DCA Theater Announces Spring 2012 Season

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, announces the Spring 2012 Season at both DCA Theater venues-the DCA Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph Street, and the DCA Studio Theater in the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Street.

DCA Theater offers downtown audiences an off-Loop theater experience with an exciting look at the vibrant theater companies that call Chicago home. As an anchor of the downtown theater district, the DCA Storefront Theater season will feature a world premiere production by InFusion Theatre Company, two Chicago premieres (one by Vitalist Theatre and one by Chicago Fusion Theatre) and two dance premieres (one by Chicago Dance Crash and one by Khecari).

For the 2012 season, the DCA Theater expands its Incubator Series to present six companies in the Studio Theater of the Chicago Cultural Center: Prologue Theatre Company, Vintage Theater Collective, Strangeloop Theatre, Almost ATLANTA, Sour Mash Theatre Company and Jackalope Theatre Company. Additionally, DCA Theater will present the AFTRA/SAG Senior Radio Players and performances by the Vet Art Project.

All tickets are available by calling 312.742.TIXS (8497), visiting www.dcatheater.org, or stopping by the Chicago Cultural Center Ticket Office in the Chicago Cultural Center at 78 E. Washington Street, open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. Tickets go on sale one hour before each performance at the Storefront Theater. Be sure to follow DCA Theater on Facebook for updates and information.

Discounted parking is once again available at Wabash/Randolph Self Park at 20 E. Randolph Street. Patrons can receive the $10 rate by validating their ticket at the Storefront Theater ticket office.

Each season, the DCA Theater accepts proposals from the city's itinerant theater and dance companies who wish to bring their innovative productions downtown. Presenting companies receive free performance space and resources, while theater-goers get an exciting glimpse into Chicago's world-renowned performing arts scene. For more information and to apply for either space, visit www.dcatheater.org/yourshow.

DCA STOREFRONT THEATER SPRING 2012 SEASON

The Ghost is Here by Kobo Abe, translated by Donald Keene

Chicago Premiere presented by Vitalist Theatre

Directed by Jaclynn Jutting

Media Opening: Friday, January 13, at 7:30 p.m.

January 12 - February 19, 2012

Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.

Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph Street

Tickets: $25 for general admission; $20 for seniors; $15 for students; $15 for preview (1/12)

www.dcatheater.org or (312) 742-TIXS (8497)

Kobo Abe's rarely-produced 1957 epic play, The Ghost is Here, examines the impact of war upon a culture and a nation. Set in the ruins of post-World War II Japan, at a moment in history when the nation was forced to redefine itself as a country, the play uses original music, stylized song and dance, and a multicultural cast to bring Abe's story to life with a "Tokyo boogie woogie" beat. As Japan's people reinvent themselves in the midst of monumental challenges, The Ghost is Here echoes in modern day America.

Related Program:

Thursday, January 19: Post-show discussion following the performance

Las Hermanas Padilla by Tony Meneses

Chicago Premiere presented by Chicago Fusion Theatre

Directed by Juan Castañeda

Media Opening: Thursday, March 1, at 7:30 p.m.

February 29 - April 1, 2012

Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.

Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph Street

Tickets: $25 for general admission; $15 for seniors and students; $15 for preview (2/29)

www.dcatheater.org or (312) 742-TIXS (8497)

An award-winning work by emerging New York playwright Tony Meneses, Las Hermanas Padilla is a poetic, humorous and fantastical vision of ten sisters-in-law who,

while the world is at war find solace, despair, humor and grace in their unexpected sisterhood. Chicago Fusion Theatre explores this Brechtian inspired script through storyboards and snapshots of the sisters as they discover their own paths, test the limits of their strength and find the true meaning of family.

Related Program:

Thursday, March 8: Post-show discussion following the performance

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The Improv Play by Randall Colburn

World Premiere presented by InFusion Theatre Company

Directed by Mitch Golob

Media Opening: Thursday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m.

April 10 - May 20, 2012

Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.

Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph Street

Tickets: $25 for general admission; $15 for seniors and students; $15 for previews (4/10 & 4/11)

www.dcatheater.org or (312) 742-TIXS (8497)

A truly Chicago tale, The Improv Play jumps headfirst into the compelling and competitive world of the local improv scene in Chicago. Set in the wake of young Walt Regan's New York departure to join the writing staff of Saturday Night Live, the play follows three characters on the same improv team as they seek success and validation on Chicago's comedy stages, but instead discover the hard-edged truths of a life trying to make everyone laugh. Incorporating improvisation, stand-up and sketch comedy with scripted material to create a raucous, cutting, and honest exploration of performance, talent, and ambition, The Improv Play shines a light on the thousands of performers filling out the fringe of the comedy scene.

Related Program:

Thursday, April 19: Post-show discussion following the performance

Gotham City choreographed by Jessica Deahr and written by Mark Hackman

World Premiere presented by Chicago Dance Crash

Media Opening: Friday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m.

June 8 - July 15, 2012

Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.

Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph Street

Tickets: $25 for general admission; $18 for seniors and students

www.dcatheater.org or (312) 742-TIXS (8497)

Spun through break-dance, ballet and heart-pumping acrobatics, a dream of "metal and stone" becomes fully realized as Chicago Dance Crash presents Gotham City, a fully choreographed graphic novel on stage. As a city is taken hostage from sunset to sunrise, only the few left moving on pure instinct can struggle to survive this criminal underworld with their humanity intact. With a breathtaking fusion of dance styles, 10 million people are brought to life by 20 explosive dancers fluent in classic and contemporary forms refined in rehearsal rooms and the subway platforms of Chicago in a moving-portrait of one night in the dark life of urban and underworld America.

Related Program:

Friday, June 15: Post-show discussion following the performance

-more-

The Clinking, Clanking Lowesleaf & Pales choreographed by Julia Rae Antonick & Jonathan Meyer

World Premiere presented by Khecari

Media Opening: Friday, July 20 at 7:30 p.m.

July 20 - July 29, 2012

Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.

Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph Street

Tickets: $25 for general admission; $15 for students and seniors

www.dcatheater.org or (312) 742-TIXS (8497)

The Clinking, Clanking Lowesleaf is a collaborative duet created by Julia Rae Antonick and Jonathan Meyer, born from a long study of myriad dance partnering techniques. It is a contemporary dance kinetic joyride overlaid with Tango, Contact, Swing, Capoeira and Indonesian forms.

Pales is a work for four dancers created by Jonathan Meyer. It is a somatically-derived, kinetically-driven work, presenting an ambiguous terrain rife with undercurrents of aggression, community, identity, and ownership.

Related Programs:

Sunday, July 22: Post-show discussion following the performance

Friday, July 27: Post-show discussion following the performance

DCA THEATER'S INCUBATOR SERIES SPRING 2012 SEASON
The DCA Theater's Incubator Series supports the creation of new work by emerging Chicago theater companies. Utilizing DCA Theater resources and rehearsal space in the Chicago Cultural Center over a four-week period, participants explore new projects, develop and refine styles and share their process with the public during a special showcase event.

The evening showcase events offer a glimpse into the companies' projects through readings, performances, or works-in-process. The events are pay-what-you-can ($5 suggested donation), but reservations are encouraged by calling 312.742.TIXS (8497) or by visiting www.dcatheater.org. All performances take place at the Studio Theater in the Chicago Cultural Center, accessible entrance at 77 E. Randolph Street.

For the Spring 2012 season, DCA Theater has expanded this program to include six companies in an effort to provide greater support to Chicago's growing and impressive theater community.
Prologue Theatre Company with New Work Development

Incubator Showcase Performance on January 30, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

Vintage Theater Collective with Lion on the Cheesegrater by Kristin Idaszak

Incubator Showcase Performance on February 27, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

Strangeloop Theatre with New Work Development

Incubator Showcase Performance on March 26, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

-more-

Almost ATLANTA with Strawberry Rhubarb by Annie Calhoun

Incubator Showcase Performance on April 23, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

Sour Mash Theatre Company with A Natural Progression of Our Prolonged Stay by Martin Zimmerman

Incubator Showcase Performance on May 21, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

Jackalope Theatre with Silence in Numbers by Andrew Burden Swanson

Incubator Showcase Performance on June 25, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

DCA THEATER SPECIAL EVENTS SPRING 2012 SEASON

AFTRA/SAG Senior Radio Players

Audiences are invited to witness the performance of classic radio scripts by voice actors, sound effects artists and, often, live musicians. The AFTRA/SAG Senior Radio Players stay faithful to the original model by having to get it right the first time - no retakes permitted. Admission is free. All performances take place in the Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center, accessible entrance at 77 E. Randolph Street.

My Man Godfrey

Wednesday, February 22 at 7 p.m.
Dodsworth

Tuesday, May 1 at 7 p.m.
Jane Thinks Mink and The Bum episode from "The Fabulous Dr. Tweedy"

Tuesday, July 31 at 7 p.m.

The Vet Art Project Performance Series

The Vet Art Project creates opportunities for veterans and their families to work in collaboration with artists from multiple disciplines to create new art about war. This unique performance series features several short works-in-progress with a brief discussion on the impact of art on the veteran community. Admission is free.
Wednesday, March 21 at 7 p.m.

1st floor Garland Room in the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Street

Wednesday, July 25 at 7 p.m.

1st floor Garland Room in the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Street

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is dedicated to promoting an ongoing celebration of the arts; supporting the people who create and sustain them; and marketing the city's abundant cultural resources to a worldwide audience. DCASE, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, programs and promotes thousands of high-quality free festivals, exhibitions, performances and holiday celebrations presented each year at Millennium Park, Grant Park, the Chicago Cultural Center and other venues throughout the city.

Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture

The Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture (COTC) is dedicated to promoting Chicago as a premier cultural destination to domestic and international leisure travelers, providing innovative visitor programs and services, and presenting free world-class public programs. COTC supports local artists through grants and other resources and creates vital opportunities for artists of all levels. For more information please visit www.ExploreChicago.org.