AstonRep's THE BLACK SLOT to Make World Premiere This Fall at Raven Theatre

AstonRep Theatre Company is pleased to open its 2016-17 season with the world premiere of THE BLACK SLOT, Warren Hoffman's hilarious and biting satire about racial politics in the American regional theater, directed by Associate Artistic Director Derek Bertelsen*.

THE BLACK SLOT will play September 1 - October 2, 2016 at The Raven Theatre (West Stage), 6157 N. Clark St. in Chicago. Tickets are currently on sale at www.astonrep.com or by calling (773) 828-9129. The press opening is Sunday, September 4 at 3:30 pm.

THE BLACK SLOT features Dana Anderson, Ian Voltaire Deanes, Linsey Falls, Amy Kasper*, Brittany Stock and Justin Wade Wilson.

Beth, a dramaturg at a regional theatre company, spends her waking hours reading new scripts in the hopes of finding "the one" that will please her boss Pam. Enter Tim, a young African American playwright, whose work is miles beyond anything else she has read so far. But when Tim's hot new play is rejected in favor of producing legendary playwright August Wilson in the theater's "black slot," Tim and Beth hatch a plan to reveal the racism and hypocrisy of the American theater. Things quickly get out of hand in this behind-the-scenes satire that skewers and challenges the politics of the business we call show.

THE BLACK SLOT, developed at InterAct Theatre Company in Philadelphia, is the first new work to be selected from AstonRep's annual Writers' Series to receive a full production. It marks the company's first full world premiere.

"During a time when diversity in theatre is such a hot button issue on local and national stages, we're very excited to be producing a play that highlights the issue in a relevant yet comedic way," comments Director Derek Bertelsen. "We're also thrilled to have one of the plays from our annual Writers Series be selected for a full production. This is an important and funny play and we look forward to sharing this world premiere with our audiences."

The production team for THE BLACK SLOT includes: Jeremiah Barr* (set design), Uriel Gomez (costume design), Samantha Barr* (lighting design), Kallie Noelle Rolison (sound design), Reginald Edmund (dramaturg), Kendra Kingsbury* (vocal coach), Lucy Carr (asst. director) and Lara Caprini (stage manager).

Warren Hoffman other plays include New Words, The Last and Stitched, which have been developed at theaters around the country. Warren spent two years as an inaugural Core Playwright with InterAct Theatre Company in Philadelphia and also served for several years as the Literary Manager and Dramaturg for Philadelphia Theatre Company. Warren is also the author of two books: The Passing Game: Queering Jewish American Culture and The Great White Way: Race and the Broadway Musical. warrenhoffman.com.

Derek Bertelsen (Director) has previously directed The Lyons, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Wit, Next Fall and Doubt with AstonRep Theatre Company. Other directing credits include Mary-Kate Olsen Is In Love (The Comrades), Design for Living, The Children's Hour (Pride Films and Plays), God of Carnage, The Dinner Party (BrightSide Theatre), You're A Good Man Charlie Brown (Wilmette Arts Center). Assistant Director credits include RACE (Goodman), Angry Fags (Steppenwolf Garage) and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Bailiwick Chicago). He's also directed for Arc Theatre, Commedia Beauregard, Greenhouse Trellis Series, New Ground Theatre, Shawnee Summer Playhouse and five seasons at Timber Lake Playhouse.

AstonRep Theatre Company was formed in the summer of 2008. Since then, the company has produced 17 full-length productions and six annual Writers' Series. AstonRep Theatre Company is an ensemble of artists committed to creating exciting, intimate theatrical experiences that go beyond the front door to challenge audiences and spark discussion where the show is not the end of the experience: it is just the beginning.

*Denotes AstonRep Company Members.

Pictured: The cast of AstonRep's world premiere THE BLACK SLOT (top, l to r) Dana Anderson, Ian Voltaire Deanes and Linsey Falls and (bottom, l to r) Amy Kasper, Brittany Stock and Justin Wade Wilson.

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