Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE), the professional Equity company in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), opens its 2021-2022 season with the world premiere of “Stove Toucher,” written and performed by BTE Ensemble Member Kurt Naebig*+ and directed by BTE Managing Artistic Director Connie Canaday Howard*+. Naebig’s autobiographical work poses the question, “What happens when you achieve the high-rolling lifestyle you always dreamed of…at 13 years old?” Press opening is 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 26. Performances run through Dec. 19.
“Stove Toucher” is an extraordinary and funny coming-of-age story set in Cicero during the 1970s skateboard boom about a shy kid who falls in love with skateboarding, opens a wildly successful skateboard shop, is dubbed “the teenage tycoon” by Charlie Rose, and becomes a national story - all before the age of 13. A little bit “Doogie Howser,” a little bit “Basketball Diaries,” “Stove Toucher” is a high-adrenaline, hilarious, heartfelt story about tough love and determination, pushing the edge, and the universal experience of ignoring sound advice - And the truth that sometimes we need to learn the hardest lessons for ourselves.
“’Stove Toucher’ is the first play I’ve ever written and it all started when I related a comical anecdote to an acquaintance about getting back on a skateboard in middle age,” says Naebig. “Now eight months later, thanks to the incredible encouragement and support from friends who guided me through the process and provided important feedback along the way, I look forward to performing this before a live theater audience. My hope is that ‘Stove Toucher’ will make you laugh, gasp and maybe even tear up, but ultimately, walk away with the encouragement to embrace who you are and, if life has knocked you down, think about getting back on that horse (or skateboard) again.”
“I’ve known Kurt for nearly 32 years and I value the opportunity both as a Managing Artistic Director of BTE and Kurt’s friend to work as director on this play,” says Canaday Howard. “BTE has always sought to ‘give stories life.’ For this season we are especially interested in presenting plays that provide heartwarming looks, sometimes touching and sometimes hysterical, at people on the brink of great change and ‘Stove Toucher’ fits this perfectly.”
Naebig (Playwright/Performer) has worked professionally in theater, film, television and radio for more than 30 years, and has been teaching and coaching actors since 1992. A Juilliard graduate, he has also studied at the Moscow School of the Arts in Russia. Naebig is the former Artistic Director of The Theatre of Western Springs. Acting credits include Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Portland Stage, Milwaukee's Pabst Theatre, National Jewish Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. He also appeared in such films as “Public Enemies,” “The Express,” “Witless Protection,” “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer,” “The Relic,” “Dillinger,” “Howard Beach: Making the Case for Murder” and has been in seen in the television shows, “Fargo,” “A League of Their Own,” “Empire,” “APB,” “Sense8,” “Chicago Code,” “Detroit 1-8-7” and multiple episodes of “Chicago PD,” “Chicago Fire,” “ER” and “Prison Break.” Naebig recently directed another season of “VC – The Webseries.” His BTE directing credits include “Defiance,” “The 39 Steps,” “Don't Dress For Dinner,” “The Drawer Boy,” “Trumbo: Red White and Blacklisted” and “Leading Ladies.” Naebig will also be directing BTE’s upcoming production of Mat Smart’s “Naperville” (Jan. 27 – Feb. 27, 2022).
Canaday Howard (Director/BTE Managing Artistic Director) has directed numerous BTE productions including “Good People,” “Time Stands Still,” “Noises Off,” “Into the Woods,” “Dancing at Lughnasa,” “The Mystery of Irma Vep,” “Rabbit Hole” and “Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune.” Favorite BTE acting roles have been Della in “The Cake,” Annie in “The Real Thing,” Harper in “Angels in America,” Nancy in “Frozen” and Ruella in “Communicating Doors.” Canaday Howard is a member of Actors’ Equity, and is on the Artistic Team of the Jeff Committee. She holds an MFA in directing, and has worked regionally with Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival, City Theatre Company, Belvoir Terrace, Drama Workshop, Down River Dinner Theatre, Ingersoll Theatre, Charlie’s Showplace, and tours of both theater and dance, as well as helping to create and perform several improvisational shows. She was the state-wide co-chair of the Theatre Panel for Illinois Articulation Initiative for more than 15 years. Canaday Howard is Chair of the Theatre Department at the College of DuPage and was honored as COD’s Outstanding Faculty for 2003 – 2004.
