Stage Left Theatre Presents THE FISHERMAN, 2/18-4/1

Stage Left Theatre announces the upcoming World Premiere of The Fisherman written by Jayme McGhan and directed by ensemble member Drew Martin. The Fisherman is the third production of Stage Left's 30th season. Press opening is Saturday, February 25thth at 8 PM, and the show runs through April 1st.

THE PLAY

For brothers Carl and Chucky Lund, retirement means building a cabin on Pequot Lake, the perfect place for fishing while listening to the Twins lose (again). But that dream is destroyed when they are forced out of their jobs and pensions by the airline to which they've devoted their lives. With his back against the wall, Carl begins to question how far a man can be pushed before he pushes back.

The Fisherman was expanded into a full-length play from a short play version. The short play is published in Gary Garrison's A More Perfect Ten and was a regional winner and one of four finalists for the 2006 National Ten-Minute Playwriting Award through the Kennedy Center. The full length version was a finalist for Play LABS 2007 at the Playwrights Center and a semi-finalist for the 2008 O'Neill Playwrights Conference. The play has also received readings at New York's Forestburgh Playhouse in 2010 and at The Great Plains Theatre Conference in Omaha, Nebraska in 2011. In 2008, The Fisherman appeared at Stage Left as a part of the fifth LeapFest, our annual developmental festival of new work, where it was also directed by Drew Martin.

THE DEBATE

In line with our mission to raise social and political debate, Stage Left offers patrons a Symposium Series for every production. Immediately following each Sunday matinee, we will invite the audience to stay for a discussion centered on a particular question raised by the performance. Each Sunday will feature different community guests who offer distinct perspectives. Admission to the Symposium Series is free, but it is recommended that attendees have seen the production in order to fully appreciate and participate in the discussion. The Fisherman will raise debate about the collusion of government and corporate power, the value of labor unions, and the ability of the individual to affect systematic change.

TICKETS, DATES & INFORMATION

The Fisherman runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 PM, Sundays at 3:00 PM from 2/25/12 through 4/1/12. Tickets are $25, and will be available through the Theater Wit box office either online at www.theaterwit.org or by calling 773-975-8150. Opening Night is Saturday, February 25th at 8:00 PM and tickets are $25. Previews are Saturday, February 18 at 8:00pm; Sunday, February 19 at 7:00pm; Thursday February 23 at 8pm; and Friday, February 24 at 8:00 PM. Preview tickets are $12. The Fisherman will be performed at Theater Wit at 1229 W. Belmont in Chicago. The theater is handicapped and CTA accessible via the Belmont El (Red & Brown).

 

THE PEOPLE

Jayme McGhan (playwright) is the author of fourteen full-length plays including Mother Bear, The Methuselah Tree, Damn the River Deep, The Sweet Stuff, Hellfire and Autonomy. His work has been produced and developed across the country at such theatres as Irish Repertory Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Washington Shakespeare Co., Cleveland Public Theatre, Stage Left Theatre, Mortar Theatre, Hot City Theatre, Yellow Tree Theatre, Nevada Conservatory Theatre, Cockroach Theatre, Forestburgh Playhouse, Chased by an Elephant Theatre and many more. Four of his plays are published. Jayme is a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists. He is the former Regional Representative of The Dramatists Guild to the Twin Cities and is currently an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Concordia University, Chicago where he also serves as Resident Designer and Technical Director. He holds an M.F.A in playwriting from UNLV. Jayme is blessed to be married to his beautiful wife Julie. For more information visit www.jaymemcghan.com

Drew Martin (director) was Artistic Director of Stage Left in the 1990's and Interim Co-Artistic Director 2008-9. He earned a Joseph Jefferson Award for directing Stage Left's Leander Stillwell and was nominated for Police Deaf Near Far. His passion for new work is reflected in World Premiere productions such as The Day of Knowledge, One Fine Day, Prairie Lights, Sing for Your Supper, Dapples and Grays and LeapFest productions of Make Sure It's Me, Beaten, In Times of War, and The Fisherman. Other directing work includes A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, Julius Caesar, Out Of Spite: Tales of Survival in Sarajevo, Escape from Happiness, and In White America. He has worked artistically with many Chicago theatres and also managed finances for several commercial and non-profit organizations. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and studied with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Drew produces and directs corporate events through his company, Polaris Productions.

The cast includes SLT ensemble members Kate Black-Spence (Jenny), Sandy Elias (Chucky) and Ian Maxwell (Mutt), as well as guest artist Michael Pacas (Carl).

The staff includes SLT ensemble members John Kohn III (lighting design), Adam Smith (sound design), and Zev Valancy (dramaturgy) with guest artists Tara Malpass (stage management), Kristin Toerpe (production management), Alan Donahue (scenic design), Theresa Ham (costume design), Jeff Shields (properties design), Rick Julien (technical direction), and Katie Horwitz (assistant direction).

 

ABOUT STAGE LEFT

Founded in 1982, Stage Left Theatre is committed to developing and producing plays that raise debate and challenge perspectives on political and social issues. Through a full subscription season and our new play development program Downstage Left, Stage Left strives to ask provocative social and political questions by producing a mix of new works, regional premieres and timeless classics.