Seanachaí Theatre Co Presents Midwest Premiere of THAT WAS THEN 2/26

Seanachaí Theatre Company presents the Midwest premiere of That Was Then by Gerard Stembridge, February 26th - April 3rd, 2011 in the 3rd Floor theatre at the Irish American Heritage Center. Ensemble member Carolyn Klein directs fellow members Anne Sunseri and Sarah Wellington, with Ira Amyx, Molly Glynn and Joseph Wycoff rounding out the cast. Ensemble member Erin Diener is stage manager.

Returning to Seanachaí after the production of The Weir are designers Julian Pike (Lighting) Robert Groth and Jenniffer J. Thusing (Set) Joe Court (Sound). Costume design is by Beth Laske-Miller, Properties design by Emily Duffin and Dialect Coaching by Eva Breneman.

Anglo-Irish tensions simmer beneath the surface as Dublinites Noel and May host a dinner party for an English couple in hopes of securing a substantial loan. Five years later, the invitation is reciprocated, but the tables have turned. Set in two time periods simultaneously (pre- and post-Celtic Tiger), That Was Then ingeniously weaves together the events of both desperate evenings in this dark comedy.

Gerard Stembridge, born in Limerick in 1958, works as a writer and director in Theatre, Film, and TV, and came to prominence in the early 1990's with a radio comedy series Scrap Saturday satirizing political and cultural figures of the day. He directed the world premiere of That Was Then at The Abbey Theatre, Dublin in 2002.

That Was Then by Gerard Stembridge will be presented February 26th - April 3rd 2011, THURSDAYS-SATURDAYS at 7.30pm, SUNDAYS at 3pm; $10 Previews February 24th & 25th at 7.30pm. Press Opening February 26th at 7.30pm, VIP Opening Performance February 27th at 3pm, NO Performance March 12th; ADDED Performance March 9th at 7.30pm. 

Tickets are $22-26 - www.seanachai.org or call (866) 811-4111. Performed in the 3rd Floor Theatre, The Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox, Chicago, IL 60630; FREE Parking. El: Blue Line to Montrose.

About Seanachaí Theatre Company

Seanachaí is the Gaelic word for Storyteller.
The people's stories were at the very core of ancient Irish culture. It was the duty of the Seanachaí to keep these stories alive. The mission of Seanachaí Theatre Company is to return theatre to this origin - by creating compelling productions and programs that focus the energy of artists towards The Common goal of exceptional storytelling. To achieve this end, Seanachaí Theatre Company strives to provide an atmosphere where all theatre artists - actors, playwrights, directors and designers - have the support and assurance to collaborate openly. That is at the heart of all ensemble companies, and Seanachaí has proven itself a major player in Chicago's ensemble-driven theatrical community.