The rest of the design team includes Michael Moon+ (Scenic and Properties Design), Rachel Levy (Lighting Design), Smooch Medina (Projections Design) and Christopher Kriz+^ (Sound Composer and Sound Design). Stage Manager is Sarah West*; Assistant Stage Manager is Anthony Urso; Student Assistant Stage Manager is Christopher Yee.
*Denotes member of Actors’ Equity; +Denotes member of Buffalo Theatre Ensemble; ^Denotes member of United Scenic Artists
Tickets
Buffalo Theatre Ensemble presents “Stove Toucher” written and performed by Kurt Naebig, directed by Connie Canaday Howard, Nov. 26 – Dec. 19. Press opening is Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. Performances are Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $42. Tickets and additional information is available at www.AtTheMAC.org or calling 630.942.4000. The Box Office is open Tuesday – Sunday, 12 noon – 6 p.m. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. For group sales information email kazmierskik@cod.edu.
Related free special events: Pre-show discussion with the designers and director Friday, Nov. 26; and post-show discussion with director, actors and crew Friday, Dec. 3.
This 90-minute work is performed without intermission. Please note: this play contains adult themes and language.
2021-2022 Season Protocols
Buffalo Theatre Ensemble values the safety and health of the audience, staff and artists, and are practicing safety guidelines set forth by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the State of Illinois and the League of Chicago Theatres.
Policies include:
• Proof of vaccination and masks that cover both the nose and mouth are required for everyone.
• Tickets are scanned touchless upon arrival.
• Digital programs are available.
• Hand-sanitizing stations are available at entrances. If a patron is not feeling well, has a fever, has been exposed to anyone symptomatic for COVID-19, or has recently been tested and waiting results, they are requested to postpone their visit for another day and contact the Box Office to reschedule or request a refund.
In addition, for added comfort and safety, audience capacity will be limited for Thursday and Friday evening performances in November.
For more information visit www.AtTheMAC.org, email the Box Office at themac@cod.edu or call 630.942.4000.
About Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
The mission of Buffalo Theatre Ensemble is to provide a forum in which artists, scholars, writers, students and community members explore new ideas and provocative issues through the production of quality theater for the enjoyment of its audiences. Since 1986 BTE has staged more than 120 productions.
The Ensemble members are Aly Renee Amidei, Robert Jordan Bailey*, Amelia Barrett* (Associate Artistic Director), Bryan Burke* (Business Manager), Robyn Coffin, Rebecca Cox, Lisa Dawn, Nick DuFloth, Jon Gantt, Loretta Hauser, Connie Canaday Howard* (Managing Artistic Director), Christopher Kriz^, Michael W. Moon, Kurt Naebig*, Laura Leonardo Ownby, Galen G. Ramsey, William “Sandy” Smillie, Kelli Walker and Norm Woodel. For more information about BTE, visit www.btechicago.com
Buffalo Theatre Ensemble is partially supported and funded by generous grants from The DuPage Foundation, Benevity, Choose DuPage, the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program, The Norm Woodel Inspiration Fund, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, and a gift from Dr. Thomas R. Scott and the late Shirley Klein Scott through the College of DuPage Foundation.
About The MAC
The McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage is located 25 miles west of Chicago near I-88 and I-355. It houses three indoor performance spaces (the 780-seat proscenium Belushi Performance Hall; the 236-seat soft-thrust Playhouse Theatre; and the versatile black box Studio Theatre), the outdoor Lakeside Pavilion, plus the Cleve Carney Museum of Art and classrooms for the college’s academic programming. The MAC has presented theater, music, dance and visual art to more than 1.5 million people since its opening in 1986 and typically welcomes more than 100,000 patrons from the greater Chicago area to more than 230 performances each season.
The MAC’s 2021-2022 Season is made possible in part with support by DoubleTree by Hilton Lisle/Naperville, WDCB 90.9 FM and the College of DuPage Foundation. Programs at the MAC are partially supported through a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.