Citadel’s 2022-23 season will continue when Lucas Hnath’s thought-provoking and Obie Award winning play THE CHRISTIANS begins performances on February 8. The drama, set in a mega church, is neither an endorsement nor an indictment of organized religion in general, nor of Christianity specifically, but Hnath raises philosophical and theological questions that he trusts audiences to answer for themselves. What if there is no Hell? What if we all are welcomed into Heaven by a loving God who forgives all – even humanity’s worst? The pastor who poses these questions in a sermon finds that his congregants are not all ready to give up the promise of eternal damnation for those whose sins they find to be unforgiveable. THE GUARDIAN said in its review of the play’s New York City production, “Whether or not you believe in God, you should believe in Lucas Hnath.” THE CHRISTIANS will open to the press on Friday, February 10, 2023, at 7:30 pm, following previews on February 8 and 9. It will play through March 12, 2023.
To create the setting of an elaborate megachurch, Citadel’s production will employ a grid of some 90 two-foot square state of the art digital video monitors to depict the church’s expansive interior and a choir. The monitors, provided by Pangea Technology, are of a level of sophistication that is normally found only in big-budget productions like Disney’s Star Wars series THE MANDALORIAN, or TV shows like AMERICAN IDOL or THE VOICE. The monitors will allow the production to achieve an epic scope not normally feasible in an intimate venue like Citadel’s 125-seat theatre, located inside Lake Forest High School’s West Campus. At the same time, the intimacy of Citadel’s performance space will bring the audience close to the characters in what is, in spite of the play’s setting in a huge and grand church, a very personal drama of Pastor Paul’s journey.
Scott Westerman (director of Citadel’s 2018 hit SEX WITH STRANGERS) will direct a cast led by Citadel Theatre Artistic Director Scott Phelps* as Paul, the pastor. Phelps appeared on stage for Citadel most recently as Oscar Hubbard in THE LITTLE FOXES and THE EXPLORERS CLUB, in addition to his many prior appearances on stage with the company. Also in the cast are Ellen Phelps* (Miss Hannigan in ANNIE, Sharon in THE ROOMMATE, and many other roles at Citadel) as Elizabeth, the pastor’s wife, Frank Nall (most recently seen as Jay McMullen in HER HONOR, JANE BYRNE at Lookingglass) as Jay, a church elder, Manny Sevilla (Midsommer Flight’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM) as Joshua, the associate pastor, and Abby Chafe (of Citadel's IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY) as Jenny, a congregant. Members of the singing group Forte Chicago will perform as the choir. Understudies are Chris Bruzzini (Paul) and Kieran O'Connor (Joshua).
(* Member, Actors Equity Association)
Upper row L-R: Scott Phelps, Frank Nall, Ellen Phelps.
Lower row L-R: Abby Chafe, Manny Sevilla, Director Scott Westerman
The production team includes Jonathon Berg-Einhorn (Set Design), Mary Baca (Costume Design), Jonesy Jones (Sound Design), Patrick McGuire (Props Design), Syler Thomas (Dramaturg), Ian Merritt (Film/Photography Director), Ellen Phelps and Scott Phelps (Production Managers), Jessica Greenhoe (Stage Manager)*, and Jason Clark (Technical Carpenter).
(* - member, Actors Equity Association)
Lucas Hnath has proven himself to be a formidable modern playwright. His A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2 was nominated for the 2017 Tony Award for Best Play and his DANA H., and HILARY AND CLINTON have been produced on Broadway to critical acclaim in recent seasons. THE CHRISTIANS premiered at the Humana Festival of New Plays and has been produced by some of the most prestigious theater companies in the US, including Playwrights Horizons in New York, Steppenwolf in Chicago and Theatre J in Washington, D.C, The New York Times said, “This terrific play about the mystery of faith by Lucas Hnath — one of the freshest playwriting voices to emerge in the past five years — is MESMERIZING.”
Tickets for THE CHRISTIANS are now on sale at www.citadeltheatre.org or by phone at 847-735-8554, ext. 1.
LISTING INFORMATION
THE CHRISTIANS
By Lucas Hnath
Directed by Scott Westerman
Friday, February 10- Sunday, March 12, 2023
(Previews February 8 and 9 @ 7:30 pm)
Press Opening Friday, February 10 at 7:30 pm
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sunday matinees at 3 pm. Wednesday matinees on February 22 and March 8 at 1 pm.
Preview ticket prices $20. Regular run prices Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays $40; Saturdays and Sundays $45. Discounts available for groups, seniors and students.
