Britni Tozzi & Whitney Morse to Lead PFP's THE CHILDREN'S HOUR; Full Cast Announced

Director Derek Bertelsen today announced that casting has been completed for the PFP Production of Lillian Hellman's classic story of love and lies, The Children's Hour. Britni Tozzi plays Karen Wright, and Whitney Morse is Martha Dobie. PFP Ensemble Members in the cast are Nelson Rodriguez as Dr. Joseph Cardin, Michelle McKenzie-Voigt as Mrs. Lily Mortar, and Joan McGrath as Mrs. Amelia Tilford.

Others in the cast are Nathalie Mendez (Rosalie), Zoquera Milburn (Peggy), Brittany Bookbinder (Catherine), Tasheena Migayi (Evelyn), Katrina Kiss (Helen), Ashley Darger (Lois), Ella Mouria Seet (Agatha), Bryan Renaud (Grocery Boy) and Nora Lisa Ulrey as Mary Tilford.

Whitney Morse is excited to make her Pride Films & Plays debut. Her Chicago credits include The Turn of the Screw, Unnecessary Farce and The Merchant of Venice (First Folio Theater), I Carry Your Heart (Prologue Theatre Company - DCA Incubator Series), Little Women (Theatre-Hikes,) iGhost (Theatre Building Chicago,) Accomplice (Jedlicka Performing Arts Center), and God On Broadway (Theatre Building Chicago.) New York Credits: Hold Music (The Culture Project,) Love's Labour's Lost (Dir. Andrei Serban,) and Three Sister's (Dir. Andrei Serban.) M.F.A Acting Columbia University.

Britni Tozzi has performed throughout Chicago with companies such as Mary-Arrchie Theatre, The Hypocrites, Strawdog Theatre, Circle Theatre, and Signal Ensemble, to name a few. She has also appeared in national and regional commercials. Britni graduated valedictorian from Columbia College Chicago and currently runs a non-profit for children in Africa.

The production features designs by Kassie Davis (set), Alberto Ruiz (lights), Chrystle Morman (costumes), and Patrick Bley (sound), Assistant Director is Kathryn Olsen.

Directed by PFP Ensemble Member Derek Bertelsen, the production will run January 9 to February 9 at Collaboraction's Pentagon Theater, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets, 1 800 838 3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com. The press opening is Saturday, January 11 at 7:30pm.

Written in 1934, The Children's Hour is based on a true story, and was originally banned in Chicago and not seen here until the 1950s. Karen and Martha are two school teachers who are on the verge of personal and professional success. Karen is engaged to be married to Joe, and the small boarding school she and Martha founded is on the verge of financial stability. However, when one student is disciplined, she makes a statement which is repeatedly endlessly, and everything changes.