About Face Theatre and The Hypocrites Present THE WOYZECK PROJECT 4/10

About Face Theatre and The Hypocrites are pleased to present THE WOYZECK PROJECT, a city-wide festival celebrating the classic proletariat tale. Anchored by About Face's production of PONY and The Hypocrites world premiere adaptation of WOYZECK, THE WOYZECK PROJECT also includes works and events by Collaboraction, Oracle Productions, Route 66 Theatre Company, Chicago Opera Vanguard and The Inconvenience.

WOYZECK was left unfinished by Georg Büchner upon his death in 1837. For decades, the incomplete work has fascinated avant-garde artists and scholars who have studied and adapted it. THE WOYZECK PROJECT encourages today's Chicago arts community to respond to what has famously been called the first working-class tragedy. The festival is produced by Eric Hoff, Evelyn DeHais and Kyla Searle. For additional information, visit www.thewoyzeckproject.com.

The complete WOYZECK PROJECT line-up is as follows:

Sunday, April 10 - Sunday, May, 22
About Face Theatre presents
PONY
A world premiere by Sylvan Oswald, directed by About Face Artistic Director Bonnie Metzgar
On the other side of the woods from Woyzeck, in a poor, remote town haunted by crime and a military past, we find Pony. He's the new guy in town, and his mysterious air attracts the attention of an obsessive waitress named Marie and a young trans man namEd Heath. Marie seduces Pony into a dangerous and complicated romance, and Heath goes to great lengths to track him down. Desperate to evade their questions, Pony wades through a world of violence, shifting gender roles and obsessive love, and reveals more about himself than he ever intended. Featuring Janet Ulrich Brooks, Matthew Sherbach, Kristina Valada-Viars and AFT Artistic Associates Kelli Simpkins and Jessica Hudson.
Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division. Tickets $28 ($48 for PONY and WOYZECK). For tickets and a complete list of performances, visit www.thewoyzeckproject.com.

Friday, April 15 - Sunday, May 22
The Hypocrites present
WOYZECK
By Georg Büchner, adapted and directed by The Hypocrites Artistic Director Sean Graney
Woyzeck is an impoverished soldier struggling to provide for his family. Subject to constant bullying, bizarre medical experiments and suspecting that his wife has betrayed him, Woyzeck's increasing distrust and despair drives him to destroy the only thing he has ever loved. After 13 years, The Hypocrites' Artistic Director Sean Graney revisits Büchner's examination of suffering with a new adaptation that includes original songs by Kevin O'Donnell. Featuring Erin Barlow, Ryan Bollettino, Ryan Bourque, Walter Briggs, Geoff Button, Sean Patrick Fawcett, Lindsey Gavel and Zeke Sulkes.
Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division. Tickets $28 ($48 for WOYZECK and PONY). For tickets and a complete list of performances, visit www.thewoyzeckproject.com.

Saturday, April 30 at 8 pm
Oracle Productions presents
WOYZECK
A new translation by David Steiger, directed by Max Truax
Kicking off our festival, we invite you to join Oracle Productions for David Steiger's new translation of WOYZECK, which focuses on Woyzeck's obsession with fidelity and descent into madness. Extended through May 21!
Oracle Theatre, 3809 N. Broadway. For more information, visit www.oracletheatre.org.

Sunday, May 1 at 6 pm (immediately following the 5 pm production of WOYZECK)
About Face Theatre and The Hypocrites present
PEAS & Q'S: A WOYZECK PANEL DISCUSSION
THE WOYZECK PROJECT invites you to join this conversation about why WOYZECK is so often revisited. The panel discussion includes Max Truax (Oracle Productions), Bonnie Metzgar (About Face Theatre), Eric Reda (Chicago Opera Vanguard) and other artistic leaders, moderated by Eric Hoff (The Woyzeck Project, Dramaturg).
Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division. No charge for this event.

Monday, May 2 at 7:30 pm
Route 66 Theatre Company presents
SKIN
By Naomi Iizuka, a staged reading directed by Erica Weiss
Iizuka's adaptation places Jones and Mary in contemporary San Diego, under the constant roar of jet planes and the crush of industry. Following the tremendous success of A Twist of Water, Erica Weiss directs this staged reading, exploring Iizuka's take on Woyzeck's infinitely flexible nature and deconstructed style.
Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division. No charge for this event.

Tuesday, May 3 at 7:30 pm
The Inconvenience presents
WOYZECK OF SARAJEVO
By Doyle Avant, a staged reading directed by Eric Hoff
War. Sex. Fear. WOYZECK OF SARAJEVO explores the harshest effects of military conflict and Islamophobia. Originally written for the Lincoln Center Theatre Directors' Lab, Doyle Avant's script will be presented as a staged reading with live music.
Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division. No charge for this event.

Friday, May 6 at 7:30 pm & Saturday, May 7 at 9 pm
Collaboraction presents
FRANZ FEST: A WOYZECK PARTY/PERFORMANCE EXPLORATORY
Join a diverse and eclectic collection of theatre artists from Chicago and beyond as they deconstruct Büchner's seminal work in this postmodern salon. Using dance, puppetry, solo-performance, clown and more, these eleven pieces capture WOYZECK'S many faces, from the disturbing to the poignant. Featuring work by Jason Adams, Nathanael Card, Andy Grigg, the Harlotry and Necromancy Appreciation Society, Kendra Miller, Sven Miller, Sarah Pickering, Ian Randall, Sour Mash Theatre Company, Amy Stebbins, Mike Steele and The Zocadero.
Collaboraction (Flat Iron Arts Building), 1575 N. Milwaukee. Tickets $18. For more information, visit www.collaboraction.org.

Monday, May 9 at 7:30 pm
Collaboraction presents
GUINEA PIG SOLO
By Brett C. Leonard, directed by Anthony Moseley
GUINEA PIG SOLO updates WOYZECK for the wars of the 21st century. Private First Class Jose Solo, a recent front-line soldier in Iraq, finds himself trapped between the forces of redemption and destruction as he fights to reconstruct his life at home, his mental stability and damaged relationships. Featuring Dale Rivera and Sandra Delgado.
Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division. No charge for this event. Visit www.collaboraction.org.

Tuesday, May 10 at 7:30 pm
Chicago Opera Vanguard presents
VOICE CHECK, A CABARET
Why, oh why did it Berg make it so darned difficult? Chicago Opera Vanguard explores this persistent question through songs written for the theatrical stage inspired by or adapted from Büchner's WOYZECK COV's musical offerings will include arrangements from Tom Waits, Alban Berg and more. Expect a fun evening of music performed by some of Chicago's finest up and coming musicians and theater artists.
Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division. $5 tickets at the door.

Support for the development and production of THE WOYZECK PROJECT is generously provided by The Boeing Company. Additional funding for PONY is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.