Chicago playwright and TimeLine Theatre Company Member Tyla Abercrumbie weaves a mother’s past with her daughters’ present in "Relentless", a centuries-spanning tale of family, legacy, and progress set in the Black Victorian age, receiving its world premiere after a nearly two-year delay. TimeLine Company Member Ron OJ Parson directs Abercrumbie’s startling new work, which was developed through the company’s Playwrights Collective and now serves as the first production in TimeLine’s 25th Anniversary season.
"Relentless" begins previews January 21. Press Night is Thursday, January 27 at 7 p.m. Performances run through February 26, 2022 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. For tickets and information, visit timelinetheatre.com or call the TimeLine Box Office at (773) 281-8463 x6.
Set in the Black Victorian era, "Relentless" looks at the deep personal secrets we keep to protect the ones we love most. The year is 1919. After the death of their mother, two sisters come home to Philadelphia to settle her estate. Annelle is a happy socialite desperate to return to the safe illusion of a perfect life with her husband in Boston. Janet is a single, professional nurse, determined to change history and propel Black women to a place of prominence and respect. After discovering diaries left by their late mother, they find themselves confronted with a woman they never really knew, exposing buried truths from the past that are chillingly, explosively "entless".
The cast reunites TimeLine’s Too Heavy for Your Pocket co-stars Ayanna Bria Bakari (she/her) and Jaye Ladymore (she/her) as sisters Annelle and Janet, with Rebecca Hurd (she/her) as Mary Elizabeth, Xavier Edward King as Franklin, Demetra Dee (she/her) as Zhuukee/Annabelle Lee, and Travis Delgado (he/him) as Marcus.
From left: Relentless playwright Tyla Abercrumbie, director Ron OJ Parson, and cast members Ayanna Bria Bakari, Rebecca Hurd, Xavier Edward King, Jaye Ladymore, Demetra Dee, and Travis Delgado.
The production team includes Jack McGaw (Scenic Designer, he/him), Christine Pascual (Costume Designer, she/her), Heather Gilbert (Lighting Designer, she/her), Jennifer Wernau (Properties Designer, she/her), Christopher Kriz (Sound Designer, he/him), Mike Tutaj (Projections Designer, he/him), Megan Pirtle (Wig and Hair Designer, she/her), Rachel Flesher (Intimacy and Violence Director, they/she), Sammi Grant (Dialect Director, she/her), Khalid Y. Long (Dramaturg, he/him), Dina Spoerl (Dramaturgical Display Designer, she/her), Tiffany Fulson (Assistant Director, she/her), and Miranda Anderson, Stage Manager (she/her).
"Relentless" received its first public reading in December 2018 as part of TimeLine’s inaugural First Draft Playwrights Collective Festival. In March 2020, rehearsals were about to begin for its planned TimeLine world premiere when the production was postponed due to COVID-19. In September 2020, the play was showcased in an online event titled “Relentless: The Journey from the Black Victorian to Black Lives Matter” as part of TimeLine’s virtual Setting the Stage public program series. An edited version of that program may be viewed at youtube.com/timelinetheatre.
"Relentless" will be the second play brought to full production through TimeLine’s Playwrights Collective, launched in 2013 to support Chicago-based playwrights in residence and create new work centered on TimeLine’s mission of presenting plays inspired by history that connect to today’s social and political issues. The first was the 2018 world premiere of Brett Neveu’s "To Catch a Fish".
“I don’t know that this story has ever been told from the perspective of these types of characters, at least not in this genre,” said Abercrumbie, a veteran Chicago actor of stage and screen, best known most recently for her recurring role as Nina on Showtime’s The Chi. “Often the part of American history that is labeled Black History—specifically as it relates to how and when Black Victorians existed and were effective—is largely left out, somehow. Either it’s collectively agreed that it didn’t exist, or IF it did exist, its importance to the American landscape is deemed irrelevant or at best insignificant, and therefore a collective demand that it be forgotten or “gotten over” has been nurtured and accepted. Many of the themes the characters in Relentless deal with remain very relevant today—racism, sexism, feminism, poverty, mental illness, infant mortality, police brutality. Those battles have been relentlessly fought over and over, yet here we are in 2022 still fighting against the same injustices.”
