Pride Arts today announced four more titles and directors in its winter series of one-night only live virtual readings. Following the previously announced January 12 reading of Shakespeare’s TWELFTH NIGHT will be a reading of Christopher Shinn’s OTHER PEOPLE, a comedy set around the holidays in New York City’s East Village involving relationships past and present among four men and one woman. Chicago actor and director Tim Ashby will direct the reading, to be performed on Tuesday, January 19 at 7 pm. Cast to be announced shortly.
The final reading of January will be the January 26th 7 pm performance of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s MARCUS; OR THE SECRET OF SWEET. The third of McCraney’s trilogy THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS, MARCUS is the coming-of-age story of a young gay man in rural Louisiana shortly before Hurricane Katrina. Christian Helem, who recently directed Stage Left Theatre’s virtual production of THE PROJECT(S), will direct a cast to be announced.
The series will continue in February with a world premiere reading of SHUT UP KISS ME - a love story by Chicago native Sophia Zinger set in the hours and days after the first date of two millennial/Gen Z women. Taking inspiration from Diana Son's STOP KISS, SHUT UP KISS ME further explores with heart and humor what it means to find one's self and heal from a past queer trauma within a budding relationship. SHUT UP KISS ME will be directed by Hannah Ottenfeld and will be performed Tuesday, February 9 at 7 pm. One week later, on Tuesday, February 16 at 7 pm, LESBIAN SHORTS, a program of short play readings directed by Amber Mandley, will be performed. That program will include the plays BEA AND MAY by Edwin Sánchez, THE CLARITY OF PIZZA by Carolyn Gage, and NOT IN OUR BACKYARD by Pete Blatchford.
Top Row L-R: Tim Ashby, Christian Helem
Lower Row L-R: Hannah Ottenfeld, Peter Vamvakas
Not pictured: Amber Mandley
The series will lead off with an adaptation of Shakespeare’s gender-bending comedy TWELFTH NIGHT, on January 12, 2021, directed by Peter Vamvakas. A cast of seven will play all roles, providing the opportunity for intriguing double casting. Shakira Searle will play both twins separated by a shipwreck – Viola, who pretends to be a man after landing on the shore in the kingdom of Illyria; and her twin brother Sebastian, who is missing and presumed dead after the storm at sea. The cast also includes Tekeisha D. Yelton-Hunter, Maggie Clennon-Reberg, Thomas M. Shea, Myrrh Gobenciong, Alicia Berneche, and director Vamvakas.
Vamvakas says, “My approach to directing this adaptation of TWELFTH NIGHT is to ignore the pitfalls of gender specific casting and to cast based on talent alone. What makes TWELFTH NIGHT perfect for the Pride in Place series is it questions conventional ideas about gender and sexuality, portraying gender as performative and suggesting erotic possibilities between same-sex pairs."
LISTING INFORMATION
TWELFTH NIGHT
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Peter Vamvakas
January 12, 2020 – 7:00 pm
Tickets $10.00, available at www.pridearts.org/tickets, or by phone at 773-857-0222
In Shakespeare’s classic comedy of gender identity and mistaken identities, a shipwreck off the coast of Illyria separates the twin siblings Viola and Sebastian. After Viola lands safely on shore, with Sebastian presumed dead, Viola pretends to be a man called Cesario and finds a job as servant to the Duke Orsino. Orsino is in love with Olivia, who is deep in grief over the death of brother and refuses to see Orsino. Orsino sends “Cesario” to deliver a message, but the situation becomes more complicated when Olivia falls in love with Viola/Cesario, believing her to be a man. That and further mischief in Olivia’s court cause much confusion before the final resolution.
OTHER PEOPLE
By Christopher Shinn
Directed by Tim Ashby
January 19, 2021 – 7:00 pm
Tickets $10.00 available at pridearts.org or by phone at 773-857-0222
Stephen, a struggling playwright and website movie critic, invites his ex-boyfriend, Mark, to spend Christmas with him and his roommate, Petra, a poet and stripper. Mark, who’s recently completed making an independent film and is fresh out of rehab, begins his life back in the real world by becoming friends with Tan, a street hustler. In the crucible of a tiny East Village apartment, Stephen, Mark, and Petra struggle with questions of art, sex, and each other as the impending New Year forces them to define how they want to live and love in a dark and confusing world.
MARCUS; OR THE SECRET OF SWEET
By Tarell Alvin McCraney
Directed by Christian Helem
Tuesday, January 26, 7:00 pm
Tickets $10.00 available at pridearts.org or by phone at 773-857-0222
Marcus is sixteen and “sweet.” Days before Hurricane Katrina strikes the projects of Louisiana, the currents of his life converge, overflowing into his close-knit community and launching the search for his sexual and personal identity on a cultural landscape infused with mysterious family creeds. The provocative, poignant, and fiercely humorous coming-of-age story of a young gay man in the South, MARCUS is the stirring conclusion of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s trilogy, THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS.
