American Blues Theatre Presents AMERICAN BLUES, 3/8

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity Ensemble, presents a benefit performance of "American Blues - Collected One-Acts" by Tennessee Williams on the Victory Gardens Biograph mainstage, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Tuesday, March 8, 2011, from 6:00 - 10 p.m. Guest artist E. Fay Butler will perform during the pre-benefit VIP reception from 5 - 6 p.m. The evening will be emceed by ABT Board Secretary Joan Esposito, co-founder of J2SC. For more information call (312) 725 - 4228, email info@americanbluestheater.com or visit www.americanbluestheater.com.

In his rarely produced 1948 collection entitled "American Blues," Williams (1911-1983) showcased his commitment to the blue-collar worker. In creating this benefit evening, ABT is thrilled to work with directors including Dennis Zacek, Steve Scott, Andrea J. Dymond and the Ensemble's former Artistic Directors Brian Russell and Damon Kiely, who have made significant contributions to the success of the Blues' Ensemble throughout the 25 years.

The four short plays include:

• "Moony's Kid Don't Cry," a short play about a worker, his wife and their child. Directed by Dennis Zacek and featuring Steve Key* and Gwendolyn Whiteside;*
• "The Dark Room," a tragic sketch about an Italian woman and a welfare worker. Directed by Damon Kiely and featuring Cheryl Graeff* and Sandra Marquez;
• "The Case of the Crushed Petunias," a delightfully comedic short work of fantasy. Directed by Steve Scott and featuring James Leaming *, Dawn Bach* and John Möhrlein;*
• "The Unsatisfactory Supper," a touching short play about a servant. Directed by Andrea J. Dymond and featuring Kevin R. Kelly*, Nambi E. Kelley* and Suzanne Petri.*

* denotes American Blues Theater Ensemble member

This season, ABT launched "Blue Ink," an annual playwriting contest.  The award, judged by the ABT Ensemble and Cleveland himself, comes with a $500 prize.  ABT received 542 new play submissions from as near as Chicago and as far as Toronto, Canada; Los Angeles, Calif. and New York, N.Y .  The winner will be announced at the March benefit.

American Blues Theater (ABT) presents a benefit performance of "American Blues - Collected One-Acts" by Tennessee Williams on the Victory Gardens Biograph mainstage, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Tuesday, March 8, 2011.

The evening begins at 5 p.m. with the VIP salon pre benefit-reception featuring a performance and get together with guest artist E. Faye Butler. At 6 p.m., the general festivities begin with appetizers, drinks and the kick-off of the silent auction. The program begins at 7 p.m. with opening remarks by emcee Esposito, followed by the "American Blues" short play performances. Immediately following, the winner of the Blue Ink Award will be announced. The evening rounds out with dessert and the chance to mix and mingle and make final bids on the silent auction til 10 p.m.

VIP tickets are $175 and include complimentary valet parking; admission to the VIP pre-benefit salon reception with guest artists, open full bar, appetizers; the chance to "buy now" silent auction items at reserved price and seating in the front rows for the performance. General admission tickets are $125 and include open wine bar, appetizers and general admission seating for the performance. The entire ticket price goes to benefit the company and their productions. For more information call (312) 725 - 4228, email info@americanbluestheater.com or visit americanbluestheater.com.

Founded in 1985, American Blues Theater is known for its gritty, uncompromising style. During the years 1997-2009, the Ensemble went by the name American Theater Company. In 2009, the Ensemble reclaimed its original name and reaffirmed its commitment to its working-class roots.  Committed to the Ensemble since 1985, American Blues Theater produces stories about working people and partners each production with social and service organizations.

In twenty-five years, the Ensemble collaborated and produced more than 77 productions, including 44 world or regional premieres.  ABT's multi-generational Ensemble & Artistic Affiliates plaudits include more than 100 collective Joseph Jefferson Awards, Citations, and nominations, 19 After Dark Awards, an Academy Award nomination, Golden Globe Award, Emmy Awards and nominations, Writers' Guild Awards, 6 Black Theatre Alliance Awards and nominations, and multiple Regional theater awards from NY, Los Angeles, DC, and Florida.  ABT is the second-oldest Equity Ensemble in Chicago.  ABT's 30-member Ensemble has more than 380 combined years of collaboration on stage.This past spring, ABT capped its 2009-2010 season with its critically acclaimed staging of "Tobacco Road" by Jack Kirkland, based on the novel by Erskine Caldwell, directed by Cecilie Keenan in the Richard Christiansen Theater at Victory Gardens.  ABT recently kicked off its 2010 -2011 season in the Victory Gardens' Richard Christiansen Theater with an encore presentation of its critically acclaimed production "It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph!" directed by Marty Higginbotham, (Nov. 26 - Dec. 31, 2010) and will cap the season there as well with the regional premiere of Mark Roberts' "Rantoul & Die" (April 22 - May 22, 2011) directed by Erin Quigley and presented in association with Stephen Eich, former Managing Director of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company (1979 - 1995) and Don Foster, writer and executive producer for the CBS's "Two and a Half Men."

The ABT Ensemble includes all four Founders Ed Blatchford, Rick Cleveland, James Leaming, and William Payne with Dawn Bach, Matthew Brumlow, Kate Buddeke, Sarah Burnham, Casey Campbell, Brian Claggett, Dennis Cockrum Laura Coover,  Lauri Dahl,  Tom Geraty,  Cheryl Graeff,  Jaclyn Holsey,  Lindsay Jones,  Samantha Jones,  Nambi E. Kelley,   Kevin R. Kelly,  Steve Key,  Ed Kross,  Heather Meyers , John Möhrlein,  Jim Ortlieb,  Suzanne Petri,  Carmen Roman,  Editha Rosario,  Sarah E. Ross and Gwendolyn Whiteside.

American Blues Theater is led by Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside. American Blues is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization. For more information call (312) 725 - 4228, email info@americanbluestheater.com or visit americanbluestheater.com