Citadel Theatre is located inside the West Campus of Lake Forest High School, 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, IL, 60045.
Tickets available online at www.citadeltheatre.org or by phone at 847-735-8554, ext. 1, or tickets@citadeltheatre.org.
Twenty years ago, Pastor Paul’s church was nothing more than a modest storefront. Now he presides over a congregation of thousands, with classrooms for Sunday School, a coffee shop in the lobby, and a baptismal font as big as a swimming pool. Today should be a day of celebration. But Paul is about to preach a sermon that will shake the foundations of his church’s belief. A big-little play about faith in America—and the trouble with changing your mind.
BIOS
Scott Westerman (Director) makes, does, and teaches theatre and film in and around Chicago. He is excited to return to Citadel Theatre having directed their 2018 production of SEX WITH STRANGERS by Laura Eason. Scott is the founding Artistic Director of Go To Productions, a 501©3 nonprofit which develops projects that explore the nexus between theatre and film. He created and directed the web series HAMLET & OPHELIA which won Best Picture at the New York Film Awards, Best Web Series at the LA Film Awards, and Best Mobile Series at the 2022 New Media Film Festival. Scott has directed stage productions for The Artistic Home, ChiArts, City Lit Theatre, Chimera Theatre Company, Citadel Theatre, Beyond This Point, Barter Theatre, Stage Left Theatre, The Smithsonian Institution, American Theatre Company (Bridge), National High School Institute (Cherubs), and Reverie Theatre Company. Scott is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, an ensemble member with The Artistic Home, represented by Gray Talent Group, and a teaching artist with Writers Theatre and The Theatre School at DePaul University. He has an MFA from The Shakespeare Theatre Academy. As an actor, Scott has worked with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Lookingglass, Northlight, The Shakespeare Theatre and Ford’s Theatre in DC, Everyman Theatre in Baltimore, the Warehouse Theatre in South Carolina, and the Barter Theatre in Virginia to name a few. On Camera credits include MACHINE GUN PREACHER, PRISON BREAK, and HEIST 88 which will premiere in 2023. More about Scott can be perused at www.ScottWesterman.org.
Lucas Hnath (Playwright) Lucas Hnath's most recent play, DANA H., was at the Vineyard Theatre in New York. Lucas received a 2017 Tony Award nomination for Best Play with A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2. Hnath’s other plays include HILLARY AND CLINTON, THE THIN PLACE, RED SPEEDO, THE CHRISTIANS, A PUBLIC READING OF AN UNPRODUCED SCREENPLAY ABOUT THE DEATH OF WALT DISNEY, ISAAC’S EYE and DEATH TAX. He has been produced on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre and Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop, Playwrights Horizons, Soho Rep and Ensemble Studio Theatre. His plays have also premiered at the Humana Festival of New Plays, Victory Gardens and South Coast Repertory. He is a New York Theatre Workshop Usual Suspect, a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre and an alumnus of New Dramatists. Awards: Whiting Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, Kesselring Prize, Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New Play, Obie Award for Playwriting, Steinberg Playwright Award and the Windham-Campbell Literary Prize.
Scott Phelps (Artistic Director, Pastor Paul) is in his 21st year as the Artistic Director at Citadel. He’s acted in and directed dozens of Citadel productions over the last two decades since founding this North Shore theatre in 2002 with his friend and lifelong companion, Ellen. He has acted/directed in NYC, and in his home state of California, trained as an actor at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, CA, received his BFA from the University of Utah, and did an apprenticeship at the Actors Theatre of Louisville in KY. For 18 years Scott worked for a promotional company and raised his three daughters and his son in Lake Forest. Recently he has been taking on the next chapter of his life — the role of “Beepa” to his grandchildren. Although he is unsure if he is old enough to play that part, he’s been enjoying the challenge.
Citadel Theatre is one of Chicagoland’s premier live theatres, producing hundreds of performances annually and inspiring audiences for nearly 20 years. Founded by Scott and Ellen Phelps in 2002, Citadel Theatre is comprised of its Main Stage performances, its outreach programs, and its theatre acting classes for children. A proud member of the League of Chicago Theatres and the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff ArtsLink, Citadel Theatre offers a unique intimate theatre experience that transports you to another setting and leaves you feeling exhilarated and wanting more. A recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Citadel can accept tax-deductible donations. For more information, ticketing, and to donate, please visit Citadel online at www.CitadelTheatre.org or call 847.735.8554.