The Artistic Home will stage Jen Silverman’s WITCH – in which a charming devil arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes. Elizabeth should be his easiest target, having been labeled a “witch” and cast out by the town, but her soul is not so readily bought. As the devil returns to convince her – and then returns again – unexpected passions flare, alliances are formed, and the village is forever changed. An inventive retelling of a Jacobean drama, this sharp, subversive fable debates how much our souls are worth when hope is hard to come by. The production will be performed at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The press opening is Thursday, November 2 at 8:00 pm, following previews on Saturday, October 28 at 8:00 pm, Sunday, October 29 at 3 pm, and Wednesday, November 1 at 8:00 pm. The production will then play Thursdays (except Thanksgiving Day) through Sundays through December 3, 2023.
WITCH has been produced and enthusiastically received at such leading regional American theaters as The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, the Huntington Theater in Boston, and Chicago’s Writers Theatre. The LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS said, “WITCH is utterly spellbinding... superb... intelligent.” Writing for the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, Kris Vire said “Jen Silverman’s exceedingly smart new comedy… casts an intoxicating spell.”
The Artistic Homes’ WITCH will be directed by ensemble member Devon Carson, recently seen on stage as Elizabeth Proctor in Invictus Theatre Company’s THE CRUCIBLE. Her directing credits with The Artistic Home include MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, and two entries in the CUT TO THE CHASE festival of one-act plays. Carson’s cast of six includes ensemble members Julian Hester, Kristin Collins, Ernest Henton, Ariana Lopez, and Todd Wojcik; and Declan Collins, a visiting artist and Artistic Home favorite. Hester, director of The Artistic Home’s recent productions of MALAPERT LOVE and THE PAVILION, and last seen on stage in the Windy City Playhouse hit THE RECOMMENDATION, will play Scratch, the Devil. Kristin Collins, most recently seen with The Artistic Home in DYING FOR IT. has been cast as Elizabeth. Appearing as the town’s leader, Sir Arthur, will be Todd Wojcik – a Jeff Award winner for his role in THE PAVILION. Sir Arthur’s son Cuddy, who is more interested in dancing than following in his father’s footsteps, will be played by Declan Collins, last seen with The Artistic Home in MALAPERT LOVE. Frank, a low-born man whose ambition leads Sir Arthur to favor him over his own son, will be played by Ernest Henton (of TAH’s MALAPERT LOVE). Frank’s secret wife Winnifred, a servant to Sir Arthur, is played by Ariana Lopez (of TAH’s EURYDICE). Understudies are Travis Neece, Annie Hogan, Jared Goudsmit, Dan Evashevski, and Bryant Hindsman. The production team includes Kevin Hagan (Scenic Design), Ellie Fay (Lighting Design), Rachel Lambert (Costume Design), Petter Wahlbäck (Sound Design), Randy Rozler (Properties Design), David Blixt (Fight/Intimacy Choreography), Brittany Anderson (Dance Choreography), Erin Smith (Stage Manager), and Karla Corona (Assistant Director).
Upper row L-R: Declan Collins, Kristin Collins, Ernest Henton
Lower row L-R: Julian Hester, Ariana Lopez, Todd Wojcik.
Director Carson says of the play, "There’s a very powerful strain of cynicism that has slowly infected us since this play first premiered. 2023 feels like the putrid, liquescent corpse of 2018. And if we’ve learned anything in the last five years, it’s that soulless individuals do pretty well for themselves. I love that this play isn’t a cure for our collective infection, it’s a game of chicken. I’m desperately curious to see how folks are changed by the playwright's vivid presentation of the choices that lay in front of us."
Ticket prices for WITCH are $15 for previews, $35 for regular run, and $20 for students and seniors. Tickets will be on sale soon through The Den Theatre Box Office www.thedentheatre.com.
The Artistic Home performs at The Den Theatre, and also maintains an acting studio and rehearsal space at 3054 N. Milwaukee Avenue in the Avondale/Logan neighborhood.
WITCH
By Jen Silverman
Directed by Devon Carson
October 28 – December 3, 2023
Previews Saturday, October 28 at 8:00 pm, Sunday, October 29 at 3 pm, and Wednesday, November 1 at 8:00 pm.