“It’s about time we see a play about the Black Victorian age,” said director Ron OJ Parson. “I am honored to be working on this play that explores us as a people at the forefront of a battle that continues today in our quest for equality. Thank you TimeLine, and thank you Tyla for this beautiful play.”
“At long last, we are thrilled to bring "Relentless" to the stage,” said TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers. “This play has been a passion project for TimeLine over many years, supporting Tyla’s development process through our Playwrights Collective and then waiting for its premiere after a pandemic postponement. Tyla’s voice has a beauty and poetry that is absolutely searing. The play already has the feel of a classic, yet it burns with a contemporary relevance that is unmistakable.”
Watch an edited version of TimeLine Theatre's September 2020 online event “Relentless: The Journey from the Black Victorian to Black Lives Matter.”
HEALTH AND SAFETY
In accordance with current City of Chicago requirements—which are similar to protocols previously adopted by a coalition of more than 70 performing arts venues and producers across Chicagoland— TimeLine will ensure COVID-19 vaccination and mask requirements for audiences, artists, and staff attending Relentless at Theater Wit. In general, current protocols require that patrons be masked and fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine in order to attend. These protocols are subject to change as the pandemic evolves. For the most current information about TimeLine’s COVID-19 safety protocols, visit timelinetheatre.com/health-and-safety.
RELENTLESS PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE/EVENTS
Previews of Relentless are Friday, January 21 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, January 22 at 3 p.m., Sunday, January 23 at 3 p.m.; and Tuesday and Wednesday, January 25 and 26 at 7 p.m. Press Opening Night is Thursday, January 27 at 7 p.m. Regular performances continue through February 26: Wednesdays through Fridays at 7 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. Exceptions: No 2 p.m. show Saturday, January 29. There is an added weekday matinee Tuesday, February 22 at 2 p.m.
BUYING TICKETS
Single tickets to Relentless are on sale now at timelinetheatre.com or by calling the Box Office at (773) 281-8463 x6.
Preview tickets are $25. Single tickets to regular performances are $42 (Wednesday through Friday), $49 (Saturday evenings) and $57 (Saturday and Sunday matinees). Student discount is 35% off regular price with valid ID. TimeLine is also a member of TCG’s Blue Star Theatre Program and is offering $25 tickets to U.S. military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their spouses and family.
Discounted rates for groups of 10 or more are available. Ticket buyers age 18-35 may join TimeLine’s free MyLine program to obtain access to discounted tickets, special events and more. Visit timelinetheatre.com/discounts for more about available discounts.
LOCATION/TRANSPORTATION/PARKING
Theater Wit was chosen as the site for TimeLine’s world premiere of Relentless to best support current COVID-19 safety protocols for audiences, artists, and staff.
Theater Wit is located one-half block west of the corner of Belmont and Racine in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. The theater is accessible via the CTA El stop at Belmont (Red/Brown/Purple lines). CTA bus #77-Belmont stops at Racine. Parking is available in a lot across the street for $8 and there is also limited free and metered street parking nearby. Visit timelinetheatre.com for complete directions and parking information.
IN-PERSON DISCUSSIONS
Post-Show Discussions: A brief, informal post-show discussion hosted by a TimeLine Company Member and featuring the dramaturg and members of the production team on Wednesday, February 2; Sunday, February 6; and Thursday, February 17.
Pre-Show Discussions: Starting one hour before these performances, a 25-minute introductory conversation hosted by a TimeLine Company Member and the dramaturg on Thursday, February 10, and Sunday, February 20.
Company Member Discussion: A post-show discussion with the collaborative team of artists who choose TimeLine’s programming and guide the company’s mission on Sunday, February 13.
All discussions are free and open to the public. For details, visit timelinetheatre.com.
VIRTUAL DISCUSSIONS
Virtual Sunday Scholars Panel: A one-hour virtual panel discussion featuring experts on the themes and issues of the play alongside a member of the production team in a moderated discussion, hosted online on Sunday, February 20 at 7 p.m.
Virtual Post-Show Discussions: A 30-minute informal discussion hosted by a TimeLine Company Member and featuring members of the production team and special guests, hosted online Tuesday, February 8 at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, February 22 at 7 p.m.
All online discussions are free and open to the public. For details, visit timelinetheatre.com.
