Capital Stage to Present SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO, 2/6-21

Capital Stage continues its commitment to training the next generation of professional artists with the presentation of SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO, by David Mamet. The Third Annual Apprentice Showcase features the work of the 2014-2015 Capital Stage Apprentice Corps, and all aspects of the production-acting, directing, design, and administration-will be done by the Apprentices. Performances of SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO will run from February 6-21, 2015 and will perform immediately following select performances of IDEATION by Aaron Loeb at Capital Stage.

The Play

Winner of the 1976 Obie Award for Best New American Play, SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO follows the lives of four single twenty-somethings as they search for connection-sexual and otherwise-in the Windy City. Two male office workers, Danny and Bernie, are playing the field in the swinging singles scene of the early 1970s. When Danny makes a move on Deborah in a library, soon they are lovers as well as roommates. Bernie and Joan, Deborah's roommate, seem to have the politics of sex down pat, but are as confused as their more naive counterparts. As Danny and Deborah attempt to piece together a relationship that signifies something beyond simply sex, Joan and Bernie struggle to regain control of their closest friendships. Called "Marvelously observant... A glittering mosaic of tiny, deadly muzzle flashes from the war between men and women among the filing cabinets and single bars," by The New York Times, the Capital Stage Apprentice Corps present their unique take on Mamet's caustically rendered world of sexual politics.

David Mamet is the author of the plays: RACE, KEEP YOUR PANTHEON, SCHOOL, NOVEMBER, ROMANCE, BOSTON MARRIAGE, FAUSTUS, OLEANNA, GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS (1984 Pulitzer Prize and New York Drama Critics Circle Award), AMERICAN BUFFALO, THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD, A LIFE IN THE THEATRE, SPEED-THE-PLOW, EDMOND, LAKEBOAT, THE WATER ENGINE, THE WOODS, SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO, REUNION and THE CRYPTOGRAM (1995 Obie Award). His translations and adaptations include: FAUSTUS AND RED RIVER by Pierre Laville; and THE CHERRY ORCHARD, THREE SISTERS, and UNCLE VANYA by Anton Chekov. His films include: THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, THE VERDICT, THE UNTOUCHABLES, HOUSE OF GAMES (writer/director), OLEANNA (writer/director), HOMICIDE (writer/director), THE SPANISH PRISONER (writer/ director), HEIST (writer/director), SPARTAN (writer/director) and REDBELT (writer/director). GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS was awarded the Tony® Award for Best Revival of a Play in 2005.

Capital Stage directing apprentices Jenna Cedusky and Chloe King direct the ensemble featuring acting apprentices Madilyn Cooper (upcoming RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN), Russell Dow (IDEATION), Torin Lusebrink (ANNA KARENINA), and Sarah Rothaus (ANNA KARENINA). The design team includes apprentices Madilyn Cooper (scenic, adapted from Jonathan Williams' design for IDEATION), Chloe King (costumes), Torin Lusebrink (lighting), and Russell S. Dow (sound and projections).

Performances for SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO will begin on Friday, February 6 at 10pm, immediately following the performance of IDEATION. Performances continue through February 21, 2015. Showtime will be Thursdays-Fridays at 10pm and Saturdays at 4pm, immediately following IDEATION performances.