WINDY CITY PLAYHOUSE EQUITY THEATER LAUNCHES WITH
DEBORAH ZOE LAUFER’S COMIC END DAYS
Henry Godinez Directs Premiere Play of Inaugural Season
March 18-April 26, 2015
Windy City Playhouse, Chicago’s newest Equity theater, announces the cast for its inaugural production. The 2015 season opens in March with Deborah Zoe Laufer’s bittersweet comedy End Days, the story of a New York City family who has fled to the suburbs in the wake of 9/11. This comic romp through suburban Armageddon is directed by Henry Godinez, co-founder and former artistic director of Teatro Vista and resident artistic associate of the Goodman Theatre. Godinez directs a stellar cast featuring Tina Gluschenko, The Qualms’ Keith Kupferer, Tosin Morohunfola of Pullman Porter Blues, Sari Sanchez and, fresh off his award-winning one-man show Methtacular, Steven Strafford in the dual roles of Jesus and Stephen Hawking. End Days runs March 18-April 26 at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park. Press opening is Sunday, March 22 at 7pm.
A 2008 finalist for The Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award, End Days is the story of the Steins – a typical American family working their way through tragedy, each in his or her own way. In the aftermath of 9/11, it’s no wonder that Sylvia Stein (Gluschenko) thinks the end of the world is coming. It’s also no wonder that teenaged Rachel (Sari Sanchez) thinks her newly Evangelical mother is a fool, and looks to fantasy physicist Stephen Hawking (Strafford) for solace. Father and husband Arthur (Kupferer) has taken an entirely different approach: never changing out of his pajamas. An Elvis-impersonating next door neighbor (Morohunfola) may just be able to bring the Steins – and their disparate views on the world – together.
End Days’ design team includes Brian Bembridge (set), Heather Gilbert (lights), Jeremy Floyd (costumes), Kevin O’Donnell (sound) and Cassy Schillo (properties).
The brand new Windy City Playhouse is designed by renowned theater architect John Morris, celebrated for his designs of Steppenwolf, Black Ensemble Theater, Lookingglass, Raven Theatre, the Beverly Arts Center theater and Old Town School of Folk Music’s performance space. Morris’ unique design includes a massive wall-to-wall lighting grid that allows for infinite setups inside the flexible Windy City Playhouse theater space. And for the comfort of audiences, the interior designer has incorporated the option of preferred movie theater style seating or swivel armchair seating. Amy Rubenstein is the theater’s Artistic Director and Evelyn Jacoby is Managing Director.
End Days
Playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer
Director Henry Godinez
Location Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park
Previews Wednesday, March 18-Saturday, March 21
Opening Night Sunday, March 22
Closing Sunday, April 26
Curtain Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30pm
Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00pm
Sundays, alternating at 3:00pm or 5:00pm (consult website)
Tickets 312-374-3196; windycityplayhouse.com/end-days/
The 2015 Season and beyond
Windy City Playhouse’s inaugural season continues with: Lydia Diamond’s Stick Fly, directed by Chuck Smith, May 27-July 5; Peter Ackerman’s Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Midnight, directed by William Brown, Aug. 12-Sept. 20; and Neil Simon’s Chapter Two, directed by Jessica Thebus, Oct. 28-Dec. 6. Four-show subscription packages – $75-$140 – are available for the entire 2015 season. Windy City Playhouse is also ramping up for its 2016 season and has secured directors Ron O.J. Parson, Joanie Schultz, Carl Menninger and two more exciting names to be announced soon.
About Windy City Playhouse
Windy City Playhouse is a new theater opening at 3014 West Irving Park Road. Premiering in March 2015, the Playhouse is a professional theater meant to entertain through exceptional contemporary, relevant and approachable art. Combining relatable material with high quality artistry, Windy City Playhouse seeks to create work accessible by audiences of all kinds. With a full service bar, light food and post-show performances, the Playhouse is not a traditional theater, rather a fun, relaxing and entertaining environment. With amenities such as optional armchair seating, the Playhouse is designed as a space for audiences to linger before and after the performance—a place to decompress with art.
For more information visit www.windycityplayhouse.com, or contact Rob Walton at rob@silvermangroupchicago.com.
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