"Slaphappy," A Romantic Comedy Opens Feb 2009!

“Slaphappy,” A Romantic Comedy with a Taste of Foie Gras

Opens at Theatre Building Chicago on February 2, 2009

WHAT:    Beat the Jester Productions, in association with John F. McNamara and

Jeffrey A. Katz, presents the world premiere of "Slaphappy," a romantic comedy of lost lovers and tormented ducks, by Chicago playwright Gary Slezak.  Set in a Paris hotel, the play explores the idea of happiness through the eyes of four Americans, a loopy bellboy, an astute concierge, and a society of pâté lovers.  Battling couples, exploding rockets, mistaken medications and a taste of foie gras come together in a delirious confection. This Equity show runs about two hours plus two intermissions. The poster illustration is by New Yorker cartoonist Pat Byrnes (copy below; more info at www.patbyrnes.com).   

WHERE:              Theatre Building Chicago, South Theatre (handicapped accessible)

  1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL  60657

  $8 valet parking; Belmont El stop (Red, Brown, Purple)

WHEN:                  Opens Monday, February 2, 2009 (Groundhog Day), at 8 p.m. (reception following)

                 Closes March 15, 2009

   Runs Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.,

   and Sundays at 3 p.m.

                             Previews January 29, 30, 31, and February 1 at 8 p.m. (NO 4 p.m. show on January 31)

TICKETS:           773-327-5252, Theatre Building Box Office

Also Ticketmaster at 312-902-1500 or www.ticketmaster.com 

    $25 for Thursdays and Sundays

$30 for Fridays and both shows on Saturdays                                       

    $15 for previews, or FREE for industry with resume/card

CAST:            Judy Blue, AEA (Laurel), Annie DiMaria (Cherie), Doug MacKechnie,

AEA (Kip), Maurice McNicholas (Valere), Michael Joseph Mitchell, AEA (Stanek), and Lucas Neff (Philippe).                        

STAFF:               Gary Slezak (Playwright, Producer), Richard Shavzin (Director), Nick  

Mozak (Scenic Design), Benjamin L. White (Lighting Design) and Lindsay Jones (Sound Design). 

BIO:                    Gary Slezak grew up on Chicago's Southside and began writing plays in college.  “Sketcher in the Wry,” an evening of short plays, was performed at Body Politic.  “Malek’s Dependents,” set in a Southside liquor store, was developed at Victory Gardens and produced by The People’s Light and Theatre Company, where it received excellent reviews in The Baltimore Sun and Philadelphia Daily News.  Slezak produced "Beat the Jester" at Chicago Dramatists in 2004, which was described by the Chicago Sun-Times as "a searing drama…a potent brew of political intrigue, sibling rivalry and Oedipal passions."   He is also the author of published fiction and non-fiction, and currently works at Northwestern University.