts are available to members of Chicago Children's Theatre. Tickets are now on sale at chicagochildrenstheatre.org or by calling the Steppenwolf box office at 312.335.1650.
Group tickets are also on sale. For tickets for groups of 20 or more, call GroupTix: 877.4-GRP.TIX (877.447.7849) or visit grouptix.net.
Dandelion Wine, written and adapted by Ray Bradbury and directed by Eric Rosen, will premiere at the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. The production will run from November 11 – December 31, 2006.
Membership Information
Chicago Children’s Theatre Family Memberships are available now at a special introductory rate of $45. Membership benefits include discounts on tickets and merchandise, presale announcements, preferred seating, the opportunity to purchase tickets in advance of the general public, and special access to Chicago Children’s Theatre events. Memberships are available for purchase online at chicagochildrenstheatre.org. Chicago Children’s Theatre gratefully acknowledges the support of its Membership Sponsor, the Chicago Community Trust.
About Chicago Children’s Theatre
Chicago Children’s Theatre aspires to enrich our community through diverse and significant theatrical programming that engages and inspires the child in all of us. Chicago Children’s Theatre focuses on the production of first-rate children’s theater in Chicago, with top writing, performing and directorial talent and high-quality design and production expertise. Led by Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell, Executive Director Claude Binder and Board Chair Todd Leland, the company is supported by a dynamic Board of Directors comprised of dedicated individuals from the fields of entertainment, philanthropy and business, and a committed Artistic Council of Chicago-based actors, directors, musicians and designers.
Founded in 2005 with its Inaugural Production, A Year With Frog and Toad, Chicago Children’s Theatre strives to provide affordable and accessible theater for families and area school children. To enhance the impact of any given production’s themes, Chicago Children’s Theatre offers educational materials and programs for families and educators.
For more information about Chicago Children’s Theatre visit www.chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call 773-227-0180.