SHUT UP KISS ME
WORLD PREMIERE
By Sophia Zinger
Directed by Hannah Ottenfeld
Tuesday, February 9, 7:00 pm
Tickets $10.00 available at pridearts.org or by phone at 773-857-0222
Taking inspiration from Diana Son's STOP KISS, SHUT UP KISS ME is a love story set in the hours and days after the first date of two millennial/Gen Z women. With heart and humor, this world premiere play by Chicago native Sophia Zinger further explores what it means to find one's self and heal from a past, queer trauma, within a budding relationship.
LESBIAN SHORTS
Directed by Amber Mandley
Tuesday, February 16, 7:00 pm
Tickets $10.00 available at pridearts.org or by phone at 773-857-0222
Readings of the short plays BEA AND MAY, by Edwin Sánchez; THE CLARITY OF PIZZA, by Carolyn Gage; and NOT IN MY BACKYARD, by Pete Blatchford.
BIOS
Peter Vamvakas (Director, TWELFTH NIGHT) is a professional actor, director and teaching artist in Chicago, its surrounding suburbs and in Indiana. He was resident director at Northbrook Children's Theatre (an Actors Equity Association Theatre for Young Audiences company) for two seasons, where he also performed as an actor for 12 seasons. Other directing credits include THE NUTCRACKER at Theatre at the Center; SEASCAPE, DIAL 'M' FOR MURDER and ROBIN HOOD at the Bowen Park Theatre Company where he also served as artistic director for two seasons and a Shakespeare/fencing workshop for teens (SHAKESPEARE BY THE SWORD) at Theatre of Western Springs. His acting credits include Captain A.J. Smith in the Jeff-nominated chamber musical TITANIC for Griffin Theatre Company and Dr. Tambourri in Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre’s Jeff-award winning production of PASSION).
Tim Ashby (Director, OTHER PEOPLE) is a Chicago based actor, originally from Houston, Texas. He most recently understudied a role in Broken Nose Theatre’s LABYRINTH by Beth Steele, and before that understudied KEELY AND DU at the Red Twist Theatre. He is represented by Grossman & Jack and received his MFA in Acting from Ohio University in 2018.
Christian Helem (Director, MARCUS; OR THE SECRET OF SWEET) most recently directed Stage Left Theatre’s virtual production of THE PROJECT(S), by P.J. Paparelli and Joshua Jaeger. He’s also directed the musical 21 CHUMP STREET, THE GLASS MENAGERIE, and assistant directed for A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE and MIDDLE PASSAGE. He's an Alum of UIC where he wrote and produced his own play and was seen onstage for many projects. He is the Associate Director of the Chicago August Wilson Monologue Competition and teaches playwriting at ChiArts High School.
Hannah Ottenfeld (Director, SHUT UP KISS ME) is a Chicago-based director, choreographer, dancer, and theatre artist. She is currently finishing up her undergraduate degree in Theatre and Dance at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. She most recently directed and produced an original virtual work entitled STUFF PEOPLE SAY and participated in the One State One Voice Festival as a playwright. Her upcoming work includes THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre and EQUINOX: A CONCERT OF DANCE at Millikin University. You can read more about her work at hrottenfeld.wix.com/hrottenfeld.
Sophia Zinger (Playwright, SHUT UP KISS ME) A senior at Millikin University, Sophia Zinger is a writer, actor, and activist. Their writing has been produced at Millikin University (THE [BLANK] MONOLOGUES) and The Madison Street Theatre (THE STARFISH PROJECT). They have also worked as an Artistic Associate with Shakespeare Corrected as well as an Administrative Assistant with The Youth Empowerment Performance Project. In addition, they lead a storytelling, letter-writing, and action campaign entitled Just Us in efforts to free Gerald Reed and other victims of state violence.
ABOUT PRIDEARTS
PrideArts is working to produce year-round theater and film projects that change lives in normal (non-COVID) times, the company produces a season of full play and musical productions, as well as events including dance, cabaret, film, and more. It was recently honored with seven Jeff award nominations for the 2019-20 season. Events can be one-night or limited run productions or feature national treasures like Charles Busch. PAC occupies The Broadway at 4139 N. Broadway, which has 85 seats, and The Buena, which has 50 seats at 4147 N Broadway.
PrideArts is supported by The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at The Richard Driehaus Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, City of Chicago’s City Arts Fund, the Elliott Fredland Charitable Trust, Proud to Run, The Pauls Foundation, The Heath Fund, The Service Club of Chicago, the AmazonSmile Foundation, Arts and Business Foundation, Tap Root Foundation, Arts and Business Council, and Alphawood Foundation.
PrideArts is a member of the Smart Growth Program of the Chicago Community Trust. PrideArts is a member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, Northalsted Business Association, Uptown United, and The League of Chicago Theatres.
For more information and to donate, visit www.pridearts.org or call 1.773 857 0222.