ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER OLYMPIA DUKAKIS
SPECIAL GUEST AT AMERICAN BLUES THEATER
BENEFIT NOV. 16
Nov. 16 The Rebirth of Blues Benefit
Kicks off American Blues Theater's 24th Season
CHICAGO - American
Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble Company,
celebrates its 24th season with The Rebirth of Blues Benefit,
Monday, Nov. 16 featuring special guest Academy Award-winner Olympia Dukakis. As part of
the program, Dukakis reads a passage from ABT's Spring 2010 show "RIPPED: The Living Newspaper Project" and
participates in a VIP pre-event reception. The benefit takes place at the
Bridgeview Bank, 4753 N. Broadway, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Tickets are
currently on sale.
"As a long-time friend of
ABT ensemble member Carmen Roman, I've watched this company continuously
produce incredible, groundbreaking work. The 2009/10 season is no exception.
I'm honored to be a part of their benefit celebration, and fully support
this inspirational Chicago ensemble," said Dukakis.
Set in a stunning Italian
Renaissance rotunda within the Bridgeview Bank, the evening kicks-off with a
private reception at 5:30 p.m. where guests can spend an intimate hour with
Dukakis. At 6:30 p.m., the party begins with drinks, delicious food, live music
and a preview of "RIPPED." Dukakis and Artistic Director of Victory
Gardens Theater Dennis Zacek will read select pieces written by Eduardo Machado
and Rick Cleveland. An auction will offer extraordinary items, from the hottest
theater tickets in town to a walk-on Broadway role. Chicago's popular
blues band, The Skirts, perform live throughout the evening.
Tickets
are $75 ($125 VIP tickets include a 5:30 p.m. private reception with Dukakis). Parking is available adjacent to the bank and is
complimentary. For tickets, call
312.725.4ABT or visit americanbluestheater.com.
About
American Blues Theater
The award-winning
ensemble-based company will open its 24th season under its original name with a
symbolic return to its first artistic home, Victory Gardens Theater, for
"It's a Wonderful Life: Live at
the Biograph!" Marty Higginbotham returns
to direct a new adaptation of the
classic story based on the Frank Capra masterpiece and performed as a period
radio piece. It runs Nov. 27 - Dec. 27 in the new Studio
at Victory Gardens Theater at the Biograph,
2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. Press opening is Thursday, Dec. 3. Tickets
are $20 - $30 for previews (through Nov. 29); $50 for Dec. 3 press
opening; and $30 - $40 for the regular run. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 12 noon at the Victory Gardens box office, 773-871-3000.
"ABT's 2009 - 2010
season is an expression of our belief that this is the moment in time to
reflect, reinvent and reconnect with our communities," says Carmen Roman,
long-time ABT ensemble member and an executive artistic administrator.
"There are many parallels to the challenges Americans are experiencing
now and the experiences of the 1930s and 1940s, so ABT has created a season
that examines our world in the context of World War II and the Great
Depression."
Other shows in the season
include Jack Kirkland's 1933 classic "Tobacco Road" (May
- June 2010) and "RIPPED: The Living Newspaper Project"
(Fall 2010), a new project by ABT founding ensemble member Rick Cleveland, fellow
ensemble members Tania Richard and Gwendolyn Whiteside and a wealth other
writers, musicians, dancers, singers, actors and directors from Chicago and
across the country. Show dates, venue and ticket prices will be announced at a
later date.
Heather Meyers, Roman
and long-time ensemble member Gwendolyn Whiteside serve as the executive
artistic administrator triumvirate created for this re-energized organization.
"With this renaissance, American Blues Theater reconnects to its artistic
roots, both symbolically and literally," says Whiteside. "We pride
ourselves in having a multi-generational ensemble where original members work
alongside the next generation of ensemble members. This adds a rich dimension
to our work and enhances our ability to form relationships with our audiences from
the moment they step into the theater."
Founded in 1985, American Blues
Theater is known for its gritty, uncompromising style. The company has produced
more than 70 shows, many award-winners, including 40 regional/Chicago and world
premieres. Ensemble member plaudits include more than 60 collective Joseph
Jefferson nominations, 10 Jeff awards, two Writers Guild awards,
four After Dark awards and one Emmy. Ensemble members have been seen in 80
films, 120 television appearances and nine Broadway shows as well as at
theaters throughout America.
In 1993, ABT leased a space at
the corner of Byron and Lincoln and in 1997 changed its name to American
Theater Company (ATC). In parting with ATC and reclaiming its original name, the American Blues Theater reaffirms its commitment to
producing American classics and creating new ones that serve as a mirror for
audiences to better understand themselves and their world. ABT is theater that
reaches out: talking to audiences, inviting feedback in person and via all
forms of electronic communications, and doing outreach in local communities.
"I
had a wonderful time helping the fledgling ABT years ago," says Dennis
Zacek, artistic director of Victory Gardens Theater, "and I'm
thrilled to be working with them again because I believe the work of the ABT
ensemble is vital and important to Chicago's theater community and our
city as a whole."
The
current ABT ensemble includes Dawn Bach, Ed Blatchford, Matthew Brumlow, Kate
Buddeke, Casey Campbell, Rick Cleveland, Dennis Cockrum, Lauri Dahl, Tom Geraty, Cheryl Graeff, Lindsay Jones, Kevin R.
Kelly, Ed Kross, James Leaming, Heather Meyers, John Möhrlein, Jim Ortlieb, William Payne, Suzanne
Petri, Tania Richard, Carmen Roman, Editha Rosario, John Sterchi, Stef Tovar
and Gwendolyn Whiteside.
The American Blues
Theater is supported by a passionate board that includes James Leaming, John Fenton, Michael Colky,
Ken Shanoff, Wendy Whiteside and five original American Blues board members:
Joan Esposito, Lawrence Schulmann, Jan Sugar, Mary Suma and Scott Suma. Says returning founding board member Mary Suma,
"I'm elated to be back supporting ABT's special brand of
gutsy theater. This talented ensemble has always been willing to tell the
untold stories, give voice to the little guy and girl and take great artistic
risks. Bravo!"
American
Blues Theater is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit arts organization. For more
information call 773-628-3526, or email info@americanbluestheater.com or visit
americanbluestheater.com.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Tags: latest press releases
Chris Jones' blog
