A Red Orchid Theatre announced an extension of the World Premiere of Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai’s THE CAVE, directed by Alex Mallory. Originally slated to close March 16th, the production extends through March 23rd on the theatre’s stage at 1531 N. Wells St. Tickets ($35 - $55) are on sale now, with tickets for the newly-added performances going on sale Tuesday, February 25 at 12 p.m., at www.aredorchidtheatre.org.
Amidst breaking news of the first Gulf War, tragedy forces a Palestinian-American family to move from Las Vegas to Columbus, Ohio, upending their lives. Jamil struggles to hold himself and his family together as the world becomes unbalanced and terror can no longer be buried behind closed doors. Sadieh Rifai’s thriller of a new play examines how a family across cultures and generations leans into love and humor in the face of global turmoil and a fracturing American dream.
Kirsten Fitzgerald, H. Adoni Esho, Aaliyah Montana, Ashley Neal, Omer Abbas Salem, Guy Van Swearingen, Natalie West, and John Judd continue in their roles throughout the extension. The role of Noor is played through the original run by Milla Liss; Iman Kamel steps into the role for the extension from March 20 - 23.
Iman Kamel [she/her] is an Egyptian-American actor from Chicago. Most recently she could be seen in Bramble Theatre’s Festival of Unfinished Work, Continental Split (Tubi Original), Golden Thread Productions’ staged reading of Alaa: A Family Trilogy, and Arabia! Arabia! with the Plagiarists. This summer, Iman finished her Masters at Northwestern University where her thesis “Decolonization and French Language in Maghrebian Literature” won the Distinguished Thesis Award for Literature.
FACT SHEET:
THE CAVE
Title: THE CAVE
Written By: Sadieh Rifai*
Directed By: Alex Mallory
Cast: Kirsten Fitzgerald* (Bonnie), John Judd* (Grandpa), Guy Van Swearingen* (Neil), Natalie West* (Grandma), H. Adoni Esho (Jamil), Milla Liss (Noor) (through March 16), Iman Kamel (Noor) (March 20 - 23), Aaliyah Montana (Dema), Ashley Neal (Gail), Omer Abbas Salem (Actor on TV / Omar). Understudies include Mohammad ElBsat (u/s Jamil), Iman Kamel (u/s Dema and Noor), Paul Murray (u/s Neil and Grandpa), Tatiana Pavela (u/s Bonnie), Melissa Van Kersen (u/s Grandma and Gail), Faiz Siddique (u/s Actor on TV / Omar)
Creative Team: Sotirios Livaditis (Scenic Designer), Joe Johnson (Assistant Scenic Designer), Kotryna Hilko (Costume Designer), Mike Durst* (Lighting Designer), Joe Court (Sound Designer), Julia Alvarez (Properties Designer), Victoria Nassif (Intimacy Director and Assistant Director), Dave Gonzalez (Fight Director/Armorer), Ronnie Malley (Dialect & Language Coach and Cultural Consultant), Hannah Andruss (Wig Designer), Tom Daniel (Technical Director), Duncan Hon (Master Electrician), JC Widman (Stage Manager), Faith Locke (Assistant Stage Manager), Casey Fort (Second Assistant Stage Manager), Patrick Starner (Production Manager), Yasmin Zacaria Mikhaiel (Dramaturg), Peter Ruiz (Script Supervisor)
* denotes A Red Orchid Theatre Ensemble Member
Dates: February 9 - March 23, 2025
Schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.
Location: A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells St.
Tickets: $35-$55. Student, senior, and group discounts available.
Box Office: (312) 943-8722 or online at www.aredorchidtheatre.org
Sponsors: Production Sponsors: Heidi Graham, Jane P. Madden. Developmental Sponsor: Kate Gray. Impact Partner: Filmpact!
ABOUT A RED ORCHID THEATRE
A Red Orchid Theatre has served as an artistic focal point in the heart of the Old Town community of Chicago since 1993 and was honored with a 2016 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. Over the past 31 years, its Resident Ensemble has welcomed into its fold an impressive array of award-winning actors, playwrights and theatre artists with the firm belief that live theatre is the greatest sustenance for the human spirit. A Red Orchid is well known and highly acclaimed for its fearless approach to performance and design in the service of unflinchingly intimate stories.
A Red Orchid Theatre is: Karen Aldridge, Lance Baker, Kamal Angelo Bolden, Esteban Andres Cruz, Dado, Mike Durst, Sherman Edwards, Myron Elliott, Jennifer Engstrom, Kirsten Fitzgerald, Joseph Fosco, Steve Haggard, Levi Holloway, Mierka Girten, Larry Grimm, John Judd, Karen Kawa, Karen Kessler, Travis A. Knight, Danny McCarthy, Shade Murray, Brett Neveu, Sadieh Rifai, Grant Sabin, Steve Schine, Michael Shannon, Guy Van Swearingen, Doug Vickers and Natalie West.
Sponsor Information
A Red Orchid Theatre remains grateful for the support of our board, donors, and loyal audience who continue to champion our ambitious and powerful storytelling. These sponsors help to create a platform for our talented Ensemble to reach new audiences, and ensure that we remain a source for honest, compassionate, and aesthetically rigorous theatre-making.
A Red Orchid Theatre’s 32nd Season is sponsored by Kamehachi, Picnic Wine & Provisions, and Roost Roastery. The Production Sponsors for The Cave are Heidi Graham and Jane P. Madden. The Developmental Sponsor for The Cave is Kate Gray. The Impact Partner for The Cave is Filmpact!.
Interested in sponsoring a production? By partnering with us as a sponsor, you will help to take our work to the next level of artistic excellence, while also receiving deeper access to our artists and the creative process. To learn more, please contact Development Director Stephanie Shum at stephanie@aredorchidtheatre.org or 312-943-8722.