Award-winning Redtwist Theatre is proud to announce the cast and creative team for the world premiere of Jacqueline Goldfinger’s Bottle Fly, directed by Co-Artistic Director Eileen Dixon, October 17 - November 24 at its home in Edgewater, the newly renovated Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Previews are Thursday, Oct. 17 - Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. with the press opening Sunday, Oct. 20 at 3:30 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3:30 p.m. with a total running time of two hours and 15 minutes, including one intermission. There will be two understudy performances on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 3:30 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Single tickets are now on sale at RedtwistTheatre.org with discounts available for seniors, students and industry professionals and pay-what-you-can for all Friday performances.
October brings the world premiere of Jacqueline Goldfinger's Bottle Fly, a beautiful depiction of queer survival in the Everglades capturing the many layered dynamics of race, poverty and bigotry that are sun-baked into life in South Florida. Winner of the 2017 Yale Drama Series prize, Bottle Fly explores love in many guises and all of its complexity. As the future of gay rights in America is once again making headlines, Redtwist believes this play will be a touchstone for important conversations.
The Bottle Fly cast includes Johnny Garcia*, (he/him, Cal); Laura Sturm (she/her, Rosie); Shannon Leigh Webber (she/her, Ruth); Shaina Toledo (she/her, Penny) and Rebecca VandenBos (she/her, K); Gabe Levi* (he/him, Cal U/S), Hilary Sanzel (she/her, Rosie U/S); Leilani Mesa (she/her, Ruth U/S), Amelia Roque (she/her, Penny U/S), and Kelcy Taylor (she/her, K U/S).
Top row (L to R) Johnny Garcia, Laura Sturm, Rebecca VandenBos Bottom row (L to R) Shannon Leigh Webber, Shaina Toledo
The Bottle Fly production team includes Eileen Dixon* (she/they, Director); Rose Johnson* (they/them, Scenic Designer); Charlie Levinson (they/she, Stage Manager); Brandii Champagne (they/them, Assistant Director); Dusty Brown (they/them, Technical Director); Madeline Felauer (she/her, Costume Designer); Leo Bassow (they/he, Props Designer); Jesse Boyle (they/them, Dramaturg); Erin Sheets (she/her, Intimacy Director); Angela Joy Baldasare (she/they, Sound Designer); Sam Anderson (she/they, Sound Designer); Raine DeDominici (they/she, Production Manager).
*indicates Redtwist Theatre Ensemble Member
ABOUT JACQUELINE GOLDFINGER, playwright
JACQUELINE GOLDFINGER (she/they) is a playwright-librettist whose work has been produced and published around the world. Their plays have been produced at theaters including The Kennedy Center, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Court Theatre (New Zealand), École nationale de théâtre (Canada), Urbanite Theatre, Perseverance Theatre, among others. Their opera, choral and art song libretti have been performed at the Sydney Opera House, Opera Columbus, Resonance Works, BBC Radio 3 (UK), Chor Leoni (Canada), Chiesa di Ognissanti (Italy) and others. Her plays have numerous awards including the Yale Prize, Glaspell Prize and Generations Award. As a dramaturg, they have worked with La Jolla Playhouse, Philadelphia Theatre Company and many others. They've taught at University of California, Davis (graduate), University of Pennsylvania (undergraduate) and others.
ABOUT EILEEN DIXON, director
EILEEN DIXON (she/they) is a Chicago based director, playwright, actor and teaching artist with a focus on creating and directing new work. She received her MFA in acting and directing from University of Missouri - Kansas City in 2022 and spent the following summer at Ojai Playwrights Conference, Dixon has developed several of her own works, including In/Genuine and Regression, which were both produced in Kansas City. In September of 2023, Regression was workshopped and produced in Chicago at Redtwist Theatre. Other credits include The Coterie Theatre, Ensemble Stage and Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Dixon’s interest currently is on artful collaboration within the play workshopping process and the directors role in new play development.
COMING UP FROM REDTWIST
The Totality of All Things
December 7 - January 19, 2025
Written by Eric Gernand
Directed by Enrico Spada
Previews: Thursday, Dec.5 and Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Press Opening: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Performance Schedule: Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3:30 p.m.
NOTE: The week of December 16’s performance schedule is only Friday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 22 at 3:30 p.m.
Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue
Tickets go on sale Monday, Oct. 7
$35
The centerpiece of Redtwist's inaugural Twisted Playfest is The Totality of All Things. Judith Benson is “teacher-famous” for the award-winning student newspaper she proudly oversees at her small Indiana high school, a program that extols truth and integrity in journalism. At the start of a new school year, an anti-gay hate crime occurs calling everything Judith believes about inspiring the next generation of reporters and the definition of truth itself into question.
Twisted Playfest
December 17 - 22
Plays by Caroline Kidwell, Toby Inoue, Zack Peercy, Ruben Carrazana, Brandon Wright, MT Cozzola, Ben F. Locke, Melanie Coffey and Jordan Gleaves
Directors include Co-Artistic Director Dusty Brown, Co-Artistic Director Eileen Dixon, Aja Singletary, Rashaad A. Bond, Jessica Love, Hannah Blau, LaKecia Harris and Devin Christor.
Performance Schedule: Please see the website for details of each performance.
Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue
Tickets go on sale Monday, Oct. 21
Pay-What-You-Can
Redtwist's inaugural new work incubator, Twisted Playfest features ten plays at various stages of development. The plays are presented as staged readings, stand readings and a mainstage production of Eric Gernand's The Totality of All Things. In addition, Redtwist supports its festival playwrights throughout the upcoming year with additional readings and workshops.
Productions, participants and dates are subject to change.
ABOUT REDTWIST THEATRE RENOVATIONS
Redtwist partnered with the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development to build back better following the COVID quarantine. Redtwist was selected as a finalist for a 3-to-1 matching grant from the City of Chicago, which provided up to $250,000 in funding to renovate its performance space, lobby and street frontage.
These renovations mean a fresh face for Redtwist’s corner of Bryn Mawr, drawing in audiences from across the city and bringing new life to a Historic District that has been devastated by COVID-19. On the Western side of the building, the lobby was reimagined; increasing accessibility and installing a new cafe to provide concessions for all Redtwist shows. Finally, it means a revived performance space with added production capabilities, which will allow the Company to continue creating thrilling performances in its intimate black box space.
ABOUT REDTWIST THEATRE
Redtwist, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, is an award-winning theatre company that stages up close and personal contemporary dramas annually in its intimate black box theatre housed proudly within the heart of Edgewater’s Bryn Mawr Historic District.
Intimate performances at Redtwist are designed to place the theatre patron in the midst of the stories being told, making them accessible and riveting. Redtwist strives for excellence with every project and endeavors to take risks while offering opportunities for up-and-coming actors, designers and directors to work with established talent. Redtwist provides the very best Chicago storefront theatre experience from excellence on stage, to warm hospitality in a clean, friendly environment.
Award-winning Redtwist Theatre is proud to announce the cast and creative team for the world premiere of Jacqueline Goldfinger’s Bottle Fly, directed by Co-Artistic Director Eileen Dixon, October 17 - November 24 at its home in Edgewater, the newly renovated Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Previews are Thursday, Oct. 17 - Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. with the press opening Sunday, Oct. 20 at 3:30 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3:30 p.m. with a total running time of two hours and 15 minutes, including one intermission. Single tickets are now on sale at RedtwistTheatre.org with discounts available for seniors, students and industry professionals and pay-what-you-can for all Friday performances.