ACCESSIBILITY
Distanced Performances: Performances on Thursday, February 3, and Tuesday, February 22 will have a capacity cap and seating chart so that patrons can sit with additional space allocated between parties.
Captioned Performances: An open-captioned performance with a text display of words and sounds heard during performances on Friday, February 18 and Saturday, February 19 at 2 p.m.
Audio-Described Performance: On Friday, February 25, the performance will feature narration about visual elements of the production around the dialogue, available for individual patrons via headphones.
Theater Wit is accessible to wheelchair users and visitors who need to avoid stairs.
SPONSORSHIPS
TimeLine’s production of Relentless is supported in part by the Bayless Family Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and The Pauls Foundation. The production is also partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Additional support is provided by Douglas Bradbury and The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation.
COMING NEXT IN TIMELINE THEATRE’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
TimeLine Theatre’s next production is the Chicago premiere of The Chinese Lady by Lloyd Suh, directed by Helen Young. This piercing and darkly poetic portrait of the United States as seen through the eyes of the first Chinese woman to come here illuminates the roots of the prejudice, bigotry, and hate facing today’s Asian American and Pacific Islander community and inspires us to see and understand each other anew. The Chinese Lady also will be presented at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Previews start May 8. Press opening is Friday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. Performances run through June 18.
Save on tickets to TimeLine’s 2021-22 Season with a 2-Admission FlexPass Subscription. Four different tiers, priced from $52 to $121, are now on sale. For more information and to purchase, call (773) 281-8463 x6 or visit timelinetheatre.com.
ABOUT TIMELINE THEATRE COMPANY
TimeLine Theatre Company, recipient of the prestigious 2016 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, was founded in April 1997 with a mission to present stories inspired by history that connect with today's social and political issues. Currently entering its 25th season, TimeLine has presented 82 productions, including 10 world premieres and 38 Chicago premieres, and launched the Living History Education Program, which brings the company's mission to life for students in Chicago Public Schools. Recipient of the Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence and the Richard Goodman Strategic Planning Award from the Association for Strategic Planning, TimeLine has received 58 Jeff Awards, including an award for Outstanding Production 11 times.
The company has long been bursting at the seams of its current leased home located at 615 W. Wellington Avenue in Chicago’s Lakeview East neighborhood, where the theatre has been in residence since 1999. In December 2018, TimeLine announced the purchase of property at 5033-35 North Broadway in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood to be the site of its new home. Plans feature an intimate black box theatre seating up to 250 audience members, expanded area for the immersive lobby experiences that are a TimeLine hallmark, new opportunities for education and engagement, room to allow audience members to arrive early and stay late for theatergoing experiences that extend far beyond the stage, and more. TimeLine is working with HGA as architect for its new home project, which is expected to be completed in early 2024.
HGA design rendering of TimeLine’s future new home at 5035 N. Broadway in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood
TimeLine is led by Artistic Director PJ Powers, Managing Director Elizabeth K. Auman and Board President John Sterling. Company members are Tyla Abercrumbie, Will Allan, Nick Bowling, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Wardell Julius Clark, Behzad Dabu, Charles Andrew Gardner, Lara Goetsch, Juliet Hart, Anish Jethmalani, Mildred Marie Langford, Mechelle Moe, David Parkes, Ron OJ Parson, PJ Powers, and Maren Robinson.
Major corporate, government and foundation supporters of TimeLine Theatre include the Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation, Allstate Corporation, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, City of Chicago, Crown Family Philanthropies, Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation, The Forum Fund, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Illinois Arts Council Agency, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Laughing Acres Family Foundation, MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince, National Endowment for the Arts, Pritzker Traubert Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, and the United States Small Business Administration.
For more information, visit timelinetheatre.com or Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (@TimeLineTheatre).