Press Opening Thursday, November 2, at 8:00 pm
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 3:00 pm. No performance Thanksgiving Day, November 23
The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago
Ticket prices Regular performances: $35 general, $20 students/seniors; previews $15 all seats
Tickets available soon at www.thedentheatre.com, or by phone at 773-697-3830
More information at www.theartistichome.org
A charming devil arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes. Elizabeth should be his easiest target, having been labeled a “witch” and cast out by the town, but her soul is not so readily bought. As the devil returns to convince her – and then returns again – unexpected passions flare, alliances are formed, and the village is forever changed. An inventive retelling of a Jacobean drama, this sharp, subversive fable debates how much our souls are worth when hope is hard to come by.
BIOS
Jen Silverman (Playwright) is a New York-based playwright, novelist and screenwriter. Jen’s plays include SPAIN; COLLECTIVE RAGE: A PLAY IN 5 BETTIES; THE MOORS; THE ROOMMATE; WITCH and HIGHWAY PATROL. They have been produced off-Broadway, regionally across the US, and internationally in Australia, the UK, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Spain. Jen is the author of the debut novel WE PLAY OURSELVES and the story collection THE ISLAND DWELLERS; Jen’s next novel is forthcoming from Random House in 2024. Jen wrote THE MIRANDA OBSESSION as a narrative podcast for Audible, starring Rachel Brosnahan. Jen is a three-time MacDowell Fellow and a member of New Dramatists. Honors include the Yale Drama Series Award and fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim. Jen also writes for TV and film.
Devon Carson (Director) has been a member of the Artistic Home Ensemble since 2016. She most recently served as Assistant Director for THE PAVILION. She also directed MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, A RADIO PLAY (2018), and two one-act plays: "Pandaroo," and "The Writer and His Ghost," at the CUT TO THE CHASE FESTIVAL. Chicago assistant directing credits include BY DEFINITION, at BYOT, HAMLET & OPHELIA (web episodic), and MENACE (web episodic). Recent acting credits include Elizabeth Proctor in THE CRUCIBLE at Invictus Theatre, Martina in REFUGE, at Theo Ubique (NE Jeff Winner - Best Ensemble), and THE WOMAN in The Artistic Home's Summer on the Patio production of THE RIVER. Additional Artistic Home acting credits include Magda in ROCK ‘N’ ROLL, and Arsinoe in THE SCHOOL FOR LIES. As a professional recording artist, she was recently featured in the show WORK IN PROGRESS, S2 E3. Her punk band, Airstream Futures released their final record, ARMER L'HARMONIE in 2022. She'd like to thank her husband, Tom, for making her life better every single day.
ABOUT THE ARTISTIC HOME
The Artistic Home is noted for their innovative and intimate presentations of rarely produced classics as well for developing new works. The company has been frequently honored in the Jeff Awards. In 2022, they received nine nominations and two wins – one for New Work (MALAPERT LOVE) and one for Supporting Actor in a play (Todd Wojcik – in THE PAVILION). The company’s 2022 nominations also included two for Best Play production (MALAPERT LOVE and THE PAVILION). The Artistic Home was one of the big winners in the 2019 Jeff Awards, with four awards including Production of a Play, Director of a Play, Principal Performer in a Play, and Sound Design, all for REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT. Brookelyn Hebert won a Jeff as Principal Performer in a Play for the company’s 2020 production of ADA AND THE ENGINE. The company was nominated for Jeff Awards in 2019 for ROCK ‘N’ ROLL, and in 2018 for HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE.
Other memorable productions of recent years include 2023’s DYING FOR IT, 2017’s WEDDING BAND, BY THE BOG OF CATS and THE SCHOOL FOR LIES; their Jeff-nominated productions of THE SEAGULL, WATCH ON THE RHINE, MACBETH and THE LATE HENRY MOSS; and their 2013 Jeff Award-winner THE GODDESS. Other Artistic Home productions include the Jeff-Award-winning production of JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK, which also received three After Dark Awards, the Jeff-Nominated SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, THE TALLEST MAN, LANDSCAPE OF THE BODY, NATURAL AFFECTION, FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS, AFTER THE FALL and PEER GYNT (which also received an After Dark award for Direction).
For more than 25 years, The Artistic Home has consistently produced compelling theatre in Chicago. First formed in 1998 with the belief that the actor is at the heart of great theater, the company strives to give birth to unforgettable moments; to touch audiences who are increasingly distanced from human contact; to readdress the classics and explore new works with passion.