BIOGRAPHIES
Tyla Abercrumbie (Playwright, she/her) is a TimeLine Company Member and 2016-2018 Playwrights Collective member whose plays include Who’s Afraid of Deepak Chopra, Asylum (aka Life), Psychological Terrorism, Only Women Bleed, Naked and Raw, Affair of Ambiguity, Normality and The Straw. Abercrumbie’s work has been produced by TimeLine Theatre, Pittsburgh Playwright’s Theatre, MPAACT Theatre, and Chicago Cultural Center, and she was a recipient of the Raven Theatre Playwrights Initiative 2021. She has appeared on stage at TimeLine in Paradise Blue and In Darfur, as well as at Huntington Theatre, Goodman, Court, Northlight, Victory Garden, Chicago Shakespeare, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory, and Actors Theatre of Louisville. Television credits include The Chi, The Big Leap, Somebody Somewhere, Utopia, Proven Innocent, Chicago PD, Chicago Med, Shrink, Empire, Easy, Crisis, Mob Doctor, Detroit 187, Chicago Code, and Shameless, among others. You may also have seen her at comedy clubs around town testing jokes for her stand-up show, Naked & Raw 3 (The Takers and the Tooken). She is a poet, invited to showcase her work at venues, events, and media outlets around the country, presenting before respected keynote speaker The Reverend Jesse Jackson and radio and media mogul Cathy Hughes. She holds a BA degree from Columbia College and is a proud member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA.
Ron OJ Parson (Director, he/him) is a Company Member at TimeLine, where his credits include Jiréh Breon Holder’s Too Heavy for Your Pocket, Brett Neveu’s To Catch a Fish, Dominique Morisseau’s Paradise Blue and Sunset Baby, and Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. He is a native of Buffalo, New York, and a graduate of the University of Michigan’s professional theater program. He is the co-founder and former Artistic Director of Onyx Theatre Ensemble of Chicago and a co-founder and co-director of Ripe ManGo Productions. Parson is a Resident Artist at Court Theatre, an Associate Artist with Teatro Vista, and an Associate Artist at Writers Theatre. Since moving to Chicago from New York in 1994, he has worked as both an actor and director. His Chicago credits include work with The Chicago Theatre Company, Victory Gardens, Goodman, Steppenwolf, Chicago Dramatists, Northlight, Court, Black Ensemble Theatre, Congo Square, Urban Theatre Company, City Lit Theater, ETA Creative Arts, and Writers. Regionally, Parson has directed shows at Studio Arena Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Milwaukee Repertory, South Coast Repertory, Pasadena Playhouse, Geva Theatre, Virginia Stage, Roundabout Theatre, Wilshire Theatre, The Mechanic Theatre, CenterStage, St. Louis Black Repertory, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, Signature Theatre (New York), Kansas City Rep, and Portland Stage, among others. In Canada, he directed the world premiere of Palmer Park by Joanna McClelland Glass at the Stratford Festival. He is a member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA, and SDC. For further information, visit ronojparson.com.
Ayanna Bria Bakari (Annelle/Mother) returns to TimeLine, where she appeared during the 2018-19 season in Too Heavy for Your Pocket and the First Draft Festival reading of Relentless. Other recent Chicago credits include Stick Fly and The Niceties (Writers) and How to Catch Creation (Goodman), as well as productions at Raven, Stage Left, and The Story Theatre, where she is an ensemble member.
Demetra Dee (Zhuukee/Annabelle Lee) is making her TimeLine debut. Dee has performed at Victory Gardens, Lifeline, Shattered Globe, Chicago Dramatists, and ETA Creative Arts.
Travis Delgado (Marcus) is making his TimeLine debut. He has been seen on television in Chicago P.D. and Chicago Fire, and on local stages including Sideshow, Jackalope, Lookingglass, Oracle Productions, and the Chicago Fringe Festival.
Rebecca Hurd (Mary Elizabeth) is making her TimeLine debut. Her extensive Chicago credits include productions at the Apollo, Remy Bumppo, Marriott Lincolnshire, Drury Lane, Goodman, and Writers Theatre, among others.
Xavier Edward King (Franklin) is making his TimeLine debut. His previous credits include work at the Goodman, Playhouse Theatre, Notre Dame Shakespeare, Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, and Island Stage Left, among others.
Jaye Ladymore (Janet), who currently stars as Claudette in the CW TV series 4400, also appeared in TimeLine’s Too Heavy for Your Pocket. Other stage credits include We Are Proud to Present a Presentation… for Steppenwolf for Young Adults, The Importance of Being Earnest and Twelfth Night Or What You Will at Writers, Harvey at Court, and Love’s Labor’s Lost and Macbeth at Chicago Shakespeare.